DOT Helmets or Novelty?
Maybe for the Army. In the Navy, the only requirement is that the helmet meet DOT, or SNELL or host nation requirments. It doesnt have to have a sticker.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island
the Internet offers all sorts of proof that helmets dont save lives and space aliens have interbred with humans too. Damn caught in the open again
As a first responder I have seen a few MC accidents and mostly the survivers wore helmets, sometimes in horrific accidents. I have seen a few accidents with novelty helmets one on which I was involved in a study on the blowouts on them. This guy was coming up to a stop sign running at about 5mph. Pulled too hard on his front brake with the wheel turned and girlfriend off balance and they went down. He tried to cushion her fall grabbing at her but hit his head and the resulting blow out went from the back of the helmet into his skull, shattering the helmet in a line straight out to the front of his head.
A similar accident with a much larger wife but they were both wearing full helmets and going faster, both estimated by witness', when they went down, again her on top his head taking the blow at the back, the helmet blew into the front the way it is designed to and blew a little piece out of the front absorbing the impact and they survived.
Another accident with the guy almost stopped no helmet and he died at the scene.
You have to factor in other forces in an accident that include the motion of the bike. The bike when it goes down suddenly carries a good punch of motion that can really smack you into the ground even when not much forward motion is indicated. Add in a bumb, rock, curb or other object and it adds to the problem. Put other people on top of you and it really starts to add to the equation.
Lot more involved than this but hope there is a picture.
I still ride the odd time without when no law involved have my novelty helmet but usually wear a 3/4 DOT. Have a full face but no matter how hard I try cannot get use to it.
It aint the fall that kills you it is the sudden stop at the end.
As a first responder I have seen a few MC accidents and mostly the survivers wore helmets, sometimes in horrific accidents. I have seen a few accidents with novelty helmets one on which I was involved in a study on the blowouts on them. This guy was coming up to a stop sign running at about 5mph. Pulled too hard on his front brake with the wheel turned and girlfriend off balance and they went down. He tried to cushion her fall grabbing at her but hit his head and the resulting blow out went from the back of the helmet into his skull, shattering the helmet in a line straight out to the front of his head.
A similar accident with a much larger wife but they were both wearing full helmets and going faster, both estimated by witness', when they went down, again her on top his head taking the blow at the back, the helmet blew into the front the way it is designed to and blew a little piece out of the front absorbing the impact and they survived.
Another accident with the guy almost stopped no helmet and he died at the scene.
You have to factor in other forces in an accident that include the motion of the bike. The bike when it goes down suddenly carries a good punch of motion that can really smack you into the ground even when not much forward motion is indicated. Add in a bumb, rock, curb or other object and it adds to the problem. Put other people on top of you and it really starts to add to the equation.
Lot more involved than this but hope there is a picture.
I still ride the odd time without when no law involved have my novelty helmet but usually wear a 3/4 DOT. Have a full face but no matter how hard I try cannot get use to it.
It aint the fall that kills you it is the sudden stop at the end.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
I have never been dead (killed), but IMO that is umimportant. When you are dead, your problems end. Of course it also means the end of your pleasures, but since you dead you won't know or care.
Now a head injury can have a huge affect on you or your family/friends.
Ron
Now a head injury can have a huge affect on you or your family/friends.
Ron
Last edited by rjg883c; Sep 16, 2008 at 11:59 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 0
From: new jersey
I bought a skid lid when I first got my bike. It was heavy and uncomfortable. I've been using a novelty helmet the last couple months. That being said I was told to look into acc helmets. My brother was killed in Iraq so that leaves just me left. I ordered one to see what it was like and I have to say it is the best of both worlds. Very lightweight and small but also dot approved. I live in Jersey where you have to wear a helmet but I have to tell you when I go out of state I will still wear it.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Oregon Coast
I look at helmets like I look at tires. If it only saves your life once, it's worth it. I wear a good full face helmet and buy good tires.
I've been some serious bike accidents. In one, my helmet saved my life. I never noticed the weight of the helmet during the crash. If the gouge in my helmet had been my head I wouldn't have a head today. In my worse crash I was not wearing any leather. I had torn up pants and tee shirts. But the helmet saved my life.
I still have scars from motorcycle accidents, but none are on my head. It's been over 35 years since that happened.
I've been some serious bike accidents. In one, my helmet saved my life. I never noticed the weight of the helmet during the crash. If the gouge in my helmet had been my head I wouldn't have a head today. In my worse crash I was not wearing any leather. I had torn up pants and tee shirts. But the helmet saved my life.
I still have scars from motorcycle accidents, but none are on my head. It's been over 35 years since that happened.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island
One other thing that came out of the study dealt with spinal injury. It was indicated that any such injury was not some much caused by the helmet but that the wearer of said helmet would have died from the injuries due to impact forces on the helmet area that were severe enough to cause secondary injuries to the spinal column. So I don't think the helmet was the cause of the spinal injuries they were just what saved their life.
Coming soon to a MC dealer near you..."THE ULTIMATE LIFE SAVING DEVICE"...Airbags for the descriminating biker. Full body airbags that deploy on impact...Or for those at parties and need to be the center of attention with pull cord.
Coming soon to a MC dealer near you..."THE ULTIMATE LIFE SAVING DEVICE"...Airbags for the descriminating biker. Full body airbags that deploy on impact...Or for those at parties and need to be the center of attention with pull cord.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island, NY
I went down at about 10mph on the corner of my block. My neighbor was in front of his house about 50 feet away and he said that he heard my head hit the pavement. I was wearing a 3/4 and the paint was scraped off the front near my hairline, and on the side right behind the temple. I got up and was more concerned about the damage to the scoot than to myself.
You will get dozens of opinions about this issue, but even at slow speeds if your head meets that pavement, bad things will happen if you are not protected.
my $.02
You will get dozens of opinions about this issue, but even at slow speeds if your head meets that pavement, bad things will happen if you are not protected.
my $.02
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 619
Likes: 9
From: Auburn, GA
I assume you've visited www.ride2die.com ? After visiting that site I ran out and got an amored jacket. I've since let up on the ATGATT some, but I'm not going without a helmet. I have never heard convicing evidence that wearing a helmet is anything but a plus. Just imagine your noggin hitting the pavement hard without a helmet. No thanks.
This is courtesy of ride2die. Notice that 45% of impacts are not covered by a 3/4 hemlet.
This is courtesy of ride2die. Notice that 45% of impacts are not covered by a 3/4 hemlet.
Last edited by TerryFXST; Sep 17, 2008 at 11:45 AM. Reason: added jpg
