Least safe helmets?

Tuna
Profile picture for user Tuna
Posts
1580
Joined
4/3/2017
Location
CA
Tuna 3/28/2020 3:43am
3/28/2020 3:43am
MelonFan123 wrote:
i have always put my trust in a helmet made by an actual helmet manufacturer. For me that’s been Shoei, 6D and Bell. Leave it to...
i have always put my trust in a helmet made by an actual helmet manufacturer. For me that’s been Shoei, 6D and Bell. Leave it to the pros. The gear brands that pay someone else to make their helmet product just doesn’t do it for me.

Sizing also plays a big part. I was custom fitted for a Shoei at an event and was shocked to find I should wear a Medium. I have always worn a Large and they recommended different padding in a Medium shell and it fits me perfect. I highly recommend getting sized for your helmet. I believe the Shoei office in SoCal can do the custom measuring by appointment. I think Bell offers a similar service.
You think those brands are building their helmets in their own factory??? And who needs a custom sizing for a helmet?
1
5
tek14
Profile picture for user tek14
Posts
4947
Joined
1/26/2014
Location
Vantaa, FI
tek14 3/28/2020 3:47am
3/28/2020 3:47am
T-Fish wrote:
Maybe I’m dumb, but my choice is Leatt for a helmet. Like others, I wish the data these companies have come up with was more transparent...
Maybe I’m dumb, but my choice is Leatt for a helmet. Like others, I wish the data these companies have come up with was more transparent so we, the buyers, could actually make educated decisions on which helmet to buy instead of just taking the word of a rep, who will be very biased.
After seen some crashes where people where using Leatt I would never tell people to buy one. Even some sponsored guys switched to other brands.
2
nadeauracing229
Profile picture for user nadeauracing229
Posts
654
Joined
11/27/2009
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
nadeauracing229 3/28/2020 4:05am
3/28/2020 4:05am
I believe they are talking about the shoei...
2
1
FIREfish148
Profile picture for user FIREfish148
Posts
5486
Joined
1/20/2009
Location
Kirkland, WA, USA
FIREfish148 3/28/2020 4:38am
3/28/2020 4:38am
I don’t know about bad but here are a couple that I used back in the day and put through the ringer and can say definitely did the job. Although I guess I wouldn’t know if they did or not cause I would already be gone.
Maybe you can find one at the pawn shop or a little nickel or something.




The Shop

See All »
navalseabee
Profile picture for user navalseabee
Posts
1086
Joined
5/5/2011
Location
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
navalseabee 3/28/2020 5:44am
3/28/2020 5:44am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2020 6:02am
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you don't want to hurt relationships but it's people safety man. Find someone who doesnt care and give them the info to release to the public... call it #helmetgate
11
XMuttX
Profile picture for user XMuttX
Posts
71
Joined
2/25/2020
Location
Austin, TX, USA
XMuttX 3/28/2020 7:17am
3/28/2020 7:17am
At least in moto you’ve got choices. We’ve got one sport specific helmet, or a hockey helmet.


SandProtege 3/28/2020 7:44am
3/28/2020 7:44am
tek14 wrote:
After seen some crashes where people where using Leatt I would never tell people to buy one. Even some sponsored guys switched to other brands.
Care to elaborate?
gt80rider
Profile picture for user gt80rider
Posts
7173
Joined
4/19/2008
Location
Boulder, CO, USA
gt80rider 3/28/2020 8:02am
3/28/2020 8:02am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2020 8:03am
navalseabee wrote:
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you...
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you don't want to hurt relationships but it's people safety man. Find someone who doesnt care and give them the info to release to the public... call it #helmetgate
But... without human testing... where is this inside knowledge coming from? There is simply no other good source... sure.. you can run computer sims and bench tests, but real life head injuries have so many different variables that they can never be accounted for... if industry peeps claim they have info, it can not be of the variety that you and I can trust in the real world.....
agn5009
Profile picture for user agn5009
Posts
6747
Joined
6/8/2012
Location
State College, PA, USA
agn5009 3/28/2020 8:41am
3/28/2020 8:41am
tek14 wrote:
After seen some crashes where people where using Leatt I would never tell people to buy one. Even some sponsored guys switched to other brands.
SandProtege wrote:
Care to elaborate?
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good comparative testing.

The best recommendation I have is go to a solid dealership and try a few different brands on. Get one that fits the best. I believe in the old saying "you get what you pay for " stick to the proven, well known brands. Bell, Leatt, 6D, TLD, Shoei, Arai, airoh etc. Try them and pick your flavor. They're all competitive.
1
1
T-Fish
Profile picture for user T-Fish
Posts
3254
Joined
12/14/2009
Location
Sparta, WI, USA
Fantasy
740th
T-Fish 3/28/2020 8:55am
3/28/2020 8:55am
tek14 wrote:
After seen some crashes where people where using Leatt I would never tell people to buy one. Even some sponsored guys switched to other brands.
SandProtege wrote:
Care to elaborate?
agn5009 wrote:
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good...
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good comparative testing.

The best recommendation I have is go to a solid dealership and try a few different brands on. Get one that fits the best. I believe in the old saying "you get what you pay for " stick to the proven, well known brands. Bell, Leatt, 6D, TLD, Shoei, Arai, airoh etc. Try them and pick your flavor. They're all competitive.
I know which crash he will bring up. Here is the link to the discussion of it.

https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-Helmet-doesnt-look-g…

Here is the link to the discussion of the Leatt reply regarding the crash.

https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-releases-statement-f…
1
SandProtege 3/28/2020 9:28am
3/28/2020 9:28am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2020 9:40am
SandProtege wrote:
Care to elaborate?
agn5009 wrote:
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good...
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good comparative testing.

The best recommendation I have is go to a solid dealership and try a few different brands on. Get one that fits the best. I believe in the old saying "you get what you pay for " stick to the proven, well known brands. Bell, Leatt, 6D, TLD, Shoei, Arai, airoh etc. Try them and pick your flavor. They're all competitive.
T-Fish wrote:
I know which crash he will bring up. Here is the link to the discussion of it. https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-Helmet-doesnt-look-good-at-this-crash,1354659 Here is the link to the discussion of...
I know which crash he will bring up. Here is the link to the discussion of it.

https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-Helmet-doesnt-look-g…

Here is the link to the discussion of the Leatt reply regarding the crash.

https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-releases-statement-f…
Thanks T-Fish.

My opinion on all this.
The design of a motocross helmet is all about compromises. We have such a wide range of impact scenarios it's impossible to excel at all. Some people believe the hardness(ie shoei, arai) of the shell is the best for our sport, I don't. This crash would not deter me from wearing a leatt (which I use for downhill mtbs). What about the fly formula failure when Weston crashed? Will people not wear one because of that? Probably. 99.99% of crashes don't involve a 450 landing on the riders head, so why design for it and make compromises to the energy dissipating properties for a <.01% scenario.
4
CG118
Profile picture for user CG118
Posts
656
Joined
6/27/2014
Location
Kennesaw, GA, USA
CG118 3/28/2020 12:23pm
3/28/2020 12:23pm
agn5009 wrote:
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good...
He wont. It will be some nonsense story with no actual informative evidence. It's not his fault, like many have said here theres just no good comparative testing.

The best recommendation I have is go to a solid dealership and try a few different brands on. Get one that fits the best. I believe in the old saying "you get what you pay for " stick to the proven, well known brands. Bell, Leatt, 6D, TLD, Shoei, Arai, airoh etc. Try them and pick your flavor. They're all competitive.
T-Fish wrote:
I know which crash he will bring up. Here is the link to the discussion of it. https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-Helmet-doesnt-look-good-at-this-crash,1354659 Here is the link to the discussion of...
I know which crash he will bring up. Here is the link to the discussion of it.

https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-Helmet-doesnt-look-g…

Here is the link to the discussion of the Leatt reply regarding the crash.

https://m.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Leatt-releases-statement-f…
SandProtege wrote:
Thanks T-Fish. My opinion on all this. The design of a motocross helmet is all about compromises. We have such a wide range of impact scenarios...
Thanks T-Fish.

My opinion on all this.
The design of a motocross helmet is all about compromises. We have such a wide range of impact scenarios it's impossible to excel at all. Some people believe the hardness(ie shoei, arai) of the shell is the best for our sport, I don't. This crash would not deter me from wearing a leatt (which I use for downhill mtbs). What about the fly formula failure when Weston crashed? Will people not wear one because of that? Probably. 99.99% of crashes don't involve a 450 landing on the riders head, so why design for it and make compromises to the energy dissipating properties for a <.01% scenario.
Well said SandProtege.

How would you folks like your brain scrambled? At high speed or low speed? Good luck specifying the dynamics of your imminent head slam. Would you like to be protected by harder material or softer material? Right now, the softer materials are being implemented by only a few manufacturers, and come at a steep price. Some still charge a premium price but utilize firmer energy dispersing materials. There really aren’t any secrets here.
1
Johnny Ringo
Profile picture for user Johnny Ringo
Posts
8219
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ, USA
Johnny Ringo 3/28/2020 12:25pm
3/28/2020 12:25pm
I'm a lifelong Arai guy personally. You can really tell the quality up close compared to the Flex I recently tried. Something about a handmade helmet.
2
10
999
Profile picture for user 999
Posts
81
Joined
4/24/2018
Location
USA
999 3/28/2020 12:33pm
3/28/2020 12:33pm
Anyone here have an opinion on the A-stars M10? I was set on the Fly Formula but the A-stars is a little lighter, and a little cheaper. It also wasn't apart of the Fly Formula testing data so I really have no idea how it holds up.
triplej533 3/28/2020 2:27pm
3/28/2020 2:27pm
999 wrote:
Anyone here have an opinion on the A-stars M10? I was set on the Fly Formula but the A-stars is a little lighter, and a little...
Anyone here have an opinion on the A-stars M10? I was set on the Fly Formula but the A-stars is a little lighter, and a little cheaper. It also wasn't apart of the Fly Formula testing data so I really have no idea how it holds up.
I own both, try them both on and see which one fits your better. I like my formula a little better because I wear Scott prospects and the prospects fit a little better inside the formula. But again both helmets are great. If you have any more questions let me know. Also, buying from your local dealer will be better than buying on the internet. The dealers usually give a better deal than online stores!
triplej533 3/28/2020 2:29pm
3/28/2020 2:29pm
navalseabee wrote:
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you...
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you don't want to hurt relationships but it's people safety man. Find someone who doesnt care and give them the info to release to the public... call it #helmetgate
The new fly catalog has the test data inside it, unfortunately they don’t put the brands due to legal obligations but the data is right there and the fly formula is a really really good helmet! There technology also just got put inside on of the top Football helnet brands
GCBC
Profile picture for user GCBC
Posts
450
Joined
11/19/2017
Location
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
GCBC 3/28/2020 3:42pm
3/28/2020 3:42pm
they should make ones with raised sides so the foam hits your collarbone instead of the edge of the shell.

Pit Row

See All »
MelonFan123
Profile picture for user MelonFan123
Posts
1556
Joined
8/20/2006
Location
Ventura/LA County, CA, USA
MelonFan123 3/28/2020 4:24pm
3/28/2020 4:24pm
Tuna wrote:
You think those brands are building their helmets in their own factory??? And who needs a custom sizing for a helmet?
Shoei helmets are made at the Shoei factory in Japan. Not sure about 6D. Bell i believe has their own facility as well. Enlighten me if you know differently.

I would argue EVERYONE should get sized for their helmet, if they can. Seems like a no-brainer to me
2
duboiz
Profile picture for user duboiz
Posts
178
Joined
7/8/2019
Location
West Hills, CA, USA
duboiz 3/28/2020 5:13pm
3/28/2020 5:13pm
Receipts from manufacturer shipments to brands show that a lot of the riding gear centric brands share the same chinese manufacturer of their helmets. I'm surprised Airoh isn't as commonly mentioned as other big helmet brands. They have their own rotational impact system similar to 6D and none of the manufacturing is 3rd party. It's also one of the lightest moto helmets you can get. (the weight disqualifies it from some road use helmet certifications, but it is made for moto)

Anyone out there that has the Airoh 2.3, let's hear your review
3
1
GoonRider93 3/28/2020 7:04pm
3/28/2020 7:04pm
I've had 2 Bell helmets, they have a good history and I trust that brand. But that wouldn't stop me buying a 6D or Airoh for example.
1
Panic_Rev
Profile picture for user Panic_Rev
Posts
686
Joined
7/13/2012
Location
Fayetteville, AR, USA
Panic_Rev 3/28/2020 8:36pm
3/28/2020 8:36pm

nascarnate326
Profile picture for user nascarnate326
Posts
3008
Joined
11/3/2014
Location
Charlotte, MI, USA
nascarnate326 3/28/2020 9:54pm
3/28/2020 9:54pm
6D or Fly Formula is the safest IMO.

Sadly I have to use my opinion because we can’t make data driven decisions on the topic Sad
ktmdan
Profile picture for user ktmdan
Posts
1227
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Houston, TX, USA
ktmdan 3/28/2020 10:10pm
3/28/2020 10:10pm
Is it really THAT expensive? Some actuators, accelerometers, DAQ software, etc...
I would imagine if, say, I set up a lab to do it all, I wouldn’t want to publish independent test results because I’d have more lawsuits than I could shake a stick at. There’s also way more money to be made from labs doing work for manufacturers than doing an independent test as proposed. And we all know that economics are more important than safety!
ktmdan
Profile picture for user ktmdan
Posts
1227
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Houston, TX, USA
ktmdan 3/28/2020 10:18pm
3/28/2020 10:18pm
navalseabee wrote:
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you...
I find it upsetting that these industry people have some "inside knowledge" about helmet safety yet they refuse to release what they know. I understand you don't want to hurt relationships but it's people safety man. Find someone who doesnt care and give them the info to release to the public... call it #helmetgate
This data has been bought and paid for and I would imagine there would be legal consequences to share it depending on the contracts in place.
TbonesPop 3/28/2020 11:16pm
3/28/2020 11:16pm
nascarnate326 wrote:
6D or Fly Formula is the safest IMO.

Sadly I have to use my opinion because we can’t make data driven decisions on the topic Sad
If money were no object for me, I would go with either a 6D or Fly Formula too. I think they make the best. The next level down would be Shoei, Bell, and Arai. Everybody else is the next level below that. This all assumes the rider has a helmet that properly fits him or her. An improperly fitted Formula or 6D will not protect as well as a 3rd tier level helmet that is properly fitted. JMHO
4
KennyT
Profile picture for user KennyT
Posts
4403
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Vista, CA, USA
Fantasy
74th
KennyT 3/28/2020 11:20pm
3/28/2020 11:20pm
T-Fish wrote:
Maybe I’m dumb, but my choice is Leatt for a helmet. Like others, I wish the data these companies have come up with was more transparent...
Maybe I’m dumb, but my choice is Leatt for a helmet. Like others, I wish the data these companies have come up with was more transparent so we, the buyers, could actually make educated decisions on which helmet to buy instead of just taking the word of a rep, who will be very biased.
I believe you made a great choice. I have heard nothing but positive feedback from anyone wearing the Leatt. It’s a company that puts a tremendous amount of work into the safety of their products
MelonFan123
Profile picture for user MelonFan123
Posts
1556
Joined
8/20/2006
Location
Ventura/LA County, CA, USA
MelonFan123 3/29/2020 12:27am
3/29/2020 12:27am
TbonesPop wrote:
If money were no object for me, I would go with either a 6D or Fly Formula too. I think they make the best. The next...
If money were no object for me, I would go with either a 6D or Fly Formula too. I think they make the best. The next level down would be Shoei, Bell, and Arai. Everybody else is the next level below that. This all assumes the rider has a helmet that properly fits him or her. An improperly fitted Formula or 6D will not protect as well as a 3rd tier level helmet that is properly fitted. JMHO
What’s the basis for your opinion on that? Marketing info from the various helmet brands? Tests/reviews from mags or websites? Personal experience?

Not trying to argue with you. I’m genuinely curious how people tend to feel so strongly one way or another when it comes to helmets.
3
Motofinne
Profile picture for user Motofinne
Posts
11536
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
FI
Motofinne 3/29/2020 1:04am
3/29/2020 1:04am Edited Date/Time 3/29/2020 1:08am
Panic_Rev wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/03/28/414372/s1200_F10E7734_E92F_41A6_8CBF_2D2A6ECAA86F.jpg[/img]

Airoh Aviator 2.3 is missing. It weighs 1050g +-50g. I think the interesting part of this graph is that there are a few high-end helmets that weighs over 1400g, some even over 1500g. I would never put a helmet that heavy on my head.
5
MZ193
Profile picture for user MZ193
Posts
937
Joined
12/14/2018
Location
IT
MZ193 3/29/2020 1:10am
3/29/2020 1:10am
What are your thoughts on Airoh helmets?

Post a reply to: Least safe helmets?