Author Topic: Ah crap! Cracked helmet UPDATE 9/4 (Read 4325 times)

greenjeans · « **on:** August 25, 2015, 07:58:47 AM »

My helmet rolled off the couch and onto a hardwood floor. Bell doesn't want to warranty it. I've dropped wine glasses harder than that. I've dropped many a helmet from much higher distances to harder surfaces without a scratch. I understand that helmets are designed to break, but jeeees, this was about as softly as you could ever "drop" one. I'd hate to see what it would do with an actual impact. Think twice if you are shopping for a Bell Bullitt.

flybox1 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2015, 08:02:16 AM »

That's BS!
The low impact damage AND the fact they wont warranty it.

jeffg · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2015, 08:22:56 AM »

I am glad that you found out this way, without your head in it!

, I need a new one too

was it old/ give more detail please.

greenjeans · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2015, 08:42:32 AM »

I'm sending it to them just in case. But after several emails and photos back and forth, they are calling it an impact. To me it's either a bad helmet or a design flaw. Must have hit right on that vent/lip. Crap. I've gone bowling with other helmets - never cracked one before and I'm not typically easy on things. However, I've treated this helmet with kid gloves - even has it's own padded shelf

PeWe · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2015, 08:51:55 AM »

Check Schuberth helmets. Not cheap but very comfortable and practical. I have a C3 Pro, perfect for people using glasses, helmet on off with glasses on. Built-in sun glasses so a clear visor can always be used, no problem when going back home in darkness with a tinted visor.
http://www.revzilla.com/schuberth-c3-pro-helmet

Tim2005 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:11:30 AM »

That's crazy. Don't send it to them. Presumably in the US helmets have to be certified by Snell or someone. I would send it to them instead, as otherwise it'd be on my conscience that somebody else might have the same problem but with a much worse outcome.

754 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2015, 11:19:18 AM »

I don't understand. The slit, can you show a better picture.

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:03:32 PM »

Bell seems to be under the modus operandi assumption that everyone who wants their cracked helmet replace has crashed or misused their equipment. Which voids the mfg warranty.

You're gonna need witness testimony and polygraph results to convince bell that crack occured from a short drop.

Court750Cafe · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:16:08 PM »

That is CRAZY that 1. For that Expensive of a helmet as a bell bullitt, they don't have a warranty for it like that, and 2. For that expensive of a helmet, a simple drop would crack it that bad....

RAFster122s · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:45:52 PM »

Snell rating isn't required, DOT is. Snell rating isn't necessarily the best for your head as they don't handle the deceleration your head needs like the European standards factor into their ratings.

Kevin D · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:26:40 PM »

Green, count yourself fortunate. You can ditch that helmet and get something that might be better.

PeWe · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:28:43 PM »

China knockoff?

754 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:30:24 PM »

My 3/4 Helmet has hit asphalt from that height many times without cracking..

CBGhia · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:31:29 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on August 25, 2015, 12:49:42 PM

I'm confused. Did it hit the floor? Yes, it's an impact regardless of whether you head was in it or not. Helmet shells are designed to crack as they decelerate the force to your brain. Should it have survived in tact from that fall? Maybe. But they're cheap helmets and offer minimal protection compared to higher quality buckets.

There's a lesson in here that you're not learning: buy the best quality helmet and protect your head. Or, run the risk and replace after bumping it.

Cheap? That lid is $400! I would be so pissed. Imagine if your head where in there in a minor accident that caused you to bump your head twice.

754 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:58:10 PM »

They been building helmets since 59, you would thing they could build fair quality for that dollars range..
I can't figure where it's cracked, is it a vent on top..?. I search he'd bell Bullitt and saw full face with no slits.

CBGhia · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2015, 02:00:41 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on August 25, 2015, 01:47:17 PM

Quote from: CBGhia on August 25, 2015, 01:31:29 PM
Quote from: calj737 on August 25, 2015, 12:49:42 PM
I'm confused. Did it hit the floor? Yes, it's an impact regardless of whether you head was in it or not. Helmet shells are designed to crack as they decelerate the force to your brain. Should it have survived in tact from that fall? Maybe. But they're cheap helmets and offer minimal protection compared to higher quality buckets.

There's a lesson in here that you're not learning: buy the best quality helmet and protect your head. Or, run the risk and replace after bumping it.

Cheap? That lid is $400! I would be so pissed. Imagine if your head where in there in a minor accident that caused you to bump your head twice.
Yes, cheap. It's primarily a "style" version of their helmet, not their quality product line. It's priced as a "fashion trend" and not relative to its features or safety. Sorry if this sounds bristly or uncaring.

To me, $400 is not what my brain or life is worth. When I see people buy $100 helmets I can only assume they're being worn on $0.05 heads. (Not GJ, but others)

The safety tests have shown that the more expensive helmets are not really safer, but they tend to be quieter, lighter, and have better air flow. I own an AVG and I like it, but I can guarantee that a cheap Bilt helmet that costs $50 will not crack like that if dropped from the same place 99 out of 100 times.

754 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2015, 02:21:04 PM »

No fiberglass helmet should crack falling from that height. What is that slit btw... The slit is clearly not helping the strength, either that or it is layer of filler that cracked..

przjohn · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2015, 03:44:39 PM »

Why should they warranty that? It is ludicrous to think they would warranty a helmet that cracked from a "Fall" They don't know how hard that helmet fell or if it happened in an accident or not. Yea, it sucks but that is the way it is, sorry to say. We have a saying when we ride, "Put your helmet on the ground, cause that's where it's going to end up anyway" In other words we don't hang them from mirrors, or set them on the seat cause they are going to end up on the ground some how. Get an Arai or Shoei. Many of those have fallen from my bars and seat with just scratches.

754 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:22:17 PM »

You are incorrect he does know how far it fell, we and Bell don't..

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2015, 04:57:54 PM »

I agree with Cal, Unfortunately $400 is cheap for a quality helmet... I would still be inclined to send it to Bell, there's no obvious impact damage, I think that one is faulty....

Tews19 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2015, 05:34:33 PM »

If you have 1500 bucks this seems to be the new direction Helmets are going in.....

Rookster · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2015, 05:46:34 PM »

That slit is on the crown of the helmet toward the back. It's where most men have a cowlick on the back crown of their head. There is a big difference between dropping a helmet without a head in it and a crash impact. The Bullitt is fiberglass and cracking is not a part of the plan for impact protection. Fiberglass helmets delaminate to disperse impact loads. Composite helmets crack to distribute impact. There is no rash around the crack and the eps can be examined for signs of crushing like if the helmet had a head in it when it impacted a hard surface. I think Greenjeans has a very valid claim and should be receiving a new helmet or a complete refund from Bell. This has nothing to do with any other helmet choices or cost. Simply put the helmet did not perform as you would expect a fiberglass helmet to perform in a low speed impact with a wood surface without a head in it.

What Snell says about a dropped helmet http://www.smf.org/helmetfaq#aDroppedHelmet

What Arai rep says about a dropped helmet on Jay Leno's Garage (it's at the end of the clip)

Scott

754 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2015, 05:57:53 PM »

I would expect any mc helmet to protect itself from a low drop.. Maybe a paint spider..
Any bicycle helmet would survive that drop..
I have dropped mc one on asphalt many times.. Due the roughness of the surface the impact tends to concentrate, ie the point of the gravel pieces in the asphalt.. Usually takes off a dime size or larger chunk of paint. And the fiberglass does not split or crack..minor abrasion that's it..

If a helmet can't protect itself in a 2 foot fall, how could it protect the wearer..?

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2015, 06:10:32 PM »

Quote from: greenjeans on August 25, 2015, 07:58:47 AM

My helmet rolled off the couch and onto a hardwood floor. Bell doesn't want to warranty it. I've dropped wine glasses harder than that. I've dropped many a helmet from much higher distances to harder surfaces without a scratch. I understand that helmets are designed to break, but jeeees, this was about as softly as you could ever "drop" one. I'd hate to see what it would do with an actual impact. Think twice if you are shopping for a Bell Bullitt.

Is it just me or does that crack look like its been bondoed up...

Stev-o · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2015, 06:26:03 PM »

Quote from: Retro Rocket on August 25, 2015, 06:10:32 PM

Quote from: greenjeans on August 25, 2015, 07:58:47 AM
My helmet rolled off the couch and onto a hardwood floor. Bell doesn't want to warranty it. I've dropped wine glasses harder than that. I've dropped many a helmet from much higher distances to harder surfaces without a scratch. I understand that helmets are designed to break, but jeeees, this was about as softly as you could ever "drop" one. I'd hate to see what it would do with an actual impact. Think twice if you are shopping for a Bell Bullitt.

Is it just me or does that crack look like its been bondoed up...

It's not you, Mick....+1

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Author Topic: Ah crap! Cracked helmet UPDATE 9/4 (Read 4325 times)