6 shocking myths about motorcycle helmets

if you believed even one of these myths share this video with others.
Myth: helmets save lives, Myth: You should replace your helmet every 5 years. Myth: If you drop a helmet you need to replace it. Myth: helmets impair sight and sound. Myth: expensive helmets are safer in a crash.
www.BretTkacs.com
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[@WillieJohnRidesAgain]

This from Jones et al., in 2020. Helmeted patients were less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (20.3% vs. 23.7%, OR 0.82 (0.72-0.93)) and ventilated (7.8% vs. 12.0%, OR 0.62 (0.52-0.75)). Propensity-matched analyses consisted of 2541 pairs and demonstrated helmet use to be associated with an 8% decrease in hospital charges (B −0.075 (0.034)) and a 56% decrease in mortality (OR 0.44 (0.31-0.58)).

[@BretTkacs]

I love when viewers d share data I can do research on... thank you

[@WillieJohnRidesAgain]

@@BretTkacs I do a good bit of secondary data research myself so I tend to gravitate to those on population risks - makes it make sense to me

[@d.f.9064]

Not riding with a helmet has gone with not wearing a seat belt. I believe in freedom. Freedom to not wear either if you prefer. But, like with smoking, costing society money because you enjoy the freedom is not fair to others. This aside, there are many other injuries that can happen on a motorcycle not involving the head, but yes, the head is most important. If you ride a motorcycle the risk of a lifelong injury are high. You accept this when you ride one. Don't complain if you're injured, in todays traffic, expect it. Or like me, don't drive or rarely drive choosing carefully when and where. Can't do this? Mass transit.

[@collinyan7467]

I feel like its gotta be more significant than that. Ive crashed before and I saw the damage on my helmets and my head would not have been able to take it.

[@WillieJohnRidesAgain]

@@collinyan7467 keep in mind, this study compared two groups. Technically, a person could crash, while wearing a helmet and die. They could be injured elsewhere too. This study isolated helmet use (as compared to not) and attributes the risk that can be assigned (or its protective effects) to only that. A near 60% reduction in deaths is is pretty significant. Also, less likely to need intensive care and intubation but you can see those are less significant since you could end up there with say, a chest injury or extremity fractures.

[@pipersnuki]

Great video! As a neurologist I can attest that surviving a head injury does not mean you will necessarily have a quality of life that you would want. I have many patients with severe head injuries who sadly would rather not live that way. Forget even the severe head injuries, who would want all that road rash on your noggin or face? Not wearing a helmet is pretty dumb.

[@RollModel724]

I agree.. but people also mistakenly think that helmets stop TBI and concussions.. new tech like MIPS (and others) can help though

[@somejerk1520]

So is leaving the safety of your Volvo wagon and climbing aboard a vehicle that needs help from a leg to stay upright when parked. You ATTGATT folks put so much emphasis on safety while ignoring the 800lb gorilla.

[@aknownothingsguidetoeveryt8588]

Not ignoring anything.. it is risk reduction not prevention. I would rather jump out the airplane with a parachute than without, football with a helmet without, bulletproof vest with than without in a shootout.

[@joej2353]

@@somejerk1520No… I want to ride a motorcycle. It brings me joy. I understand the risks and I do the things that I can do to mitigate those risks. I can get killed behind the wheel of a car too. I wear a seatbelt and I don’t drive drunk or distracted, but it can happen just the same.

[@somejerk1520]

@joej2353 But if riding without the protection of a helmet is dumb, then riding without the protection of a seat belt, airbag, and crumple zones is likewise dumb. I'm only addressing the OP's claim that riding without a helmet is dumb. If taking risks is dumb, then all risks are dumb, nobody gets to be the arbiter of dumb, just a hypocrit.

[@4LowRocks]

Great topic, Bret. I was in a serious collision in March of this year. My helmeted head impacted the pavement and drug the left side along the pavement for a good slide. I don't know how far I slid, but I do recall seeing the tarmac rush past my eyes while sliding. I was wearing a HJC carbon fiber modular helmet. The impact and slide separated the communicator (Sena) from the helmet, popped the clear shield off, and ground down to the carbon fiber weave. Had I not had a helmet on, I'd likely be missing a lot of the left side of my chin up to my ear, and some forehead area. Dress for the slide, not the ride.

[@michaelreifenstein2114]

my worst crash ended up with my sliding down the road face down. if i didn't have a helmet on i would not have a face. as it was i was in hospital for a few hours for observation. i was released with some grazing on my knee. helmet saved my life.

[@bsmukler]

For what it’s worth, I had a low side crash on track while wearing an Arai Corsair X. I also slid on the face side. The face shield looked like someone took a belt sander to it, and the chin vent was partly ground down. The face shield stayed in place, and the mechanism was undamaged. I think the Arai design and build quality accounted for the shield staying in place. Just food for thought.

[@alan-sk7ky]

exactly. The only time my head has hit the road it was chin/nose first. The state of the visor and flip up 😮 all I had was a bruse on my cheek.

[@tedmarakas2626]

allow me to say...without a helmet you would have been a very ugly dude without a face and possibly dead. Glad to see that you are fine. Now go buy yourself a new and better helmet.

[@bcisbell]

I'm happy that you're here to tell us about it. ATGATT

[@andrewstrongman305]

I've had a couple of accidents where my head met the road. Those impacts MIGHT not have killed me, but my full-face motorcycle helmet allowed me to walk away without even concussion.

[@NScherdin]

Same. One took about 1/3rd of the material off the front of the helmet, so I'd definitely have been missing some face after that one if I had not had the helmet. That one caused 3rd degree road rash on 20% of my body(was a dumb 16 year old not wearing any significant protection other than the helmet). Still was able to walk away though.

[@somejerk1520]

Or...your giant 8lb fishbowl on your head contacted the road but your bare head would not have.

[@somejerk1520]

@KurtFrederiksen Which of us failed math? Helmet proponents never want to talk about whiplash or broken necks cause by strapping 8lbs to your head. Or the circumference of the helmet vs that of your head, so a lot of road contact made by helmets would not have been made by a bare head. It literally is just basic physics and geometry. Now I'm not suggesting anyone ride helmetless, but these issues are more nuanced than they would seem.

[@medler2110]

@@somejerk1520 Your 8lbs might be a bit out of date, maybe true of the helmets I wore in the 80's, but the full face helmet I wear today is 3.5lbs. Although you make good points about rotational injuries caused by wearing crash helmets, some modern safety standards include testing helmets for their ability to slide and not catch causing serious neck injury and I have seen airbag vests which also protect the neck by holding the helmet, but even with the improvements in design and reduction in weight, its still extra weight on a head and there is still a risk, but I feel less than the risk of death or serious injury caused by not wearing a helmet during a crash.

[@somejerk1520]

@medler2110 About 4yrs back I was a candidate for a job testing motorcycles for TRC. The federal test requirements state that the rider + gear must weigh 200lbs or less. I'm right at 185lbs so finding boots, a suit, gloves and helmet that total 15lbs was crucial. I literally walked around Iron Pony with a postage scale and helmets from Icon, Nolan, and other high-end brands were coming in around 8lbs. Turns out the lightest full face there was the $99 Vega Stealth I already owned coming in at about 2lbs 1oz. Didn't end up getting the job because you have to weigh in before every shift and I could easily be one glazed donut over limit.

[@dogsnmotorcycles]

I took my 5 year old helmet to the shop that I bought it at to shop for a new one. They asked if they could inspect it and I agreed. They took it apart and discovered that the EPS liner was perfectly in tact. They serviced the hinge on the chin bar and said that I didn't need a new helmet. They did sell me a new liner and cheek pads and the helmet was like new again.

[@stephenbecker1463]

I would assume that the amount of sun and heat the helmet is exposed to significantly effects the aging process. Just my assumption

[@hankjones3527]

Thanks for sharing your experience. One thing I've heard that seems likely is that the eps does age over time and becomes less effective even though it looks fine in a visual inspection. 🤔

[@krollpeter]

This service should be the norm for expensive helmets and reputable companies, shouldn't it? Thanks for bringing this up!

[@mikesavage8793]

The inner/comfort liner in most modern helmets, even entry level, can be replaced. It's a good idea to do it every couple of years, much less expensive than getting a new helmet. I've found that regular cleaning seems to rejuvenate the lining, not to brand new levels but it fits nicer after cleaning.

[@ACoustaDC]

I would never shop any where else. Where was it BTW?

[@mullins6429]

Thanks Bret, really enjoyed that video. About two and a half years ago I was involved in a traffic crash. A car driver pulled out in front of me and I hit him in the drivers door and went over the car onto the highway and landed on my chest on the centre road barrier. I suffered significant injuries. My speed was estimated by Police to be about 75 km/h when I hit the car. I have no memory of the crash. I was wearing an Arai XD4 helmet and jacket and pants with full armour and motorcycle boots. The helmet had some scratch marks on the top left hand side which indicates it must have hit the highway. I suffered a brain injury but the life threatening injuries sustained were to my chest and back even though the jacket had chest and back protection. My injuries may not have been so severe if I had been wearing and air inflatable vest but that’s something I’ll never know. I suffered a really bad hip, leg and ankle injury with my left leg as I think I may have landed on my feet when I touched down because both my lower legs were broken. I think a combination of high quality gear saved my life plus the care I was given initially at the roadside. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that in crash statistics it will show I had a helmet on (compulsory anyway) but my head isn’t where I sustained the worst injuries. However, I would not like to experience a crash like that without having a helmet on. I think there is no doubt my head and brain injuries would have been much worse without the helmet. Keep up the great work 👍🇦🇺

[@dolbydarma]

I ride with an airbag vest every time I’m out now. They are pretty amazing.

[@aqueousone]

“.. I had a helmet on… but my head isn’t where I sustained the worst injuries.” May I suggest one tiny edit there? Change the ‘but’ to: ‘therefore’. Instead of those scratches being on the helmet, they would have been on your skull and the impact which caused them, without the helmet, would have left it up to your brain to absorb the kinetic energy.

[@chris2790]

I just started riding this summer and have decided recently that I will be wearing an airbag vest or jacket when I get back on the bike this spring. With the increase risk serious injury on a motorcycle I want to stack the deck in my favor although I know there are no guarantees.

[@patrickmalone9380]

Glad ur hear today thanks for sharing

[@patrickmalone9380]

Might have get helight vest I ride everday as motorcycle postie there expensive but u know might mean difference getting home

[@chriscahill3667]

A good tip to get more life from your helmet is to buy an extra set of foam liners when you purchase your helmet, then when the time comes you can replace them. If you wait until that point to buy them they are often no longer available as your helmet has been replaced with a newer model. Also take the liner out and wash it at the end of summer or more often if you ride often.

[@FreeFlyFreak69]

100% I went to replace the liner in my helmet. Non available, not even in the new old stock market, eBay etc.

[@coarsegoldkid]

Fortunately I learned 57 years ago how important a helmet was in one quick moment with a brush with a telephone pole. I hated to wear it to high school because probably it wasn't cool. However the skid mark of creosote from the pole changed my mind. My next helmet was a full coverage Premier. I have mentioned to people since that you still may die wearing a full coverage helmet but it guarantees an open casket. Ride on. Good video.

[@ACoustaDC]

LOL good point on the casket!

[@collinmc90]

Wow I never considered how the ear plugs would actually be better for hearing at 50 mph+ but that does make sense. Good video Bret, thanks. I'd love a deeper look into this.

[@brianperry]

Wind noise is very fatiguing, not to mention damaging..l always wear filtered ear protection. That is that minimus the frequency of the white noise the wind produces...

[@fallinginthed33p]

@@sneescampersThere are also motorcycle earplugs that let in speech and music frequencies, so you can talk on your comm system or listen to music without having to crank up the volume too high.

[@beepbop6697]

I never ride without earplugs anymore. I used to when I was younger, but I cringe at the thought of not using earplugs now that I'm older and wiser. They cut out the immensely damaging wind noise and I can hear my Sena crystal clear with earplugs.

[@dolbydarma]

If you have speakers in your helmet and compare the quality with and without earplugs you will be amazed how much better the sound is with the plugs in. Never would have believed it until I gave it a try and riding speed. 👍👍

[@Luk4s7St]

@@dolbydarmaabsolutely agree! I mounted intercom before purchased Alpine Tour earplugs. I was afraid with earplugs I would make sound much louder to hear music but effectively it is applicable only at standing still or very low speed. At higher speed my Cardo was out of volume range without earplugs. With them I still can make louder but don’t need to! Quality of music sound and clarity of phone calls are much higher with earplugs. Since I discovered it I never ride without earplugs anymore.

[@MikesMotorbikeChannel]

Bret, I get it and agree that both a $150 helmet and a $600 helmet can meet a standard (DOT/SNELL/ECE, etc), and while I think the standards are an important starting point, those are standardized tests under controlled conditions, where real world crashes are anything but. I personally would rather trust my head to an established helmet manufacturer that has been doing this for awhile and has a track record of making safe helmets rather than using the latest internet darlings that still pass current test standards.

[@Dave-sw2dm]

Which still doesn't mean more expensive unless they can just charge more because of notoriety. Fortnine did a video on what it cost shoei to make a helmet.

[@kevinpakravan2947]

The UK has a “Sharp” rating of helmet safety where the protection at each impact point is weighted by the likelihood of impact in that area. I wish the industry would move to this because it gives more fidelity than just pass/fail. Each model is rated on a scale from 1-5.

[@russcattell955i]

In competitions riders have to wear helmets. What do they wear ? The best they can afford or in the case of riders paid to wear brand X Y or Z, the best of the brand.

[@Dave-sw2dm]

@@russcattell955i , it is called marketing. Their risks are much different than riding in traffic with cars and trucks. Their potential impacts are also much different.

[@ayowser01]

Shoei or Arai only

[@jacekpiterow900]

"you can't drop your helmet with your head in it" what a bummer ...

[@BretTkacs]

Facts are facts 😁👍

[@rex8255]

It has always been a goal of mine to not do that while riding. After to many beers at home... meh.

[@user-us9fk1cj3b]

This video is an excellent helmet overview. It is a lovely review of the literature without introducing personal bias. I am an ER doc commuting by motorcycle since before Med school. Motorcyclists need better information about skill set development and what our safety gear does and does not accomplish. THANK YOU; please support the channel because this channel supports us riders. Again thank you

[@bsmukler]

This was really well thought out, researched, and presented. Thank you for producing it! I think the helmet issues are complex and interesting. As you know, there are also British tests (SHARP) as well as the European standards and the FIM standards. There is also the factor of brand loyalty, country of origin biases, and numerous factors such as the conditions of the distribution warehouses where helmets are stored prior to purchase, and of course the environmental conditions the helmets endure after purchase. I think one concern has been the unknown condition of the foam liner, or layers, over time, and whether it is possible to generalize regarding when to stop trusting that the liners are okay. I have actually had one helmet (mid-priced Harley helmet) “rain” foam particles after just a few years. My current oldest helmet is a six year old XD4, which I seldom use. The comfort pieces (e.g. cheek pads) don’t like to stay locked in, and the helmet is definitely roomier than before. My most recently retired helmet (Corsair X) was only about four years old, but saw much more use than my other helmets, had gone through a few sets of liners, and was showing wear on the chin strap. I think the various standards are the floor, and that it truly is reasonable to believe that some manufacturers use design, materials, hands-on construction, and multi-stage quality checks, that do result in trustworthy products. I have various helmets, including a “good” carbon fiber helmet, but I am accustomed to Aria’s products, and also find the interior materials and construction of the Arais to be of noticeably higher quality than the more affordable, though similarly rated, alternatives. As for safety in general, it is hard to believe that any adult, who has likely had a few hard knocks to the noggin over the years, does not realize our fragility. It doesn’t take much speed or force to effect serious, possibly permanent, injuries. My track experience has led me to use gauntlet gloves and, usually, track boots while riding sport bikes on street, as well as (thanks to your videos) clunky but safe off-road boots with my adventure bikes. At my age, I want to limit the downtime of waiting for bones or tendons and ligaments to heal (I’m sporting a walking boot now, due to a sports overuse injury), and good gear is really cheap insurance. Thank you again for the thought provoking video.

[@garybrown1404]

Outstanding commentary! Former biker, retired by age & infirmity, not choice.

[@paulbeckwith2172]

Excellent video Bret, wearing or not wearing a helmet might save your life after a crash, but not wearing a helmet you might wish you hadn’t survived… put a lid on and think of your family

[@gabrielkopp2036]

Great info..I live in a state with no helmet law but I still wear one.. I would like to see you do a video on air bag vests if you could

[@robertfrank886]

Agree completely- I’m in South Carolina (no helmet law) and ALWAYS use a helmet and airbag vest. Amazing how few people here wear the proper gear.

[@Snoozzzzzze]

When helmets were introduced for soldiers in the 1st world war the number of troops in hospital with head injuries actually increased which confused the doctors and generals until someone pointed out that those soldiers would have been dead without one.

[@Scott___T]

Well said Bret! I like the quote; helmets save head injuries; rider choices save lives. I appreciate the open dialog about helmets. I wear one all the time but support everyone's choice to make that decision for themselves.

[@a.r.t.4611]

My Caberg was 9 years old when I changed it. The shell and visor were in very good condition, but the lining had compressed to a point where the helmet was becoming loose. I tried smashing the shell twice with a lump hammer. The hammer bounced off the shell, with minor scratches on the surface. It might be choice in the US to wear a helmet, but your skull won't withstand the impact when it impacts a vehicle or tarmac. Be smart; ALWAYS wear a helmet.

[@shaikhmimran13]

Bret is killing the big industry marketing machine ! One video at a time

[@BretTkacs]

🤣

[@georgeroberts442]

An excellent run down on helmets. I hope lots of riders watch this. This is the kind of video that makes youtube worthwhile.

[@BretTkacs]

I hope so too

[@VentiMocha1Rasp]

I really like the way you cover the details, the parameters that others may not cover or simply they miss. This comes down to "what is your test group" and you really exploded that out in the Michigan discussion. Great mind!

[@garyb931]

Really good vid. I wear earplugs all the time even on a 5-minute ride and they have no apparent interference with my hearing. I can attest to the stats that the front of your head is more likely to come in contact with the ground. Many years ago, I was Tee-boned at an intersection where I high-sided after impact, when I woke up with a 750 Katana on my leg, I had gouge marks down the left-hand bottom side of my full-face helmet. The head impact wasn't too hard but without a helmet, the end result could have been different.

[@richardread6738]

Hi Bret - this is the first time I’ve ever commented on a KZbin vid. Thank you so much for this video. Well researched and well presented. Even in Australia (where we have to wear helmets), this is such a significant piece of knowledge for us all to know. Thank you.

[@FranciscoLopez0]

This is going to be a classic and a must watch for all new motorcycle riders. That last point is very important, about safety mentality and how choosing not to wear PPE might be the determining factor on the longevity of a rider's career.

[@BretTkacs]

I hope you are right about it being a popular video. I think riders need videos that are thought provoking

[@human1513]

Thanx for a great video. My head is lighter than 11 pounds as she once told me, "You are brain dead" when I goofed something up. LOL

[@andersnilsson6625]

Thanks Bret for another great video! Factual and informative, you give us so much valuable information, and WITHOUT advertising. Many thanks to you and everyone who supports you! And YES of course we want more of this 💕😄😀

[@MiddlingAdventure]

Thank you for your time and dedication to education, sir. Happy holidays!

[@WAZZUjohn03]

Well presented and I happen to agree with all of the points made. I especially agree that choosing lower levels of protection might not be the difference between life and death, but your injuries might be such that life is no longer the preferred outcome.

[@thefoggytrekker]

Excellent video! We all love riding videos, the latest and greatest bikes and gear, but this was one of the best motorcycle content videos I have seen in a while. Factual thought provoking and it does not matter which side of the helmet laws you fall on it is worth the watch. Well done, thank you for the work that does into content like this.

[@UndCon]

Safe riding approach saves lives - probably more so than the helmet itself. Great video Bret!

[@RufusCapstick]

Apart from anything else, it's too darn cold to ride without a helmet where I live 😆

[@dave-d]

I fell off a horse onto a paved road recently with correct headgear and knocked myself out for the first time ever. Doing about 10mph from about 6 feet up. The outer shell was cracked a little. This really made me appreciate my motorcycle helmet even more. It's one bit of kit to really look after and check thoroughly from time to time. If dropped onto stones I'd say it's well worth checking for shell damage due to point impact. Not so bad on a flat surface perhaps. Thanks Bret. Great info as always.

[@techdragn]

I grew up hill climbing. I have this nice natural smile, because I started off using a full face helmet. Several occasions I would have lost my teeth if I didn’t have that helmet. I always wear a helmet, boots and jacket at the minimum, since they don’t make a business casual motorcycle pant, on all my rides. A helmet is not required in Montana, but I still remember those face impacts 45 years ago, so always wear a helmet. THANK YOU for the 5 year thing. That one has bugged me forever

[@TheBaggyT]

I haven't ridden a motorbike in 8 years (just can't afford one at the moment), but this video looked interesting... and it kept my attention right to the end! Very good, informative, and well-researched. Love the practical demonstration. Definitely a video I will pass onto anyone who regurgitates one of those myths.

[@jasondunn8894]

Great video Brett. Often wondered if the 5 year helmet rule was just marketing. Mandatory helmets here in Australia and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Wearing this one piece of equipment when riding is a no brainer. 👍

[@TheBaggyT]

Totally agree... and I also thought the 5-year "rule" was just marketing too. Otherwise, if you never have an accident, you never need to buy a new one!

[@DSplatter]

Or you’ll end up a no-brainer

[@markellott5620]

@@TheBaggyT It will get sloppy over time. The more you wear it, the quicker that will happen, but it will happen.

[@hankjones3527]

I find varying views on helmet laws fascinating. It seems in the US there is a significant portion of the population vehemently opposed to helmet laws. Yet we have them here and it's broadly a popular law. Go figure.

[@rahtikone]

I noticed the same 🤕 6 years old nolan @@markellott5620

[@John_VN]

Another great video, Bret. Thanks for the clarity!

[@sarelkleynhans9528]

Excellent video. yes please extended vid with more info and even a rant will be awesome. thanks for another awesome video.

[@airmotivewelding8012]

Great video Bret! This is great information, thank you for the obvious work that went into making it👍. A helmet is a huge part of making the ride better! Love my Arai, gladly PAID, for the fit!

[@MrRickrm]

Once again a fantastic presentation. Thanks for doing this. I grew up riding dirt. Full face only, those rocks, bugs, twigs are killers. I like a modular, but still after 50 years of riding, full face is my go to. Now ear plugs are a must and by far cotton balls work the best and most comfortable.

[@fuglbird]

A very good video. You may want to update your statement at 1:50 that two helmets are giving the same protection if they comply with the same standard. Some helmet complied with the 22-6 standard before it became a standard. You can find many other examples. That's progress and that's one way standards are developing. You may want to take a look at "The United Nations Motorcycle Helmet Study", 2016, page 25, table 4, "Comparison of tests included in different motorcycle helmet standards or regulations" for other examples. No standard includes everything.

[@enduromotorradtouren]

About the outer liner: About 30 years ago I was at the Schuberth factory (then in Braunschweig). They had old shells on the roof, 365 days in sunlight. What they said 30 years ago: The "plastics" of the outer shell are much better than in the 70ies and should last half a lifetime. Whereas the inner liner... Of course you should be careful about your helmet. The best helmet is the one that fits your head best. Thanks for your myth busting, Günter/Nürnberg

[@rodintoulouse3054]

Thanks Brett. As usual, factual and straight to point. no fillers or tic toc effects.

[@dw5523]

I'd love a Bret Rants episode about helmets, or a whole series you do once a month or however often something needs a well thought out tongue lashing.

[@ecalzo]

always super content Sir. Bret .. keeping to following you..

[@EAR21]

Thanks for a very informative and well researched video. It cleared up several questions for me and I appreciate the effort that went into making it.

[@JBean_COCR]

In 1978 as a young man I crashed my dirt bike and landed on my head and shoulder after flying 140' through the air. Back in those days we had 3/4 helmets mostly, full coverage were new and quite expensive. My Bell helmet was broken in half and hung in my buddies garage from the chin strap. Helmets have come a long way. I had a skull fracture and lost 3 days I'll never remember (in hospital), a broken collarbone and shoulder blade, and four broken ribs. I'm lucky to be alive (landed in a recently plowed field) per the doctors and nurses. I still ride but always wear my safety gear. Thanks for making this video.

[@TheRayford13]

As usual, you are always providing great information. Thank you!

[@robertpeachey8348]

Thanks for taking the time to do this video much appreciated from Scotland !! ,

[@thepcguy007]

A significant number of riders will have anecdotal evidence of a helmet saving their head, Like that time I was street riding in the rain, and my front hit a pedestrian crossing while turning right at super slow speed. The front washed out because of the paint, the bike literally pulled me down and I hit asphalt face first. I got up, hit the kill switch, a guy got out of his car to help me pick up the old bike, checked it out, dusted myself off, and went to the office. This kind of little fall will never make it into the official statistics, because there was no medical attention required. However, nobody will ever convince me that the helmet did not save me from a major concussion*. I'd be willing to bet that if every little story like mine was added to the statistics... the picture would become a LOT more favorable to helmets. * I did suffer symptoms of a minor concussion like slight nausea, some dizziness when turning my head etc., but didn't go to a doctor because I'm an idiot like that.

[@PovilasPanavas]

What a great video! Well, researched and very well presented.

[@AntonioPugliese88]

This video might be the best you have ever posted! Great one!

[@wgiusto]

OK, enough is enough. I have to say it. Bret, THANK YOU FOR EVERY VIDEO YOU HAVE MADE! Now, back to the helmets... So many clowns talk about helmets when they do not have a clue, just repeating the gossip like they know what they are saying. And yes! I am one of those who was told to buy a new helmet because mine was too old. In my case, the argument was that with time, the "staring foam" gets rigid and loses absorption. Is this right? Again, THANK YOU. I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU. I have 42 years of riding experience, many long trips, and many countries.

[@rustymansuetti2234]

What a great video!!! Thanks so much! About time someone put out some honesty regarding the helmet thing!!!! I prefer one, but I really never wanted one riding a bicycle. Just so nice to get an honest review and some explanation of a few things!

[@mikec1254]

I always learn something from your videos. You are always fair and honest with your content

[@RentabikeVietnam]

I have been following you for a while and love your content. This a great video; one of your best. I am going to create a blog post of this information and post your video on it so that you get the credit. I hope that gives your stats a little boost. Keep up the great work!!

[@glynhannaford7332]

That's a brilliant essay on the subject, superbly presented. 👏 Thanks for doing this.

[@curthenry9398]

My last crash was a 50 mph highside where I face planted on the pavement. The face shield was worn almost all the way through along with the the chin bar. My riding jacket and pants had hole through the the armor. My boots had hole to where you could see my socks. I walked away with a 3/4" road rash on my wrist from my glove rolling down, bruised and stiff and sore. I was okay after the crash rode the bike home with bent bars and foot peg.

[@TRCAdventures]

Great job, great video, well thought through and excellent getting the word out to viewers.

[@64faffi]

Thank you for this great information. I have cracked two helmets and heavily scraped the face shield and chin bar on another two, and I feel positive that the helmets changed the outcome of my accidents to the better. For me, at least.

[@wallymurray620]

Great info, thanks for all the work to make it.

[@opichocal]

Excellent job on this video! I ride with a full faced helmet anytime I leave my neighborhood. However I almost never ride with a helmet if I’m on my scooter with my dogs around my neighborhood. I will say I split the back of my head open riding at night in my neighborhood because I hit a brick in the road. I hit the concrete so fast and it really scared me. Luckily I was only going about 20mph and it didn’t do any permanent brain damage. Helmets definitely save lives but the brain inside it could prevent most accidents

[@XRM473]

The best investment anyone can make is in their education. Thank you Bret for sharing your knowledge. This video may save someone from drinking through a straw for the rest of their life, and that makes me proud of you mate.

[@qdllc]

Love the bit on earplugs. Wind/road noise is notorious for rider fatigue. You have to discern real noise from the “white noise” of wind and road. I even use earbuds to listen to music. No hearing issues. It protects from wind/road noise, and I don’t play music so loud that I can’t hear what’s going on around me.

[@danmercer214]

Great video. I appreciate your research in the helmet arena.

[@userwhocantfindaname]

on the topic of helmets save lives, In 2017 I was in an accident that I woke up from 3 weeks after it happened and I can without a doubt say that I would not be here if I hadn't had it on. this video was well prepared and presented. Thank you for helping keep people informed especially on a topic that is this important.

[@windwalker1313]

Very helpful and insightful. Thank you!

[@robpinter5431]

Very well done Bret, getting a helmet that fits properly is like buying new shoes, absolute pain as helmet shape and sizes are different between brands and style. I found that I need to replace my helmet every 4 to 5 years due to the comfort liner getting perished due to dust and sweat. Helmets now days are so much better than what we had 40 years ago.

[@MotoCampAdventure]

As someone who used to work at a dealership and sell helmets, thank you. There's plenty of parts and apparel associates who are going to benefit from this video.It's going to help explain and corroborate information to the customer who doesn't see this video.

[@jones970589]

Great video. I like how you broke it down like a well educated person. I didn't even know about those 2 research statistics.

[@myyou2b]

Great stuff from you as always, Bret. Schuberth C3 Pro modular. I'd feel foolish if I skimped on head protection. Also, thanks for reminding me that I'm due for a liner replacement.

[@billcurnew6020]

One issue that clouds the statistics regarding helmet's life saving ability is environment. In road accidents, often riders come into contact with any manner of objects, be they cars, curbs, guard rails,etc., which makes getting consistent data difficult, if not, impossible. MotoGP riders fall all the time, often at considerable speed, but their controlled environment makes them less likely to contact hard or irregular objects. Now, if you took away the helmets and leathers they wear, I'm quite sure the serious injury level would be significantly greater. To my layman's way of thinking, that is more than enough information to make me happy about my personal commitment to wearing all the gear, all the time. I still believe that, given identical impacts with the head, the helmeted rider will always be better off. Nice job on a difficult issue!

[@bretthawton]

Good job Bret- Thanks for making another great video for us.

[@BretTkacs]

My pleasure!

[@jude.v25]

Good video. I appreciate the brevity and I'll be watching for more of this type.

[@BretTkacs]

Yes my words were chosen carefully

[@jude.v25]

@@BretTkacs As a writer/content producer, I know first hand that brevity is much more harder than most people realize. :)

[@kirkdawson]

Excellent Video, Keep them coming!!😃

[@francistotoleking5960]

Thank you Bret for this very instructive video. I will add my experience to this regarding “drop it / replace it “. I owned a BMW System 7 helmet (made of carbon fibber) and I was not very careful when I was short moving my motorhome in parking place, so I dropped it at least two times, once from table (less then 1m) and also once from upper bed (about 1m60). I saw no sign of damage. But then I dropped it form my sofa (40cm) and I knew by the sound it made that I f*c**d it. And indeed, the external impact liner was cracked. My understanding is that it was damaged by the previous high fall and/or multiple falls, and that the last one just revealed the previous invisible damages. This may be also related to the strong carbon material that may not be as elastic as others. I ended up replacing it by the same one, and I now have spare parts and internal liner for the new one. My conclusion : damage of a simple drop may not always be visible, but may affect the external liner (especially the made of carbon ones). PS : your video ends at 15:37 but the there is a few minutes blank…

[@CosmicSeeker69]

for what it's worth - I totally concur. I was a Snap-On tools dealer and it became extremely obvious to me that lots of tools appeared to survive abuse - only to terminally fail at some later time.

[@iivaridark6850]

When I was a little boy, I had a small bicycle... Maybe its gearing was not for speed but I still tried my best at setting some personal record - and the ride ended me lying on the tarmac (it was new!) and afterwards i realised I used my head as a brake. That did not look nice afterwards! Many many years later, I crashed my motorcycle but had learned not to use my head too much. I had a full face helmet and although almost every other part of my body was broken, my head looked very nice!😁

[@mddale]

I had the same thought when MD pressed to simplify MC licensing in order to get those chronically riding unlicensed as that population was over-represented in riding accidents and death. My hypothesis was that rushing that cohort through licensing would certainly reduce the numbers of unlicensed having bad outcomes but not affect the gross numbers; it'd just move those "bad decisionmakers into the licensed cohort and serve to put our sport in worse light.

[@dw8931]

In Austria, after wearing helmets became mandatory in the late 70s, the number of organ donors dropped dramatically. (Rem.: every Austrian citizen is a potential organ donor unless they decline before the accident.) I don't need any other statistics.

[@newenglandscrambler2262]

I loved this. I've gotten a lot of misinformation since i started riding and some of these points (like helmet drops and useful lifespan) I was still unsure about.

[@YankiRides]

great insights. price does not equal safety. love that point

[@andrewarnott6112]

Yep, but just because 2 hemets are dot approved, doesn't mean one didn't just pass and the other could have passed with 3 times better results. Yes they both passed. You keep your bell and ill keep my arai. Natural selection at its finest

[@jh9855]

Great, great video. I learned a lot. Thank you.

[@pault248]

Another great video. Thank you.

[@arielbenavidez6417]

Thanks for an other great video Bret.

[@PubRunner]

Thanks for putting out a well researched video on helmets.

[@Roberto-REME]

Excellent information (useful, based on research not opinion) and your narration is outstanding. Really well done!

[@BretTkacs]

Thank you kindly!

[@camillez.7535]

Excellent. Well timed as I am a soon to be new mature rider and in possession of a very old helmet. Thanks!

[@markhawkins6276]

I once read a supposed quote from Evil Knievel "I never mount a motorcycle without first donning a helmet", Truth or myth? I was in a motorcycle accident in 1981. Had to have 13 stiches in my chin and my full faced Bell helmet was broken in two at the lower face portion. I'm a firm believer in wearing helmets!

[@wileytw55]

Just like your instructional videos, this was concise and to the point, thank you. I have been riding for about 50 years. In that time I've had two bad wrecks. Once I missed a curve, went off the road through a barbed wire fence. The top wire of the fence hit the front of my full face helmet, ripped my leather jacket, took off the face shield. Without it, I am certain it would have removed my head. The second one i was hit by a car, flew over the car landing on the back of my head on the pavement. The helmet was broke, I had road rash on my back.

[@johnschlesinger2009]

Thanks for a really interesting and informative video.

[@gilinsomnia4988]

Great video Bret

[@mikemarthaller8789]

Well done Back in my parachuting days i simply said those who did not wear helmets had nothing inside worth projecting

[@1over137]

Ear plugs improving hearing. I learnt this while DJ'ing. After a few weeks I really started to fear for my hearing. So I put ear plugs in. What I didn't expect to happen was that people coming into the DJ box to make requests or to ask me something... I could hear them absolutely fine with the ear plugs in, far better than without! I think it comes down to the ear plugs dampening "most" of the volume and particularly most of the high-frequency. This allows you hearing more atuned to 1kHz and below, where voices are and babies cry, to work far better. It's like you raise the signal to noise ratio.

[@MotoCocoTV]

Another Great Detailed Video! As one who should be wearing one even in my truck haha... i did notice with my new ear plugs (eargasms) I did hear much better then without! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[@grumpyrider8801]

Great video, especially the dropping exercises, I've been telling riders this for years

[@kenackerson7007]

Great job Bret

[@WiltshireMan]

Thankyou Bret. You dropped a perfectly good helmet to put a valid point across, thats definitely worth a thumbs up:)

[@arainmk]

What I have learnt from my personal experience is that a helmet becomes unfit for use when it becomes too loose. Previously I did not use any liner when wearing them and they became loose within a two to three years, from all the sweat which I think reduces the life of a helmet. Since I have started wearing a bandana or whatever it is called, I have observed that the helmet does not lose its size a quickly.

[@creedm3040]

Great video! Excellent information. I can't imagine riding without a helmet. Best!

[@BretTkacs]

Me either...

[@MattLitkeRacing]

I thought I needed a larger helmet until I was educated by Impact Racing about proper fit. I’ve seen many people wanting to buy a helmet that’s multiple sizes too large. Like small women asking for an XL

[@jeffl910]

Well presented, factual video that made sense. Thanks for doing the research and putting this together, well done.

[@jimjoelliejack]

I can’t understand why anyone would want to ride without a helmet. I was on duty as a Paramedic, I was on an emergency call when I pulled out of a side road on to a Main Street, it was dark and I had been give right of way by the traffic, I had lights and sirens on, as I got to the middle of the road I heard a loud bang and saw sparks flying down the road, I had been struck by a motorcycle doing over 60 mph on a 30, he had overtook the stationary traffic. When me and my oppo got to him he wasn’t breathing and his right leg was bent around his neck over his shoulder, one side of his helmet was hanging off. We treated him on scene and amazingly he survived his awful injuries, I was told two things saved him, his helmet after his head hit a metal lamppost and the fact that his was blind drunk. Always wear a proper fitted helmet and don’t D&D. Great video.👍

[@BretTkacs]

😲