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Buy one of these:
6D ATR 1-3
TLD SE4
Bell Flex or Mips
alpinstar SM10
Fly Formula
You can't go wrong with any of those helmets as long as they fit well imo
AFX had a ~$150 mx helmet like 12 years ago that used conehead EPS.
You're not wrong sir! The first I saw it was from Leatt (in moto) but their cylinder style elastomers wont test as well as the Rheon for slow or rotational impacts. Rheon is some insane stuff designed originally from a Dr in England who invented it to absorbs explosives on the bottom of Military Vehicles. He was a moto guy and developed a shape and after a 3rd party tested the top 12 helmets, Fly only tested worse from one of 9 impacts points. 3rd party tester, with no bias. Believe me, I'd love to promote anything when it comes to safety, this is just facts.
I should have specified, so I apologize, I think the conehead is a huge contributor to the helmet being so safe when combined with Rheon, and the overall AIS (Adaptive Impact System).
But you are correct about the Conehead, its not Fly's Tech, but it is the best to use as an EPS Liner.
with a Plastic (Polycarbonate) shell that bounces like a Golf ball down a freeway prolly lol.
Im just throwing a few facts about data, opinions about experiences, and how stuff actually tested. Sounds like some good input from most folks.
The Shop
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Ordered up a Fly Formula Carbon. Thanks for the info 🙏🏽
Thanks for all of the great info. How do you feel about the SE4 and SE5 from TLD?
Depends if you want a handmade one from Japan or a mass produced one from China.
But there are different style mips also.
I’ve talk to them about it and they said it be about $250,000 to get set up for testing dirt bike helmets.
They do test full face mtb helmets now though and I’ve been bugging them about that for years.
I think yes.
Something that has rotational movement and two different EPS or EPP foams and fits your head is what I think.
I personally wear 6D
Two helmets passing a certification does NOT make them equal. The certification test is just the minimum. Unless someone here is actually performing testing, we don’t know the true relative performance for a range of impacts of any helmets. I wish independently measured performance was actually made available to the consumer to inform our choices. 6D does share some independent testing results though without listing brands. I am grateful for 6D and Fly for making an attempt to significantly improve helmet technology. While very well built, an Arai, or Shoei, really isn’t that much different than any 80s or 90s helmet. Shell, EPS, liner….
I’ve broken the shells of two helmets in MX crashes, and my skull in multiple places one time. I really pay attention to helmet design now. For street and MX I own Bell, Shoei, Airoh, and 6D helmets, the 6D is the one I trust the most.
6D is coming out with a new MTB enduro helmet soon and will have a new MTB downhill helmet next year ATB-2.
I am glad that there seems to be a lot more research and tech going into helmets now. Does it matter and does it work? Presumably. Without the testing, who really knows? Either way, it seems likely that we're getting safer and safer helmets out of it. As for me, I'll go with the one that fits my head the best. Right now, that is an Arai, hands-down. I also like the fit of the Alpinestars SM-10, which may end up being my next helmet. That one has MIPS, but remember Arai was championing the "round shells don't rotate as much in the first place" mantra since long before 6D came out and revolutionized the market.
The analogy I like is this: would you rather get into a 30MPH crash in a car with regular seatbelts (Arai) or a 75MPH crash in a car with super-duper seatbelts (6D/MIPS)? I think the ultimate safety helmet would combine the round shape of the Arai with the high-tech interior of their competitors, but we don't have that yet.
OP, you may really like the TLD helmets if you dislike the Arai. I love my Arais and absolutely hated my TLD SE4 Carbon; so much so that I gave it to my son after only using it 3 times. That helmet actually hurt my head worse than the pain of losing $500 on it did. (And I'm a penny-pinching cheapskate!) I have a feeling the head shape is simply wrong for me on the TLD, but it might be perfect for you.
I would love to see actual data from a 3rd party test. Not marketing info put out by the company that paid for for the tests.
Hopefully an unbiased 3rd party test, like Virginia Tech, is something that happens in the MX helmet space some time soon. Having it for cycling provides really insightful info into what works and what doesn't.
There are several issues with reporting impact testing.
What is the medical direction behind the testing? What is the goal? Why is that the goal? What are the medical implications of the test results? The original single goal was to prevent death (current standard 275g acceleration). With a second goal of protecting against concussions - what acceleration results in a concussion? 6D designs for around 60g, Leatt designs for 120g, the ECE 22.06 "low-speed" standard is for 180g with different speeds respectively. What is the correct threshold? If a test results in 39g for one helmet but 40g for another, does that mean that the first performs better? Or do neither result in a concussion and therefore the goal is achieved? If one helmet does better at 60g but another does better at 120g - which one is better?
The same helmet model does not absorb the same impact with the same acceleration for different weights/headforms/helmet sizes. There are six different ISO standard headform sizes and weights, with different helmet sizes. Published data for a size large will be different than results for a small. One helmet can perform better at a specific impact speed for a large weight head while the other helmet would perform better for a small weight head at that same speed.
With six different head sizes/weights, and two to four different impact thresholds = 24 helmets to drop test for one impact point. Add different impact points, oblique/rotational impacts, different temperatures... then do that for multiple helmets for comparison! This hasn't even addressed lab repeatability.
The best independent impact test results I've seen do not address multiple impact speeds OR multiple head sizes/weights. They just publish the one test that makes their helmet look the best at that size and impact speed of their choice.
The certifications cover all this. That is the best we have available. Please check the sticker or chinstrap for the certification!
Yeah but....Saying the certifications are the best we have is throwing your hands up and saying, oh well it is what it is. Go buy a helmet that fits your head and your budget and hope you're safe.
They are doing 3rd party tests for other sports already. Obviously there isn't a direct correlation between lab tests and real world impacts, but the VT method gives an apples to apples comparison for a given activity. Bicycle, Football, Hockey, Equestrian. If they had funding and if the bigger companies stepped up and accepted it, VT could do the same for MX.
In case you haven't checked it out. It's interesting to see what manufacturers are at the top of this list, and which manufacturers or technologies don't rate well. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html
Saying certifications are the best we have is not saying "oh well." It is saying to start with the certifications. There are helmets discussed here that aren't even certified. Eliminate those from the conversation then we can discuss which perform best.
And why bother with testing if "obviously there isn't a direct correlation between lab tests and real world impacts"? If there is a problem with the certification or test method, change it. Claiming one brand has a secret method to making the best helmet without publishing the path for everyone to follow is just selling the Emperor's New Clothes. This way of thinking is why consumers/manufacturers keep buying/selling inferior helmets
From experience with most helmets including some hard crashes I have had.
2023 Fly Formula CP did the job. The protection technology exceeds the price of $260 IMO. You can usual get one on clearance for just over $100. It is one of the lightest helmets I have worn and if even lighter get the Formula CC.
https://www.motosport.com/fly-racing-2023-formula-cp-helmet-slant.
Leatt 8.5 Composite and is a very good helmet $500, 9.5 is the carbon version $700. 7.5 is the injected polymer and priced at $300 and has the same level of protection.
https://leatt.com/us/product/helmet-kit-moto-7-5-with-4-5-goggles-v25?selected-color=white,
Bell Moto 9 Flex and Moto 10. Both have done very well with protection. The Flex is almost $600 so spend the extra $100 and get the 10.
6D. ATR 2 or 3 If considering spending $700 to $800.
I am currently using the Moto 10 as the primary and the Formula CP as a back up.
Pit Row
The SE5 is OUTSTANDING!!! It utilizes the latest Mips Integra technology and is incredibly comfortable and fairly light. Great eyeport and ventilation. ECE 2206 its well worth the investment. You can get it in carbon or fiberglass. You're in South Jersey so go see Mt Holly that have a bunch in stock.
Thank you! I put my son in a carbon SE5 this season and he loves it. I am currently wearing an SE4, my only gripe is the visor screw in the middle is completely useless and the visor falls down on its own. I will probably upgrade to the SE5 this winter
Fly
We must have a similar shape head because I fit like a glove in Arai but can't get along with the TLD. Sucks because the rest of my gear is TLD, moto and mtb.
In this day and age I don't know why anyone would buy an Arai for off-road. Build quality is top notch, but protection wise it's a 90's era road helmet. Even the ad Arai chooses to run on VitalMX depicts a road racer skidding across the tarmac at 100 mph. I do still have an Akira Narita VXPro that I use to run errands on my CT110, still comfortable after all these years but the ventilation is terrible compared to modern helmets.
OP yes, the new tech is worth it. Modern motocross helmets are more tailored to the types of impacts we would expect off-road.
On the bicycle helmets, anyone else think it's funny that the s-works helmet is so much lower than the regular specialized helmets. They have 3 in the top ten which is pretty impressive. The newer drop frame placing right behind the original is also interesting. Shows that new designs aren't always better/safer.
Went from a aria to a SE5 carbon a couple years ago. Best fitting/ventilated helmet I’ve ever worn.
I've been through them all. My helmets are all TLD and I have no affiliation with them. You can find them affordable if you look. A great helmet all the way across and if weight is an issue for you the carbon units are right there with the others. And in my opinion the SE4 is still the way to go.
Post a reply to: In the market for a new helmet, is the new tech actually worth it?