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Show me your helmets!!

46K views 240 replies 117 participants last post by  Mr.Mushman 
#1 ·
No, Not that kind. I'm trying to get some inspiration for my next purchase.

I'm torn between retro BELL's and open face/halcyon goggles! what do you ride with?
 
#6 ·
Oval Head

For me, my daily helmet has to provide safety and comfort. The Arai Signet Q is the only helmet I have worn that fits me snug but does not give me a major hot spot on my forehead. I love this helmet!

I also have a 3/4 shell that I have worn maybe four times. The above mentioned accident photos have stuck with me for years.
 

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#9 ·
AGV K5

I've been riding for a while now, 42+ years actually, off and on.
During that time, I've worn no helmet, open face and the last 20 years...full face. Call it a progression of knowledge and experience. I will never, ever go back to anything less than a full face.
For me, safety during a crash is paramount. Comfort comes in second with looks way down on the list.
 

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#10 ·
Sometimes it's nice to feel the wind in your face, to revel in freedom. I guess once that magic is gone for you it's safety first (old man syndrome)

While I don't believe in wearing no helmet I'm glad it's still a choice whether to go open face or not! - The main reason other 'groups' of bikers don't wear open face is because it doesn't match their sports/adventure. If it was flipped you would see a lot of those riders wear open face. Lets face it, The only reason you buy a ugly duck bike is for winter hacking, You want to look good on your bike!
 
#12 ·
Bikes are a relatively dangerous mode of transport. We all individually know what we want to risk when we go on the road, and we're all grown up enough to make our own decisions. So make your own choices about safety, because there really is a limit to what safety aids you could wear. I wouldn't personally, wear a suit that inflates - I'd rather get in a car. And of course open face helmets are not as 'safe ' as a full face - its hardly worth mentioning surely ?
 
#20 ·
I'll always wear a full-face helmet. A study I found said that a fairly decent percentage (was it 20%?) end up with the chin hitting the ground first.

But I still love feeling the wind and also don't think I'm giving up anything in the looks department by going with a Biltwell ****** and motocross goggles most of the time. I researched their safety ratings and materials used and feel they're more than adequate. I also have a full face Scorpion I use for colder temps or days where I'm pretty sure I'll be riding through stinging rain.

 
#21 ·
My old bell bullitt that saved my noggin and face last year and my new bell bullitt carbon. carbon has a bubble shield on it now as well because i found i really like the less cramped feel of the bubble.
 

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#22 · (Edited)
I have been riding for over 45 years full time now, I love my open face helmet, but I have 3 helmets that I use mostly my open face helmet as its very hot here and I can turn my head around better, have better side vison and of course wind in the face, I also have a fliptop helmet for when traveling long distants and in heavy weather, but side vision is not as good and I get that locked in feeling then there is my helmet that I use on my dirt bike a full face motorcross style helmet.

I have been down more times wearing my open face helmet, but hey I am still around and my good looks are still intack, so many say full helmet are the safest, well tell that to my old best mate who was wearing a full face helmet which was the cause of his death when he hit the road his helmet chin was forced forward and snapped his neck, didn't have any marks on his body or any other injuries, so really you can die just as easly whether you are wearing open, full or flip top, so get what you feel like but do what I do and have a helmet for any occation if you can and decide what to wear on the day, asking others what to wear and you will always get different opinions, just buy what you can afford, what fits best etc etc, myself perferr my open face helmet most of the time and will never change because I see more, hear more and don't feel crowed and you don't need to spend your life savings to buy a decent helmet.

Ashley
 
#23 · (Edited)
I like my Bell Mag 9. The visor comes off and so does the clear sheild. I wear eye glasses so googles really dont work and I can ride in bright day light or at night with no problems. It's blue tooth ready also. The price is right to.

 
#29 ·
I have 6 helmets, 2 Arai full face, 1 Shoei full face, plus my 3 open face helmets which range in quality from crap to absolute crap and come with full DOA rating. I wear full face 99% of the time, and open face when I damn well feel like it. It's okay, I have a plan. If I crash wearing my open face I'm going to duck and cover using the same method we practiced in school for when the nukes hit.
 
#30 ·
I have a Shark D-Skwal Saurus.



Nice helmet but it is extremely noisy... even with earplugs my ears are ringing after every ride.

I would love to have one of these - Bell Qualifier DLX in hi-viz colour:



No photograph can do this helmet justice - one of the guys in a local rider's group has one, it's like staring into a supernova.
 
#31 ·
We are all aware of the dangers, we don't need to keep preaching to each other. I wear whatever bonce potty suits eg a full face for the big & fast stuff, a motoX type with goggles for the trail riding & if I get back into riding my old Ariel or buy a Bonnie for bimbling about I will likely wear a Davida with my old mk8's.

Let's take a look at what we wore over the years:

Remember these early 70's with the plastic chin cup?


And Mike Hailwoods favourite:


Auzzie version:


Rain helmet
 
#37 ·
Love it and yes thats when I first started riding in the 70s but we took the chin cups off straight away not a cool look in them days, I went to a fancy dress party a few years ago wearing a Ned Kelly costume the only problem had to take the head gear off to have a beer.
But wear what you feel comfortable with or ride condition, here in Aussie land now helmets have to be replaced every 5 years whether they need replacing or not, can be a expensive thing if you have more than one helmet, but I have never been asked to show the manufactors date on them yet when pulled over, if your helmet looks in goot condition they don't look.

Ashley
 
#34 ·
We've all read the stories of someone dying because they were wearing a helmet or type of helmet. Obviously this is not the norm, stats prove that out.
I absolutly agree, after the age of 25, you should be able to wear no helmet at all if you so choose. It's a freedom thing. Just don't tell me I'm a wimp if I choose to wear, what I feel is, better protection.
Some that feel cramped in a full face helmet may have claustrophobic issues, I know I do, but not with helmets.
Pushing the limits of any bike on the street is just plain nuts! It gives all of us a bad reputation and some would say you have a death wish.
I have a very good friend that is a very talented off road rider. He will not ride on the street because he doesn't trust others. He also has no fear of speed and doesn't trust himself.
 
#35 ·
Ah the safety police... come out in all these threads. Safety discussions of any kind around motorcycling seem odd to me.. we all have our own level of personal safety but motorcycling is not safe.. if your worried about the crash sell your bike and buy an SUV with airbags and crumple zones...
Personally I use an HJC Symax2 flipup for longer rides and cool weather (its old and due for an updated lid) shorter rides and bombing around town I wear my Torc Retro 3/4 with a biltwell mirror Bunble shield. Like pictured here but solid flat black.




Psy

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#36 ·
I roll on the old Cycle Gear Bilt special of whatever season it is. The comfort of a rectal thermometer and the safety of a plastic colander perfectly synced terrible wind noise and a visor that flips up when you turn your head. But my buddy slammed hard with one on and survived so I'll take a gamble on $60.

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#39 ·
Too many Helmets, have 7 black Biltwell's of various sizes for guests/friends who want to go riding or passengers etc.., MOMO was my 1st, bought it from a Euro website, love it but it never fit right, The AGV was a good one for a while until I saw my 1st Biltwell back on 2010. Haven't looked back. I was the only one with a Silver Flake, now they are everywhere....
Had my friend and great Lowbrow/ Kustom Kulture Artist Von Franco illustrate one of mine for me, He used to work for Big Daddy Roth making RF's he drew me a RF and put my Tattoo on the back.


Love It!!!




 
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