Triumphrat

LoVel

I always wear a full face shoei.

Weasel i'm thinking your statement is more of a positive attitude than a bold immortal statement. I have no problem with a positive attitude. They can be very helpful at times.

innominate

do y'all that wear open face have a screen? i just couldn't imagine all the bugs etc that i would swallow down here on the bayou. and i just don't like the look of a screen so i wear a full face.

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samurye

I did a fair bit of research when buying my last helmet and summarised it on a post I made recently "Helmet saftey research". There's some links to some top articles there to get you thinking.

I've always felt that using as much protective gear as I can allows me to ride with fewer reservations. Gloves, jacket, pants (that was a legal stipulation... ****it) and a full face helmet all the time.

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Gone Cat

If full face helmets are SUCH a great idea--how come even the motorcycling police don't care about them?
My 11 yr old son once said that he would ride with me if he could wrap himself in a few layers of bubble wrap. That's a practical method of protection wouldn't you say?
How much you should prepare yourself for something that may or may not happen is a matter of your own personality makeup. Do what you like. To each his own.

Pauljo

Full face for me. Can't talk me out of that. But.. I have gone to modular (Nolan N102). I love the convenience of being able to flip up the front at a gas stop or quick break instead of having to remove the helmet.

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Paul

2007 Triumph Bonneville T100, Tors, xAI, xSnorkel, 120 mains / 1 shim, 40 pilots, 3.0 turns, NH Bellmouth, Works Performance suspension, National Cycle Deflector DX, Scrambler Gel Seat

JohnB

I wear glasses, so I always used a modular flip-up. Now I have a HJC AC11 and have no problems. I feel a little bit safer with the full face, but that's just me. When I ride from NY into CT, my friends stop and remove their helmets, I keep mine on. Nobody gives me a hard time about it, and similarly, I don't comment about them. I think it's smarter to wear a full face, but then again, who ever said riding motorcycles was smart to begin with??? I'll ride my own & let my mates do the same.

Joemomma

A bike cop has VERY different requirements ( and training!) than the average rider. Call me next time you see someone on a track wearing an open face, even in the vintage classes.

Wear whatever you want...me, I still have a chin and 32 pearly whites despite an alcoholic, coke-head ex-stripper's best efforts to take them out, thanks to my full face.

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trubritbiker

It's all down to freedom of choice, If you want to wear an open face lid( which I did for years) or a closed in full face. I changed my helmet after watching a rider at a race meeting wipe his face off on the track right in front of me, he died 3 days later in hospital. As long as you are aware of the risks.

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1991 750cc Trident

BishRat

While I certainly agree that full-face is (by definition) safer, I think it's a personal choice thing. To me, the argument above is erroneous, or at least needs some further explanation before I understand it.

The only difference I can see with a cop riding a bike is that he may well be stopping more often to interact with people or need the ability to shout instructions once in a while. His external communications requirements may be higher, but I don't see that as being a compelling argument.

As for the training aspect. I'm afraid that opens a door that should be left closed (IMHO). While totally accepting that extra or specialized training is a good thing and will reduce anyone's liability to accident, are we to assume that an advanced MSF course, professional vocational training or whatever else justifies a lesser requirement for protective gear?

A bike cop is just as invisible to some cage drivers as we all are, and no amount of forward scanning, evasive riding or risk mitigation training will obviate that. Also, the cop will hit the diesel spill just as often as me... and so on...

The argument for/against full face helmets is almost a religious one and should be treated carefully. As I said, my position is that full face is better by definition, but like to wear open sometimes... so I will, in the full knowledge that I am increasing my chances of face injury if I have an unscheduled meeting with the tarmac. I'm not going to do it and justify my actions with the argument that the benefit has been negated by training.

Interestingly enough, it seems that cop helmets are usually (in the US at least) the smallest type of half-helmet, not even a 3/4 style jet. Who drives the policy and what are the arguments. Is it anything that there's actually a policy about? Is it just tradition?

Are there any LEOs out there that would care to comment on the fact that bike cops use open face helmets?

Of course... apart from the fact that it looks kinda cool with a pair of mirrored aviator shades.

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Cheers... Bish
'06 Black & check Thruxton - AI & airbox gone, TORs, instruments lowered, YSS piggybacks, prog fork springs, gaiters, kneepads, rear fender bobbed, lucas rear light, Napoleons, custom blue/chrome headers, and a little duct tape...

tccox

Come to Charlotte. The BMW mounted officers in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police department do, in fact now wear full face helmets.

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TCCox
Charlotte, NC
2007 Bonneville T100