STREET SMART

[Abacus]

Originally posted by friedfishz@Nov 18 2006, 11:13 PM

Will Flip-up FF helmets be reliable?

is heavier than the normal full face. Compare the same brand

[endlessloop]

Originally posted by yohji@Nov 19 2006, 08:55 AM

Hi endlesslopp,

I read your blog occasionally and I must say it is very entertaining haha! Ok BTW do you think full carbon fiber helmets are safe? I have an impression that they will smash up like a water melon upon impact. Cos I saw a HJC at MotorWorld and is really tempted. It's very light and dam cool (I'm a carbon fiber freak). But it doesn't have a PSB sticker.

Hi yohji,

 

Glad u enjoyed my blog on motorcycling.

 

The main purpose of the motorcycle helmet's outer shell is meant to absorb impact. To be effective in absorbingand dissipading impact and shock, it might even be good for the outer shell to be slightly soft and to even crack on impact.

A very stiff and hard outer shell actually transmits the shock better into our head.

 

So a light outer shell may be as effective or even more effective than a heavy outer shell.

 

I think the carbon fiber material is ok. Other alternative materials used are similar anyway such as fiber glass.

 

The inner foam of the helmet does the next step of absorbing impact from the outer shell.

 

I would assume HJC is experienced enough to design and make safe motorcycle helmets.

 

But do use your own judgement.

 

 

[andrei]

Originally posted by endlessloop@Nov 21 2006, 06:00 PM

To be effective in absorbingand dissipading impact and shock, it might even be good for the outer shell to be slightly soft and to even crack on impact.

A very stiff and hard outer shell actually transmits the shock better into our head.

I just want to add a bit of theory to support it.

 

There are collisions elastic and inelastic.

http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/physics...ype/default.htm

 

Property of elastic collision is that there is no structure damage. But in the case of fall on the flat surface the vertical speed changes to the opposite.

 

In the case of non-elastic collision all the energy spent on the structure damage. And vertical speed becomes zero.

 

That is, a head in unbreakable helmet will jump up from the road making effective shock to the brain twice as high as in the breakable helmet.

 

In short, good helmet has to break. At least in the outer layer.

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/s14M_resize.jpg

 

This is just one of the Full face Helmet that had protected the wearer.

There are a few more that had gone down in excess of 150kmh and

escape with no injury to the head & face.

 

The Outer hard shell is to protect cuts.

The Inner Form acts as a cushion.

So does the rest of the sponge that gives u a tight fit.

 

I won't should u the stiches done to a biker with an open face helmet.

And that's occured in a low spd fall eg. less than 50kmh.

 

Next time u go shoppin in a moto tiam... and u see a guy or lady

with a scar on the chin... u would know the reason.

 

Saw Some Full Face Helmets at Moto World at $150

New Shop is after Simlim Square pass Short Street.

Go check it out.

 

Flip up helmets are ok with the convenience of Flipping the

lower portion up. Heavier though...

 

[Guest czh2002sg]

anybody knows what happened to the Singapore Bikes Classifieds website? The one you can view sellers' bikes and with pics contact and price etc etc. Seems it is not functioning or something

[Mercury]

its now all under Garage Sale section...

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Crash01.jpg

 

FULL FACE HELMETS

 

Above is a good reason to wear one...

U just have no control in a fall.

 

Falling Face down & dragging you face against the road surface

Is certainly something to think about...

 

U & your pillion.

[mastergenie]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Nov 22 2006, 02:13 PM

Flip up helmets are ok with the convenience of Flipping the

lower portion up. Heavier though...

I will have to challenge that flip-up helmets are ok.

In fact, I think that they are closer to open face helmets, even though they offer a bit more protection.

The reason is that, the flip-up section is locked into place by rather flimsy mechanisms (OK, they are developing better ones everyday, but I haven't heard of a fall proof one yet). The locking mechanisms are prone to breaking and opening if you take a hard fall.

They might be ok in the city, where you are unlikely to take a very hard fall as you can't really speed. But definitely not on the open road.

In either case, just opening the visor of a full-face gives you almost as good air-flow as flip-ups. The good full-faces have very good air vents.

[mastergenie]

Originally posted by saboon@Nov 7 2006, 12:48 AM

Just a wild idea.........

 

Would it be work in Singapore if riding with protection is encouraged by the authorities?

 

Especially with the TPs and ROVs setting an example by wearing FFs and jackets?

 

Police are not allowed to wear protection other than helmets and specially designed boots in many countries.

The reason is that other protection has to be tight fitting to work well, and unfortunately this restricts their movement and ability to perform their policing duties if the need arises.

They usually wear flip-up helmets, again for practical reasons.

On the up-side, they get excellent training, and they have flashing lights and color schemes which are better visible than the avegare biker.

[saboon]

Originally posted by mastergenie@Nov 24 2006, 07:06 AM

Police are not allowed to wear protection other than helmets and specially designed boots in many countries.

The reason is that other protection has to be tight fitting to work well, and unfortunately this restricts their movement and ability to perform their policing duties if the need arises.

They usually wear flip-up helmets, again for practical reasons.

On the up-side, they get excellent training, and they have flashing lights and color schemes which are better visible than the avegare biker.

 

"and they have flashing lights and color schemes which are better visible than the avegare biker."

 

You got that part spot on! Ppl siam far far away when they see any white bike in their vicinity. (I do too......)

 

(Maybe i should get a white diversion or a white TDM as my next bike liaoz)

[chris 525]

Spectrum, last week I woke up and found that snow had fallen everywehere. It was 5-6 cm deep and my bike was covered, so were the roads and everything.

 

I eagerly hit this thread and could not find out what to do. So what do you think I did in such riding conditions.

 

1 - Rode the bike to work (3km), then rode it to the bike shop and put it into hibernation for the rest of winter (or until March).

2 - Took the bus

3 - Didn't go to work

 

The snow had melted away by the next day.

[Spectrum]

Nice to hear from u Chris... We did a Mt Ophir Run... Thru Pagoh..

Country Rds...

 

Post a pic... of your bike in snow... And maybe

Tell us about riding in winter... black ice & all...

 

Rgds

[Wildboar]

Originally posted by chris 525@Dec 4 2006, 03:05 AM

Spectrum, last week I woke up and found that snow had fallen everywehere. It was 5-6 cm deep and my bike was covered, so were the roads and everything.

 

I eagerly hit this thread and could not find out what to do. So what do you think I did in such riding conditions.

 

1 - Rode the bike to work (3km), then rode it to the bike shop and put it into hibernation for the rest of winter (or until March).

2 - Took the bus

3 - Didn't go to work

 

The snow had melted away by the next day.

where u live? Snow???

[myxilplix]

Originally posted by yohji@Nov 19 2006, 09:20 AM

Hi endlesslopp,

I read your blog occasionally and I must say it is very entertaining haha! Ok BTW do you think full carbon fiber helmets are safe? I have an impression that they will smash up like a water melon upon impact. Cos I saw a HJC at MotorWorld and is really tempted. It's very light and dam cool (I'm a carbon fiber freak). But it doesn't have a PSB sticker.

Just for information sharing.

 

I was wearing this helmet (HJC HQ-1) when i highsided coming out of turn 8 at PG last Dec. Speed was ~120km/h. I tumbled for quite a distance and the helmet impacted with the ground HARD at least twice. One of the impacts was face-first which ripped the visor off, the other was to the back of the helmet which ripped one of the rear air vents off. The helmet surface was gouged at the impact areas but i suffered no head/facial injuries (only other body parts haha!).

[Spectrum]

Hi myxilplix,

 

Thks for sharing your experience.

When u don't hit anything or anything hits u...

Our Protection Gear matters...

When we take a spill...

 

No injury to the face..

That's one good reason for getting use to putting on a Full Faced Helmet.

 

[Guest czh2002sg]

Yesterday night CTE from Ang Mo Kio and also Thomson road jam until Orchard. There was a 4 vehicle chain accident outside Plaza Singapura, beside the Dhobby Ghaut station exit on the right most lane. Made me wonder if i was caught in between them what would the consequences be Looked like it just happened a few minutes ago as the drivers all started talking in a corner, and no TP on scene to direct traffic yet. Lucky it was only crushed bonnets and boots.

 

Do be careful of tailgaters

[endlessloop]

Originally posted by czh2002sg@Dec 10 2006, 12:25 PM

Yesterday night CTE...There was a 4 vehicle chain accident...Made me wonder if i was caught in between them what would the consequences be ...

 

Do be careful of tailgaters

 

I do have a strategy to deal with this.

 

My strategy is to pick good neighbours when riding on the expressways.

 

I find and insert myself into pockets of space and is surrounded by a cocoon of space.

 

I believed I have written a couple of articles previously in this thread on cocoon of space and pockets of space.

[Guest czh2002sg]

Just came back from Ah Boy shop. Got Stebel Magnum 2 Horn for $15. And $8 for installation. If you know how to install yourself 15 can liao. The difference between my NSR horn and the Stebel Magnum 2 is like talking loudly and shouting. Real big difference, abd in fact after the mech install I press one time to test and almost jump up a bit damn loud. Its street legal as it is not an air horn but is electronic. On the road if there is need to use, confirm the other road users will notice you. Eh... SOAR? Hmm... Not too bad. How about HOV riders, since it was Endless who started his HOV classes and thats how we got together? And ya kckerk, this Sat we go get full face ah, confirm again. Abyone want to join the 2 of us pm me, more people can bargain

[Guest czh2002sg]

Would like to encourage those who don't have the habit of checking your tire pressure to do so. I changed my tyres to Bridgestone Battarax tyres some 5 months back at ah boy's shop, and only check the pressure today after hearing so much from the different riders on the need to check your bike.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, NSR is front 200kpa or 29PSI and rear is 220kpa or 32PSI. There was a conversion table at the Shell station i went to today between PSI and KPA so i checked to re-confirm. Turned out my tyres were pumped to rear 43PSI and front 40 PSI, a whopping 30% more pressure than reccomended, and I've been riding around with over-inflated tyres for close to half a year.

 

Riding on under-inflated tyres is dangerous, cause you are prone to skidding, especially when cornering. But what about over-inflated tyres? I mean Battarax is not air-tube type and not possible for a blowout right? Or have i been riding on a fine line the past 5 months, especially when the weather gets hot in the afternoon and the tyre pressure increases?

 

And please dun ask the mech at ah boy's shop to check hor. Cause yesterday i went there get the Stebel Magnum 2 Horn ask him check, he use hand and press press say can, enough air. Of course enough lah! Pump until so much by them where got not enough

[aceh]

Originally posted by czh2002sg@Dec 12 2006, 02:18 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, NSR is front 200kpa or 29PSI and rear is 220kpa or 32PSI.

Wow........interesting.....might join u guys 1 day.....when my final year pject finish....btw SP stock tyre air pressure is 200kpa or 29psi both front and rear......

[saboon]

Finally got to meet up with Spectrum, Endlessloop and DenDen yesterday at NTU in one of their biking safety sharing sessions.

 

Well got to say that i was really encouraged by the time and effort put in by the 3 of them to come down and share biking tips and advice to young and new bikers. (i am one of them )

 

I feel that these safety talks (or should i rephrase as discussions) go an extra mile more than the traffic police's constant advertisements and campaigns because it is very "real" and the issues brought up are relevant and close to bikers' heart. I find examples and past experiences hit harder because it happened to someone somewhere before and it adds to the learning point

 

A pity i missed the HOV course, hope can catch it when it is organised again.

[Black Phantom]

 

Beware of the crazy educated impatience driver who know all

 

Singular

[saboon]

Blind Date! Hahaha

 

Well adding to the point regarding exits and entrances on highways brought up by Spectrum in the talk. I encounter another place on the highway which i feel is also a tricky area, illustrated by the picture i drew below. (Paiseh... a bit kiddish drawing)

 

From clementi ave 6 entering PIE going towards Jurong or Tuas. There is an entrance which is very near the exit of the highway. I would estimate the entrance and exit length to be about 200m or so. Because of the short length of the entrance and exit, people are frantically trying to exit and enter at the same time. Thus making it a "tricky" place to enter or exit.

 

Maybe elsewhere in Singapore there are other places like this. I had some close shaves there as i use this entrance almost everyday. I guess it is gd to check your blindspot a few times before exiting? Coz sometimes cars would "fly" into the exit from the middle lane which can't be seen from the mirrors.

[Spectrum]

That's correct Saboon... Know that Exit for PIE & also Vehicles leavin

PIE for Bkt Batok...

 

Have a gd look out Both ways.

[endlessloop]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Dec 14 2006, 10:46 PM

Nice mtg u Saboon... always interesting to mtg blind dates... ha ha..

 

Glad u had an interesting time..

Think Endless should be organizing regular HOV courses...

 

Hazard Oriented Vision

 

For those unfamiliar...

He leads a small gp

and points out the hazards he sees along the way

(w/ walkie talkie)

 

 

Chio bu are serious hazards.

 

I'm serous.

 

 

From my observation from the last HOV ride, the assistant coaches seem to be particularly sensitive to such hazards. Blame in on HOV.