LRRS Temporarily bans certain HJC helmets

[Jeff]

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=25781

[EX#996]

Perhaps you should also put this in the Motorcycle Racing Section incase this area isn't checked.

Dawn 

[Jeff]

I'd prefer not to double post.  Just figured I'd put it in the announcements section so it didn't get lost under General Racing discussion.

[Super Dave]

Sticky it...

I lost it here.

[jer271]

Well lets see here, I was wearing an HJC helmet at the last blackhawk when I decided to visit rockford area hospital and my fricking brain was swoolen

[Super Dave]

Which model, Jeremy?

[Super Dave]

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=25781

But Hutchinson said that only two HJC models have been banned. “The CS and CL, I believe,” Hutchinson said in a phone interview. “All the rest are fine with us, but until we investigate this and find out more about it, we’re not going to allow riders to use those helmets.”

Per the RRW article...

[jer271]

let me make sure but I am pretty sure it was "cl" someting. I dont want to bash the product but this was something me and my dad said had to change, I was in the market for a Shoei or arai after this crash.
I was looking at the helmet it didnt crack or anything but Iwas knocked out pretty bad this time (so I was told) - and last 3 times Ive crashed Ive had the same type helmet and My noggin  has been concused pretty bad so Iwas gonna change brands.

Like I said I am not trying too bash the product I want to try something else because of all the cocusions, I think Iam up too about 4 in thew last 2 years with out hiting the ground hard at all in those accidents and the last crash was pretty serious.

[jer271]

CL-14 is the model

[spyderchick]

CL-14 is the model

If you read the article, the CL and CS models are the ones that have specifically been banned by LRRS. Get an Arai. Pricey, but then again, what's your head worth? 

[Super Dave]

I was looking at the helmet it didnt crack or anything but Iwas knocked out pretty bad this time (so I was told) - and last 3 times Ive crashed Ive had the same type helmet and My noggin  has been concused pretty bad so Iwas gonna change brands.

Like I said I am not trying too bash the product I want to try something else because of all the cocusions, I think Iam up too about 4 in thew last 2 years with out hiting the ground hard at all in those accidents and the last crash was pretty serious.

I have yet to have a concussion.  I currently wear Suomy.  I've worn Suomy, Bieffe (now not in existance), Bell, and Arai. 

Arai, Shoei, and Suomy are your best bets in my opinion.  Suomy uses a motorcycle specific standard.  If you want info on that, I can give you a link.  It's very different from the car racing origin Snell standard that Arai, Shoei, and some HJC helmets have.

[Super Dave]

http://www.saferacer.com/hjcclsoco.html

Looks like the CL14 is DOT and Snell M2000 rated.

Obviously, I think it is important to recognize that the LRRS has temporarily banned this helmet based on generalizations from racing crashes, not on any kind of specific testing data that is available.

[HAWK]

Also important to note is that HJC does not reccomend the CS/CL lines for competition use, per the rrw article.

I was wearing an HJC AC11 helmet when I crashed rather hard at BHF 3 weeks ago, 2 bike collision and I highsided, head was the first thing to hit the track. I will admit I got my bell rung but I didn't have a headache or any other symptoms, except for a broken ankle and a bruised back. The helmet shows a 2 inch patch where the first layer of fiberglass was removed on impact but no other damage. I have since replaced it with another AC11.   

I have worn HJC on the street for 3 years and now at the track, I like the shape of the liner, it is more comfortable for me than any other helmet I have worn. Just keep in mind what you are buying, HJC, like all the other manufacturers, makes low, mid, and high end helmets, the AC series is marketed toward the racing community.

[Super Dave]

...the AC series is marketed toward the racing community.

I think that's the problem.

Racing is a small market. 

If a helmet meets the racing safety standards, there should be reason to believe that it's useable in competition.

No racing organization requires a user to check with the manufacturer of a helmet to see which one is "racing approved".  I feel it's a very uncomfortable set up when a manufacturer says, "Yeah, these all have the same standard, but these aren't good enough for competition."

One, you still can hit your head hard on the street.  Two, I haven't looked, but does that manufacturer state that certain helmets are not to be used in competition?

[HAWK]

When I went to HJC's website http://www.hjchelmets.com/products.htm they did not specifically state that the CL/CS series helmets should not be used in competition. they did however clearly break their line down into 3 catagories, Entry level, Mid line and then the High end. The CS series falls into the low end catagory, the CL series the Mid line catagory and the AC line falls into the high end. They further state that all their sponsored riders wear out of the box AC helmets.

Interesting to note is that the price difference between the Mid and High end HJC helmets is roughly one entry fee. My preference is to skip one class the first weekend and buy the High end helmet.

On the standards issue, I think this is a matter of the specific standard that a sanctioning body adopts, No one claims that the snell M2000 or M2005 is a competition rating. Years ago snell split the motorcycle rating off because drivers in auto racing were suffering head injuries due to the fact that they are so securly restrained that their helmets were hitting the roll bar in the same place repeatedly in the same crash. They developed the SA rating to require a stronger shell but were afraid this might cause neck injuries to cyclists since the shell would no longer absorb impact energy as easily. If I'm not mistaken CCS only requires a DOT  approval. While my AC11 and the CL14 both carry the snell M2000 rating that only implies that both meet the minimum criteria for the rating. With the AC11 being a fiberglass composite shell and the CL14 being a plastic shell clearly the AC11 will exceed the CL14 in strength although both will meet the snell rating.

In the end I think you can find helmets in virtually any manufacturers line that are not suitable for competition use. Marketing is what it is, not everyone is going to pony up $400 or more for a helmet so the manufacturers cater to all levels of quality and price. Remember what we are doing here and don't skimp on the safety gear.