New lid or not?

[gspod]

Hi
I had a slow off on some diesel in France and my head hit the road. I was only going about 10 miles an hour but high sided so came down with a bit of a bump. I got up without any pain to my head (shame about the shoulder!) so the question is do I need a new helmet?

I was wearing a BM system 5 in open face mode, it has some light scratches but otherwise looks and feels the same.

I know it's a difficult question to ask but years ago I was told to, always, get a new helmet after any kind of trauma. I'm just wondering if modern helmet technology is such that they can take a couple of knocks.

Cheers in anticipation

 

[Beemerman59]

How much value to you place on your head? Is it worth £300-£400?

If you are posting this up then you at least think it was enough of a knock to be concerned about it. You could send it back to the manufacturers to have it looked at but if it was my head, I would just buy a new one.

 

[Bury_Dave]

How much value to you place on your head ? I would just buy a new one.

+1

Although I wouldn't if you were planning to buy some chaep crap as your BMW helmet with a drop is still probably better than a China cheapie

 

[Myke Rocks]

Buy at least 3

Carry the other 2 or more with you at all times. That way, you can change helmets between bumps when you fall off, so that you always have a fresh helmet on for each bump along the ground.
This is the ony way to ensure your safety.
Myke

 

[Timolgra]

+1

Although I wouldn't if you were planning to buy some chaep crap as your BMW helmet with a drop is still probably better than a China cheapie

Where do you guess the BMW helmet was made?

To be legal, anything will have to be marked with E 2205 and that doesn't always mean a £400 is any safer than a £100 one

 

[Popell]

supposed to change it even if you drop it from about 3 feet apparently.

If you look at how the helmet works, IIRC, the polystyrene inner is designed to compress in an accident from the inside, ie getting squashed by your rapidly decellerating bonce, thereby reducing the peak 'g' shock that your brain feels as it follows Newtons 2nd law (or was it his first?)

Send it back, you might get a fresh one as a refurbed return .....or perhaps not
Budget on a new one just in case

 

[bowser]

http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/testhelm...ice-from=0&sharp-price-to=9999&discontinued=1


have a look here, it may not be the best testing system in the world but it does give an idea and they are all tested in the same way so at least the results are consistent.

 

[Mutley]

Hi
I had a slow off on some diesel in France and my head hit the road. I was only going about 10 miles an hour but high sided so came down with a bit of a bump. I got up without any pain to my head (shame about the shoulder!) so the question is do I need a new helmet?

I was wearing a BM system 5 in open face mode, it has some light scratches but otherwise looks and feels the same.

I know it's a difficult question to ask but years ago I was told to, always, get a new helmet after any kind of trauma. I'm just wondering if modern helmet technology is such that they can take a couple of knocks.

Cheers in anticipation

Helmets basically have two protection systems:

The outer shell - as well as being waterproof and looking pretty it also has the function of protection from abrasion and light knocks. It is ablative in that it will shatter during a hard hit and will disperse the impact.

The inner shell - made up of impact absorbing foam (of varying densities on better helmets). This will compress to take the impact.

In a light knock as you have had the possibilities are that the inner shell has partially compressed or that the outer shell may have been compromised and so weakened. Give it the best once over you can, remove as much of the internal padding as possible and give it a good internal inspection. In that absence of a full inspection by the manufacturer it will be your call.

 

[John Armstrong]

If you need to ask, you need to change it.

Just don't be like some hero who tried to sell on a bashed up helmet on here

 

[Bury_Dave]

Where do you guess the BMW helmet was made?

To be legal, anything will have to be marked with E 2205 and that doesn't always mean a £400 is any safer than a £100 one

So why are we always told 'Do you want to put your head into a £40 helmet ?' or somesuch ?

I appreciate that there is a minimum standard but suspect (and only suspect mind) that more expensive helmets would also pass more stringent tests.

Obviously with the caveat that race replica type graphics etc, do push the cost (but not the value ...) of a helmet up considerably.

Anyone aware of a testing-to-destruction report on a load of different makes of helmet ? That might reveal more than a 'passed the minimum standard' type of test.

 

[Nutty]

After my recent off, I took my Arai to Infinity, and they have sent it off for testing. Total cost is £6 for postage. Will know by the end f the week.

My advice is to send it off, unless you've already convinced yourself you want a new helmet!

 

[gspod]

Thanks for all the info and opinions.

I think I will send it off just out of interest and will probably get a new one also.

As always my head is only worth what someone would pay for it and as I haven't got £300/£400 at the moment.........