Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Tiresome helmet on the slab

I do not often wear a helmet. In fact I have worn a helmet only twice on longer rides recently. I have a half helmet that was utilized in both instances. In the first case the trip was all two lane with average speeds not going past 70 miles an hour indicated on our speedo. I wore it to placate the wife and mother in law. It was not too bad although I did note the carrying of the extra weight on the head/neck grew minor league annoying after about an hour or so of riding.

Yesterday I rode up to Phoenix on the I-10 slab for a PGR mission with some other PGR riders and wore the half helm again. The speed up to Phoenix averaged 70-75 indicated and I noted the ole neck was getting a work out dealing with that helmet.

On the return trip to Tucson I rode with Harley Nightrain rider who had a fairly heavy hand on the throttle and we were hitting 85-90 indicated for long stretches coming south on I-10. By the time we got to the Marana exit my neck was plumb wore out trying to deal with that helmet and its tendency to scoop air.

That ride would have been a whole lot more comfortable sans helmet.

Today just for kicks I detoured onto I-10 for a few miles and kicked it up to 90 miles an hour indicated with just the doo-rag on the ole bean and it was a lot more comfortable.

I believe I will need a different helmet for any extended rides at speed. The half helmet seems to scoop air and puts some serious "G" forces on the neck. Its fine at 60-65 but after that the drag is exponentially stronger to the extent it becomes intolerable quickly.

I had similar experiences when I started riding again. Since I wear a helmet all the time - a shorty - it doesn't bother me anymore.
I chalk it up to using neck muscles that weren't normally used before, but then again around here 70 mph is about tops.

My half helmet is ok around town but it does suck on the
highway. Like you I dont wear mine much. But my full face works a lot better at highway speeds. With the northeast comming and New Yorks Helmet laws thefull face will be the choice for the trip

Every time I see a shorty I just shake my head. It's giving it too much to call it a helmet.

I think you'd find a full helmet more comfortable. There is no scoop effect and it's much more quiet so that the ride is not as tiring. The shield allows you to actually see whats going on and you can look behind you without losing your glasses.

Give one that fits an honest try. You may find you like it.

I feel the heat perhaps more than some, yet can withstand cold extremely well. (Must be my Polar Bear style layer of extra insulation?) In that regard, I sometimes skip the helmet when the temps are high. Not wearing a helmet on some trips could be the stupidist thing I ever did, but that's the way I roll. I wear a half helmet on some short rides, and recently bought a bright yellow full face flip up. It's ugly, but hopefully of high visibility to other motorists in fog and at dusk & dawn. I enjoy the extra quiet and protection from the full face, but it does get a little top heavy after a while. I imagine I'll get used to it. The best part about the full helmet to me is being able to listen to an audio feed via ear plug head sets. I can still hear the engine just fine up through the bottom of the helmet.

I'll just stick with the "no helmet" at all for the time being. I'd much rather be comfortable and not feel like I am having my neck wrenched.

I wear a skull cap tied tightly so I dont worry about losing my sunglasses when I do an over the shoulder check.

I will wear the helmet for those days I commute this winter. It keeps the head warm. And I dont go over 50 miles an hour on my early morning commute in darkness anyway. I dont dwell on the safety BS all that much. I am a personal choice person as it were.

I was having the same problem with my half helmet... switched to a 3/4 with a face shield and couldn't believe the difference in ride comfort and enjoyment. It was like night and day... at this point, I would never go back to a half. But different strokes for different folks... it all boils down to what makes you comfortable.

Kevin,
I rarely wear a helmet myself, mostly when I am in states where required. I have arthritis in my neck and any added weight/wind resistance is killer on me. I have several helmets, full, 3/4, and half helmets I tried but could NOT be comfortable in at all. Uncomfortable to the point of distraction thus I felt less safe wearing a helmet than being without. I went to the Georgia rally this year and since almost every state I rolled through had a helmet law I knew I had to do something. Found a half helmet made by Daytona. I have two other half helmets and this thing is by far much lighter and more comfortable and has way less buffeting action going on...no lift at all. I know some people have had some similiar things to say about the Head Trip (kevlar) helmets as well. Not all half helmets are the same, I think the key is finding the right one. I was all set to order one of the Head Trips but the Daytona is less than half the price and has worked out great.


Steve

I would tend to agree with you on a super lightweight helmet. Somnething real lightweight with a low profile.

All I know is that the doggone thing was trying hard to stretch my neck and my Azz clean off the seat at those higher speeds.

I shoulda just stopped and pulled over and stowed it but I did not want to alarm my friend who was leading.

Helmetss vary a lot from one style to the next. I had one patterened after a WWII wermacht one and it would start flying at about 40 MPH and threaten to lift my head off at 65+. I got a Z1R to replace it and that was much better. When I lived in the peoples demokratik republik of Kaliforneeya, I'd been up to 115 MPH with that lid and had little problem with it trying to fly away with my body bits.

I gotta wear a helmet otherwise my head feels like its cooking out in the Texas sun. I got all kinds of helmets, but if I'm gonna ride the superslabs or it's a windy day, or if theres a chance of rain I wear my full face helmet. The down side of the full face for me is the noise. For some reason it is louder than wearing a half shell and I wind-up with ringing ears.
I was checking out the Davida line of helmets; they look prety cool, Check it out.

Davida Helmets

I've got to agree. A full size helment that fits right-key words-is more comfortable to me than any other helment I;ve ever worn. I've go a Nolan flip up with the roadster windshield and get very little wind noise unless I headed into a really strong breeze.

Ear plugs.

Has any one tried the Davida Lunar helmet. It's a flip-up. I also live in Kaliforneeya, and now wear a half face lid, I'm now in the market for a full face modular that is light.

I got a Nolan full face flip up recently. I don't have a windshield and the noise above 40mph is unbelieveable. The thing roars. I think it has something to do with the seam where it flips up, because it quiets down if I put my hand over seam. Earplugs are a must for me.