[Scootereno]

I have been following the struggles of Kenny Anderson age 12 a youth track racer that lost his life yesterday a week after an off on the last lap as he was going for the lead.
He had set the track record for the track on his 250 earlier in the day. He had all the protective equipment including an Arai helmet. Well the helmet cracked and the brain damage was sadly the deal breaker for him.
I wonder if a more flexible helmet would have performed different ie. DOT vs. Snell scenario?

Here is a Video tribute to Kenny "Iceman" Anderson #112 racing his ninja at another race.
http://vimeo.com/61543513

 

[NormanB]

That's a toughie and impossible to be definitive.
The truth is you are vulnerable on two wheels and no amount of leather, armour, helmet will bestow invulnerability upon you in all circumstances.
Safety standards for helmets are a good thing overall BUT they are very specific and Manufacturers will (naturally) ensure their design and execution at least meets that specific standard. The problem is there can never be a guarantee that your accident will comply with the 'standard'. :?

 

[DandyDoug]

In a word, NO !
When it's your day in the barrel it's your day in the barrel.

As a former road racer I feel the pain and anguish of the family, but we have to remember he was doing what he loved and many of us would like to try.
Racing is a dangerous hazard and should only be approached by those with the understanding that IT IS DANGEROUS.

Personally I have always felt safer on the race track than in the public domain.

On the track , everyone has had some level of professional training, you are all going the same direction,
Oscar, the driver of the Buick is not likely to pull out in front of you, there are medical professionals on hand if you make a mistake and get a booboo.

Crashing sucks at any speed and no matter how much gear you have the piece that is missing is the piece that may or may not have saved you.
I have come off at both high speed and low speed ( if you don't crash occasionally , you ain't tryin hard enough)
Some i walked away from , some i was carried away from.

I'll sleep well tonight knowing he went out with a smile on his face doing what he loved.
Rest in piece young warrior. :thumbup:

 

[Scootereno]

I never raced on asphalt but I was on a MX team and raced for 5 years during my high school days.
I too crashed Plenty but it was at lower speeds on dirt or should I say Georgia red clay (hard as the bricks made from it). Usually it was from getting bumped by other racers. The one thing I noticed is the visor/bill on the MX helmets offer great shock absorption when face planting but hit the back of the helmet on the ground and it HURT a lot more and I saw stars every time.
Flexible visor/bill vs. solid stiff back of helmet.....who knows :roll:

 

[DandyDoug]

I had a get off at Pocono on my TZ250 in an AMA event one year.
It was my first real fast crash ( well it was fast to me anyway) :shock:
In novice school they told us to try and not tumble just slide it out. They did not tell us how fast leather gloves can wear through or how hot it gets from the friction

I slid a ways and stopped suddenly head first in to a bit of a wall just past the last hay bale. Rung my bell pretty loud, was out for a while they tell me. The AMA confiscated my brand new Bell Star helmet . Really made me mad because it was brand new.
They sent it to Bell and a few weeks later I got a new one in the mail from Bell with a note thanking me for the used up product , a smiley face note that said "It Worked" was attached .

I tried to ride in the dirt a bit , but fell so much i got fed up and stayed on asphalt.
Well except for my one and only flat track adventure, some girl bumped me off and then proceeded to run over me . :roll:

 

[v8eyedoc]

I had a get off at Pocono on my TZ250 in an AMA event one year.
It was my first real fast crash ( well it was fast to me anyway) :shock:
In novice school they told us to try and not tumble just slide it out. They did not tell us how fast leather gloves can wear through or how hot it gets from the friction

I slid a ways and stopped suddenly head first in to a bit of a wall just past the last hay bale. Rung my bell pretty loud, was out for a while they tell me. The AMA confiscated my brand new Bell Star helmet . Really made me mad because it was brand new.
They sent it to Bell and a few weeks later I got a new one in the mail from Bell with a note thanking me for the used up product , a smiley face note that said "It Worked" was attached .

I tried to ride in the dirt a bit , but fell so much i got fed up and stayed on asphalt.
Well except for my one and only flat track adventure, some girl bumped me off and then proceeded to run over me . :roll:

My advice is to stick with your Burgman 650........................AND.............. avoid girls - at all costs...!!!! :lol:

 

[DandyDoug]

I hope the Burgman is my last motor bike :thumbup:

As for girls; I like them a lot
They are soft, smell good and darn right fun in certain situations

 

[NormanB]

Except when shopping. :lol:

 

[Chérie]

This help !

 

[DandyDoug]

This help !

Good one Cherie, I have seen it before and from personal experience I believe in a good full face or at least a flip front helmet.
I do wear a 3/4 helmet in summer some times , but am aware of the compromise.

 

[Ralph M]

I always try helmets on, it's surprising how some makes fit some people better,
wont buy a poorly fitting helmet no matter who made it.

 

[v8eyedoc]

I always try helmets on, it's surprising how some makes fit some people better,
wont buy a poorly fitting helmet no matter who made it.

Sorta like buying pants that don't fit...........!!!!!! Or shoes, for that matter!

 

[apvkt]

It does mean whether the product is expensive or not it should be of high quality which gives more safety to us. If product with good quality is having high price then there is no wrong in purchasing the product. Thanks.

 

[QuantumRift]

Generally an expensive helmet, in terms of SAFETY, will not protect you any better; When compared to a less expensive helmet, that still meets or exceeds the requirements (whatever standard is in use), the more expensive helmet will get you a better fit, maybe more comfort, less noise, maybe better ventilation and COOL decals and paint.

You can't 'second guess' 'what if.....there's now answer.

 

[MacDoc]

Hah - glad to see a few others with fall off stories.
Mine are current and only dirt - the last one a still sore shoulder after a week - 20 kph on green moss ( aka black ice - tropics version ) on a slightly downhill forest track and instead of sliding per normal ...the peg dug in and the bike stopped rather abruptly and whacked me into the ground at a good 20 kph+ - KLR650
Think running full tilt into a door jam.... rode it out after a 20 minute whoozy break and still sore a week later but functional.

was worth the pictures tho. - we had to turn back for a true forest giant that had fallen a day or so earlier...simply awesome tree.]

thread with pics is here
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/sh ... ason/page9

To answer the OP - Australian studies have shown gear not so important in fatal accidents ( beyond the obvious wearing a helmet ) as some crashes are just too traumatic.
If a helmet passes it's rating then that's fine....fit etc, very important for comfort etc. I wear a Bell MAg8 - very comfie, very quiet, passes the tests, $85 Like it far better than my $300 Shoei which I just never wear.
Noisy and not as comfortable.

I wear a convertible in Aus and do like that - I had it flipped up when I sent down on the KLR - cheek plate hit the dirt a bit .....neck a bit sore but that would be the same for any helmet.
I might take the convertible home this year

Getting the armor in the right spot is important - had a hole in my riding pants ( not armored ) but the knee and shin armor picked up what ever nail the pants with no issue.
I wear loose comfie pants and then underarmor and like the combination as I know the vulnerable bits are covered and the pants are not stiff and uncomfortable.

I'm considering even switching to some of the top under armor even tho the $50 used JR mesh jacket has been terrific so far in protecting me on the dirt. Each time up til this one was like hitting a feather bed - armor works.

Instead of going over the top on gea, I'd suggest riding courses and in particular for new riders some off road courses Would be money better spent in my view.