Circa 2008
PUFF THE MAGIC AIRBAG
There’s been an upsurge in deaths on bikes lately. Although extra analysis is required to find out precisely why, we do know that gross sales to Child Boomers—significantly to individuals of their 40s and 50s—have taken off within the final 10 years. Some are using for the primary time, others getting again within the “saddle” once more. Research appear to counsel that some don’t consider in sporting helmets, overestimate their talent degree or bask in alcohol. Heavyweight customized autos additionally are typically overrepresented in deadly accidents.
There’s no purpose most individuals shouldn’t be capable of keep away from a majority of the collisions. With higher tires and brakes, higher suspension and dealing with, in addition to different useful technological advances, bikes are safer than they had been 5 or 10 years in the past.
Lately, Honda has launched mixed (or linked) brakes on scooters and the GoldWing touring bikes. These programs mix entrance and rear brakes, which assist these riders who’re overly conservative when utilizing their entrance brakes, for worry of going over the deal with bars. Although that’s unlikely, by relying totally on rear brakes, they faucet solely 30 % to 40 % of their braking potential. So mixed brakes afford extra stopping energy. Antilock brakes, additionally out there on Gold Wing high fashions, assist with traction, shorten stopping distances, maintain bikes balanced on turns, and are nice for using in rain or snow.
Admittedly, a automotive does give you lots of protecting exterior {hardware} that bikes can’t, but the latter have acceleration and braking capabilities that solely upper-end vehicles can match. Bikes even have distinctive accident-avoidance advantages. Given their slim profiles, in the event that they get caught between a automotive and the curb, as an illustration, they’ll in all probability squeeze by means of, however in case you’re in that very same scenario in a automotive, you in all probability received’t be so fortunate.
My sense is that extra persons are using bikes and scooters as fuel costs rise. What I see as I trip to work in Southern California, is extra individuals commuting on bikes, which had been initially purchased for leisure use solely.
Some drivers I go are on our GoldWing, which is available in 4 courses, with airbags out there solely within the highest-end mannequin, which retails for round $25,000. For the airbag to work optimally, the accident influence must occur inside a restricted angle. Whether or not it deploys and the way effectively it protects, additionally relies on if the article being struck is transferring. If you must get hit, a 90-degree angle is the “very best” for optimum safety. However there are conditions by which an airbag is just not going that can assist you in any respect, for instance if the rider and bike go underneath a car, or are hit in a side-swipe movement.
Since we launched the airbag in 2007, there are three deployments that we all know of—one in Europe, two within the US. Two of these riders benefited from the airbag, the third, facet swiped from the rear, didn’t. (Though that particular person did stay.) Within the latter case, the particular person was hit at a 75-degree angle from the left, when it pulled out in entrance of a automotive. The airbag deployed coincidentally.
We take into account the airbag to be the third layer of safety. The primary is the car’s accident-avoidance mechanism: good brakes, good dealing with, good suggestions from the controls, rider-position format and good tires. The second is the rider’s talent and coaching, which entails driving and considering defensively. There’s additionally safety within the type of gear: leather-based boots, leather-based gloves, leather-based jacket. Merchandise made out of extremely sturdy Kevlar materials, even have excessive abrasion-resistance, however it’s possible you’ll slide additional than you’d like.
In one of many situations the place our airbag deployed and the rider benefited, the gentleman was not sporting a helmet, jacket, boots or gloves when he went down. Although he walked away with out a scratch, we strongly advise towards having so little bodily safety, since you could possibly be hit by one other car, run over radiator fluid and slide or lose traction using over gravel. Not getting damage can also be key to having fun with your car. I think about that we, and presumably others, will introduce airbags to extra merchandise sooner or later, however the market will in the end determine. Up to now there haven’t been many deployments, so there aren’t lots of people strolling into a store and saying my subsequent bike can have an airbag, as a result of I do know three individuals whose lives they’ve saved.
Whereas we do plan on placing airbags in different fashions, it isn’t sensible to place it in each bike. A touring bike is the best and most sensible, since a rider racks up a number of miles, is uncovered to extra site visitors and rides upright. There are additionally a number of locations to retailer an airbag on a touring car. On an excellent sport bike, as an illustration, your chest could be instantly over the airbag, so we’d have to determine a distinct place to place it and have it nonetheless do the job we supposed.
I’ve been using since 1967. I’m additionally an off-roader, which requires periodic “soil sampling.” Although I can’t touch upon them professionally, a few of the new security gear has me fairly fascinated, corresponding to inflatable jackets, or these foams that you could placed on that conform to your physique form. If you happen to push on them slowly, they’ll deform, however hit them with a hammer or sharp instrument they usually’re fairly onerous. I’ve gotten bruised, banged and beat up, so I’m exploring all of the safety I can get.
Once I acquired married 13 years in the past, my spouse to be, Sheri, and I rode as much as our marriage ceremony at South Coast Plaza on GoldWings. She was on a white one as a passenger pushed by my good friend and coworker, and I arrived on a black one. Then she and I rode into the sunset-or one thing like that—on my black Gold Wing. Sheri can also be a bike fanatic. On the skilled facet, I’ve labored within the bike division at Honda for 34 years. It’s been trip.
by Jon Row
Jon Row is the supervisor of Honda Motorbike’s Press Division.
For data go to:
Motorbike Trade Council in Irvine
Motorbike Security Basis
USE YOUR HEAD
It’s pretty apparent why sporting a helmet is a good suggestion when using off in your iron horse. Helmets are a key ingredient of your gear. They characterize your final line of protection when all of your talent, coaching and luck fail to maintain you out of hurt’s means.
Crash helmets work by absorbing the influence generated by a fall, lowering the shock transmitted to the mind. Within the course of, they crush and crack, and are themselves destroyed so as to defend your treasured cargo. A great helmet is sort of a good braking system: It’s job is to deliver you to a mild cease, quite than an abrupt one, and keep away from having your mind slam towards your cranium, doubtlessly inflicting extreme damage.
Motorbike crash helmet design has been round greater than 50 years. Whereas design philosophies stay pretty fixed, advances in supplies in addition to manufacturing methods, have resulted in helmets which might be lighter, extra protecting and cozy.
Choosing the most effective one for you could be difficult. Over my 20 years of working with helmets and head security, I discover that there are a selection of questions that always come up within the seek for the best helmet. With some fundamental data and analysis, you possibly can select the most effective one for you.
SAYS WHO?
A helmet’s major responsibility is safety, so it stands to purpose that the way it will carry out in a crash ought to be a high precedence. All helmets bought in the USA to be used whereas using a bike on public roadways and lands are required to satisfy the specs of the U.S. Division of Transportation’s Federal Motor Car Security Normal 218 (DOT FMVSS218). These requirements had been implement in 1973, and are thought-about to be probably the most minimal necessities. The opposite main helmet requirements within the US are printed and monitored by the Snell Memorial Basis, which is the place I’ve labored these final 20 years.
A non-profit group, Snell has been testing protecting headgear, and publishing helmet requirements for greater than 5 many years. We’re thought-about one of many world’s main specialists on this enviornment. We reevaluate, revise and republish our helmet requirements roughly each 5 years, which we hope will encourage producers to repeatedly enhance their merchandise. Our most up-to-date Snell commonplace for protecting motorcyce headgear (M2005) was printed in 2005.
So what’s the distinction between a helmet that meets DOT requirements and one which meets ours? First off DOT’s testing necessities are much less rigorous, significantly within the space of influence administration. In brief, Snell hits the helmet tougher and insists that much less vitality influence the mind. DOT tends to function on the honour system: A helmet producer determines if a helmet meets DOT requirements, and is meant to have the ability to present that that helmet has been examined—if DOT ever asks them to. Snell, however, calls for in depth certification, in addition to follow-up testing, to make sure that helmets proceed to satisfy commonplace necessities.
FASHION FORWARD
Helmets are available a spread of types, based mostly on the kind of rider who will use them, and the environments by which they’ll be used. There are full-face helmets, open-face helmets, off-road or dirt-bike helmets and flip-up or modular-style helmets. Many riders put on full-face or full-coverage helmets, as a result of they provide facial safety by means of the addition of an integral chin guard. They’re additionally typically geared up with face shields to guard them from small projectiles, corresponding to rocks that get kicked up by different autos, mud, wind and rain. Some riders nonetheless go for open-face types. These are available open face three quarter helmet and half helmet protection, in addition to beanie fashion, however supply no facial safety. Snell certifies some open-face types, however solely DOT certifies half helmet protection. For the elevated air stream, openface helmets are generally most well-liked throughout scorching climate. Most beanie-type helmets aren’t ‘road authorized,’ as they don’t even meet DOT necessities.
Dust-bike or off-road-style helmets are used for a lot of varieties of off-road actions on bikes and All Terrain Vechiles (ATVs). These are typically geared up with a chin guard as are full-face helmets, however are made for use with goggles and wouldn’t have integral face shields.
Lastly, there are the latest designs: the modular or flipup kind helmet. This fashion is designed to offer the rider the most effective of each worlds: the cooling of an open face fashion with the added safety of a full-face chin guard. For the time being, these types adjust to DOT requirements solely.
A remaining observe on fashion: It is vitally vital that you just like your helmet. Whereas helmets are a security gadget, they double as an article of clothes, and, for some, an actual style assertion. Shopping for a helmet in a specific color and style, with a graphic that you just like, or one which matches your bike, will make it extra possible that you just’ll wish to be seen in it. A helmet that you just go away on a hook in your storage, affords you no safety in any respect.
SHOP AROUND
Begin by making an attempt on helmets. Most producers attempt to accommodate a variety of potential wearers with quite a lot of shapes, sizes and designs, which implies they’ll match every wearer in a different way.
If in any respect potential, strive a helmet on for some time. Match is the one space the place the patron is aware of extra about which helmet is finest than anybody else, and that is essential to each rider security and satisfaction. If a helmet is simply too massive, it is probably not in place when wanted. It’ll additionally slide round and rattle in your head. This isn’t solely annoying, however doubtlessly harmful. A helmet that’s too small can hinder the rider’s imaginative and prescient, making a distraction.
How have you learnt what’s match? The helmet ought to be comfortable. Not so comfortable that you just begin to really feel your eyes bulging, however safe sufficient that upon getting it on, it doesn’t slide round in any respect. A great take a look at is to place the helmet on and really feel for strain factors in your brow, again of your head or on the perimeters. These ‘scorching spots’ counsel the helmet is simply too small or the unsuitable form.
If the helmet matches snuggly and there aren’t any scorching spots, attempt to slide the helmet round in your head, facet to facet and entrance to again. If the helmet slides simply, it’s possible too huge or the unsuitable form. Attempt once more. When you’ve discovered match, buckle it up. Although the chin strap ought to be comfortable, it shouldn’t be troublesome to open your mouth. You will need to correctly modify the strap each time, to insure the helmet will likely be there for you whenever you want it.
When you’ve discovered the best match, shade and elegance, then take into account the value. Resist shopping for one thing that could be a poor match for you, however match in your pockets. I’m ceaselessly requested what’s the distinction between a $100 helmet and a $600 helmet, other than the $500. Helmets are priced in accordance with what the market calls for. You’ll pay extra for sure manufacturers or types, and there are distinct variations in how effectively a helmet is constructed, the paint and graphics high quality, and even consolation.
So far as security is worried, the helmet ought to all the time meet the requirements it claims to uphold. Helmets in our program are vetted ceaselessly by means of random testing.
Whereas there are tons of helmet decisions out there on-line, you must all the time strive on the one you plan to purchase. That is a lot tougher to do on-line than at your native bike store. If you happen to do order a helmet from an internet supplier, ensure that they’ve a liberal return or change coverage ought to it not match correctly. Give the native store an opportunity too. Typically they’ll meet the net worth, whereas providing the moment gratification of shopping for stuff at an actual retailer.
YOUR NEXT HELMET
Most producers suggest that you just change your helmet each 5 years. Snell recommends that as effectively, however extra vital than utilizing time as a suggestion, go by the quantity of use. Helmets don’t degrade on the shelf, if they’re saved fastidiously. So, often riders can squeeze a couple of extra years out of a helmet that has not been used as ceaselessly.
You’ll want to change your helmet if the straps and D rings are sufficiently worn and tattered, or in the event that they loosen up when you’re utilizing the helmet. If the match padding now not retains the helmet comfortable in your head, or if any goes lacking, it’s time to purchase a alternative. Ditto, if the padding or liner is unfastened and strikes, or the helmet has taken any cheap onerous hits with a head inside.
Helmets are basically one-time-use objects. After a crash, their protecting capability is diminished. They’ve executed their job. However, some individuals say that in case you drop a helmet you will need to mechanically change it. This isn’t typically the case. Nevertheless, if the helmet flys off the again of your bike at 55 mph, and is knocked a couple of bit, widespread sense says purchase a brand new one.
Even when a helmet is effectively cared for, after a time frame, technological advances make them much less protecting than newer fashions, which can even be lighter and supply larger consolation.
All the time put on your helmet, each time. A number of the worst bike crash tales I’ve heard begin out, “They had been simply going up the road…”
by Stephen Johnson
Stephen Johnson is the final supervisor of the non-profit Snell Memorial Basis in North Highlands, CA.
PROTECT YOUR NECK
I’ve labored in lots of disciplines together with emergency medication, trauma surgical procedure and orthopedics. 4 years in the past I resigned from my submit as a neurosurgical trainee to place all my efforts into creating the Leatt-Brace. It was an enormous choice on the time.
Leatt Company, based mostly in Nevada, is the worldwide distributor of the brace, which is a neck-protection system for all helmeted sports activities.
I used to race Supersport (600cc monitor) and Off-Street (Enduro), the place I took fairly a couple of falls, principally fracturing ribs, collar bones and struggling mushy tissue accidents. It was the mix of being a physician and a bike racer, each vital features of my life, that led me to consider that I might remedy the age-old downside of neck accidents.
Then in the future, I used to be at an Enduro race assembly with my younger son, Matthew, when a rider that I knew crashed, broke his neck and died. Matthew watched as I attempted in useless to resuscitate the person, who left behind a spouse and younger kids. It moved me deeply and I couldn’t settle for the notion that there was nothing that I might do to assist different motorcyclists.
Along with quite a lot of specialists, I studied the neck to find out tips on how to defend it from catastrophic damage in probably the most environment friendly method. We constructed prototypes and used a hybrid III crash-test dummy.
We used Motorbike Particular Crash Dummies for exams at BMW in Germany, and later relied on software program to simulate crash occasions that had been based mostly on real-life accidents. We relied upon precise bodily testing to calibrate our laptop mannequin. These ideas and take a look at outcomes had been always evaluated and mentioned with the world’s main neck damage and biomechanical specialists. Match and luxury of the brace had been lastly perfected on the world’s high riders. We always search to enhance our product, whereas researching different gear that would make the game safer.
by Chris Leatt, MD
Chris Leatt, MD, is the CEO of the Leatt Company. He studied medication on the College of Cape City, South Africa, the place he’s at the moment based mostly. He nonetheless actively participates in bike racing.
