I recently did a 2000-mile tour of the Southwest U.S. As part of my preparation for the trip, I decided despite longstanding antipathy to try a full face helmet, in this case a Shoei Multi-tech flip front. My buddy wore his customary half-helmet.

Over the course of the trip, I was by far the more comfortable. I could have the face shield up or down; I didn't worry about sunburn, wind or rain. When in town I could have the whole front up (though that's not recommended); or I could just flip it up when getting gas or wanting to talk at a stop.

During the trip, I was totally surprised to see that at least 70% (I'm guessing at the number -- I mean a LOT) of Harley riders we encountered wore full face helmets, with the rest split between half-helmets and 3/4 helmets. This came as a total surprise to me.

So here's my question: Is it just my imagination or is there a rising trend toward full face helmets among Harley riders? Or do many just decide to wear them during long trips? Or was it a fluke?

Whatever the case, I felt a lot less geeky than I expected I would. My only regret is that so many passing cagers were deprived of the sight of my handsome mug

 

lmfao!

I wear a full faced flip front harley helmet!

 

I wear a full face about 90% of the time. The other 10% is a trooper style half helmet.

 

It's just another step in the wussification of the average rider. Be a man, grow a pair, and throw away the full face.

j/k I don't care what helmet someone wears. I feel uncomfortable in a full face, maybe it's a mild case of claustrophobia.

 

I know you were just kidding, pottsy. But I hope this thread doesn't devolve into which helmet is "better." To each his or her own.

I was just wondering if it seems to others, as it does to me, that more HD riders are wearing full face helmets than used to, that's all.

 

I wear a full face. So does a another rider in our riding group. He went down with a slow speed skid and into soft dirt on the side of a hill yesterday. He's glad he was wearing it.

 

never wore a full face never will but thats just me

 

Some of the reasons why riders refuse to wear full face helmets is that they are heavy and hot. The newer full face helmets have gone a long way to address those issues. Maybe more riders who have written them off in the past will give them another chance in the future. After all, they DO provide more protection in most crashes. They're just lacking in the cool factor. I only wear one some of the time, myself.

 

As with most 'helmet related threads' I imagine this will migrate into something other than the question asked by the OP, so before that happens I'll just say this.....

Here in the lower Midwest where I spend most of my time (where most of the States are helmet optional), the majority of the guys I ride with, and most other Harley riders we see out on the highway don't wear any helmet..

I'm sure that might not be the case in other areas, but around here I don't see any trend towards 'full face helmets', or any other type of helmet for that matter.

 

I have no opinion on this subject but would like to ask "max56" if you could change your Avitar? It's really scary!