DarrenW
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 09:53 AM |
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Helmets - fasten chin strap or not?
Ive got into the habit of wearing helmet without fastening chin strap. I thought as i only use it to stop stones / flies etc and keep head warm it
would be OK. Ive never had bikes so didnt know any better. However guy next door has said that he has known a few people experience the helmets
sliding forward under hard breaking so that they lose visibility of road ahead and end up crashing due to not tightening the chin strap, of course he
is referring to when worn on bike.
Anyone else got comments on this / practical experience over how to wear helmet?
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rayward
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 09:57 AM |
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on a bike its actually illegal to wear a helmet without the strap fastened, don't know where you would stand doing it in a car though.
Ray
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JAG
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 09:58 AM |
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My experience is only on bikes too.
However if the helmet is to protect you from any kind of impact post-crash (after you've fell off or out of the car) then the chin strap is
crucial to make sure that the helmet doesn't fall off and is correctly positioned on your head when the impact comes.
If you're going to wear a helmet I'd say do it properly or you may just be waisting your time 
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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RazMan
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 09:58 AM |
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Simple answer really - it's a safety strap which keeps the helmet on your head in the event of a collision.
The helmet can't do its job if it flys off down the road
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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greggors84
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 11:01 AM |
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Do you really notice the chin strap when you do it up?
I never do, no doesnt bother me.
As said it will stop it lifting from braking or the wind.
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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JAG
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 12:24 PM |
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quote:
lifting from braking or the wind
If you can make the helmet lift just by farting then you definitely need the chin strap done up  
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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02GF74
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 01:02 PM |
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it's a full face right? I would be worried so much what would happen in an accident (you're better off than with no helpmet) but whether
it could lift up or move so as to obstruct your vision.
unlikely but .....
and if you can rememebr to do up your seat belt, doing up a helmet chin strap should not be that hard to remember.... but then as someone who rode a
m-bike it gets instailled.
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smart51
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 02:27 PM |
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I do my chin strap up because it flaps about in the wind if you don't and the pres stud taps on the top of the helmet which is annoying.
Cars are differert to bikes and the necessity for a helmet is different. On a bike you can fall off and you need the helmet to protect your head. in
a car, sunglasses will probably do. The helmet is just to keep gravel and wasps out of your face. The only way the helmet will protect you from
impact is if you roll it. People with windscreens on their sevens don't wear helmets and are just as voulnerable. I dont' suppose you
need to do the strap up, but then why not do it anyway?
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greggors84
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 02:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by JAG
quote:
lifting from braking or the wind
If you can make the helmet lift just by farting then you definitely need the chin strap done up
I normally strap my self in the car so tight, when i fart it comes out my ears!
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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DarrenW
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 03:05 PM |
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Interesting comments. Thanks. As said before i have no bike experience so the wearing of a helmet is new to me. I wear it at the mo just to keep head
warm. I find the chin strap a bit fiddly but maybe thats cos of its type, maybe more expensive helmets have a better more user friendly strap (mine is
like 2 D shaped loops).
You are right, it only takes seconds to do it up properly, its strange what bad habits we can get into, main problem for me is i do so many short
journeys etc.
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Mr G
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 03:52 PM |
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Without my chin strap done up I got helmet lift real bad behind an aeroscreen at an enjoyable driving pace
Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a
car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes
and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 24/10/06 at 07:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr G
Without my chin strap done up I got helmet lift real bad behind an aeroscreen at an enjoyable driving pace
I don't have an aeroscreen, and at any speed above 70mph, my helmet feels like it is being ripped off, only wore it once, and that was for the
230 mile round trip for the SVA.
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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smart51
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| posted on 26/10/06 at 08:20 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr G
Without my chin strap done up I got helmet lift real bad behind an aeroscreen at an enjoyable driving pace
I found that a bit on a track day. If I tipped my head forewads just slightly, it reduced.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 26/10/06 at 04:35 PM |
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Some of you are on the right track.
The helment needs to stay correctly placed on the head. If it moves up and down, or sideways and especially if in an accident. The more it moves away
from the shoulders (upwards) during an accident, the longer the lever action is on your neck.
Consider a helmet coming half off, then hitting something solid during an accident. You now have additional leverage on your neck, and it could damage
it more than if the helmet is correctly fixed, or snap your neck all together.
OK, there will always be cases where there is an exceptional circumstance. However, you can never bee too safe.
Not doing the chinstrap up, can be worse than not wearing a helmet at all.
I dont have a windscreen or even a flyscreen, so a Helmet is always worn.
Especially after that chap died from head injuries in the westfield (???) near Doncaster
a week or so ago.
You know it makes sense. There is nothing Macho about ignoring safety.
Life is short... and you are a dead for a very long time.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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flak monkey
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| posted on 26/10/06 at 05:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
I find the chin strap a bit fiddly but maybe thats cos of its type, maybe more expensive helmets have a better more user friendly strap (mine is like
2 D shaped loops).
Interesting comments by all.
As far as i know the double D () loop fitting is whats used on all proper helmets. Once its done up it cant come undone at all. Even the racing
sparco helmets have double D loops. Cheap naff helmets use those stupid clippy fasteners like you get on a pushbike helmet.
I may be wrong, but i think one of the well know helmet manufacturers (arai or shoei possibly) had a different fastening solution thats as secure but
easier to do up.
Once you get used to it the loop type dont take many seconds to fasten anyway 
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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skydivepaul
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| posted on 27/10/06 at 01:41 AM |
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If your going to the troublr of wearing a helmet then better fasten in properly to make the best use of it.
During this time of year when the weather is a bit cooler I also wear gloves and it is very tricky to fasten the helmet with them on.
I have a start procedure that i always go through to make sure i am ready.
start car .....let it warm up
push it back off the drive ....no reverse (BEC)
get in
fasten harness
helmet on with strap
gloves on
pull away gently with no fuss or noise
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http://www.smartmapping.co.uk
HD CCTV
3D design solutions and integration
IP security systems
access control systems
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02GF74
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| posted on 27/10/06 at 01:53 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by skydivepaul
During this time of year when the weather is a bit cooler I also wear gloves and it is very tricky to fasten the helmet with them on.
my tip of the day.
Fasten helmet first and then put on gloves. Once done up, it shouldnlt need adjusting.
Likewise pull trousers down before going sitting on the toilet for a dump.
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Peteff
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| posted on 27/10/06 at 02:56 PM |
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My old Lazer helmet had a seat belt type fastening but the DD type on my new helmet was no trouble to get used to. I use it on my bike but not often
in the car but I ought to as it makes my ears buzz if I go far.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 27/10/06 at 08:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Likewise pull trousers down before going sitting on the toilet for a dump.
Please explain how this piece of enlightening advice helps with the original question?
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skydivepaul
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| posted on 28/10/06 at 03:54 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by skydivepaul
During this time of year when the weather is a bit cooler I also wear gloves and it is very tricky to fasten the helmet with them on.
my tip of the day.
Fasten helmet first and then put on gloves. Once done up, it shouldnlt need adjusting.
Likewise pull trousers down before going sitting on the toilet for a dump.
or wear a nappy.....that way you can sh1t yourself anytime you like
http://www.smartideasuk.com
http://www.smartmapping.co.uk
HD CCTV
3D design solutions and integration
IP security systems
access control systems
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NS Dev
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| posted on 31/10/06 at 09:51 AM |
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never go without the chinstrap!
I have seen helmets come off twice in accidents in racing, and they did have the straps done up!!! (just not tight enough )
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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Peteff
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| posted on 31/10/06 at 11:13 AM |
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If they test them at the shop you should not get one that can come off. Put it on with the strap undone then try to roll it off forwards, if it goes
over your eyes it's too loose so get a tighter or better padded one. If it fits properly it shouldn't pull the strap up under your chin at
speed.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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speed8
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| posted on 1/11/06 at 05:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
I find the chin strap a bit fiddly but maybe thats cos of its type, maybe more expensive helmets have a better more user friendly strap (mine is like
2 D shaped loops).
As far as i know the double D () loop fitting is whats used on all proper helmets. Once its done up it cant come undone at all. Even the racing
sparco helmets have double D loops. Cheap naff helmets use those stupid clippy fasteners like you get on a pushbike helmet.
I may be wrong, but i think one of the well know helmet manufacturers (arai or shoei possibly) had a different fastening solution thats as secure but
easier to do up.
Once you get used to it the loop type dont take many seconds to fasten anyway
David
The double D is the best method IMHO. It doesn't come loose and is very simple and fast to do up/take off once you get used to it.
My cheap Shoei (XR900) has a seat belt type clip with two small buttons on either side to release. I didn't really like this so when I changed
helmet I got a more expensive Shoei (X-Spirit) with the double D's (It's also much more comfortable and lighter).
I have a bike so comfort and protection are high on my priority list for a lid but the best thing to do is try a bunch on. They are all different
shapes (Arai don't fit me) and I think there are a few different systems for buckles ( I think my gf's AGV has a seatbelt type buckle
too).
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