Total Motorcycle Community Forums

After riding thru a perfect bug storm last weekend that completely smeared my visor and covered me in bug blood, guts and goo after 14 Kilometres, I can't see why anyone would ride without wearing a full faced helmet. Took a couple of hits by some big arsed monster bugs at eye level.....they would of hurt big time had I not been fully covered.

Not exactly related but what about full face with visor up/off and glasses instead? I find myself flipping my visor up and leaving it open till i hit second gear at which point the airflow is comfortable enough to slip it back down. I'm just worried something will hit my eye in those first few seconds. I didn't know if the visor offered a lot of protection from impact or if it was mainly for eye protection while driving.

olebiker wrote:I have worn one in the winter when I had no choice (Frostbite is nasty)

Hey, olebiker -I see you're from Kingston. I'm just down the road from you in Gananoque. I ride year round (on my Ural, not the Harley) and use a half helmet for the summer and a full-face Bell Lynx (flip up front) for the winter.

Are you going to the Old Bastards Vintage Motorcycle Rally in Delta tomorrow? I'll be taking some members from my club there, we're meeting at the Tim's in Gananoque for 11am. You're more than welcome to join us!

Gummiente wrote:

olebiker wrote:I have worn one in the winter when I had no choice (Frostbite is nasty)

Hey, olebiker -I see you're from Kingston. I'm just down the road from you in Gananoque. I ride year round (on my Ural, not the Harley) and use a half helmet for the summer and a full-face Bell Lynx (flip up front) for the winter.

Are you going to the Old Bastards Vintage Motorcycle Rally in Delta tomorrow? I'll be taking some members from my club there, we're meeting at the Tim's in Gananoque for 11am. You're more than welcome to join us!

Yep I am going but so is mother goose. She has a class to teach in the AM so we will be leaving after you are. Thanks for the invite I imagine we will see you there. Look for his and hers maxims black 1100 and red 400. I imagine it will be easy to find the ural

The Brits did a extensive study on helmet fatigue (all helmets not just full face) in the early 80s. I no longer have the report but read it at the time. They found greater fatigue while wearing a helmet. The recomendation that was made was to make this knowledge part of education so riders would know that they may tire sooner. At this time most helmets were fiberglass and not the lighter composites used on most helmets today.

OSHA did tests on hard hats for fatigue and found "no significant increase in fatigue"

As to full face causing more fatigue.....another case of write-post without proofreading sorry

Vision reduction on a full face is a lot less than it used to be. The 70s fullface helmets were like wearing blinders compared to modern lids.

And yes when refering to heat and dehydration, I am thinking of rush hour stop and go traffic in 110+ temperatures less than 10 per cent humidity crowded city streets. (Phoenix)[/i]

I always wear a helmet, but the thought of cramming my head into one of those full face, cut out all sound,cut off all air, fog up your visor, breathe your own breath things, really goes against the grain.
If you wrap a car around you, you'll be safe too. (maybe)

Well the helmet issue continues. I found a shorty helmet that fits nicely that I am considering buying, but it is a brand (Raptor) that I can't find any information on. Yesterday I reconnected with a local store from years ago; Iron Pony in Columbus, Oh. Boy has it grown since my last purchase. It is now about the size of a typical large food store. I'm awed by the wealth of stock they have. I tried on several shorty helmets from about 5 or 6 different makers and the only one that really felt good was an HJC. All the rest felt like they were just plopped on top of my head, and also looked quite silly in the mirror. Maybe my head is the wrong shape for most shorty's. I did find a 3/4 helmet with visor on sale that is much more comfortable than my old 3/4 helmet that needs to be replaced anyway. I am still interested in a possible purchase of a shorty since I will probably be back in Arizona one day. Much of my most recent riding (15 years ago) was in the desert heat around Tucson. My 3/4 helmet (without vents) was quite hot and I can only imagine how hot a full face woud have been.

As with most things, the helmet choice is a trade-off that you decide to justify one way or another. I like the idea of the new helmet design mentioned by one responder; maybe in the future I'll get to try one on.

Thanks for all the input.

JR

Back in the 1970's I used to race flat track. The helmet in use here is a 3/4 Bell Magnum, or at least I think that was what the model name was. Anyhow, the week after this photo was taken, at the same track (Hayward, California), I hit a downed bike and rider coming out of this corner. I kissed the handlebars on the way off and broke two of my teeth. A little late for me but I got a full face helmet (Bell Star) later that year. I found out the hard way...literally.

I always thought you flat trackers were nuts anyways.

olebiker wrote:I always thought you flat trackers were nuts anyways.

No argument here!