Jet or full face?
Discussion
Opinions guys.
I ride a low bhp sports bike and a moped.
The moped is used for 4mile trips to work and back, the sports bike for longer runs and Sunday blasts (tho I rarely go over 60mph)
Need a new lid, so which would be the better all-rounder in my situation, a jet helmet (open face with a massive visor) or a normal full face.
I prefer the better all round vision of the jet but am thinking about safety in the event of an off and face planting the black stuff.
Thanks.
I ride a low bhp sports bike and a moped.
The moped is used for 4mile trips to work and back, the sports bike for longer runs and Sunday blasts (tho I rarely go over 60mph)
Need a new lid, so which would be the better all-rounder in my situation, a jet helmet (open face with a massive visor) or a normal full face.
I prefer the better all round vision of the jet but am thinking about safety in the event of an off and face planting the black stuff.
Thanks.
Personally besides the safety aspect of a full face, its going to work that bit better for riding in the rain given its nature and closable visor. Also have a look at Vee Wipes for your gloves which work like a mini wiper blade for clearing water at low speeds/round town.
If you don't or won't ride in the rain.. get a full face for the additional safety.
If you don't or won't ride in the rain.. get a full face for the additional safety.
I always post the same story when this question comes up.
10 yrs ago i was filtering through town when a pedestrian stepped out. I hit them. They came up over the front of the bike. The impact forced my head downwards, causing the chin of my helmet to hit the tank on the filler cap. It was strong enough to push the filler cap area in by about 1/2 inch.
Not a very high speed impact. If i had a flip front lid i'd probably have had it flipped up - hot weather, filtering through traffic.
Full face for me
10 yrs ago i was filtering through town when a pedestrian stepped out. I hit them. They came up over the front of the bike. The impact forced my head downwards, causing the chin of my helmet to hit the tank on the filler cap. It was strong enough to push the filler cap area in by about 1/2 inch.
Not a very high speed impact. If i had a flip front lid i'd probably have had it flipped up - hot weather, filtering through traffic.
Full face for me
I only own an open face lid now. You make your choices based on your willingness to balance what you want with what the risks are; only you can answer that.
I enjoy wearing an open faced helmet but do be prepared for everyone to tell you about their mate who lost his face in a 3mph crash...
I enjoy wearing an open faced helmet but do be prepared for everyone to tell you about their mate who lost his face in a 3mph crash...
Always had a full-face (at least from 1973 onward), but of late I really fancied the 'wind in your face' and full view of an open face - must be an age thing - so just last week I bought a Shoei RJ Platinum which at least has some lower face side-on protection (the most of any of the open faces I could find) but full-face levels it aint. Just tried it once and rather liked it - but only for poodling about. Any sort of decent speeds and I'll be wearing the full-face - but on nice days, warm, with sunglasses on and nowhere to get to in hurry the open face will make a nice change. Curiously it seems to be thicker (in terms of distance from skull to shell) than my same-sized Shoei Qwest.
Arguably a flip front is the best of both worlds, but I think only the Shark is rated to be ridden open? But open or closed it's heavier and bulkier that either my full face or open face so its a compromise too. I'm happy with the idea of 2 'non-compromised' helmets, as I know in advance if it's a warm sunny day and I'm going for a slow ride...or not. The stuff I'd never wear is these little skull cap thingies the 'mercans wear.
Arguably a flip front is the best of both worlds, but I think only the Shark is rated to be ridden open? But open or closed it's heavier and bulkier that either my full face or open face so its a compromise too. I'm happy with the idea of 2 'non-compromised' helmets, as I know in advance if it's a warm sunny day and I'm going for a slow ride...or not. The stuff I'd never wear is these little skull cap thingies the 'mercans wear.
I wear an open face for the majority of my riding now and love it, although that is just fair weather trips on the RE.
Going touring this year into Scandinavia i will probably take the full face just as extra protection from the cold / weather, but summer riding for me now just feel so much more free and enjoyable with the open face.
Its surprising the extra peripheral vision you get with it too.
I will open myself up to ridicule with a mugshot taken at a bike show last year
[/quote]
Going touring this year into Scandinavia i will probably take the full face just as extra protection from the cold / weather, but summer riding for me now just feel so much more free and enjoyable with the open face.
Its surprising the extra peripheral vision you get with it too.
I will open myself up to ridicule with a mugshot taken at a bike show last year
[/quote]
Edited by AceOfHearts on Monday 30th April 14:16
I love the way “discussions” on such subjects quickly fall into two camps. Those who say only do it this way, or you will die a horrible death, and those who have done it the other way and aren’t currently dead! 
I wore a jet helmet once, and didn’t die. That said, I decided that I either had to wear a full face visor (in which case I may as well wear a full face helmet) or travel slow enough that insect contact with my face didn’t result in significant pain. I didn't fancy riding that slowly!
I wore a jet helmet once, and didn’t die. That said, I decided that I either had to wear a full face visor (in which case I may as well wear a full face helmet) or travel slow enough that insect contact with my face didn’t result in significant pain. I didn't fancy riding that slowly!
julian64 said:
Anyone who rides with a flip open helmet, in the open position, needs to have their bike crushed
Unless of course they are riding a Harley at which point carry on, because in that case it really doesn't matter what they are wearing on their heads.
Open face lids on HD's surely are mandatory? :-) With a full fce you wont be able to see the riders beard either !Unless of course they are riding a Harley at which point carry on, because in that case it really doesn't matter what they are wearing on their heads.
Edited by FocusRS3 on Monday 30th April 14:46
Regardless of whether you have an accident and need the protection of a chin bar, you 100% need eye protection. When I was in the USA last year I saw people riding with nothing other than a bandana at motorway speeds, I really just wondered how they avoid bugs n stuff. Obviously some are sat behind huge tourer wind screens, but many were not.
Every year something will hit me in the face, even a large bumble bee at 60mph makes a hug thud. It does not take much to lose your eyesight for life. I wouldn't want to risk my eyesight on luck.....
I have 2 helmet, the one I wear the most is the Shark Evo-One is the convertible helmet that you can ride with open jet style or closed (its homologated and tested in both unlike most other flip up helmets which you are not supposed to ride when open).
It is nice to have it open, with the visor down, for say sub 30mph in summer, just to get some air in. Then close it up when leaving town or in colder weather. I also have a lightweight carbon full face too for track use. The new Shark Evo-One is lighter than many full face helmets and very versatile. Maybe give one of those a try for a jet style helmet ?
Every year something will hit me in the face, even a large bumble bee at 60mph makes a hug thud. It does not take much to lose your eyesight for life. I wouldn't want to risk my eyesight on luck.....
I have 2 helmet, the one I wear the most is the Shark Evo-One is the convertible helmet that you can ride with open jet style or closed (its homologated and tested in both unlike most other flip up helmets which you are not supposed to ride when open).
It is nice to have it open, with the visor down, for say sub 30mph in summer, just to get some air in. Then close it up when leaving town or in colder weather. I also have a lightweight carbon full face too for track use. The new Shark Evo-One is lighter than many full face helmets and very versatile. Maybe give one of those a try for a jet style helmet ?
black-k1 said:
I love the way “discussions” on such subjects quickly fall into two camps. Those who say only do it this way, or you will die a horrible death, and those who have done it the other way and aren’t currently dead!
I wore a jet helmet once, and didn’t die. That said, I decided that I either had to wear a full face visor (in which case I may as well wear a full face helmet) or travel slow enough that insect contact with my face didn’t result in significant pain. I didn't fancy riding that slowly!
That's pretty much where I sit. If I'm out on my little XT500 I only ever wear an open face helmet. A full face lid would look as stupid as wearing one on a push bike. But because of the speeds wearing an open face lid on my Superduke would be very painful indeed!I wore a jet helmet once, and didn’t die. That said, I decided that I either had to wear a full face visor (in which case I may as well wear a full face helmet) or travel slow enough that insect contact with my face didn’t result in significant pain. I didn't fancy riding that slowly!
Couple of months back I was on the way home from work following a beat up old moped at 30mph. Car in front did a U-turn out of nowhere. Moped slams on brakes, hits front wing of car and face plants the bonnet with an open faced helmet. Impact 10mph absolute max.
I sorta laughed at first thinking it was a very minor collision until I saw the state of his face. Mashed nose, missing teeth, blood everywhere.
I'm sure he'd of been fine with a full face helmet on. His bike was undamaged
I sorta laughed at first thinking it was a very minor collision until I saw the state of his face. Mashed nose, missing teeth, blood everywhere.
I'm sure he'd of been fine with a full face helmet on. His bike was undamaged
Edited by Harry H on Monday 30th April 14:55
bogie said:
Regardless of whether you have an accident and need the protection of a chin bar, you 100% need eye protection. When I was in the USA last year I saw people riding with nothing other than a bandana at motorway speeds, I really just wondered how they avoid bugs n stuff. Obviously some are sat behind huge tourer wind screens, but many were not.
Every year something will hit me in the face, even a large bumble bee at 60mph makes a hug thud. It does not take much to lose your eyesight for life. I wouldn't want to risk my eyesight on luck.....
I have 2 helmet, the one I wear the most is the Shark Evo-One is the convertible helmet that you can ride with open jet style or closed (its homologated and tested in both unlike most other flip up helmets which you are not supposed to ride when open).
It is nice to have it open, with the visor down, for say sub 30mph in summer, just to get some air in. Then close it up when leaving town or in colder weather. I also have a lightweight carbon full face too for track use. The new Shark Evo-One is lighter than many full face helmets and very versatile. Maybe give one of those a try for a jet style helmet ?
I wear shades at all times when wearing the open lid.Every year something will hit me in the face, even a large bumble bee at 60mph makes a hug thud. It does not take much to lose your eyesight for life. I wouldn't want to risk my eyesight on luck.....
I have 2 helmet, the one I wear the most is the Shark Evo-One is the convertible helmet that you can ride with open jet style or closed (its homologated and tested in both unlike most other flip up helmets which you are not supposed to ride when open).
It is nice to have it open, with the visor down, for say sub 30mph in summer, just to get some air in. Then close it up when leaving town or in colder weather. I also have a lightweight carbon full face too for track use. The new Shark Evo-One is lighter than many full face helmets and very versatile. Maybe give one of those a try for a jet style helmet ?
I think there are certain times of the year in when bugs are particularly bad. Late spring when the air is stil fresh i best
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