Please choose your helmet (edit) fastener carefully

[johnny80s]

First off I hope you friend and all will be OK.
IMO I would never modify my D-ring for "easier" removal or installation of the chin strap. If you don't mess with it, you won't have an issue. There is a reason why it's a D-ring and not a quick release piece of plastic. My 2 cents.

Bout time you said something intelligent.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Feeger, since you introduced this, I hope you'll post an update on the other rider. We're all hoping.

As for the buckle, in addition to the kind of thing Al raised here, how would you lock a helmet to anything without a D ring? At least, it's the only tie-down point I know about. And by the way, sounds like that group wasn't spaced out very well. Nice to keep that 2-second deal in mind, huh?

 

[cota95]

Sorry to hear about the mishap. I tried one of those aftermarket clips but I took it off. I didn't really trust it. I'll keep my d rings.

 

[Toecutter]

I've never had a problem with a D ring, never really thought of it as an inconvenience.

 

[Bokerfork]

First of all, my sympathies to the injured. I hope they pull out of this and ride again.

Secondly, before we all go trashing a product, let's be sure we know what we are talking about. None of us know for sure that the clasp failed. We don't know that it was even used, or used properly. I, have found myself riding down the road a couple of times with the helmet strap blowing in the wind. Both times it was because something or someone distracted me immediately after donning my helmet. I'm not proud of it, but it does happen.

So before we trash this, or any manufacturer, let's be sure we know the facts.

And no, I do not have any financial, or any other kind of interest in this product.

 

[fjrboomer]

+1 on Bokerfork's comment on the quick fastener. That being said I will stick with the D ring as it has to be the most secure. I also experenced riding off just the other day without fastening the strap. I realized it quickly because once I got up some speed I could tell it was not secure so I pulled over and secured it.

feeger please let us know how the other rider is doing and let him know we are all saying a prayer for him and his family.

 

[Patriot]

I've never had a problem with a D ring, never really thought of it as an inconvenience.

I agree, my only bit is to remember to don gloves last, after fastening helmet's chin strap

It's a fumble and damn near impossible with both gloves, but have been able to get it done with some time & effort with only left glove on

I've been distracted and realized my chin strap wasn't fastened after donning gloves and held everyone up

And yes, once in a blue moon, I forget to fasten strap until moving, but (with CB) will warn that I'm pulling over to fix forgotten chin strap incident

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

Prayers lifted up for all involved...pls let us know how it goes

 

[bikerskier]

Used D ring helmets for over 35 years but the last 3 helmets have been Nolan's. I am very comfortable with their locking mechanism which is very similar to most ski boot buckles that I have also been using forever with no problems.

 

[Shane]

That is an after-market quick release clasp...it's not stock. It attaches to the stock helmet straps. Can't tell the brand for sure, but it looks pretty close to this one.

The link looks like the photo feeger posted.

Personally, I think he should sue the helmet manufacturer for supplying a helmet with a D-ring instead of a real buckle.

That makes no sense whatsoever.

It must have something to do with his forum handle.

That there's funny, Joe!

Shane

 

[happyPuppy]

Geez, i just bought one based on this review for my HJC https://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/echo-quick-release/ I assume it is the same one. It is coming off now.

 

[Ignacio]

Geez, i just bought one based on this review for my HJC https://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/echo-quick-release/ I assume it is the same one. It is coming off now.

From that review I find the same thing I noticed once while trying it.

I can note one critical caveat: It is possible to latch the Echo Quick Release at an angle, where it feels "mostly" latched but really is not. The non-bendable solid latch can half-catch unexpectedly on the plastic hood.

The latch isn't inherently unsafe and seems substantially tested, but with a gloved hand it's possibly you don't get that positive metal to metal click.

Folks, it seems people are jumping to conclusions here. How do people know the clip actually failed?

 

[feeger]

I got a call today that Rich has been released from ICU. He has some broken bones and will have to go through speech therapy for his brain injury, but should be okay.

 

[Big Sky]

Glad to hear the victim is apparently on his way to recovery. The comments about whether or not the clasp itself failed are good ones. I use what appears to be an identical quick release clasp. It is added to the manufacturer's straps and original D-rings are not removed. I wondered about it's durability but assumed (and the salesman testified) it has been thoroughly tested and designed. I have a nerve problem in my left arm that inevitably causes a muscle cramp when I am trying to fasten or unfasten the conventional D-ring set-up, so wanted (needed?) a quick release. I was using this set-up when I had a 30 mph get-off at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix a couple of years ago. The helmet got rashed but stayed securely in place. I felt confident enough in the mechanism after that where I recommended my wife get one for her new Arai. She had been using a Nolan for about 10 years with it's "quick release" type latching mechanism and complained often of the Arai's conventional D-rings. Now we have some food for thought. I hope someone can answer definitively whether this failed, but I doubt it will ever be known with certainty. I suppose if there is any doubt, I ought to get rid of it.

 

[Ed_Grant]

I have a clasp identical to the one in the picture installed in my SHOEI RF1000. Properly fastened it is metal to metal. The plastic encloses the fastener but the strength comes from the steel fasteners enclosed by the plastic. I've been using this product for a few years. Never had it unlatch unless I unlatched it. I believe it is a safe product. Of course you have to fasten it for it to be effective.

 

[MCML]

Happy to hear some better news. I hope the recovery proceeds apace.

Since I always seem to still be gearing up when others are ready to roll (iPod on, GPS on, Starcom kill switch on, ear buds in, helmet on, sleeve ends zipped, gloves on, glove straps velcro'ed, etc., etc.) I almost bought a strap quick release buckle set up just last week because the D rings usually seem to take me a while (especially snapping the "extra" strap length to the ring after drawing things snug) to save some time. While I do not know all the facts here I do think that I will keep my helmet strap just the way it is.

 

[old&slow]

Hope your friends are OK ,,,,, and get well SOON...

I've thought about a quick connect a time or two ,,, But I Think I'll keep my old "D" rings ,,,,,,

 

[lnewlf]

I used the Echo clasp for years on my Arai because the chin straps were to short to slide over my Leno chin without undoing them-my RF1000 has longer straps and the D rings work fine..Never had a problem with the Echo altho I found that it was possible to get a 'click' by sliding in the clasp crooked and hooking just one side-not good..

 

[GunMD]

I used the Echo clasp for years on my Arai because the chin straps were to short to slide over my Leno chin without undoing them-...

Wha? Removing the helmet without undoing the strap? Uhhhh...OK. But that's not really how they're designed. Kinda like removing shoes without untying them...it'll work, but it's not going to help you achieve a proper fit.

 

[lnewlf]

I meant undoing the straps entirely from the D rings- on my RF1000 the straps are long enough that they can be slid down to the end without undoing and still clear my mile long chin- a simple tug snugs the strap down without futzing around trying to rethread them..

 

[Fred W]

Glad to hear the victim is apparently on his way to recovery.

Also glad to hear the crashed rider is recovering well, but, there was no "victim" here. Unless he was a victim of his own over exuberance.

I agree that the quick release may or may not have failed here. Nobody will likely ever know whether the rider had fastened the helmet on or not. But those quick releases just seems like a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. Are you really in that much of a hurry (or that uncoordinated) that you can't take the 5-10 seconds to loop through the standard d-rings?

And +1 on unfastening the helmet strap. I have never heard of anyone that leaves the straps loosened but engaged to pull a helmet off. Why bother?