Great Helmet for cheap ...

I found a place selling 2005 Shoei Syncrotec helmets for an excellent price - $159.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX''

Scratch that, even though they still have them listed on the web, they are out of them. Arrrgggghhh.

Mike

 

Wow that is not a bad price too bad the modular designs like that aren't snell rated. They take the same shields as my current shoei tho so my $$ on them wouldn't be waisted.

Oh I see get out hopes u pI looked at the site and came back and posted and seen your edit. Bummer

 

Snell rating really isn't that important. Let's think about this. 3/4 helmets can be Snell certified, full face helmets can be, why no a modular? Just because Snell is behind the times doesn't mean that it is any less safe. You know it is a Shoei, you know that Shoei has a reputation that they will uphold and a standard of quality that they will uphold, whether or not Snell has tested the helmet.

Simply put: Snell doesn't want to be bothered. Too bad, especially since the Snell standards of protecting against a double hit by a round object in the exact same spot actually requires that the foam be stronger than it should be for the vast majority of hits a helmet takes.

Snell is a good thing, but their ratings/testings actually go against what has been learned over the past couple of decades regarding helmet performance in crashes.

Michael
Michael

 

From the modular helmets I have seen, and the Fulmer Modular I have, I can understand why Snell won't approve them.
If you were to take the modular flip up part off, the helmet would not be as strong as a Snell approved open faced helmet. Seems like it would be hard to design one where the main part of the helmet could be as strong as a regular open face helmet.
I have a Scorpion Exo and I can't see me wearing any other brand now. It is the most comfortable helmet I have ever had. I have had others that after an hour of wearing them, I was ready rip it off my head because they were too uncomfortable. I keep the Fulmer helmet as a backup.

What is the difference in a Snell 2005 approved helmet and one that is just Snell Approved? The open face ones I have seen said Snell 2005 and the full faced ones just say Snell.

 

Snell rating is bull**** unless you happen to be racing in a car. Their testing methods are completely wrong for the type of impacts a motorcyclist would take. For a motorcyclist, looking for a Snell rating on a helmet as a primary factor is the same as insisting it has to be red, because it's safer.

Recent tests show that plain old DOT helmets actually work better for motorcyclists, transferring fewer G-forces to the head on impact than ANY Snell rated one. European ECE ratings are even better, as they have a motorcycle specific testing method.

As for Snell not doing modulars - they're official line is that their rating is voluntary, and the manufacturers have to send them helmets for testing, and no one's sent them any. They've been saying that for at least two years now. Somehow, I don't buy it.

Anyway - I'm not a big fan of Snell, except for auto racing, where they excel and are damn good.

 

Excuse the rant in advance, but I for one, snell or no snell, can not stand modular helmets. Even the idea makes me cringe. My head is huge, and I need to get a full-face made custom if I want to wear one, which is a pain.
While I was finding this out, every shop I went into barring two had at least one clerk try to sell me a modular helmet. Basically trying to convince me that I can leave it up like a half-helmet most of the time, and then put the jaw down for more "risky riding." First of all, this would do nothing because my jaw is significantly lower than the helmet on all full-face helmets that I've found. And second, and most certainly not least, let me tell you something- if I can take a helmet and send the entire jaw and visor section flying by slapping the helmet against a hard surface, that's not something I want to be wearing when heading toward a windshield or pavement head-first. You're not getting two helmets in one. You're getting a 3/4 helmet with a very fancy visor.
I know they are DOT certified, but as far as I know DOT and Snell test in a very outdated method. They test impact on the very TOP of the helmet. Most crashes tend toward the right side of the jaw/face for first impact. Not many bikers smack square on the top of the helmet.
That being said, I generally wear a half-helmet myself, and modular helmets may be worth it for some. I feel you should be free to wear(or NOT wear) any style of helmet that you desire. I'd just recommend that when considering a modular, you keep in mind the fact that while the flip-up convenience may make it nice to get a drink of water and such, you will probably end yup eating that whole section of the helmet if you go down. Educated risk.

 

Tumbleweed, thanks for the link to a very informative article, and I liked reading everyone else's opinions, too. I also have some trouble getting helmets to fit comfortably but I won't ride without one.

I've been out of riding for a long time and will resume it once I complete the Army-mandated Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginning rider's class (even though I used to be an MSF instructor). The motorcycle is almost ready to ride, even though it's still sort of ugly.

I bought a flip-up-jaw, Z1R helmet because I also wear glasses. I based my choice on the recommendation of my fellow paramedic students and the instructor. A big concern was how well the jaw section would hold up in a good, hard crash. It turned out that one of my classmates had wrecked on the street going at a very high speed and the helmet held up fine. He was wearing a Z1R during the crash and said he bought an identical one as a replacement.

A classroom full of working EMT's/paramedic students, and a paramedic instructor felt that the moveable-jaw helmet holds up well in crashes provided it was properly functioning & fastened at the time of the wreck. None of them had seen a failure of the fastening mechanism. It doesn't mean it couldn't happen, just that in a cumulative total of probably greater than 70 EMS man-years, no one in our group had seen it occur.

Regards,
Annie

 

I agree that the only benifits to a modular go to people who have very large ears, or glasses wearers. A personally, would never ride with anything other than a full face. I just dont see the point of riding with anything less. Its just to risky to me.

 

This may sound silly, but I cant wear a full face, not because of any deformities or the like, but because of claustrophobia.

I can fight it down for awhile, but eventually the overwhelming fear of confinement drives me to get free at any cost.

I make myself as safe as I can with the psychological limitations I have, I have a half helmet with a face shield that I tolerate quite well.... even more so now with the advent of earplugs :lol:

 

I wear a half because I am a mutant with a giant head
I have literally tried the largest helmet in the industry(XXXXXL I think) and my lower jaw sticks out WAY below the jaw of the helmet, and my face smooshes up against the front. The crown of my head isn't huge(Wear a 7&3/4 or so hat) but the distance front to back, side to side, and top to bottom when you include the jaw/shnoz is apparently tremendous.

 

[quote="tumbleweed_biff"
Annie, modular helmets have come out since my EMS days (my certification expired somewhere around 1990) so their direct observation of field results are very enlightening and reassuring.

While the test results on the Z1R came in rather strong, I also read reports of them being rather cheaply made and less than durable. What is your observation?

Michael[/quote]

Tumbleweed, after your comment I read some reviews of the Z1R and was surprised by the harshness, so I took mine out & examined it pretty thoroughly. I didn't find any indication of shoddy workmanship. Mine is an Eclipse. As for the complaints about fit.....that's a personal issue. I live in a pretty small city, and there is a limited selection, so my selection was based on what was available to try on.

A reviewer spoke rather critically of low-priced helmets, but that's a silly reason to criticize one. It either fits comfortably and meets the standard or it doesn't. No helmet is what I'd consider "durable". Even under ideal conditions, a helmet is a disposable item with a limited lifespan. When you whack it against something, you need to seriously consider replacing it. It's pretty easy to spend more than $500 on a helmet but at that price, you'll be tempted to use it even after it's taken a whack that might've compromised its strength. I can buy 2-3 helmets for the same money some people spend on one, or I can spend the price difference on better quality riding apparel that will keep me more comfortable and reduce lipofriction/other injuries.

Another comment on modular helmets in general is that it potentially allows a rescuer reasonably good access to your airway without necessarily having to take the time to remove your helmet first.

Regards,
Annie

 

Hey Marko,

If you ever decide to try a full face helmet check out HJC. My buddy has a massive mellow too and they were the only company he found with a helmet that fit him.

 

Tried an HJC modular yesterday. Tight on cheeks, too wide on top. I tried a coup of others too, nothing fit as well as my Synchrotec. I need to try some others.

Michael