Time for a new lid - Advice?

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Oddly enough it has been recently removed from this page, the fact is where ever you ask there is someone who will repeat the same publicly announced facts.

Just because something is 'published' does not mean it is a fact, the Sun, Mirror and so on 'publish' things every day which I know are not facts. The only place I've seen anything published regarding the SHARP tests is MCN and I put no more trust in that organ than the 'Currant Bun'. Also bear in mind that any manufacturers which have hitherto enjoyed a good reputation (possibly self generated) which do not come out well in the tests do have an axe to grind in rubbishing them. I'd appreciate any information on this (I like to multi-source my facts) as some time soon I'll be buying a new helmet.

Originally Posted by merlin427

Just because something is 'published' does not mean it is a fact, the Sun, Mirror and so on 'publish' things every day which I know are not facts.

I know that, if you care to re-read my last post it tells you the published statement was on the SHARP website. If this was their official press release, published on their official website, then why do people continue to argue this point every time someone starts a thread about "which helmet to buy"? Also note it is not only on this forum, this debate appears on virtually all motorcycle forums and featured in all (not just the morons at MCN) the motorcycle press when it was announced.

SHARP officials (not helmet manufacturers) announced the test results were incorrect, inadequately preformed tests and the data received was misinterpreted. For starters any helmet with a side pod would fail the impact test, because the impact was rated on the side pods and not the helmet.

I have an Arai and I couldn't care less if it didn't even get a * rating; it fits me perfectly, it is well made, the after care is second to none, and I have crash tested them twice.

FFS we have the same blo*dy repeated arguments on this forum, either people are not happy with what they hear and start sulking or the armchair experts suddenly appear.


Sometimes I wonder if some people should bother protecting their head!

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

I know that, if you care to re-read my last post it tells you the published statement was on the SHARP website. If this was their official press release, published on their official website, then why do people continue to argue this point every time someone starts a thread about "which helmet to buy"? Also note it is not only on this forum, this debate appears on virtually all motorcycle forums and featured in all (not just the morons at MCN) the motorcycle press when it was announced.

SHARP officials (not helmet manufacturers) announced the test results were incorrect, inadequately preformed tests and the data received was misinterpreted. For starters any helmet with a side pod would fail the impact test, because the impact was rated on the side pods and not the helmet.

I have an Arai and I couldn't care less if it didn't even get a * rating; it fits me perfectly, it is well made, the after care is second to none, and I have crash tested them twice.

FFS we have the same blo*dy repeated arguments on this forum, either people are not happy with what they hear and start sulking or the armchair experts suddenly appear.


Sometimes I wonder if some people should bother protecting their head!

Whoa, calm down and real your neck in a bit cowboy.

I have an interest in buying a helmet (as most users of this site will at some point) and I'm looking for some meaningful information, from the content our your posts referring to 'published facts' I thought you had some but there are no links here.

All I have seen is the moronic knee jerks from MCN, I only read one motorcycling publication with any regularity and this has not (to my knowledge) has not published the details you mention so this came as a startling surprise to me. Although forum chatter may be useful, constant reference to publications and facts without actually producing these references gives no more credence to an opinion which may simply be reproducing the diatribe from NCM. For something as important as a helmet I really need something more solid than that.

My two penneth for whats its worth.
I have a Lazer 'vertigo', first helmet, no crashes yet, cost £80 ish i think its a decent helmet for the money.
As per advice from my instructor, i did look for the gold stars or whatever they are because, apart from comfort thats all i had to go on.
I'm gradually replacing / adding to my kit slowly and a lid is one of them, i have tried on loads and the one i like the most so far is the arai viper gt, it fits me well and the quality of the materials inside seem very good.
The softness of the linings etc feel the best imo.
The fact that a lot of motorsport users seem to favour arai, there has gotta be something in that also.
Arai are pricey, but worth it imo and as soon as i have spare change, im having one.
Having said that, can they offer greater impact protection etc than cheaper lids, doubt it but who knows?
Phil

Originally Posted by specialone

My two penneth for whats its worth.
I have a Lazer 'vertigo', first helmet, no crashes yet, cost £80 ish i think its a decent helmet for the money.
As per advice from my instructor, i did look for the gold stars or whatever they are because, apart from comfort thats all i had to go on.
I'm gradually replacing / adding to my kit slowly and a lid is one of them, i have tried on loads and the one i like the most so far is the arai viper gt, it fits me well and the quality of the materials inside seem very good.
The softness of the linings etc feel the best imo.
The fact that a lot of motorsport users seem to favour arai, there has gotta be something in that also.
Arai are pricey, but worth it imo and as soon as i have spare change, im having one.
Having said that, can they offer greater impact protection etc than cheaper lids, doubt it but who knows?
Phil

I guess that is pretty much the story for many people - It's a 'household name' and many racers use them. I'm sure Arai are a very good helmet but are they really worth so many times more than a cheaper brand? Bear in mind in many ways the life of a motorcycle racers helmet is less demanding than yours. Bear in mind the top brands put a great deal of money into fostering this image, perhaps that is why they have to charge so much more than the cheaper brands.
I guess I'm the same, I have a Shoei for no other reason than it is a 'household name' which I guess I should be able to rely on, I liked the design and it was a 'reasonable' price. Without evidence to the contrary I'll probably do the same again but I'll not claim Shoei, Arai or whoever to be 'best' regardless of whatever tests may prove simply that they are most suitable for my needs based on the evidence I am able to put together.
Personally I'd steer clear of too cheap helmets in the same way I'd steer clear of 'too cheap' anthing. Mind you is I was riding a scooter at similar speeds to what I ride a pushbike maybe I'd accept anything which was legal.

[yorkie_chris]

Though the SHARP tests are flawed, they do have this which appears to be excellent advice.

Originally Posted by merlin427

Whoa, calm down and real your neck in a bit cowboy.

Don't call me a cowboy, there are plenty of them on this forum who already annoy me.

Originally Posted by merlin427

I have an interest in buying a helmet (as most users of this site will at some point) and I'm looking for some meaningful information, from the content our your posts referring to 'published facts' I thought you had some but there are no links here.

Then I recommend you contact SHARP and ask them to reproduce their press statement, I can't be bothered to go over this crap every time, and links have been posted in the past. Whilst you at it you could also ask them why they continue to show the incorrect results.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Though the SHARP tests are flawed, they do have this which appears to be excellent advice.

This is the only genuine advice you can offer to anyone looking at buying a helmet.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Though the SHARP tests are flawed, they do have this which appears to be excellent advice.

Yep that`s the same advice I gave the Badgeress when we looked for lids for her , the guy in the shop was like "Man , you know more about this stuff than I do" which made me embarrassed for him as I personally wouldn`t have announced that so loudly in a showroom on such an important bit of kit . The Badgeress was more like "That`s pretty can I have that one ?" ................... patience and time and good advice got her a lid in the end and she was so much happier for having this lid compared to her old one .


And I`m with Dangerous Dave on this to be perfectly honest , even a £30 lid is going to meet safety standards , the test was flawed as they tested side pods , which some of the most expensive helmets do have and they failed them on that for puncture/piercing tests . I have not worried one jot about whether the SHARP test has found anything of REAL worry , as stated many times , racers crash in exactly the same lids as us , there are no differences between their lids and ours in the way they are made , maybe some customisation of the removeable lining , but that`s about it . No I know racers crash in a "Sterile" environment of the racetrack , but if it`s good enough for the Isle of Man , then it`s good enough for me ...... and they ride faster and in a far more dangerous and hazard rich environment than the vast majority of the 2 wheeled public will ever do .