Shoegazer
Anyone wear one of those half helmets and goggles on their St 1300? Kinda tired of the weight and heat of full face and modulars.
gmast1100
Gettin old sux
If you could look at the condition my full face HJC is after getting hit from behind by an uncaring cager and sliding over 150 feet, you wouldn't even consider one of those helmets! Just sayin.
I see a guy riding with a lid going the other way in the diamond lane here in phx about 2 a month.
Blrfl
Natural Rider Enhancement
You'd be throwing away the best part of the helmet, and those figures don't count all of the bugs, stones and other stuff that's whacked my face shield while riding.
--Mark
--Mark
Have a look at the Arai CT-Z helmet.
You can use anything you want as long as it meets the legal requirements for where you are riding. Here in MN, helmets are optional so you don't have to wear anything. Personally I ride with a Shoei X-Twelve because I want the protection. I see lots of people riding without helmets though.
Not going to get into a lecture on the subject but wear as much protection as you want. Keep in mind they don't offer much protection so it is only a slight step up from nothing at all. If you are sliding on your back feet first they can slip up easier than other choices which exposes the back of your head. Slide on your belly and there goes your face.
Everyone takes has to weigh the risk/reward for themselves. I wear a mesh jacket, others don't feel it offers enough protection. It is my choice just like helmet selection.
Not going to get into a lecture on the subject but wear as much protection as you want. Keep in mind they don't offer much protection so it is only a slight step up from nothing at all. If you are sliding on your back feet first they can slip up easier than other choices which exposes the back of your head. Slide on your belly and there goes your face.
Everyone takes has to weigh the risk/reward for themselves. I wear a mesh jacket, others don't feel it offers enough protection. It is my choice just like helmet selection.
I value my entire head, not just half of it, so no for me.
thepaleobiker
Paleo, Runner, Spiritual, Dancer
Wow, that's a catch. I felt the midwest has been relatively cool this year, so no less than a full-face helmet for me.
To the OP, maybe you could find a lighter Helmet, with great air-flow? Like the GT Air (not my price range! But just throwing it out there)
Regards,
Vishnu
To the OP, maybe you could find a lighter Helmet, with great air-flow? Like the GT Air (not my price range! But just throwing it out there)
Regards,
Vishnu
I'm sorry, I just can't get past the fact you're in Toronto and complaining about the heat
I got nothing on the helmet, sorry.
STDaveNW
Dave
Wear what you like. I have my visor open with sunglasses and drop down shield mist of the time anyway.
Gold Wingers wear 1/2 helmets all the time.
Gold Wingers wear 1/2 helmets all the time.
You guys are forgetting that Southern Ontario has very high humidity, not unlike Atlanta, that said I'm a "full face helmet guy" ever since I shaved the right side of a Shoei on some rough pavement. It's all about the individuals comfort zone. Marty
SteveST1300
Vendor
It is a personal choice wear what you are comfortable with everyone has their own comfprt level. We have guys who will only wear a full face and others that are ok with a flip face and others with a 3/4 . Its hot and humid here in NJ I always wear a convertible or flip face helmet. I accept the risk that it is not quite as much protection as a full face my choice my risk.
I always wear a full face helmet. Even on hot days it has good air flow from vents on top of the helmet. I also use the pin-lock visor to keep it a crack open and it makes it very comfortable. For really hot days or when on surface roads at speeds upto 45 mph, I will raise my shield open. I have shatterproof sunglasses for eye protection in this case.
I have an older Shoei which has the scratches on the shield that are intended for my face. I can never forget when I slid face down about 100 ft on hot asphalt and my eyes were about an inch and a half from the surface. The chin bar and face shield helped me to dust off and walk away.
--Ram
I have an older Shoei which has the scratches on the shield that are intended for my face. I can never forget when I slid face down about 100 ft on hot asphalt and my eyes were about an inch and a half from the surface. The chin bar and face shield helped me to dust off and walk away.
--Ram
RONST1300
STOC # 8616
I think your question is about style. Your style is you. No one should mess that. However many would ask, is that style worth the risk? Guys wear that florescent gear not for style but safety. The helmet is the most important safety gear you put on after your brain.
I just bought the HJC modular helmet. My first modular. I am really liking it. If I am going down the highway and want a drink or some air, I can put the windshield up, then the chin guard and get some air. I've to be careful it does not catch the air and pull my head back.
I just bought the HJC modular helmet. My first modular. I am really liking it. If I am going down the highway and want a drink or some air, I can put the windshield up, then the chin guard and get some air. I've to be careful it does not catch the air and pull my head back.
Throttlejockey
Padden is my hero
Your choice. I would rather sweat in my full face helmet than be wearing a half helmet and have this happen.
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ST Gui
240Robert
As mentioned it's about choice and risk assessment. If I lived in a helmet-free zone I'd ride without one from time to time. It's a great feeling. I did so in Montana and had no worries. On a lot of roads in a lot of places visibility is good and traffic is light to nonexistent. Conditions are good.
I always wear eye protection but at speed I'd want face protection too. I don't like the look of those pudding cups. I've never bothered to look at one up close but they seem much smaller than the same portion of a full helmet. That makes me think that even if they're DOT legal they offer far less protection for the area covered let alone less protection altogether.
I don't think I've ever seen a 'Wing rider with anything less than a 3/4 helmet around here. The minimum helmet I would wear is a 3/4 hat. Otherwise it's a modular.
I always wear eye protection but at speed I'd want face protection too. I don't like the look of those pudding cups. I've never bothered to look at one up close but they seem much smaller than the same portion of a full helmet. That makes me think that even if they're DOT legal they offer far less protection for the area covered let alone less protection altogether.
I don't think I've ever seen a 'Wing rider with anything less than a 3/4 helmet around here. The minimum helmet I would wear is a 3/4 hat. Otherwise it's a modular.
Birfl, thanks for posting that pic. Went down on my Honda 350 about 30 years ago the day I bought my first full-face, proved to be a great buy. Can't imagine what my chin would've looked like.
Shoegazer, I agree, it does get heavy and hot in a full-face. We don't have helmet laws where I live so I feel a tiny bit of jealousy when seeing all the riders buzzing around with no helmets, but then I think back to my CB350.
Tough call man, half of a helmet's better than none, but judging from the impact frequency zones, a lot of protection is lost when the chin section is removed.
You could just add an open-face to your stable and wear it when the full-face would be unbearable. No need to limit your choices to 1.
Best of luck no matter what you wear!
Shoegazer, I agree, it does get heavy and hot in a full-face. We don't have helmet laws where I live so I feel a tiny bit of jealousy when seeing all the riders buzzing around with no helmets, but then I think back to my CB350.
Tough call man, half of a helmet's better than none, but judging from the impact frequency zones, a lot of protection is lost when the chin section is removed.
You could just add an open-face to your stable and wear it when the full-face would be unbearable. No need to limit your choices to 1.
Best of luck no matter what you wear!
I would also recommend a modular as it is much more convenient over a fixed full face.
For me most of the sweat issues with a FF are in stop and go traffic. As long as I am moving above 25mph, the air flow keeps me comfortable. With a modular, I flip up the chin-bar at the stop lights and keep my cool
. In addition, it is also a quick way to snack on a bar or grab a sip from the water-bottle during road-trips without having to take the helmet off.Note: 1. It is not recommended that you ride with the chin-bar up. 2. There is always a risk that the chin-bar will not stay locked down in a crash. I would go with a well-known brand to give me more peace of mind.
--Ram
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I ride with the open face half helmet. Mostly for convenience. I wear glasses and it's by far the easiest style to put on when one wears glasses. I also own a modular full face and wear that when the weather is bad.
The other reason that I wear one is I'm less likely to speed. I know I may be vulnerable, but the wind in my face makes me feel that I'm going faster than I actually am so I don't get many performance awards like I did when I wore my full face.
I do get more bugs in my face, and they do sting on impact. I also like not having to deal with scratched visors, or having them fog up.
The other reason that I wear one is I'm less likely to speed. I know I may be vulnerable, but the wind in my face makes me feel that I'm going faster than I actually am so I don't get many performance awards like I did when I wore my full face.
I do get more bugs in my face, and they do sting on impact. I also like not having to deal with scratched visors, or having them fog up.
ST Gui
240Robert
I make the same compromise by going modular. Every choice we make is about making informed compromises based on risks we're willing to accept. Let's face it: If we really wanted to be as safe as humanly possible we wouldn't be riding motorcycles in the first place. We might not even leave the house. But we compromise.
About riding with the chin bar up. I've done this from a stop light or driveway after talking to someone and then immediately drop it as I'm underway. (Yes something bad could happen in those few seconds.) I've seen references about cruising with it up BMW style. I've never noticed anybody doing this but maybe I don't get out enough. Is this a BMW thing or just hater trash talk? I can see how a quick blast of fresh air might be welcome but do riders actually use a modular as/like a 3/4 helmet?