Check out my buddy's Bell moto 9 Flex

IceMan446
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IceMan446 5/29/2017 5:15pm
5/29/2017 5:15pm
NP301 wrote:
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it...
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it wrong.
Was an Arai guy for years and years.

Got sick of their cheap ass rear vent setup that cost damn near 100 bucks to replace the vents every time you ride in the woods.

Tired design on top of all of that made me go with another brand.
skypig
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skypig 5/29/2017 5:45pm
5/29/2017 5:45pm
Looks like a perfect result. (If the rider is ok)
Simple physics says the helmet should be totally destroyed in the worst survivable impact. (Mythical "perfect" design)
Force/deceleration absorbed by the helmet, not transferred to the brain.
skypig
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skypig 5/29/2017 5:54pm
5/29/2017 5:54pm
PS

I'm needing a new helmet before too long.
Currently wearing an Aeroh. Love the light weight, and it's top of my list for replacement. (I have lingering doubts about its protection rating however.)
Bell just went one closer to the top.
Arai make top quality helmets. I have one for road race use. Probably not perfect for my head shape, I wear that one a tiny bit tight. They settle in ok after a few rides. Wouldn't want to wear it all day. (Like my Aeroh, or my Shoei.)
mx617
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mx617 5/29/2017 6:05pm
5/29/2017 6:05pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
I'd be much more scared of a completely indestructible helmet helmet than one that dissipates energy........
I agree, look at indy/f1 cars that deplore on impact. Granted there's a lot more going on there, but energy needs to go somewhere.

The Shop

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-MAVERICK-
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-MAVERICK- 5/29/2017 6:09pm
5/29/2017 6:09pm
NP301 wrote:
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it...
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it wrong.
Arai might be a great helmet but in my opinion it's old and outdated compared to what is currently available on the market.

Not sure when Arai plans on releasing a new model but I think their model is even older than the Shoei VFX-W and Shoei is supposed to release something new in the near future.

Personally I'm a Bell guy and if I was still riding today I'd be wearing a Moto-9 Flex. I'm sure you're an Arai guy for your reasons just like I'm a Bell guy for my reasons. When I had my tragic accident I was fortunate not to have any head injury and I owe that to the Bell Moto-8 I was wearing at the time. It's hard to change brands when the one you wear did its job.

If I was the OP's friend I would send a thank you note to Bell along with the broken in half helmet.
redbeard104 5/29/2017 6:10pm
5/29/2017 6:10pm
This is what I think of when I see the OP's photo
Langhammx 5/29/2017 6:10pm
5/29/2017 6:10pm
NP301 wrote:
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it...
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it wrong.
Tuna wrote:
Thanks for setting us all straight.
NP301 wrote:
I get you are full of salt already, doesn't mean you need to add more. Silly
You gotta realize how you look with your post. Arai has always had a good helmet, but there are other helmet companies who have exceeded the crash test ratings of Arai. Bell being one of them....

Every head shape is different and no one helmet is the best one for everyone.I realize you noted that part, but I'm just trying to reiterate the facts. I wore Shoei helmets for 15+ years, before I decided to try something else. I used TLD for a couple years, because they were free, same with ONE Industries and even tried an Arai once (doesn't fit my head shape at all). I tried the Bell Moto 9 because it was 1/2 price and I liked the fit a lot. I can afford any helmet that I want, so the cost is not an issue, I just happen to have the Bell connection.
I'd pay full price for the Bell Moto 9 carbon, if my deal ever went away. I've had a couple REALLY bad crashes and busted one side of the jaw on my last one, although it didn't separate from the rest of the helmet...
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 5/29/2017 6:17pm
5/29/2017 6:17pm
NP301 wrote:
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it...
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it wrong.
Tuna wrote:
Thanks for setting us all straight.
NP301 wrote:
I get you are full of salt already, doesn't mean you need to add more. Silly
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back.

Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL & DOT stds that your Arai is bullt to. You can start by doing some reading on the different types of impacts we experience in Moto versus the usual simple impact tests that the gov't and SNELL use.
Langhammx 5/29/2017 6:20pm
5/29/2017 6:20pm
Tuna wrote:
Thanks for setting us all straight.
NP301 wrote:
I get you are full of salt already, doesn't mean you need to add more. Silly
TeamGreen wrote:
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back. Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL &...
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back.

Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL & DOT stds that your Arai is bullt to. You can start by doing some reading on the different types of impacts we experience in Moto versus the usual simple impact tests that the gov't and SNELL use.
BINGO
skypig
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skypig 5/29/2017 6:24pm
5/29/2017 6:24pm
It's impossible to build an ideal helmet.
The best one to take a footpeg to the head in, is probably not the best one to land headfirst into a berm in.

The MIPS type liners, and 6D designs have merit. Similar to what Airai have been trying to achieve with their "egg shape", frangible visor screws, and lack of protrusions/edges.
NP301
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NP301 5/29/2017 6:49pm
5/29/2017 6:49pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back. Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL &...
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back.

Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL & DOT stds that your Arai is bullt to. You can start by doing some reading on the different types of impacts we experience in Moto versus the usual simple impact tests that the gov't and SNELL use.
Eh personal opinion on the look, but yeah I agree as far as the different types of impacts. Road/Gov't testing are much different from what happens when you crash on dirt. But, Arai's have always fit me great & I got mine for under $500.. when they retail at $750.. So I'm pretty happy.
Hut
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Hut 5/29/2017 7:14pm
5/29/2017 7:14pm
skypig wrote:
It's impossible to build an ideal helmet. The best one to take a footpeg to the head in, is probably not the best one to land...
It's impossible to build an ideal helmet.
The best one to take a footpeg to the head in, is probably not the best one to land headfirst into a berm in.

The MIPS type liners, and 6D designs have merit. Similar to what Airai have been trying to achieve with their "egg shape", frangible visor screws, and lack of protrusions/edges.
Pretty sure none of them are designed to have the shell ripped in two.
Need more info on the cause. Maybe a defective shell slipped past QC? aren't these all made overseas?
skypig
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skypig 5/29/2017 7:56pm
5/29/2017 7:56pm Edited Date/Time 5/29/2017 8:00pm
Too many variables to know for sure, but what if it hadn't ripped in half?
More energy transfered to the owners neck is the answer.

In the early days of full face helmets, there was anecdotal reports of more neck injuries but less facial damage.
Some argued that a broken jaw, was preferable to a broken neck.

For a long time, Arai refused to build full face MX helmets. Utilizing bolt on face guards with frangible screws. (To reduce the chance of neck injuries.) Arai still use very short face guards to reduce the potential leverage.

In the example of the Bell in this thread. Any less damage would have meant more force transfered to the wearer. Fact.

Again: if the wearer suffered no injuries. The helmet worked perfectly. Any stronger, would have been worse.

Doesn't mean it wouldn't benefit from being stronger in some other accident. But beyond a certain strength, it certainly becomes less safe. Think steel helmet.
Hallzilla
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Hallzilla 5/29/2017 9:38pm
5/29/2017 9:38pm
Langhammx wrote:
The helmet did its job. He'd be stupid not to buy another on to replace it with...
OneWordResponseGuy wrote:
REALLY!???????
DID IT SAVE HIS LIFE ! ???? WTF do you expect from it ? To look pretty after a horrendous crash ?
Do you ride ? Bahahahaha
jeffro503
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jeffro503 5/29/2017 10:36pm
5/29/2017 10:36pm
1st....to the OP , thank god your buddy is ok! Looks like that Bell did it's job , if all he got was a concussion!

2nd.......Shoei!!! You bro's that don't know , VFX-w all the way for ol' Jeffro! Always fit my head perfect , so I got two!



MBR
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MBR 5/29/2017 10:48pm
5/29/2017 10:48pm
At first I thought the people who posted "The helmet did it job" were sarcastic, but now I pretty sure they just don't understand anything about helmet safety. The mouth piece is never intended to break away. A few years ago a Finnish top rider crashed and his Airoh's mouth piece broke and the doctors had to rebuild his face building ten titanium plates. It was not pretty.
skypig
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skypig 5/29/2017 11:02pm
5/29/2017 11:02pm
MBR wrote:
At first I thought the people who posted "The helmet did it job" were sarcastic, but now I pretty sure they just don't understand anything about...
At first I thought the people who posted "The helmet did it job" were sarcastic, but now I pretty sure they just don't understand anything about helmet safety. The mouth piece is never intended to break away. A few years ago a Finnish top rider crashed and his Airoh's mouth piece broke and the doctors had to rebuild his face building ten titanium plates. It was not pretty.
Maybe, if it (the Airohs mouth piece) hadn't broken away, the riders neck might have broken. Potentially an even more difficult rebuild.

Just saying.

I certainly don't think the OPs Bell was faulty, or failed in anyway.

Those Shoei's look great, and Shoei's fit my head shap well (have a DS Hornet - "Adventure" helmet. Great for cruising on The Supermoto.)
Fearo
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Fearo 5/30/2017 12:47am
5/30/2017 12:47am Edited Date/Time 5/30/2017 12:49am
Really hard to speculate from just one photo, but I will say this. No quality helmet should EVER EVER snap in half like that, not even of it got hit by a train. If I saw that from a 6D, pretty sure I would question my next helmet purchase.

Helmet liners are supposed to break, not actual helmets. Which is totally different from neck braces, where the actual brace (usually the thoracic strut) is supposed to snap off when enough force is applied.

Pit Row

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Andy_Greenney 5/30/2017 1:29am
5/30/2017 1:29am
MBR wrote:
At first I thought the people who posted "The helmet did it job" were sarcastic, but now I pretty sure they just don't understand anything about...
At first I thought the people who posted "The helmet did it job" were sarcastic, but now I pretty sure they just don't understand anything about helmet safety. The mouth piece is never intended to break away. A few years ago a Finnish top rider crashed and his Airoh's mouth piece broke and the doctors had to rebuild his face building ten titanium plates. It was not pretty.
I'll take a rebuilt face over an un-rebuildable neck/spinal cord any day.
The force has to go somewhere and the last thing you want is a big lever on your face twisting your head.

Looking at the way it's broken seems to be an intended fracture point, a failure wouldn't likely be such a clean even break.

Been a lifelong Arai wearer, changed to the Bell because it looks good and the new Arai looks crap and is stupid expensive....when it comes to my next crash helmet I will be going back to Arai
coastlinecascot 5/30/2017 7:34am
5/30/2017 7:34am
On a different note. I really love the padding on bells. They dont break down and hold their shape after a ton of use. Another brand i used the padding was gone after just a couple months
bvm111
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bvm111 5/30/2017 8:30am
5/30/2017 8:30am
I have been looking at the Bells and interested in the MIPS and 6D technology however, they fit my big coconut funny so Shoei is what I have been wearing for years now. I am anxious to see what Shoei will do next and I will more than likely pick another VFXw soon while I wait!

OP... glad your buddy is "ok" after that one, I have shattered one helmet, not to that extent, and still to this day is the scariest thing that I have ever been through!
aroark247
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aroark247 5/30/2017 9:58am
5/30/2017 9:58am
From what I was told, it was a high speed crash over the bars. The helmet broke in half when he was laying unconscious on the track like I said in my OP. He was literally landed on a couple of times, like laying on the track and having a couple of guys land on you wheel to head.

My take is that, it is unbelievable that he got away with only a concussion. The helmet did a good job for that. I doubt any helmet can withstand being landed on multiple times
aroark247
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aroark247 5/30/2017 10:10am
5/30/2017 10:10am
NP301 wrote:
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it...
Bell is great, but if you're not in an Arai (unless due to financial reasons or because of the shape of your head).. you're doing it wrong.
-MAVERICK- wrote:
Arai might be a great helmet but in my opinion it's old and outdated compared to what is currently available on the market. Not sure when...
Arai might be a great helmet but in my opinion it's old and outdated compared to what is currently available on the market.

Not sure when Arai plans on releasing a new model but I think their model is even older than the Shoei VFX-W and Shoei is supposed to release something new in the near future.

Personally I'm a Bell guy and if I was still riding today I'd be wearing a Moto-9 Flex. I'm sure you're an Arai guy for your reasons just like I'm a Bell guy for my reasons. When I had my tragic accident I was fortunate not to have any head injury and I owe that to the Bell Moto-8 I was wearing at the time. It's hard to change brands when the one you wear did its job.

If I was the OP's friend I would send a thank you note to Bell along with the broken in half helmet.
Actually ARAI updated their helmet line in 2015.... 2 years ago when they came out with the VX PRO 4. SHOEI came out with VFX-W in 2009, 8 years ago. However both of those Japanese brands do their own extensive testing besides SNELL and DOT.

A lot of poster's in this thread aren't giving them enough respect. With 6D and BELL's new technology, they are just now up to par with ARAI and SHOEI on protection. Quality they are still a little off....
Rosso391 5/30/2017 12:03pm
5/30/2017 12:03pm
The guy that wore the helmet had to have augered into the ground pretty good. I agree it did its job, anyone who says otherwise is totally wrong. The guy got away with "just a concussion". Not a caved in face or stuck in a coma or decapitated. Buy another BELL, one of the best lids on the market.
Grieby54
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Grieby54 5/30/2017 1:38pm
5/30/2017 1:38pm
NP301 wrote:
I get you are full of salt already, doesn't mean you need to add more. Silly
TeamGreen wrote:
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back. Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL &...
Dear Arai wearers...the '90s are calling, they want their helmet back.

Go do your homework, there's a lot more to helmet design than the SNELL & DOT stds that your Arai is bullt to. You can start by doing some reading on the different types of impacts we experience in Moto versus the usual simple impact tests that the gov't and SNELL use.
Langhammx wrote:
BINGO
Yup. I was wearing an Arai when I got my last concussion (4th ever). I'm a little bit bitter because that's where I decided to draw the line and quit the sport, but I wish I was wearing a Bell or a 6D because I feel like the outcome might have been different. Not that my "feelings" are any sort of scientific proof, but I don't feel like I should have been knocked out from the crash, yet I was.
jerry atrick moto 5/30/2017 2:41pm
5/30/2017 2:41pm
As soon as this riding season is over. Moto 9s garage art and I'm going to buy myself and my 2 sons the FOX v4 helmet KROC was wearing when he broke his arm. The impact he took to his head should have shoved his brains out his arse!!!.
NP301
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NP301 5/30/2017 5:01pm
5/30/2017 5:01pm
Grieby54 wrote:
Yup. I was wearing an Arai when I got my last concussion (4th ever). I'm a little bit bitter because that's where I decided to draw...
Yup. I was wearing an Arai when I got my last concussion (4th ever). I'm a little bit bitter because that's where I decided to draw the line and quit the sport, but I wish I was wearing a Bell or a 6D because I feel like the outcome might have been different. Not that my "feelings" are any sort of scientific proof, but I don't feel like I should have been knocked out from the crash, yet I was.
The real question is how many times you crashed and hit your head prior to the one that knocked you out.... Even the best helmet after a bunch of hits becomes infective.
Falcon
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Falcon 5/30/2017 5:08pm
5/30/2017 5:08pm
Those Bells are nice and the 6Ds are too. I love the fact that these companies are going toward a "next-generation" safety standard, and I'm sure Arai will follow suit - probably with something that reminds us why we "Arai guys" love that brand so much. For me, there is ABSOLUTELY no comparison between an Arai and anything else. It's like comparing a Ducati to a tricycle. The attention to detail is unreal.

I always say, "Putting your head in an Arai is the 2nd best feeling you can get by putting a body part into something. And it's a close 2nd."
jnickell
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jnickell 5/30/2017 8:56pm
5/30/2017 8:56pm
Falcon wrote:
Those Bells are nice and the 6Ds are too. I love the fact that these companies are going toward a "next-generation" safety standard, and I'm sure...
Those Bells are nice and the 6Ds are too. I love the fact that these companies are going toward a "next-generation" safety standard, and I'm sure Arai will follow suit - probably with something that reminds us why we "Arai guys" love that brand so much. For me, there is ABSOLUTELY no comparison between an Arai and anything else. It's like comparing a Ducati to a tricycle. The attention to detail is unreal.

I always say, "Putting your head in an Arai is the 2nd best feeling you can get by putting a body part into something. And it's a close 2nd."
I am with Falcon on this. Although, it was between the Shoei and the Arai for me. The Arai won because it fit my noggin way better but I was not going to buy a cheap helmet because it was inexpensive...

Never ever buy a helmet using the "looks cool" criteria. I actually think the Arai does look cool though. I had crappy helmets before and I determined that my head was worth more than the high price tag of a quality helmet. Second is boots. Good boots are also a must. Third was knee braces. I quit riding a couple years after the LEATT was becoming common. I wasn't 100% sold on them at first but I quit riding before committing to that purchase. Had I continued riding, I would have gotten the Leatt. I'll take broken collar bones over spinal cord damage every day.
mx510
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mx510 5/30/2017 9:12pm
5/30/2017 9:12pm
Tuna wrote:
Thanks for setting us all straight.
NP301 wrote:
I get you are full of salt already, doesn't mean you need to add more. Silly
Langhammx wrote:
You gotta realize how you look with your post. Arai has always had a good helmet, but there are other helmet companies who have exceeded the...
You gotta realize how you look with your post. Arai has always had a good helmet, but there are other helmet companies who have exceeded the crash test ratings of Arai. Bell being one of them....

Every head shape is different and no one helmet is the best one for everyone.I realize you noted that part, but I'm just trying to reiterate the facts. I wore Shoei helmets for 15+ years, before I decided to try something else. I used TLD for a couple years, because they were free, same with ONE Industries and even tried an Arai once (doesn't fit my head shape at all). I tried the Bell Moto 9 because it was 1/2 price and I liked the fit a lot. I can afford any helmet that I want, so the cost is not an issue, I just happen to have the Bell connection.
I'd pay full price for the Bell Moto 9 carbon, if my deal ever went away. I've had a couple REALLY bad crashes and busted one side of the jaw on my last one, although it didn't separate from the rest of the helmet...
Langham, where are you getting your test ratings, I would be interested in seeing the ratings of the helmets against each other.

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