Hey, A&S, fake helmets... heard of this?
10-28-18, 09:52 PM
#51
Senior Member
I work on the theory that everything on Ebay or Amazon is counterfeit. As a result I make it a rule to only buy safety devices in a brick and mortar store with established suppliers that sell real goods from manufacturers. Not getting into an argument as to whether a helmet should be required but if I buy one if better meet safety requirements. Also note I have seen counterfeit toothpaste coming from China so people will fake anything for money.
10-29-18, 01:14 AM
#52
Cycleway town
What strikes me is that the Chinese knock out literally millions of ultra-cheap bike helmets that are top-tier safe. That pass every national safety standard in the world. My daughter's Disney helmet was ten quid, made in China, and has full CE European, TUV German, and BSi British certification.
And Asia is where most of the genuine big brand helmets are made.
So. Why are the fakes made of such poor materials? When even the safest helmets in the world cost pocket money to make?
And Asia is where most of the genuine big brand helmets are made.
So. Why are the fakes made of such poor materials? When even the safest helmets in the world cost pocket money to make?
10-29-18, 03:23 PM
#53
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10-29-18, 03:57 PM
#55
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As much as I don't like Specialized,
the fake helmets are not safe. They don't have the internal reinforcements or even the same foam for crash protection.
Many top end helmets require many more processes and handwork than basic ones. So, the knock offs skip those vital components and steps.
They are for the true posers that are too cheap to buy the real thing.
The sad thing is there are helmets in every price category that are safe and legit.
But the market is big for fakes.
the fake helmets are not safe. They don't have the internal reinforcements or even the same foam for crash protection.
Many top end helmets require many more processes and handwork than basic ones. So, the knock offs skip those vital components and steps.
They are for the true posers that are too cheap to buy the real thing.
The sad thing is there are helmets in every price category that are safe and legit.
But the market is big for fakes.
10-29-18, 08:30 PM
#57
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The use of the word "fake" with little or no unbiased evidence as an epithet on this thread reminds me of other characters who loosely use the term to obfuscate serious thought or discussion.
10-30-18, 06:32 AM
#59
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10-30-18, 11:52 AM
#61
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I would imagine that if one could pay to have knock-off helmets made, one could somehow manage the vastly more intricate, nearly impossible feat of faking certification labels. I mean, the latter would require ... a computer, a scanner, a printer, and some adhesive paper .... all exceedingly rare and hard to acquire, certainly.
10-30-18, 11:57 AM
#62
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I've seen some really pathetic looking helmets in discount stores. None were name brands so I assume they are authentic junky helmets and not counterfeits. At least they had authentic looking DOT stickers but how would anybody really know?
10-30-18, 02:04 PM
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A motorcycle helmet with a DOT stiicker that looks like a motorcycle helmet is probably legit. DOT regulations are a low bar though. However, if it looks like a novelty helmet it is probably a novelty helmet. (ps. You don’t even need incredibly rare and hard to acquire tech, you can buy “replacement” DOT stickers on eBay.)
A bicycle helmet doesn’t have a DOT sticker.
-mr. bill
A bicycle helmet doesn’t have a DOT sticker.
-mr. bill
10-30-18, 02:52 PM
#65
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In the US, CPSC and Snell. (Snell is essentially CPSC with factory visit plus random retail sample testing. They also publish a list of certified helmets.)
In EU, EN1078.
Down under, AS/NZS 2063.
Counterfeit stickers are available for the above. For those manufacturers who require a paper trail, counterfeit testing labs are also available. (Since they don’t actually test anything, just provide pencil whipped papers, they are cheaper.)
-mr. bill
In EU, EN1078.
Down under, AS/NZS 2063.
Counterfeit stickers are available for the above. For those manufacturers who require a paper trail, counterfeit testing labs are also available. (Since they don’t actually test anything, just provide pencil whipped papers, they are cheaper.)
-mr. bill
11-01-18, 01:35 PM
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Since you can never be sure where your helmet came from ... don't wear one.
11-01-18, 01:58 PM
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Since you can never be sure where your car came from, don’t drive one.*
Since you can never be sure where your shoes came from, don’t walk in them.*
-mr. bill
* Even the cobbler’s children had no shoes because he wasn’t certain where the leather came from.**
** There are skeptics, and there are....
11-01-18, 02:40 PM
#68
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The chance of truly needing a "legit" helmet is rare. In the last 25,000 miles I've ridden, I've fallen a few times where my head "lightly" hit the ground, and only on one of those falls did I acquire a mild concussion that lasted for about a week. My legit helmet only had a tiny dimple in it, and a knock off would've likely fared the same, and given me the same concussion. The legit helmet definitely saved me from a gushing head wound, as would've a knock-off. That's why I wear helmets, to stop the nuisance head wounds. A legit helmet would likely fare better in worse impacts, but if we all prepared for the worst, then we'd all be wearing motorcycle helmets while driving cars, or not driving cars nor riding bikes at all.
11-01-18, 06:17 PM
#69
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Since you can never be sure where your bike came from, don’t ride one.*
Since you can never be sure where your car came from, don’t drive one.*
Since you can never be sure where your shoes came from, don’t walk in them.*
-mr. bill
* Even the cobbler’s children had no shoes because he wasn’t certain where the leather came from.**
** There are skeptics, and there are....
Don't Read This Post.
Be safe.
11-02-18, 10:21 PM
#70
Senior Member
The chance of truly needing a "legit" helmet is rare. In the last 25,000 miles I've ridden, I've fallen a few times where my head "lightly" hit the ground, and only on one of those falls did I acquire a mild concussion that lasted for about a week. My legit helmet only had a tiny dimple in it, and a knock off would've likely fared the same, and given me the same concussion. The legit helmet definitely saved me from a gushing head wound, as would've a knock-off. That's why I wear helmets, to stop the nuisance head wounds. A legit helmet would likely fare better in worse impacts, but if we all prepared for the worst, then we'd all be wearing motorcycle helmets while driving cars, or not driving cars nor riding bikes at all.
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