close chin bar dangerous?

[Starpower]

I've been living with an Arai Quantum for 4 years that is the most comfortable and vented helmet I've had. After a long time Shoei fan I found a great deal on one of my fav graphics (Oriental) in my size so I jumped on it. My concern has always been how close my my chin is, sometimes slightly touching esp. at high speed track straights. Even sitting still I can pucker and kiss the chin bar.

My concern is on a face plant do I risk a broken jaw, loose or missing teeth, etc? I'm very safety conscious and thinking of my next lid being a 6D or a Bell w/MIPS. depending on this chin issue. I don't have a Jay Leno chin by any measure and have read of others with this same Arai issue. I hear nothing but praise of the Shoei X-14 and know they fit me great, but for the ultimate in safety I'm liking the 6D or the nearly half price Bell Star MIPS.

Thoughts, esp. on closeness??

 

[Junkie]

I've been able to kiss my helmets and never considered that it might be a problem.

 

[cal scott]

From Revzilla helmet fitment 101...

I need a bigger helmet because my chin touches the chin bar.
This almost makes sense, but touching the chin bar does not necessarily mean you need a bigger lid. The chin bar is designed (and tested) to withstand serious impact force without transferring that energy to your face. Even though it is a perfectly safe fit, many riders are put off by contact with the chin bar. If it bothers you, choose a helmet with more space up front.​

 

[HadesOmega]

I don't think it makes a difference, either way if you face plant the helmet will hit your face. Hopefully it spreads the force out enough to not break your jaw. If anything the closer it is the faster it'll hit your face and spread out the forces instead of you accelerating to hit it with your face. It's kind of dependent on how the helmet is strapped to you also. I remember I face planted onto a SUV and the chinbar hit me wasn't going fast maybe like 20mph and didn't hurt my face but it left a nice bruise on my neck from the chinstrap.

 

[ST Guy]

I don't think it matters. if you face plant, you're face is going to mash against the chin bar regardless of how much space there is.

Interesting that you find the Shoei chin bar closer. I have a Shoei head as I could never get an Arai to fit me. The chin bar on an Arai was always mashed tight against my face. With a Shoei, I had some space.

 

[tuxumino]

I don't think it matters unless you have a chin like Rotten Robbie

 

[orbframe]

I've been able to kiss my helmets and never considered that it might be a problem.

kissing is ok but if you sleep with them you have issues

 

[Whammy]

What if you hug your bike everyday, would that be considered too much as well?

 

[Butch]

I would not recommend repeated crash testing with various models to see how you face best fares.

Brain first, the rest is just a bonus.

 

[CDONA]

Early Bell Stars had the honor of breaking collar bones from impact with the chin bar.


So, there is history of this, , ,

 

[Starpower]

Thanks all, great feedback! No, it does not physically bother me at all. As it turns out just an undue concern. Love the perfect head fit and still have a year of calendar life left. Shoei has MORE chin room for me. I sure believe that we have the technology to replace the built in obsolescence of EPS with a 10+ year material! This BS has always pissed me off. I’d spend a grand or more for a sweet ass lid if it was not wall art in 5 years.

Thanks everyone for BARFing in my helmet!

 

[HadesOmega]

:bigbarf