Topic: Full-Face Helmet

[Bob Wessner]

Up until today, I've always ridden with an open-face helmet with a face shield. I'd thought about a full-face for added safety, but always hesitated thinking it might be somewhat claustrophobic in there. I decided to give one a try, chose a Bell Sprint. I have to say, not nearly as bad as I had imagined, actually liked it. The only drawback was I wear glasses so I have to get use to a slightly different routine in terms of putting it on and taking it off. I'm not sure what it would be like stuck at a long light in 90 degree weather, but I can imagine. Bell got the nod because about 30 years ago a Bell helmet saved my gray matter so I thought I'd show my appreciation. 

[BobbyR]

Bob, I am a glasses wearer, and not fond of tight spaces. It is an extra step putting on the helmet and then putting on the glasses. You get used to it. I ride with the Visor up up to 40 MPH. You need to have it once notch or so down from fully up since the air pressure will push your head back. At highway speeds I bring it down almost all the way. I have it up a crack to get nore air. It is an aquired taste. Oh yeah, you have to look straight down to step up a a curb or miss holes in the ground.   

[GroovieGhoulie]

I wouldn't mind a full-face in winter, but it just gets too hot here in the summer to even think about (100+).

Having ridden with my brother's on for a bit, I find myself feeling more "fearless" and going faster and willing to take more chances with the full face versus my open face.  It's probably psychological, but the fear of ripping my face off keeps me a bit more in line and conservative with my riding.

[cbjunkie]

the first time i got on the 750 i rode it 300 plus miles from nashville to saint louis - the first 10 miles with an open faced helmet...

lucky for me i HAD a full-faced that i'd somehow thought to bring...

[Einyodeler]

This is why I always wear a full face helmet 

I usually remove the shield when it gets hot and just wear the glasses. With the shield removed there isn`t that much of a difference from the open face except for the piece of mind that I`ll have my lips, chin and nose left.
I hate to imagine going through the same thing with my face that happened to my hands.
Hurts like you wouldn`t believe!!!!!!!

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=11419.0

[cbjunkie]

there are photos out there on the world wide web - photos from hospital emergency rooms - photos i wish i had never seen...

[Bob Wessner]

I ride with the Visor up up to 40 MPH.

I considered that, or even taking it off in really hot weather, but it seemed like it would be transformed into a great bee catcher.  Cracking it open a bit helps a great deal though.

[Tim.]

I also wear glasses.  My full face is a Nolan N100 flip up.  Helps a great deal with glasses.  You put it on like an open face and then flip the front down - don't have to remove eyewear.  Intrinsically not as strong as a one piece full face, but it does the trick.

I ride with it open on occassion, when navigating stop and go traffic in downtown Toronto.  I never have a heat problem - but then again I wear a full jacket everytime I ride, gloves and boots.  Never ride in a t-shirt.

[Bob Wessner]

but then again I wear a full jacket everytime I ride, gloves and boots.  Never ride in a t-shirt.

Likewise, I think of it as my personal, tag-along sauna. 

[madbunny]

i got stung in three time in the face by an angry hornet which had lodged itself in my full face at 70+ mph.
i use an open face with a nice big double layer anti-fog flip down shield.
the only thing my helmet has ever saved me from was being stuck in the dome by a large sea gull at a combined speed of 80+mph...

[DiscoEd]

I wear glasses and I'm using the HJC Symax flip-up helmet. I've got to say that I was really skeptical about if I was going to like it. So far I am extremely pleased with it overall. Even at low speeds you can still get a pretty decent amount of air flow through it. In fact, if there is one complaint that I have with it, that is that there is a perhaps bit too much air comming up under the chin bar at highway speeds. I'm thinking that an air dam might be needed for cooler weather or extremely long ride to keep my eyeballs from freezing or drying out.

I also always wear a jacket, leather combat boots and gloves! Always!

I see a lot of people riding with low top sneakers. I've been hit in the boots numerous time with road trash and was damn thankful to have the combat boots on.

Just tonight on my way home, I had a car pass me on the highway and it kicked up what looked to be about a 6" long bar of metal. It flew right across me in front of my chest. I could even hear it clanging on the pavement after I passed it. It was reassuring to know that I had something between that metal bar and my skin, should things have gone differently.

Regards,
DiscoEd

[quietlikeachurch]

I learned to ride wearing a well-worn 3/4 helmet (from the 70s?) then bought an HJC full-face once licensed.  I did notice a strange phonomenon - my full-face helmet seems to muffle all noises except for the rattling of the engine...the engine noise is almost amplified which scared me good for a few days.  You get used to the lack of direct ventilation AKA constant head-sweat at stoplights but you must remember to wash it out every once in a while .

-Ian

[comcrx]

but it seemed like it would be transformed into a great bee catcher

I went for a ride with no faceshield and just sunglasses one time, got a bee(or some other large flying bug) stuck between my glasses arm and my temple TWICE!!!

I didn't get stung/bit, but still not a whole lotta fun

[Chris Schneiter]

I can really appreciate the quiet, I think my shorty helmet is hurting my hearing...what about helmet color? I have an HJC 3/4 in black, and a few years ago, I got so overheated that I had to go inside and sit with a bag of ice on my head!

[Bob Wessner]

...what about helmet color?

Often wondered about that and black, so wanted a lighter color. Both helmets are silver, thought it might help heat-wise. Didn't want white and since my jacket is black, I thought I might look like a MIB with a black helmet and black cold weather gloves. 

[DrMark]

I bought 2 of the Fulmer Full-face with lift Chin-bar. My son wears glasses...makes it easier for him. I just keep the vents open...not to hot in the summer. Nice when stopping for fuel...just lift the front, don't have to take the helmet off when I'm paying.

[Rushoid]

I ride with a black full-face helmet, black mesh jacket, jeans, leather boots, and gloves. I keep the visor down all the time except when sitting at a really long light. I've never gotten too hot. I never even notice it really. But when that light turns green, and the wind starts blowing over me, oh it feels SO good!

[eldar]

I got a silver flip-up full face. I got it online which some will say is just about as bad as being hitler but you do waht you can with the funds you have.

It fits pretty good and while pretty snug on the sides, is a bit loose up top but I cant twist it sideways or pull it off once it is on and strapped.
Another point to buying how I did is that a helmet,even one not a complete fit but close, is still better than no lid.

Silver is nice iin both daylight AND night as I shine all the time if there is any light! I got a riding jacket as well that is nice to have. Again an online thing cause of money constraint. It is somewhat tight in the chest but loose in the lower back which does bubble a little but that is not really a big deal.

I wear whatever shoes I have. I dont believe boots are gods-like as I have seen accidents caused just as often by boots as shoes. As long as the shoe is sturdy, then it is good. Comfort is just as important as protection. If you are not comfortable, they you will mess around and could even cause your own accident.  No sandals or flip-flops, I wont even give someone a ride if they are wearing those.
I generally wear a comfortable hiking shoe.

[ElCheapo]

I got a silver flip-up full face. I got it online which some will say is just about as bad as being hitler but you do waht you can with the funds you have.

It fits pretty good and while pretty snug on the sides, is a bit loose up top but I cant twist it sideways or pull it off once it is on and strapped.
Another point to buying how I did is that a helmet,even one not a complete fit but close, is still better than no lid.

Silver is nice iin both daylight AND night as I shine all the time if there is any light! I got a riding jacket as well that is nice to have. Again an online thing cause of money constraint. It is somewhat tight in the chest but loose in the lower back which does bubble a little but that is not really a big deal.

I wear whatever shoes I have. I dont believe boots are gods-like as I have seen accidents caused just as often by boots as shoes. As long as the shoe is sturdy, then it is good. Comfort is just as important as protection. If you are not comfortable, they you will mess around and could even cause your own accident.  No sandals or flip-flops, I wont even give someone a ride if they are wearing those.
I generally wear a comfortable hiking shoe.

I have a black version of just about the same thing. While it was a cheap one it is better than no lid at all.

[tramp]

right after i bought my full wrap a bird hit me in the side if the helmet at 60mph
looked like a 747 with landing gear down and full flaps extended
without that helmet that bird would have made me a lot uglier than i already am not to say anything about a possible crash
 use mine all the time have the style where the chin section lifts up
it has good venilation and when i gas up all i do is lift up the chin totalk

[Vatch]

Bob, I am a glasses wearer, and not fond of tight spaces. It is an extra step putting on the helmet and then putting on the glasses. You get used to it. I ride with the Visor up up to 40 MPH. You need to have it once notch or so down from fully up since the air pressure will push your head back. At highway speeds I bring it down almost all the way. I have it up a crack to get nore air. It is an aquired taste. Oh yeah, you have to look straight down to step up a a curb or miss holes in the ground.   

That's about what I do.  I've learned part of the trick with glasses is having the right temple construction: sturdy enough so it won't bend when jamming it back into the helmet and thin enough that it doesn't cut into the side of my head after 30 minutes.  I've even removed the visor all together, which is fine most of the time, but some times the wind feels like it's tyring to pull the helmet off.  I guess I'd like to see a full face helmet that was designed to ridden with or without the visor.  I love the feel of the wind on my face, but I've learned the lesson of no face protection (i.e. jaw wire shut for 2 months).  Besides, I'm too pretty for that 

[Terry in Australia]

Problem with full face helmets are that they substantially reduce a riders peripheral vision, thus causing accidents, and add more weight and bulk to your head, thus exacerbating the likelihood of a potential broken neck.

That said, I like my full face army-issue (read: free) Shoei full face helmet in winter, and my matt black open face HJC in summer, bug splat or no.

I really hate having to remove my full face helmet when I enter a gas station to pay the attendant, or to "blow in the bag" at a random breathalyser etc, (whenever we get pulled over now we have to be breath tested for alcohol) I like the idea of the flip front helmet, (invented by those great guys at BMW R&D) has anyone got one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190003036848

They look pretty good, and the price can't get much better, I might buy one of these too! (just for when I'm riding my BMW)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190006564042

[Bob Wessner]

Problem with full face helmets are that they substantially reduce a riders peripheral vision

I was a little concerned about that myself before buying one. However, I found it not to be the case with mine. My peripheral vision is no better or worse than with my open face helmet. Maybe it varies from model to model. 

[angeldeville]

15 years ago I went down wearing one of those cheapie dome covers and lived to tell about it, I just don't remember what happened.

I have used a full face since then, and it isn't as constrictive as you may think, but now it's getting crusty, so I just bought a scorpion 3/4 with a full face shield, and if i ever get a bike going I'll let you know what it's like.

[ElCheapo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190003036848

This is similar to the one I use. The only problem I had with it is that the vents work like crap but they do work and the thumb release on mine broke so I had to fix it by making a metal version of the part. Now it will likely outlive the helmet.

[scott_cb650]

I have a full-face flip lid from Zeus and I love it.
I can lift the lid to drink or talk or get some air.
They also have a bunch of colors for the face shield.

Good helmet and not overpriced.

[lsutton]

I ride to work all year round, and have to replace my face shields about twice a year because they get scratched and chipped from gravel and such.  That's enough to convince me to wear a full coverage helmet.  Plus, I was once rear ended at a stop sign and slid on my face wearing an open helmet.  I had to buy and electric razor for my chin.   Lee

[techy5025]

I use a full face Shoei helmet.  It was 95 degrees in Orlando today and was a
bit on the hot side in the helmet but bearable.

Two interesting things.  Parked next to a guy on a new crotch rocket that looked
like it had been laid down.  Turned out he was riding on I-4 here behind a large semi
that picked up (or dropped) a 12 inch steel rod and flung it right at him.  He laid the
bike down at about 50 mph in the middle lane to dodge the bar.  Four lanes of traffic
managed to miss him and his bike.  Made me cringe.

Next, as I was riding home I saw a rear ender type accident that involved four cars and
a bike....the bike was number two in line.  I think the guy was OK as he was up walking,
but his bike got crunched between cars one and two.  The guy that hit them was two
more cars back.  How can you protect yourself from something like this. 

Jim

[nickjtc]

Figures can lie and liars can figure. However, a study was done in Europe some time back to ascertain the statistical chances of a particular part of your head hitting the ground first in the event of an accident. In 30% of accidents that spot is your chin. Personally I work on the maxim that I'd rather sweat than bleed and would never ride without a full face helmet!

[Terry in Australia]

Well after 37 years riding bikes I've come to the conclusion that I'll wear what I want, and so if I ever get so frightened of injuring my face because I like to wear my open face helmet in hot weather, then I'll just park my bike and take the bus.

[Gordon]

Terry, I think you have to start out with a pretty face for it to really matter.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, I think you have to start out with a pretty face for it to really matter.

Then what are any of us here worried about Gordy? Hell, this is the SOHC4 website, not Purtyface.com, ha ha!