Time For A New Lid!
Time for a new lid!!
£50 or £500?
Buying your first helmet or replacing that scratched old smelly job can be a confusing experience. What should you look for, why do they vary so much in price and how do you know which one is the best for you?
For a helmet to be legal in the UK, it must conform to the European Standard 22.05. This standard is checked by helmets being mandatory sample tested before they leave the factory. More than 50 countries use this as a marker of quality, so there is obviously some merit in it, especially given the EC’s obsession with safety. It is still legal to wear a helmet with the British Standard 6658 kite mark on. Though any lid bearing this may be a little past its best!
Just to complicate things, (or simplify?), the government has introduced a star rating system for all lids, called Sharp. You can check out all available brands and ranges at http://sharp.direct.gov.uk. The site also explains how the helmets are tested and why, plus some buying advice. The scheme, introduced in 2008, gives a helmet from one to five stars.
There was some initial controversy when the system came in, with some sub £100 makes gaining five stars and some £300 plus helmets gaining fewer which upset one or two manufacturers! However, if a helmet is tested in various different ways and attains a high rating, presumably this says something about its effectiveness.
This is only part of the story, though. There are other factors to consider and a bit of research into the most vital bit of kit you will buy is time well spent. Helmets are generally manufactured from polycarbonate/plastic material and moulded or from fibreglass/kevlar or several other composite materials. What’s the difference then? Polycarbonate helmets tend to have a thicker shell to meet the same standards as some of the other makes and therefore may be heavier.
Entry level helmets are generally made of plastics. They should be replaced after two or three years and can’t be painted, stickered or have solvent used on them. Other materials may be longer lasting and possibly lighter. Anyone considering a paint job should speak to an expert as a helmet can lose much of its effectiveness by coming into contact with the thinners and other chemicals. The outer shells of modern helmets are made from a wide variety of materials, often containing composite parts. The inner lining is normally manufactured from EPS (expanded polystyrene), which is designed to crush and absorb the impact and this is the bit that actually protects the skull. The liner is just as important as the outer shell, which is basically designed to protect the internals. Now there is a vast array of information available on helmet construction and safety on the net, both from independent sources and the manufacturers. An hour or so’s research before jumping on your bike and running down to your dealer is well worthwhile. You are then equipped to ask all the right questions.
So, why do prices vary so much?
Well, as with most products, you will always pay a premium for recognised brands. However motorcycle helmet manufacturers need a good reputation more than anything else and, if they didn’t do the job, the likes of Rossi wouldn’t be wearing them. Bear in mind motorcycling professionals will have the top lids available from that supplier. Special paint jobs and replica helmets will command a higher price than a plain one.
Construction wise, certain brands come in different shell sizes and others er...don’t. They just have different thicknesses of padding. Most helmets now have venting to stop visors misting and provide airflow for comfort. Some of these are simply glued on to look good, others actually function. The inner EPS varies in quality also, more expensive ones containing dual or triple density materials. The quality of padding varies widely and some can be removed and washed, a useful extra when used regularly. Look for anti-misting systems such as Pinlock and see if these come as standard. Check the visor replacement system and the cost of a new one. If you buy a decent helmet, you will probably be replacing the visor once a year. We asked Steve and Andi at John Harris Motorcycles their advice to potential customers concerning helmets. The staff here are trained by Shoei and one of the distinct advantages of visiting a decent helmet dealer is the information they can supply. Fit is massively important, make sure your head is measured and you try various brands and sizes.
Heads are a different shape and some fit in certain makes better than others. After they have found the best fitting lid, Steve and Andi ask you to wear the lid in the shop for around 15 minutes. Why? It needs to be a tight fit, especially when new, but if you develop a pressure point on your forehead, it could be too small and, an hour into you grand european adventure, you will be wishing you had given helmet selection more attention.
A properly trained dealer will make sure the item is right for you. They will make sure you can remove and re-fit the visor, explain and show any anti-misting systems and advise you on cleaning and storage.
A Shoei, for example, comes with removable cheek pads in different sizes, so if you have the right shell size, you can tweak the internal fit to your own requirements. A word of caution, though. Most dealers won’t take a helmet back once it has left the premises for obvious reasons. A good supplier, however, will do everything they can to rectify any problems and certainly replace any defective parts.
Manufacturers want you to stick with the brand and dealers want your repeat custom and recommendation, so should be willing to do what they can to help with any after sales or quality issues. Once you are happy and have made your selection, make sure you are given a new lid in a box with a carrying bag and maintenance instructions. Avoid taking one that’s been on display.
So, do your research, ask the right questions and buy the helmet your head deserves. Hopefully you won’t have to use it for what it was designed for! Many thanks to Steve and Andi at John Harris Motorcycles for their help and advice in assembling this article.