Hi Bogdan,
I'm not an expert in the field of helmets - but I am in the field of
testing. And that goes for Safety Testing to various standards too. I'm no
expert in materials or the construction of helmets, but I know a great deal
about carbon fiber and fiberglass construction and their use in the world of
motorcycling, boating, and automobiles.
I'm Director of Quality for a major automotive supplier here in Detroit and
have been for years. And no - I didn't graduate college and jump into this
position, I climbed from the bottom. I have over 20 years in Quality and
manufacturing. I developed, implemented, and performed test standards (as
well as test labs) for Product Validation, and Design Validation and
verification to MY standard above and beyond those required by our customers
with regards to safety and to enhance the APQP concerning our products. This
also encompasses electronics, plastics (interior & exterior w/class A
surface requirements), metal stampings, airbags, seatbelts, occupant
detection systems, and interior trim including seats. Parametric, Durability
and Reliability testing is one of my specialties. And yeah, I'm a bit of
gearhead too. I know the difference between gear backlash and whiplash.
First of all, let's clear up a few things. For one, I'm opposed to the basic
helmet law issue. Having said that I wear a helmet almost every time I ride
my bike. I sometimes don't when I ride to my buddy's place - just down the
street. I grew up in Southern California and back then, it wasn't mandatory
to wear one. So I've done some stupid things back then without helmets (and
with helmets too, ha, ha), and I'm lucky to be here now. I've used up quite
a few helmets in my life and my life has certainly been saved more than a
few times by my helmets. I've owned Bells, Arais, Shoeis, AGVs and
Simpsons - plural in all of them. That's a lot of helmets. I really like a
nice helmet. I really dislike a helmet that's bothersome (to me) in some way
whether it's ventilation, noise or comfort and including but not limited to
it "working" when it's supposed to. My bells used to leave these annoying
little dots on my forehead for hours after wearing them for instance.
Anyway, DOT has come a very long way in regards to helmet test standards in
the last twenty years, but so has SNELL. Having said that, please read the
following and judge for yourself - I'm not going to re-write everything
that's said here and it's a little too big to be cut/pasted in to this
email.
http://www.off-road.com/snowmobile/reviews/2001/snell/snell_vs_dot.htm but
it says what I believe.
BTW - I'm not rich enough to spend 700 on a helmet. I currently have an AGV
that suits me fine. I think I paid something like 150 for it a few years
ago. But if I was rich, I'd have me a couple a bitchin helmets from Arai and
Shoei.
Man. I knew this was going to be a big thing.
Geoff-
www.oldrice.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bogdan Swider"
To: "Streetfighters" ; "KLR list"
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Harry Hurt - Helmets
>
>> What????????
>> or more appropriately - WTF?
>>
>> DOT is not a better test than SNELL.
>>
>> Crap.
>
> Unlike you, Geoff, I'm not an expert in this area. I was merely conveying
> what ole Harry Hurt said to get some feedback on this topic. Perhaps you
> can
> share with us your credentials and experience. Why do you think DOT is not
> better than Snell ?
>
> Bogdan