Open face helmet vs full face helmet - whats better for GTA? | Page 5 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Open face helmet vs full face helmet - whats better for GTA?

Forum Sponsor
turbodish said:
It's not about safety with these fools. It's about looking bad-*** with the other fools at Timmies. However with those fools the one-piece or two-piece zippered together leathers do serve a most useful purpose. When they eventually do go down, the leather is very good at containing the jellied flesh and shattered bones for easier clean-up by the meat wagon people.
Click to expand...

Certainly you are not suggesting that wearing leathers in ANY situation is anything but good sense are you?
 
dankyyz said:
Certainly you are not suggesting that wearing leathers in ANY situation is anything but good sense are you?
Click to expand...

Hell, I tend to think that the trend of poseurs wearing race leathers has contributed to the plummeting fatality rates, for motorcyclists over the last 20 years. Who cares WHY they wear them, as long as they DO? Same with replica full-face lids. If they like the fancy paint job, and it protects them better, who cares why they're wearing them?
 
Rob MacLennan said:
Hell, I tend to think that the trend of poseurs wearing race leathers has contributed to the plummeting fatality rates, for motorcyclists over the last 20 years. Who cares WHY they wear them, as long as they DO? Same with replica full-face lids. If they like the fancy paint job, and it protects them better, who cares why they're wearing them?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Any suggestion to the contrary does no one any good. I do reaize there is a convo surrounding the idea that people who wear more gear (or some that do) use that protection as an excuse to ride faster. I think they would anyway, and so yea...even if it means their remains are easier to clean up it should be encouraged.
 
I mostly ride with an open face but have both.As a new rider i would say go for the full face.Here are some pages that should help you decide Harry Hurt weighs in on the issue.Also at the top of the pages under riding tip there are a # of articals that are very helpful to new and old riders.Using the SMIDSY can keep you from scratching you new skid lid on the pavement?

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/0612_crup_motorcycle_safety/index.html

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/riding_tips/index.html
 
dankyyz said:
Certainly you are not suggesting that wearing leathers in ANY situation is anything but good sense are you?
Click to expand...

Hell no. Leathers do provide an extra measure of protection against rash, and armour can provide an extra measure against more serious injuries, provided that riding style remains constant.

However, certain types of riders make a lot of noise about the personal safety necessity of ATGATT, yet will then go and squander that additional protection dividend by riding to extremes that will defeat any protection the leathers and armour can provide. That's the paradox with some of these people.
 
carrotlover said:
Passionate discussion and lots of opinions. Thanks. I guess something to think about. I don't think I would get fully open face, it would be flip if anything.

So what about the weight. I dont have any experience, so does 1LBS make a difference after few hours of riding? Is it something you end up "feeling"? Does it feel "heavy" after a while? Mind you, I already have allot of "heavy" thoughts in my head :p
Click to expand...

The newer helmets are much lighter than what they used to be, you shouldn't have any difficulty in this regards seeing as you are only riding 60-80 kms.

If you are going shopping for a full face, find a brightly coloured not dark helmet it will be cooler and much more noticeable in traffic. Look for one that offer plenty of venting, the more venting the more noiser the helmet will be so ear plugs should be considered, and most importantly make sure it fits.

There are some good deals on non Snell 2010 helmets out there right now.
 
I started with an open face helmet my first year on a bike but shortly after I switched to full face and won't go back. I've mainly ridden sportbikes over the years but my choice of helmet is not dictated by fashion. If I were to someday go to the dark side and ride a cruiser I would still stick to a full helmet even though there are a few open face lids with Snell approval, (HJC FS-3 and Shoei RJ Platinum-R). A test was done a few years back concerning hearing loss associated with different style helmets. I forget what decibal level they said was too much for the human ear to be subjected to, but an open face helmet was above the threshold even after earplugs were introduced into the experiment. The full face was around or slightly below the threshold and well below after the earplugs were put in. I have found I can still hear more of my surroundings with my full face and ear plugs in place then I can just driving my truck with the windows up and the radio on.

Also, as most others have pointed out here you just have more protection in the event something happens. And you don't need to crash or be going 120 kl/h to benefit from the added coverage. I've been hit in the head by a licence plate that flew off a rental van, a seagul, and numerous rocks. The best hit I took was from a golf ball as I was riding past the old golf course at the end of Morningside Ave, (long gone, houses there now). The ball hit me in the shoulder and my hand came off the left bar as the impact turned me sideways on the seat. If that ball had hit me in the face with an open face lid on it would have cleaned all my front teeth out, or busted my nose. I'm sure I wouldn't have stayed on the bike.
Hot days you do sweat more but I prefer that to what might happen when wearing less protection. Hope this helps.
 
caboose483 said:
There is a difference between a $1000 helmet, a $300 helmet, and a $70 helmet.. ragardless of your opinions of the salesman.. there's a differnce.

You can wear whatever you like just don't offer bad information.
Click to expand...

Besides the obvious comfort, venting, and weight features, exactly what are the differences in protection offered by the expensive helmets vs cheaper helmets? What differences in impact absorbtion, crush ratio, and energy dispersion as pertaining to the various areas of the skull in relation to point of contact at tested speeds? Or are you speaking purely from an observational standpoint from what you have witnessed at the track? And if so I'm interested in what you've seen.
 
Comfort, weight, and venting go towards reducing fatigue, which helps increase a rider's awareness of his surroundings. Don't sell that short.

From the standpoint of protection in a crash, while reduced weight can help reduce neck trauma, getting a helmet that actually FITS is more important, as long as the usual standards are met. Far too many people get helmets that are too loose because they either think that they're more comfortable, or don't know how to choose the correct size.
 
RedDogDarren said:
Besides the obvious comfort, venting, and weight features, exactly what are the differences in protection offered by the expensive helmets vs cheaper helmets? What differences in impact absorbtion, crush ratio, and energy dispersion as pertaining to the various areas of the skull in relation to point of contact at tested speeds? Or are you speaking purely from an observational standpoint from what you have witnessed at the track? And if so I'm interested in what you've seen.
Click to expand...

A little of column A and and a little of column B.

Different shell materials are used for the higher end helmets versus the lower end ones. Fibgerglass, carbon fiber, polycarbonate and plastic are common for shell construction. Not all full face helmets are Snell, ECE or BSI certified. No open face helmets are Snell, ECE or BSI certified. There's also some simple observation that makes me think a bit extra $ is worth it.

A friend of mine got knocked out while wearing his Zox helmet and other than that there wasn't a scratch on him. It is Snell certified but it's a fairly inexpensive helmet. I was wearing a Shoei RF1000 when I crashed at Shannville, I hit my head hard enough on the left side to break the visor off, destroy the visor mechanism and put a hefty gouge into the fiberglass above my left eye. I rang my bell pretty good remained concious.

To some extent, the extra $ is paying for comfort, ventilation and lightness but there is undoubtedly an increase in quality and safety that goes along with it.
 
Thanks for the info, personal experiences and observations I hold in high regard.
 
Aside from a few rants, this has been a good thread. It has made me think about my riding habits. I confess that I have riden since '03 with an open face helmet - over 140,000k. I own a full face, but I feel it limits peripheral vision and it is hard to get on with glasses. I am definitely considering changing my ways.
 
AGS said:
Aside from a few rants, this has been a good thread. It has made me think about my riding habits. I confess that I have riden since '03 with an open face helmet - over 140,000k. I own a full face, but I feel it limits peripheral vision and it is hard to get on with glasses. I am definitely considering changing my ways.
Click to expand...

Even a flip front helmet is better than an open face, because it'll save your teeth from a thrown-up rock. It's also easier to get glasses on with. Not worth much more in a crash though, because manufacturers seem reluctant to properly fasten and brace the flips.
 
I have both types (one full face and two 3/4).

For the 4** highways I always use full face due to quietness and wind protection. For cold weather I use full face because it is warmer.

As for city riding (home-work-home, GTA area or where speed limit is below 70) I always use 3/4.
This helmet give me maximum visibility. I even can see following car just slightly turning my head, so a can drive even without rear mirrors. This "feature" is possible with 3/4 or 1/2 helmets only.
I also can drink/speak/smoke keeping helmet on. Opening a visor I fill myself like I have nothing on my head. It is also easy to take off/on, which way more comfortable in frequent stops.
 
Interesting needs.
I've never had to eat/drink/smoke while I've been riding. I can still speak and be heard with a full face. I've never had a problem seeing anything at all, shoulder checks are quite handy. And I've never had a problem taking my helmet off or on in a few seconds.

Conveniences and preferences are totally individual of course and it's interesting to read. When I tried the half helmet it was quite a unique experience.
 
AGS said:
I own a full face, but I feel it limits peripheral vision and it is hard to get on with glasses. I am definitely considering changing my ways.
Click to expand...

I went to a flip-up because of the glasses issue. With the thing flippped up I have enough room to easily put on the helmet over a pair of glasses I'm already wearing. You can also put on a pair of glasses without difficulty if you already have the helmet on but flipped up. Peripheral vision issues vary by helmet manufacturer and the way they choose to style and size their visor openings - just shop around for the helmet with an opening size that works for you.
 
AGS said:
Aside from a few rants, this has been a good thread. It has made me think about my riding habits. I confess that I have riden since '03 with an open face helmet - over 140,000k. I own a full face, but I feel it limits peripheral vision and it is hard to get on with glasses. I am definitely considering changing my ways.
Click to expand...

Try on an Arai. I had several clunky helmets over the years. Then i tried an Arai (i have an oval shaped head) at one of the shows. It fit properly, and had a MUCH better range of vision than any helmet i had ever worn. The material of the liner was yeliding but held my head firmly. I can EASILY take glasses of any kind on and off. Take your glasses off, put helmet on, and then put glasses back on. Same as shades.

Just try one on that is right for your head shape and report back will ya? There IS a difference.
 
I got me a flip up and like the convenience. No company is going to tell you that it's okay to ride it with it up but im sure they know people do anyway. Its nice to have when you find yourself in traffic on a hot day or even when you're cruising a low speeds. Point is, its nice to have option
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom