Just to let you guy's and gal's know that the new UK SHARP helmet testing project is now (finally after a long long wait) live as from today -

About 30 test results have been put online. More will follow over the next few days (or weeks if the past is anything to go by).

SHARP - The Helmet Safety Scheme

More helmet results will come online in the next few days.

Damn! My top of the range Shoie X-Spirit only has 4 stars whereas some helmets costing much less have 5 stars! Well guys, there you have it, PRICE doesn't necessarily equate to best protection. As I have been saying for months on this forum, there will be a few red faces within the industry. What a laugh... Go out and get yourself a bargain helmet with 5 stars. It's official, it's no longer necessary to spend hundreds of pounds to get the best protection.

I could have saved myself £350 by buying a cheap £50 NITRO helmet which gets 4 stars too.

These are the BEST Helmets that all get 5 stars out of 5 stars

AGV S.4
ARAI GR5x
Bell M1
HJC HQ1
LAZER LZ6
SHARK RSR2

ONE OF THE WORST HELMETS IS THE (WAIT FOR IT) - ARAI CONDOR COST £250

As I thought, These greedy lying bastards have been fleecing us all for years! Not one Shoei helmet gets 5 stars! :confused1:

I'm sure some of the smaller less well known and cheap manufactures will be most happy with the results. Many cheap £50 helmets get 4 stars!

THIS IS A UK GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROJECT BUT THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT.

I forcee quite a few redundancies and sackings at the Shoei head office! What a laugh... I think I'm entitled to say that after spending nearly £400 on a helmet which I was told provided the best level of protection.

How did you're helmet perform in these tests? Perhaps this thread can be used to discuss this project in detail and forum members can moan about the results...

Enjoy... SHARP - The Helmet Safety Scheme

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Glad you made such a good decision with your new GP 5x.

I'm furious, I've just wasted £380 on a SHOEI X-Spirit! I honestly thought I was getting value for money in terms of protection. I could have got myself a £50 Nitro which also got 4 stars...

I'm thinking of designing a new website called www.shoei-shit.com. Waddya fink? :confused1:

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Read how they've done the tests!

I won't be changing my three star Shoei XR1000 for a Nitro any time soon. Or ever.

The Arai that did well is a car racing shell! I think the Bell is too...

It looks that these SHARP ratings are now questioned by some experts:

Quote:

"It suggests the underlying assumption of SHARP ratings – that helmets should be particularly able to withstand impact tests to points on either side – is completely wrong.
Mills report says research in fact shows most impacts are to the chin-bar, an area not tested by SHARP at all."

.... test results are test results, are test results ..........

I hope I don't step on anyone's toes but maybe this one is interesting, too?!?!?! Sorry that it's all in German, but us bikers should know and see what they are talking about:

Motorrad-Helme Test

In my honest (and maybe humbled) opinion - you always get what you pay for!!

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[quote=klaus;248495
In my honest (and maybe humbled) opinion - you always get what you pay for!! [/quote]

If it helps you sleep at night enjoy your Arai, Shoei or whatever you wear. I'm not sure. I think the helmet that fits, doesn't cause fatigue and is roughly to a tested standard is the best you can hope for regardless of price.

There are reports that go back to the 1940's that show only one thing; Any helmet is better than none. After that scientists hit a brick wall. Every crash is different and the scientific requirement to remove noise from the data throws out the baby with the bath water.

Mills says most impacts are on the chin bar. Does that mean protection is required or riders without a chin bar see what's coming and don't crash?

Cairns said most motorcycle fatalities suffered damage to the facial bones, but in 1941 there were no chin bars and few visors. The world of Britain in 1941 had a lot fewer crumple zones, disc brakes, air bags etc.

Cooter concluded that rigid chin bars transmitted the forces into the straps and neck and killed by brain stem damage. He wanted a sort of crumple zone on the chin bar.

Arai, Shoei etc. would love you to think a £400 helmet is four times better than a £100 type. The government test authorities like STAR want something no one can say is unfair, hence ECE22.05 etc. are simple impact tests.

There won't be a full answer until we do this as a statistical exercise and include injuries and near misses as well as fatalities. It's a huge project that'd take 10 years and wouldn't get any support from the manufacturers for fear that that £400 lid is painted styrofoam just like the £100 one. STAR is a good attempt, but once again incomplete and hence open to attack from MCN and it's advertisers.

Andy

"If it helps you sleep at night enjoy your Arai, Shoei or whatever you wear" -

.... what can I say! It's none of the above mentioned - however, (of course???) a Schubert.

But, hey, who really cares, if people are satisfied with what they put on their head - let it be a bucket! As I said before - it's only my opinion and I am still willing to learn!

??????

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Coincidence or what, that's what I'm using! Concept? You like it?

I'm sort of happy with it. It's comfortable, convienient and the sun visor is now on my must have list. It's also heavy, noisy and mists like a Turkish bath. It's getting near the end of it's life and I must say I'd bet Schuberth won't be getting £400 from me for the current equivalent.

Andy

Andy, yup, it's the Concept. Well, it is definitely not the 150% perfect helmet, but then again, I am pleased with it. Got it from the German store "Lou.." (no ads here, I know) and the price was more than acceptable (something like Euro 250 since I did not have to pay that surplus tax). My next helmet (I hope some years down the road) - I don't know yet. My g.f. got a Shark helmet and she likes it very much.

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I thought these tests had been discredited due to the testing techniques... Apparently they were nowhere near "real world" experiences.

I would like to think the large helmet manufacturers would put a great deal of R&D into their expensive lids. Arai, Shoe etc !!

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.