By request:

First the basics on helmet liners:

the protective cushion inner liner in a helmet is made of a pretty fragile material. you can see a liner in this video at 1 minute 20s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated
the guys in the video say its polystyrene, like some burger boxes, egg cartons or similar. i always thought from looking inside old helmets that it was a material known to me as aeroboard, which is used in packaging and insulation in some houses (boards of extremely light material made up of small foam ***** pressed together, usually white in colour)
anyone whos familiar with this material knows that its very easy to damage, dent and deform it. the polystyrene liner in your helmet is designed to absorb the impact of just one accident , then your supposed to throw it away.

Now, why not hang it on your mirrors?:

repeatedly slinging your helmet up on to a bikes mirror is almost certainly going to make impessions or small dents on your helmet liner and the material will become compacted enough to render your helmet useless (it is absorbing impact every time you place it on the mirror) even if you place it there gently, i would imagine the weight of the helmet alone, or ANY movement would make an impression on the polystyrene

And why not place it on your gas tank over the fuel filler cap/vent?

did you ever pour petrol on to polystyrene foam? if you have the two materials handy, try it. that will answer your question.
the guys in this video are pushing blocks of polystyrene into a can of petrol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6o7v0NCyWA
now you're saying 'petrol does'nt splash out of my tank into the helmet' and your right, but petrol evaporates and turns to a gas extremely quickly, and thats the reason that most modern fuel filler caps double as a vent or gas pressure release valve. on some bikes you can actually hear the fumes make a whistling/whining sound as they are released in warm weather or when the engine underneath is hot.
so if anyone reckons that petrol fumes and vapours have no effect on polystyrene foam, you're entitled to your opinion, but my mind is made up on that one.

its all a load of gobbledy**** really but im just saying why they are bad habits. its better to put your helmet on the saddle (but ders a big risk of it hitting the ground then!) or on a wall on top of your gloves, or on the ground on top of your gloves

anyone with any input, corrections or otherwise, feel free to comment on this
and also anyone with the correct names and common uses for aeroboard (air-o-board?) or polystyrene packaging in the U.S. (we europeans always have different names for stuff!)
sorry for being long winded with this but if it saves one biker, a buddy, a brother or a sister, a mother or a fathers life, then it was worth it

 

THAKNKS MATE!

 

Two quick tips that many riders never follow.

I prefer to put my lid on the ground...because it can't fall from there.

:guinness:

 

from ARAI user manual, in case anyone threw their copy away :L

 

I think the liner is tougher than we are led to believe. It seems those instructions would "scare" you into buying another helmet prematurely. Arai's aren't cheap.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The_Head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the liner is tougher than we are led to believe. It seems those instructions would "scare" you into buying another helmet prematurely. Arai's aren't cheap.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe, but in the case of my head, better safe than sorry.

It's not like finding another place to put your lid is hard, though. I just prefer to place it on the ground or in a firm and level surface.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Starscream &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
It's not like finding another place to put your lid is hard, though. I just prefer to place it on the ground or in a firm and level surface.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agree.

 

This thread goes against all squidding rules. I vote for ban

 

Not all polystyrene foams are created equal. Just because packing peanuts and packing foam blocks deform with relative ease, doesn't mean thats the case with the foam used in helmets.

The foam used in helmets, especially helmets that earn the SNELL rating, are designed to deform under significant impact. Hanging the helmet on your bar end or mirror will not be sufficient to distort the foam. Thats not even considering the comfort liner in your helmet that is already taking almost all of the minimal force being distributed in these activities.

The owner's manual excerpts you posted are simply the company covering its ***.

As for the other part, I would never put my helmet on the gas cap anyways. I don't need a gasoline funk filling up my helmet.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rochesterricer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The foam used in helmets, especially helmets that earn the SNELL rating, are designed to deform under significant impact. </TD></TR></TABLE>

....when under significant pressure from an object with a large surface area , spread across the entire surface of the liner, such as a humans head. but it will most likely deform under much less pressure from an object with a tiny surface area, such as the corner of a mirror, a bar end, and if you're that bad(!), a clutch or brake lever. some helmets have exposed parts of the foam liner. and at the end of the day the foam is, as you said, 'designed to deform'
some people know what they're doing and might have mirrors with a smooth shape and they take a lot of care, some folk change their helmet every year, every 5 years or 10 years, i know a guy with a helmet from '95 and he's still flyin around with it, but the post was aimed at people who never put a thought to flinging a helmet onto a mirror. (or a 'sissy bar', esp. jagged ones with skulls and points on em!)
i had two bad accidents in my time and both times the helmets did their job and after the "partial destruction of the shell and/or liner", i was left unconscious, if the liners in either of the helmets were unable to absorb what they did or absorbed it in a different way, i just wonder would i still have been ok both times


Modified by kneeslide at 8:56 PM 8/10/2008


Modified by kneeslide at 9:01 PM 8/10/2008

 

I Put my helmet either on the ground or i snap it in under the rear seat. I don't know what the technical name is.

 

i don't wear a helmet.

 

I honestly think you are making far more out of this than is actually there. To believe this, I would need to see quantifiable data.

On the other hand, if you are talking about someone who slams the helmet onto the handlebars or mirror, I might agree. To an extent anyways.

 

well its a wear and tear kinda thing and just being aware of bad practice, if you dont do much ridin or if you change ur lid pretty regularly or only hang it on the mirrors for a photo, maybe theres no need to worry. but if your in the habit of doin it and ur out a lot and have had the same helmet for years then the lining is gonna look like the surface of the moon, except maybe not as smooth! i was just lookin thru the 'favourite images of bike' thread and all these guys.. normally if i see a lid on mirrors i cringe. a lot of gas cap offenders too

i just thought maybe theres an awful lot of people that are not aware of unnecessary damage that may or may not be taking place













Modified by kneeslide at 12:20 AM 8/11/2008

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The_Head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the liner is tougher than we are led to believe. It seems those instructions would "scare" you into buying another helmet prematurely. Arai's aren't cheap.</TD></TR></TABLE>
if one didnt park his helmet on the mirror, or expose it to gasoline fumes, there would be nothing to be scared of

 

-your rules say nothing about hanging it from the peg.

 

well thats prolly better cos d only part thats taking load is the chin bar, but lets hope theres no dogs around, or at least dogs that feel like taking a ****

 

My MSF instructor got on to everyone who left their helmet on the bike, whether it be on the seat, mirrors, tank, etc. He said if the helmet fell it would be rendered useless and that you would have to get a new one. I called BS. Severe impact is one thing, a slight drop is another to me. I can't imagine they are that poorly designed. I sure hope not anyway because I was walking the other night and I had my helmet in my hand with my arm at my side and dropped it from about 2 ft. to the ground. According to his theory I should buy another $440 helmet because of that. Screw that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 96 SOHC VTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My MSF instructor got on to everyone who left their helmet on the bike, whether it be on the seat, mirrors, tank, etc. He said if the helmet fell it would be rendered useless and that you would have to get a new one. I called BS. Severe impact is one thing, a slight drop is another to me. I can't imagine they are that poorly designed. I sure hope not anyway because I was walking the other night and I had my helmet in my hand with my arm at my side and dropped it from about 2 ft. to the ground. According to his theory I should buy another $440 helmet because of that. Screw that. </TD></TR></TABLE>

From another forum:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I guess I'm one of those "safety freaks" that thinks that helmets shouldn't be dropped.

Whenever one of my helmets touches the ground in any way other than me placing it there deliberately I either discard the helmet (actually, hang it on my "wall of shame" in the garage) or (more usually) send it back to Shoei for x-rays. It costs about $20 to ship a helmet UPS ground to Shoei and they don't even charge you for return shipping. They also tend to fix anything that's wrong with the helmet (like broken visor mounts, etc).

I've sent three helmets to Shoei for testing.

Helmet 1: Lowside in Turn 2 at Thunderhill, visible damage to the chin area of the helmet and a few minor scrapes on the forehead. Verdict: Helmet OK

Helmet 2: Lowside at Streets of Willow Springs, scrape marks on back of helmet where my head touched the ground. Verdict: Helmet not OK, discard.

Helmet 3: I handed my helmet to a team mate when I got in off track. He put my helmet on the tank of his bike, then proceeded to knock it onto the ground.
Barely visible scrape mark on the crown. Verdict: Microfractures in shell, Helmet not OK, discard.

You can't tell with the naked eye whether a helmet is OK. The worst looking one out of the three above was the one that was actually OK! Shoei and I believe the other major manufacturers all provide a way to have your helmet tested.

It's not a matter of a cheap helmet vs an expensive helmet. All helmets are design to self destruct to save your head. This protection has several layers. Just because one of the layers is not compromised (e.g. the foam interior, i.e. "the soft chewy center") that doesn't mean that the helmet is OK, especially if the outer shell (i.e. "the crunchy outer coating") is compromised. The outer shell is designed to distribute the force of an impact over a larger area, not just somewhere to paint pretty graphics.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My buddy's dad dropped my helmet out of the back seat of his truck a couple weeks ago when we were all wakeboarding....

 

i think this is overkill, the wear and tear from putting on your helmet is more to worry about than a mirror besides it only hangs from the mouth guard. as far as leaving your helmet on top of your gas tank, gimme a friggen break.. if your that concerned about "safety" ride a bus... bikes are going to be dangerous regardless, every situation is different.

how many times have you heard this, man that guy could of saved his life had he not put his helmet around his mirrors and tank.. not never!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by toshiro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

From another forum:

My buddy's dad dropped my helmet out of the back seat of his truck a couple weeks ago when we were all wakeboarding.... </TD></TR></TABLE>


Interesting, but I'm still not getting a new one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 96 SOHC VTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Interesting, but I'm still not getting a new one. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I just like that post because it's one of the only pieces of real evidence I've ever seen about that kind of situation.

And IMO, if it were a scam, Shoei would have told the guy to buy a new one every time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kneeslide &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> but if your in the habit of doin it and ur out a lot and have had the same helmet for years then the lining is gonna look like the surface of the moon, except maybe not as smooth! </TD></TR></TABLE>

I really hope you are using hyperbole here, because I am willing to make a Paypal bet about this. Got plenty of old helmets at my disposal that fit that description. Just be warned that I already know what the foam looks like in them.

 

yeah maybe i was trying to exaggerate the effect. i really dont mind how you store your helmets, if you're in an accident and your dead we'll never know if your lining was as good as new or not gone to mush from gas fumes, they'll prolly just blame it on your speed or something. i know some people are careful with their helmet and some people dont give two *****. i was asked why i dont like storing a helmet in a manner contrary to the manufacturers guidelines and i just tried to answer it as best i could. if i shared the same attitude as some people on here i probably wouldnt fork out for such an expensive piece of safety equipment. but i did, and i made sure it fitted me correctly and i always tie the strap, and if i can adopt some **** easy habits (and avoid some silly ones) to avoid any damage whatsoever to it and keep it in tip top shape, then i will, no problem. if anyone wishes to continue to expose their helmets inner liner to gasoline fumes and protruding edges, shapes and objects other than your head, you're fully entitled to do so


Modified by kneeslide at 7:36 PM 8/11/2008

 

&lt; guilty