Flip Helmets Please Read

[dazzerrtw]

This may be worth reading about a good friend Dazco ,who had a big off last weekend.
His flip front helmet was of a locking type and Dazco was sure it was locked. The damage to the hemet indicates a heavy front impact on the chin and forhead ,and It may suggest that the load was greater than the locks were designed for.
I read that In the UK all flip front models are only tested to open face helmet standards and not as full face units and that includes the BMW units
Could it be the the force of the impact pushed the visor and chin part of the helmet in to Dazco's face
All the locking and pivot points are damaged



Dazco wrote..............
howdo everyone, and thanks for the concern.
Everyone did an excellent job on Saturday.(my hat off to you all). i was more pissed off that i spoild a good days ride for everyone else.
The Ambulance ride was rougher than the pillion ride on the R80Gs with Mick(top man)
Sunday had a plastic surgeon put 40 stiches in the lip,a 3 and a half inch cut ,then Spent most of yesterday in the Dental hospital in Sheffield being prodded and poked(ooo errrrrr missus) and having that broken tooth yanked out by a cak handed student dentist. OUCH
The missus has been good about it all so far. shes probably just waiting till i feel better before she sticks the boot in.
One thing i have learned though is that ill not be using a flip front helmet in the future.The rest of the body took a battering but stood up pretty well(that extra padding i have worked wonders).
Any way hope to be back out on the road by the end of the week on 1100, if i get that drive bearing done.
See ya all soon
and Thanks
Dazco

[Lord Vader]

and i thought about buying a caberg flip,hmmmm maybe not.
p.s.good mates you got,first we take pics of the lip( hey smile please) and than we phone the ambulance
glad you did not loose your sense of humor and still! thinking about riding your bike in the future















p.p.s might not show this thread to my wife

[Tarka]

I read that In the UK all flip front models are only tested to open face helmet standards and not as full face units and that includes the BMW units

That doesn`t tally with the fact that it`s always been illegal to ride with a flip front helmet in the open position in the UK as they`re tested as full faced ones...with the exception of the Roof Boxer which used to be classed as an open helmet with additional face shield that wasn`t tested,thus legal to wear opened....however,the current new Boxer is tested as a full face and now technically illegal to ride with it open.
The BMW one may have been classed as open faced due to the modular concept.

I crashed and landed heavily on the front of a Laser Revolution which didn`t unlock despite looking like it`d been attacked with an angle grinder....so don`t everyone suddenly diss all flip fronts...people have died wearing full faced helmets.

Nasty injuries there....best wishes for a full recovery.

[squirrelciv]

Nasty!

I'm not sure all flip tops are equal though. Mine is made by KBC and has ACU british motorcycle sport approval. The locking mechanism is quite robust aluminium. Worth checking out the safety ratings though before buying I s'pose.

[Raven]

Hmmm....well I was considering the Caberg Justimo Flip front but now not too sure . The last thing I want is it exposing my already ugly mug in the event of a face plant .

[FatFergie]

Ouch!

Enlightnen me, was the front open when he came to rest? Looks nasty and I hope it'll all heal up quickly, pass on my regards.

I think this was just one of those things though. I've seen and heard of similar results with normal full face helmets. The main protective purpose is for the skull and brain and I presume it's served its purpose in that respect.
Maybe it should serve as a reminder about how limited all our ATGATT is and how fragile our bodies are. It wouldn't put me off a flip front and I think it probably would've been much worse if he was wearing an open face.

[Lumiya]

I think it's wrong to tar all flip helmets because of one accident, you don;t even say which flip he was wearing (if you did then I missed it).

Obviously all mechanical latches can either spring open through G-forces or if hit on the button area get opened just by pure dumb luck. I think that's one of the reasons as to if you are going to wear a flip you personally decide based on the fact that it's not a full face helmet but it does provide more protection and the convenience of an open face helmet.

Being an ex-courier I wore flips as they were convenient and have stuck with them ever since.

[dazzerrtw]

Nasty!

I'm not sure all flip tops are equal though. Mine is made by KBC and has ACU british motorcycle sport approval. The locking mechanism is quite robust aluminium. Worth checking out the safety ratings though before buying I s'pose.

so was Dazco's helmet

[xrv_jim]

Dazzer - all the best to your mate. Hope he's back up an riding soon!

I'm not sure all flip tops are equal though. Mine ... has ACU british motorcycle sport approval.

ACU Gold rating means absolutely nothing in terms of safety Squirrel. Apparently the ACU are/were selling them to anyone/everyone (and their dog).

That's not to say your lid is no good of course.

I trashed my newish HJC lid last weekend and have been using an old Caberg flip (J1+) for the last week or so. It's OK but I don't like to think what would happen to it, and more importantly me, in an accident. It looks and feels like it would just fall apart.

Just bought a Tour X today. Lovely lid

[squirrelciv]

so was Dazco's helmet

Hmm!