Modular helmets, safe? Only for nerds?

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The N104 looks and sounds great...and webbikeworld gives it excellent reviews. It too is tested as DOT approved to ride open or closed, like the SHark. However, when open, it is really goofy looking. It is a contender in this market for sure.
 
I found that most of them look goofy except for a few that seem to be designed for looks when open (like the Evoline and Roof Boxer... I think there's another but you need extra parts to convert it into "jet" style and cannot be done on the fly).
 
unL33T said:
Bringing this thread back to life because I'm looking at getting a modular. Any suggestions for which to get?

I don't know about Snell but according to SHARP (UK) the C3 only gets a 3/5 star rating and the chinbar only stayed closed 97% of the time.

Evoline gets a 4/5 star SHARP rating but the chinbar only stayed closed in 70% of their tests. Evoline3 gets 5/5 but seems to have a lower rating for forehead impact and the chinbar only stayed closed for 57% of their tests so now I don't know how the heck this rating works. (Helmet that had lower test results gets a higher rating?)

I'm considering the Nolan N104 which also gets a 4/5 but the chinbar stayed closed 100% of the time. I'm just curious how it compares as far as noise, comfort, ventilation, etc against the competition.

That Roof helmet looks cool but it looks like the visor doesn't open at all and it costs somewhere around $500 (or more) and can only be imported from Europe. The N104 is more like $300-400 which is more in my price range.

Apparently there are only 2 modular helmets that meet SNELL. The LS2 FF394 and the Zeus ZS-3000. Neither have been rated by SHARP.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/ls2-ff394/
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/zeus-helmet/zeus-zs-3000/
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http://mecamoto.ca/en/helmets/2101-roof-desmo-modular-helmets-black.html
 
Better price than I was finding. Cool helmet. Wonder if I'd miss the sunshade feature the other ones have.
 
Lazer Monaco sold by Revzilla in USA. It is great helmet and comes in carbon too. Photo chromatic visor by default.
 
I've been using a HJC SYMAX for years. Got the new SYMAX 3 at GP Bikes for $275 last season. Good value and good helmet IMHO.
 
Definitely for nerds because I want one! Hate having to remove the helmet to light a smoke sometimes. Can't seem to find one that doesn't feel like a vise though.
 
altimategear said:
https://www.facebook.com/ReevuUsa/posts/10151812054322364?notif_t=like

Here is a Reevu Modular that save someones life. I think it pays to have a composite helmet over a plastic one.
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Plastic helmets do not crack like they did 10 yrs ago.

In fact their shell structure stays together much better than fibre shelled helmets anymore.
They test the integrety of them with an 10 ounce alloy slug, fired thru a barrel, much like a giant bullet from a gun, into the shell at 180+ kmh. Modern plastic shell helmets simply distort where the impact occurs, but they don't crack or break anymore. This distortion ability is also why the $80 plastic shelled helmets bested $800 ARais etc in magazine tests for transmitting the least amount of energy to the human skull and brain upon impact- think crumple zone and you get the idea. The top $$$$ Arai helmets shells were so stiff, they didn't do very much impact absorbing at all, where as the plastic shelled ones would contort, twist, and deform ther shells, in addition to the impact absorption offered by the EPS foam. Like I said, your comment used to be true, but not anymore: They have come a long way.
 
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I had an Evoline 2 and lowsided at about 70 kph. Based on damage, it looks like the chin bar took the first hit. The plastic chin vent panel and the visor broke off, but the chin bar remained in place and I had no head or neck damage. The chin bar hinge still worked perfectly afterwards. I was glad to have the sun shade, because it was my defacto visor for the long ride home. I replaced it with an Evoline 3. I love the convenience and occasionally on superhot days in slow traffic, I'll ride with the visor down and chin bar up. Nice breeze and no bugs in the eyes.

jc100 said:
Fantastic helmet, I have one. Very well balanced wherever the chin bar position is. Very solid locking, extremely comfortable and not really that noisy when in full face mode. It is a bit heavier than a normal full face though.
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omnivore said:
Plastic helmets do not crack like they did 10 yrs ago.

In fact their shell structure stays together much better than fibre shelled helmets anymore.
They test the integrety of them with an 8 ounce steel alloy slug, fired thru a barrel, much like a giant bullet from a gun, into the shell. Modern plastic shell helmets simply distort where the impact occurs, but they don't crack or break anymore. This distortion ability is also why the $80 plastic shelled helmets bested $800 ARais etc in magazine tests for transmitting the least amount of energy to the human skull and brain upon impact- think crumple zone and you get the idea. The top $$$$ Arai helmets shells were so stiff, they didn't do very much impact absorbing at all, where as the plastic shelled ones would contort, twist, and deform ther shells, in addition to the impact absorption offered by the EPS foam. Like I said, your comment used to be true, but not anymore: They have come a long way.
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the problem with the plastic helmets it the fact that they do deform then regain their shape.

for a helmet to absorb the energy, it must regain (as much as possible) the "damaged" shape, not return to the old shape

when a shell bends, as opposd to crushing, the shell will regain its shape, causing coup-contre coup effect. this is what causes a lot of damage.
 
You'd have to tumble down the road and hit your head again in the same spot for that to be much detriment. Most fibre shells soften to their fabric state on the point of impact, so they too will offer little or no protection if you were to tumble and hit the same spot of the shell again. The benefit of fibre shells used to be their ability to stay together after the initial impact where plastic ones would come apart.....however, that isn't the case anymore as plastic ones can stay together too nowadays.

The EPS liner has a one time energy absorbing factor. Once it is crushed, it's junk. SO regaining shell shape doesn't mean anything if the foam underneath the shell has been compromised anyways. See the video and you will see an example of a helmet that has seen a huge impact, and shell looks undamaged, but the liner has been compromised inside.

GO to the 2:00 mark in this video to see what I mean- plastic shelled helmets do better in these tests than fibre helmets....10 yrs ago, a plastic helmet would crack or shatter.
[video=youtube;VA63gMKU6PM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA63gMKU6PM[/video]
 
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hellboy7 said:
Modular helmets are still somewhat relatively new so I dont need to put too much trust in all of them yet
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If by new you mean they've only been around for 25-30 or so years then yes, they are new. Otherwise, modular's have been around longer than most people here on GTAM and they have come a long long way in that time period
 
One thing that modular helmets have is big friggin' bolts to hinge the jaw piece.
These may or may not be over your temples and may or may not have some impact protection.
I own one and it's better than an open face, and easy to get glasses on or off.
But I wouldn't want to land on that bolt.
Don't forget they have to be down to have any protection. If you ride with the chinbar up an open face would be better.
 
unL33T said:
Can you explain why?
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Most if not all of the modular mfg's state that having the bar closed is the correct/safe way to use these types of helmets. Not only would the helmet have it's structural integrity improved with the chinbar down, the chinbar is a huge thing to be hanging over your head that could get caught or who knows what if you happen to pitch it down the road.
 
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