Inside the New Helmets
INSIDE THE NEW HELMETS
A Look at the Latest Styles in Helmets and an Occupant’s View of How They Work
Whatever our first motorcycle was, whether a BSA Bantam, a Honda 50 or a Yamaha 400, it was an impressive piece of machinery. Every motorcyclist remembers his first motorcycle. Compared to walking or riding a bicycle or taking the bus, a motorcycle is truly one of those great leaps forward. What the motorcyclist doesn’t know when he is riding his first motorcycle, is how much better some of the others might be. Much of the same comparisons can occur with helmets. Riders who have put thousands of miles on motorcycles without helmets may not know how nice it can be to have the wind not blasting on their eyes, their hair not tied in knots and their nose not fried to a crisp. Even riders who have spent years wearing what were state-of-the-art helmets may not know that you don’t have to get a helper to close your visor on the starting grid. There are helmet visors that can be closed or opened with just one hand.
Fortunately for those of us who strap on a helmet every day, the helmet manufacturers have been very busy the last couple of years coming up with new ideas. Not only have they been made stronger, they have been made more convenient to use. As these things sometimes occur, lots of makers have been coming up with similar new ideas at about the same time.
Boxes began arriving regularly about six months ago. These things go in cycles, as well as on them, and all the helmet people had new models. Great, we said, we’ll try as many as we can and let the readers know how we like them.
Our timing is good, but not perfect. Most of the major companies have sent their latest creations, each with wonderful new faceshields and straps. Some of the companies have said, Wait, our new model will be out next month. That’s why this started six months ago. We now have all the major new models we know of. There may be a few minor models or later helmets arriving, but this is enough to report the good stuff. This is not a survey. Not all brands are included, and not all models. What we asked for are the important new ideas. Testing is beyond our resources to do well. There are tests for helmets, the DOT tests passed by all helmets on the market, and the stricter Snell tests, ’75 and ’80.
Without debating the value of Snell tests or DOT tests, we can say that the Snell tests are tougher. All the Snell approved helmets meet the DOT standards, while only some of the DOT helmets meet Snell standards. If you want to race, you need a Snell approved helmet. As far as the protection provided by the DOT helmets, the best information we’ve seen was compiled by Dr. Harry Hurt of USC and he concluded that there was no measurable difference in injuries or fatalities based on his analysis of 900 serious motorcycle accidents. A helmet helps a bunch, a full face helmet provides protection for the face that an open face helmet does not, but the certification appeared to mean • little.
What can be evaluated is how the shield works, or how heavy a helmet is. Subjective comments are valid here. Everybody agreed some helmets were uncomfortable. Some were unanimously found to be comfortable and other have qualities that are not uniformly despised or appreciated.
The helmets:
ARAI ASTRO
By the time you read this, Arai will probably have a newer, improved version of the Astro available. We’ve seen one, and it fits as well and works as well as the Astro, while coming in eye-catching silver and black. For now though, the Astro is the top of the line Arai full face. The shape is conventional, that is, no indentations or special snout. The only flash comes from the gold decals on the side.
Like all Arai helmets, a wider than average group of people found the helmet comfortable. There is room for large noses, the interior feels good on your head. A larger than average opening in the front of the helmet provides good peripheral vision, and a good view up and down from center. The strap and D-rings are conventional. For a visor, the Astro has a thin 0.04 in. plastic shield wrapping around the helmet. It is held in a pivot on the side of the helmet that also has a plastic latch to hold the visor open, closed or in between. There is a small protrusion at the bottom edge of the shield to make lifting the visor easy. This is a visor that must be broken in. When new, it’s difficult to open one handed. After a few dozen openings and closings it works easily and conveniently with the left hand. Shields come in clear or dark, though none of our local motorcycle shops have replacement shields. The stock shields haven’t been prone to scratching more than normal. Some riders have found wind noise more of a problem on the Arai Astro than other full face helmets. The shield doesn’t fit tightly against the opening and particularly with quartering headwinds there is lots of wind noise. General level of finish on all the Arai helmets is impeccable. This fiberglass helmet is available in small, medium, large and extra large. Price is $157.50 for black or white, $168.50 for red. Snell ’80 certified and 3.3 lb.
ARAI CLASSIC
This is the latest version of Arai’s best open face helmet. Before this one there was the CLC, made of lightweight materials. Acknowledging that open face helmets don’t provide as much protection as full face helmets, several members of the staff wear open face helmets regularly because they are easy to get on over glasses, convenient to store, have the least restriction to visibility and they’re lightweight. This is the most comfortable open face helmet anyone here has ever worn. The interior fits a variety of shape heads without pain or suffering. The material on the inside soaks up sweat without becoming messy. The pewest Arai open face fits tighter, keeping wind out better than the old one, while being more of a bother to slip on over glasses. The snaps are also positioned unlike most other helmet snaps, so that not all visors fit easily. The strap could be shorter or easier to disconnect, but when it comes to grabbing a helmet off the shelf for a run to the hamburger stand, this is the one. It’s Snell ’75 approved, made of fiberglass, weighs 2.9 lb. and comes in small, medium, large and extralarge sizes. Colors are black, white and red.
Price is $89.95. Arai helmets are distributed by different firms around the country, ask your dealer.
ARTHUR FULMER PHOENIX
While some helmet companies are trying new shapes and new style shields, theArthur Fulmer Phoenix represents the traditional full coverage helmet. It is fiberglass, heavy at 3.7 lb., meets Snell ’80 and DOT requirements and comes with a flip-up faceshield held in place with a pair of snaps. Colors are wineberry, a shade of burgandy that matches some new Hondas, and black, as shown here. The black outsells the burgundy three to one, we’re told. Styling touches amount to a small gold label in the front of the helmet and gold colored eagles leading narrow gold stripes around the base of the helmet. Mostly the helmet is black. Shiny black. The 0.05 in. shield works about as well as any snapclosed shied. Some riders didn’t object, but others had difficulty closing or opening the snaps with one hand. Friction discs at the pivots hold the shield up at any position desired. The snaps are smaller in diameter than most, making them somewhat easier to snap and unsnap, but this really isn’t a one-hand helmet. Field of view is medium small, a little larger than that of the Bell or Simpson, but smaller than the Shoei or Nava, for instance. Several riders commented on fit. Apparently the Fulmer fits long narrow heads best. Riders with glasses reported extreme discomfort, saying there is no room for glasses in the Phoenix. A wider than average 1.0 in. strap holds the Phoenix on the rider’s head. The strap is kept from flapping in the breeze by a loop on the receiving end of the strap, this satisfying those who don’t like Velcro. Sizes extend from small to extra-large. List price is $149.95.
BELL STAR
More often called the Super Star, this is the second generation Bell Star. The original Star virtually started the full face helmet market, and Stars quickly became ubiquitous, at least in competition, where Star wearers could be seen fighting with the snaps on the shield that never fit. Bell is one of the oldest helmet companies, and there has always been a Bell helmet that met the toughest standards around, which means that the current Star meets Snell ’80. This latest version is different from earlier Stars because of the shield and the chin guard. The snaps are gone, replaced by a study 0.075 in. thick shield held in place by a four position detent-type holder at the hinge pins, and by cam-type plastic hold down buttons at the lower edge of the shield. It’s a clever arrangement, easy to change, but it is a two-hand release as it is produced. Both sides of the shield have to " be pulled out at once, or else one of the buttons grabs. Of course some people remove one of the buttons so it becomes a one-hand shield, but the Bell people may frown on this as it doesn’t guarantee that the shield will be secure in case the helmet must be called on to do its job. The strap is slightly larger than average at 0.9 in. Around one of the D-rings is a tiny tab that makes releasing the strap a cinch. Inside the Star is a terrycloth liner that is comfortable and does a good job of soaking up sweat. It also tickles the nose. The massive chin guard extends high enough so that it touches most riders’ noses. Those of prominent snout may be inclined to carve out some of the padding there. That large chin guard also restricts visibility from the Star more than average. Some riders couldn’t see the motorcycle’s instruments when wearing the Star because the chin guard extends too high into their field of view. The fiberglass Star is one of the heavier helmets at 3.6 lb. Price is $149.50. Colors are white, black and silver. Sizes vary in eighth-inch increments of hat sizes, from 63A to 7%.
ELECTRO TOUR SERIES
One of the first non-snap full face helmets produced was the Electro Tour Series. The 0.05 in. thick shield is held in a screw-in pivot at each side of the shield. A cork washer provides friction and tightening the nylon screws builds the friction that keeps the shield in place. The good points are that the shield is easy to raise and lower, is easy to change and it’s a reasonably durable shield. Depending on how tight the screws are, the washers may or may not have enough tension to hold the shield in place under all conditions. Even with the screws tightened hard the shield might come up when the rider turns his head sideways at 70 mph. This shield also might not be as likely to stay in place when it is needed, either. It fits medium well, allowing a little wind noise, but not an excessive amount. The view from the Electro is good, there being a wide cutout for the face. At the sides of the chin guard are small pads that hold a rider’s cheeks tightly, making for an exaggerated chipmunk look. Because of these chin pads, comfort was not rated highly by any wearer, but it wasn’t oppressive either. A normal strap and D-ring are used, but with a small loop on one side of the strap so that the loose end of the strap doesn’t whip around in the wind. Price is $139.95. Colors are black, white, burgundy and silver. Weight is 3.3 lb. and the sizes are graduated in eighth-inch increments of hat sizes, 6% through 75/8. >
JEB’S
Except for the occasional big snout, most full face helmets look pretty much the same. Not the Jeb’s. Maybe being Italian doesn’t require a helmet to look different, but it seems to help. On the Jeb’s there’s an indented line running around the helmet, accented by black and white stripe decals that then turn and swoop around the top of the helmet. Striking is the word. And then the Jeb’s name is a little crooked where the letters aren’t all stuck on neatly. This helmet uses a fiberglass shell, but it’s not Snell ’80 approved. Weight is about average at 3.1 lb. There is plenty of room in front for big noses, but it can rock back and touch a chin at speed. No complaints registered against the fit. The shield works easily, up or down, and it all looks clean and simple. The pivot points are held on by large plastic screws, for easy changing. The 0.05 in. shield lifts up or down through seven detent positions. It can be lifted from any angle with one hand. The detents are strong enough to hold position even at high.speeds. When closed it seems to fit tightly and is quiet. It also fogs easily. The strap, in the Italian fashion, doesn’t run through D-rings, but through a sliding roller that takes some getting used to. On the end of the strap is a Velcro patch to hold the strap. Field of view from the Jeb’s is large and not restricted in any position. Price is $162.95. Color combinations include red and white, black and yellow, white and blue and the combination red, black and white. Sizes extend from 7 Vs to 7%.
NAVA FIBERNET
Nava, perhaps more than any other helmet company started the trend to snapless shields and bright styling. Now there’s a new top of the line Nava helmet, the Fibernet, named because of the construction technique used to make the helmet. The Fibernet gets a woven Kevlar mesh formed in a molded resin. The result, according to Nava, is a stronger, more uniform construction than normal fiberglass methods. In any case, the Fibernet is Snell ’80 approved, has a nice smooth surface with unusual color schemes and has a face shield that is not entirely like any other. The original Nava shield used a hinged pivot, a combination of motions allowing the shield to be pulled out and then raised. Wind pressure would lower the shield and then close it. The Fibernet shield is similar, but adds snaps to hold the shield firmly in place. There are some problems with the shield, however. When it’s closed and the snaps are fastened, it is secure and the view from the Nava is unmatched by any of the other helmets. This alone made the helmet one rider’s favorite. But the snaps cannot be unsnapped by gloved hands. Without the snaps fastened the visor lifts at the edges when the head is turned, obstructing the excellent peripheral vision because of a mask of color at the edge of the visor. There is also no detent on the visor to hold the shield up or out at higher speeds. Even standing still the visor wouldn’t remain raised. If a rider wants to ride with the visor lifted, he can’t. With the visor closed the helmet touches the rider’s nose and chin at high speed, though this is seldom a problem below 80 mph. The strap is held by the usual Italian sliding bar, a system that is excellent if the wearer learns how to use it, but most people don’t appreciate. Sizes are small through extra large, black, white, blue or burgundy. List price $249.95, 3.2 lb.
KRW
Sooner or later more products had to be named Turbo. It has become one of the stronger buzz words of the Eighties, right up there with Euro and Hi-Tech. In this case a Turbo is a fiberglass full face helmet with small air vents in the chin guard and a face shield that still snaps, closed. In weight, fit, field of view and convenience this is an average good helmet. It meets Snell ’80, so it’s no doubt a well made fiberglass helmet. But the shield, for instance, is the most inconvenient design we have seen. The snaps snap so tightly they require some kind of lever to unsnap. There is a ratcheting tensioner device at the screw-in pivots on the sides of the shield, these amount to flat washers with bumps, two on each side rubbing together to keep the shield raised or held in some mid-position. To close the shield fully requires the snaps to be fastened. Where the four vents are located on the chin guard“ there are dimples, dents almost might be a better word. No one voted this the most attractive helmet of the group. Two-tone gold colored decals are affixed to the sides and a KRW sticker is mostly stuck to the front of the helmet, bulging out here and there where it doesn't fit the curve of the Hifclmet. The strap is wide, at 1 in., and it has a small patch of stick-on Velcro to keep the loose end from flailing the rider in the chin, a good idea. Weight is 3.4 lb. Colors are white, black, red, blue, charcoal. List price is $150. Available in small, medium, large and extra-large.
SIMPSON 32
When Simpson created what is affectionately known as the Miss Piggy helmet, it tapped a new area of helmet style. The angular, protruding snout made the Simpson obviously different. This latest version of the model 32 has a more conventional visor, replacing the thin plastic shield that didn’t fit the contours of the helmet. Now there’s a 0.075 in. thick plastic shield with friction positioning pivots and a pair of buttons holding the shield in place when closed. This shield can be closed with one hand, but it usually requires two hands to open if the shield is closed on both buttons, though sometimes one side can be lifted and then the other. As the photo shows, the shield overlaps the opening in this helmet by a lot. That isn’t due so much to a large area of shield, but due to the smallest opening in the front of the helmet of any of the helmets we have. The lower edge may, in fact, be slightly lower than that of the next-smallest Bell, but the top edge is also lower. This makes for a small, but adequately positioned view of the world. A couple of riders found that this Simpson, like the old model 32, is shaped so that it puts too much pressure on their eyebrows, forcing their eyes closed. Most of the Simpson helmets around the CW office have had various parts of the inner liner trimmed away with a knife or hammered down to improve the fit. Other than this one point of contact, the Simpsons are re*^K>rted to fit very well. This fiberglass shell helmet is, along with the Bell, the heaviest of the helmets, weighing 3.6 lb. It is Snell '80 approved, available in silver, red or gray and comes in sizes from 6% to 73A. List price is $214.
TURBO
NJL ROADAIRE
NJL is one of a few companies doing something about helmet visor fogging. The NJL answer, available on the Roadaire and Invader models, is a vented shield. In the chin guard of the full face helmet are several vents. These are ducted upward, toward the base of the visor. At the top of the visor is a foam strip with holes in it so the air has somewhere to go. It does seem to work, as not only is fogging reduced, it goes away quickly when moving and there is a noticeable draft inside the helmet from the flow of air. The 0.05 in. shield fits tightly when the snaps on both sides are snapped. Other times there is a four position detent on the shield pivots, able to hold the shield up or down or in the middle. Snaps are a struggle on any helmet, this one included, which is why so many of the newer designs are eliminating them. These NJL helmets use a fiberglass shell, but the helmets aren’t Snell certified. They are lightweight, however, at 2.9 lb. Fit is good, the view is about average and the 0.7 in. strap is a little narrow. As for the appearance of the NJL, well, we doubt that.it will be the hit of the year. Sizes extend from small to extra large. Colors are black, silver, red and blue. Stick-on decals provide the contrast. List price is $105.
SHOEI ER-7
Some of the new helmets are instantly recognizable by their unusual shape and styling. The Shoei ER-7 is not one of those. Its looks are tasteful, clean and simple. The shape has no bulges or creases or snouts. The only contrasting color on the black, white red or silver helmet is a small Shoei sticker in front and name decals on the side. A large opening in the front of the Shoei provides excellent peripheral vision and good vision up and down. Nothing rubs noses or cheeks, though the liner pushes down a little lower on the forehead than some other helmets. Generally the fit of the Shoei was excellent. For convenience the Shoei has as good a visor as anyone has yet-created. It lifts or closes easily with one hand, holding in position by a four-click detent at the hinge points. A small plastic cover hides the shield pivot and is as unobtrusive as it can be. When closed the shield fits well, not with an absolute air-tight seal, but enough so there are no drafts or loud noises. Like most of the 0.05 in. thick shields, the Shoei’s is sturdy and doesn't scratch easily. Finding the small lip at the bottom of the shield to open the shield can be a little difficult with heavy gloves, but that’s about the only complaint anyone had with the Shoei. Sizes run from small to extra large, all sizes being a little larger than expected. Weight is on the light side of average at 3.1 lb. The shell is composite laminate fiberglass, Snell '80 approved. List price is $149.50. >
VETTER
One of the newest companies to get into the helmet business is Vetter, makers of fairings and motorcycle accessories of all shapes and sizes. The Vetterlite is a molded plastic helmet, meeting basic DOT standards, but not Snell. Its 3.3 lb. weight is about average for this group, as is the styling. This is a clean shape, without unusual protrusions or color schemes. A multi-colored band wraps around the white, silver or black helmet and there's a simple Vetter name above the face shield. In front of the average-size window is the thickest shield found on any of the helmets. It’s 0.08 in. thick, pivots on friction pads at the corners and snaps closed. Perhaps because the shield is so thick and stiff, the snaps do line up and aren’t excessively difficult to work. Still, there are more convenient shield closures. The friction positioning is not strong, and the shield will usually close of its own accord as soon as the rider begins moving. Comfort of the Vetter seemed better than average, the lining material being soft and the liner fitting a variety of head shapes. Glasses could be easily put on through the opening, and they fit inside the Vetter helmet better than on most other helmets. A pull-tab is fastened to one of the Drings, making it easy to disconnect the strap. This is one of those simple little things that is used on the Bell and Vetter and could easily be adapted to other helmets. On our silver Vetter, the surface was peeling around the lower edge and around any rock or bug chips. The white Vetter we have has not developed this problem. Sizes extend from 6% through 7%. Price is $109.95. A photosensitive shield has been advertised for the Vetter but is not available yet. E3
