Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

I bought a new helmet at the weekend an AGV K5S.

I was talking to the guy on the Sharp helmet testing stand. Apparently the current legal standard does not test for side impact but Sharp do. Isn’t this a severe fault in the testing standard?

Are there any statistics to show the percentage of impacts at various points on the helmet in accidents? I would have thought a side impact is just as likely as a frontal or rear impact if not more so.

I'm sure there are stats, there are always stats.

Pretty certain the lids of today will be well above grade anyway. Thinking about the tests we do for chocolate it's far more than legally needed but we do it for excellence. And then thinking about our tests for medical equipment we tested at every stage and the company I worked for has never lost a person due to a piece of equipment failing and they were very proud of that fact! ssomething as vital as a head, the designs and manufacturing process will be very high, we just lile to pick flaws into a system that works well now. Our countries testing process to make it to consumers will be top notch. I'm not worried in the slightest!

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There are a few helmets that only get one star out of five in Sharp testing. They might pass the legal standard but it doesn’t mean they are a great protection if the testing doesn’t include side impact.

I read "Side impact" and think "another vehicle involved".....the vast majority of bike accidents are single vehicle incidents. You just can't plan for every eventuality.....be nice if someone could, but it's not really feasible

If you've got a cheap head, get a cheap helmet!

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMOAu4LFnE4[/video]

There's lots of videos out there of cheap vs expensive helmets but for me this is the best one as its so simple.

As for current testing I think I already knew this which is why I go with Sharp ratings, if you go on the sharp testing site you can search helmets and it shows you how each helmet performs and shows you things like side impact, front etc, its pretty interesting to look at

Surely it's lile everything? Not everyone can afford the best of the best, it has to pass a legal standard and that video surely doesn't show legal standard for the UK. Personally I think it's a worry for nothing, a test is designed to show it's weak points to find where the failings are, not the strengths. Yes some are better than others, but you would expect that with a 100wuid lid compared to a 1000quid lid, and if you didn't then why spend 1k on a lid?!!

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Fwiw I always check out the Sharps rating for any helmet I'm considering buying.
I can't recall what lid it was, but when I last replaced my commuting lid (I got a Shark) the one I had previously been intending to buy showed very poor side impact protection in their ratings.
Dammed if I can remember what it was though..

SOmething I was told a while ago but unsure if it's true or not; "Arai don't do well in Sharp testing because they make it strong overall, not just in the positions where the sharp testing tests - unlike some cheaper brands which just want to get the highest score possible"

D41 wrote:I read "Side impact" and think "another vehicle involved".....the vast majority of bike accidents are single vehicle incidents. You just can't plan for every eventuality.....be nice if someone could, but it's not really feasible

Last crash I had D was at the track, no one else involved, high speed low side and I smashed the side of my helmet that hard I’m pretty sure I was unconscious momentarily as I don’t remember going down or hitting the deck only sliding.

So IMO and experience side impact is very likely and worth testing more than pin point impact testing.

kiwikrasher wrote:

D41 wrote:I read "Side impact" and think "another vehicle involved".....the vast majority of bike accidents are single vehicle incidents. You just can't plan for every eventuality.....be nice if someone could, but it's not really feasible

Last crash I had D was at the track, no one else involved, high speed low side and I smashed the side of my helmet that hard I’m pretty sure I was unconscious momentarily as I don’t remember going down or hitting the deck only sliding.

So IMO and experience side impact is very likely and worth testing more than pin point impact testing.

Of the two crashes where my helmet hit the ground, both of them were side impacts

another one here for 2 crashes with 2 side impacts

You feckers need to be a bit more careful

where's the fun in that, if your not falling off you're not trying hard enough

Which is exactly what I said to my old man after my crash when he was trying to gloat about his accident free motorcycling days.

Its the Marc Marquez way. Ride so hard til you fall off and then turn the throttle back a smidge.

duke63 wrote:Its the Marc Marquez way. Ride so hard til you fall off and then turn the throttle back a smidge.

I’ve tried that, but after a few months it creeps back up again, with the inevitable eject button issues.

Fwiw 3 sides and one front impact, sides were track incidents, front was a smidsy years ago on the road.

Kwacky wrote:Which is exactly what I said to my old man after my crash when he was trying to gloat about his accident free motorcycling days.

I have the opposite problem now, my dad commuted everyday to Birmingham - rain, ice, sunshine etc on his 250N Superdream and fell off plenty due to ice, idiots etc and i used to laugh about it as a kid.

Now he takes the piss if i fall off. Sadly i crashed in front of him at Mallory a few years ago and i still haven't heard the end of it Old bastard

Wish my dad laughed at me, he hates bikes and literally takes every opportunity to remind me how lucky I am after my last off