What Kind of Gear Do You Wear?

[dusty308]

i saw alot of guys on here with HJC helmets and i know that they have been a great brand, but last summer when i was racing at N.H.I.S. they would not allow HJC helmets to pass the safety inspection, i guess they have had alot of guys get head injuries  with them when they should have just walked away. i dont know the full story on it but i can tell you that my friend was wearing an HJC when a car hit him and his head was fine  but his leg and hip were pretty banged up (hes the bionic man now) just thought id throw that out there incase anybody knows anymore than i do because i really like the new HJC with the flip down sunglasses. have a good one guys
cheers
josh

[Darth]

Dusty -
Were they banning all HJCs, or just the modulars (flip-ups) ?
They should be requiring Snell approved helmets only and NO modular/flip-ups are Snell...they won't pass Snell testing.
I used to wear Shoei Duotec & Synchrotec modulars until I did a 40MPH face-plant on pavement. The Shoei totally saved my face, cheek, ear, etc. and the front did not open up. But it got me wondering what would have happened if it had.
And they will under the right circumstances. Plus, the front is just not as strong in frontal impacts.
Now I won't wear flippers at all. And I do wear glasses & Rx sunglasses. You can put them on with a full-face, it's just a learning curve deal. Plus some temple styles are easier than others.

[dusty308]

Were they banning all HJCs, or just the modulars (flip-ups) ?

LRRS wasn't allowing any of the HJCs even if it had a Snell cert on it they wouldn't even let you take warm up laps with a HJC. i don't think that they would let anyone on a track with a modular/flip up ever. that was the story for that year, i haven't been there in a while so i don't know if it has changed.  it has really turned me away from a HJC helmet which im disappointed about because i really like the new FS-10.  I had a KBC helmet that passed inspection (and my own personal inspection of the tracks pavement and wall at 60mph or so). Well it took me by surprise because i always thought of HJC as a better brand.

i did find this article on it talks about how they should not have been snell approved and some of the other helmets used weren't even Snell approved.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=25781

[Darth]

Dusty, if it makes you feel any better, HJC & KBC are pretty even. They are both Korean companies and consider each other their main competition.
I have 2 Arais and a KBC. I bought a KBC for my wife, I believe in them.
When I was selling KBCs, I told my dealers to represent them as "Arai Lights" which is really a pretty good description.
I'd ALWAYS wear Arai if possible, but I'd feel very comfortable with the KBC...especially one of the higher end ones. No better protection, but more bells & whistles.

The SNELL vs DOT debate is a whole 'nuther issue. Basically it comes down to "what type of crash you intend to have". That's an over-simplification but it's a good way to generalize it.
Me ? I'll stick with Arai & SNELL until somebody proves there is a better way.

[dusty308]

Me ? I'll stick with Arai & SNELL until somebody proves there is a better way.

ive always loved my KBCs but i think im gonna have to agree with you on this my next helmet will be an Arai, id rather spend more money now and feel safer.  i hate leaving KBC ive been using them for years and i still think they are a good brand but i would have much more peace of mind with an Arai.

[gunny]

well ...... there actually was an independent study done on the advantage, or disadvantage of a snell approved helmet, I'll see if I can find the article and post it again but the gist of the article went like this, the snell approved helmet would transmit between 300 and 350 G's to your head in an accident and a DOT approved only helmet would transmit between 150 to 175 G's to your head. Even the ARMY testing center did a study on cadeavers to see what forces the head could take in a severe impact and be surviviable, they determined your mellon could take up to 175 G's. Imagine that . So ...they mandated that all crew and flight helmets made for them would not transmit more than 175 G's to any part of the head during an impact.  Do the math, pretty easy to see what type helmet is better for your head. Snell approved helmets are just plain built too tough in my opinion, yeah the helmet doesn't deform, but the egg inside sure will. Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not knocking anyone's preference, just providing a different view.

I too have the issue with helmets as far as racing is concerned, I have Simpson voyager for my rally car because they always seem to pass tech inspections.

[Darth]

The article(s), 2 actually were in Motorcyclist magazine...maybe elsewhere too. They may be archived in their website, don't know. They presented one side, the other was presented elsewhere. Both make a good case.
It wasn't quite as simple as you indicated though. If it was, we'd all be wearing DOT only helmets and not bothering with those expensive Snell things. You can get DOT helmets all day long for $30. When I was in the business, we called them "tupperware beenies".

To paraphrase an old Bell helmet ad..."If you have a $30 head, put it in a $30 helmet."

[SLO-KLR]

Is this the article? http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

[dusty308]

Is this the article? http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

i read that one its an extremely wordy but informative article, and im still confused about the whole helmet decision but it did help to narrow my search, now im flip flopping and thinking i may go with an ECE certified helmet intsead of a snell approved

[gunny]

To paraphrase an old Bell helmet ad..."If you have a $30 head, put it in a $30 helmet."

to an extent you're correct, the issue is snell standards appear to be creating more problems than the current batch of high end helmets are probably worth, If you notice, as soon as a helmet meets snell standards, the price goes through the roof, some manufacturers don't want to play the game and make a helmet that's actually dangerous to the rider. I think the real point of the article was to point out that snell testing is not real in the aspect it doesn't represent actual crash damage or impacts. My feeling as an engineer is you can make ANYTHING pass the snell testing, even those cheap german helmets so popular with the harley crowd, the problem for me lays in making something to tough. There comes a point in diminishing returns that as riders we must pay close attention to. I tend to agree with the mil spec testing myself and would rely heavily on that perspective before I would a company that just wants the end result of making more money on a given helmet. If that means I buy a DOT helmet versus a snell approved, the writing is on the shell.

[joe28]

I also, "Dress for the crash, not the ride" dress.
Having broken my share, (well, more than my share) of bones off road racing over the last 4 decades, I've learned that Sh** happens and those who prepare for it live to ride again.
Also, having seem a life long friend die in front of me at Rolling Thunder in D.C. this last May, makes me think you can't wear enough body armour!
I ALWAYS wear a protective jacket, (mesh in the summer, a Aero Stitch in the cooler temps, a leater jacket with body armour in the cccooollldd),  a pair of Aero Stitch Darien pants when on the road, or heavy duty lineman's jeans to comute with.
My Alpine star trials boots, 99% of the time, a pair of alpine star 1/2 boots, (I forget the name now) for touring.
MX gloves, or padded leather ones.
A full face helmet, (my Aria XD3 of Nolan flip up)
That's it.
Joe
So many bikes, so few $$

[650KLRKAWI]

Hi! I agree...dress to crash... I wear a full faced Shoei helmet, touring jacket with armor,jeans, and laced up boots, and leather gloves...I get razed a bit by friends sometimes but i just ask them if they ever slid along the pavement at 50 mph??? usually shuts them up......

[Nibis]

I'm bad, all I wear is a fullface and gloves. I would wear more but I have to go to multiple clinics for my work and would be taking the gear on and off about 6 times a day. Plus I get hot easy and would probably pass out while riding. I know I would be better off with the gear, but just not practical for me.

[jeff t.]

I'm bad, all I wear is a fullface and gloves. I would wear more but I have to go to multiple clinics for my work and would be taking the gear on and off about 6 times a day. Plus I get hot easy and would probably pass out while riding. I know I would be better off with the gear, but just not practical for me.

neither are skin grafts.

[gunny]

if you can wear jeans, they make a decent pair of armored jeans, and or they do have armored pants with full side zips, they come right off in about 10 seconds. of course your other option is just a jacket, mesh or what ever and a set of knee guards that strap on, takes no time to take on and off, SgtMartys buddy uses those and they work extremely well.

[Nibis]

They way I ride, I think I going to have to get something

[SPANKY]

  Nibis... just do it, Bud... It will make US feel better!!!   
ATGATT!!!

[Nibis]

Ok what does ATGATT stand for, I'm sure it has something to do with riding gear.
And yes, you guys are making me feel bad, but I know it's for my own good. I been riding for 27 years and never wore anything more that a helmet and gloves, and heck, when I lived in Illinois, I didn't even wear a helmet 
I will say, I have never rode in shorts and flip flops, like I see some dumb asses doing.

[Tim]

AGATT   all the gear all the time!

[velocitramp]

This is a good thread.

I always wear as much protection as possible (or have available  )

With all the scouting and recon for my Geocache Rally this October, I've decided I need much more protection to survive high impact falls offroad.  I'm just riding more aggressive each trailday and with over 500 old volcanoes in our area there is no shortage of rock.

One of these is scheduled to arrive tomorrow via UPS.



That body-armor will top off  Fox Tracker Boots, Knee Pads, Fly F-16 Pants, gloves and an Off-road Lid.

Oh..currently I will wear my Waterproof-breathable Jacket over my mesh jacket (which has all the CE-armor).
Yes, very warm when I'm not moving, but it is always raining here and I just won't ride without the protection.

Hopefully the armor will help cool things a bit 

 

[The Patman]

under-roos.



  Naw Just Kiddin'.   Most of you know The Patman uses MSR gear exclusively.

[The Patman]

MSR is a sponsor.

  He's been out here to ride. We rode up along the Red River, then went out for some "after ride pie" and story telling.  He came out on another occasion and we had some good ol' Texas BBQ.

          Even at his age, he's still a helluva story teller.  Good Motorcycle clothes too. ( Though Malcolm isn't actually involved in the clothing any more )

[velocitramp]

Got some action photos for you all...I know you like pics 

[velocitramp]

 

Yeah but, yeah, but...
I got action shots!



There is a black and white Fox Panther Jacket on-order that will match.

My mountainbike Kit matches.

[SPANKY]

  Hey Tramp... you quack me up!!!