Random nonsense

[Big Red]

Productive weekend. Brought the engine over from my buddy's house who used to build them for a living, to my other friend who's shop is our base of operations. First, we needed to move the truck bed, so we set it back where it goes. First time sitting on all four wheels since we cut up the frame to shorten it. Sits about 8 inches lower. Going to look SWEET when we get the bed painted.




Started at 9:30 in the morning with this:




And a 2:15 in the afternoon, we had this. Click to go to Flickr for the video.

[VirginiaJim]

Nice looking truck!

[Big Red]

This weekends progress consisted of stabbing the motor, wiring it to fire, and it moving under its own power again!

https://youtu.be/n41BmDSxOOE

https://youtu.be/NGk8nLdIZdo

[DC Concours]

Nice videos Red.

You build all these things how about installing a seat belt so that you are safer while racing. 

[Big Red]

Last year it used the factory seat belt. That had to be pulled to install the roll cage. Next time the 5 point harness goes on sale, I'll get one. They're only certified for two years, so I'm in no hurry to get one, as even a shakedown pass would be in late August or so.

[DC Concours]

They are certified for 2 years only!

Boy, I wonder how long my car's belts and motorcycle helmets are cert'd for. I have cars and helmets that are from the last century!!

[Big Red]

Race certified safety gear is different. Seatbelts, clutches and flywheels, flexible scatter shields are all two year expirations. Flexplates are 3 years, flexplate shields and protective clothing are 5 years. Snell/SFI expire 12 years after cert start year (Like Snell M2020 or SFI2015) and FIA helmets expire 18 years after cert start year.

Last I checked, car seatbelts only expire once used in an accident. Helmets "should" be replaced after 5 years of "normal" wear, but what does that even mean?

[Boomer]

The below is my advice. If you don't like it, then ignore it. 
If you live in a state/country that allows riding without a helmet, do whatever you want. It's your head and your choice.
Personally I have had my life saved at least 5 times by my helmet in 47years and maybe 1/2 million miles of riding.

My advice is:
If the expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam has gone brittle, do not ride with it as that is the "crumple zone" that saves your life.
If the shell is damaged beyond minor surface scratches, do not ride with it.
If the straps or other bindings are frayed or worn, do not ride with it.
In an accident, if your head hits the ground with the helmet on, do not ride with it again. The EPS is now compressed and useless.

A good rule of thumb is 5 years usable helmet life, assuming you ride every day (eg. commute) and store your helmet inside the house and not in direct sunlight.
If you only ride once per week, and store the helmet carefully, then up to 10 years. Personally I wouldn't go beyond that.
If you store the helmet in the garage then subtract 1/5 of lifespan (due to all the oil/fuel vapours in the air degrading the EPS).
If you store the helmet in direct sunlight, subtract 1/5 of lifespan (due to UV degradation of the shell and any plastic parts).

I often get asked what is a good cheap helmet. There is no such thing.
There are good helmets and cheap helmets. Buy the best that you can afford.

[VirginiaJim]

Excellent advice!

[Big Red]

All valid. I would narrow the last a little in scope, though. There ARE good, cheap helmets. No great ones, though. HJC makes some really good helmets in the lower price ranges, with some pretty comprehensive certifications. The Sedici that I bought to I could use it as a car helmet is also pretty solid for the price. Neither holds a candle to my Shoei, but I like all three for different reasons.

[maxtog]

Excellent advice!

I agree.

I ride only weekly and keep them inside, never dropped, so they should last a long time.  But when people store them in less-than-ideal ways, it is a good idea to replace at some shorter interval.  Plus you get the benefit of newer safety and convenience standards.  Of course, in my case, I can't get anything to fit without causing major pain, so I will hold onto what I have probably longer than advisable.

[VirginiaJim]

I thought the Scorpion helmets were pretty good but I like my current Shoei.  I wanted a helmet made in Japan from Japanese workers who have a bit higher work ethic than the workers in China.  Indian had their helmets made in China early on and they were sh*t.  Bought it from a BMW dealer in Fredericksburg whom I like doing business with.

I keep my helmets 5+ years...usually.

[maxtog]

I thought the Scorpion helmets were pretty good but I like my current Shoei.

Both my current helmets are Scorpion- fit and wear well, reasonable price, good features, nice style, and good customer service, too.  Apparently my head it totally incompatible with Shoei.  I have a brand new one in a box I can't wear.  Love everything about it- well made, high quality, quiet, EXCEPT it causes major pain on the top of my head no matter what I tried.  Can't sell it either, since I used it and tried several mods (some questionable).

[VirginiaJim]

I had a bird commit suicide on the side of one of my Scropions.  Broke all the mechanism and had to replace the helmet plus scared the cr*p out of me.. 

[DC Concours]

I should buy a new helmet. Thank you for all this info.

Speaking of protections, does anyone know how long UV protection lasts on a face shield? Is the the same as 2 years they say for sunglasses?

 

[DC Concours]

What the hell Jim!! Don't let the PETA people hear that.

I had a bird commit suicide on the side of one of my Scropions.  Broke all the mechanism and had to replace the helmet plus scared the cr*p out of me..

[maxtog]

does anyone know how long UV protection lasts on a face shield? Is the the same as 2 years they say for sunglasses?

I am not aware UV protection ever diminishes or "expires" on lenses or visors.  I suppose it is possible that repeated, incorrect cleaning, over time, could strip the protection coating/layer off.  Even so, you can replace the visor with a new one without getting a whole new helmet.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/646392/does-sunglasses-uv-protection-expire

[Boomer]

Apparently my head it totally incompatible with Shoei.  I have a brand new one in a box I can't wear.  Love everything about it- well made, high quality, quiet, EXCEPT it causes major pain on the top of my head no matter what I tried.  Can't sell it either, since I used it and tried several mods (some questionable).

Shoei's fit heads that are more rounded. Scorpions are more for those with oval heads.
When I was younger it was always Arai for oval-heads and Shoei for round-heads.
If you have an oval-head then you will feel that pain on top of your head when you wear a round-shaped lid.
If you have a round-head  and wear an oval-shaped lsd, then the pain points are more of a band/ring just above your eyes/ears.
https://thebikercompany.co.uk/blogs/news/head-shape-and-measurement

[Big Red]

What's funny is that Cycle Gear lists the Arai Regent-X, Shoei GT Air II, Scorpion EXO, and HJC i10 as all intermediate oval. I have tried them all on and I can tell you they do not fit the same. Moral of the story is to actually try them on. I know some people don't like Cycle Gear, but my local store kicks ass.

[maxtog]

If you have an oval-head then you will feel that pain on top of your head when you wear a round-shaped lid.https://thebikercompany.co.uk/blogs/news/head-shape-and-measurement

Interesting info.  But the article says nothing about pain on the top of the head, only on the sides/front/back.