Helmets - which style do you prefer & why?

[Snoking1127]

Helmets and protection levels that various types provide are a personal choice. Let's make sure to respect that. All the information is good though, IMO.

PS. I have been riding motorcycles since the early 60's and always worn a helmet. So far, have never had to use one for the purpose intended. Just turned 75.

I have also been riding since the early 60's with some breaks along the way. In the late 70's I was riding a 350 Honda thumber on a power line grave road and went off the side on it in a big dip and went head first into the brush, and my body came to a sudden stop when my helmet met a large boulder in the brush. It was a direct hit between the top center of the helmet and the boulder. Thank god I had the helmet on, as I was riding by myself and it might have been a long time before someone found my body laying there in the brush. And I am 76 years old now thanks to the helmet that day.

 

[Motorcycledave]

This is your best choice

Getting ready to start riding my 2020 RTlimited, putting together the necessary and nice things to have. When it comes to the helmet, wife and I haven’t decided with which style is preferred while still being safe. Understand that full is the safest but it does limits your side visibility somewhat but the Bluetooth is nice, and the open or 3/4 lets you experience the ride better.:doorag:

SENA has Both a QUALITY Helmet and with built in Blue Tooth
The SENA OutRush is a great choice to own AND they are on SALE RIGHT NOW
give me a call 209-887-3283

 

[RICZ]

In my 68 years of riding, I have known riders who have had go-downs. Some with half helmets got cracked sculls. my brother being one. Some with open face got broken jaws. Those will full face had no head injuries.
I enjoy talking and eating so I wear full face and for the past few years, a modular, the best of two worlds. The wife and I have Shoei Neotecs equipped with Sena 20S Bluetooth communicators. The Neotec is relatively light and very comfortable. And venting and vision could not be better.
Go to a Cycle Gear store ad try them. Different bands fit different heads.

 

[AVBIZ]

I’m an advocate of full face helmets either ECE/DOT or Snell/DOT rated. Since buying a Spyder I found that I need to take my helmet off to back the Spyder into the garage so I just purchased a AGV Carbon Sport Modular which works perfectly and is feather-lite. Not a fan of a DOT only rated helmet.

 

[Possible]

I wasn't aware of any modular helmets that met Snell testing.

 

[AVBIZ]

I wasn't aware of any modular helmets that met Snell testing.

Correct you’ll have to pivot to ECE helmets or just DOT

 

[Motorcycledave]

Getting ready to start riding my 2020 RTlimited, putting together the necessary and nice things to have. When it comes to the helmet, wife and I haven’t decided with which style is preferred while still being safe. Understand that full is the safest but it does limits your side visibility somewhat but the Bluetooth is nice, and the open or 3/4 lets you experience the ride better.:doorag:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv2zjC8fzrI
Check this out.

 

[Bfromla]

Another vote modular full face:thumbup: with shade visor built in (don’t use it everyday, great when forget shades):clap:

 

[RICZ]

Snell testing is primarily for race car drivers. I have known DOT only helmets to do a great job of brain bucket protection.

 

[Possible]

Snell testing is primarily for race car drivers. I have known DOT only helmets to do a great job of brain bucket protection.

I haven't kept up with the testing, but some years back there were testers who considered the Snell as too harsh
for regular crash events, and said the DOT was actually a better test for everyday usage. It had to do with the amount
of force that was allowed with Snell vs DOT. But that was some years back and Snell testing may have changed since
then.

 

[RICZ]

A Snell/DOT helmet has more padding, thus it is a larger helmet.

 

[MONK]

I have that issue also, so we went with 3/4 helmets. We road snowmobiles for years with 3/4 helmets so that is what we were use to. And DW has some neck issues from years ago, and we gave up snowmobiling because of the jarring the rider can get on a snowmobile. The Spyder does not seem to have the issue. Being tall, I would like the 28" windshield, however they are a bit pricey.

Check out F4 Customs blemish page. I just got one of his (stock height, wide, vented, tinted) for about $100 less than retail because it has a blemish. Darned if I can tell where it is.

 

[MONK]

Neotech 2 is a little heavier and more expensive.

Bluetooth can be added to any helmet you decide on. Cardo & Sena are the leaders of late.

The Shoei Neotech 2 is very heavy when compared to other modular (4# .5 ounces) but it doesn't feel like it. I've ridden with it on my melon for 300 mile days and never felt that it was heavy. My HJC RPHA 90 is about a 1/2 pound lighter but it FEELS heavier. Difference in aerodynamics, I guess.

Some helmets don't play well with aftermarket BT headsets. My Neotech 2 is one good example of that. It's made for the proprietary SRL system and due to the way it's made, it would be difficult (but not impossible) to mount something else. The good news is that the SRL system works pretty good.

 

[RICZ]

I installed a Sena 20S on to a Shoei Neotec II. The device went over the black panel w/o much fussing.

 

[PGDoug]

This is FortNine , he makes some very informative video's .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLj9WfoWPSQ

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Some helmets don't play well with aftermarket BT headsets. My Neotech 2 is one good example of that. It's made for the proprietary SRL system and due to the way it's made, it would be difficult (but not impossible) to mount something else. The good news is that the SRL system works pretty good.

Tell me about it. I fit a J&M wired headset into my Neotec 2 but it was a royal pain. Looks like it too, a cobbled up mess! But it works, and that is what matters!

 

[Shadowrun]

This is FortNine , he makes some very informative video's .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLj9WfoWPSQ

FortNine has a lot of good info, watched a few videos after I randomly stumbled across their channel a while back.

I use a Modular (“LS2” brand, DOT+ECE cert), and Full Face (“Shoei”, DOT+Snell), and bounce between them.
Both with old Sena20s comm’s models attached. The Sena’s are my MUST HAVE. I don’t ride without them. Period.
Personally, the difference in riding enjoyment is night and day. Again, just my opinion though.
The Sena 50s (or maybe 50r) will be a 2021 pickup, some nice improvements over what I have now.

Back to pure Helmets...
Its not as protective, but I still prefer Modular, and I expect to be using Modular going foward in future helmet pickups. ...God willing.
I’ve seen videos of bad crashes, and seen some horrible damage... met 2 crash survivors as well.
You’d think I’d choose differently... buuuut... Nope!
One day, I’ll be RICZ and respect my pietaster a little more...

+1 on the earlier advice to go somewhere with lots of ready selection.
And take your time trying them on, if you can. Remember— this will be your newest best closest friend, for many many miles.
Took me 2 trips (trying on about 7 or 8 helmets, total) before the feel/protection/weight/price was right.

I know it sounds twisted but... While I was trying on helmets for fit & protection,
I tried envisioning myself getting slammed by a SUV when I had it on. Proved to be a very helpful mindset in eliminating the
“WOW this looks good on me” helmets vs the “I could walk away afterwards...” helmets.

And I couldn’t agree more on having an integrated Sun Visor.
preferably with good UV protection (box might reference “UV400”, or blocks out UVA, or blocks our UVA/UVB, or similar).
All that tint is worthless if your letting in the UV rays burnout your retina’s.
Some have extra visors with UVA/UVB blockers available from that vendor, but may not come with it.

And as always, grab some ‘CatCrap’ Anti-Fog Cleaner, & keep a microfiber cloth stashed on your Ryde!

Good hunting out there!

 

[Scotts8826]

I have a Scorpion modular helmet that has a removable chin bar. I like this style since I can rotate between full face or 3/4 depending upon my needs/wants.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have a Scorpion modular helmet that has a removable chin bar. I like this style since I can rotate between full face or 3/4 depending upon my needs/wants.

Does it meet DOT/ECE standards?

 

[MONK]

A DOT rating is critial otherwise it's just one of those novelty plastic brain buckets shaped like a bowl or a German WW2 helmet or some such. ECE/SNELL aren't as important and are NEVER found on a 1/2 or 3/4 lid and rarely found on a modular. One of the problems with ECE/SNELL ratings is that they're not "true" ratings. They're subjective as there aren't VERY specific testing parameters. Also, DOT/ECE/SNELL are pass/fail tests. The DOT/ECE/SNELL rated lid you're about to buy may have barely passed the testing process or may have excelled at it. The cheapest, most basic, most flimsy "legal" 1/2 lid will have a DOT sticker on it. That doesn't mean it offer any real protection. All of this is one reason why I tend to disregard a DOT/ECE/SNELL sticker on a helmet.

The newest helmet ratings are FIM and SHARP. Both are relatively new. I'd be surprised to see a FIM rated lid on much of anything outside a pure race helmet (since that's why it was created).

All that being said, fit is more important than specific rating. Assuming a DOT (or other) rating, a cheap WELL FITTING lid will protect better than an expensive ILL FITTING lid.

HAGO!