Which is better ?

[Arnie]

My current helmet is 6yrs old, but a very good and well known brand.

Helmet manufacturers and Safety organizations recommend you replace helmets 4-6yrs after date of manufacture due to degraded ability of the EPS foam to deform and absorb impacts as intended.
(and immediately if impacted)

Now we all know those sage advice questions of, "If you've got a $5 head, get a $5 helmet" (which is now repeated as $50 or $100 head)

Here is the question: Am I safer getting an inexpensive certified helmet or waiting another year and getting a more expensive certified helmet?

[krusty]

My current helmet is 6yrs old, but a very good and well known brand.

Helmet manufacturers and Safety organizations recommend you replace helmets 4-6yrs after date of manufacture due to degraded ability of the EPS foam to deform and absorb impacts as intended.
(and immediately if impacted)

Now we all know those sage advice questions of, "If you've got a $5 head, get a $5 helmet" (which is now repeated as $50 or $100 head)

Here is the question: Am I safer getting an inexpensive certified helmet or waiting another year and getting a more expensive certified helmet?

Sounds like your helmet has reached the end of its useful life. There's not a great deal of difference nowadays. The laminate helmets have a slight advantage over plastic molded both in performance and longevity. The more expensive helmets are dearer usually because of the brand name. Get yourself down to Aldi next week and grab one. Dont put it off.

[Goody]

Annie , buy the best you can afford mate ,please

[Troyskie]

Mate, many well known brands sell replacements. You can likely find spares. I don't know costs, perhaps prohibitive, or simply more than replacement cost, or they're simply to be chucked, regardless of brand initial cost.

Cheaper helmets now are better than high performers from days past.

If it is at the end of the period (6 years as you say) keep it for a spare and get a new one.

Choose one that feels comfortable. Ignore the hype, as they are all tested here now and all (hopefully) ok.

I've read much ado on this forum about helmets and it seems to pretty much come down to two schools of thought, full ATGATT - ultra safety, and then Personal Choice, by use.

Another two camps are the flip down full-face and the fixed full-face.

Then another with the integrated sun visor. Most manufacturers have a version except Arai. I've read a couple of comments about the visor not fitting a large schnoz.

So, to summarise, get one that fits, that you can justify the cost, which has the bits you like. This is probably what you did last time....

[ribbert]

Arnie, knowing you're rolling in money, I had assumed this was a hypothetical question.

My first response is, in this age of the credit card, the cost difference between a cheap and an expensive helmet is not that great, maybe $500 (Aus). If the difference means having to wait a year for such an important item (every 6 years or so), can you even afford to own a bike and if so, ride it anywhere? This is assuming you believe the expensive helmet offers better protection.

Your question is timely, I have just spent the last couple of nights researching helmets on the net and most of yesterday riding around different stores trying them on.

In my opinion, at the very expensive end you are paying a premium for brand. At the upper end of mid range priced lids you are paying for additional features such as fastening, ventilation, padding, plush lining material, aerodynamics, weight, finish, sun shields, pinlock ready, pinlock included, glasses arms grooves in the lining, recesses for Bluetooth units in the outer shell, visor mechanisms, adjustable cheek pads, optically correct visors etc. At the cheap end you are buying a bare bones, no frills helmet.

From a safety perspective I see two levels of protection, the shell and the foam liner (the padding is for comfort)

While shell construction differs between models, I can't recall ever seeing a shell failure and, if the accident was that bad, it may well be the least of your problems.I believe it's more about weight.
I also can't recall ever reading in any specs or reviews that the foam, which absorbs impact, is any different from one helmet to the other. Surely if it was, they would make a big song and dance about it given a helmets primary function it to protect the head.

My opinion is that from the cheapest approved helmet up to the dearest, you are only getting comfort features, not increased protection.

If increased protection was relative to price, the manufacturers would be flogging that line in their marketing, but you never hear a word about it, it's all about a higher level of features.

BTW, the helmet I was most interested in, but couldn't find one to try on, is an HJC Symax 111 or HJC RPHA-Max. My local shop, about whose service I have raved about before, is getting 4 down from Sydney for me to try this week.

I have taken the advice of the forum and buying a modular helmet this time.

Noel

Disclaimer: The views expressed are the opinions of the writer and have no basis in fact. If you disagree with any of the above, you are wrong, but that is your prerogative.

[Tapartacus]

Love the "Disclaimer" Noel.  I bought a Schuberth last year with the bluetooth collar, love it! Big $$$ though.

Andrew

[red]

I think there is a "better" helmet coming on the scene, but I have not seen a road version yet.  They call it the 6D, as in Six Degrees of freedom to move.  There are various versions available, which seem to be mostly downhill and motocross helmets, so far.  These 6D helmets have two inner liners, and these liners can move independently.  They dissipate standard shocks, sure, but they also reduce twisting shocks on impacts.  Watch this quick video, and hey, (after a minute or two) the rider got up and walked away.  Talk about a field test!      

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkGZXAplj5U

Some details here:

http://racerxonline.com/2015/02/22/onsite-6d-helmets
http://motocross.transworld.net/videos/6d-helmets-releases-new-tech-videos/#zAqpd3OtEKJJ1VqI.97

These helmets are pricey times two, but I think they are about the best new tech that I have seen in a helmet, lately.  If they come up with a modular in my size (3X-4X), I might have to scrape up some cash.

Cheers,
Red

[ribbert]

Love the "Disclaimer" Noel.  I bought a Schuberth last year with the bluetooth collar, love it! Big $$$ though.

Andrew

Good to hear from you Andrew. Glad you got a laugh out of it.

Yep, no doubt about it, the Schuberth is at the top of the pile but as you say, they are already expensive but then add the collar, ouch! They are even more so in Australia.

The hunt continues, I really think my head size is going to be a major problem. 2XL's are the largest anyone imports here and it would appear I am not going to get a modular (flip up) helmet that fits me.
I have one being sent from interstate to try on, should be here in a day or two. If that doesn't fit, that's it.

Noel

[great white]

I think there is a "better" helmet coming on the scene, but I have not seen a road version yet.  They call it the 6D, as in Six Degrees of freedom to move.  There are various versions available, which seem to be mostly downhill and motocross helmets, so far.  These 6D helmets have two inner liners, and these liners can move independently.  They dissipate standard shocks, sure, but they also reduce twisting shocks on impacts.  Watch this quick video, and hey, (after a minute or two) the rider got up and walked away.  Talk about a field test!      

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkGZXAplj5U

Some details here:

http://racerxonline.com/2015/02/22/onsite-6d-helmets
http://motocross.transworld.net/videos/6d-helmets-releases-new-tech-videos/#zAqpd3OtEKJJ1VqI.97

These helmets are pricey times two, but I think they are about the best new tech that I have seen in a helmet, lately.  If they come up with a modular in my size (3X-4X), I might have to scrape up some cash.

Cheers,
Red

I can't believe they let him move after  such a wicked hit and twisting motion to his neck and head!

That would be spine board and head/neck brace carry off for us.....at least until he's been looked at by the hospital.

[the fan]

I have worn, crashed in, and sold a lot of helmets over the years.

On all the information / claims out there I have this to say.  Anyone who thinks that there is a perfect helmet for all situations is kidding themselves.

A floating type helmet like the 6d is awesome for low speed impacts. It worked when I wore a similar typ eplaying pee wee football back in the 70's and should work just as well now.

A DOT type
poly helmet will absorb one hell of an impact... Once. Not so much good on the abrasion front....

A fiberglass (yes Carbon/kevlar is fiberglass) may absorb less energy in that first hit, but it tends to keep working on the second . Abrasion resistance is generally good. Better materials = Better multi impact and abrasion resistance.

Full face helmets offer great protection for frontal impacts and work well to keep you pretty, but the shape can also contribute to neck and collarbone injuries.

Modular Helmets offer similar crash protection to full face except in big hits to the chin bar. However It is possible that in these types of impacts a modular may contribute less to neck strain and related injuries acting as a sort of crumple zone*.


*This was my experience in Offroad and may not cross over to street use. In 1995 I switch from high end full face MX helmets to the Arai modular type helmet. Previously I had suffered neck injuries, broken clavicle,  and a broken jaw when the chinbar either failed or shoved the helmet (my head as well) in awkward directions. At the advise of a friend (and 9 X HS/GNCC champion) I tried the Arai. The theory was that in a frontal impact great enough to do serious damage to my body the chin bar could fail or deflect absorbing much of the impact. Not exactly scientific but I can say that I suffered no helmet related injuries after switching helmet types. Except that one time in MI when I woke up in the Cat Scan...

My Point is, unless you know exactly how you are going to rash you can't know what the perfect helmet will be. I try to pick the one that most closely matched how I ride and how well it fits. Plus I am bored.