A Helmet So Dangerous, It’s Like Wearing Nothing At All
May 21, 2014
A lethal batch of motorcycle helmets were seized by UK trading standards officers recently, who said the helmets were so dangerous it would be like not wearing head protection at all.
Bikers buying cheap helmets online should be on the lookout for helmets labeled “jiekai” “JK 100” or “JK 1000”, as well as other motorcycle helmets listed at prices that seem too good to be true.
According to Peter Stonely, a Principal Trading Standards Officer, the helmets “would give a rider almost no protection in a crash, increasing the chance of brain injury or death”, and wearing the helmets “would give the rider a sense of safety, which the helmet would not back up”.
Any riders who have recently purchased the helmet models should stop using them immediately.
When shopping for motorcycle helmets online, be sure they are DOT-approved. A DOT-approved sticker means they have passed a series of tests and trials to achieve the safety standards set by the Department of Transportation. It also means they are legal, since many states require a DOT-approved helmet to ride.
Lax Helmet Laws Lead to Higher Fatalities
April 9, 2014
An article in the Tampa Bay Times discusses the consequences of relaxing and repealing motorcycle helmet laws, taking a sharp focus on their own state (Florida), which leads the nation in motorcycle fatalities. See the full story here:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/motorcyclists-one-fourth-of-fatalities/2173571
Out With the Old, In With the New
March 27, 2014
As you dust off motorcycle gear for a fresh riding season, you might notice that the old helmet is starting to show a little wear and tear. If you’ve had it for a few years, then chances are it’s about time for a replacement.
Most helmet manufacturers recommend replacing your helmet every five years. You don’t have to take the company’s word for it, though. Check and see for yourself whether or not the helmet still has its life-saving capabilities. Is the chin strap beginning to fray? Does it stay tight at its attaching points? Is the shell chipped or cracked? How is the liner? Glue, resin and other materials will degrade overtime, especially when exposed to the common elements of motorcycle life: cleaners, paints, fuels, hair oils, sweat, etc.
A fresh, new helmet will ensure the highest standards of protection for your precious head, and are likely to use better materials for a better fit and greater degree of comfort.
Weller Vs Orwell
March 24, 2014
The founder of Skully helmets, Marcus Weller, has an idea that some may find Orwellian: a not-so-distant future where people share their location data in the interest of safety.
While riding down a crowded Barcelona Street, Weller turned his head for a split second to read a street sign. The next thing he knew, he had crashed into the back of a smart car, resulting in a few battered bones and a brilliant helmet idea. The Skully AR-1 was born: a masterpiece of technology with displays fed by rearview cameras and GPS navigation, among other modern conveniences. Never again would he have to turn his head away from the road to read a street sign.
However, Weller wants to go further than that. He asks riders to “imagine a world in which we can create a digital force field around the rider. … Wouldn’t that be crazy? Well guess what? It’s possible.”
In fact, this isn’t an entirely new idea. Google’s driverless cars already have the technology to sense other vehicles around them. With the platform already in place, cars and motorcycles (or motorcycle helmets) could digitally communicate with each other to avoid accidents.
Motorcycle Helmets: Style Vs Law
March 19, 2014
Let’s face it: motorcycle helmets are a life-saving necessity. In most states they are required by law, and not only that, they must also be DOT certified. Many old school and novelty helmets do not meet the standards required for a DOT certified sticker, however manufacturers are hard at work designing helmets that are both legal and stylish. Recently, Chad Hodge designed this vintage-style helmet under the influence of Bell Star, which is both DOT and ECE certified – meaning you can wear it on the road in America as well as Europe. Biltwell Gringo and Ruby le Castel are also well known for their nostalgic helmet designs, and many other novelty helmet producers can be found online.
However, beware of unknown novelty helmet brands. Many companies have been known to use the DOT sticker deceptively, selling helmets that aren’t fit for full protection on the road. Typically, the company includes a sticker that the consumer puts on the helmet, while a legal helmet should have the sticker already placed on the backside.
Helmets of the Future
March 14, 2014
Helmets have come a long way in the 21st Century. Far from simple safety devices, many modern helmets have technological capabilities that rival Apple, Google and other techie gurus of our time.
Skully Helmets, for example, was recently named the best wearable tech company in this year’s SXSW technology competition. Their ground-breaking motorcycle helmet features a 180-degree rear-view camera that projects images onto a transparent headset display, allowing riders to see all the way around them without ever having to take their eyes off the road.
Meanwhile in Spain, the Telefonica company debuted a helmet stacked with futuristic features such as audio conferencing, audio landmarks, voice recognition software, navigation and unique safety features. The included gloves work with the helmet to control features, as well as detect impacts and monitor your health.
And last but not least, (well, probably not the last either) the LiveMap helmet comes from Russia, with full-color displays, translucent images and small text right on the visor, so you can check your speed, upcoming turns and street names all while maintaining a clear view of the road ahead.
This is just the beginning. Welcome to the Future.
Photo by Bear on Bike