Thermoplastic shell helmets

nick1199 · Jun 22, 2012

Hi there,

was looking for a helmet for the miss's. She's not going to be pillion much, once in a blue moon sort of thing. So didn't want to spend too much on a decent helmet.

Looked at the AGV K3 Rossi Dreamtime helmet. Looks good. Not too expensive but it's a Thermoplastic shell helmet. It's an approved helmet.

Anyone have one of these Thermoplastic shell helmets and can you comment on them. I'd assume a bit heavier, doesn't absorb impact as well as the carbon/kevlar ones. But it shouldn't be too bad right? It's approved so it should do what it's meant to do.

Phl · Jun 22, 2012

it is said that thermoplastics lose the softeners faster than the fiberglass helmets, so an older one would crack easier in case of an accident compared to other materials.

with a brand name helmet, which is also approved, i wouldn't worry.

the safest helmet for you (or the lady) is
(1.) the one that fits best and
(2.) is the most comfortable to not distract you or make you lose concentration due to headaches or pressures points

tstephenson · Jun 22, 2012

nick1199 said:
Hi there,

was looking for a helmet for the miss's. She's not going to be pillion much, once in a blue moon sort of thing. So didn't want to spend too much on a decent helmet.

Looked at the AGV K3 Rossi Dreamtime helmet. Looks good. Not too expensive but it's a Thermoplastic shell helmet. It's an approved helmet.

Anyone have one of these Thermoplastic shell helmets and can you comment on them. I'd assume a bit heavier, doesn't absorb impact as well as the carbon/kevlar ones. But it shouldn't be too bad right? It's approved so it should do what it's meant to do.

This is my opinion only - You are going to by your girl a helmet because you are rightlfully concerned about safety and head protection in the event of an accident. No matter how remote the chance - .... happens.

In this case you would want to provide her with the best protection possible. Again, maybe a remote chance but none the less you don't want to cheap out because the chances are low. It only takes one sutpid driver in a cage to ruin your day and you want the best protection you can get.

Just my opinion

Daveiggy · Jun 22, 2012

A £40 helmet and a £700 helmet are made of the same stuff inside, its still polystyrene that protects your head in an impact. Possibly other shells (like composites) would fair better scraping down the road for a distance but on the street that probably aint gonna happen. As long as it fits properly, spend what you can afford.

2012DUCATI1199 · Jun 22, 2012

I wear that exact helmet. Very nice for the price , and DOT says it'll do it's job. Does'nt feel too heavy at all. Sheild swaps are really easy also. Looks nice with the dark smoked shield !

zvez · Jun 22, 2012

Some years ago motorcyclist hired an independent lab to do exhaustive safety testing on a wide range of helmets.

Surprisingly, the cheaper plastic type helmets offered better survivability then the expensive helmets. The top line helmet makers were not happy.
Motorcyclist pulled this from their site some time ago, but some kind soul copied the text and here's a link, it's a great read:

http://www.westcoastweasels.com/archives/PDF/Blowing_the_Lid_Off.pdf

That said, after a couple shark helmets which I really liked, I recently got a Nexx 1r Carbon helmet, superlightweight well made.

Nexx XR1R Carbon Motorcycle Helmet - YouTube

Chris

nick1199 · Jun 22, 2012

tstephenson said:
This is my opinion only - You are going to by your girl a helmet because you are rightlfully concerned about safety and head protection in the event of an accident. No matter how remote the chance - .... happens.

In this case you would want to provide her with the best protection possible. Again, maybe a remote chance but none the less you don't want to cheap out because the chances are low. It only takes one sutpid driver in a cage to ruin your day and you want the best protection you can get.

Just my opinion

Yeah true that. I thought about this also. But good point.

So I guess what I'm really asking is that if it isn't as safe as a fibreglass one then I won't get it for sure. But strictly speaking if I get one that is comfy and fits perfectly then if something happens then it will still give protection. Then under those circumstances of safety I would get one.

zvez · Jun 22, 2012

read the article I posted above, "blowing the lid off" This was an in depth article with real test conditions, the thermoplastics in many instances faired better then the high dollar lid, ie the helmets were destroyed but absorbed a lot of the energy whereas the glass helmets held up better but were not as safe.

THe $80 (2005 price) Z1 ZRP1 helmet faired as well as the high dollar helmets.

Some text from the test

"Our results showed the exact opposite—that plastic-shelled helmets actually performed better than
fiberglass. In our big 3-meter hit—the high-energy kind of bash one might expect would show the supposed
weaknesses of a plastic shell—the plastic helmets transferred an average of 20 fewer Gs compared with
their fiberglass brothers, which were presumably designed by the same engineers to meet the same
standards, and built in the same factories by the same people."

nick1199 said:
Yeah true that. I thought about this also. But good point.

So I guess what I'm really asking is that if it isn't as safe as a fibreglass one then I won't get it for sure. But strictly speaking if I get one that is comfy and fits perfectly then if something happens then it will still give protection. Then under those circumstances of safety I would get one.

nick1199 · Jun 22, 2012

That's even better. Dreamtime for me then. (well for her actually).

Gunny Fitz · Jun 22, 2012

Translation

Do all you UK, Aussie, European , etc guys have a similar minimum qualification and testing process over there which is equal to our DOT and SNELL ratings? Never heard of Thermoplastic unless that is also referred to as something else in US standards?

Bought my wife a nice Bell RS-1 which has both ratings and the unbelievable transition Photochromatic visor/ face shield. Got it for a STEAL at my favorite gear store too so it made it all the better!

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/bell-rs-1-panic-zone-helmet

nick1199 · Jun 22, 2012

Just ordered it today. She is happy with it and loves the design of the dreamtime helmet.

Thanks all for your comments.

Thermoplastic shell helmets

Help Support Ducati Forum:

nick1199

Phl

Moderator

tstephenson

Daveiggy

2012DUCATI1199

Attachments

zvez

Retired

nick1199

zvez

Retired

nick1199

Gunny Fitz

nick1199

Similar threads

Register CTA

Recent Discussions