SHARP Helmet Ratings
Aug 21st, 2008 by Leo
The 5 star Lazer LZ6 (under $100), and the 2 star Arai Condor ($500+)
It’s time to buy a new helmet…but I’m holding off a bit and waiting, and waiting, and waiting… How come you ask? Because I want to see how some other helmets fare in the new SHARP ratings system.
It’s already been a couple of months, but if you haven’t heard of it yet it’s probably because it’s a UK thing, and there aren’t very many helmets represented, and some of the helmets that are represented aren’t available in the US or go by different names in the UK. The idea behind the new ratings system is not just to test for minimum levels of protection the way the DOT, SNELL, and previous ECE ratings have, but to rate more precisely the level of protection offered so that consumers can choose based on a helmet’s effectiveness rather than on its PR campaign. Anyway you can read more about it here, and it’s also under the “Tools” section of the link on the right (toward the bottom) —->
What the tests confirm is that a more expensive helmet does not necessarily guarantee more protection (but you knew that already). In the 1 to 5 star rating none of the Shoei helmets rated 5 stars, but (not surprisingly to me) the HJC AC-12 Carbon Helmet did… There’s even a Bell helmet with a five star rating (although it’s a model I’ve never seen before). Yam Yam Biker pointed this out a while back in one of the comments.
Unfortunately there are still not enough helmet models tested for the ratings system to be helpful to most of us… Chances are if there’s a helmet you’re thinking of buying, it has not been rated yet by SHARP. So it might be worth it to hold off on new helmet purchases for a little while (if you can)…that’s what I’m doing. Either that or buy one of the 4 or 5 star models that are already on the list: there are even a few for under $100 US, if you can find a US distributor.
Personal Picks:
So if I had to buy from the list, and I wasn’t going to go bargain basement UK style, then I think I’d narrow it down to these two:
Of the 5-star winners, the one that wasn’t a surprise to me was the HJC AC-12 carbon (the HQ-1 in the UK). The combination of large shell size (kind of has a space helmet look because it’s so large), and light weight made it an obvious choice for safety.
I also like the AGV S-4, although AGV helmets often seem a little pricey to me compared to the apparent build quality – but they usually look nice enough and this one surprisingly beat out higher priced models…
Anyway, let me know what you think. Cheers!
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This is excellent. You can never have too many tests. The only problem is that if none of the 5 star helmets fit, it doesn’t do you much good. I bought a top of the line Arai for my first helmet. I regret that it cost so much, but I don’t regret that it fits like my own head.
Perfect fit AND top rating is something I look forward to with baited breath.
I am riding with a Shoei TZ-R in the True Orange. I researched the hell out of helmets and decided on this model really because of the color of it. It is so bright that other motorist see me much more readily then if I had a matte black that I would prefer. I look at it like wearing blaze orange when out in the woods during hunting season.
This being said I need to check out the Sharp Site!
The top of the line Arai’s seem to have done pretty well in the test – and hopefully, someday all the pricier helmets will be 4 or 5 stars – there’s no reason why ANY Arai helmet, even the cheapest, should be less than 4 stars… Or any helmet at all for that matter. And Arai’s are great (although a little confusing at first) for their greater varieties of head shapes they are designed for…
I *think* the Shoei TZ-R is the same as the X-Spirit in the UK, which got 4 stars – so that’s pretty good.
I always liked the way Shoei’s fit – and the orange helmet actually doesn’t look bad and is a safety plus – it’s a wonder that other companies don’t make helmets in that color…