Talk to me about gear

Yes sir Bull, there has been enough live testing for members of this forum and riders everywhere for that matter. Good point on the brand, guess all the test reports I read won't convince me different from what I learned from my previous and hopefully last off!
 
ksquared said:
As we've been talking about helmets, check out this link:

http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/02/1...st-facility-known-as-the-dome/?src=SOC&dom=fb
Click to expand...

Good reading k^2 and thanks for sharing.
Interesting to me that although the helmet contains a 10.4 pound "headform", there is no consideration for what the impact of the weighted helmeted head does once leveraged through the neck and spine which would be subjected to much more force that the head.

This kind of testing reminds me of the Insurance institute's low speed bumper bash tests where they demonstrate the amount force front bumpers can absorb without damage. No regard for the energy forces transmitted to the occupants is considered. The head is but a weighted moment arm connected to the spine which would increase the forces applied to the spine.

Bottom line to me is Helmets prevent MANY low speed severe or would be fatal head injuries. Out on a beautiful mountain highway surrounded by trees, ditches and guard rails with cages coming at you from the opposite direction a helmet may not save you from other potentially fatal injuries; but, it sure can't hurt and just may mitigate serious head injury. I doubt the $500 helmets save any more lives than the $200 helmets.
Like many other enjoyable and satisfying endeavors, riding motor is a dangerous choice. Hedge the danger best you can and throw the dice, Baby!
 
One of the central ClusterF#*^ aspects to this helmet testing/safety conversation is that the DOT approval standards are left up to each and every helmet vendor/mfr in the American marketplace to self-test and self-report back to the DOT on with regard to their compliance with said standards. In other words the application and adherence to said standards is totally on the honor system. Wow!
 
Phil,
So are you relating we may trust government more than the free market system?
The bigger issue is there NO WAY to test a helmet for the multitude of different real world motorcycle crashes that also consider the unique physiology of all humans that ride them. Common sense would dictate that one wear the best gear possible to mitigate possible/likely injury.
 


If you live in the USA and trust the current Federal Government; you're an Effing Idiot!

Rick
 
I would entrust an independent agency or party to perform such testing infinitely sooner and more than I would entrust such testing to the parties that are burdened with the compliance standards, Steve.

Also, and I know this for a fact, plenty, if not most $500 helmets (most of which in this country are both DOT and Snell approved) will do a better job of protecting your coconut than a $200 helmet. I have a friend here locally that owns the foremost sport bike performance, maintenance, upgrade and repair biz in this tri-state region (Metro NY,NJ &PA) who has a collection of both categories of lids that his customers (some of whom are dead or braindead) suffered bad and/or high speed accidents with and the costlier helmets have protected their users far greater than the less expensive, DOT-only helmets.


I have had only two mishaps in my nearly 49 years of riding experience and both resulted in two different Honda VTX 1800s being totaled out by my insurer. Neither incident was my fault whatsoever. One took place at 65 mph, the speed at which my head collided with the macadam and the other occurred at about 30 mph. Without a full face in the first instance, I'm dead, no ifs ands or buts. That Arai helmet definitely saved my life. In the second case I smacked my head at least twice, once against a quarter panel of the moving vehicle which struck me and once again when I went down and bounced my Bell Star ensconced noggin off of the pavement. In both instances there was not a mark on my head, not a sore neck, literally no evidence at all that my head participated at all with the rest of my body in either accident. Each of the lids that protected me are both Snell and DOT approved. Given these hard first-hand experiences, I surely wouldn't consider for even one N.Y.C minute testing your theory about the differences in protective capabilities between a premium helmet and a more economical one. That's just my hard earned take on it, though!
 
Last edited:
Sorry fellas, although I have lost full faith and trust or confidence in much of our Federal government (mostly in it's elected officials, certainly not in all, or even many, of its institutions), I simply can't buy into your complete lack of trust in some things about for which we have no other better entity in which to place our trust.
 
Rick McC. said:
If you live in the USA and trust the current Federal Government; you're an Effing Idiot!

Rick
Click to expand...


There are very few universal truths in this world, Rick, including your statement above. So instead of taking umbrage with or personal affront from your remark, I'll simply take it with a grain of salt...
 

Ever been to mcc? They carry everything you'll need year round. I have helmet, boots, jacket and pants from them that is vented and waterproof.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

The 5 regrets motorcyclists over 75 years old told me
2
Replies
12
Views
771
Jagster
Changed my bevel box gear oil today.....
Replies
0
Views
394
britman
It is about time to say goodbye to 3 bikes
2
Replies
19
Views
2K
Justdad
New to me Kawasaki
Replies
2
Views
479
Adriano
Goodyear Has Sold Dunlop to Another Tire Company
Replies
1
Views
174
Kevin frazier
Menu
Log in
Register