There’s been some controversy in the bike press regarding the UK government’s new SHARP – Safety Helmet Assessment Rating Programme – tests for motorcycle helmets.
Some brands like Arai and Shoei have seen certain models rated three stars, whilst Nitro, Lazer and other budget brands have achieved five stars. What gives?
Firstly, after a visit to Arai’s Holland HQ to watch their test rigs in action, where a ten year old Arai sustained three repeated impacts with an intact shell, and a rival 1 year old AGV Rossi rep did NOT – I can say that I still believe Arai and Shoei make the best helmets in the world. I also think Bell and Schuberth are excellent choices too.
Why? Simple really, the level of overall quality control, in-depth testing and those brands records in terms of race track and competition safety are the key factors.
The new SHARP tests are based on the existing ECE 22.05 tests – they tell the manufacturers that certain points on the shell will receive one blow of between 6.5 – 8.5 metres per second – SHARP’s tests are set at a slightly higher speed than the ECE tests.
There’s a glancing blow test, some head-on impacts, on six separate areas, but two of the SHARP tests are over the ear area of the helmet shell, which is unlikely to hit the Tarmac in a crash at speed, as the rider’s shoulder will probably take the first stage of any impact.
SHARP have raised the bar in terms of impact test speed, slightly, but there’s still no impact test on the chinbar of a full face helmet – ridiculous isn’t it?
I mean, having landed on the chinbar of my lid years ago, after being pitched over a car which pulled out in front of me, I have to say I was shocked that nobody in the EU government machine is testing that crucial part of a full face helmet. To me, this seems a cop-out, so that flip-up helemts and open face lids can be given the same star ratings as full face items, which is stupid. No experienced biker could believe that a flip-type helmet shell has the same integral strength or impact absorption – in the case of a frontal impact – as a full face type shell.
The solution?
Like Snell in the USA, the EU should buy helmets from shops, test random points, tell manufacturers nothing in advance.
Furthermore, make the shell sustain three repeated blows on one point, test the chinbar with a head-on impact, the chinstrap mounting should suffer a weight/pull test and the shell should be pierce tested as well – only Arai do the pierce test so far as I know.
Last, and most important – consider this; Not ONE importer in the UK has ever been prosecuted for selling a helmet which breaches guidelines, or BSI/ECE standards. This is despite the fact that we live in a market where Del Boy types flog 20 quid lids at bike shows, which are obviously outdated, damaged stock, or just plain cheaply made.
Let’s see trading standards raid the bike shows, seize stock which lacks ECE batch code numbers, and publish a report on how a sample of helmets performed in rigorous testing. Then prosecute traders who sell helmets which fly off during a crash, split open, or crumble to fibrous dust on impact.
Only then will everyone meet the standard on helmet manufacture, and star ratings will actually mean something in the real world.
insider
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