Strapless Helmet

[Skub]

Didn’t Simoncelli’s helmet come off in his crash with Rossi? Mount failed iirc?

The 24-year-old died instantly from cardiac arrest and massive head, neck and chest trauma. His AGV helmet was wrenched off in the accident, probably by the front end of Rossi's Ducati. The impact was such that the strap broke at its mounting point.

[The Spin Doctor]

I like the idea of my helmet being one whole piece - less to go wrong - less bits to pick up if goes tits-up. You can't expect paramedics to know how to undo one of those. I was told that they don't know what the red straps are for pulling out cheek pads so how would they know how to remove one of these? It's solving a problem that doesn't exist.

I don't know who told you they "don't know what the red straps are for" but I'll tell you that during my time working on Biker Down with the Kent paramedics I found they were very knowledgeable about bike clothing in general and were well aware of the different types of helmets, strap systems, removable cheekpads and so on. They knew all about the cheekpads a decade plus ago so I doubt this strapless lid is something that would pass them by.
They also promoted the two person helmet removal routine to remove the helmet of a rider who's not breathing, something which most bikers still insist shouldn't be done.

[The Spin Doctor]

Tony Carter, ex-traffic cop, subsequently an accident investigator and occasionally on Visordown, did some work around this and found the it's possible for correctly sized and strap done up helmets to come off in crashes.

Not just TC, I'm pretty sure there are research papers. The bones of the skull aren't totally rigid, but are flexible that even a well-fitted lit can come off.

[The Spin Doctor]

Other end of the scale. In the Thames Valley, in the early 1990s, there were several fatals where helmets came of because they weren't done up.

Common to see riders in London with chin strap dangling, or 'done up' with the Velco.

[Bigyin]

Other end of the scale. In the Thames Valley, in the early 1990s, there were several fatals where helmets came of because they weren't done up.

Common to see riders in London with chin strap dangling, or 'done up' with the Velco.

And can get a ticket from plod for failing to wear a helmet as the strap must be securely fastened but the number of local plod who know that is probably countable on one hand per division

In all my many hundreds of crashes dealt with as a race marshal i never saw a helmet come off and only ever saw one nearly come off as the strap came undone. It was a Caberg with a ratchet type fastener. The chin bar ended up around the riders nose but stayed on. Graham Hill Bend at Brands so not the fastest of crashes but a tumble across the grass after losing the front on braking and there was an impact mark on the side of the helmet from the initial off

[Horse]

Tony Carter, ex-traffic cop, subsequently an accident investigator and occasionally on Visordown, did some work around this and found the it's possible for correctly sized and strap done up helmets to come off in crashes.

Not just TC, I'm pretty sure there are research papers. The bones of the skull aren't totally rigid, but are flexible that even a well-fitted lit can come off.

He didn't do the research into the mechanism by which it occurred. He was working on behalf of someone (or their family, etc) making a personal injury claim.

Guessing, the other party would have claimed it wasn't done up properly.

[The Spin Doctor]

And can get a ticket from plod for failing to wear a helmet as the strap must be securely fastened but the number of local plod who know that is probably countable on one hand per division

In all my many hundreds of crashes dealt with as a race marshal i never saw a helmet come off and only ever saw one nearly come off as the strap came undone. It was a Caberg with a ratchet type fastener. The chin bar ended up around the riders nose but stayed on. Graham Hill Bend at Brands so not the fastest of crashes but a tumble across the grass after losing the front on braking and there was an impact mark on the side of the helmet from the initial off

Just trying to remember when I last saw a plod

Reassuring about the lids, but I guess most riders on track would be pretty careful to ensure the helmet is secure. I had a bit of a set-to with a trainee who turned up for a DAS course with his own lid, which was technically done up when we were ready to set off, but with the strap about 2" below his chin. He said it was 'uncomfortable' to do it up tighter. I said it was my responsibility to see he didn't kill himself by losing it if he had a crash. We had a bit of a stand-off but I wasn't backing down, so he did it up reasonably tight. I made sure he knew I was keeping an eye on it. After he passed, up to him.

[Trinity765]

I like the idea of my helmet being one whole piece - less to go wrong - less bits to pick up if goes tits-up. You can't expect paramedics to know how to undo one of those. I was told that they don't know what the red straps are for pulling out cheek pads so how would they know how to remove one of these? It's solving a problem that doesn't exist.

I don't know who told you they "don't know what the red straps are for" but I'll tell you that during my time working on Biker Down with the Kent paramedics I found they were very knowledgeable about bike clothing in general and were well aware of the different types of helmets, strap systems, removable cheekpads and so on. They knew all about the cheekpads a decade plus ago so I doubt this strapless lid is something that would pass them by.
They also promoted the two person helmet removal routine to remove the helmet of a rider who's not breathing, something which most bikers still insist shouldn't be done.

I was told that on a Sussex Biker Down

[The Spin Doctor]

I was told that on a Sussex Biker Down

That'll be like the Met's BikeSafe coordinator who said that independent instructors were 'cowboys' a couple of years back. I don't know where he got that idea from either.

I worked with a couple of the KFRS paramedic TRAINERS in Kent from 2011 to 2020 on Biker Down and they knew more about getting a helmet off effectively than I did, that's for sure!

I assume it was fire service referring to ambulance crews... sounds like one of those inter-service digs that happens from time to time.

[Horse]

I assume it was Trumpton referring to ambulance crews... sounds like one of those inter-service digs that happens from time to time.

ftfy