Helmet City, Inc. has issued a recall for the HCI model 50 motorcycle helmets. Please read the details below.
Manufacturer: Helmet City, Inc.
Models affected: HCI/50
NHTSA Campaign Number: 08E059000
Potential Units Affected: 2266
Problem: Helmet City is recalling 2,266 motorcycle helmets, model #50, sizes XS through XXL. These helmets fail to conform to the impact requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 218, motorcycle helmets. In the event of a crash, the wearer of one of these helmets may not be adequately protected, possibly resulting in personal injury.
Corrective Action: Helmet City will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant helmets. The recall is expected to begin during October 2008. Owners may contact Helmet City at 1-888-550-3731.
Ry says
yeah , to cool looking to be safe.
Larry says
Not as cool looking as this….but probably the same results in a crash.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOSTALGIC-MOTORCYCLE-SIDECAR-MOTOR-LEATHER-HOOD-HELMET_W0QQitemZ350106300407QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350106300407&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245
Skizick says
Before the laws changed I wouldn’t wear a helmet except for bad weather or extended rides. A “Puddin’ bowl” is as close as a guy can come to not wearing a helmet and avoid a ticket. I leave the strap loose and the wind picks the helmet off my head.
zipidachimp says
remember bill ivy and too many others? same type of helmets. should be banned outright, imho.
todd says
I don’t think the people who bought these cared about safety or DOT compliance. I doubt many of them will turn them in for the refund.
I remember riding without helmets when it was legal, and then using an old Bell open face when it became necessary to wear one. Now that I’ve owned a few full faced helmets, especially my Nolan flip-ups I’ll never go back. It’s amazing how much more comfortable and quiet a full face helmet can be when on the road. No more squinting, going deaf, or bees smacking my cheek at 80 mph.
-todd
kneeslider says
From what I understand, these helmets were DOT certified until some recent production was checked and found deficient.
Steve says
Oh, great… finally an inexpensive alternative to the Davida Classic now it gets pulled from the shelves.
Much better appearance than those doofus looking “brain buckets”, polo caps and Nazi lids.
I made my own “puddin’ bowl” out of a fiberglass 3/4 shell several years ago… removable storm curtain and all, BUT I was planning to pick up an HCI 50 to keep in my saddlebag full time to replace the old brain bucket.
I sure hope they continue offering them.
Jeff says
I a big wear the best helmet you can afford advocate . My opine on those who don’t is …..well… are just plain stupid . Live Free or Die maybe for God and Country not for vanity .
Azzy says
Lots of people are in for a shock, new laws are in the works to make the DOT sticker bigger, and to make it non tamper-able (that a word?)
So no pulling off a DOT sticker to make some stupid german army looking lid “legal”.
Heck, some states are trying to put it into law that if you make the choice to not wear a helmet, then you also make the choice to forgo insurance or state services from an injury caused by that choice.
Cause and effect, who woulda thunk it?
Phoebe says
“Heck, some states are trying to put it into law that if you make the choice to not wear a helmet, then you also make the choice to forgo insurance or state services from an injury caused by that choice.”
I am all for that…if people don’t care enough about their brains when they ride, why should I (through my insurance premiums), pay for their stupidity?
Larry says
Hey Phoebe….I guess anyone who drives a convertible should also wear a helmet? Or anyone who walks on concrete? God forbid anyone who walks on ice! I’m all about choice, and “common-sense thinking”, but maybe there should be a different “insurance scale” for those who choose not to wear one.
Larry
Phoebe says
I didn’t say people had to wear complete gear when they ride, but I think at least wearing a helmet is pretty much common sense, considering how catastrophic motorcycle-related head injuries typically are.
Should people wear helmets while riding in a convertible, walking on ice, or walking on concrete? I don’t know, you have any statistics on how many people injure themselves doing such activities? Regardless, it’s comparing apples and oranges.
That said, you don’t want to wear a helmet? Be my guest…I just don’t want to pay for your injuries should you crash and bang up your head. I think that’s pretty reasonable.
Larry says
Yes, a helmet is common sense. Cant disagree with that. I didnt before the laws changed, but I will always wear one now, not just for the “law”, but it’s just plain smart, and I owe my life to one.
My point is, if you want to assume the greater risk, then you should pay for it accordingly with a higher premium.
C.P.T.L. says
I read this in a motorcycle magazine many years ago and it struck me as good advice or at very least something to consider:
“When it comes to motorcycle attire, you don’t dress for what you look like or to be ‘cool,’ you dress for the moment you hit the ground.”
Tom says
Interesting: If Snell retests your helmet and it doesn’t pass, Snell tells you to quit putting their stickers in your helmets.
If the DOT retests your helmet and it doesn’t pass, the DOT tells you to pull all the helmets off store shelves everywhere, and buy back all the ones you’ve already sold.
Hardee says
This is not the first recall for HCI, they have had many and they are really a shady company. The website for them is http://www.helmetsales.com if you need them. I bought a helmet from http://www.hcihelmets.com and they would do not even sell that brand HCI because they say they don’t trust it.
STW says
“Should people wear helmets while riding in a convertible, walking on ice, or walking on concrete? I don’t know, you have any statistics on how many people injure themselves doing such activities? Regardless, it’s comparing apples and oranges.”
The stats on head injuries for car occupants are serious and surprisingly bad. As a neuro-psychologist who treats traumatic brain injuries, almost all the patients I see were in car accidents WITH their seat belts on and with working air bags. Seat belts and airbags can help but can’t replace the protection a helmet gives–not even close. Notice race car drivers wear helmets and 5-points belts and don’t bother with airbags which are just an expensive way to try to approximate an instant helmet because no one wants to drive with a helmet.
Not saying that car occupants should wear helmets, just that motobike helmet laws are made by people who drive without helmets and are in total denial about the danger they face in cars. Yet they focus on the danger of motorcycling without helmets. Go figure.
BTW, I wear a full face on the bike (not in the car 😉
joseph says
if it passes DOT, then thats good enough for me…
by the way, where are these (HCI 50) made? China?
thanks,
Ben says
Too bad DOT rating is for 14.6 mph. Not many crashes have such a slow impact. All the concern over DOT, and all it really is, is a brain bucket. As far as I’m concerned, all helmets leave the rider inadequately protected.
Mark says
Actually, Ben, might want to read up a little more on safety standards and the research that inspired them. Less than .1% of crashes (that’s 1 in 1000) happen over 70 mph, with the majority happening below 40mph; and out of ALL crashes, the majority tend to have about the same impact force to your head that a fall from a complete stop would have. The bigger problem with DOT is that it’s “on your honor” with only random sporadic testing…which, I assume is what happened to these HCI helmets; more than likely they were NEVER truly DOT; they just got caught, unlike a lot of other helmets currently on the market.
cc st nick says
wow with each law we lose the right to chose. pay more ride free.
frozenprairie says
Phoebe, the danger in your position is that policy makers, who see all motorcycling as inherently dangerous, may go the next step and refuse insurance or healthcare to ALL motorcyclists.
I don’t mind that my tax dollars (I’m from Canada) go toward the healthcare of the obese, chainsmokers, alcoholics, etc. even though those people tend to use more healthcare resources than I do. Some day I may get broadsided by a cager and need lots of medical care. I wouldn’t want to be denied treatment just because I would have sustained fewer (or no) injuries had I been driving a car. And for the record, I always wear a helmet when riding and would even if it were not the law where I live.
winky says
I just found this link on the Triumph Rat.net and looked into it as I own an HCI 50. Great, comfortable helmet and looks good on a Brit bike.
How disappointing it was to find this but after having contacted HCI I was overall pleased with the result. They are going to pay for shipping and offered me a wide variety of helmets to compensate me. I was also told that these helmets will be back on the market by the end of July 2009. The reason for the recall was that during the Olympic preparation period in Beijing they had moved there location to a temporary site and the helmets produced there fell short.
They actually made many more of these helmets than those recalled. Inside the helmet there is a sticker that says when it was made and that will determine if yours’ is recalled. Mine, unfortunately, was.