Mushroom head!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
I bought a full face for the winter months and a half for warmer weather. I bought the carbon kevlar helmets from the Harley shop . They are light weight and I had the misfortune of trying out the full face Feb 6. It handled the asphalt rash very well and I am proud of all that padding. They say I will heal in a few months but can you imagine what my tombstone would have read if I wasn't wearing it or if I had went with a cheap skid lid. Everyone has an opinion. I am proud of my carbon kevlar full face, it is scratched front, back, sides, face shield is scratched pretty bad to. I don't like wearing a helmet but I doubt I would have like facial reconstruction...
To answer the original question after all my babbling ( they gave me good pills)
I really like the half shel I bought , other than looking like a cross between a bobble head and a mushroom. It weighs about 3 lbs and is really comfortable and the carbon kevlar has proved itsself to me.
I have to give cudos to the FXRG suits too. I am broke all to pieces but I didn't get a scratch.
To answer the original question after all my babbling ( they gave me good pills)
I really like the half shel I bought , other than looking like a cross between a bobble head and a mushroom. It weighs about 3 lbs and is really comfortable and the carbon kevlar has proved itsself to me.
I have to give cudos to the FXRG suits too. I am broke all to pieces but I didn't get a scratch.
Full face is obviously the best protection. But I can't stand to wear one, I've given it a good honest try too. Love my cheap G7 DOT 1/2 helmet, but wear a 3/4 most of the time due to headset. My theory is, if the bike looks good enough, nobody will be looking at my mushroom head anyway
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: NC
I bought a full face for the winter months and a half for warmer weather. I bought the carbon kevlar helmets from the Harley shop . They are light weight and I had the misfortune of trying out the full face Feb 6. It handled the asphalt rash very well and I am proud of all that padding. They say I will heal in a few months but can you imagine what my tombstone would have read if I wasn't wearing it or if I had went with a cheap skid lid. Everyone has an opinion. I am proud of my carbon kevlar full face, it is scratched front, back, sides, face shield is scratched pretty bad to. I don't like wearing a helmet but I doubt I would have like facial reconstruction...
To answer the original question after all my babbling ( they gave me good pills)
I really like the half shel I bought , other than looking like a cross between a bobble head and a mushroom. It weighs about 3 lbs and is really comfortable and the carbon kevlar has proved itsself to me.
I have to give cudos to the FXRG suits too. I am broke all to pieces but I didn't get a scratch.
To answer the original question after all my babbling ( they gave me good pills)
I really like the half shel I bought , other than looking like a cross between a bobble head and a mushroom. It weighs about 3 lbs and is really comfortable and the carbon kevlar has proved itsself to me.
I have to give cudos to the FXRG suits too. I am broke all to pieces but I didn't get a scratch.
Yeah, I've rode with all styles. Laid down a bike with a full face on, but head never hit anything really. Got lucky!! Was able to somehow get the bike onto the grass before it went completely down. Broke a rib or two, sprained a wrist, and general scrapes and scratches.
As everyone has said, it's a matter of choice. I enjoy the air with the half helmet, but the whole mushroom head thing isn't just about looks, but also the bigger on your head, the more wind and buffeting plays a part. I've cut down the buffeting a great deal, but look for the right helmet for me. I also understand for protection, it can be a necessary evil. More foam or padding is going to create a bigger helmet profile.
Many opinions, many preferences, and everyone here is great to share their thoughts.
Thanks for the feedback!
Last edited by beracing; Mar 14, 2009 at 10:08 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Iowa
If you already have an HCI don't bother with the skid lid brand helmet, they claim its the smallest dot helmet but I took measurements of my HCI helmet then went and measured the Skid Lid helmet and it was the same sizes everywhere. I too was looking for a helmet that didn't stick out so far on the sides, which gives you that mushroom head look. still haven't found the perfect helmet, so sticking with the one I have.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: U.S.S.A.
Nothing like a helmet thread to stir things up!
I have an admittedly warped perspective on this. I ride with a novelty helmet because I don't WANT to survive a crash if I have one, but I have to have a lid on to keep 5-0 happy. The last thing I want or can afford is to be in a hospital bed for weeks, then rehab -- I can't afford that. But I do have great life insurance. My wife understands that I love to ride and she'd financially protected. After 20+ years with me, it probably enough already anyhow.
I think anyone who expects to survive a crash ought to wear a 3/4 or FF at a minimum. Half helmets look cool, but even when DOT certified won't do much for you when your face is sliding across the asphalt or piercing some cager's windshield. If you look at the impact statistics, a half-helmet would only protect 40% of the areas normally impacted in a MC crash (assuming it stays on).
I have an admittedly warped perspective on this. I ride with a novelty helmet because I don't WANT to survive a crash if I have one, but I have to have a lid on to keep 5-0 happy. The last thing I want or can afford is to be in a hospital bed for weeks, then rehab -- I can't afford that. But I do have great life insurance. My wife understands that I love to ride and she'd financially protected. After 20+ years with me, it probably enough already anyhow.
I think anyone who expects to survive a crash ought to wear a 3/4 or FF at a minimum. Half helmets look cool, but even when DOT certified won't do much for you when your face is sliding across the asphalt or piercing some cager's windshield. If you look at the impact statistics, a half-helmet would only protect 40% of the areas normally impacted in a MC crash (assuming it stays on).
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 3
From: Ocean View, DE
I did a lot of research when looking for a half helmet for my lady. She has arthritis in her neck and wanted the lightest DOT I could find. Everyone was pointing to carbon fiber. After doing more research, especially looking at the actual DOT test results (which give independant weights by-the-way..since five different manufacturer's CAN'T all have THE LIGHTEST!)...I got her a Daytona (not carbon fiber). We have been more than happy with this lid.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 7
From: Hoffman Estates, IL
SB 1351 if I recall. It's already past committee. If it goes along party lines, we'll be forced to lid-up before summer.
Won't affect me much as I tend to wear a helmet - I'm sorry - I choose to wear a helmet most of the time. But I'm not going to like being forced into wearing one...
(EDIT) Yep - SB1351: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/bill...3&SessionID=76
Last edited by JohnScrip; Mar 15, 2009 at 02:18 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
Nothing like a helmet thread to stir things up!
I have an admittedly warped perspective on this. I ride with a novelty helmet because I don't WANT to survive a crash if I have one, but I have to have a lid on to keep 5-0 happy. The last thing I want or can afford is to be in a hospital bed for weeks, then rehab -- I can't afford that. But I do have great life insurance. My wife understands that I love to ride and she'd financially protected. After 20+ years with me, it probably enough already anyhow.
I think anyone who expects to survive a crash ought to wear a 3/4 or FF at a minimum. Half helmets look cool, but even when DOT certified won't do much for you when your face is sliding across the asphalt or piercing some cager's windshield. If you look at the impact statistics, a half-helmet would only protect 40% of the areas normally impacted in a MC crash (assuming it stays on).
I have an admittedly warped perspective on this. I ride with a novelty helmet because I don't WANT to survive a crash if I have one, but I have to have a lid on to keep 5-0 happy. The last thing I want or can afford is to be in a hospital bed for weeks, then rehab -- I can't afford that. But I do have great life insurance. My wife understands that I love to ride and she'd financially protected. After 20+ years with me, it probably enough already anyhow.
I think anyone who expects to survive a crash ought to wear a 3/4 or FF at a minimum. Half helmets look cool, but even when DOT certified won't do much for you when your face is sliding across the asphalt or piercing some cager's windshield. If you look at the impact statistics, a half-helmet would only protect 40% of the areas normally impacted in a MC crash (assuming it stays on).