Triumphrat

ChuckofTahoe · 02-23-2007

My question for the forum is with respect to your opinions on the relative merits of modular helmets vs. traditional full face. Specifically focusing on safety.

I have worn full faces in the past and recently acquired another one. The last two years I have worn a Nolan modular, you know with the typical modular design and the chin bar that lifts up and down and locks in place.

After trying on my full face, it seems to me that modular may be inherintly superior as it locks down and around your neck and therefore would be less prone to rotation or coming off in an accident. Of course the locking mechanism could fail and has been know to fail in an accident.

The full face, stays on your head only by virtue of the chin strap which seems suceptable to rotation and the helmet lifting up and exposing your chin.

Opinnions?

[ This message was edited by: ChuckofTahoe on 2007-02-23 20:01 ]

Archimedes · 02-23-2007

The answer is MOTOGP. When I see Hayden or Rossi riding at 200mph with a non-standard race helmet then I'll consider a change.

Until then......

:razz:

ChuckofTahoe · 02-23-2007

I agree. Maybe the full face I got is too big. Now I have to get an exhange authorization.

Quote:

On 2007-02-23 20:05, Archimedes wrote:
The answer is MOTOGP. When I see Hayden or Rossi riding at 200mph with a non-standard race helmet then I'll consider a change.

Until then......

:razz:

omaz · 02-23-2007

I'm with Arch and Chuck on this one.

mglemans86 · 02-23-2007

I have a Nolan Flip up and love it. I rarely go like Nicky nor do I have 200 feet of pea gravel on the side of the road to slow me down.

There are a couple of helmet test out there which shed a lot of light on helmets. One shows thet most high end Snell rated helmets do more harm than good on inpact. The test in Motorcyclist showed that cheaper helmets protected your Brain Box better than expensive Snell helmets.

click

bang :???:

steventhechef · 02-24-2007

I have the HJC Symax flip front - glasses, convenience, safety are all factors.

HJC does it for me.

At 200 kph, I'm toast, whatever the helmet. I'm not trying to kid myself!!

bovefrankj · 02-24-2007

One great advantage of flip front helmets is that in the event of an accident resuscitation can be performed without removing the helmet. A boon for the emergency services.

welshrob · 02-24-2007

I`ve ridden with them since 1990. When I was a motorcycle courier I`ve used BMW System 2,3, & 4. and had accidents (some quite serious) wearing them all, with no problems. I have no concerns about them whatsoever, neither have I seen any test data to prove they are less safe than full face helmets. I currently wear a Shoei Diabolic Zero but that`s more for looks than for any safety concerns. I still have a silver system 4 evo 'modular' helmet which I`d happily wear on the track.
Forums are full of negative opinions about them, which are generally based on the the individual's personal feelings, rather than anything tangible or any real-time evidence.
It`s true, racers don`t wear them, but they also don`t wear any of the other gear us mere mortals chose to ride in, like Draggin jeans etc. Hands up all of you who don a $10,000 Arlen Ness Kangaroo skin all in one leather every time you pop out on the bike to get a newspaper?

Racers don`t get to pick helmets, the companies PAY them to wear the product. If Schubarth started chucking a load of sponsorship money at a GP team, I daresay we`d see modular`s on the track, too.

[ This message was edited by: welshrob on 2007-02-24 14:54 ]

JasonS · 02-24-2007

I wear a Jarow-Justissimo-Caberg Mono X2 flip up helmet.

The Caberg uses a steel bar through the chin section of the flip up as well as all metal catches all around to latch it down. Many cheaper flip-ups use plastic catches and I wouldn't use/buy one of these styles.

I had an off last summer, the bike slipped out on dirt in a corner sending me off the bike. I can't recall how I came off or how my body flew. What I do recall is .. DIRT! Chin Hits Tar, I am standing up, my left hand hurts. DAGNAMIT I dumped the bike! In that order. The helmet took a nice blow directly on the chin bar. The helmet removed and went back on as normal. I drove the bike home with a broken hand.. shattered 5th and fractured 4th metacarpal... the xray taken 4 hours later made me wonder how the hell I managed to operate the clutch...

So any who.. I personally like the flip up as it allows me to function better while wearing prescription glasses... not having to mess with having to deal with eye wear while donning and removing the lid.

I wouldn't touch a plastic latched system. IF the chin piece were to let go and open up in a crash, the extended chin piece would increase the risk of injury as one flails about, potential catching something on the added protrusion.

btw.. the flip down sun shade internal to the helmet is something else. Allows me to not need sunglasses much of the time.

[ This message was edited by: JasonS on 2007-02-24 07:53 ]

doodledog · 02-24-2007

[quote]
On 2007-02-23 21:24, mglemans86 wrote:
I have a Nolan Flip up and love it. I rarely go like Nicky nor do I have 200 feet of pea gravel on the side of the road to slow me down.

That to me is why we need better helmets than Nicky, he is unliklyto come into contact with a car wall or lamppost in the kitty litter, I am on the roads, I have never used a flip so will not dis them, I just like my Shark full face, and as arch said when GP riders or TT road racers start to use them I would be confident to give one a try, as it is I have'nt but as my wife and son do o there scooters I may borrow one to try.