Loaded qeistion about half helmets

[Pennyrick]

I ride with a Full Face all the time, but I also wouldn't mind having a 1/2 helmet to enjoy the wind in my face openess that it would provide as well. My issue is every single helmet I've tried makes me look like I have a Mushroom on my head:banghead: And I see other riders both bike and spyders occasionally that have the coolest better fitting or lower fitting on the head helmet that actually looks awesome. Now I don't want to purchase a low grade, I want it to be very safe and rated correctly...

Any suggestions?? or pics of your helmet on? ray:

Thanks
Rich

Rich, my wife and I have both ridden with half helmets year round for many, many years. In winter we simply wear balaclavas underneath.

Here are some pics. Her's is a Scorpion and mine is a Fulmer. both purchases came after trying on several different makes both in stores and trying and sending stuff back from on line.

I don't have a problem with wind noise but she does. We find that by using the Sena SPH-10H headsets the open area around the ears are filled in quite nicely and the headsets also act as noise suppressors. On the Fulmer I had to do a bit of surgery with the strap to get the headset to fit but once done it works quite well.

 

[bruiser]

I have a full face modular, half and 3/4. Summer time it's half or 3/4 for me. The wife can't wear a full face or modular, she's claustrophobic. My half helmet is a Daytona. Very comfortable. HJC makes a very nice half "cruiser". The Bell Rouge is nice with a removable chin guard and the Bell Drifter is nice. The HJC IS-2 has a drop down sun shade.

 

[NZSpyderRyder]

Nolan N44

I wear the Nolan N44, you can remove the chin bar and adapt the helmet in many other ways. I had the N-comm fitted to it as well.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Bell Rogue Helmet maybe? http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...bi-Ib9kMyBnmJku4j0WPlj7D2SfFoaGaW2lkLPfDw_wcB

 

[SteveMac]

First, I am so thankful that while some have posted their preferences for more protection, I haven't seen anyone name calling or being condescending. Thank you Spyderlovers one and all. We all have preferences and choices. :thumbup:

I wear a Bell Evo modular (pic below) almost always when traveling. Especially super slab and with my wife because of all the features like a transition shield and Bluetooth headsets.

However, for short trips around town, to work, or a solo cruise,, I love my half helmet. And I may wear the half helmet on group rides where we have frequent stops. But like the OP,,, I didn't want the mushroom head. I searched high and low for the right helmet. The link below will take you to the absolute lowest profile helmet I could find that was still DOT. I have included a pic of me with my half helmet that I ordered from the linked site. Mine is the Outlaw Slim DOT. Be aware. They sell both DOT and non DOT. So read the product descriptions closely. And I do really like the Pit Boss. That will be my next Half Helmet.


http://www.leatherup.com/c/Half-Face-Motorcycle-Helmets/all/sortby_priceDesc/2/284.html

My Bell EVO that I love and then my half helmet.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

First, I am so thankful that while some have posted their preferences for more protection, I haven't seen anyone name calling or being condescending. Thank you Spyderlovers one and all. We all have preferences and choices. :thumbup:

I wear a Bell Evo modular (pic below) almost always when traveling. Especially super slab and with my wife because of all the features like a transition shield and Bluetooth headsets.

However, for short trips around town, to work, or a solo cruise,, I love my half helmet. And I may wear the half helmet on group rides where we have frequent stops. But like the OP,,, I didn't want the mushroom head. I searched high and low for the right helmet. The link below will take you to the absolute lowest profile helmet I could find that was still DOT. I have included a pic of me with my half helmet that I ordered from the linked site.

http://www.leatherup.com/c/Half-Face-Motorcycle-Helmets/2/284.html

My Bell EVO that I love and then my half helmet.

View attachment 89456 View attachment 89457

My wife wears one of the 1/2 helmets you linked to. She likes it a lot. Me? Not so much. I like the 3/4 helmet. The 1/2 seems too noisy for me.

 

[MikeinGA]

The think I don't like about 1/2 helmets the lower half of you face is tan or sun burned and the upper half is white. That is for us white people.

Mike

 

[SteveMac]

My wife wears one of the 1/2 helmets you linked to. She likes it a lot. Me? Not so much. I like the 3/4 helmet. The 1/2 seems too noisy for me.

Funny. Just the opposite for my wife and I. She will rarely wear anything other than a full face. She wears contacts and the full face protects her eyes from drying out. This is our first year with the modular helmets, but I think we will like them a lot. Very convenient to flip up at a stop light for a drink, etc. . And I agree with you, at interstate speeds, for noise reduction in addition to the items I mentioned above, I prefer the modular.

 

[SteveMac]

:thumbup: Those are very good looking helmets. This is the first time I really gave them a long look.

Be prepared for a lot of answers.

Helmets, seats, gear, and oil questions will always give you a lot of things to think about.

Yes, half helmets are lighter, some much more stylish than the full face, modular, and open face type helmets. Which to wear is a choice that we are all entitled to make.

The "least" helmet I will wear is an open face with a shield attached. Nolan N43 or N44, in my case. I have always been afraid to be "less" protected--but in the event of an ejection from the :spyder2:, I am guessing that full face helmet is the way to go.

One can never choose the time and gear when an accident happens--so my recommendation--even though I do not follow it 100% is full face protection.

The cab yellow version of the Nolan N44 is my latest. Baja Ron--a SL sponsor, has good prices on these at the moment.

 

[Silvervette05]

For your safety stay with full face :thumbup:

 

[Trickie Dick]

Don't you just love when you post asking for recommendations for a half helmet and half of the responses you get are opinions on whether you should even wear one or suggesting you wear something else. Fortunately there are a few who stuck to the question at hand and made some suggestions based on their experience.

BTW, I wear a full face helmet but I am interested in the responses to the questions asked as to good half helmets for summer wear on occasion. Being of sound mind I feel like I can make the decision when or if I want to wear one or not.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Don't you just love when you post asking for recommendations for a half helmet and half of the responses you get are opinions on whether you should even wear one or suggesting you wear something else. Fortunately there are a few who stuck to the question at hand and made some suggestions based on their experience.

. I think they are just sharing their own thinking process, and are really not intending to be judgmental, at least I hope so.

 

[daveinva]

Bell Rogue Helmet maybe? http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/...bi-Ib9kMyBnmJku4j0WPlj7D2SfFoaGaW2lkLPfDw_wcB

Neat looking lid, but keep in mind that lower offers only decorative wind-and-bug protection, no safety protection.

 

[SteveMac]

Don't you just love when you post asking for recommendations for a half helmet and half of the responses you get are opinions on whether you should even wear one or suggesting you wear something else. Fortunately there are a few who stuck to the question at hand and made some suggestions based on their experience.

BTW, I wear a full face helmet but I am interested in the responses to the questions asked as to good half helmets for summer wear on occasion. Being of sound mind I feel like I can make the decision when or if I want to wear one or not.

. I think they are just sharing their own thinking process, and are really not intending to be judgmental, at least I hope so.

I agree Dan. I say, well done overall!



And Dick, I hear what you are saying. But let me toss this out there,,, I am actually happy with the posts so far here. I understand what you are saying, in that they could just stick to answering the question,,, But some have a very strong passion about full protection helmets, and I think they feel a sincere desire to express that by sharing their passion for safety.

But,,, in this thread, unlike MOST in the past,,,, the differing opinions were offered with respect. No comments that were demeaning to the OP, and no calling anyone a moron or worse. We have seen that far too often in the past.

In fact, I think I have never been more proud to be a Spyderlovers member. Some may laugh at that and say B.S.!!! But I'm dead serious. A thread about helmets that hasn't become venomous!!! Yes. Some of the posts didn't specifically address the OP question. But that's OK! I still think this thread has been a huge success so far. Just my 2 cents bro!

Hey Dick, will I see you at any events this year???? :thumbup: :dontknow:

 

[jmeyers278]

been on two wheels forever (still have a vtx 1800) and I am terrible about riding gear. If I have a windshield, I wear a half helmet, if not I wear a full face. In the summer I cannot ride full faced at all, TOO HOT! I've tried just about every helmet out there and none of them vent enough. I never wear what most spyder people wear either again too hot...I wear tennis shoes, shorts and a t shirt in the summer....sometimes flip flops..lol But to answer your question, there are low profile half helmies that are dot approved and look cool. I have a fulmer cheapie and it is pretty nice looking, just flat black with flames that are less flat.

 

[Highwayman2013]

I just saw an ad for the smallest profile DOT approved helmets. http://www.bikerhelmets.com/

 

[BajaRon]

Modular for me... Sorry! :shocked:

If you do the math on these strike point numbers the yellow area (unprotected by a 3/4 helmet) comes out to a bit over 45%.

So a 3/4 helmet protects a little over 1/2 of what a a full face protects.

Do the numbers again and you'll find a 1/2 helmet protects less than 40% of what a full face protects.

Of course the numbers don't mean a thing, until you need them....

 

[SteveMac]

I just saw an ad for the smallest profile DOT approved helmets. Bikerhelmets.com

Thanks for the link. Will check it out! :thumbup:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

If you do the math on these strike point numbers the yellow area (unprotected by a 3/4 helmet) comes out to a bit over 45%.

So a 3/4 helmet protects a little over 1/2 of what a a full face protects.

Do the numbers again and you'll find a 1/2 helmet protects less than 40% of what a full face protects.

Of course the numbers don't mean a thing, until you need them....

This is a truly sobering chart. Thank you far caring enough to share it with us.

 

[Chupaca]

Have to agree..!!

with those who wear modular helmets. Though some where in the middle you do have them both with you at all times. I like to run open face around town and slower country roads and full face on freeways or dusty buggy areas....:thumbup:hyea:hyea: