Helmet type

[OLDustyNuts]

Hey i'm going to be a new rider soon and wanted to get peoples opinion on what type of helmet i should get. I'm taking the basic motorcycle course tomorrow. I plan on getting a suzuki s40 hopefully find one thats been bobbed out. I see that most cruisers wear half helmets or 3/4. and sport bikers wear full face. Im thinking of getting a 3/4 helmet even though to me they look like they'd be used on scooters. Dont full fave helmets get really hot ? and it seems like my visibility wouldn't be as good in a full face. What do people think about cruisers wearing full face helmets?

[fireguzzi]

IMO half helmets are useless pieces of crap. I wouldn't feed my dog out of one. 3/4 helmets are only slightly better/safer. It will do nothing for your face grinding down the road at highway speeds. But hey, at least you might not be brain dead so you can feel the excruciating pain of your freshly skinned off face. A full face to me is the only reasonable option. I personally think that full faced helmets look awesome on cruisers too. But it mostly depends on what YOU want to do to YOUR head.

[madjak30]

fireguzzi's response is worded differently than I might have, but the message would be the same...half helmets (brain buckets) are good for passing the minimum helmet law without really having much protection...the 3/4 helmets aren't that bad, it's not too often that you hear of a bike wreck where the rider lands face first...most helmet damage is on the side and back...put a shield on the 3/4 and you'd be okay (but there's the scooter image there)...but smart money buys you a full face helmet...you wanna be bad A$$, buy a black one with a dark tint lens...

HJC makes a decent helmet and they don't break the bank, but you need to go to a bike shop and try them on...wear them around the shop for 20 to 30mins, and when you remove the helmet do it in front of a mirror to see where the "red" bits are...you don't want any pressure points on your temples or you will have an aweful time with head aches, and you don't want it loose either...I bought an older model FS-10 with a clear lens, but has a retractable shade built in...very handy!!

Anyway, good shopping!!

Later.

[jstark47]

There's a famous German study, someone will probably post a link soon, that showed 30% of all helmet impacts occur on the chin area of a full face...... precisely the area lacking on a 3/4 helmet. Those impacts would have been to the rider's jaw instead. Worry less about what looks "right" for a certain kind of motorcycle, and more about what the risks are to your head, and how best to protect against those risks.

I had a 3/4 for my first year of riding, then nothing but full face lids ever since. Heat is only a problem in a full face when stopped - flip the visor up, problem solved! Visibility is good - the cutouts on either side go back as far as my peripheral vision, any further is wasted. Riders should be doing head checks when changing lanes in traffic anyway... don't depend on mirrors or peripheral vision.

Ditto what madjak said about HJC's, not a premium product but good value for the money. IMO a $200 HJC represents 80% of the value of a $500 Shoei. YMMV.

[totalmotorcycle]

There's a famous German study, someone will probably post a link soon, that showed 30% of all helmet impacts occur on the chin area of a full face...... precisely the area lacking on a 3/4 helmet. Those impacts would have been to the rider's jaw instead.

OLDustyNuts - Hopefully this will SHOCK you into buying only a full face: As jstark47 said that is EXACTLY where my accident hit me, right there on the jaw at 70km/h. If it wasn't for a full face chin protection I would most likely be missing a jaw right now. I flew 75' away from the curve and my bike 50' in the OTHER direction.

And if that doesn't make you go and get a full face, here is my bike after the accident.



Would you REALLY want a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet now?

Da-da-daaaaaa...

Mike

P.S. Thanks to wearing the proper gear I walked away with just a sprained wrist.

[totalmotorcycle]

Oh, forgot to say...

OLDustyNuts to the Total Motorcycle community!!!

Mike

[mogster]

Hi & welcome

Well done for starting on your motorcycle adventures.

I agree with most of the sentiments above & would strongly advise a full face helmet. I have professional experience of facial injuries & believe me it ain't pretty!

There are various styles & price brackets, but make sure whatever you buy has the appropriate safety accreditation .

I personally favour a flip face because I find the neck support slightly better with that style.

Have fun & good luck with your test.

[Damian]

I wore a full face helmet when I rode my Katana, I wear a full face helmet on my Magna (cruiser). I live in Houston where the heat and humidity is hard to top anywhere in the US.

Yes, it can be hot, but as was already stated, it's not a problem except when going less than 20mph or so. My helmet is white which may help with the heat.

Get what you want: go to a store or dealer and try on several, find one that's comfortable, do some research and make an informed decision.

[av8r]

Kinda says it all doesn't it?

[havegunjoe]

Sparx Retro full face helmet is what I have had for the past 4 years and I really like it. That crap about not being able to see well is just that, Crap!. If you look at the picture in the attachment you will see how far back the face shield goes on each side. Plenty of field of vision there. Full face helmets are very well vented these days. Yes, they are hoter than not wearing a helmet but life's full of trade offs. By the way I ride a Yamaha VStar 950 cruiser. Plenty of people riding cruisers wear full face helmets. At least the smart ones do.
http://www.revzilla.com/product/sparx-c ... ivate_zoom