Helmet Type

[sparks]

Getting ready to buy a helmet. Hard to figure which type to get. Although my bike doesnt have one yet, I plan on having a fairing. Just cant decide on which type. Full face, three quarters, or half.. And now.. somebody mentioned a "modular" which will be the best compromise between comfort and safety?

Lee
(Sparks)

[rman]

compromise?

Compromise? There is no compromise when it comes to safety. I ride with the full face helmet even though my state has no helmet requirement.

But that being said.

It is your life...your choice.....choose wisely.....

Ray

[Cuda 69]

I use a HJC IS-33 3/4 helmet.without the shield(most of the time). I love it,it's comfortable good air circulation,and I have a vetter,that's why I don't use a shield.You'll get a hundred different answers about helmet's.Depend's how you ride,and if your clastraphobic.. I also have a skull cap,which I very seldom use anymore.

[Cobia]

I'm in Florida and it's very hot and humid here, that is a major influence in helmet selection for me. Yet I want maximum protection.
My first helmet was a full face that was rated to have very good ventilation properties. It did, but still too hot for me. Knowing that it wasn't going to get much better in the ventilation department I then opted for an equally rated "cool" modular helmet. That one, which I still use to this day on longer rides, works very well. But still, for riding around town I found myself going lidless because of the heat and inconvenience.
So I, considering my parental reponsibilities, I decided to get some type of CRANIAL of protection. At about the same time, I got an email promotion offering a half/beanie lid for a very reasonable price. I bought it and that's what I use around town, when I opt for it.....
So there.....
Thanks for hanging with me here.
It's all a matter of choice and purpose.

[fredintoon]

Getting ready to buy a helmet. Hard to figure which type to get. Although my bike doesnt have one yet, I plan on having a fairing. Just cant decide on which type. Full face, three quarters, or half.. And now.. somebody mentioned a "modular" which will be the best compromise between comfort and safety?
Lee
(Sparks)

Hi Lee,
gonna get more opinions than on a tire thread with this one.
Here's mine:-
Full or flipface for sure, 1/2 & 3/4 helmets don't protect your face.
I'd recommend a flipface over a full helmet for anyone who wears glasses, the slightly less protection is a fair trade for not having to juggle glasses with one hand while putting on a full helmet with the other. Or balancing my glasses on the gas tank while using both hands to push the helmet past my ears. Then getting off the bike to pick my glasses up from when they'd fallen on the ground.

[jjz28]

ihave the kind that the whole face flips up or just the face shield can come up too. I love that helmet. I wish it just matched the bike. It looks like a crotch rocket helmet. It is a very comfortable helmet though. Awesome for someone who chews snuff like me, just flip up the front and spit, lol. I dont have a windshield so i would have to have a face shield.

[WMarshy]

Full face only for me, nothing else. If I didn't have one then I might be blind in one eye, toothless or possibly worse as I took a large marble size rock right between the eyes on the helmet shield traveling at about ~60mph. The truck it fell off just passed me traveling about the same speed. You don't have to do the math to figure out how badly that would have ended if it would have hit your face/eye.

[TADracer]

Hi Lee,
gonna get more opinions than on a tire thread with this one.

Ain't that the truth!

Choose whichever lid that fits the look and performance you want for your particular ride style. But alomst as important is the fit. Make sure you fit properly because a helmet that fits incorrectly can become a liability in a crash.

[trbig]

They say a modular isn't as strong as the regular full helmets in the chin-bar area, but like many others, I use one. It makes donning the helmet WAY easier. As stated, I can leave my sunglasses on when I put it on, I can lift the chin-bar to take a drink, sneeze/cough, get a little more air flow going slower speeds through town, or talk to my riding partner at stoplights. It also helps get rid of the occasional errant bug/bee that inevitably finds it's way into my helmet.

So just in case they are weaker, turn your head to the side just before impact! lol. Still going to give you better protection than the half helmet "Brain bucket".

[jetmechmarty]

I have an Arai full helmet, an HJC 3/4 helmet, and a Shamp 1/2 helmet. They all sit on the same shelf and one is as easy to grab as another. I like the 1/2 helmet because I like the wind in my face and when behind a fairing I can hear my surroundings much better, although with no fairing earplugs are a must. I find that more than 75% of the time the Arai full face helmet is on my head. Maybe even 90%. It gives me a better feeling of security. The biggest detractor is that it prevents one from picking their nose. Also, I have to move my head a bit to see my mirrors or clocks. Fortunately, I can not say which is better in an accident. In the times I've been down, I haven't yet scratched a helmet, but that doesn't mean I'll ride without one. I should also add that the 3/4 helmet doesn't see much use as it is quite a compromise of the other two choices. I hope this is helpful.

[sparks]

Thanks for the input. I found a site that sells "hawk" modular helmets for about 90 bux.. That's the route I think I'll go.. I can run down to Wally World and get a full face for 70 or 80 bux.. I'm just concerned with riding this summer when the temps are over a hundred.. There just isnt enough beer to compensate for that..

Lee
(Sparks)

[jetmechmarty]

Lee,

Before you spring $$, see if your choice has been reviewed by the pros.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm

[fredintoon]

I have filthy habits too but not that one.

- - - It is a very comfortable helmet though. Awesome for someone who chews snuff like me, just flip up the front and spit, - - -

Hi Jeff,
you are joking, right? If not, the flip front enhances your chances of surviving a bike crash at the same time as it improves your chance of contracting lip and tongue cancer from chewing snuff.

[EricHa]

Lee,

Before you spring $$, see if your choice has been reviewed by the pros.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...le-helmets.htm

Mine has, the HJC CL-16. One of the least expensive helmets with both DOT and Snell 2010 safety certification.....

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/hjc/cl-16/

[trbig]

Mine has, the HJC CL-16. One of the least expensive helmets with both DOT and Snell 2010 safety certification.....

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motor...met/hjc/cl-16/

Well there you have yet another discussion. Last I read, NO modular helmets could attain the Snell rating. That being said, there are reports that the Snell rated helmet is actually worse for a rider's head injuries. Something to do with the fact that they must sustain a much higher blunt force testing without breaking, which transfers more of that energy to the skull.. or something. Do some reading and form your own conclusions.

Like I said, the modular won't be as tough as the solid helmet like the HJC CL-16, but it's a HECK of a lot more functional realistically, and a much better option than any 3/4 or half helmet. Also, I suggest finding some place that has the type of helmet you're looking at and go try one on. I've had some really uncomfortable helmets over the years by buying blind. I mean.. every 2X helmet (Insert your size here..) fits every head, right? Everyones head is the same shape.. right? Hello? lol.