Full face or other?

[Bert Patterson]

Full-face only ever, nothing else is even a helmet.

I?m one of the semi-Ricky-racer guys, probably because I ride a lot, a ride kind of fast, and I?m old and I don?t really want to wake up dead. But it?s also because it?s more comfortable.

In town, it?s just helmet, boots, jacket and gloves??.always. Out of town, I add the armored pants. Part of the trick is having appropriate options. If your only motorcycle jacket is a thick leather un-vented jacket, it?s going to be miserable in August. So you need vents or perforation. Same with pants. With boots and gloves, I?ve vented and unvented.

Anyway, I find that if a full-face helmet is of decent quality and fits your head, it?s more comfortable than any other option. Motorcycle boots are more comfortable on a bike than work boots. And mc pants are much more comfortable than jeans.

If you get the right gear, it really is more comfortable and you?re safer.

[I wear a Shoei, but the out-of-production Arai Astral is a great fit if I can find one. I was also amazed at the quality and comfort of the HJC CL15, so you don?t have to spend a lot.]

 

[Grandpa]

Wow,

I haven't heard the so many people get on the full face bandwagon.

It reveals the high intelligence and common sense of the overwhelming majority of the members of this group.

 

[smoothbomber23]

I am new to motorcycles, but full face makes me feel a lot more comfortable especially just starting out, i can't imagine i'll switch either. The one i use is made by Scorpion EXO and is flat black (had to take the S emblem off the front) and matches my bike. Functional, safe, and it looks good!

 

[argonsagas]

Wow,




e. I tried the half helmet and no thanks, we have Junebugs (brown hard beetles that fly) here in the summer and getting hit by one in the face just plain sucks. I've taken a couple in the chest before I had my windshield and they left bruises. I watch all the Harley riders wearing skull caps and wondering why?

Just my .02 cents

Usually a windshield will have sufficient upward airflow to carry bugs over your head, but I have a strong recollection of what you describe. In early 70's I was nearing Kansas City when a junebug came straight at me over the top of the windshield and hit me in the forehead, just under the visor on my 3/4 helmet. Either it was too heavy or too stubborn to be diverted by air flow, but it hit my head like a fist (I was travelling about 80mph.) and left me blurry-eyed for a few moments.

That was my last year with a 3/4 helmet. It was retired and I have worn full-face ever since.

 

[Guest]

Full face for me.
Icon Domain.
Vented, cool in the summer
Add on baffles (nose and throat) makes it warm. Use it snowmobiling.
Stable regardless of air flow. Don't go flying when checking dead angles.
Wide visor, great visibility.
Lightweight.

 

[Billyboy]

I'm a pretty conscientious rider. I'm aware of what my bike is doing. I maintain it well, I inspect it regularly.

I take riders courses, practice emergency braking, swerving, and avoidance. I ride as if I'm invisible.

STILL I wear ATGATT. Machines fail, unexpected conditions arise, dust blows into eyes at the most inopportune moment, trucks spill diesel.........

I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Clone]

+1 for full face, I slid down the road on my face with a 3/4 on and that little sheild being the only protection for my face. Bleeding nose,split lip, kept my teeth. From that day on I voted for a full face.

 

[lordcannon88]

It reveals the high intelligence and common sense of the overwhelming majority of the members of this group.

well that is if safety is most peoples #1 priority. its not mine. i only mentioned the vetter fairing because i dont see it conceivable to ride a half helmet without a windshield.

 

[Grandpa]

well that is if safety is most peoples #1 priority. its not mine. i only mentioned the vetter fairing because i dont see it conceivable to ride a half helmet without a windshield.

And safety is not your top priority? Interesting...

Ride safe.

 

[Baatfam]

And safety is not your top priority? Interesting...

Ride safe.

Well if one were to make safety their top priority, one wouldn't ride motorcycles at all....

 

[Billyboy]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347210

 

[earlfor]

well that is if safety is most peoples #1 priority. its not mine. i only mentioned the vetter fairing because i dont see it conceivable to ride a half helmet without a windshield.

You're kidding, right?

Earl

 

[C.V.]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347210

Excellent link! Thanks! All the flip up helmet guys should check this out.

Full face for me (HJC), but the visor went bye bye. Not to big a deal with the vetter, but I am shopping for a new one.

 

[Grandpa]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347210

Excellent link, Billyboy. Thank you!

 

[Hammered]

I think a major point missed in that link's post was, Hh was speeding into a blind turn at night. And from the sound of it, the helmet did its job. Hes alive and able to post without the use of a drool bucket.

 

[p_s]

well that is if safety is most peoples #1 priority. its not mine. i only mentioned the vetter fairing because i dont see it conceivable to ride a half helmet without a windshield.

Safety third.

 

[Bert Patterson]

I'm a pretty conscientious rider. I'm aware of what my bike is doing. I maintain it well, I inspect it regularly.

I take riders courses, practice emergency braking, swerving, and avoidance. I ride as if I'm invisible.

STILL I wear ATGATT. Machines fail, unexpected conditions arise, dust blows into eyes at the most inopportune moment, trucks spill diesel.........

I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

It's difficult to come up better reasoning than that, Billy.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

the thing i am confused about with the dot vs snell helmet debate... every snell helmet i've ever had was also dot approved. so how does being snell AND dot make it not as safe as just dot?

It's all in the testing.

A helmet that reaches Snell's approval ratings will also inherently pass the DOT's testing methods. That, and the DOT doesn't actually test helmets...they leave that up to the manufacturers then trust that those manufacturers are being honest.

Snell's certifications generally require a helmet to require some rather silly things. Two drops onto an anvil from the same heigh on the same exact spot. That's ridiculous. The chances of hitting the exact same spot on a helmet are pretty high...but the chances of hitting the exact same spot at the exact same velocity are VERY VERY low. But that is part of the test, and in order to pass that many manufacturers are making their helmets too stiff. This stiffness doesn't allow the helmet to compress optimally in a crash, and therefore the stiffer helmets might be a little bit less safe in an actual crash. A helmet's whole purpose is to slow the head down in a collision, really. But in order for a helmet to pass Snell's testing, it has to be a bit too stiff to ideally slow the head down in an accident.

When all of this information broke, Snell quickly decided to change their testing procedures and revise their certifications...but it's taking them a long time to do.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Snell vs DOT? Depends on how you ride.

DOT rating covers what is likely to happen on the street at somewhat legal speeds. Snell is rated for racing speeds. Given that you only have about an inch of foam for padding inside the shell, they have to adjust the density of the foam for the speed. A foam that is light enough to absorb the shock of your head hitting the pavement at 60 mph is far too light to absorb it at 160 mph. Conversely, foam that is dense enough to properly absorb the impact at 160 may as well be a brick wall at 60.

If you race, get a Snell-rated helmet. If you stick to the street, DOT will suffice.

.

Incorrect.

Read this article to understand why.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

Racers don't wear Snell helmets because they are safer...they wear them because they are sponsored by companies that are Snell certified companies.

 

[Billyboy]

It's difficult to come up better reasoning than that, Billy.

Thanks Bert.
I could also add that I have a responsibility to be around for my family, show my wife I'm being as safe as possible to aswage her fears, and set a good example for my children and others that are new to riding.

The link was just to show the possible flaws in a flipface lid. Every rider makes his/her own gear choices.