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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia




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  #1  
Old 28 May 2008
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Originally Posted by kentfallen View Post
2. Every helmet on the UK market will be tested for IMPACT.

4. Helmets will display these stars to show the test result for that helmet.
I don't really see what was wrong with a helmet that reached the old ACU standard.
Testing for impact is mostly bollocks and is like a placebo... The BSI testing included an impact test with a weight with a pointy end on it. The helmet had to withstand a 35mph impact without failing.

Most helmets fail through faulty fit, worn or incorrectly fitted straps or just age.
While some helmets do fail on impact, its usually quite a substantial one.
The old 35mph test is not much cop if you think about it... how many times will you hit a sharp(ish) object, square on at that speed? If what you hit is moving at 35mph as well, its curtains.
Bit like seat belts. Dunno if its still the case but they used to be rated for a 70mph impact. Thats 2 cars doing 35mph...

John
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Old 28 May 2008
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Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
The old 35mph test is not much cop if you think about it... how many times will you hit a sharp(ish) object, square on at that speed? If what you hit is moving at 35mph as well, its curtains. Bit like seat belts. Dunno if its still the case but they used to be rated for a 70mph impact. Thats 2 cars doing 35mph...

John
Every time I get on my bike I’m dressed in about 800 pounds worth of kit, 400 of which is the lid. I’ve always figured that two things moving at just 35mph is enough to get the copper with the hat off at your wife/mums door.

Will keep my eye on the site, be nice if my Arai scored well prob not...

Shaun
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Old 28 May 2008
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Will keep my eye on the site, be nice if my Arai scored well prob not... Shaun
Likewise... and Schuberth...

John
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Old 28 May 2008
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I possess 3 helmets -

1. Shoei X-Spirit (Lawson) which I purchased 2 weeks ago for £100 at the BMF in Peterborough! BARGAIN OF THE YEAR!

2. AGV X3000 Valenza £90 purchased in 2002. A great little lid.

3. Nitro MX417 Offroad helmet purchased for £30

I wonder which make will come out tops? Hopefully the cheapest one... Damn that Shoei wasn't such a good buy afterall...

I'm thinking of getting one of these for hot weather - AGV Blade White Matt XS
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Old 29 May 2008
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Originally Posted by Redboots View Post
I don't really see what was wrong with a helmet that reached the old ACU standard.
Testing for impact is mostly bollocks and is like a placebo... The BSI testing included an impact test with a weight with a pointy end on it. The helmet had to withstand a 35mph impact without failing.

Most helmets fail through faulty fit, worn or incorrectly fitted straps or just age.
While some helmets do fail on impact, its usually quite a substantial one.
The old 35mph test is not much cop if you think about it... how many times will you hit a sharp(ish) object, square on at that speed? If what you hit is moving at 35mph as well, its curtains.
Bit like seat belts. Dunno if its still the case but they used to be rated for a 70mph impact. Thats 2 cars doing 35mph...

John
The trouble is that you could buy ACU stickers by the handful and these were stuck on any old helmet. The ACU went along with this knowing full well what was going on.
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Old 29 May 2008
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I think this is a small improvement. Shoei etc. are bound to have a problem in that £400 of polystyrene covered in graphics is very unlikely to be much of an improvement over £200 of the same with different paint.

What I'd like to see is some practical testing of how a helmet is used. In 14 years of riding I've never tested the impact protection except on the odd open cupboard door. I have however had visors that fall off, helmets that change shape and hurt your head, helmets that mist up, helmets with the view you'd see out of a tank, helmets that are horribly noisy and so forth.

Protection starts with active features like vision (which you can test by trying the lid on) and not misting up (which you currently only find out about by buying or talking so someone who used one). Impact is only part of the equation and is used after everything else has gone wrong.

I'd like to see a four or five point list for each helmet, resulting in a star score. I'd give up a star on impact for an extra one on say misting. The scores need to be comparative too, to drive improvement. A helmet that gets 5 now should be down to a 4 in a couple of years if the manufacturers all improve.

Andy
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Old 29 May 2008
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I'd like to see a four or five point list for each helmet, resulting in a star score. I'd give up a star on impact for an extra one on say misting. The scores need to be comparative too, to drive improvement. A helmet that gets 5 now should be down to a 4 in a couple of years if the manufacturers all improve.

Actually thats a very good idea...
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Old 29 May 2008
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I used an Arai TourX on my trip and I thought it performed well for 5 months of constant, sweaty, use.

However, the strap is now nearly useless. The weave of the strap has gone "soft and loose" so its a real bitch to get undone... I prefer the Double-D straps.
The lining has also gone loose and when putting it on I have to stick my fingers inside to reposition the cheek pads.

Wonder if its worth sending it to Arai ans saying I think its poor for a helmet with about 22k kms usage... probably not.

John
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Old 29 May 2008
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Redboots,

How old is the thing? If it's only 5 months old then I think you might have a good case. Forget the miles used. Don't undermind your position by telling them the amount of miles travelled.

Sounds like a straightfoward case of NOT fit for purpose (law of contact).

I see you're in France. This law only applies to the UK. France may have even better consumer laws though?

I'd go for it...
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Old 30 May 2008
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I see you're in France. This law only applies to the UK. France may have even better consumer laws though?
The lid is about 18 months old now... bought from Ireland via fleabay....

Ha! No chance in France. It almost seems as if everything is "sold as seen" here. Some places wont even give you your money back for failed items, just a credit note.

I think it would be more trouble than its worth.

Cheers,
John
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