helmets

[XealotX]

When I decided to start riding I ordered a full face helmet online from the start and never tried on anything else. Therefore I never had to worry if it felt right or not since it is the only type I've ever worn. I got lucky and guessed right on the size.

I think if I tried riding with a half helmet now I'd feel mighty exposed.

[bill14224]

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.

I agree completely with the above statement, but I don't live in a hot weather state.  If I lived in Florida I doubt I'd want to wear a full-face all the time.  Don't know where this guy lives.  Why do so many posters ask questions and leave their general location out of their profile when their location is germain to the question?

[Suzuki Stevo]

I have 8 helmets, four 1/2 helmets and four Full Face, I use the 1/2 helmets 90% of the time in the summer. I also have two DOT Dirt/Sumo type that I have began testing. 43 years down the road and the bugs still haven't won! 

[ragecage23]

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.

When I crashed, I only hit my temples...weird

[GS500Fmode]

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...

i never take my helmet off when i go into a gas station. lol i do flip my visor open tho
no sense in wasting the time to secure it to my bike

[nydad19]

im in new york...................i guess ill jus keep lookin round more till i find the right one ,like to keep my face on if i happen to go down one day....

[Twisted]

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.

I agree completely with the above statement, but I don't live in a hot weather state.  If I lived in Florida I doubt I'd want to wear a full-face all the time.  Don't know where this guy lives.  Why do so many posters ask questions and leave their general location out of their profile when their location is germain to the question?

Using the "It's too hot" excuse to not wear a full face helmet is a lame one imo. I live in Australia where summer riding temperatures are in excess of 30 deg Celsius and a full face helmet is not an issue. Most decent helmets have good ventilation and if you are stuck in traffic/at the lights you just have to crack the visor to let a bit of air to flow in. Your jacket and pants are more of an issue in hot weather than a helmet but once you are moving its all good.

[mister]

I'm with Twisted in riding weather. My helmet is black. The heat is really a non-issue. Pop the visor, open the vents. Done.

Besides bugs, riding in the rain feels like small rocks hitting your skin. Not so with a full face.

Michael

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

If you want a helmet to protect your head, find a full face you're happy with.  They do take a little getting used to, as you see the world a little differently.  There are some good Youtube videos floating round on how to fit one which are worth looking at.

If you're not actually interested in protecting your head but your state requires you to wear a lid, get an open face helmet.  They don't do anything much, but they'll stop you getting ticketed.

[Mart3y]

I'm with Twisted in riding weather. My helmet is black. The heat is really a non-issue. Pop the visor, open the vents. Done.

Besides bugs, riding in the rain feels like small rocks hitting your skin. Not so with a full face.

Michael

Im gonna agree with twisted and mister on the heat, being from Australia, its easily well above 30 celcius in summer and while moving, the heat doesnt bother me.

Of a ride home at night though, visors are amazaing, they heep the bugs off your face and out of your eyes. Plus, when a big grass hopper decideds it wants to kil itself on your face, the visor stops it 

[Grommett2k]

Just be like this guy. Keep the helmet on the handlebars and wear a bucket on your head.

[zirconx]

Oh man that is funny.   And the passenger's helmet is a hard hat, not a real helmet.

[Toogoofy317]

Yeah I call  on the too hot as well because I do live in hell aka Florida and have no issues with the heat and my FF shoei RF-1000 I also gear up all the time too. So I don't want to hear the" its to hot  " That is what camel backs are for! The sweat is also you body's way of cooling you down. I find while sitting at a light I sweat a bit but once I go the wind on it cools me back down. I put an aerosol can of AXE in the tank bag so no one is offended by the smell. Sweat washes off scars take a little bit longer!

On the bug bit was riding about 25mph to church and got hit with one of those yellow grasshoppers it exploded on my face. Had the visor up so it was in the face. One of the lady's at church saw me run in to the bathroom she saw my face and promptly threw up. Pastor later asked me if an alien had upchucked on my face. Had to replace the visor anyway because there was an 1/8th of an inch gash on it.


ATGATT!
Mary

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Yeah another Australian rider here, always in full gear.  We had a week last month where we kept getting temperatures close to 45 celsius (110 farkleheit), and I was riding in full gear with the leather pants and everything.  I was even riding to work with my work pants under my leather pants, for some double layered goodness.  If you you don't want to wear proper gear, that's your deal I guess, but I don't want to hear the "it's too hot" excuse, cos it just takes a bit of acclimatisation, and some good selection of leathers.

[Mart3y]

Little off topic, but to help make sure i stick with ATGATT, i got myself a DriRider Climate Control 2 jacket


Once you take the thermal liner and the waterproof liner out, its just mesh and armour, wonderfully cool on a hot sunny day, and on top of that, no sun burn like i some how manage to get while driving my car... 

[bman]

I believe everyone has a right to choose their gear. Having said that Ive rode a 4 wheeler without a helmet and bugs hurt and my ex father in law was a fireman, I have seen pics of whay someones head looks like in a half helmet after a wreck. There is no way I'd ride with out a full face helmet.

Before I bought my helmet  I tried on many models and found HJC CL-16 fits great for me. You can check out webbikeworld.com for reviews and size guides

[mister]

Another problem with bugs is when they don't smash right into your face, but sort of jam between your face and the padding and start squirming around and stuff. And you think they're going to crawl in your ear and... eeewwwwww.

[ragecage23]

Just an off topic opinion: I just bought a HJC CS-R1, it being my first HJC helmet and it feels alright, the padding seems to be...I don't know how to describe it, but it's not like the padding in my ICON, ZR1, Shoei helmets...it's more spongy I guess? I don't know, but it is a nice feeling helmet, just going to take a little while to get used to.

[Shaddow]

I'm another Aussie and I ride all year round fully suited no matter what the weather been out more times than I want to remember in two years of riding in 40-49 Celsius. The 49 was actually funny from the point I got home and complained to my wife how sweaty it was and she pointed to the temp gauge and goes no wonder. I was in my own little world that day. It was one of those days where it was cooler in my helmet with the visor firmly closed than open due to the hot winds and heat off the road.

[Anaconda]

Just an off topic opinion: I just bought a HJC CS-R1, it being my first HJC helmet and it feels alright, the padding seems to be...I don't know how to describe it, but it's not like the padding in my ICON, ZR1, Shoei helmets...it's more spongy I guess? I don't know, but it is a nice feeling helmet, just going to take a little while to get used to.

I had an HJC CS R-1 and was on a ride where I crashed into the side of the mountain due to a ton of gravel.  I wore glasses inside this helmet when I crashed face first into the concrete.  The helmet saved my face because there were LONG gashes across the visor from right to left.... It saved my face and the glasses didnt even move off my face!  Had I been wearing a half helmet, I'd be in the hospital with no front face. That'd be frickin scary...