It goes without saying that helmets have come a long way from being just protective pieces of gear. These days, they’re probably more of a status symbol than anything else. You know, a way to flex on your buddies at bike night? And while I’d like to believe that all helmets on the market are designed first and foremost to keep you safe, let’s face it—there are just some lids out there that are more about making a statement and turning heads.
Oh, and taking way too much of your hard-earned money, too.
So, what’s behind these crazy price tags, anyway? Well, for starters, branding plays a massive role. Big names like Shoei, Arai, and AGV have always commanded a premium thanks to their perceived quality and unquestionable racing heritage. But of course, another undeniable factor is cutting-edge materials like carbon fiber, prized for being lightweight and impact-absorbing.
However, the use of cutting-edge carbon fiber and other synthetic composites comes with its drawbacks. They tend to be complex and are accompanied by costly production processes and less-than-ideal environmental impacts. All of this adds up to a higher cost which is almost always absorbed by us, the end users.
This is where ExoTechnologies comes into the picture. The Isle of Man-based company has cooked up a new and innovative material called Danu, a natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite. Unlike fiberglass and carbon fiber, Danu supposedly makes use of natural fibers like flax or hemp. And according to ExoTech, the material recently passed rigorous testing and certification for use in motorcycle helmets. A good sign both in terms of sustainability and accessibility.
According to ExoTech, Danu is designed to compete head-on with carbon fiber and fiberglass. It supposedly provides similar mechanical properties, and even brings some advantages to the table. For starters, helmets made from Danu are reportedly 14% lighter than standard composites (I’m guessing they’re referring to fiberglass here, and not carbon fiber). Danu-constructed lids also supposedly boast a 275-G impact resistance rating, which puts them on par with current high-performance helmets.
Best of all, ExoTech’s new material is fully recyclable and renewable. This means that helmets that have gone past their useful service life can easily be recycled into new ones. Oh, and producing new helmets should be cheaper and more accessible, as more of these natural fibers are harvested from plants. So yeah, you could say that helmets will soon grow on trees…well, sort of.
So, how soon will we be seeing helmets on gear shop shelves made out of this material? Well, probably sooner than you think. Danu has already acquired certifications from some of the biggest authorities in the helmet industry—think names like FIM, ECE, and DOT. So it’s just a matter of time until big helmet names team up with ExoTech to develop and produce helmets constructed out of natural fibers.
With environmental sustainability a hotter topic than ever before, it’s clear that more and more innovations like these are on the horizon. Not too long ago, we talked about how Yamaha was experimenting with PWC hulls made out of flax fibers. Jumping back into the helmet scene, AGV’s parent company Dainese announced a project focusing on recycling used helmets and extracting their raw materials for use in making new lids.
And so it’s obvious that there’s a push for greener and more sustainable initiatives in both the powersports industry and beyond. It’s just a shame that it’s taken so long for everyone to realize it.
Sources: ExoTechnologies, CompositesWorld
