Getting a full face helmet.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,338
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RE: Getting a full face helmet.
I've always (35 years) worn full-face for the quiet and protection from bugs/road debris. Whenever I've tried riding with no helmet or cheap half helmets I always hate how loud the wind noise is. Guess I'm not cool..
I've tried many brands and Arai is the best for me. I've heard some helmets (Arai) are made for people with oval heads and others (Shoei) are made for round heads, so you have to try them. Don't buy online or ebay unless you have tried the same model and size on before.
I've tried many brands and Arai is the best for me. I've heard some helmets (Arai) are made for people with oval heads and others (Shoei) are made for round heads, so you have to try them. Don't buy online or ebay unless you have tried the same model and size on before.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 157
Likes: 2
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RE: Getting a full face helmet.
This is just my two cents. You can get great deals on helmets on the internet, however I highly recomend you go to a bike shop (ricer shops usualy have the best selection of full face lids) pick one out you like, wear it around the store for a little while and see how it feels. Then try another one, and another, and so on. Then do your research on the net to find the best deal on the lid that worked best for you. I bought one off the net just thinking "I know what size I am, I'll just get a large". Welp the thing fits but kills me after more than 30 mins. I'll never make that mistake again.
On a side note, I'm glad to see there's so many others that dont give a crap about the 'cool factor' and will wear what they feel comfortable wearing. I wear my full face on long trips even though it hurts, rocks and bugs hurt more. Just cruisin around I usualy dont wear one. Ironicaly enough that's when I'm most likely to get in a wreck.
On a side note, I'm glad to see there's so many others that dont give a crap about the 'cool factor' and will wear what they feel comfortable wearing. I wear my full face on long trips even though it hurts, rocks and bugs hurt more. Just cruisin around I usualy dont wear one. Ironicaly enough that's when I'm most likely to get in a wreck.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 43
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RE: Getting a full face helmet.
Just throwing in my two cents....I'm riding with an Akuma Helmet...comfortable, not bad looking and I love having the built-in LED maplight at night....no more fumbling around looking for stuff
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,427
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RE: Getting a full face helmet.
Congrats on the impending birth of your son. Also glad to hear you decided against selling your bike. Starting a family is no reason to give up riding.
I have an HJC flip front fullface that I use for riding during inclement weather. Good fit, good venting, and gives you the option of getting your face in the wind once in a while. A little noisier at speed the a normal fullface, but well worth that minor inconvenience.
I have an HJC flip front fullface that I use for riding during inclement weather. Good fit, good venting, and gives you the option of getting your face in the wind once in a while. A little noisier at speed the a normal fullface, but well worth that minor inconvenience.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
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RE: Getting a full face helmet.
Nothing will save you all the time, but the one that works best is the one you will wear. When I wear my full face it is an Arai, it is by far the most comfortable out there for my head. My open face is a shoei. It is funny how people will spend 400 bucks on shocks without thinking about it and then try to save on the helmet. As far as helmets working, A friend of mine went down on the E-way at 80 wearing a full face, leather jacket and gloves and walked away. I am not saying the crash could not have killed him, but there is no way he would be still riding today without it.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 878
Likes: 0
From: Cistern,Tx
RE: Getting a full face helmet.
I use to ride without one only wore one when we had the helmet law in Texas. But that lighbulb finally started to flicker in my ole brain and I decided to buy me a Shoie RF1000 full face white. Never wore a fullface till this one and it ain't so bad. Vents they got on em now days help out. And it I was sweating my ***(face) off I would be bitching. Now you want another reality check.
August of 07 my son was going home south on farm market road going home. Truck goiing north turned left in front of him(drunk SOB)into body shop about 2 miles out of town. All son could do was swerve to right but truck hit him. He flew 40-50 yrd through the air and landed in ditch. He was starflighted to hospital in Austin. Broke rib, road rash(thank the lord he did not slip down the highway), slight concussion, spleen bleeding, broke his ankle(did not do surgery on ankle till they got the spleen under control). Lucky for him he was young and in good physical shape(lineman). Seeing him laying in the emergency room-head swollen and thinking what the outcome could of been-reality slap in the face for me.
Congratulations on your new son. I remember when mine son small and I use to give him rides thru the neighbor on my Softail. They grow up face.
August of 07 my son was going home south on farm market road going home. Truck goiing north turned left in front of him(drunk SOB)into body shop about 2 miles out of town. All son could do was swerve to right but truck hit him. He flew 40-50 yrd through the air and landed in ditch. He was starflighted to hospital in Austin. Broke rib, road rash(thank the lord he did not slip down the highway), slight concussion, spleen bleeding, broke his ankle(did not do surgery on ankle till they got the spleen under control). Lucky for him he was young and in good physical shape(lineman). Seeing him laying in the emergency room-head swollen and thinking what the outcome could of been-reality slap in the face for me.
Congratulations on your new son. I remember when mine son small and I use to give him rides thru the neighbor on my Softail. They grow up face.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: S Puget Sound
RE: Getting a full face helmet.
Great thread, and congratulations on the coming of yourbaby boy. I'm new to motorcycles andhaven't yet ridden through a season. Love the ride, yet also have two sons in school. My analytical16-year old looks at full-face and safety gear as a nobrainer. "Extreme sports, extreme gear..duh Mom." And the more I read from experienced riders on this forum and elsewhere, it seems clear that "all the gear, all the time" fits the nature of the sport. The most convincing testimony is from those that are converts to this viewpoint, only after a tragedy or near miss gave them a wake up call. I am a new riding addict and cannot imagine not being a rider now.I have already assumed a certain measure of risk, and love it so much that I am willing to accept that risk. However, there are MANY steps we can take to keep us on the road, safely. Too many other things to watch for, so I'm getting a full-face too to make sure I go intoall situations with the best odds I can. If it's my time to go and my kids have to explain how I went, I don't want them to have to say "she would have made it and been around for us if she would have been wearingthe righthelmet." That would be pathetic, and selfish of me in regard to my family. IMO. So, maybe a Scorpion X-700 Women's Black Dahlia--think I'll go try one on[8D]!
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Getting a full face helmet.
welcome to the world of riding. I've been riding for years and just recently went to a full face. What a difference...the noise level, the bugs, the fatigue from all that wind in your face and I ride when its in the 30's so, it makes a HUGE difference in that dept.. I also got the Scorpion x-700...it's a great helmet that is both DOT and Snell approved for a REALLY great price. I still have my 3/4 helmet and I still wear it occasionally, but for the longer trips, cooler weather riding and safety factor, I find myself almost always with the full face helmet on. Wishing you many years of safe riding...
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Ovilla, TX
RE: Getting a full face helmet.
I won't ride without a helmet. If I'm in a crash that doesn't kill me, don't want to live rest of life with scambled eggs. Have been wearing 1/2 HD helmet, but got the wife and I flip ups when she decided she wanted to start riding her own bike and I wanted to be able to communicate bike to bike. We got some Hawks from Leatherup.com. Really like them so much, I wear the flip up more than the 1/2. The Blue Ant Interphone also works with my cell phone. I really like the lack of wind noise on the hiway.