SuzukiSavage.com - Helmet opinion

KristenAnn

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Crashing Sucks!!

Posts: 131
Westfield, Mass
Gender: female

Helmet opinion
05/01/11 at 08:22:24

I went down on my left side on April 7th bruised ribs to me minor scaping to tank on my girl. Ribs are healing slowly but doing ok. I have an Outlaw half helmet (DOT approved) I wapped my head on the pavement and have some scratches on the left side of the helmet. Should i be replacing my helmet? It is not cracked and upon visual inspection and manual inspection on the inside or out. Everyone I talk to says I dont need to so I Am here to ask all or your opinions.

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Serowbot

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OK.... so what's the
speed of dark?

Posts: 28385
Tucson Az
Gender: male

Re: Helmet opinion
Reply #1 - 05/01/11 at 08:50:19

If you had just scuffed it, I might say no, but you say you wapped it pretty good,... so yes, replace it...
Also, the fact that you are asking, means there are concerns...
I would also seriously recommend a FF helmet... I know they can feel claustrophobic to a newbie, but more than a third of the time, head injuries happen on the face or chin... That's not good odds...
Truly horrific things can happen to your face in an accident.
I was hit by a pick-up truck two years ago, and my face smacked the pavement solid. FF protected me.

Imagine how little a half-helmet protects... it's good for maybe 20% of impacts...

Quote:

Above is a diagram of where helmet damage was found after motorcycle accidents. Source: Dietmar Otte, Hannover Medical University, Department of Traffic Accident Research, Germany. 35% of all crashes showed major impact on the chin bar and face shield area. This means that if you ride with an open-face or three-quarter helmet, you are accepting only 65% of the protection that could be available to your head, and risking your pretty face.

It also keeps the bugs out of yer' teeth... Wink

...

Ride safe, keep healing,
Serow

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« Last Edit: 05/01/11 at 10:07:41 by Serowbot »

Ludicrous Speed !... ... Huh

...

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houstonbofh

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SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 420
Houston, TX
Gender: male

Re: Helmet opinion
Reply #2 - 05/01/11 at 08:58:39

Are your brains really only worth $100? If you whack it hard, the fibers in the epoxy can break. That makes the structure MUCH weaker with no visible sign. Same goes for road rash on textile gear... If you are going to take the chance, why even bother with the helmet?

Also, my only crash with an open helmet resulted on a bit of facial road rash. No scars. And no open helmets anymore either.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28780 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #3 - 05/01/11 at 08:59:48 The hard shell is protection against rocks and things. The foam liner is protection against the sudden stop. the shell maybe fine, but the liner maybe compressed. so you won't be fully protected next time.
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TheSnakeLady Full Member Offline Thumpers Rule!!! Posts: 152 Central New York Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #4 - 05/01/11 at 09:02:14 When I took the MSF Class last year, they told us that if we so much as dropped the helmet from more than a couple feet it would be compromised and would need to be replaced. They wouldn't even let us set our helmets on the seats of the bikes for this reason.
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Yonuh Adisi FSO Serious Thumper Offline Savage Jedi (Knight) Posts: 3622 Pilot Valley NV, aka Tatooine Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #5 - 05/01/11 at 09:08:33 Replace it, why take the chance?
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #6 - 05/01/11 at 10:21:20 Replace it, & when you replace it, buy the whole helmet, not just the top half.
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piglt Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 61	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #7 - 05/01/11 at 15:28:47 Helmets are a one time use product!!!!
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weracerc Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 594 Greensboro, NC Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #8 - 05/01/11 at 15:36:29 replace it - modular or FF - I use modular in the summer and full face in the cold months
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MotoBuddha Serious Thumper Offline Let's roll! Posts: 1416 Charlotte, NC	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #9 - 05/01/11 at 16:10:55 I've had too many large bugs and pebbles hit my helmet to wear anything but a full face helmet. I live near the state line. NC requires helmets, SC doesn't. When I ride in SC they look at me like I'm the crazy one.
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weracerc Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 594 Greensboro, NC Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #10 - 05/01/11 at 16:13:12 the day i bought my cycle (P/U in SC) i saw the same DOOFUS! coming and going without a helmet laying all over a rocket looking at everything but the road in front of him...wreck waiting to happen....and a mashed head/face to go with it.
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Boofer Serious Thumper Offline Nearly too old. Posts: 1760 N Ms Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #11 - 05/01/11 at 16:45:03 Yonuh Adisi FSO wrote on 05/01/11 at 09:08:33: Replace it, why take the chance? I agree. Helmets are made to break on impact. Your's probably did. Use it as a wall hanging or flower pot.
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houstonbofh Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 420 Houston, TX Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #12 - 05/01/11 at 18:19:10 I have to add this... I forgot last time. I used to be a paramedic. We are trained to cut the strap to remove a helmet. This is not for speed, although it helps. It is to render the helmet unusable, as it is no longer safe. As an aside, we are also trained to cut around colors... How much of that is remembered, who can say?
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Skid Mark Serious Thumper Offline FSO Posts: 1216 Calgary, Alberta Gender:	Re: Helmet opinion Reply #13 - 05/01/11 at 20:48:15 I'd replace it. It has done it's job and why take the chance on having a weaker helmet. Definitely look into a FF or Modular. I have a modular one now and would never go back to a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet.
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kimchris1

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Pink Posse Rider...

Posts: 2135
Belfair, Washington
Gender: female

Re: Helmet opinion
Reply #14 - 05/01/11 at 21:09:22

It seems everyone has their own personal
choice for various reasons.
FF helmets in my opinion offer the best
protection. Your entire face is enclosed.
That does not mean you won't suffer
neck injury. It simply keeps your chances
of facial injury as well as
brain damage, down considerably.
It will also allow you to keep your teeth..
Oh I know how it feels to smack the pavement.
Been there, done that.
I now have a ff modular.
Besides a ff keeps the person wearing it a
mystery to others..
Hope the ribs heal soon. Glad to hear yours
as well as your bikes injuries were minimal.
Hugs and hope we helped you out..

kim

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