Ebike helmet

[Elias]

I recently got a class 3 ebike. Should I consider getting a special ebike helmet certified to the NTA-8776 standard? I'm looking at the Smith Dispatch and the Specialized Tactic. I'll mostly be riding around San Francisco and occasionally some fire trails.

or will a regular helmet (like the Giro Register 2 Mips, Giro Source, Smith Engage, or Smith Convoy) be just fine?

 

[gromike]

No helmet is needed if you don't fall off your bike and land on your head. And never land on your head because even with helmet it can be bad.
If you are really worried about a head fall a full face helmet would be best. The NTA-8776 looks good, but that's for MTB riders. A road bike helmet should be good enough to prevent the worst of traumatic brain injury. MIPS is a definite plus. I should of asked this first, but what kind of riding do you do? It would help if you posted the links for your helmet choices.

 

[Elias]

No helmet is needed if you don't fall off your bike and land on your head. And never land on your head because even with helmet it can be bad.
If you are really worried about a head fall a full face helmet would be best. The NTA-8776 looks good, but that's for MTB riders. A road bike helmet should be good enough to prevent the worst of traumatic brain energy. MIPS is a definite plus. I should of asked this first, but what kind of riding do you do? It would help if you posted the links for your helmet choices.

Ok updated my post.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Most premium MIPS helmets are NTA-8776, only the manufacturers do not brag about it. Giro, POC, Specialized...
Contrary to what gromike said, NTA-8776 helmets are not for MTB riders but for the riders of S-Pedelec, or U.S. Class 3 e-bikes.
The latest helmet rating.
Smith helmets are even not there.

 

[Elias]

does that suggest I should stay away from Smith?

 

[Chazmo]

does that suggest I should stay away from Smith?

I wouldn’t make that leap… Wanna’ bet Smith just didn’t ante up with supplying this lab with helmets to test?

Having said that, if you’re looking at a helmet that is on this list, the data certainly looks valuable for assessing/comparing.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Honest question: Is an ebike-specific helmet really necessary?

Most ebike riders can't pedal much beyond their max assist speeds, and a fit roadie can match those speeds on the flat, though not for long at 28 mph. All parties can in theory exceed 40 mph on descents.

Aren't non-ebike helmets designed with those worst-case scenarios in mind? If so, what about an ebike warrants further special treatment?