Open face helmet in the UK?

[mu0n]

13aines said:

mu0n said:

Talking of risks… my friend turned up to the pub yesterday on his new (to him) K9 GSXR750. When he passed me his helmet and said ‘have a go’ I couldn’t turn him down. So off I went with my shorts, flip-flops and short sleeved shirt with my only protection being a helmet. I must have looked like a right dipstick and it wasn’t overly comfortable… but what a bike! The gear shift is so silky and easy with flip-flops too.

What the fk are you on! - I find the gear shift less "silky and smooth" in soft trainers, compared to my race boots.

mu0ns foot

I think you mis-read it.

I didn't know how gear changes would fair wearing flip-flops but to my surprise the gear changes were really silky. I'm not saying I'd find it comfortable doing any sort of decent mileage, but booting (err...flip-flopping?) it through 1st 2nd and 3rd it felt surprisingly soft.

[GadgeS3C]

srob said:

As for being hit by a bee - I've had a bee strike or two in the face. Yeah it hurts, but it's survivable! I always wear eye protection though unless I'm going very, very slowly.

Bee strike - pah! I've survived a pigeon strike - not sure if the pigeon made it though

[Dare2Fail]

13aines said:

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?

Good point! Not sure what happened to the link I tried to post. I'll try again:

http://silodrome.com/distressed-helmets-by-dig-the...

[13aines]

mu0n said:

I think you mis-read it.

I didn't know how gear changes would fair wearing flip-flops but to my surprise the gear changes were really silky. I'm not saying I'd find it comfortable doing any sort of decent mileage, but booting (err...flip-flopping?) it through 1st 2nd and 3rd it felt surprisingly soft.

Apologies

His gear shifter must have been modified with a miniature kids swimming arm band for you then

[Harvey mush man]

I've tried a stack of open face helmets over the last few years. Not sure if you've made your mind up yet, but if you haven't...

Davida come up small, the fit is really snug. You may find you won't need ear protection if you go for one, I could barely hear a thing, fine for longer journeys, not so good when you're asking for directions or trying to chat to a mate at the lights. The lining and general finish is really high quality, the double D ring fastener reassuring (not a common feature on open face helmets). Bit too much of the cannon ball head thing for my liking. You'll also knacker your sunglasses unless they have bendy arms. I think there are better fitting helmets out there for less money.

Diesel AGV (pictured) feels like a good quality thing, even after a thousand miles plus. The ratchet style strap didn't fill me with confidence, but I liked the range of movement (shoulder checks, rubber necking, looking back at skids etc). The pull down visor catches on the runners if you don't pull it down completely straight, but it works pretty well. There isn't much actual helmet for the money, but what there is looks and feels good.

Those cheap as chips ebay jobs from Hong Kong aren't worth a toss. They look really cool, because they're thin, but this means that the lining is crap and the shell is about as thick as the paint holding it together. It'l only take one push and pull on the sides of one of these to see what I mean, don't waste your money. It's your choice if you want to wear an open faced lid, but I wouldn't wish one of these on anyone.

Bell 500 RT is the one for me. It seems to strike the perfect balance between the heavyweight Davida and the cheap and nasty ebay crap. Buckle type fastener is a bit of a pain (not a one handed operation), but the leather lining is comfortable and quiet. The shell size is spot on, meaning you won't look like you're about to be fired from a cannon every time you go for a ride. You'll get a set of moody Raybans in one of these no worries. I like wearing open face helmets because they seem to stop me from riding like a goon, plus I can smoke a fag while I ride if I feel like it. The pop on bubble visor that comes with the Bell is a little bit too Hollywood for me, plus it fills with smoke, which is really dangerous.

I've tried others, but those seem to be the most popular at the minute.

If you're new to open face helmets, don't expect your full face size to be the same as your open one. They feel different, you need to go and try one on rather than gambling with an online purchase.

[13aines]

That is certainly an interesting look

You wouldn't be allowed on track in an open face would you?

[LordFlathead]

BliarOut said:

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...

Christ Rob, you are REALLYold

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.

Agreed but if you've been sitting on the fence like me re open face lids, it helps to have some real world perspective.. I'll stick to my full face. People can't see how ugly I actually am

They obviously call it an open face helmet because if you come off.. you will have an open face

[srob]

LordFlathead said:

Agreed but if you've been sitting on the fence like me re open face lids, it helps to have some real world perspective.. I'll stick to my full face. People can't see how ugly I actually am

They obviously call it an open face helmet because if you come off.. you will have an open face

Really?

You'd never thought that may happen if you chin-but the road/pavement?! Yeah it's grim but I've had 10 years of pleasure riding in an open faced lid, and I plan to carry on. As mentioned before, it's risk v's reward and for me the reward is worth that risk.

My cousin wears a 'proper' pisspot Davida like this one;



They're actually illegal in this country (well, the new manufactured ones are - old ones are fine as they were issued with relevant marks when new which are still valid) but luckily he doesn't live in this country

[ZesPak]

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.

It's actually quite endearing that you think horror stories about freak accidents are going to scare off bikers, of all people.

[Pothole]

The usual crap being spouted on here. All of you with the horror stories, how often have you fallen off onto your face since you've been riding? Why is it any more likely just because you're wearing an open face lid? ATGNI Rules!!!

[aeropilot]

srob said:

My cousin wears a 'proper' pisspot Davida like this one;



They're actually illegal in this country (well, the new manufactured ones are - old ones are fine as they were issued with relevant marks when new which are still valid) but luckily he doesn't live in this country

I spent 3 years back in that late '90's riding around on my BSA WDM20 wearing one of those Davida 'piss-pots' despite it being technically illegal here in the UK.

[srob]

aeropilot said:

I spent 3 years back in that late '90's riding around on my BSA WDM20 wearing one of those Davida 'piss-pots' despite it being technically illegal here in the UK.

Loads of people do wear them. I think they look really cool; if I could get a freebie I'd probably wear one

My brother's got a whole shelf full of the original 'corker' lids that the old boy gave him when he bought his Vincent. Some of those look of slightly dubious construction...!!

[mrmaggit]

RizzoTheRat said:

Doesn't look as cool as a proper pisspot, but a Schuberth J1 gives you some chin protection

I've got one of those, superb it is. I also wear it in the Scorpion without the chinbar. The drop-down dark visor is great when the sun is low down.

[y2blade]

I want a Davida one , just need to get somewhere that sells them and try a few on.

[Hooli]

y2blade said:

I want a Davida one , just need to get somewhere that sells them and try a few on.

Only place we found locally was a custom bike shop, all the normal shops just sell gimp outfits & wannabe boreman stuff.

[aeropilot]

y2blade said:

I want a Davida one , just need to get somewhere that sells them and try a few on.

See my earlier post on Moto Central in Hinkley.

[y2blade]

aeropilot said:

y2blade said:

I want a Davida one , just need to get somewhere that sells them and try a few on.

See my earlier post on Moto Central in Hinkley.

Thanks but a long way to ride to try a lid on.

[spoodler]

y2blade said:

Thanks but a long way to ride to try a lid on.

Don't know whereabouts you live but a lot of the Harley dealers stock Davida stuff, and nowadays there seems to be plenty of them about...

[Prof Prolapse]

13aines said:

You wouldn't be allowed on track in an open face would you?

"Right lads, following this safety briefing, all zip together leathers must be fastened, all helmets will be checked for ACU approval and those of you with open face lids must be wearing at least one scarf to hold your mandible together should you bin it".

[srob]

Prof Prolapse said:

13aines said:

You wouldn't be allowed on track in an open face would you?

"Right lads, following this safety briefing, all zip together leathers must be fastened, all helmets will be checked for ACU approval and those of you with open face lids must be wearing at least one scarf to hold your mandible together should you bin it".

I'm guessing you missed the bit about people still wearing them who are racing!

My brother wears one on track, too.