Circa 2008
PUFF THE MAGIC AIRBAG
There’s been an upsurge in deaths on bikes in recent times. Although extra analysis is required to find out precisely why, we do know that gross sales to Child Boomers—notably to individuals of their 40s and 50s—have taken off within the final 10 years. Some are driving for the primary time, others getting again within the “saddle” once more. Research appear to counsel that some don’t consider in carrying helmets, overestimate their talent stage or take pleasure in alcohol. Heavyweight customized automobiles additionally are usually overrepresented in deadly accidents.
There’s no motive most individuals shouldn’t be capable to 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 have been 5 or 10 years in the past.
In recent times, Honda has launched mixed (or linked) brakes on scooters and the GoldWing touring bikes. These methods 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 prime fashions, assist with traction, shorten stopping distances, hold bikes balanced on turns, and are nice for driving in rain or snow.
Admittedly, a automobile does give you loads of protecting exterior {hardware} that bikes can’t, but the latter have acceleration and braking capabilities that solely upper-end automobiles can match. Bikes even have distinctive accident-avoidance advantages. Given their slim profiles, in the event that they get caught between a automobile and the curb, as an example, they’ll most likely squeeze by means of, however for those who’re in that very same scenario in a automobile, you most likely received’t be so fortunate.
My sense is that extra persons are driving bikes and scooters as fuel costs rise. What I see as I shuttle to work in Southern California, is extra individuals commuting on bikes, which have been initially purchased for leisure use solely.
Some drivers I move 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 affect must occur inside a restricted angle. Whether or not it deploys and the way nicely it protects, additionally depends upon if the thing being struck is shifting. If it’s a must to get hit, a 90-degree angle is the “perfect” for max safety. However there are conditions wherein an airbag just isn’t 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 dwell.) 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 automobile. The airbag deployed coincidentally.
We think about 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 tools: leather-based boots, leather-based gloves, leather-based jacket. Merchandise made out of extremely sturdy Kevlar materials, even have excessive abrasion-resistance, however you could slide additional than you’d like.
In one of many cases the place our airbag deployed and the rider benefited, the gentleman was not carrying a helmet, jacket, boots or gloves when he went down. Although he walked away with no scratch, we strongly advise in opposition to having so little bodily safety, since you may very well be hit by one other car, run over radiator fluid and slide or lose traction driving over gravel. Not getting harm can also be key to having fun with your car. I think about that we, and probably others, will introduce airbags to extra merchandise sooner or later, however the market will finally determine. To this point there haven’t been many deployments, so there aren’t lots of people strolling into a store and saying my subsequent bike could 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 obvious, since a rider racks up numerous miles, is uncovered to extra visitors and rides upright. There are additionally numerous locations to retailer an airbag on a touring car. On a brilliant sport bike, as an example, your chest can 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 driving since 1967. I’m additionally an off-roader, which requires periodic “soil sampling.” Although I can’t touch upon them professionally, among the new security tools has me fairly fascinated, reminiscent of inflatable jackets, or these foams you can placed on that conform to your physique form. Should you push on them slowly, they’ll deform, however hit them with a hammer or sharp instrument and so they’re fairly exhausting. I’ve gotten bruised, banged and beat up, so I’m exploring all of the safety I can get.
After I obtained 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 experience.
by Jon Row
Jon Row is the supervisor of Honda Bike’s Press Division.
For info go to:
Bike Business Council in Irvine
Bike Security Basis
USE YOUR HEAD
It’s pretty apparent why carrying a helmet is a good suggestion when driving off in your iron horse. Helmets are a key factor 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 manner.
Crash helmets work by absorbing the affect 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 valuable cargo. A superb helmet is sort of a good braking system: It’s job is to carry you to a mild cease, slightly than an abrupt one, and keep away from having your mind slam in opposition to your cranium, probably inflicting extreme damage.
Bike crash helmet design has been round greater than 50 years. Whereas design philosophies stay pretty fixed, advances in supplies in addition to manufacturing strategies, have resulted in helmets which are lighter, extra protecting and comfy.
Choosing the most effective one for you may 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 fitting helmet. With some fundamental information and analysis, you may select the most effective one for you.
SAYS WHO?
A helmet’s major obligation is safety, so it stands to motive that the way it will carry out in a crash must be a prime precedence. All helmets bought in the US to be used whereas driving 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 Commonplace 218 (DOT FMVSS218). These requirements have been implement in 1973, and are thought of to be probably the most minimal necessities. The opposite main helmet requirements within the US are revealed 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 a long time. We’re thought of 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 revealed 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, notably within the space of affect administration. Briefly, Snell hits the helmet more durable and insists that much less vitality affect the mind. DOT tends to function on the consideration 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 intensive certification, in addition to follow-up testing, to make sure that helmets proceed to satisfy commonplace necessities.
FASHION FORWARD
Helmets are available a variety of kinds, based mostly on the kind of rider who will use them, and the environments wherein 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, reminiscent of rocks that get kicked up by different automobiles, mud, wind and rain. Some riders nonetheless go for open-face kinds. These are available open face three quarter helmet and half helmet protection, in addition to beanie model, however provide no facial safety. Snell certifies some open-face kinds, however solely DOT certifies half helmet protection. For the elevated air circulation, openface helmets are generally most popular throughout scorching climate. Most beanie-type helmets aren’t ‘road authorized,’ as they don’t even meet DOT necessities.
Grime-bike or off-road-style helmets are used for a lot of sorts 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 shouldn’t have integral face shields.
Lastly, there are the most recent designs: the modular or flipup kind helmet. This model is designed to present the rider the most effective of each worlds: the cooling of an open face model with the added safety of a full-face chin guard. For the time being, these kinds adjust to DOT requirements solely.
A ultimate be aware on model: It is rather necessary that you just like your helmet. Whereas helmets are a security system, they double as an article of clothes, and, for some, an actual vogue assertion. Shopping for a helmet in a selected color and style, with a graphic that you just like, or one which matches your bike, will make it extra probably that you just’ll need to be seen in it. A helmet that you just depart on a hook in your storage, provides you no safety in any respect.
SHOP AROUND
Begin by attempting on helmets. Most producers attempt to accommodate a variety of potential wearers with a wide range of shapes, sizes and designs, which suggests they’ll match every wearer in another way.
If in any respect potential, attempt a helmet on for some time. Match is the one space the place the buyer is aware of extra about which helmet is greatest than anybody else, and that is essential to each rider security and satisfaction. If a helmet is just too massive, it will not be in place when wanted. It can additionally slide round and rattle in your head. This isn’t solely annoying, however probably 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 must 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 superb check 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 just too small or the flawed form.
If the helmet suits 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 probably too massive or the flawed form. Attempt once more. When you’ve discovered match, buckle it up. Although the chin strap must be comfortable, it shouldn’t be troublesome to open your mouth. You need to correctly regulate the strap each time, to insure the helmet will likely be there for you once you want it.
When you’ve discovered the fitting match, colour and magnificence, then think about the worth. Resist shopping for one thing that may be a poor match for you, however match in your pockets. I’m steadily requested what’s the distinction between a $100 helmet and a $600 helmet, apart from the $500. Helmets are priced in line with what the market calls for. You’ll pay extra for sure manufacturers or kinds, and there are distinct variations in how nicely a helmet is constructed, the paint and graphics high quality, and even consolation.
So far as security is anxious, the helmet ought to all the time meet the requirements it claims to uphold. Helmets in our program are vetted steadily by means of random testing.
Whereas there are tons of helmet decisions out there on-line, it is best to all the time attempt on the one you propose to purchase. That is a lot more durable to do on-line than at your native bike store. Should you do order a helmet from an internet supplier, be sure that they’ve a liberal return or alternate coverage ought to it not match correctly. Give the native store an opportunity too. Typically they may meet the net value, whereas providing the moment gratification of shopping for stuff at an actual retailer.
YOUR NEXT HELMET
Most producers advocate that you just exchange your helmet each 5 years. Snell recommends that as nicely, however extra necessary than utilizing time as a suggestion, go by the quantity of use. Helmets don’t degrade on the shelf, if they’re saved rigorously. So, often riders can squeeze a number of extra years out of a helmet that has not been used as steadily.
You’ll want to exchange your helmet if the straps and D rings are sufficiently worn and tattered, or in the event that they loosen up whilst you’re utilizing the helmet. If the match padding 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 free and strikes, or the helmet has taken any cheap exhausting hits with a head inside.
Helmets are primarily one-time-use objects. After a crash, their protecting capability is diminished. They’ve achieved their job. Alternatively, some individuals say that for those who drop a helmet it’s essential to robotically exchange 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 nicely cared for, after a time period, technological advances make them much less protecting than newer fashions, which can even be lighter and supply higher consolation.
At all times put on your helmet, each time. Among the worst bike crash tales I’ve heard begin out, “They have 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 drugs, 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 determination 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 number of falls, principally fracturing ribs, collar bones and struggling delicate tissue accidents. It was the mixture of being a physician and a bike racer, each necessary features of my life, that led me to consider that I might clear up the age-old downside of neck accidents.
Then sooner or later, 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 youngsters. 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 plenty of specialists, I studied the neck to find out find out 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 Bike Particular Crash Dummies for checks at BMW in Germany, and later relied on software program to simulate crash occasions that have been based mostly on real-life accidents. We relied upon precise bodily testing to calibrate our laptop mannequin. These ideas and check outcomes have been consistently evaluated and mentioned with the world’s main neck damage and biomechanical specialists. Match and luxury of the brace have been lastly perfected on the world’s prime riders. We consistently search to enhance our product, whereas researching different gear that might make the game safer.
by Chris Leatt, MD
Chris Leatt, MD, is the CEO of the Leatt Company. He studied drugs on the College of Cape City, South Africa, the place he’s presently based mostly. He nonetheless actively participates in bike racing.
