Helmet Ratings

[graemec]

Just thought you might all be interested in this article that has just been released to us...
Some pretty big names in here don't have scores to make you feel safe...
I know im now about to go by a new helmet because of it
Just goes to show that dropping a wad of cash on a big name might NOT always be the best for your noggin!
The one manufacturer who scores the best make some of the most reasonably priced lids SHARK rock
Moral of the story... pretty colours do not the best / safest lid make


Fifty lives a year could be saved by ground-breaking motorcycle helmet safety ratings revealed today by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. Ratings for 56 of the most popular full face helmets on the market were published after testing by SHARP - the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme set up in a world-first by the Department for Transport last year.

The SHARP tests - which award ratings of between one and five stars - showed that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%. Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"Too many motorcyclists - 599 in 2006 - are dying on our roads. They account for just 1% of all road traffic, but for 19% of all those killed. "But if all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year. That is why we started the innovative SHARP scheme and are delighted to publish the first results today.

"Helmets from across a wide price range and from a variety of manufacturers have received four or five stars - so all riders should be able to find a high-scoring helmet in a size and style that fits them and at a price they want to pay."

All helmets must meet minimum legal safety standards but the SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders with more information on how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash. The objective advice will help riders to chose the safest helmet suitable for them. For more information about the SHARP programme, visit the SHARP website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/sharp.

Notes to Editors

1. The ratings published today are:

Make - Model - Rating

AGV -
Airtech - 4
K Series - 3
S4 - 5
Ti Tech - 4

Airoh
Leox - 3
Speed Fire - 4

Arai
Astro - 3
Condor - 2
GP5x - 5
RX-7 - 3
Viper GT - 3

Arashi
Viper - 4

Bell
M1 - 5

Box
BX4 - 2
BX2 - 4

HJC
CL-ST - 3
CS-12 - 2
FG-14 - 3
FG-15 - 4
FS-10 - 3
HQ-1 - 5
IS-16 - 2

KBC
VR1X - 3
VR2R - 2

Lazer
Fibre Pro - 4
Fibre D1 - 4
LZ 6 - 5
Tornado - 2

Nitro
N330VX - 2
N755VX - 4
N810VX - 4
N820VX - 4
N1430VX - 4
N1600VN - 4

Nolan
N62 - 4

Premier
Monza - 4

Roof
R010 Diversion - 4

RST
Cobra Vent - 4
Racevent -3

Shark
RSF 2i - 4
RSI - 4
RSR2 - 5
S500 Air - 4
S800 - 4

Shoei
Raid II - 4
XR-1000 - 3
X-Spirit - 4

Suomy
Extreme - 3
Gunwind - 3
Spec 1R - 3

Takachi
TK-30 - 2

Urban
N20 - 3

Vemar
TAI2K - 3
VSREV - 2

X-Lite
X601 - 4
X602 - 4


2. The SHARP tests and assessments are valid for all types of helmet and further results will be released on a rolling basis through the remainder of 2008. Full face helmets represent the largest part of the market (approx. 80%), but 'flip front' style helmets are gaining in popularity. Therefore, SHARP will consider assessing these helmets this summer, before completing the remaining full face helmets. Open face helmets will be considered later.

3. Motorcyclists are one of our most vulnerable road user groups. In 2006, 23,326 motorcyclists were injured in accidents, with 599 being killed.

4. Head injuries occur in 80% of all motorcyclist fatalities and in 70% of these the head injury is the most serious.

5. Currently no comparative rating system is available on motorcycle helmets anywhere in the world.

6. Helmets sold in the UK must meet the minimum standards of UN ECE Regulation 22.05 or comply with British Standard 6658:1985. SHARP assesses the extent to which helmets offer protection above these minimum requirements.

[dave#3]

Shit .

It would be good to get a handle on what actually makes a lid a 2 as opposed to a 5. I *love* my Shoei XR-1000, but it only rates a 3 which doesn't instil a great deal of confidence.

[graemec]

Check the website link to Sharp,
It explains the ratings and has a search for a much wider range of helmets than listed here.

[dave#3]

Check the website link to Sharp,
It explains the ratings and has a search for a much wider range of helmets than listed here.

Really, the closest I could come was http://dft-1-sharp.eduserv.org.uk/about ... e-ratings/ which is far from comprehensive. Is it hidden away inside the 'trade' area perhaps?

[graemec]

Actually your right its not that informative about how much, of each part of the each test lend towards the overall rating.
I would like to know that myself

Fact still seems to remain though that some of the MOST expensive helmets (granted they ALL meet minimum standards in the Uk)
DO NOT rate that well over and above those minimum standards and some others DO I'm just as blown away as you especially about the ARAI
ratings as i have one myself, My girl bought a SHARK! going to have to steal it now

I will say this though, after doing ALOT of reading on Armour standards before I bought a back protector, I found out that the bike clothing industry in general did NOT want to be governed by standards.
The only reason we ended up getting CE ratings on armour is due to a Government official asking the right question at the right time.
That question was , "what's this? holding up a shoulder pad" a low level employee of this certain company replied "that's protective padding";
because he said that the minister in question then said "so its PPE? it's required to meet standards then..."
The bike industry clothing manufacturers did NOT want to have standards applied to those items. They fought quite hard to avoid it.
One manufacturer who covers the body of a certain multiple world champion GP rider still uses clever wording to avoid coming out with any actual
ratings on most of its clothing! Which sucks as i have some of their gear too!

At the end of the day its our lives at risk when we throw a leg over the bike, and the more information and testing done on our gear by outside parties.
Especially when some of this gear costs so damn much and there is a MASSIVE cost differential between products is a good thing for ALL of us no?

[mick_dundee]

Correct me if i'm wrong Graeme but doesn't motorcycle clothing in Europe have to meet a standard to be sold there?

[dave#3]

Actually your right its not that informative about how much, of each part of the each test lend towards the overall rating.
I would like to know that myself

Fact still seems to remain though that some of the MOST expensive helmets (granted they ALL meet minimum standards in the Uk)
DO NOT rate that well over and above those minimum standards and some others DO I'm just as blown away as you especially about the ARAI
ratings as i have one myself, My girl bought a SHARK! going to have to steal it now

I agree that it's a worry how poorly some top of the line equipment faired, which is why I'd like to understand how the rankings were developed. Call me cynical, but I've read many "independent" reviews, seen lots of "tests" and heard a myriad of differing opinions regarding helmets, and none of them seem to agree on anything I believe testers should be sufficiently confident in the rigidity and integrity of their testing methodologies as to be confident publishing the details of their tests. Just MHO of course

[graemec]

I agree Dave on all your points, SHARP though it seems is a UK government run organisation.
Sooooooo im going to hope their testing is independent and stringent, it looks like they are using the same testing mythology that is used for DOT.
They are taking it to the next level as fas as exactly how much punishment the helmets can take etc.

Mick, the standard your asking about is the "CE" standard. CE is a body in Europe like DOT is in the UK.
Only some bike gear has to meet standards, boots to be called "motorcycle boots", Helmets, and Armour / Back Protectors.
In other words if it does not have the words "CE standard" on it, it has NO standard.

Lots of bike gear has no "armour" it has padding, my $300 Dri rider jacket had "padding" which I swapped as soon as I bought it.
My RJ's touring jacket came with Knox CE2 Armour. CE 1 btw is effectively for scooters not 1000cc motorbike speeds.
When it comes to abrasion, NONE of the jackets or pants actually reach or have to reach a CE or anything for that matter "standard".
There is NO standard for leather or textile only the "Armour" inserts

When we see a GP rider crashing we tend to see them slide off their bikes. When they highside it they tend to get carted of in an ambulance...
Lorenzo is an example of how even the best boots wont stop a break, though I get the distinct feeling his greatly reduced the severity!
His back protection certainly looked to have done a fantastic job of dispersing the impact though as he slammed flat on his back!
Without out his GP back protector I think he might have been in a hospital bed for a loooong time

CE armour is good stuff for protecting you in a slide, or from "small" impacts.
From all the safety projects on bike accidents my company has done, this is not where you tend to get hurt.
On a bike like a touring or sport touring bike, the injury's WE get are more from the fall. (followed by then slamming into road furniture)
In a crash a bike is tipping over at 1g, but that number relates to the "bike's" centre of mass.
Your shoulders are about three times as high up as the centre of mass, so you're getting levered into the ground at 2 to 3 gs, that means the fall from 3-5 feet above the ground is effectively more like a fall from 6-15 feet above the ground. Leather and CE padding aren't going to have much effect on these kinds of "real world" accidents.
When you translate that kind of force onto your helmet you get the idea of why getting the best you can regardless of cost comes into play and affects our thinking, unfortunately IMHO that's where alot of companies are hitting us in the hip pocket big time as we pay for what we "perceive" to be the best we can get because it looks like we are buying the "same" bit of gear the top lads in GP or WSB etc are using.
BTW the "rough" figures is that 75% of injuries in bike crashes happen to your legs, which kind of makes you wonder why so many people (approx 70% of riders) don't wear better protection on their legs hey...

I'm as guilty as the next person for seeing something "cool" and thinking "hmm I saw such as such wear that brand it must be good"
I also need to take heed of this as i nearly bought a carbon fibre lid costing squillions because it looked the biz not because it was the best protection
Riding is a dangerous activity, we all know that. I think that's part of the fun factor, the adrenalin buzz when you go for a ride. So i guess my thinking is that yeah its dangerous but I'm going to try to be as informed, protected & well trained as possible to lessen the impact if the shit hits the fan so to speak.

Sorry for the length of the post it kind of got away from me!

Peace and mungbeans

[Six Addict]

interesting read!!! specially as i will be losing my shoei for either a shark S500 Air or AGV Airtech... was a bit dubious on going to a helmet at around 300 bux but it seems that safety isnt compromised...

the shark fitted my head almost as well as my shoei and the AGV wasnt bad either... it seems with shoei and arai you arent neccesarily paying for extra safety, just extra build quality in terms of visor mechanisms and internal padding/lining...

glad this was posted up now as ill have no trouble buying the shark or the AGV seeing as they both scored 4

[red_dave]

I rated my Suomy Spec1R as one of the best helmets i've used... Nice and light, excellent vents, comfortable.

After using it today in the rain, I dont love it anymore.

[hoffy]

I wouldn't bank on this report being the be all and end all of Helmet safety ratings..

Are you trying to tell me a Nitro is safer than an Arai of Shoei..I think not..

[Blurr]

I rated my Suomy Spec1R as one of the best helmets i've used... Nice and light, excellent vents, comfortable.

After using it today in the rain, I dont love it anymore.

HTFU vision is over rated Dave

[red_dave]

I rated my Suomy Spec1R as one of the best helmets i've used... Nice and light, excellent vents, comfortable.

After using it today in the rain, I dont love it anymore.

HTFU vision is over rated Dave

My face hurts from squinting...

[2ndclasscitizen]

Sweet, a 4 for my Shark RSi. Plus, the Eden model looks porn

[aus636]

I have the Aria RX7 which was a 3 and the Shoe XR1000 which is a 3 and one thing with these helmets is that they are light so maybe this is the compromise. Not sure what helmet will save you when your head hits a pole at 150k.