The latest SHARP safety ratings have been released and it doesn’t make good reading for KBC, with two of their three lids tested scoring the lowest possible grade one.
Twenty-eight motorcycle helmets were tested in the latest stage of the Department for Transport’s new safety rating scheme – Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP), taking the total number of helmets graded to 125.
Only four helmets scored the maximum five out of five, with the Bell M5X, Marushin Samura, Nitro N1700 VF and Shark RSX all scoring top marks. At the other end of the scale, KBC’s Magnum and TK8 models only scored one out of five, along with the Vemar VSSEV and RST PC1S.
The results have released as the DfT announces a continuation of its sponsorship with the British Superbikes Championship as part of the “THINK!” campaign.
Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: “If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year so I am delighted to announce these new SHARP ratings.
“By providing the best safety information, reminding drivers of the importance of looking out for bikes and promoting further training and safe riding through the THINK! Motorcycle Academy I hope we can make the roads safer for motorcyclists and reduce the number of terrible tragedies we see each year.”
Results published 08/04/09:
MAKE | Model |
Mark (out of 5) |
AVG | K3 |
4 |
ARASHI | Galaxy |
3 |
ARASHI | Sonic |
3 |
ARASHI | Turbo |
3 |
BELL | M5X |
5 |
BOX | BX3 Dagger |
2 |
BOX | BX5 Hurricane |
4 |
DUCHINNI | D701 |
4 |
GIVI | HPS40.1 |
3 |
HJC | FS 10 Carbon |
3 |
KBC | Magnum |
1 |
KBC | TK8 |
1 |
KBC | XP3 |
3 |
MARUSHIN | Ikusa |
4 |
MARUSHIN | Samura |
5 |
MARUSHIN | Shivan |
4 |
MARUSHIN | M401 |
2 |
NITRO | F347VN |
3 |
NITRO | N1700 VF |
5 |
NUVO | SP2 |
4 |
RST | PC1S |
1 |
SHARK | S650 |
4 |
SHARK | RSX |
5 |
VEMAR | VSSEV |
1 |
VEMAR | VTXE |
2 |
VEMAR | VXP |
3 |
X-LITE | X1002 |
4 |