SHARP helmet rating

Some government schemes can appear to be a waste of time and money. However, the motorcycle Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP), run by the UK’s Department for Transport, is a genuinely excellent initiative.

All motorcycle helmets sold in the UK have to comply with either British Standard BS 6658:1985 or ECE Regulation 22.05. SHARP goes beyond those regulations though, applying a more rigorous testing regime that focuses on how well a rider would be protected in the event of a crash. Between one and five stars are then awarded, depending on how well a helmet performs, with more stars signifying a better result.

SHARP also emphasises that a good fit is also crucial - after all, even the best helmet is useless if it doesn’t stay on during a crash. That’s backed up by a pan-European study of motorcycle accidents which showed a shocking 12% of helmets came off during the impact.

An extra 27 helmets have recently been through the SHARP assessment, bringing the total number tested to 202. Coincidentally, 27 is also the number that have attained the maximum five stars, although it seems low price isn’t necessarily a bar to achieving the top score. For example, the five star Lazer LZ6 and Nitro Aikido both cost just £70.

At the other end of the scale, the most expensive helmet to score only one star is the £190 Dainese Airstream. Similarly, the Arai Condor, Schuberth S1 Pro and Schuberth R1 carry price tags of over £200, yet they all achieved a modest two stars.

For anyone considering getting a new helmet, the SHARP website is definitely worth a visit.

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