Crash Helmets

As we’ve seen with the influx of cheaper scooters and parts from the Far East, it should be no surprise to learn that ‘bargain’ helmets are also now available in the UK. However, as with certain budget scooters that struggle to stand up to a hardy British commute, buying a cheap helmet can be a false economy and even potentially dangerous.

I still use the rule of thumb that you ‘buy a 10p helmet for a 10p head’. With the amount of miles I ride and the state of traffic on the roads these days both I and Sticky use a helmet we can trust in and that fits well, which for the last seven years or so has meant wearing a Shoei, a company with a good reputation. Who better to quiz therefore about crash helmets than Rob Fairburn, marketing manager for Feridax (1957) Ltd (www.feridax.com), the UK importer and distributor for the Japanese Shoei range of helmets. We asked him to explain why there’s more to buying a crash helmet than just picking one out that matches your bike, and whilst a lot of what follows is based on his knowledge with Shoei, the information is applicable to all crash helmets out there!
For further information read the in-depth article on crash helmets, how they are made and the protection they can (or cannot) offer, in Scootering issue 251 (May 2007).

Andy

A GUIDE TO HELMET BUYING

• Never buy a secondhand helmet because you simply don’t know its history. Damage from drops and crashes may not be immediately apparent, and besides it’s already ‘molded’ itself to someone else’s head.
• Never choose one just because it has a nice design.
• Always try a new helmet on for the correct size. Different brands may have different sizes so don’t take anything for granted. And always buy the actual one you have tried on because you know it fits correctly, not a different one in the same size.
• The helmet should be a snug fit and you should not be able to move it backwards and forwards or from side to side when the strap is done up, yet not restrict your head from turning to observe other road users. Don’t forget, the padding will bed in around your head and face. A loose or unfastened helmet may come off in an accident.
• Check the helmet (and visor) for type approval (the minimum in the UK being ECE 22.05).
• Helmets awarded an ACU Gold sticker have been tested and approved for racing in the UK and so use this as a sign of extra quality.
• Try to avoid mail-order and internet auction sites. These helmets could come from anywhere in the world, be any age and the apart from size issues (the same size can differ from one manufacturer to another, and between continents too), most importantly they may not meet safety standards.
• Try to get fitted properly by a trained technician who knows how to fit helmets. Approved Shoei dealers in the UK are trained to fit crash helmets correctly. If you are in any doubt, contact the manufacturer and ask for your nearest helmet technician. After all, what price your head?

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