I knew it. You just never struck me as right.

Yeah, I've considered getting that R4. The price is right, and the article in Dirt Rider spoke highly of it.

 

There's a common misconception that helmets make the wearer immune from concussions; definitely not the case! *I was wearing a helmet when I got my concussion snowboarding. *That was about 3 years ago too and I still occasionally feel lingering effects. *Or perhaps that's just me getting old!

 

Yeah, concussions can occur from more than a "blow" to the head. I got a concussion in a motorcycle wreck where my head never hit the ground or anything else. I was wearing one of those original Simpson R30 "Darth Vader" looking helmets in the 80's. I was on an '83 Goldwing when a drunk driving a full size Pontiac Bonneville turned left in front of me. I went over the car after impact, never touching the car. I landed on the pavement and was knocked out. When I came to and got my helmet off, I was amazed to find not even a scratch on the helmet. I was skint from shouders to knees but no broken bones. Apparently I had head whip hard and fast enough to make my brain "bounce" inside my skull but no direct impact to my head. The brain is a weird deal and concussions can be even stranger.

 

Wow TNC, my friend had an eerily similar crash with a drunk driver. *It's the reason I like to ride in a 4 wheel cage on Friday & Saturday nights.

I often wonder why the past 50 years has seen major leaps in the technology used in boots, gloves & jackets but helmets are still the same basic construction. * Indeed we now have equipment now that wasn't even dreamed of back then (think neck braces!). *But the helmet is still simply a shell with styrofoam lining. *I wonder if some sort of fluid cushioning layer, much like the brain & skull itself, would be more effective?

 

fluid would provide a better dampening effect. Been around my fair share of concussions from my old job in the military

 

I'm wondering if the recent interest in concussion prevention in the NFL might turn out to be a bigger driving force in helmet technology than just about anything else. While the pool of users is small, the money involved is huge, and it might bring a breakthrough or two to helmet design. Whether it will be transferable to motorcycle use may be another question.

If we're having fun speculating on this, I'm thinking a fluid design won't be the ultimate answer due to weight and the noncompressability of fluids...at least in the space confines of a helmet. Excess weight directly on the head might aggravate that pendulum effect during an impact, plus just the discomfort of having extra weight on the neck. I'd bet more on the technology going in the direction of a better foam composition or air...or a combination of both.

 

Another possibility would be an overlap layers helmet design, such as this. Crye Precision

Having multiple layers of different materials would allow the impact to be slowed/softened before your head comes to a stop. Would also help spread the impact away from a single point to 'even' then pressure.

Helmet design has been slacking but lately there has been some improvement. NFL with their concussions will hopefully help push the advancement along more. Injuries from military personnel getting hit by IED's has been another big push lately that has led to some development such as that helmet listed above. Current helmet used is crap

 

Helmet tech has improved greatly over the years as a hoarder I have helmets from the 1960's, 70's, 80's and it is easy to track the advances. A helmet is like a loaf of bread best when fresh.

 

Not sure how effective this would be

 

I have no idea what point you're trying to make with that pic, ZW, so here's something for you.

Pancake Bunny | Know Your Meme