Open face helmet in the UK?

[13aines]

GadgeS3C said:

As for safety, you're choosing to ride a bike, nuff said...

Yes riding a bike is more dangerous than being in a car, however, we can, if we choose to, try to limit the amount of damage we will sustain if we are to come off...

...but you already knew that.

I see the appeal, and if I had a more "period" bike, i'd probably wear a pisspot in the summer, but that is so illogical, sorry. I'm still more exposed to the elements and the fresh air than I am in the car, and I can open the very large visor too

Edited by 13aines on Tuesday 28th May 01:43

[Dare2Fail]

I absolutely love the look of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

[jhoneyball]

I have the open face BMW as a second lid. Called the Airflow, its open front, but has a flip-down visor. Lots of cooling, very very light. Feels solid. However, its fscking noisy, and I have to wear earplugs with it. But the wide-screen visability is great. Just dont try going fast in the rain, cos the rain feels like hailstones at 70mph on your chin :-)

[srob]

13aines said:

Yes riding a bike is more dangerous than being in a car, however, we can, if we choose to, try to limit the amount of damage we will sustain if we are to come off...

...but you already knew that.

I see the appeal, and if I had a more "period" bike, i'd probably wear a pisspot in the summer, but that is so illogical, sorry. I'm still more exposed to the elements and the fresh air than I am in the car, and I can open the very large visor too

Edited by 13aines on Tuesday 28th May 01:43

If you're that worried about safety and minimising risks, you may want to avoid old bikes with their shoddy brakes in the first place!

OP, I wear a Davida Jet in all weathers. Miles nicer than having a full faced lid on when riding an old bike. I'd say that goggle selection is as important as helmet selection though - I have Davida goggles (Aviators, I think)

[3DP]

I use a Caberg flip front for my station run. Open face really feels lovely in the summer.

[13aines]

Dare2Fail said:

I absolutely love the look of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

I can't see any helmets in that vid?

[GadgeS3C]

13aines said:

GadgeS3C said:

As for safety, you're choosing to ride a bike, nuff said...

Yes riding a bike is more dangerous than being in a car, however, we can, if we choose to, try to limit the amount of damage we will sustain if we are to come off...

...but you already knew that.

I see the appeal, and if I had a more "period" bike, i'd probably wear a pisspot in the summer, but that is so illogical, sorry. I'm still more exposed to the elements and the fresh air than I am in the car, and I can open the very large visor too

Edited by 13aines on Tuesday 28th May 01:43

Not wishing to start a pointless discussion ('cos this is PH!) I agree a full face is "safer" than an open if you crash. Like Spoodler earlier I just hate the loss of peripheral vision that a full face causes. Better visibility helps me be more aware of what's around me. I find I can hear better too.

Doesn't help if I get it wrong but helps to avoid getting it wrong in the first place.

Anyway, I don't care if you want to look like Darth Vader as long as you're riding a bike and having fun.

Edited by GadgeS3C on Tuesday 28th May 09:39

[BliarOut]

Me looking the mutts nuts in 1984 in my open face helmet on my Triumph 650.



Five hours later I was having my cheekbone pulled out of my face after headbutting the A pillar of a Hillman

On the plus side, the helmet was unmarked...

[Rubin215]

I would never wear an open face helmet on the road.

I have seen the damage caused by face versus tarmac on several occasions: it ain't pretty.

Worst I have seen was a 30mph scooter rider who slid into the kerb and lost his lower jaw completely, leaving a shattered and bloody mess of teeth, bone and tongue. I still shudder and get the cold shivers up my back when I think of it.

I might not be the best looking bloke, but at least kids don't run away screaming when they see me; I want to keep it that way.

[srob]

Rubin215 said:

I would never wear an open face helmet on the road.

I have seen the damage caused by face versus tarmac on several occasions: it ain't pretty.

Worst I have seen was a 30mph scooter rider who slid into the kerb and lost his lower jaw completely, leaving a shattered and bloody mess of teeth, bone and tongue. I still shudder and get the cold shivers up my back when I think of it.

I might not be the best looking bloke, but at least kids don't run away screaming when they see me; I want to keep it that way.

I think we're all grown up enough to know the risks, thanks.

[13aines]

GadgeS3C said:

I did open a very old can of worms!

I see your point entirely, like I said, if I was riding an older bike, i'd probably wear one too...

Don't mind looking like Darth Vader, so long as I don't look like a fat power ranger - safe there as i'm usually found in jeans, jacket, boots and gloves...

In a similar sense, i'm better off in my onesie if the worst happens I know, but i'm not used to wearing it, and not comfortable, and hate feeling so restricted - but i've been riding in jeans a lot, and I am so used to no restriction!

[ZesPak]

I have a C3, and I'm contemplating a café racer/chopper for the summer, but wouldn't wear a chinless, very fond of the C3.

On another note, I see a lot of riders in the summer with their flip-up open, looks even more dangerous to me?

[Rick_1138]

Its all simply down to preference.

I used to run about in an open fave AGV many moons ago when i rode motocross bikes in fields.

However after having a lowside in my 400 once the area that took all the paint off on my helmet was where my right cheek and lower jaw live, so ever since then its been full face.

However i do really like roof helmets so if i change from the cb1000r to a thruxton etc i may get a roof or bell affair.

[srob]

OP, I was thinking about getting one of these;



An AGV Diesel.

In the end though I realised I love my Davida too much - I fancied a change but I'll wait a while I think. I like the AGV though, I think it blends old and new quite well. The visors would be pretty practical too.

[aeropilot]

I'm currently using a AGV RP60 open face in metalfake orange.

Nice helmet and reasonable price too.

http://www.agv.com/gb/agv/CITY/RP60/MONO%20METAL%2...


I do like the Davida Ninety Two though, great fit for me, but I just wished they did it with their leather liner rather than the itchy fabric they do use for this model.

The Bell RT's don't seem as nice when you try them on, but that maybe my head shape. Not tried on a Bell Custom 500 though, as I can't find any to try on.

[mu0n]

MC Bodge said:

That looks cool as fk!

[kev b]

If your current lid is paintable then why not just paint it plain black or white. I have not crashed for thirty years but still recall the damage to my BellStar chin bar when I did.

I would never wear an open face helmet, especially just to look right on an Enfield.

[Rubin215]

srob said:

Rubin215 said:

I would never wear an open face helmet on the road.

I have seen the damage caused by face versus tarmac on several occasions: it ain't pretty.

Worst I have seen was a 30mph scooter rider who slid into the kerb and lost his lower jaw completely, leaving a shattered and bloody mess of teeth, bone and tongue. I still shudder and get the cold shivers up my back when I think of it.

I might not be the best looking bloke, but at least kids don't run away screaming when they see me; I want to keep it that way.

I think we're all grown up enough to know the risks, thanks.

It's not the risks, it's the outcomes.

Wearing a different helmet doesn't change the level of risk significantly, but it can have a massive difference on the outcome

Shorts and flip-flops V leathers and boots; I know which one gives the best level of protection, but I might still compromise and wear jeans occasionally.

Full-face helmet v massively disfiguring, life-changing injury on the other hand...

[13aines]

But, if you want to risk that, you are well within your right to, and wear an open faced helmet. It's about free choice.

[srob]

Rubin215 said:

It's not the risks, it's the outcomes.

Wearing a different helmet doesn't change the level of risk significantly, but it can have a massive difference on the outcome

Shorts and flip-flops V leathers and boots; I know which one gives the best level of protection, but I might still compromise and wear jeans occasionally.

Full-face helmet v massively disfiguring, life-changing injury on the other hand...

None of which the OP asked about.

Let's face it - if you're bright enough to type without a helper, you're bright enough to know that the likely outcome of coming off with an open face lid is going to be worse than a full faced one. I (along with everyone else who's made that choice - OP included by the sounds of it) don't need horror stories, especially on a bike forum.