Buy your helmet by its actual Safety Rating, not Brand Image

[Neosophist]

Just because a bunch of people survive crashes with helmet X it doesn't mean you can say anything conclusive about it than "it might be a good helmet" real world accidents are chaotic and lab tests have repeatable results.

But I do think u have a point. So I'd say 'buy a good brand and model with a good Sharp score' :)

How about the fact that a leading scientist with over 30 years of testing says scrap the entire thing?

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-new ... /7268.html

The test is flawed, and as such a lower scoring helmet might actually be better in real-world conditions than one that scores full marks in the SHARP test.

Theres been a lot of talk about the test lately from both sides, the anti-sharp people are worried that mfg's will start producing helmets to get the most marks from this test.. which they argue would be worse for the rider as in the real world they might not necessarily be the safest..

Have a read above, it's interesting.

http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/b ... -tests.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My Schuberth S1 only has 2 stars in the Sharp test but i'd wear it anyday (infact its my trackday helmet) if you read the article you'll see why it scored crap in the sharp test.

Neither of the standard testings (Sharp / ECE) test chin-bar impacts either.

[Lope]

Ah, thats interesting. Here is an interesting comment about the article:
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Having followed the link in the OP, it occurs to me that Prof Tefalheid isn't calling for SHARP to be scrapped but rather to incorporate a rotational test modified to account for frictional differances between scalp and skull. He's after the legal standard European test being modified the same way. At no point does he sugest that SHARP should be scrapped or (as the article hints) that it's a poorer test than the others UK lids are subjected to. Having talked to some of the SHARP guys face to face I recon they'd probably be interested in incorporating his improved theoretical model into their test. Moreover, his (possibly missquoted) comments seem at odds with what SHARP have been at pains to point out- better chin bars, for instance, are credited in their ratings. Of course, "proffesor suggests tweaking successful consumer rating" isn't nearly as good a headline as "Scrap SHARP ratings"....

The gen is that the SHARP test provides additional information for you to base your choice of helmet on, without reducing the requirement for helmets to meet existing test standards. It can't be anything other than a good thing. It isn't legally binding, so if you recon it's b*llocks just ignore it. Check out the (worthless) shiny ACU sticker instead, eh?
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I would tend to agree, while there probably aren't any perfect tests being done at the moment, I think Sharp's existence is a good thing, pushing forward the science of safety. And I think its a good thing that people disagree with their methods and make suggestions. It all advances the field.
As long as Sharp is open minded and improves their tests its a good thing.

It would also help massively is if another testing organization were formed so that there is not only one stamp of approval for the manufacturers to try get.

Its definitely better to have Sharp than nothing. Without Sharp what do you have? A big price sticker, the reassurance of the manufacturer, and a bunch of people who've survived, and a bunch of people who've died wearing them.
I'm all for science.

[Lope]

If you want to read a LOT about helmet safety, check this out
http://bikesa.biz/forum/index.php?topic=1551.15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They actually list G forces heads receive from flat impacts which are most common on the track or road.
They say the DOT standard plastic helmets do a lot better at transferring low G forces to the head than fibreglass ones with Snell Rating. (I've never even heard of Snell)

[VfRTeddy]

personally i dont even bother lookin at the sharp ratings cause as was said before some manufactures just make helmets to get high sharp ratings eg RST they are crap an only polycarb shellwhish is crape honestly an they are nasty to wear i only wear helmets that i know are proven in the real world an are made of something of higher quality an strenght but personal opinion from workin in the bike clothing retal industry for a while
so buy wat you feel comfortable in an can afford
Ben

[Gavin jap4]

I will only ever buy shoei or Arai and Arai is always my first choice

[Spike16]

I wear arai's cos their the only thing that fit on my head, and out of the arai range only the Astro R/Viper's and Condor's fit. I have an Astro for the road and a condor for race and I trust me head in them and thats it.

get the best helmet you can afford that fits your perfectly end of

[missinNZ]

personally i dont even bother lookin at the sharp ratings........
so buy wat you feel comfortable in an can afford
Ben

I wear arai's cos their the only thing that fit on my head, and out of the arai range only the Astro R/Viper's and Condor's fit. I have an Astro for the road and a condor for race and I trust me head in them and thats it.

get the best helmet you can afford that fits your perfectly end of

id never heard of these ratings till reading this, i wear a marushin samurai, yep i went for one that matched my leathers was in my price range and it apperently it has five stars. this hasnt changed my feelings on this subject at all. (from ignorance/lack of knowledge) as a new rider but 30 yrs of age (ive seen a fair bit of the world) i trusted that arai and shoei with their high price wasnt just for show, this link/post hasnt altered my view but has expanded it.

[micpec]

I have an arai doohan rep in use atm, had some other brand before but cheapish so was the quality. Scratched the cheapish one when I got a little off couple of years ago. My next one will be 100% sure an Arai or Shoei.

Just buy one that fits you head, and if in doubt, try and fit one in a shop, and ask for advice. I personally prefer known brands,
I know, that will cost a bit more, but the quality is what you may expect! Safety is priority.

About the tag codes (always check the label that is inside the helmet, mostly on the straps...ask for details in the shop or check with the distributor, sometimes you may find helmets that are "old" as seen by the codes).

[VfRTeddy]

the age of the helmet doesnt matter aslong as it hasnt been put on a head and used cause it is the sweat an dirt that starts to perish the helmet then it has a 3/5 year life
Ben

[micpec]

hmm...not only sweat and dirt counts in case it has been put on a head and used, what about UV-light (normal day/sunlight), temperature where the helmet is kept, humidity, dust in general, etc. All can effect usage on a helmet without being put on a head. I personaly would not buy a NOS helmet with a shelf life of +3 years compared to label tag.