DOT German Army helmets

Found this site, lots of helmets, like the German style, ordered a matt black one
http://www.uhelmets.com/index.php?cPath=26_37

 

I guess you can wear whatever you want, or even nothing, if the law allows.... Freedom of choice.

I wear a full face helment anytime the bike is moving... period.

Personally, my head and face is worth more than $32.95

Some helmets I see make me wonder exactly what the minimum DOT requirements are... Does anyone know?

 

Apparently not very stringent is what. I don't know that I'd buy anything from a helmet company that doesn't know how to spell "carbon fiber."

 

Not True. The new DOT law takes affect in about a week. It clearly states that unless your helmet has an approved DOT tag inside, it will no longer be legal and law enforcement can pull you over to check your helmet for this approved sticker and write you up for it.

There are a lot of fake DOT insigneas out there, some are even on reputable manufactures, like HJC. But HJC does not have a legal DOT tag inside the helmet, so technically you are breaking the law if you have a HJC helmet. Helmets made overseas for foriegn markets do not go through the same testing as helmets made for the US market.

So be careful buying anything over the internet or at discount bike shops. Those helmets are made in China, Tiawan, Indonesia, or India. Some of tha largest motorcycles markets and do not have meet any safety requirements as helmets for the US.

Anything with a SNELL sticker inside is ok, but SNELL updates their standars every 5 years, so a 2005 SNELL sticker runs out in 2010. If ride at any track in your area, you will be required to have a 2010 SNELL compliant helmet to run on the track.

When protecting your head, any thing is better then nothing at all, but why take the chance? Head trauma is the number one cause in bike fatalities. There are 3 collisions diring an accident. You getting struck, your brain striking the inside of your skull, and you hitting the ground. Deaths have occurred at only 1G of force during a simple fall. Now multiply that by 20 - 50x and in some cases 100x in speeds over 60 mph.

I've been down twice on the road, and quite a few times off road. My helmet saved me each time.

Trust me I have done enough work with the auto industry to know these facts too well.

Bottom line is, you need to choose a good helmet that meets the minimum requirements, but SNELL is the best, sure it cost more money, but hey, what is your life worth? And besides, unless you are racing, you can get 10 years from a SNELL helmet, 5 if you are racing? It's money in the back when it saves your life.

 

I do have a Shoei Full face 2010 snell Helmet, We don't have a helmet law here in MN and sometimes I'm tempted to ride without one, at least I'll have something on when I heed to those temptations.

 

Where is this inside label? I have never seen a label other than the sticker on the outside. I have a KBC that is supposed to be Snell and DOT but I don't see any inside label

 

The labels are either sewn into the padded liner, or a sticker on the inner foam pad under the liner.

Mine are part of the manufactures label that is sewn in on the liners. There is "DOT FMVSS N 218" printed on tag on my helmet, which is the DOT approval number.

On the SNELL stickers, there is also a DOT approval number in very fine print.

 

There is a Snell 2005 Sticker inside under the liner - I don't see a DOT sticker but if it's Snell approved I have to assume it is also DOT approved

Thanks for the info.

 

Sorry man but not on this melon!!! It's full face or modular all the way, I don't want to be the man without a face if something goes south.
Shaun

 

Correct. SNEL approval is both.

 

No, SNELL is not a both. SNELL is a Nonprofit foundation that tests helmets on a different scale than DOT wich is a government entity. There are those that say the SNELL ratings are better but if you do the research both standards are flawed. You see they test mainly on crown impacts, thats right on the top of your brain cage. So few crashes result in a blow to the top of your dome.

So.. these pieces of junk may have approval by a system that measures the impact on the top of your noggin but 85% of all fatal head injuries from motorcycle crashes are as a result of a side blow to the head, not the crown. I'd be interested in seeing what your head is going to look when you get T-boned and smack your lump on the hood of a Lexus wearing that helmet. Might just as well by one that says TONKA on it.

I would drop the dime on one.
The Buff

 

Buff what the heck are you saying? I understand and can agree about the SNELL based on my reading. But most Helmets I see claim either DOT or both DOT and SNELL ratings. Are you talking about SNELL only rated helmets?

I misstated earlier - my helmet claims to be DOT and SNELL approved. I don't see the DOT sticker mentioned but I do see a legit SNELL sticker so I am assuming the DOT claim is legit also - which was the topic - fake certs.

I think it is important we do understand how to tell if a claim is legit to make us better informed purchasers of helmets.

 

True; while Snell approval isn't technically both, the Snell standard is MUCH higher than the DoT. You won't find a Snell-approved helmet that doesn't pass DoT standards-- except for maybe the sticker or lack of it.

 

Agreed. Sorry, if you can't use spell checker on your advertising I won't buy from you.

 

First off the thread started out with 550FAN stating he bought a cheap helmet. The thread then became a discussion of DOT vs SNELL ratings and those that are not really approved.

If a helmet is tested by SNELL only it will only have a SNELL rating. Those that carry both ratings are tested by both. Either way you cut it, the testing is flawed when it concerns side impact. Furthermore it is mainly the shell that is tested but not the suspension material on the inside which is where the real protection takes place. The tests are unrealistic and until these orginizations change the way they test helmet we can expect more head injuries in our ERs and worse yet morgues.

The answer here is to do your homework. Don't buy a cheap helmet just because it looks cool in a helmet mandated state. Look for a reputable manufacturer with a solid history. Also just because a helmet is made in a foreign country. I think you would be surprised where most of our high dollar lids are made.

The Buff

 

Maybe because it's not really CARBON FIBER but just a decal painted over ?? C'mon- - it's $32 .00 !!

{the carbon fiber helmets at the Harley shop are $180}

 

It says specifically carbon fiber LOOK. LOOK means not really carbon (or carbin) fiber but made to look that way.

 

(And as I step in front of the firing squad) - I live in Illinois, and my Dad was a charter member of the local ABATE chapter. My parents used to go around to Drivers Ed classes educating the students in regard to motorcycle awareness. The circle I grew up in was primarily helmet free - and I do not own a helmet.

I took my safety course, I know the stats... but for some reason, I am more comfortable riding without one. I also know how stats work, not saying that helmets dont save lives, but smoking a cigarette one time in my life doesnt mean that when I die of cardiac arrest at the age of 92, it was because of smoking.

Our safety instructor, who was very informative, and I got into an argument over the possibility of a helmet causing an issue. Tiger Wallis was a friend of my family who died in a motorcycle accident - he raced motocross, as a matter of fact. He died near his house after he dumped his bike and the helmet caught a flaw in the pavement, cracking his neck.

They say this absolutely does not happen - I was at this guy's funeral, and doubt his family made it up.

Now, I understand the logic behind helmets, and have contemplated getting one, but my sound mind and concentration while riding is more important to me than a piece of gear to deal with the aftermath of the neglect of that concentration.

I believe helmets save lives, but with experience, I feel they could hinder my own - thus choose not to wear one. If states are so uppity about legislating things, I think they should be much more concerned about tightening up licensing procedures to prevent idiots that will kill people from getting on, behind, or in front of an engine, and not focus so much on protecting the people from the idiots they allow to legally drive.

Now, I will accept my thrashing.

 

I pray you never loose this argument as that would be the last argument you are in.

Course, the same goes for the rest of us.

 

I remember going to a bike shop as a "younger" rider and looking for a "cheap" helmet. The older salesman who served me smiled and said:

"You'll end up spending as much on a helmet as you think your head is worth".

I bought a full face Shoei....