Sir Bikesalot

Was reading the skeletor thread and it occurred to me that motorcycle helmets would actually do a lot of good for cyclists in preventing head and neck injuries (and death vs cars). Seems like overkill at first glance, but there's evidence to suggest that existing bike helmets do very little, other than to instill a false sense of security. Also, it's considered normal for scooter riders to wear one and they don't go much faster than bicycles. Another plus is that you won't need googles or safety glasses due to the full face shield.

Motorcycle helmets these days are pretty lightweight and well-ventilated; here's one with a carbon shell:


https://www.ridegear.com/rg/item/F-33...on-Helmet.html

jeff-o

It's mostly because of heat; a motorcycle helmet would trap the heat from your head and you'd be sweating buckets in no time. It would work well in the winter, though.

I_bRAD

Also, that helmet is $400!

DataJunkie

Only if it is CF!
Seriously, no. Mainly for the heat issue mentioned before. That and style.

hubcap

too hot - even in winter

fender1

no.

HardyWeinberg

I was walking somewhere recently and passed by a well-dressed woman riding her English 3-speed style commuter w/ a full face bmx helmet. That has to be better than the usual bike helmet, but a motorcycle helmet would be the real deal. I wonder about rock climbing helmets too, what standard they're tested to.

ax0n

Would you wear a bicycle helmet on a motorcycle?

You can find full-face bicycle (BMX/DH) helmets that are made for bicycling, a lot cheaper. They're also better ventilated (sometimes)

Old Dirt Hill

examples?

HumbleGrendel

Why stop there? Make sure you also wear a motorcycle jacket and pants for increased safety. Of course the increased weight, limited flexibility, and suffocating heat would require the addition of some sort of motor on your cycle. You could call your upgraded bike a motorcycle.

crtreedude 

Or, radical thought I know, we could keep our speed down to a level that they do in most of the world which isn't much faster than a person can run and therefore keep the possible impact speed down to a reasonable level.

And most of these places don't bother with helmets. But, if you wish to play crash test dummy, it is better to dress like one.

ax0n

When I was looking at them, I found several models. Here are some of the ones I was considering:

https://www.xsportsprotective.com/pro...spade-red.html

https://www.xsportsprotective.com/six...pro-bravo.html

https://www.xsportsprotective.com/bel...ic-gracia.html

After trying some on, I determined that they're still a bit on the warm side for a Kansas City summer (for commuting, at least). Now that it's winter, they might actually work pretty well.

noisebeam

I wonder how it would feel in a 118F (+15F on top of this for full sun exposure) summer day while moderately exerting myself. Would I even survive a 10mi ride?

I have always wondered if it would be possible to design a cycling specific helmet using modern materials that provides better protection than the current one did without a significant compromise in ventilation or weight. Right now its seems all helmet manufacturers are designing to optimize one or more of lowest cost, lowest weight, highest ventilation & best looks while just barely meeting minimum of standards. There is no incentive to do better than minimum.

Al

vuduchyld

I don't wear one on my motorcycle, so I doubt I'd wear one on my bicycle.

CliftonGK1

Climbing helmets are to protect you from falling debris, not from cycling accident types of impacts. They're basically an internal suspension system and a plastic shell; like a construction hardhat.

Lt.Gustl

I saw a commuter once wearing a full face MC helmet, and once when I didn't have a bike helmet I wore my open face helmet I used when I used to race my car for a couple weeks on my mountain bike, I've got black hair and have found helmets keep my head much cooler, especialy on hot days. I do experience discomfort from the straps though, motorcycle helmets cover more of your head so the strap contact area is smaller.

Sir Bikesalot

The overwhelming objection seems to be the heat issue; this is a real show-stopper. I think the only way around this is to incorporate some form of active cooling. Imagine a liquid-filled membrane (most likely water) that lines the interior of the helmet and is in contact with your head. The liquid is circulated through a thermoelectric cooler with the aid of a small electrostatic pump at the base of the helmet, both powered by a small li-ion battery--which can be charged at home or by thin film solar cells lining the outside of the helmet.

noisebeam

Now I am getting that weight concern feeling.

Al

beingtxstate

no. too hot and too heavy...if I really felt the need for full head coverage, I'd buy a downhill MTB helmet before a moto helmet.

crtreedude 

All you need to do is install a fan on the top. Much like a beanie with a twirling propeller.

I would assume you could generate a bit of lift to offset the weight.

ghettocruiser

No.

DH helmet? All winter long.

Sir Bikesalot

That's an excellent idea! Give the helmet a wing-shaped cross-section so it can generate some lift at high speeds.

SDRider

No way.

While I do ride a motorcycle sometimes I would never wear my motorcycle helmet on my bicycle. They are too confining, give you even less field of view, they are too heavy and I'd sweat and overheat quickly in a motorcycle helmet.

maddyfish

I wouldn't. I motorcycle commuted for years with top quality Shoei helmets. They are still a pain in the butt. THey are hot, even though there is little physical exertion involved with motorcycling. I'd melt on a bike with one.
I can barely stand that little styrofoam cooler thing that passes for a bike helmet.

genec

Bell used to have a hard shell helmet called the V1-Pro.

Nice helmet and perhaps my third bike helmet... with the Skid Lid being the first and second.

Ventilation wasn't too bad; it was a tad heavy and I noticed it on longer rides (80+miles) with a sore neck, there were no funny extrusions in the back, so no issues of the helmet catching anything that could wrench your neck.

But they long ago dropped the line and went to the same thin shell and foam as everyone else.

Personally I think they should bring it back. I still have it, but the foam inside is dried out and the straps have rotted away.

I recall reading a bit ago about some new material that absorbs impact in a special way... and that perhaps might be used for newer helmets... but that is for the future. The material is much thinner... perhaps coupled with a CF hardshell and the thinner material, helmets might be quite a radial departure from the mushroom head things we have today.