Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Many of you will remember the bomb shell article from Motorcyclist Magazine from about 8 years ago that stated the Snell standard for motorcycle helmet testing is flawed in that the design criteria was to make the strongest helmet possible. The European community developed the ECC standard which calls for a helmet that is designed to absorb as much shock as possible (I assume this to be similar to crumple zones in cars where the energy is dissipated through materials that are sacrificed for better absorption).

ECC standards are what is required in all European motorcycle racing applications.
Not sure about road racing in the USA but NHRA still requires Snell.

Is there any new information or opinions about what is best (safest) standard of helmet for street use?

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There are only two types of motor sport racing:
Nitro and everything else
(Sometimes referred to as fast and slow)

I always bought Snell helmets, usually Arai's. I rode fast on the street, road raced, drag raced, figured I needed the best I could get. Started thinking after reading the article you mentioned, and life changes (divorce) made me rethink my helmet choices. After talking to my Parts Unlimited rep (this guy is pretty sharp) about the EEC standard, it really makes sense. I just checked the WERA rulebook, it requires Snell, BSI, or EC (ECC?). I think the ECC is the way to go unless you dragrace.

I went with an HJC CL-15 because it was the best helmet available that was on clearance for $59.99 and free shipping.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

only ECE approved helmets are road legal here.. so have never used anything else. i was also warned about buying helmets on ebay because of the different fitments for different regions and that the DOT sertification is not as safe as ECE and that the same helmet could be different depending on where its from.

if you google sharp helmet test youll find some good advice and info there. Found my next helmet there. shoei qwest, looks like a great compromise between comfort, price and got top marks for safety.

Thanks for this Sverre.

I spoke with a knowledgable salesman from Revzilla yesterday that had some insight.
He said that Arai has released a helmet in Europe that supposedly meets Snell, DoT, and ECC.
This sounds like the win/win helmet but it is not available in the US.
If this product actually exists, it would change the industry assuming the price was not extremely high.

He had the following in insight:
* For low speed falls he agreed that the motorcyclist report regarding ECC helmets to take much of the shock was a good thing.
* He also said that he has seen a crash while racing where the added strength of a Snell helmet was probably a life saver when the rider slid for long distances at high speed with his helmet in contact with the track.

Lastly, a customer rode to their shop in PA and was involved in a bad accident where his head cane into contact with edge of the rear bumper of a truck.
The thinking was that the severe impact over a small contact point was handled best by the Snell helmet in that the aded strength kept it intact and the helmet literally folded over the crease caused by the impact. They felt that a “softer” hemet may not have had adequate strength to keep the riders head
covered with a point source impact.

Haven’t studied it all but from first glance there are some Snell 2015 spec helmets that met the the Sharp Tests.

_________________
There are only two types of motor sport racing:
Nitro and everything else
(Sometimes referred to as fast and slow)