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Edited Date/Time
4/13/2019 5:11am
Edit: got schooled a bit further down and updated the title.
I am referring to the Bell segment (science of supercross), but its called Flex and you can find more info on their webpage.
Basically its a “three layer impact liner designed to manage from three potential impact scenarios: low, medium, high-speed”.
There is no standard for this sort of technology - all tests are intended to ensure protection of the scull (not so much the brain directly, except by protecting the scull) during high speed impacts.
So finally a helmet that tries to target lower and medium Speed impacts and not just rotational stuff (overcooked issue in my view).
Hopefully the standards catch up or at least standard bench marking comes into place.
Note, I have never owned a Bell and don’t work for them. I also am not saying the Bell system is great or works really well, but the concept / direction is.
But this is the next step I have been waiting for decades to happen (since my first concussion).
I am referring to the Bell segment (science of supercross), but its called Flex and you can find more info on their webpage.
Basically its a “three layer impact liner designed to manage from three potential impact scenarios: low, medium, high-speed”.
There is no standard for this sort of technology - all tests are intended to ensure protection of the scull (not so much the brain directly, except by protecting the scull) during high speed impacts.
So finally a helmet that tries to target lower and medium Speed impacts and not just rotational stuff (overcooked issue in my view).
Hopefully the standards catch up or at least standard bench marking comes into place.
Note, I have never owned a Bell and don’t work for them. I also am not saying the Bell system is great or works really well, but the concept / direction is.
But this is the next step I have been waiting for decades to happen (since my first concussion).
The Bell Flex helmet released in 2015.
Sounds cool though
Although, i have to say the focus on angular aspects of impact probably decreased they effectiveness of 6D’s system.
The Shop
The only high end helmet that doesn't have anything is Arai.
So the change has started, and i do think it is the right direction.
But I also think the mips stuff got too much focus.
And it sounds like there is more development needed still.
Even the fox V3 only has dual density EPS. Useless in anything other than a major impact. I think 6D is only a bit better.
The Bell direction is different makes a lot more sense to me. As for their execution, i can’t comment.
fixed it for ya
Meanwhile, sitting tight in my Shoei Evo after a brief fling with 6d (ATR1).
I applaud all efforts to improve helmets. I’ve broken two on my head and will likely pay a price someday.
Pit Row
I run the new Shoei. The rotational transfer system appears better designed than the others. It also fits my head well.
It's pretty cool that our small sport has taken these big steps forward in helmet technology.
All that being said, we are probably talking about a 5-10 percent reduction in impact? It matters, but we shouldn't have a false sense of security. Regardless, it's great that people are trying and buying. It beats what football players have.
The woodpeckers brain is actually pretty cool. Instead of cerebral spinal fluid, they have a hyoid that acts a seatbelt, and the brain is actually packed pretty tight in there with a spongy bone where our cerebral spinal fluid is. There is a ton of surface space on front, so the impact is spread out where they take the most impact. Even with all of that, when we look at woodpecker brains, they show similar signatures of football players (tau deposits). It must just be that a little brain damage has been worth their pecking ability.
Like everyone I'm all for advancement in helmet technology and safety but imo arai and shoei are still the best in those departments. I do think the bell moto flex is a very cool unique helmet and there's a lot of people wearing them as well, but for whatever reason they just don't fit my head well. Attached is a pic off of arai's website that goes into some of the detail with their helmet technology...pretty cool stuff.
Firstly i have to admit that i think the rotational issue is massively over blown. Its prominent place in mainstream thought was triggered by a Judges decision in a European country. I read his comments and frankly i am not sure he knew much of what he was talking about.
https://youtu.be/ZW8_pBsGwoU
Watch the video at around 30 seconds. No way your head accelerates and rotates like that on a small skidding crash. Sure, The neck wont’t stop the initial rotation completely, but it will dampen it significantly and keep the peak acceleration well under what we see in this test. Thats why helmets have long scratch marks after a small crash if skidding has s involved.
Its not that rotation does not need to be dealt with, but i think it is ~third on the priority list. And solutions for priority two - which is absorbing energy of slower and medium speed impacts are only just being developed.
I also think EPS is not what is required for low speed impacts. It generally requires crumpling or cracking to absorb energy. The low speed impacts are the ones we have all the time when riding. From what i know if EPS is used it would need to be quite soft and you would need to throw the helmet away after even a small hit. Though it might have a place for medium speed impacts. But again - you have to throw the lid away.
What impressed me most about Bell’s helmet was the different materials that they use - EPP and EPO. At least they are trying use materials that decrease the acceleration rate significantly for lower force hits, without the lid being destined for the bin. Again not saying this is the best solution or the best materials. But this is the best direction/strategy i have seen so far.
While Arai make good helmets and i like how they optimise the shell for reducing energy going into the helmet, it am not convinced they are doing enough yet with the lining.
This is also why we need standardised / bench mark testing at different impact speeds or energy levels.
I don’t work in the industry, but i am a mech eng with lots of experience in my profession with managing energy and dynamics in very complicated systems and using materials and devices to absorb energy and control oscillations and impacts.
I also agree this will continue a bit until there are clear benchmarks that relate to typical crash scenarios.
But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
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