Helmets Save Lives

[M109R]

Here's a good reason for the new bikers on why to always wear a full-face helmet.

From my co-worker in Denver, CO:

South on Ulster, just before Belleview, lady in the median waiting to pull in the bank, just before I get there, she pulls right in front of me, no exit, I grab a hand full of front brakes and stand the bike up on the front tire and go into her passenger door. I stayed on the bike, face went into the roofline, crushed everything in front of the triple tree. It trashed my helmet and left a small scratch on my right boot. The guys on the firetruck and the ambulance were amazed.

He did not break anything, but his heart. The TL1000R was totaled.

Never scrimp on a helmet. You will never see me without a Shoei or Arai.

Please use to post your other stories of how helmets saved your skull.

[hot_shoe_cv]

In 02, while riding my 97 Warrior quad in the dessert om a 2 track trail about 40mph, I saw a rider approaching anout a mile away on a KX 250 dirt bike altho he was on the left side of the two track, I wasn't concerned since he was so far away even tho he was looking only about two or three feet in front in front of his wheel and obviously did not see me. We were the only two people anywhere in sight on that part of the dessert. As we approached nearer to each other I started to become alarmed as I had no escape with a drop-off to my left and a high embankment to my right. He was still fixed on his front wheel and doing about 40mph, the same as me for a combined speed of 80mph at impact. The next thing I remember was the EMT cutting off my jersey and asking me if it was my good jersey. I replied, "Well, it was!". The long and short of it was I woke up again In the local ER with a subdural hematoma (brain bleed) on the right frontal lobe, a broken shoulder, & three broken ribs + assorted contusions. If not for the Shoei RF900 and chest protector, I doubt I would be here telling this story.On a side note, after healing from this episode, I replaced the frame on the Warrior which was bent pretty much and then sold it to buy a 660 Yamaha Raptor sport Quad. Of course the old Shoei was history and an Arai Pro took it's place.
I now ride only street with either a Shoei Z2 or the new Shoei J Wing for summer.

[bok]

i did some stupid things during the MSF/BRC and crashed doing about 25mph the helmet had some nice deep gouges from chin to the top of the head, which is why i wear a full face. i did more damage to my shoulder/knee/arm than to my head and that's one of the reasons i am in full support of helmets and safety gear.

one could debate your friends' accident and say he should have been more aware and on the brakes sooner and therefore not needed a helmet, but that debate gets old fast

In this case there is no doubt in my mind that the helmet saved him some major "Dain Bramage" good thing someone wasn't tailgaiting him at the same time or that situation would have a decidedly different result

the most important safety device you can use is your brain, so keep it safe

[Sev]

Shoei or Arai is not necessarily a better helmet then something less expensive.

Please do not make the mistake of assuming that a more expensive helmet is more protective.

[ofblong]

Shoei or Arai is not necessarily a better helmet then something less expensive.

Please do not make the mistake of assuming that a more expensive helmet is more protective.

hmm buy a $400 shoei that is full face and keep my jaw/teeth/forehead from having to have plates on them or buy a $150 half face helmet and end up with a head full of metal? no thanks I have seen what a half face helmet can cause and my friend now has a face full of metal because of it.

[Big B]

Shoei or Arai is not necessarily a better helmet then something less expensive.

Please do not make the mistake of assuming that a more expensive helmet is more protective.

hmm buy a $400 shoei that is full face and keep my jaw/teeth/forehead from having to have plates on them or buy a $150 half face helmet and end up with a head full of metal? no thanks I have seen what a half face helmet can cause and my friend now has a face full of metal because of it.

that's not what he was talking about. there are quality full face helmets to be had in the $200 range.

[M109R]

The helmet suggestion was his not mine.

I wear a Scorpion EX and own two other HJCs. All fit very comfortably and are both Snell and DOT approved. I do not have any reason to believe they won't do what they are designed to do.

My thought is not to waste your time on helmets that are not approved by both Snell and DOT. What's a couple bucks compared to your skull fracturing or neck snapping.

If something does gown down, you want the best fit and tested helmet you can get.

WEAR YOUR HELMET EVERY RIDE

[Sev]

Shoei or Arai is not necessarily a better helmet then something less expensive.

Please do not make the mistake of assuming that a more expensive helmet is more protective.

hmm buy a $400 shoei that is full face and keep my jaw/teeth/forehead from having to have plates on them or buy a $150 half face helmet and end up with a head full of metal? no thanks I have seen what a half face helmet can cause and my friend now has a face full of metal because of it.

I own three HJC fullface helmets, and they are going to offer me better protection then an Arai or Shoei, because they fit me better.

That is the important part when buying a helmet, get the one that fits the best, not the one with the biggest price tag.

And you'll note that I said, "less expensive," not, "covers less of your face."

[TR7]

I do believe that the difference between a DOT and SNELL is the conditions that they are tested, not if they work better or not. if i remember correctly a DOT is tested at lower impact speeds than the SNELL, but the DOT requires less force exerted to the brain than the SNELL, therefore something that is only DOT will provide more cushion to lower speed impacts whereas the SNELL would be better for higher speed impacts. or something like that. ill try and find the article i read on this.

[ofblong]

sorry sevulturus I mis understood.