Ahhh, my old friend PAIN, the greatest teacher of them all...

Wisdom comes from experience,
Experience comes from pain.

 

Not an attempt to argue with you -- I just wanted people to see I wasn't makin' this up. I found on their website where they state this claim that the Styrofoam is utilized to pass the penetration tests. The accuracy of their statement is entirely on their shoulders.

Click here to view their website. Below, is the quote I referenced in my initial post.

 

I do have a novelty with DOT on the back. My real now doctored DOT has got to be 10 times safer than that novelty which is about 2mm of plastic and nothing else. This process is the only thing that will get me to wear a "real" helmet. So now I've got a real helmet that I estimate is about 15% less safe then it was off the shelf. If it's not this then it's wear my novelty and pay the fine if I get hassled by the man.

From what I've read and been told by helmet educated salesmen, the "DOT" tests are bull$hit anyway and don't really test for real world conditions. Which sounds about right for a gubment agency.

Like I said this whole process is what puts the safest helmet possible on my head. Its sort of my gift to myself I guess. I know it'sway safer than my novelty skull caps. If you do some research current motorcycle helmets are actually poorly designed and the main reason they are poorly designed is to keep the DOT happy that some non scientific standards are being met. If you let Shoei loose to design a really safe, high tech helmet I bet they would come up with something that would be 3 times safer than current DOT approved helmets yet would fail DOT tests. It would probably cost $900 but still.

 

Tell me about this old DOT from the 70's you have. Would you be willing to sell it?

 

Incidentally, I have quite a collection of retired dirt bike helmets...Always heard that you should toss them if you hit hard. I've done that 3 times in the dirt. Wondered why and read up on it at Shoei's website. The foam absorbs the impact and does not return to its original shape or pliability - it loses the ability to absorb impacts in the spot where one occurs.

I took one helmet apart and found that the foam was significantly compressed where I hit. Certainly made a believer out of me. Even with the helmet, that one almost knocked me out.

 

Hey no problems Bry - I did read their quote.

It's quite possible that ACC designs theirs to have a thinner foam thickness to still pass that penetration test. But there are several tests it has to pass, and penetration is just one. "Impact attenuation" is the one that the foam is used for, at least for a majority of mfgs. They can frankly use just about anything they want, but they still have to reduce acceleration on a specific dummy headform test.

I'm kinda a nutball when it comes to data. It's a rainman thing I guess. Must run in the family since I spawned an autistic son, LOL! Our friends at ABATE have done us the favor of reformatting the DOT test to something readable. I love those guys, and I enjoy the fact that all of you guys and gals care enough about each other to discuss a topic like this. Here's the link for anyone bored enough to care (focus on S5.1 and S5.2, then follow the refs like a damned tax form):

http://www.atch.com/abate/cdl/fmvss218.html


BTW - If you carve up your helmet, it might STILL meet the DOT standards for safety!

 

Let's see a picture of this Guy.

mud

 

NOW FOR THE 70's 3/4 THAT MY GRANDAD GAVE ME - LONG TIME RIDER HIMSELF - I had to reline this 70's model with new softfoam, adhesive, etc. After I carved out the styrofoam core to fit my head I applied a really thick layer of silicone to seal the rough styrofoam surround the soft foam. I removed the entire styrofoam core of this one originally and shaped it outside the plastic shell. I covered the inside of the shell with a thick layer of silicone and then slid the styrofoam core back into place. The soft foam is held in place with glue from a hot gun. Be careful not to use glue that's too hot or it will melt the styrofoam. Holds well to the soft stuff though.







AND THE GERMAN NOVELY, PROTECTION FROM THE SUN AND BUGS ONLY




HAD TO INCLUDE A PIC OF IVAN THE RUSSIAN 12 GAUGE!

 

BINGO!!!!

After all, Snell and TuV standards are cutting edge. It's illegal to buy one in Europe and use it here in the states because it doesn't have a DOT sticker. The most current DOT test is from 1997, and it's really designed to be "easy to test", rather than "best safety."

 

LATE BREAKING NEWS: Looks like at least one ACC helmet sample failed the 2007 DOT test. I'm sure not all models, but thought you'd like to know. Maybe that thin foam stuff doesn't work?

Here's the summary:

Penetration test FAILED (failed for all four test conditions)
Impact Attenuation test FAILED (for multiple test conditions)
Quick Release test FAILED (for all test conditions)

Here's the report:

http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.go...39041-2007.pdf