 Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 108
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Quote:
Full face vs Open face. The pic below is from a study in Germany that shows the areas of impact on a full face helmet. Based on left side and right side totals, you're looking at 35% of impacts in the chin area.
Do the math on the chin/face shield/forehead and it comes up to a whopping 62.8%. I'm in the "I choose to wear a full face so that in the event I go down I've got a better chance" camp.
I've been meaning to offer a bit of a review here too: I've been riding with a Shoei TZR that was too round for my head. Great helmet, but gave me headaches after more than about 20 minutes. I've always known I have an oval head,  so I finally popped for a Arai Profile. (long oval) Man is it top notch quality and the fit for me is outstanding! As a bonus my local Triumph dealer gave me 25% off retail.
My vote: full face, but get one that fits!
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 186
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I prefer to have thw wind in my face, bugs and all. and i try to ride where there aren't as may cars to be ignored by. i have a carbonfiber german style helmet, love it.
Last edited by UKBACON; 07/01/2008 9:57 AM.
2006SM XS pods,145/45,XS springs,arlen ness mirrors,19t primary,Reality is you are the weak and I am the tyranny of evil men, but I'm tryin REAL hard to be the shepherd. Scott Jackson McCain
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638
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I went down in May, all the damage to the helmet was on the chin and visor. I just got a Symax II Modular helm today, the size is around the same as an Arai but feels more comfortable, mainly because of the design of the cheek pads than anything else. I can't wait to go for a ride, I even like the inside visor thingy, I wear glasses and now I don't have to get prescription sunglasses as quickly as I thought.
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Quote:
A 3/4 with a flip up face shield is a good option
Love my Scorpion EXO-200 3/4 helmet. Flip up shield or a visor in warmer months. The plus for me is complete, unobstructed visibility, something a full faced helmet doesn't offer. (well, plus cooler) For me, this is the best compromise in safety and functionality. DOT/SNELL rated as well.
http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/CTGY/exo-200
Btw, I rode with a half-helmet for two seasons but after wearing this 3/4 lid, you couldn't pay me to wear a 1/2 helmet again (I gave it away). Those things are so unbalanced, you feel like a wobble-head after a few hours.
Last edited by ssjones; 07/08/2008 11:20 PM.
Al
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 29
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 29 |
I'm a full face man. May have came from my years of riding dirtbikes. Took me awhile to get used to the street helmet's more closed up/claustrophobic feel, but now everytime i take a bug to the face shield i say "Thank you full face helmet." lol. I think its very important to wear a helmet, and a full face is the best overall protection from not only wrecks/crashes, but also from the elements/weather/bugs.
"Nil Desperandum"
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 277
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Sonya and I both wear full face helmets, her a Shoei, and I an Arai. After seeing enough accidents where people have landed on their chins, faces, Foreheads, I prefer the full face, and I will not skimp on quality. I have owned KBC, and HJC, and have seen what can happen to them in an accident. ( had one crack falling off dining room table ) Now buy higher quality, Lighter, better air flow.
Mark
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
Regardless of what you choose it helps to get a helmet that fits your shape of head (round v. oval). Regarding the half v. full issue, try a half helmet on, go out into the street, and scrape your face across the pavement. Then imagine doing that at 50mph. Which would you rather have?
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 277
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The round vs oval issue is why I cant wear a Shoei and Sonya cant wear and Arai. They both have different shapes, and are not comfortable on the wrong head.
Mark
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,555
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,555 |
I wear a full face now.But I have noticed somthing,I dont know if it's just me or do otheres do it also. I tend to ride FASTER with a full bucket on.
The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 78
Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 78 |
I agree, do ride more aggressive when I have the Full on vs, the 1/2.
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
Quote:
The round vs oval issue is why I cant wear a Shoei and Sonya cant wear and Arai. They both have different shapes, and are not comfortable on the wrong head.
Mark
Aye, however the Shoei X-Eleven is specifically designed for an oval shape. Shocking, I know, but the Shoei rep swore that it was true before I bought it. Four years after I can verify that it's true.
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 244
Adjunct
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Posts: 244 |
I hope you were ok. Curious to know how the modulars hold up in a chin impact. I have a Nolan N102 and like it well but will all the full face / chin talk, I am wondering if it will just breakaway leaving me expose upon impact. Anyone have a thought?
05 BA, Goodwood Green, Chevy605 pipes , ai removed, Freak kit, K&N pods, 145 main/42 pilot / 3 turns out, bags and screen
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 244
Adjunct
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Quote:
Quote:
To determine how strong the chinbars are, we also performed a chinbar-deflection test, similar to a Snell test for shell rigidity. We wondered whether the chinbars had the integrity to pass this test without being an integral part of the helmet shell. It turns out that they do. None approached the allowed 60mm deflection. The most deflection we measured was 47mm on the Arrow, with the Schuberth close behind at 43mm. The HJC, Lazer and Shoei deflected the least, all at 28mm. We also tested the chinbars for impact absorption by removing them from the helmets, placing them on the headform and subjecting them to a six-foot drop. There is no applicable U.S. standard for motorcycle helmets that any of them claim to meet here, but the Zeus transferred notably more energy, which isn't surprising because it has no padding in its chinbar. The headform felt 660gs, compared to 200 for the best-performing Shoei and 201 for the Lazer, both of which have substantial padding in the impact area. The second worst was the HJC (409gs), but it has an excuse because we impacted the exact center of the chinbars, where the HJC has its latching mechanism. Its chinbar has substantial padding on either side of the latch and would have almost certainly performed well if we had attacked it there.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/flip_face_helmet_comparison/index.html
It looks as if I just need to read on young man, read on....
05 BA, Goodwood Green, Chevy605 pipes , ai removed, Freak kit, K&N pods, 145 main/42 pilot / 3 turns out, bags and screen
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15 |
No helmet laws here but these days I wear a full face HJC.
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Just gone back to my open face helmet after a long time, and it feels good. When I hit around the 60mph mark though I am finding my eyes watering, even with the shades on. Maybe it's an age thing
Ray(UK)
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
Quote:
The headform felt 660gs, compared to 200 for the best-performing Shoei and 201 for the Lazer, both of which have substantial padding in the impact area.
holy cr*p - my understanding is that anything like 100gs is fatal! (admittedly this is from mythbusters but...)
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 37
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 37 |
I like the protection of a full face Shoei. Especially after a bee sting right below my sunglasses when wearing an open face years ago.
The X eleven is well worth the money as it has plenty of air vents to open/close to regulate temps.
Black 2007 Speedmaster
2007 Ducati Monster S2R
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,302
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,302 |
I used a z1r eclipse 3/4 with a full face shield untill a buddy got in an accident and lost all his front teeth. Now I use a modular vega summit I got cheap on e-bay. I feel a little more secure now.
mike
2006 neon blue speedmaster
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214
Adjunct
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i heard a beautiful quote from a gentleman this last weekend while i was in the dealer..."dress for the crash, not for the ride".
i have a 3/4 face shoei, but i just picked up a modular jarow while i was in the shop. the stats don't lie, so chances are good if you get hucked off the bike, you're likely to take a hit to the chin. so...while i am sure to wear the shoei, i'm going to wear the jarow as much as i can stand it (it's black, so i may not wear it when it gets to be around 100F. the shoei is white)
also, i think it is REALLY important that you be able to try the helmets on first, which is why i will probably not buy online (unless i've already tried the exact same model on). i have a pretty big bean, and helmet designs differ, so a lot of them end up rubbing my head pretty hard. i don't think i would be able to concentrate on the road as much as i should if the only thing i can think is "****** if this helmet doesn't hurt"
Last edited by timothydonohue; 07/29/2008 9:33 AM.
there are 10 kinds of people in the world. those that understand binary, and those that don't.
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 79
Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 79 |
Well I used to wear an open face untill the guy I was riding with came off and then hit the post holding the traffic light full in the mouth he was wearing a full face and although it came off he walked away with just a couple of loose teeth and his face intact, so thats it for me they maybe cool looking but I will always remember thinking my mate was dead and I would have to tell his wife it was that bad and all the proof I need to wear a full face from then on
Kev
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Re: Full face vs. Open face...that is the question
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 401
Adjunct
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Just bought a satin black Arai Freeway. I love it, it's so light and doesn't get buffeted about all the time like my Cadberg. Matches the bike too 
The path of excess leads to the Palace of Wisdom
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