Helmet Crap

[ManhattanRider]

So i bought a nice looking hjc helmet - its old but new from some cycle shop around my town

Basically yea, I fell off my sportbike -

Well this happened 2 weeks ago - I put on the helmet - got on the bike

I went over a pothole doing 40 - The bike went to hell and took a beating - i needed a new front tire - Also my left fairings are all scratched.

Anyway, When i fell

I was wearing a school bag and i fell on my back.

I DO NOT remember hitting my head

Exactly when i think about it - I hit my back and rolled to my left side and QUICKLY GOT UP in under 4 seconds

I remember correclty - I never remember baning my helmet against the pavement - maybe it slid across

My helmet has minor Unnoticable scratches. You cant see it unless you EXAMINE IT

So i am wondering

DID ANY PROTECTION INSIDE GET MESSED UP

Because i LOVE how this helmet looks - I

I AM having Paranoid delusional thoughts that its broken and not safe to wear it - I began thinking about it today outta nowhere

So how do i get this helmet tested.

I really hate to go looking for a new helmet

I love this one, I even got a tinted visor and its SO COMFORTABLE.

Argh! but even the manual says if you drop the helmet more than 4 feet it Might not be good even more- IT SAID MAYBE.

but i didn't drop anything

Waaaaah Im ****ed

[A2rider]

I would say that if it didn't hit the pavement, it's OK.

[ManhattanRider]

Originally Posted by A2rider

I would say that if it didn't hit the pavement, it's OK.

iT didn't hit - But it slid a little - the helmet touched the pavement

I notice scratches. i CAn't feel the scratches

white scratches? Hmmm

Or maybe its just the helmets paint job.


Hmm it's weird

[A2rider]

Snell and DOT ratings are for impact only. The job of the different linings are to absorb impact. I really don't know about sliding.

[kbroderick]

If it came in contact with the pavement during a crash, it should be replaced. Testing usually involves either x-raying or cutting the helmet apart; the first is the expensive and the second wouldn't really help much.

Note that when Motorcyclist magazine did a helmet test, none of their helmets showed significant-looking damage...even after they'd been impacted in ways that resemble high-speed crashes.

[RichLockyer]

Was this the same accident that started your overheating problem, or did you go down again?


Anyways, you don't remember hitting the pavement, but is there anything ELSE that you don't remember? Can you trace the accident from beginning to end without any gaps?

If there are ANY gaps in your memory, or if your ears were ringing when you got up, then you suffered a mild concussion and the helmet should be replaced.

If there are no gaps and your ears were not ringing, it's probably fine. I think a lot of people get too paranoid about replacing a lid with cosmetic damage from a very light impact. A lot of people say to replace it after ANY impact... others say after a "drop" of 3 feet, others say 6 feet, etc... It's as bad as an oil thread

The rule for a long time was that the lid should be replaced after any impact that "rings your bell".

[ManhattanRider]

No there are no gaps. I fell and got up and picked up the bike and went.

Problem here is at high speeds. Like 70mph or 80 i hear ringing in my ears?

Is that a sign or what.

Sometimes i hear the ringing and sometimes i don't - But this occurs at high speeds.

What the heck>

Or is it just the helmet padding.

I hear some sort of tone at high speed ridding - Like a riiiiiing - Constantly

But maybe it's just the speed or the helmet

It's an extra large and it shakes when i go fast.

[RichLockyer]

That ringing is wind noise damaging your hearing.

The ringing I was referring to is the ringing that you experience after you whack your head on a cabinet or someone punches you in the head.
It NORMALLY goes away in less than an hour.

[ManhattanRider]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

That ringing is wind noise damaging your hearing.

The ringing I was referring to is the ringing that you experience after you whack your head on a cabinet or someone punches you in the head.
It NORMALLY goes away in less than an hour.

Nope never got that.

WTF> Wind noise damaging my hearing>

hmm

Well i can tell you - After coming home from a high speed ride at 70mph and taking off my helmet

My hearing is quite crappy...But it gets better later.

how do i prevent this? I am using an hjc

is it too big maybe> Darn im confused

my hears dont hurt or anything - It's just a temporary ringing that comes and goes

And sometimes it doesn't fell like its in my ears. Sounds like its a noise from the inside of the helmet itself.

it's bizzare. can't describe it


Well best i can say is - When i hear the ringing. It doesn't sound like it's directly within my ears - It sounds like it's something in the helmet with me - I can hear with both ears - not just in 1 ear. But it doesnt occur all the time.

How strange..


Any get this "Ringing" noise phenomenon in the helmet?

[RichLockyer]

Earplugs.

I really like these:
Etymotic Research, Inc. - ER•20 High Fidelity Earplugs

[A2rider]

Noise happens to a lot of people, no matter what helmet they wear. Try some ear plugs and see if they help.

[92NinjaZX6]

If your helmet shakes that means its too big, the helmet should be snug and not enough to "shake". Its not safe to wear a helmet that's too big. I generally dont advise earplugs as its like the same reason why you cant sit there listening to your ipod in a car, its not safe if you cant hear your surroundings. My Shoei is well insulated and aerodynamic and is already hard to hear stuff with it on, id be completely deaf of i wore earplugs on top of it.

[kbroderick]

Originally Posted by 92NinjaZX6

If your helmet shakes that means its too big, the helmet should be snug and not enough to "shake". Its not safe to wear a helmet that's too big. I generally dont advise earplugs as its like the same reason why you cant sit there listening to your ipod in a car, its not safe if you cant hear your surroundings. My Shoei is well insulated and aerodynamic and is already hard to hear stuff with it on, id be completely deaf of i wore earplugs on top of it.

Have you tried earplugs?

I can hear most noises better with earplugs in, because they cut the wind noise. Otherwise, once I hit about 35-40 MPH, I can mostly just hear wind noise (and at 50 MPH, that's all I can hear; it even drowns out the psychotic sewing machine sound of the Ninjette). In addition, I don't get ringing in my ears at the end of a ride and I'm much less fatigued at the end of a ride (due to less mental stress of dealing with the wind noise).

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

If there are no gaps and your ears were not ringing, it's probably fine. I think a lot of people get too paranoid about replacing a lid with cosmetic damage from a very light impact. A lot of people say to replace it after ANY impact... others say after a "drop" of 3 feet, others say 6 feet, etc... It's as bad as an oil thread

Eh, the science behind helmet replacement is a lot more clear than the science behind specific oil choices. The manufacturer in this case says:

Originally Posted by HJC

Immediately replace your helmet if:

It has suffered an impact. Your helmet is only designed for ONE impact. An impact may fracture the outer shell or compress the impact absorbing liner. You may not be able to detect this damage. Any impact in a crash or a drop from as low as 4 feet is enough to damage your helmet.

They also say:

Originally Posted by HJC

Never drop your helmet – Dropping your helmet may crack the shell or damage the protective foam. The damage may not be visible. Your helmet is only designed for ONE impact. Refer to "Helmet Replacement for more information on what to do after helmet has been dropped.

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The rule for a long time was that the lid should be replaced after any impact that "rings your bell".

The rule for a long time in contact sports was that you could go back into the game if you seemed mostly coherent. We've since learned that this is not a medically sound standard and can result in brain damage. I wouldn't be inclined to trust any "rule for a long time" with regard to head injuries; there have been too many recent advances in medical and scientific knowledge about them.

The manufacturer in this case also says:

Originally Posted by HJC

If you are unsure if you need to replace your helmet, contact HJC America before using your helmet again

So perhaps the OP should email them (there's an email address on the linked page).

[airforce1]

Here's an odd one,
I was in the habit of hanging my (not FF) helmet on the right mirror and the do rag on the left mirror (let it dry out in HOTT weather)
Yesterday I took off my helmet and put my gloves in it to go in for lunch.
Oddly, looked inside the helmet and saw something white in there.
Weird! The foam liner had compression damage from the mirror!
Looked at my watch (yep, I'm still so old that I wear one!) and it said "time to get a new lid!"
"It's too late to go shopping for a new helmet when you NEED it!"
My kid flew off his dirt bike, cracked his helmet and peed red for two days.
He never knew how close he came to beedeebeedeebeedee....
I told him he was a lucky dawg and bought him a new FFH.
He was lucky.
If you only can get one piece of gear, let it be a good helmet!

[92NinjaZX6]

Originally Posted by kbroderick

Have you tried earplugs?

I can hear most noises better with earplugs in, because they cut the wind noise. Otherwise, once I hit about 35-40 MPH, I can mostly just hear wind noise (and at 50 MPH, that's all I can hear; it even drowns out the psychotic sewing machine sound of the Ninjette). In addition, I don't get ringing in my ears at the end of a ride and I'm much less fatigued at the end of a ride (due to less mental stress of dealing with the wind noise).

I dont really get wind noise in my Shoei, i get a little if the lid is open or if i turn my head to the side on both the Shoei and the Fulmer i also have. I never had wind noise bad enough to make me deaf, i hear a little noise if i crack open the front vents or the visor but nothing that would drive me crazy. The only people i can see wearing earplugs are those Harley guys with those obnoxiously loud sounding pipes and wearing half helmets. Maybe i'll one day come across a really loud helmet to get earplugs for but for now i cant see why i would need them.

[92NinjaZX6]

I also wanted to add i cant seem to get my head in any of the HJC Helmets, they are ovalish pear shaped openings, my head is too fat to get into them, you guys must have some small skinny heads. I tried L, XL, cant find any XXL in local stores to try out. My Fulmer and my Shoei are both XL and they fit perfectly snug, i guess sizing is different between brands.

[CTRider]

Originally Posted by 92NinjaZX6

I also wanted to add i cant seem to get my head in any of the HJC Helmets, they are ovalish pear shaped openings, my head is too fat to get into them, you guys must have some small skinny heads. I tried L, XL, cant find any XXL in local stores to try out. My Fulmer and my Shoei are both XL and they fit perfectly snug, i guess sizing is different between brands.

Different helmet manufacturers tend to have different shapes they cater to. For example, if a Shoei is comfortable for you, an Arai won't be. They are two very different helmets.

In addition, sizing isn't consistant between brands, either. I wear a small in most helmets, but an x-small in HJC.

And, yes, I do have a skinny head.

[RichLockyer]

Sizing and shape isn't even consistent WITHIN brands.
My dirtbike lid is an HJC ACX-2 (glass). Small. Fits my face fine, it's a little snug across the forehead.
Buddy's is an HJC CLX-4 (poly). Medium. Fits my head fine, but the cheek pads have me smashed in like a chipmunk.

Street lids? In 1/2 and 3/4, I'm a Shoei large, and in other brands I'm anywhere from a ML to XL... and a few M's fit.

[mcwrath]

Originally Posted by CTRider

Different helmet manufacturers tend to have different shapes they cater to. For example, if a Shoei is comfortable for you, an Arai won't be. They are two very different helmets.

In addition, sizing isn't consistant between brands, either. I wear a small in most helmets, but an x-small in HJC.

Yep...I tried on the expensive Shoei's, the Bell's, and every other brand at the local dealership. The one that fit was the HJC, and thats the one I bought. As a bonus, it was also the cheapest

[infonavigator]

Get a new helmet before you ride again.