Helmets Pro/Con
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Helmets Pro/Con
I slid 185' down the interstate on my head when I was 23 if I hadn't been wearing a full face helmet I would not be here. But I still think the government should not be telling us what to wear or not to wear. I wear one most of the time but I would like the freedom to choose not to if I want.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 59
From: SW Burbs of Chicago
RE: Helmets Pro/Con
Not a law in Illinois. I own one and I wore it religiously when I had my Goldwing (for the radio and intercom). I really dont go to States where it is required. Havent worn it much lately anly when its cold. We all have stories about how we were almost killed so I wont bore you all with mine. At the risk of sounding like an activist, I think we should all lobby the government to take back our rights as tax payers and start doing what we think is best for us individually. Wear a helmet or dont wear a seatbelt or dont.Shouldnt be a law. I really dont care what the neighbor does, just what relates to me. I guess its a Live and let Live attitude. But children under the age of 18 should ALWAYS wear a helmet and seatbelts untill the are old enough and educated enough to decide for themselfs.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Niagara Frontier, NY
RE: Helmets Pro/Con
NY is a helmet law state, if it were not I would still wear one, just my personal preference. Often the difference between life & death, serious injury or minor, accident or near miss is measured in the smallest increments. A few more seconds, just a little speed difference or protective riding gear can make the difference. I want to have as many factors in my favor as I can.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 26
RE: Helmets Pro/Con
In Utah, its optional if you are over 18.
I have been riding since age 16 (42 now) and short of a few occasions, have always worn a helmet of some sort. Full face exclusively up until 2 years ago.
I like the safety of a full face, I like that when you get caught in a sudden downpour or hailstorm, you reach up and close the sheild, and your good to go, at least as far as your face. I like that there is one more layer of protection for your eyes. I seem to get less head buffeting in a full face helmet.
What I DONT like:
Helmet hair.
The feeling of being somewhat disconnected from your surroundings. A nice ride through the canyons is more pleasant without the lid on.
The reduction of perhephrieal vision. I know that test after test says this is not so, but I say bullshit. I CANNOT see to the side, or the rear of me as easily with a full face on. Nor can I turn my head as easily to check my blind spot (have never been one to trust mirrors) since the helmet hangs up on the collar of my jacket. I feel the full face affects my perception, as well as my balance. I truly think I handle the bike better when Im wearing my half helmet, and have noticed FAR fewer cars sneaking into my blind spots when wearing the half helmet vs the full face.
What I do NOT undersand, is why they cant/wont open up the eye holes on full face helmets just a little, to afford the same clear view that 1/2 and 3/4 helmets have. Look at the design of motocross helmets, and how big the opening is on those. Cant we get something for the street thats kinda like that? Im talking a quarter inch futher back, and a quarter inch further down, opening wise, would make a huge change IMHO.
Two years ago, I was on a ride with buddys, and was trying to back into a parking spot, in traffic. Took my 5 minutes, cause I had my full face on and could not see behind me worth a damn to back into the spot (had bikes close on both sides that I did not want to hit)
Shortly after that, I started riding with no helmet. Loved it, but felt unsafe as hell. Hence I went to a half helmet, figuring if it was a choice between no helmet and a half helmet.... The half was at least SOME protection. In my case, I have no problem wearing the half helmets. Dont bother me at all.
But Ive started to look at going back to full face, as I really dont want mine, or my wifes face ground off on a slide down the pavement. 3/4 would be a good compromise, but still no face protection, so I dunno. But since I want to get an intercom system, Im gonna have to go with either 3/4 or full face.
Can anyone recomend a full face with any larger opening than the norm? (probably no such animal)
I have been riding since age 16 (42 now) and short of a few occasions, have always worn a helmet of some sort. Full face exclusively up until 2 years ago.
I like the safety of a full face, I like that when you get caught in a sudden downpour or hailstorm, you reach up and close the sheild, and your good to go, at least as far as your face. I like that there is one more layer of protection for your eyes. I seem to get less head buffeting in a full face helmet.
What I DONT like:
Helmet hair.
The feeling of being somewhat disconnected from your surroundings. A nice ride through the canyons is more pleasant without the lid on.
The reduction of perhephrieal vision. I know that test after test says this is not so, but I say bullshit. I CANNOT see to the side, or the rear of me as easily with a full face on. Nor can I turn my head as easily to check my blind spot (have never been one to trust mirrors) since the helmet hangs up on the collar of my jacket. I feel the full face affects my perception, as well as my balance. I truly think I handle the bike better when Im wearing my half helmet, and have noticed FAR fewer cars sneaking into my blind spots when wearing the half helmet vs the full face.
What I do NOT undersand, is why they cant/wont open up the eye holes on full face helmets just a little, to afford the same clear view that 1/2 and 3/4 helmets have. Look at the design of motocross helmets, and how big the opening is on those. Cant we get something for the street thats kinda like that? Im talking a quarter inch futher back, and a quarter inch further down, opening wise, would make a huge change IMHO.
Two years ago, I was on a ride with buddys, and was trying to back into a parking spot, in traffic. Took my 5 minutes, cause I had my full face on and could not see behind me worth a damn to back into the spot (had bikes close on both sides that I did not want to hit)
Shortly after that, I started riding with no helmet. Loved it, but felt unsafe as hell. Hence I went to a half helmet, figuring if it was a choice between no helmet and a half helmet.... The half was at least SOME protection. In my case, I have no problem wearing the half helmets. Dont bother me at all.
But Ive started to look at going back to full face, as I really dont want mine, or my wifes face ground off on a slide down the pavement. 3/4 would be a good compromise, but still no face protection, so I dunno. But since I want to get an intercom system, Im gonna have to go with either 3/4 or full face.
Can anyone recomend a full face with any larger opening than the norm? (probably no such animal)
RE: Helmets Pro/Con
Change hair style.
Use more hair spray.
Get a modular helmet (shoei).
Use mirrors when backing up.
Use more hair spray.
Get a modular helmet (shoei).
Use mirrors when backing up.
ORIGINAL: ww1flyingace
In Utah, its optional if you are over 18.
I have been riding since age 16 (42 now) and short of a few occasions, have always worn a helmet of some sort. Full face exclusively up until 2 years ago.
I like the safety of a full face, I like that when you get caught in a sudden downpour or hailstorm, you reach up and close the sheild, and your good to go, at least as far as your face. I like that there is one more layer of protection for your eyes. I seem to get less head buffeting in a full face helmet.
What I DONT like:
Helmet hair.
The feeling of being somewhat disconnected from your surroundings. A nice ride through the canyons is more pleasant without the lid on.
The reduction of perhephrieal vision. I know that test after test says this is not so, but I say bullshit. I CANNOT see to the side, or the rear of me as easily with a full face on. Nor can I turn my head as easily to check my blind spot (have never been one to trust mirrors) since the helmet hangs up on the collar of my jacket. I feel the full face affects my perception, as well as my balance. I truly think I handle the bike better when Im wearing my half helmet, and have noticed FAR fewer cars sneaking into my blind spots when wearing the half helmet vs the full face.
What I do NOT undersand, is why they cant/wont open up the eye holes on full face helmets just a little, to afford the same clear view that 1/2 and 3/4 helmets have. Look at the design of motocross helmets, and how big the opening is on those. Cant we get something for the street thats kinda like that? Im talking a quarter inch futher back, and a quarter inch further down, opening wise, would make a huge change IMHO.
Two years ago, I was on a ride with buddys, and was trying to back into a parking spot, in traffic. Took my 5 minutes, cause I had my full face on and could not see behind me worth a damn to back into the spot (had bikes close on both sides that I did not want to hit)
Shortly after that, I started riding with no helmet. Loved it, but felt unsafe as hell. Hence I went to a half helmet, figuring if it was a choice between no helmet and a half helmet.... The half was at least SOME protection. In my case, I have no problem wearing the half helmets. Dont bother me at all.
But Ive started to look at going back to full face, as I really dont want mine, or my wifes face ground off on a slide down the pavement. 3/4 would be a good compromise, but still no face protection, so I dunno. But since I want to get an intercom system, Im gonna have to go with either 3/4 or full face.
Can anyone recomend a full face with any larger opening than the norm? (probably no such animal)
In Utah, its optional if you are over 18.
I have been riding since age 16 (42 now) and short of a few occasions, have always worn a helmet of some sort. Full face exclusively up until 2 years ago.
I like the safety of a full face, I like that when you get caught in a sudden downpour or hailstorm, you reach up and close the sheild, and your good to go, at least as far as your face. I like that there is one more layer of protection for your eyes. I seem to get less head buffeting in a full face helmet.
What I DONT like:
Helmet hair.
The feeling of being somewhat disconnected from your surroundings. A nice ride through the canyons is more pleasant without the lid on.
The reduction of perhephrieal vision. I know that test after test says this is not so, but I say bullshit. I CANNOT see to the side, or the rear of me as easily with a full face on. Nor can I turn my head as easily to check my blind spot (have never been one to trust mirrors) since the helmet hangs up on the collar of my jacket. I feel the full face affects my perception, as well as my balance. I truly think I handle the bike better when Im wearing my half helmet, and have noticed FAR fewer cars sneaking into my blind spots when wearing the half helmet vs the full face.
What I do NOT undersand, is why they cant/wont open up the eye holes on full face helmets just a little, to afford the same clear view that 1/2 and 3/4 helmets have. Look at the design of motocross helmets, and how big the opening is on those. Cant we get something for the street thats kinda like that? Im talking a quarter inch futher back, and a quarter inch further down, opening wise, would make a huge change IMHO.
Two years ago, I was on a ride with buddys, and was trying to back into a parking spot, in traffic. Took my 5 minutes, cause I had my full face on and could not see behind me worth a damn to back into the spot (had bikes close on both sides that I did not want to hit)
Shortly after that, I started riding with no helmet. Loved it, but felt unsafe as hell. Hence I went to a half helmet, figuring if it was a choice between no helmet and a half helmet.... The half was at least SOME protection. In my case, I have no problem wearing the half helmets. Dont bother me at all.
But Ive started to look at going back to full face, as I really dont want mine, or my wifes face ground off on a slide down the pavement. 3/4 would be a good compromise, but still no face protection, so I dunno. But since I want to get an intercom system, Im gonna have to go with either 3/4 or full face.
Can anyone recomend a full face with any larger opening than the norm? (probably no such animal)
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 521
Likes: 1
RE: Helmets Pro/Con
I almost always wear a full face. Sometimes a 3/4, but not very often. I dumped a dirt bike on the road when I ws 16, and while they were stitching my chin back together, i kept thinking if I had been wearing a full face, I wouldn't be getting my face sewn up. Helmets are kind of like seat belts in that neither will likely save you in an extremely violent collision, but both will protect you in the the minor mishaps where they are the difference between walking away or being carried to the morgue. All you have to do is imagine how bad it is going to hurt your head to hit the pavement at even 10mph. unprotected, you have little chance of coming away without serious injury. Now, add the fact that 80% of people can't really drive, and then throw in that 90% are on the phone, and I'll keep mine on. Do I enjoy riding without one more, yes, but I also enjoy life.