What do you think of the half helmets for cruising?

[ronboskz650sr]

I never wore a bicycle helmet until a car stopped in the bike lane to make a right turn. The lady was waving me around her as she sat there. This was after passing me and swerving in there. That was in California, and motivated me to wear a helmet on my road bike. I din't have a motorcycle, and I'm not really sure the same applies. I ride around my dead-end street gearless to test my bike after a mod or tune-up, but the last 400 feet of it belong to me, so I can clearly see the traffic situation, as the whole street is only 1/4 mile long.

Still, I don't know what I'd wear out here if there wasn't so much sand on the road all the time. We spend a bit of time in out-of- shape riding configurations on some of these roads. There are heaved up bumps in the middle of many of the curves, too. It's not uncommon to skip a little, even on dry pavement when you hit one of those at higher speeds. On my bike, a half helmet would probably look funny anyway.

I did see a local bike mechanic test-riding a customers R1 with his chrome party helmet on, though. Now that was funny!

[Crovello]

I tried one on my old bike and ate to many bugs.
I now have a bike with a windsheild and I love riding with a half helmet. My wife and I can talk without yelling or the need of an intercom system. If I am doing alot of highway riding I still like a face sheild though.

I don't know how people can ride with a little skull cap and no windsheild. They must get peppered with bugs. But hey! they look cool,,, when they don't have dead bugs in their teeth.

Dave

[KeithB]

Hi Dave, welcome to TMW

[Dragonhawk]

They look pretty comfy and cool for summer. Also probly can see better.

What is your opion and would or do you use one? DOT approved of course.

I thought cruiser riders were required to wear half-helmets. If you wear a full-face on a cruiser, your bike won't start.

[blues2cruise]

I occasionally wear my half helmet for short city jaunts, but I always wear my full face for the highway.

I have learned to live with helmet hair from my years of riding a mountian bike. Even before it became law here to wear a helmet for bicycling I was wearing one. I feel vulnerable without.

As to the full face....,I have spent too much money on dental work so in the unlikely event of a crash, my jaw will be protected.

[Chris8187]

Luckily I don't have to worry about hat hair. My hair is almost completely buzzed .

[Sev]

i'd do that, but then my big goofy ears would stick out.

[basshole]

I flip back and forth between my full and my half helmet on my C-50. If I know it's gonna be cold or I have to take the freeway then the Scorpion EXO 700 is on my dome. In fact, I think I wear that helmet alot more than my half helmet. I really like it alot.

[ejshotgun]

I usually wear half helmet because it's cooler (temp wise). But as mentioned previously the negatives are...
1-noisier
2-not as aerodynamic as full face
3-no face protection (from bugs or anything else)
4-colder

The pluses...
1-better vision
2-cooler
3-feel the elements better

[BudmanTom]

Not for me, I need more protection.


Tom