Helmets

[Sunnyside_up!]

@ SUNNYSIDE UP: thanks for sharing that valuable info. theoritically it may be correct, but practically, paint dissolving the outer hard shell and reaching inner parts...may take years...

Actually I had that discussion with the track steward too but he was very firm! He told me the rules were prepared with Zero tolerance and guess work where safety is concerned.

I did research this a bit later and found that the biggest damage is to the outer shell which degrades faster after being exposed to solvents and petroleum products. Apparently the sun's UV rays and unprotected or degraded ABS are anathema too! That's why helmet polishes are always silicone based too.

Incidentally, just to understand how strict they are about safety on some tracks abroad, in many of them, the track steward will come over to your paddock if you've crashed and either confiscate your damaged helmet or cut the straps off!

[B7ACKTHORN]

I applaud your creativity and initiative but just a word of caution - what kind of paint did you use?

I ask this because a few years ago while on a track-day in Malaysia, I had scuffed my helmet while carrying on a flight, scratching the paint in several places. In an attempt to cover up the paint damage, I tried to show off some of my artistic skills with a paint can and did some graffiti artwork on it overnight.

The next day I was shocked when I was not allowed on track with the painted helmet because of the following reasons as explained to me by the track steward;

1. My helmet like many modern helmets was made of ABS. The paint that I used from the spray can was a petroleum based enamel that can degrade ABS and therefore the structural integrity of the shell.

2. If the structural integrity of my helmet shell was compromised, there was likelihood of the paint penetrating to the inner styrofoam layer of the helmet. Apparently petroleum or solvent based paints dissolve Styrofoam - thereby negating the very purpose of my helmet!

Shocked and humbled I immediately trundled off to pick up a new helmet for the event.

I later found out that helmet manufacturers the world over use only water based acrylic decals on their helmets because of this and even air-brush companies abroad use only water based paints.

I have seen many guys use enamel paints to decorate their helmets since that is the most commonly available paint in India. Water based acrylics are a specialty paint and therefore rare and also difficult to apply with a brush and is therfore normally sprayed - all reasons that us laymen don't normally get hold of it.

If you have painted your helmet with a solvent based enamel, ( and I know for a fact your helmet model is made of ABS ), I would urge you to discard your helmet and get yourself a new one. I first made this mistake too about 20 years ago, when I didn't know better and then much later in life - so while it is going to hurt to discard what looks like a perfectly good helmet, please put it down to experience and ride safe!

Whoa! That's quite an info there. Thank you so much, so at least now I know what to do with I buy a local helmet.

Cheers!
VJ

[kidpikoon]

Thinking of Buying Reevu (Rear view) Helmet for about 23.5k
Good option ???
Are there any other helmets I should consider ???

Link: Reevu | Gallery

[krish2778]

Thinking of Buying Reevu (Rear view) Helmet for about 23.5k
Good option ???
Are there any other helmets I should consider ???

Link: Reevu | Gallery

You have a budget of 20k+ and you have a hell lot of options. Icon,AGV,KBC etc etc , search around in the web.
About the rear view mirror helmet. Are they still available. Somewhere i read due to low demand its not in production.Dont remember where i read that.

P.S: Sunnyside_up , thats wonderful information. I have shared your quote in some other forums and have given courtesy too. I hope you dont mind.

Cheers
Ride Safe
krishna

[Helios]

SNELL rated helmets?

Hello guys, am posting this on my friends behalf who has been searching for a helmet which is SNELL rated. He said he needs it for some SUPRA racing! NUVO helmets are SNELL rated I guess ? What are the other SNELL rated lids available in India ?

[yzfrj]

Need help in buying a helmet.
Max budget around 4-4.5k

I see lot of options, however the rating (or safety certification is not clear)

LS2 seems to have ECE 22.05 and its clearly mentioned on the lid.
SOL seems to be only DOT compliant (can be considered inferior compared to ECE 22.05)

AGV my friend went to a shop today on my behalf and that too does not have anything mentioned on the lid. Nor there is much info on any website (India specific)

Am I missing out something ?
or is my observation flawed ?

Primary role will be as a daily use helmet.

I've used Vega Integra in the past and had to replace after a crash.
The helmet saved me, I can still hear the helmet rubbing against the tarmac, I basically dusted myself off and walked away from the crash.

I have a Steelbird Bieffe now which is showing its age.

[Kunwar.g]

You also get LS2 with both ECE and ISI markings on it. Ranges in ur budget, however availability is low.

I wouldn't go with any lid that does not have a rating or has rating in the form of a removable decale.

[B7ACKTHORN]

You also get LS2 with both ECE and ISI markings on it. Ranges in ur budget, however availability is low.

I wouldn't go with any lid that does not have a rating or has rating in the form of a removable decale.

Not really. There are lots of helmets that just come with sticker as a standard. You can clearly discern from which is fake and which is not. Again, having a sticker doesn't mean it's fake or printed on it doesn't mean it's all genuine.

Need help in buying a helmet.
Max budget around 4-4.5k

I see lot of options, however the rating (or safety certification is not clear)

LS2 seems to have ECE 22.05 and its clearly mentioned on the lid.
SOL seems to be only DOT compliant (can be considered inferior compared to ECE 22.05)

AGV my friend went to a shop today on my behalf and that too does not have anything mentioned on the lid. Nor there is much info on any website (India specific)

Am I missing out something ?
or is my observation flawed ?

Primary role will be as a daily use helmet.

I've used Vega Integra in the past and had to replace after a crash.
The helmet saved me, I can still hear the helmet rubbing against the tarmac, I basically dusted myself off and walked away from the crash.

I have a Steelbird Bieffe now which is showing its age.

Both SNELL and DOT helmets are US standards and ECE is of European, but more or less both are the same that are used in race worldwide. It's just that the stickers are based upon each country and their testing procedures.

AGV India doesn't need to comply to those standards, as they are not necessarily needed. All you have is ISI which is good for our speeds and our price conscious customers, that doesn't mean it's cheap and stuff. In a crash you can expect it save your head. One of my friend has a Steelbird Bieffe, just a full solid plastic helmet, and really did its purpose well.

If you want better protection, both SNELL and DOT and ECE are all the same as I mentioned earlier.

Go for SOL these days, it's getting rave reviews and pretty good VFM helmet.

Hello guys, am posting this on my friends behalf who has been searching for a helmet which is SNELL rated. He said he needs it for some SUPRA racing! NUVO helmets are SNELL rated I guess ? What are the other SNELL rated lids available in India ?

KBC, HJC and Arai are all SNELL rated, and you can get them in Performance Racing Store in Mumbai or you can source then from online retailers in US.

Cheers!
VJ

[kidpikoon]

Production had stopped some 3-4 years ago...
But this one has been released just now, they have developed it to a better rear view now...

[yzfrj]

Both SNELL and DOT helmets are US standards and ECE is of European, but more or less both are the same that are used in race worldwide. It's just that the stickers are based upon each country and their testing procedures.

I do not agree.
My knowledge on the subject is based on stuff I read.

ECE 22.05 in most cases are better than DOT.
Snell is arguably the best.

AGV India doesn't need to comply to those standards, as they are not necessarily needed. All you have is ISI which is good for our speeds and our price conscious customers, that doesn't mean it's cheap and stuff.

Thank you. I did not know that.

A quick version

DOTHURT ReportSnellECE R22-05

Source -> Snell vs DOT vs ECE R22-05 – Helmet Standards Throwdown | Silodrome


I do agree to some extend that most good helmets (ISI, DOT or whatever)
Will give enough protection.
My intention is not to start an argument but to find a helmet that is most 'bang for the buck'

Or in simpler terms the best protection for the given amount of money.

SOL again agreed have some good reviews out there.
They do seem to be a tad heavy based on reviews.
Look and feel is pretty good.

[Eshan-P180]

BTW any idea about SOL having a Pune dealership?

Screw you all in regards the protection from accident, DOT, SNELL, ISI is all crap in front of this certification - Rajnikant's helmet, no competition at all.

[B7ACKTHORN]

I do not agree.
My knowledge on the subject is based on stuff I read.

ECE 22.05 in most cases are better than DOT.
Snell is arguably the best.

Let me make it a bit more clear bud. Not all you read is precise. All DOT, ECE, SNELL approved helmets are used in the pinnacle of racing, it's just that some are a little stricter than the others, but that doesn't mean they are a compromise on safety.

ECE helmets are mostly used in European countries rather than in West, reason being they have a certain set of standards which each country sets regarding it's helmet procedures.

So whatever be the case, there is nothing called inferior or superior when it comes to these standards. Each are unique and have a set standard to which they adhere to. And you can see every helmet in MotoGP, be it DOT, SNELL or ECE. So..

Cheers!
VJ

[B7ACKTHORN]

..

Screw you all in regards the protection from accident, DOT, SNELL, ISI is all crap in front of this certification - Rajnikant's helmet, no competition at all.

Eshan, that one cracked me up. BTW does Rajnikanth wear a helmet, isn't his head suppose to be a helmet itself

Cheers!
VJ

[Eshan-P180]

Eshan, that one cracked me up. BTW does Rajnikanth wear a helmet, isn't his head suppose to be a helmet itself

Cheers!
VJ

Dafaaq, facepalm , i forgot he has carbon fiber inserts in his skull...

Does SOL plan to come to Pune too?? any information on this, anyone?

[yzfrj]

Let me make it a bit more clear bud. Not all you read is precise. All DOT, ECE, SNELL approved helmets are used in the pinnacle of racing, it's just that some are a little stricter than the others, but that doesn't mean they are a compromise on safety.

Its all just a sticker ?
Quiet laughable.
Dude on fake stuff its just a sticker, on genuine stuff its an assured mark that it does what it says.

So whatever be the case, there is nothing called inferior or superior when it comes to these standards

There is.
I'd suggest you read the test procedure for each of these standards.

DOT is basically certified by the manufacturer itself.
Any minor changed to that model does't warrant a re-test.

ECE is usually done by an independent authority.
This is most widely recognized as the most up-to-date standard.
This has significantly more tests that even ensures that minimal force is transmitted to the user. Also any change in the design needs it to be tested again.

ISI again is just a mark or quality and compared to both DOT and ECE is pretty out dated.

Snell has the most stringent tests.

As I stated earlier this is not an ego contest.
You are free to believe as you wish.
However just read as I suggested and maybe you will agree with what I said.

Peace.