Black/White helmet Temperature difference
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Gold Canyon, Arizona
Black/White helmet Temperature difference
Interested in the temperature difference under a black and a white helmet, I put thermometers (both reading the same) under a black half-helmet and a white half-helmet and set both in the sun. Later, with the official temperature 74 degrees, the white one read 85, black one 88. A second test was a 4 degree difference. I thought the difference would be greater, but 3-4 degrees cooler may be a lot for summer Phoenix riders.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
yes, here in phoenix i find as my hair gets whiter, my head is cooler.
--- question about the test, was the area under the helmets sealed to prevent cooling air from flowing through the area?
if you are really thinking about this, there was a volvo study which showed a correlation between mental acuity and interior temperatures, influenced by helmets
mike
ps Dick Floyd and Pete Wilson still vacuum !
--- question about the test, was the area under the helmets sealed to prevent cooling air from flowing through the area?
if you are really thinking about this, there was a volvo study which showed a correlation between mental acuity and interior temperatures, influenced by helmets
mike
ps Dick Floyd and Pete Wilson still vacuum !
Last edited by mkguitar; Sep 10, 2011 at 08:27 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: anacoco, la
you would probably notice a larger temperature differential if you were using novelty helmets, but with dot helmets, you've got an inch of insulation between your head and the outer shell.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Roseville, CA
Try it on a 90-95 degree day and report the difference, I would guess it's more significant. I'm also thinking of surface temps too, obviously.
I've stayed with black helmets myself though.
I've stayed with black helmets myself though.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Sacramento
[QUOTE=Deuuuce;8803104]Try it on a 90-95 degree day and report the difference, I would guess it's more significant. I'm also thinking of surface temps too, obviously.
74 degrees is a cool day, I agree, try it when its 95 to 100 out. The surface under the helmet is another factor and the fact the temp of the rider is 98.6 is another variable. The head has more veins crisscrossing than elsewhere, I think added cooling is critical to overall comfort because if you cool the head down that cooler blood travels elsewhere, having a cooling effect. Same but oppisite principle as covering your head in the winter to stop heat from escaping, a warm noggin helps keep the body the same. I think the wind blowing through either helmet air vents or anywhere it can aids in cooling because that would have a swamp cooler effect, wicking off the sweat as it evaporates into cooler air.
I can tell you when wearing full leathers, there is a noticible difference between black and white leathers, as the saying goes, black attracts and white reflects. Try sitting on dark vinyl upolstery compared to white on a boat, with just a swimsuit on. Its like sitting on a stove whereas with white upolstery its not a problem at all.
74 degrees is a cool day, I agree, try it when its 95 to 100 out. The surface under the helmet is another factor and the fact the temp of the rider is 98.6 is another variable. The head has more veins crisscrossing than elsewhere, I think added cooling is critical to overall comfort because if you cool the head down that cooler blood travels elsewhere, having a cooling effect. Same but oppisite principle as covering your head in the winter to stop heat from escaping, a warm noggin helps keep the body the same. I think the wind blowing through either helmet air vents or anywhere it can aids in cooling because that would have a swamp cooler effect, wicking off the sweat as it evaporates into cooler air.
I can tell you when wearing full leathers, there is a noticible difference between black and white leathers, as the saying goes, black attracts and white reflects. Try sitting on dark vinyl upolstery compared to white on a boat, with just a swimsuit on. Its like sitting on a stove whereas with white upolstery its not a problem at all.
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I have a white, or sometimes a silver, helmet for summer and a black for when it's cooler. Makes a big difference to me. I would also believe you would see a bigger temp difference with a head inside both of those helmets, no air circulation.