full face vs half vs beenie helmet

[Kagey_98]

Full Face

Scorpion EXO-1100 Helmet

 

[Oldmanzues]

Newbie here. What is meant by a "modular" helmet? The type that is hinged where the face flips up? If so, are they less safe than a rigid, unhinged FF helmet? Thanks

I will defer to the experts on here on this. My understanding is most modulars use a kind of friction to hold the chin bar down. Some including the Shark, use a positive lock, you have to release to open. That is why they have been cleared by some groups to race in. I would assume (bad word) that a FF would be a little stronger, but I want/need the advantage of the 3/4 sometimes.
Anybody got a better/diferent idea???
Oldmanzues

 

[Bob Denman]

While I've never seena modular that didn't lock down; I suppose that they could exist... :dontknow:
I've owned a fair share of them over the years: BMW, Bieffe, HJC, Nolan, and Fuel... :thumbup:
No doubt; the Full-face helmet is stronger... The modular's cheekpiece is only held in place by bolts in two pivot points.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I started out with a modular helmet and I liked it but it the wind noise was bothersome. I won a helmet last year and chose a full face. It took a while to get used to as it feels a little claustrophobic at first. No more wind noise. On the downside is not being able to have a conversation with anyone when you have it on. If they aren't on your Scala Rider they won't hear you. I wore glasses and even with the modular I took the glasses off to put on or take off the helmet.

I probably will go with a modular for my next helmet probably the Shoei Nanotech.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

Shark Evoline. Full face modular that allows the chin bar to flip over the top of the helmet to make a 3/4 helmet. I can wear it as a full face helmet, and have the convenience of uncovering my face at stops, or using it as a 3/4 when the weather is just too miserably hot for ff.

Same here for the same reasons.


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[BajaRon]

The debate will go on and each person will make their choice based on their priorities. We will probably never agree on helmet design any more than we do on which oil to use or which fuel grade is best.

But, if we knew we were going to be involved in an accident I think we would all agree that we'd prefer to be wearing a good quality, full face helmet. It is only when we remove this single factor that we begin to diverge in our helmet choices.

 

[Jeriatric]

Would say that explains both sides of the issue quite well

:thumbup: nojoke

 

[boborgera]

But if i use 93 Octane, Do i have to wear a full face helmet??....

 

[Bill Las Vegas]

What you wear depends on what you think your head is worth. IMO a full face is the only way to go.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ron,
:thumbup:
I'm stuffing a copy of it into my 'puter for future reference...
thanks! :clap:

 

[steve635]

I always wear a Full Face. Too many years in the fire service to wear anything else. Go to a few motorcycle down calls and you'll be wearing one too... hyea:

Sorry to take issue with you here Ron, but I too have spent most of my life in the fire service (including 6 years on the NOFD Rescue Squad) and frequently wear a half helmet and if I legally could still in LA, would occasionally wear no helmet on the Spyder. I won't beat to death the old helmet no helmet safety issues, in fact I concede that helmet wearing is safer. But anyone who feels they are safe because they're wearing fiberglass on their head while riding 70 on the interstate is fooling themselves. Speaking of motorcycle accident responses, I once found a full face helmet some distance from the accident with the head still in it. I have also seen the most macabre injuries imaginable suffered by properly seat belted auto drivers, yet I still drive.
The point being we all accept some level of risk, and by riding motorcycles we accept a higher level than the majority. If the majority can determine I need to wear a helmet, or that I need to wear a particular helmet, then can't they just cut to the chase and ban motorcycle riding altogether?
None of this diatribe should be taken as being "anti-helmet", everyone needs to determine their own level of acceptable risk, I personally believe that the only sure way to survive the accident is to avoid the accident. I ride defensively 100% of the time and I feel that what's in my head is far more important than what's on it. That being said I don't ride scared. I accept the additional risk and enjoy the ride, as ultimately no matter how safe we pretend we are, none of us gets out of here alive.

 

[Jeriatric]

Helmets are not a gurantee of anything

That said. I'll take my chances wearing one rather than raising the stakes by not.

Many of us have had the unpleasant experiences you speak of. Those experiences may or may not impact the choices we make. Speaking for myself, they did.

 

[Bob Denman]

That being said I don't ride scared. I accept the additional risk and enjoy the ride, as ultimately no matter how safe we pretend we are, none of us gets out of here alive.

I agree with you on one good point: If you're willing to accept the risk: :thumbup:

But are your friends and loved ones willing to do the same if your riding experience turns sour? :shocked: (JMHO)

 

[steve635]

I agree with you on one good point: If you're willing to accept the risk: :thumbup:

But are your friends and loved ones willing to do the same if your riding experience turns sour? :shocked: (JMHO)

Bob,
Think of the principle behind what you are saying. If I should wear a helmet because of how an injury would affect family and friends, then what business do I have riding in the first place.
If proper compassion for loved ones is derived from diverting risk, then sitting carefully on the couch equates one with Mother Teresa. But more to the point if risk diversion is the goal, then what is the logical conclusion? If roughly the same percentage of riders die in helmet law states as in non helmet law states (and they do), and eliminating risk is the goal, then why should the majority allow we irresponsible few to make the choice to ride?

 

[BajaRon]

Sorry to take issue with you here Ron, but I too have spent most of my life in the fire service (including 6 years on the NOFD Rescue Squad) and frequently wear a half helmet and if I legally could still in LA, would occasionally wear no helmet on the Spyder. I won't beat to death the old helmet no helmet safety issues, in fact I concede that helmet wearing is safer. But anyone who feels they are safe because they're wearing fiberglass on their head while riding 70 on the interstate is fooling themselves. Speaking of motorcycle accident responses, I once found a full face helmet some distance from the accident with the head still in it. I have also seen the most macabre injuries imaginable suffered by properly seat belted auto drivers, yet I still drive.
The point being we all accept some level of risk, and by riding motorcycles we accept a higher level than the majority. If the majority can determine I need to wear a helmet, or that I need to wear a particular helmet, then can't they just cut to the chase and ban motorcycle riding altogether?
None of this diatribe should be taken as being "anti-helmet", everyone needs to determine their own level of acceptable risk, I personally believe that the only sure way to survive the accident is to avoid the accident. I ride defensively 100% of the time and I feel that what's in my head is far more important than what's on it. That being said I don't ride scared. I accept the additional risk and enjoy the ride, as ultimately no matter how safe we pretend we are, none of us gets out of here alive.

I don't see that we disagree here, so no 'Issue' taken. Of course there are no guarantees, risk is inherent in everything, even sitting in front of your TV.

I guess the point is risk vs. gain. Putting a $1,000 full face helmet on your head and riding like an idiot is not recommended. But I think we all understand these variations.

Apples to apples risk reduction is always going to fall to the full face helmet. It's not my position, it's just the way it is. I understand that people have legitimate reasons to wear other helmets and I'm not trying to rain on their parade. I don't wear full chest protection or even an armored jacket all the time so I'm right there with some of this.

With more facts people are able to make a more informed decision. I'm not the safety police. If I am on any crusade it's an information crusade only. I think everyone should ride the way they like best. :thumbup:

 

[Can-Am Poogs]

Agree to disagree

I don't see that we disagree here, so no 'Issue' taken. Of course there are no guarantees, risk is inherent in everything, even sitting in front of your TV.

I guess the point is risk vs. gain. Putting a $1,000 full face helmet on your head and riding like an idiot is not recommended. But I think we all understand these variations.

Apples to apples risk reduction is always going to fall to the full face helmet. It's not my position, it's just the way it is. I understand that people have legitimate reasons to wear other helmets and I'm not trying to rain on their parade. I don't wear full chest protection or even an armored jacket all the time so I'm right there with some of this.

With more facts people are able to make a more informed decision. I'm not the safety police. If I am on any crusade it's an information crusade only. I think everyone should ride the way they like best. :thumbup:

You guys are both saying the same thing in different ways. Everything we do involves risk. I have witnessed more people die in car crashes than on motorcycles. The obvious reason being there are more cars on the road than motorcycles where I live. This wear a helmet, don't wear a helmet debate is as old as the wear a seat belt or don't wear a seat belt debates from the 60's and 70's. I could go out right now and find more than a handful of seniors who well tell us it is safer not to wear a seat belt. Some will even tell us stories about how not wearing a seat belt saved their lives. The reality is in 2013 the mainstream believe seat belts save lives. Helmets are the same thing. We have been indoctrinated into believing it is common sense that if you wear protection it MAY save your life. The more protection the better chance of survival. Take less risk while on a motorcycle, the better chance of survival. No guarantees though. I can list off for you a number of vehicles in North America that even though you are wearing a seat belt, it may not keep you in the vehicle in a crash. (Just going off topic for second, anyone who reads this, if your seat belt assembly has a D clip on the door instead of on the B pillar and a retracter inside the door, get rid of it. You are safer on a motorcycle naked without a without a helmet.

Beanie helmet: Shifts easy in an impact (even when fitted properly) and as result may leave portions of you head exposed and unprotected, offers zero face protection. Potential for hearing loss. I have one. I wear it for motorcycle parades, events, processions, slow speed stuff.

1/2 or 3/4: way better than a beanie helmet, does not offer chin protection. Better protection on face, but not the best. I don't own one. You take a grasshopper in the face at 70 mph, and holy stink it stings for a while.

Modular: Has a hinge lock system. As good as a FF helmet, but you run the risk of failure of the mechanism which results in it being only as effective as a 1/2 or 3/4. I find them noisy.

FF: The ultimate in protection. I like this kind of helmet because I want to do more than up my chances of survival. I don't want to be maimed, and I don't want to suffer any more than I have to. I am ugly enough and I have a low threshold for unnecessary pain over long periods of time. They get warm to hot. Price I am willing to pay.

I love my life and the people that love me. My plan is to be on this planet as long as I can be, and I will protect myself accordingly. Every time I put my badge on I take a risk at not making it home. I have been shot at 3 times in my life and I made it home every time. That's the goal whether I am going to work or riding a motorcycle. I think I have a enough risk in my life, but others do take more and don't manage it well. I inherently care about other people, so to the person who opened this can of worms and posted this thread: :clap: Don't just wear the safest helmet, take care of yourself out on the streets too, the world is a more dangerous place on a motorcycle. Everybody be safe. Cheers. :clap:

 

[Bob Denman]

Isn't this fun? :shocked:
Maybe we should just go back to "discussing" which oil is the best one to use... :roflblack:

 

[CanAmMURPH]

I know this has been done to death on other sites, but I cannot find any info on helmets on this site.
On my 2 wheels I wore mostly full face helmets, but on spyder I have been wearing beanie style.
I would love to know what others wear and why.
I am debating on going back to ff

I use to like my cool stainless WWII helmet until an older friend stood me face front of on a wall. My nose was touching it. He explained to me that the wall represented the concrete, that would sand my nose completely off. What a wake up call. I now where a Shoei with horns.

 

[CanAmMURPH]

Only full face here.

It keeps the rocks from busting your lip.

 

[Osros]

Modular full face Nolan N43 trilogy outlaw, for most all riding with distance.

I plan on a half helmet with removable face mask for around town and store runs. Has a bit more protection from the standard half helmet.




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