Posts
316
Joined
12/1/2013
Location
Nashville, TN
US
Edited Date/Time
10/28/2015 5:09am
There is a kid that lives around me who is currently in the hospital. He fell at a local track, I hear from people there he did not fall that hard, got back on the bike rode a half a lap pulled off the track and passed out. He is in the hospital right now with major memory loss. He was also in a coma for a day I believe. With the RJ hampshire thing recently and the guy who posted in the other thread about concussions it got me thinking. I would like to hear if anyone else heard about concussions exclusively with this new helmet technology.
You know which bikes never break?
I'll give you a hint. The answer is the same for both.
The Shop
I've talked to a few different pro riders, and there seems to be a trend with a few of the guys where they're looking for softer outer shells. A couple of them feel that a really stiff shell boosts their chance of a concussion at low speeds. That's why you'll find some riders using European spec helmets, rather than the U.S. models (CE standard, vs. Snell.)
Of course, these are also guys who get their stuff for free, already have multiple helmets at their disposal, swap them out sooner, and they're not as concerned about a long helmet life as a consumer might be.
I'm 25 and have had 9 concussions total, 7 from MX, 1 from football in high school and 1 at 2 years old from riding my trike down our stairs and hitting a wall at the landing of the stairs.
Since I started riding my parents had me in Arai helmets, and I switched to Shoei when I was 17. I clearly have hit my head a lot over the years, and have been out for as long as 9 minutes.
I bought a 6D when they came out, and have taken 2 hard slams to the head since. I'm not exaggerating when I say you can feel the helmet flex and rotate, and that feeling you get when you smack your head (anyone who has hit their head hard knows what feeling I'm talking about) is GREATLY reduced. No headache, and no pain at all during or after the crash.
I can honestly say I feel the 6D helmet technology has helped prevent me from getting a concussion. I have bought a new 6D at my local shop after each hard crash.
Like I said, this is all opinion and I have no data to back up my claims, but I am a firm believer in the technology. I'm sure there is room to improve on their technology and I would imagine they are working on improving their current platform.
The biggest thing he talks about when it comes to helmets and concussions is that no one helmet is superior to another per se. Directional impacts and speeds result in different results. He is working with several top engineers and testing facilities to get a better understanding of what works in different scenarios. From the data he has to date, the 6d and the moto 9 flex are pretty much even in results. Arai and the moto 9 are the next level and shoei vf-x next. Peruse through his concussion discussion on vintagebmx or find him on facebook to get more of his info. I dont know of another rider out there who has been so extensive in researching this topic.
Also, did this person have previous and recent head trauma you didn't know about?
At the end of the day, a helmet is designed to decrease the chances of injury, not altogether prevent it. No piece of safety equipment can.
I'm not advocating buying a cheap helmet but also consider that there is no correlation between helmet price and safety.
Bell and 6D have spent time and money researching different types of impact and its changing the helmet market.
Perhaps, with all this new tech, people feel safer, then go faster, and that is the cause for increased incidents. Too many variables to consider.
I'm just glad Bell and 6D are innovating and improving head protection.
Needless to say, I'm sold on the more expensive helmets.
Snell and DOT standards and tests are not designed with us motocross and off-road riders in mind. That much is certain.
That low speed impact protection is sound logic in my opinion, but it needs to be proven through rigorous science before we can all say: "This is the new standard and this is how a Motocross helmet should perform in testing."
For now, the manufacturers like 6D and Bell are leading the way. I applaud them. Unfortunately, there is no independent lab testing and there cannot be until an independent group is assembled to rigorously study these helmets, standard helmets, brain injuries and determine the range of impact vectors that are possible and also most common in MX and Off-Road.
Hopefully the day independent science comes into this area will arrive sooner than later.
Pit Row
I have a 3 and 4 year old that have oset's and race bmx. They wear a fly bmx/mountain bike helmet and if 6d had smaller bmx helmets they would have them.
People think there to much $$$ but tell you walk in my shoes/ head injures it's worth it. If I can't afford the best for my boys protection there not doing it.
the head is a funny thing, hit it this way, big problems- hit it harder another way, none.
the tech is an improvement and it's getting better and better as time goes along.
6D and Bell lab results are going to be better than a handful of personal stories in my opinion. An independent lab would be the best situation.
If one helmet is not better than another, why has he established three different levels? And those levels just address four of the numerous models of helmets available. Is he saying that the only factors that determine the severity of a head injury are the angle and force of the impact? What is the purpose of doing "a ton of testing and data research," if it is all to be disregarded in favor of the direction and speed theory? It's late, and I'm probably a little tired, but I just can't get my head around this one, haha. It has been my opinion that superior engineering, high quality materials, and attention to detail in construction, fit, and finish, all contribute to a higher quality helmet, thus reducing the likelihood of injury. Maybe I'll just throw a dart at the helmet page in one of my moto catalogues and purchase whichever one it hits.
Thousands and thousands of racers have crashed and did not get concussions and thousands have gotten concussions. It is part a sport that when you crash, the possibilities from a sudden stop increase, and when it involves your head, it can get serious.
6D has opened up a new world in helmet technology that has not really changed much in 30-40 years. Yes some materials have been added or altered, some testing standards and whatnot but the standard EPS liner with a cloth pad and some soft foam and an otter shell has not changed much.
So my point, No helmet can prevent a concussion if a rider lands on their head hard enough. The best way to prevent a concussion is stop riding. If a helmet can lessen the impact of a crash and decrease the number of overall concussions, this is a pure home run in my book.
But it amazes me that some point out if a rider has a hard get off and may have gotten a concussion wearing some of the new technology. I don't see posts when Joe average wearing most other brands or strange bargain bin lid from Billy Bobs house of cycles gets knocked out cold. Those are almost expected? I would image if they did, the board would called twowheel-concussions.com. Or if you want even more protection, expect to wear a helmet that is twice the size of what you wear now. Helping prevent or lessen the effects of a crash or hard impact to the head with with a few inches of protection is not an easy task, 6D has opened the doors to thinking outside the box and from what I have seen, and has done an awesome job thus far to address those slow to medium speed impacts that can cause some concussions and still have the same or slightly better protection or larger hits that we have had for decades. I think we will be seeing more helmet manufactures go in the 6D direction come up with another idea. So far Bell has a similar tech probably following what 6D has done.
This is Donny Robinsons page dealing with concussion studies. A lot of useful information on there from both experience and independent studies, along with manufacturer data. You can learn a lot reading this site.
base you opinion on what you can touch and feel, not on internet hearsay.
how your helmet fits YOU and it's construction will make a far bigger impact in the protection.
If you're really interested read up (the non-video content is at the bottom of the page):
http://www.6dhelmets.com/#!education/cnou
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