Talk to me about gear

[vanguard138]

Cortech GX Sport Air 3 was my second choice. If the Tourmaster isGermanp to snuff I shall send it back for the Cortech.
Also picked me up a Bell Mag 9 at a Honda dealership. Shall see how that Sena Bluetooth works for my GPS.

I have the HJC IX Max BT that uses the Chatterbox com system. Has worked well for me. No issues hearing the Garmin 665 GPS or the music from it when I choose. I have also taken phone calls with it. Never did bike to bike as no one I ride with has it. Still trying to figure out a joint for my Ski Door GSX to use the GPS with. I also have an HJC IS Max BT snowmobile helmet. I like the fit.

 

[TriumPhil]

Firstly, I would never use any lid that isn't both Snell and DOT approved. That axiom has already saved my life! At present I use a Bell Star as my primary and an Arai Vector as my backup. Only rigid fullfaces for me as modulars still do not afford the either the same or better integrity in a bad get-off. I'd much rather be a little less comfortable than to be disfigured or dead. But, hey, it's anyone's choice...

Secondly, there is a good number of decent protective garment manufacturers out there. I have tried and/or researched nearly all of them. IMO, the biggest bang for most rider's bucks will be found with Olympia Moto Sports gear. They also have the largest and most diversified choices when it comes to riding gloves which are sold under the Olympia brand.

The company is owned by an avid rider who also happens to be their primary designer, so their stuff is pragmatic, high quality and constantly being improved.
They are innovators, not copycats.

 

[kblahetka]

Firstly, I would never use any lid that isn't both Snell and DOT approved. That axiom has already saved my life! At present I use a Bell Star as my primary and an Arai Vector as my backup. Only rigid fullfaces for me as modulars still do not afford the either the same or better integrity in a bad get-off. I'd much rather be a little less comfortable than to be disfigured or dead. But, hey, it's anyone's choice...

Secondly, there is a good number of decent protective garment manufacturers out there. I have tried and/or researched nearly all of them. IMO, the biggest bang for most rider's bucks will be found with Olympia Moto Sports gear. They also have the largest and most diversified choices when it comes to riding gloves which are sold under the Olympia brand.

The company is owned by an avid rider who also happens to be their primary designer, so their stuff is pragmatic, high quality and constantly being improved.
They are innovators, not copycats.

I've read mixed reports that snell ratings may actually be so hard that in the event of lower impact crased they won't give at all and therefore only offer abrasion protection instead impact protection.

 

[ksquared]

I've read mixed reports that snell ratings may actually be so hard that in the event of lower impact crased they won't give at all and therefore only offer abrasion protection instead impact protection.

I think you're referring to a 2005 article and study in Motorcyclist Magazine entitled "Blowing the Lid Off" by Dexter Ford.

Here's a link to the article, which includes (at the end) the Snell Foundation Response. It's a long and technical read - but worth doing, I think.

http://www.westcoastweasels.com/archives/PDF/Blowing_the_Lid_Off.pdf

BTW: There was a controversey some years later that the then editor of Motorcyclist, Brian Caterson, fired Dexter Ford for writing the article, as there was some discussion of advertisers being so outraged by it that they threatened to pull their ads. Lots of intrigue.

http://jalopnik.com/5582380/how-the-truth-about-motorcycle-helmets-got-a-journalist-fired

Happy reading!

 

[1olbull]

Thanks for sharing these articles, K^2.
Tedious reading to be sure; but, well worth the effort.
In my 40 years I have investigated thousands of collisions.
I have seen a fair amount of crushed skulls - none of them were helmeted motor riders.
Circular helmets vs. circular objects, poles, guard rails, bumpers and even relatively flat surfaces, grills, doors, pavement have not produced a crushed head in my experience.
What these articles fail to include is the neck, a relatively frail support and lever mechanism for a heavy head made heavier by a helmet.

IMHO - the statistics do not lie. Helmets save lives! All the rest is biased reporting and actions from helmet manufacturers and magazine owners with obvious monetary agendas. Politics?
Wear a GOOD Quality helmet of your choice and fit! Screw the political rhetoric.
Burma Shave . . .

 

[TriumPhil]

I was unfamiliar with the ECE ratings until I learned about them here. Subsequently, I've done a bit of reading and that has led me to conclude that at this time the ECE and British SHARP ratings may be the best/most up to date in spite of the good modifications the Snell Foundation made for greater impact absorbtion with their latest M2010 rating.

Here's a brief & good article on the subject: http://silodrome.com/snell-vs-dot-vs-ece-r22-05-helmet-standards-throwdown/


I found this video helpful, maybe some of you will, too:

 

[Rolltide100]

I was unfamiliar with the ECE ratings until I learned about them here. Subsequently, I've done a bit of reading and that has led me to conclude that at this time the ECE and British SHARP ratings may be the best/most up to date in spite of the good modifications the Snell Foundation made for greater impact absorbtion with their latest M2010 rating.

Here's a brief & good article on the subject: http://silodrome.com/snell-vs-dot-vs-ece-r22-05-helmet-standards-throwdown/


I found this video helpful, maybe some of you will, too:

Good info, thanks Phil!

 

[1olbull]

Good info , Phil.
I want to see standardized tests that are applicable to rear world crashes.
These tests should be used by all three safety conventions so direct comparisons can be deduced.
How would I get the actual test criteria? Where is this ball mounted, how far is the drop and what is the distance available beyond the ball impact for the loaded helmet to travel after it glanced off?
Haven't much faith in cryptic tests by government or manufacturers.
Until testing is standardized like they are for vehicle crush tests, I can't put much weight into minutia comparisons.

 

[Rolltide100]

All I know is I was wearing a Shoei RF-1000 this past June. I have no doubt that it saved my life. Perhaps any other helmet would have done the same, I don't know and not remotely interested in any more live testing!

 

[1olbull]

Bama Boy,
I be with ya on that, "no more live testing"!
I figure around $200 and good fit should be fair quality to roll the dice with.
My last helmet saved my head after i was catapulted off onto the pavement and bounced down the roadway for about 30+ feet.
This was the second helmet saved my head in a crash so I figure Bell be the man and stayed with the brand.