Test your helmet here!!

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by simesb

Utter nonsense! - ALL helmets sold in Britain meet the same minimum standards. There is no evidence that a plastic lid will do the job better or worse than any other.

All helmets are built to pass tests. SNELL test result in a helmet with different strengths to those built for the European market. All crashes are different, but tests are all we have to try and subjectively compare "safety". Until the manufacturers stand by a test with relative results (not just pass/fail like ECE22.05 but stars like SHARP) the uneducated consumer will always resort to "my hat's better cos it cost more"

Conversely, despite the fact that the SHARP findings have been universally agreed to be flawed, other consumers will always argue "they all meet the same standards, so why buy anything other than the cheapest?"

At the end of the day, we're all entitled to pay our money and take our choice...

Originally Posted by Gazza77

Conversely, despite the fact that the SHARP findings have been universally agreed to be flawed, other consumers will always argue "they all meet the same standards, so why buy anything other than the cheapest?"

From what I can see on the web, "universally agreed" appears to be a university study (aspects of which are flaws in ECE 22.05 as well), and manufacturers who have not scored well.

Originally Posted by Gazza77

At the end of the day, we're all entitled to pay our money and take our choice...

Of course, and I think my current Arai is finished to a higher standard than my previous, cheaper, HJC; it's more comfortable, and looks better. What I don't do is kind myself that it is any more or less safe that a glassfibre, carbon fibre, or cotton wool helmet. I have to wear it - I never want to use it.

Originally Posted by flymo

So, my £100 OGK FF4 GP helmet is not up to the job then on that thinking? Was good enough for Steve Hislop to use in BSB a few years ago.

Not all Arais are that expensive obviously, but many are £400 plus. If you think they are simply safer because they cost more you're kidding yourself. They are nice helmets but most of them are too expensive.

I used to have a OGK same as that and the build quality was terrible - the first one shed its side pods so they replaced it and the replacement all the vents were lose fitting.

I've still got a blacked out visor for one somewhere.

Also for my budget of £250 ish there are 3 models available - the £400 plus are mostly replicas where you pay for the paint.

This is such a stupid discussion as you are basically arguing that the market leaders in helmet design and manufacture are no better than the budget brands, so tell me - same attitude to your leathers, gloves, boots etc - I'm guessing not.

Originally Posted by GavinD

This is such a stupid discussion as you are basically arguing that the market leaders in helmet design and manufacture are no better than the budget brands, so tell me - same attitude to your leathers, gloves, boots etc - I'm guessing not.

Market leaders on price point.

Ask Lozzo which leathers he recommends - dainese come bottom of the heap, but are one of the highest price points.

Cost does not equal quality, and cheapness does not equal value.

Originally Posted by simesb

Market leaders on price point.

Ask Lozzo which leathers he recommends - Dainese come bottom of the heap, but are one of the highest price points.

Cost does not equal quality, and cheapness does not equal value.

I'd say that you can't blindly slate a whole brand though. I'd agree that not everything that is cheap is crap and not everything that is expensive is the best.

However, I don't think it is valid to say "All Dainese is crap". I have heard horror stories about many manufacturers of anything bike related, but for every horror story, you can find someone who thinks it is the best.

Lozzo says that Frank Thomas stuff is carp, yet I did a number of trackdays with Weaselz where I watched him throw himself down the track at least 3 times. He wore Frank Thomas gear and walked away unscathed everytime. Go figure.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by GavinD

I used to have a OGK same as that and the build quality was terrible - the first one shed its side pods so they replaced it and the replacement all the vents were lose fitting.

I've still got a blacked out visor for one somewhere.

Also for my budget of £250 ish there are 3 models available - the £400 plus are mostly replicas where you pay for the paint.

This is such a stupid discussion as you are basically arguing that the market leaders in helmet design and manufacture are no better than the budget brands, so tell me - same attitude to your leathers, gloves, boots etc - I'm guessing not.

Lol, maybe its because it didnt have an Arai sticker on it. I cant vouch for your particular helmet but all I can say is that mine has been faultless, its also the third one I've owned after replacing them following some pretty fast race crashes. Very happy with them personally. They have worked perfectly for me at a fraction of the cost of a top model Arai. I used to use an Arai RX7 but soon changed my mind when I had to replace it after a minor crash. Cant be doing that too often at £450 a go.

As far as leathers, boots etc its the same argument. I dont look for a set of Dainese's, I look for a set of good quality race leathers at a reasonable price. I've used a few different types over the years, Akito being the best value for money in my own experience but there are plenty to choose from. Try them on and look at the construction before deciding on a brand, you can tell if they are crap just by looking at them close up.

I have a Caberg Trip helmet and from the tests and advice from other riders have concluded that it is a helmet to use at the right price.
If you look at all of the test results that you can find and listen to other riders you should be able to find a good safe helmet.
To me this is just common sense. There is a flaw in all tests done as noone can really test for every scenario, use the tests as a guide line and really listen to other riders.
Choose wisely and ride safely.
Ste.

[STRAMASHER]

Originally Posted by flymo

So, my £100 OGK FF4 GP helmet is not up to the job then on that thinking? Was good enough for Steve Hislop to use in BSB a few years ago.

.

If you think Steve Hislop was wearing some off the shelf £100 plastic pot you are deluded!

In my experience the cheapy brands do not last. Get loose in no time.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by STRAMASHER

If you think Steve Hislop was wearing some off the shelf £100 plastic pot you are deluded!

Actually not, I have all my senses fully functioning. In its prime time it was marketing for a higher figure obviously, just like the latest MotoGP reps are now. At the time though it was certainly not a leading brand and did not cost anywhere near £450. I bought it because it was from a reputable manufacturer and was extremely light, just what I needed for racing. I could have spent double the money but it would not have bought me a safer helmet.

My helmet is the exact same model as he had on, I saw it, in fact I held it. My father knew a number of well known riders personally and I met them on more than one occasion so please dont patronise me.

The majority of the cost of the more expensive helmets is purely profit based on brand association or more often race rep colours. They are not more expensive to manufacture than most other quality helmets and certainly dont offer a proportional step up in safety level. You are paying a premium for a brand. The helmet manufacturers often supply helmets for free or even pay riders to wear them, there is a reason for that.

Originally Posted by flymo

. I bought it because it was from a reputable manufacturer and was extremely light, just what I needed for racing.

The majority of the cost of the more expensive helmets is purely profit

You are paying a premium for a brand

.

My arai is lighter than my OGK


O.k so I'm paying 50 quid more but I also get

Free 6 months service/valet where all the pads are cleaned/replaced if necessary

Free post accident inspection and reduced cost if replacement is necessary

Free anti-fog pin lock visor insert

Free care kit to make sure the visor mech keeps working nicely

Next day turn around on all services

Free customising - I had my cheek pads changed and bits around my ears for a perfect to me fit free

Free aero tweeks - I had a chin spoiler fitted free

I now have my perfect helmet.


With OGK I got a 27 day turn-around on a warranty claim only for them to send me back my old faulty helmet, so sent it back again and the replacement was faulty (the polystyrene inner moved about!!). Finally the third one was o.k until the visor came of one side on the motorway and it took 2 weeks to get a new ratchet. The rubber seal doesn't seal the visor so water comes in when you stop. The OGK race visors don't fit properly. The rubber seal eventually statrts to come away where you open the visor. finally vents are stuck on with double sided tape.

So really I think my arai is worth the £50 quid more to me.

Also OGK don't appaer on sharp as the hole for the top vent is where they were dropping the test hammer so would have simply penetrated the chasis into the hemet cavity.