Full face or other?

[julien]

Hello All,

I am looking to purchase a new helmet. I currently have a half helmet (no shield just the top part of the head is protected) and I was wondering if you would care to share your thoughts about the helmet you are wearing.
I am not a lover of full face helmet. I understand the better protection they offer. I am just wondering what you thing and maybe you can tell me what you are currently using or what is your favorite helmet.

Thanks much.

 

[bonanzadave]

Search Helmets. I believe most everyone here prefers Fullface.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=87068&highlight=helmet+poll

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=95984&highlight=helmet+poll

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=136286&highlight=helmet+poll

 

[nity11us]

Don't own stock with either of these companies.... newenough.com and helmetcity.com I beleive it was. Oh ... Full Face Only for me.

--Nity-Al

 

[shadowfist]

i use a fullface right now but i really want to get my hands on a modular helmet. (so-called 'flip-face')

 

[reddirtrider]

Full face - dirt and street, althought the dirt helmet isn't the same.

Why don't you like full face?

 

[rphillips]

It depends on your concerns. The crotch rocket riders seem to plan on wrecking, leather suits, full face helmets, racing boots & gloves. Very safe, but very hot & uncomfortable. For safety, all good ideas. For normal pleasure riding & comfort, maybe jeans, leather shoes or boots, & open face helment. I personally use open face in warm weather & full face in cooler weather. I would think whatever YOU feel comfortable with would be fine. Just my opinion

 

[Hammered]

I like a nice 3/4 with the "Speed Racer" style visor.

Good protection and well vented.

 

[BigLou]

Im a modular man myself, more protection than an open face, less than a full, but a lot more convenient as well.

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

I have worn both types. I prefer a full face. It actually keeps your body cooler. NO hot air blasting your face

 

[bwringer]

Real full-face helmets only for me, thanks.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I ride motorcycles while facing forward, so I think it's rather stupid to leave the front of your head vulnerable. There are important things hanging on the front of your head, like face, teeth, eyes, lips, etc.

Modulars, or "flip" helmets do NOT offer the same protection as full-face helmets. Despite appearances and the promises of salesmen, they are a compromise between convenience and protection. The hinge mechanism is vulnerable to opening in an accident, the chinbar is nowhere near as strong as a real full-face helmet, and a large plastic and metal hinge mechanism inside the shell transmits force directly to your head in an impact right at the most vulnerable spot, the temples. (In a full face helmet, this area contains the force-absorbing EPS foam.)

Flip-up helmets make good sense for many riders -- the decision is yours to make. They're certainly a step up from open-face helmets. Just make sure you fully understand the compromises, and keep in mind that advertising and sales practices are very deceptive on these points. There are also many differences in flip-up helmets -- Nolan makes probably the best ones, with metal latch mechanisms and good strength. Cheaper flip-ups have very weak chinbars and plastic latch mechanisms that would be useless in a crash.

 

[Steve]

I use a full-face HJC. Because I ride behind a LARGE windshield, the visor is up most of the time. Heat is only a problem on 100+ days.

My wife also has a full-face HJC, but is looking at getting a modular one this year. We have not yet found one that she likes well enough to plunk down the cash.

Both sons wear full-face as well. OK, one is full-face, the other is modular, but the flip is down whenever he is on the bike.

I considered a modular one once, even took my son's helmet out for a test ride. It sits closer to my face than my full-face, and there is no room for the microphone that is somewhat mandatory in GoldWing circles.

A helmet will only work if you wear it, so make sure it fits. It may look and feel dorky, but put one on in a store, fasten it, then wear it in the store for at least half an hour. An pressure points will make themselves known by then.

I also remember a full-page ad that was in all the bike magazines back in the 70s. It was by Bell helmets. It showed one of their 3/4 helmets and a full-face helmet.
The caption read "If you have a $10 head, then get a $10 helmet."

.

 

[80GS1000]

The last two wrecks I had this last year showed major damage to the lower portion of the visor and chin on my full face helmets. Looks like someone took a belt sander to them. Full face only for me thank you very much, very fond of my jaw and chin.

 

[Flaggo60]

With one exception I've used nothing but full face helmets since 1983. That said, I lived for a few years about four miles from a small town where I got my groceries. That ride was a solitary one along a gravel road allowing a reasonable speed of not more than about 30 mph. For that ride only I bought an open face helmet for hot days. I'm no longer there and I'm now back 100% to a full face again.

 

[bwringer]

I like a nice 3/4 with the "Speed Racer" style visor.

Good protection and well vented.

It's a neat-looking lid, but "good protection"? How?

Do you have a magical ability to only land on the top of your head in a crash and not the sides or front? If so, can't you use your magic powers to guarantee that you'll never, ever crash?

Look at some pictures of crashed helmets -- ALL have significant damage to areas this helmet does not cover.

Again, the decision of what helmet to wear is up to the individual rider. There are trade-offs and compromises in every piece of gear short of a full-on racing suit.

However, if you feel that this type of helmet offers much in the way of useful protection, you are basing your decision on incorrect information.

 

[Marine36]

I wear a 3/4 helmet with flip visor by Fulmer. My advice is this:

Find a helmet that fits This 1 priority. If it doesn't fit it won't work.
Wear it.
Know your helmet and its limitations and ride accordingly but remember you can only control yourself not the cagers or deer or dogs or ?
Wear it.
Only you will know you personal comfort level.
Wear it.
I am just an old Jar Head and glass breaks

Did I mention no matter what you choose you gotta wear it or it won't matter.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

It's a neat-looking lid, but "good protection"? How?

Do you have a magical ability to only land on the top of your head in a crash and not the sides or front? If so, can't you use your magic powers to guarantee that you'll never, ever crash?

Look at some pictures of crashed helmets -- ALL have significant damage to areas this helmet does not cover.

Again, the decision of what helmet to wear is up to the individual rider. There are trade-offs and compromises in every piece of gear short of a full-on racing suit.

However, if you feel that this type of helmet offers much in the way of useful protection, you are basing your decision on incorrect information.

+1

I highly doubt that the "visor" on that thing will protect any part of you in any kind of crash.

Full face only for me.

 

[twr1776]

I used to wear a full face and switched to the Nolan Modular last year. I did some research and the Nolan at the time was the only modular with a stainless steel latching mechanism and a dual unlocking system. The latches on the other brands were all plastic at that time. Brian is correct they are only DOT rated and do not pass the tougher Snell certification which most full face helmets do. I rode with an open face helmet for a number of years and now find the full face more comfortable. Less wind blast, sand, road bits, etc. hitting you in the face. It is hotter in the summer but I usually leave the visor up and have safety glasses on underneath. The most important thing is that you actually use a helmet at least 3/4 size or full face. I do not count the beanie type as helmets although I suppose if you could make sure you land perpindicular to the road if you crash you might be OK. Just my opinion.

 

[reddirtrider]

Full face is too hot? lol Sorry.

 

[Guest]

too hot even with no helmet on 100+ days.
Can't here the stereo as well with full face as I can with a half helmet.
My KBC ffr modular is too noisy with out a large fairing. The chin bar and front project a long way forward and as a result the helmet is not aerodynamically neutral and trys to tear your head off when you look sideways at speed. But it is the best vented helmet I've had.
My full face HJC cl15 is the most comfortable helmet I've had. I bought it on the road and abandoned my old Shoei in the motel.
I like the weather protection of a full face. I always wear glasses of some sort.
I'm not going to crash anyways.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Just remember everyone, there's a HUGE push in the industry right now that Snell helmets are actually NOT safer than just DOT helmets. Yes, they survive a tougher testing process, but that tougher testing process has come under a lot of fire in the last several years as to what it accomplishes.

There are quite a few independent sources that are now saying that the DOT testing process actually produces the SAFER helmets here in the United States.

I believe there must be something to it, because shortly after Motorcyclist magazine blew this open about 4 or 5 years ago, Snell decided to change their testing for the 2010 certifications...