Triumphrat

bosoxrider · 06-13-2005

What is the helmet style preference for most Bonneville riders? What is THE look? Curious if there are as many thoughts as there are helmet styles.

Thanks,
C

PAAS · 06-13-2005

I wear a plain black Arai Astro R full face (and plain black leathers) on my White/Tangerine T100. I like the quality and fit of Arai and prefer plain coloured helmets to racer replica styles that go out of date (and don't really suit the style of a Bonneville).

GaryD · 06-13-2005

I try not to look like a Power Ranger or a member of Hell's Angels. No matching outfit with bright neon colors with lightning stripes and no black leather, no denim vest, no do rag on my head and no engineer boots. I also do not like the look of the fabric riding suit and helmet that perfectly matches the bike - I expect to see the 65+ year guy and his wife on their Goldwing in those outfits.

My typical uniform is a pair of jeans, my Triumph jacket, a Shoei helmet (white St Cruz, white RF 900 or Norick repica X-11 depending on the expected ride) and plain black elephant hide cowboy boots

AllanCook · 06-13-2005

Of course, THE look is the way I look: Jeans, old BMW boots, Vanson armored and ventilated jacket, vented BMW airstream gloves and a white Arai full-face.

Based on a couple of well-thrashed threads the last few weeks, it seems that there is a decided bias in favor of full-face helmets. The make/manufacturer seems to vary widely, as does color choice, although I was surprised to see how many people like white helmets, either because it is easier for cagers to see them or because they look cops' helmets.

I finally got a chance to read that article on helmets in one of the bike mags. Although I'm no doctor or human-factors engineer, I thought it was a pretty compelling argument, and I sure hope the manufacturers are paying attention. The most troubling part, I thought, was that the bad effects of high-g impacts increases with age: The older you are, the fewer high-g impacts your noggin can handle. Get your crashing done when you're young.

Allan

Copper · 06-13-2005

Got the Triumph cordura jacket, black, and a black full face flip front helmet. I get nice leather Danner boots from work once a year, work great for riding. I would probably have a leather jacket, but they are a little spendier. The full face helmet is nice, expecially with no windsheild, those bugs hit the face shield pretty hard at 75 mph! :-D

If/when I get a windshield, I might get a half helmet then, especially in the summer. It was 90+ degrees here a few weeks ago, I just rode in a T-shirt then, it was just to hot with the jacket. (Homer Simpson T-shirt, if it matters!

)

Its always a balancing act with safety........You have all the extremes from the guy with the novelty helmet that isn't even approved for bicycles, to the guy with the full armored suit and the flouresent orange safety vest. Motorcycling is an inherently dangerous activity, all you can do is manage your risks to the point you feel comfortable.

MrGone · 06-13-2005

I have a decent full face flat black KBC VR2 (I know, not very visible but it sure looks good

) a MotoGP black and grey armor/vented jacket, carhart pants and some steel toe Doc Martins.
A few years ago while traveling around Utah I saw first hand what happens when your spill w/o a helmet. The guy (wearing fairly good leathers) and his bike looked in decent shape, everything except for his head (well, 3/4ths of it), my mother tried to help (reg. nurse) but he died a few minutes later. That image is still with me, and because of it I'm always in my helmet, but as Copper says ride comfortably, otherwise why ride at all?

BTW, what area of MN? I'm normally found in either Minneapolis or Rochester

[ This message was edited by: MrGone on 2005-06-14 05:42 ]

d2mini · 06-13-2005

White Arai Astral-X full face helmet for me with dark tinted sheild.

Dukester · 06-14-2005

While the white helmets may be popular for visibility, I have a black KBC with a ring of this tape around the bottom edge:

3M Solas reflective tape

It's like wearing a beacon on your head. It's the brightest reflective tape I've ever seen. Even a 1/2" strip reflects an incredible amount of light. It really stands out. You can find it at most safety supply stores.

lunus · 06-14-2005

I eschewed (good word that) a black helmet for my black Bonnie because of heat gain and visibility concerns. Went instead for a Shoei XR-1000 full-face in grey metallic which (IMHO) looks really nice with the black/silver bike. Shoei is also light, well ventilated. They do a nice range of other metallics and their metallic red almost exactly matched the red America at the dealers.

As I said in the earlier 'white helmet' thread the advantage of white (at least here in the UK) is that a car driver might just mistake you for the police. Also less heat gain.

Cheers

L

Wooly · 06-14-2005

There is no "LOOK" when it comes to helmets and riding gear - there is only safety and comfort.

Safety demands a full face helmet with appropriate ratings and a high degree of comfort in the fitment to your head.
If it doesn't fit correctly then find one that does.

If your riding gear is not comfortable to wear it can be a right distraction.

I chose a KBC VR1 helmet because it fitted my bonce like a glove and a Joe Rocket jacket because it was the most comfortable jacket that I tried on and looked quite well made.
Draggin jeans feel really nice to wear and my Gaerne motorcycle boots are very easy to wear as well.
Buy good quality and you will appreciate it the more you wear it.

I always suit up even for a ride down the local shop.

Phil.