helmets

[nydad19]

i find the full helmets are extremely uncomfortable for me even with the appropriate size.....i like the german style helmets much better but what do the seasoned riders feel about them?

[ragecage23]

As my MSF instructor told me, "When it comes to helmets and safety, I want you to do this: wear a half helmet ("German style helmet") then run into the wall face first, then wear a full face helmet and run your face into the wall. Let me know which one hurts more."

I would say ALWAYS get a full face helmet.

[Paulcet]

You may need to try several brands of full face helmets to find one you like.

It will be worth it.

[Mart3y]

I haven't been riding for very long, but it took me quite a while to find a helmet that felt comfortable.

I tried on heaps of different brands, sizes and styles before i found the one i have now, which i can wear all day and still not feel any discomfort 

Plus, i like having my face how it is, im not sure if it would be the same after coming off and hitting it on something lol

[mister]

No meed to run into a brick wall... put on your German Style Helmet, lay face down on the bitumen and rub your face side to side. Now do the same with a full face. Let pain tell you which helmet is better for your safety. 

Last year when the ride leader on one of our rides had an off and was knocked out, his helmet received a LOT of scratches. Heaps on the chin shield area. If he'd been wearing an open helmet he'd probably have no face now.

But hey, if you think George Cloony looks cool in his helmet, then ignore all advice about safety and protecting your skin and face and go git yerself one. So you can be cool. 



Michael

[Ken in Regina]

I will never tell anyone else what to do or wear but I will share the reason I will never wear anything but a fullface on the street.  I've been down once. Overcooked a curve and washed out the front wheel. That was back in 1984. My fullface top of the line Shoei  helmet and good quality cowhide leathers are still being used by the local motorcycle training course to illustrate why you wear protective gear.

The chin piece of the helmet had some scrapes that were more than 1/8" deep. That means the skin and some of the bone would have been scraped off in those spots.  'Nuff said.

...ken...

[tt_four]

haha, I thought this was gonna be the kind of helmet you were talking about when I read 'german helmet'....



I'll wear an MX helmet when I'm staying in the city and not really going over 30mph, otherwise it's always a full face. Riding isn't fun without one.

Really though, when I think about german helmets/riders, this is what comes to mind haha...

[jlog65]

Living in the middle of the country there are too many bugs to wear anything but a full helmet.  My visor has to be cleaned after I arrive at work and after I get home.  Riding at night is just painful.  As far as comfort, I've never even thought about it.  I guess after years of playing football (US version) I don't even notice. 

[adidasguy]

I prefer the full face flip-up helmet. I just flip up the front when going into a store or bank and no one takes any notice. I don't have to bother taking it off and putting it back on. also handy when stopped and talking to someone - just flip up the front and its like a 3/4 so you can hear and talk.
HJC Symax-2

[zirconx]

I prefer the full face flip-up helmet. I just flip up the front when going into a store or bank and no one takes any notice. I don't have to bother taking it off and putting it back on. also handy when stopped and talking to someone - just flip up the front and its like a 3/4 so you can hear and talk.
HJC Symax-2

I just ordered one of these tonight! They are on closeout for $129
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/browse/search?query=sy+max+II+(metallic|solid)+helmet&mode=b

Competition Accessories also has them for that price, and they have a few more colors in stock.

[Ken in Regina]

I bought my first fullface flip-up last year. I'll never use anything else! I wear glasses and it's wonderful not having to take them off to get the helmet on and off. As you say, it's nice to be able to leave the helmet on when popping into a gas station or convenience store.

...ken...

[MysterYvil]

I tried one back in the early 90s, looked just like a WWII Wehrmacht helmet.  Horrifically bad aerodynamics; the strap tugged against my chin, and the helmet kept trying to slide off toward the back of my head.

I get a bit claustrophobic in full-face helmets, but they're not all the same.  I used a Nolan N-19K for years, now I have an HJC CL-SP; both seem to have more room inside than some other full-facers.

[adidasguy]

Glasses - me too. Some of my glasses I can leave on and take the helmet on and off. Wouldn't be able to do that if it wasn't a flip-up.

[noiseguy]

Never heard of a 3/4 helmet referred to as German-style. Regarding that, please refer to below:



Above (from Hurt report?) regarding probability of impact on crash at different points on the helmet. Also in Proficient Motorcycling.  No surprise that chin and face are high-probability areas; higher than temples though, which was a surprise.

[Twisted]

You might have to shop around a bit more and find one you are comfortable with. Even if you got to pay that lil bit extra for a name brand one. If it's comfortable it should last you a few years. I like to wear full face helmets. The bugs we get here a BIG and when they hit your helmet you think someone is shooting at you. Imagine getting hit face first with this one.



Not only that but with a tinted visor you can check out girls at the lights in semi stealth lol 

[Shaddow]

I've had to many mates come off and seen what's left of their full face helmets, or not left to have any desire not to wear one for just in case. But as twisted has posted, bugs, ride into them badly twice a day.
The tinted visor is good for perving but I often flip the visor up so I can have a better look. I've never had a girl complain yet but maybe I'm too good looking for them to get offended.

[Twisted]

I've had to many mates come off and seen what's left of their full face helmets, or not left to have any desire not to wear one for just in case. But as twisted has posted, bugs, ride into them badly twice a day.
The tinted visor is good for perving but I often flip the visor up so I can have a better look. I've never had a girl complain yet but maybe I'm too good looking for them to get offended.

Lmao, I will have to give that a try next time.

[adidasguy]

When I bought my HJC flip up, I tried on 3 other brands. Each fit different - cheeks too tight, rears squished, etc. so the HJC fit me best. Unless you really know what you want, I think you need to go to a store and try on different helmets to find what fits your head the best. Its wirth the extras few bucks to be sure you can wear your helmet for hours and not get a head ache.

Support your local dealer or soon you won't have a local dealer!

[jlog65]

I was on my way to the gym one night and had a giant moth hit me in the chest then roll up my neck and into my helmet. Stupid thing fluttered around my face before resting on my forehead for the rest of the ride. Could've killed us both.

[s10nova]

Full face only, sadly george clooney's harley is kinda cool looking, although he's pretty douchey lookin but i'd much rather have my nimble gs than that fat hog, definitely agree about the bugs, i ride through about 3 miles of river bottom mosquito/bug infested woods on a highway doing 60-70 mpg, big bugs feel like rocks or bullets bouncin off your helmet, a buddy of mine and i rode to work one day last summer, him on an r1 and me on my gs, he had shorts, a tshirt, metatarsal steel toe work boots and no helmet...i had helmet and my backpack, it was kinda funny seein him with his bulky work boots though in shorts and a t and no helmet, i've always worn a helmet and i'd agreee on trying them on, or at least try the same model and order the color or whatever scheme u want from somewhere else if you have too, not everyone has free reign of a parts unlimited catalog at dealer cost like....some ...of us...mwahahaha