highway riding
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Middle River, MD
Like A7X, I wear earplugs if I'm gong to spend more than an hour at highway speeds. Otherwise, they just stay in my vest pocket. I wear a full face helmet on all rides, because that's all I own. I started wearing one 15 years ago when a neighbor had is jaw wired closed after an accident. I now know at least two other people who had to eat soup through a straw for the same reason.
I must wear prescription glasses to avoid the "driving while blind" scenario, but that was a consideration when selecting a helmet. The padding in my full face has a gap to keep from squeezing the frame, and the visor flips up easily to put my glasses on after putting my helmet on. I considered a modular helmet, but all of them seem too fragile, and I've seen a number of them fail at the hinges just in normal use.
If you can tolerate it at all, I recommend you give an honest effort to convert to a full face helmet. It's really a matter of what you get used to. Any change seems strange for a while.
Most of the guys I ride with wear turtle tops, and they kid me until it starts to rain. Along with the rain gear, they dig out bandannas and neoprene face masks, complaining that they can't breathe when the face cover gets wet. Afterward, they confess a desire to wear a full face too, but claim they feel too confined in one.
I must wear prescription glasses to avoid the "driving while blind" scenario, but that was a consideration when selecting a helmet. The padding in my full face has a gap to keep from squeezing the frame, and the visor flips up easily to put my glasses on after putting my helmet on. I considered a modular helmet, but all of them seem too fragile, and I've seen a number of them fail at the hinges just in normal use.
If you can tolerate it at all, I recommend you give an honest effort to convert to a full face helmet. It's really a matter of what you get used to. Any change seems strange for a while.
Most of the guys I ride with wear turtle tops, and they kid me until it starts to rain. Along with the rain gear, they dig out bandannas and neoprene face masks, complaining that they can't breathe when the face cover gets wet. Afterward, they confess a desire to wear a full face too, but claim they feel too confined in one.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 1
From: MCALLEN ,TX
i wear a full face helmet most of the time...if you spend some $$ and get a good one, you'll realize that they are great in all weather conditions.
if confinement is an issue, i suggest you buy a modular style so that you can flip up the entire face portion converting the helmet into a temporary 3/4.
i used to catch so much sh*t for wearing a full face on my harley...which is weird cuz every day it seems that more and more people are wearing full face.
personally i think half's dont offer enough protection and look goofy to boot.(at least on me). I've gotta bad *** scorpion exo700 full face that matches my icon "dead mans hand" leather jacket(which i cant wear cuz its too freakin hot!) but come "winter" (south texas "winter" is VERY different from everyone elses..) i'll be sporting the whole get up...even to the grocery store..
if confinement is an issue, i suggest you buy a modular style so that you can flip up the entire face portion converting the helmet into a temporary 3/4.
i used to catch so much sh*t for wearing a full face on my harley...which is weird cuz every day it seems that more and more people are wearing full face.
personally i think half's dont offer enough protection and look goofy to boot.(at least on me). I've gotta bad *** scorpion exo700 full face that matches my icon "dead mans hand" leather jacket(which i cant wear cuz its too freakin hot!) but come "winter" (south texas "winter" is VERY different from everyone elses..) i'll be sporting the whole get up...even to the grocery store..
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Cambridge, Ont, Canada
Wow, I went to work and when I came home -- two pages !!! I like the earplugs for sure, like everyone says, they make it quieter and more relaxed. I think a ff helmut is on the list for me. The only thing, every time I look at them they have tons of graphics and look like they are for the rice rocket crowd -- any one know of a nice black ff that doesn't scream out "I'm a teenager" ????
1st Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, California
http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/de...Drifter_Helmet
(the helmets on the link are overpriced, just wanted to give you an example)
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
I wear a full face, Icon brand flat black. Imho with a FF I can concentrate on enjoying the ride and not worry about wind/rain/bugs/rocks/cold on my face. I suggest you try it.
EDIT: Here's a link http://www.rideicon.com/product_deta...y=2228&id=8811 it matches my Iron perfectly.
EDIT: Here's a link http://www.rideicon.com/product_deta...y=2228&id=8811 it matches my Iron perfectly.
Last edited by valet21; Sep 15, 2009 at 08:19 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
I wear ear plugs for every ride. I can hear everything I would be able to hear while riding and when I stop I can hear better than I would be able to without wearing plugs. I get the orange ones from Howard Leight (33 decibel reduction). There are things I can hear with the plugs that I can't hear without them. Some frequencies cut through more easily.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 990
Likes: 10
From: Redondo Beach, California
Full Face and ear plugs ALL the time. I already had my jaw wired shut from a hit and run driver taking me and my motorcycle out. I lost 48 lbs in the time it took to take the wires off. I have a solid white Shoei helmet and people have told me that they think that I am a cop when they see the white helmet and the motorcycle on the road. I just want them to SEE me period! 