Choosing a Helmet Motorcycle Accessories & Apparels >
Junior Member 7 posts Juice Junior Member 7 posts
Juice

 Which Helmet Do You Have or Use the Most 27  votes

 Open-Face Helmet 12 votes
44%
 Full-Face Helmet 9 votes
33%
 Flip-Up Style Full-Face Helmet 6 votes
22%
 Half-Helmet (Skull Cap) 0 votes
0%
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Hey Guys,

After everyone's thought on Choosing a Helmet, I've read all the pro's and con's of the 4 types:
1: Open Face
2: Flip Up
3: Full Face
4: Half Helmet

Would be good to hear what you chose for the Bike you ride and why

Cheers Legends


Juice

Bike-less
Helmet-less
Jacket-less
Perth
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Dr.Shifty Senior Member 1,623 posts
Dr.Shifty
I have a Shark Evoline 3. It's a flip up model that is designed to be worn either as full face or open face. The chin piece locks over behind my head and the face shield and inner dark visor work normally. It's the first time I've worn a helmet like this and will probably replace it with the same thing when the time comes.

When I was wearing full face helmets I found it difficult to get my glasses on and off, depending on the width of the front opening. The Evoline makes it easy. I wear it as full face when out on the highway but on hotter days around town I wear it open face.
Cheers, Kim.

From Woodrising (no, nobody else has heard of it either)
Rides a Springfield Dark Horse
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Croc Senior Member 570 posts
Croc
Hm, noticed the poll doesn't have s pot for  "NO HELMET".  Sigh, I'd pick that!
Still, my riding experience (from when they just brought in the helmet laws) is that the full face is out, open face if you have to.
Full face helmets have physically screwed me over during an accident.  I purchased a neat one, has a flip down (pilot like) sunglass as well as a full clear visor.
Vents for cooling and assorted stuff for travel convenience,  Name of helmet is THH.
Had a spill two days ago & my open face (german looking...m... south African military that is) didn't affect my injuries at all!
(picture a Croc rolling down a hill & hitting a fence end, helmet end & leg end either side.  The helmet did save my coiffured hair though.  OW, still a very banged up Croc at the moment, you wouldn't belive how many times I'vd had to correct my typing this entry!)
I'm Not Completely Useless . .
I Can Be Used As A Bad Example!

Kwinana W.A.

Ulysses   #48275
IMRG      #100932
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin

Hey Juice,

You might find this thread interesting...  https://www.indianmotorcycleforum.com.au/post/motorcycle-helmet-crash-statistics-9747943

The 1st post includes an illustration showing the impact zones.  The chin piece is said to be the most common impact zone (involved in nearly 1 in 5 accidents).  So purely from safety element, a full-face helmet will be the safest.  Followed by a flip-up helmet (assuming the rider always flip-down before riding), then the open-face helmet and finally the half (skull cap) helmet.

We all know, we should cover-up, but that doesn't always happen for one reason or another.  Maybe it's a hot day or some other logic we use to justify our decisions.  I choose to ride with an open-face helmet knowing the added risk, but I never ride without gloves or a jacket.  Humans hey?  😀

Juice wrote:
After everyone's thought on Choosing a Helmet,
In terms of actually choosing a helmet, you have to know the shape of your head.  Take a selfie of your head (crown) from the perspective of looking down from the ceiling.  Your head is either 'oval', 'intermediate-oval' or 'round-ish'.  I find helmet brands like Shoei fits most heads.  Brands like Bell are for oval-shaped heads.

1/ When you walk into a helmet shop, pick the design you like and try on the smallest helmet you can get your head in.  It will hurt your ears to get them on and off.  Pull the chin straps outwards as you put them on - that should help.

2/ Pay attention to where it might hurt around your skull.  If it hurts around your forehead, the helmet is designed for someone with more of a round head then you (generally speaking - important part is, it does not fit your shape).  If it hurts around your sides (above your ears), the helmet is designed for someone with more oval shaped head then you.  If it hurts any part of your skull, above your eye level, don't buy that helmet.  It is a wrong size or wrong shape for you.  Never settle for close enough helmet.  If it hurts wearing a helmet for 10 minutes in the store, it will not get better on its own.

3/ Expect your cheeks to be squashed by the soft foam padding of the helmet (assuming it is a full face helmet).  All helmets will have wear-in period.  The foam will compress and give you more room in about 10 - 20 full-day rides.

4/ Whatever style helmet you try on, they should not move left or right by more than 1 to 2cm.  They should not move up and down by much either - grab the chin bar and try to move them.  These tests are done without the strap holding the helmet in place.

5/ I like helmets with pop down visors.  Even on my open face helmet.  I also like helmets with cut out around your ears for an intercom speakers.  Lastly, I prefer, clip-on strap clips (can do them up with gloves), rather than double D-rings.

Hope these tips help you.
Melbourne, Victoria
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
Croc wrote:
Had a spill two days ago & my open face (german looking...m... south African military that is) didn't affect my injuries at all!
Hey Croc, very sorry to hear of your accident.  Speedy recovery to you mate.
Melbourne, Victoria
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Croc Senior Member 570 posts
Croc
Thanks V.. my own fault in a way.  Stupid steep driveway & a tad longer at the Rememberance day celebrations than I anticipated.
Happened in my own driveway!  Sigh, no fool like an Old fool!  Still, the Bike (AND helmet) is alright.  Just a banged up reptilian type, luckily I took most of the impact... hehe  anything to forestall repair bills!
I'm Not Completely Useless . .
I Can Be Used As A Bad Example!

Kwinana W.A.

Ulysses   #48275
IMRG      #100932
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Wideone Full Member 50 posts
Wideone
I’ve always been a fan of full face. I was wearing a Bell Moto 3 when I was a young pup riding in the bush. A car came around the corner on the wrong side of the road and cleaned me up. My face hit the car and it broke the face guard on the helmet. It saved my life. I’ve tried a few different ones and hated them. HJC, Shoei X Zero were terrible but now I’ve got a Biltwell Lanesplitter and it fits me perfectly. I put some extra padding in the ear cup area and it’s really quiet too. 
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Croc Senior Member 570 posts
Croc
Oh, and V, been over all the helmet pros & cons before.  Was involved in the helmet law discussions when I was in the MRA.  There's a lot of data to prove all sides of the argument.  My comments are, as always, just my opinion.  And, helmets are a LOT better than they used to be, many great improvements.  Still, if you see what I wear you'd probably shudder! hahaha
I'm Not Completely Useless . .
I Can Be Used As A Bad Example!

Kwinana W.A.

Ulysses   #48275
IMRG      #100932
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JuanPoop Senior Member 528 posts
JuanPoop
I have three helmets at the moment:
  1. RJ open face 
  2. Kabuto full face
  3. Shark modular (old model)
I voted for open face because that is what I use most.  However, for me, it generally follows open face around town, full face on highway. The modular (flip-up style) was a hand me down and is really a passenger stand by option, as it is a bit tight on my boofhead. 

Having said all that, I am constantly exploring options for another one...  I am not sure I have the best solution yet.  Maybe a properly fitted modular would work.  

aka - John
2017 Springfield - grey / burgundy
Northern Beaches - Sydney
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Robbo Founding Member 1,178 posts
Robbo
I have always ridden with an open face helmet. I went through the new helmet process recently and ended up with  Shoei JO open face with flip down visor.
Great helmet and worth looking at.
2017 Dark Horse  - Stage 2, Rush Pipes

Location - Perth, Western Australia
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
Croc wrote:
Thanks V.. my own fault in a way.  Stupid steep driveway & a tad longer at the Rememberance day celebrations than I anticipated.
Happened in my own driveway!  Sigh, no fool like an Old fool!  Still, the Bike (AND helmet) is alright.  Just a banged up reptilian type, luckily I took most of the impact... hehe  anything to forestall repair bills!
Glad it was a minor incident.  I dropped my bike on the engine guard at a servo trying to catch my helmet that started to fall.  In the end, I dropped both - and boy, helmet makes a lot of sound when they fall on concrete.  I only had 30 other Indian riders around me.  Not embarrassing at all!! 😜
Melbourne, Victoria
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Croc Senior Member 570 posts
Croc
Hahaha, nothing better than a crowd, especially nowadays with phone cameras/videos!  No one in my street when this happened, which was problematic, having to pick up a past horizontal (wheels up!) Harley when one has just messed up arm/wrist/shoulder is NOT fun. (did I mention sloping grass... sigh)
If it helps, I was laughing at myself... at first.   (oh, and it was the Harley NOT one of the Indians!  Thankfully) ðŸ˜ðŸ‘
I'm Not Completely Useless . .
I Can Be Used As A Bad Example!

Kwinana W.A.

Ulysses   #48275
IMRG      #100932
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Joker Junior Member 27 posts
Joker
Personally I prefer a fullface helmet, and my lid of choice is the Arai XD4 with the peak removed. 
Chris
2019 Springfield
Perth, WA
IMRG #102278
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
Croc wrote:
(oh, and it was the Harley NOT one of the Indians!  Thankfully) Ã°Å¸ËœÂÃ°Å¸â€˜Â
...That's alright then. 😜 (Harley riders, I'm joking.  I had a Harley back in Evo days.)
Melbourne, Victoria
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aupc Junior Member 13 posts
aupc
I had to purchase a new helmet when I went to Brissy to pick up my newbie as stupid me did not grab one of the six other helmets sitting on the shelf in the garage at home. I chose another open face Indian helmet and must say I am pretty happy with it as it wears in.
In saying that I still love wearing my Shoei Full face for the longer rides.
As a kid a Bell helmet saved my life as someone decided to set up a length of fencing wire from a land post to a tree and as my helmet connected with the wire it through me backwards off the bike. If I did not have that full face on that day I would not be telling this story. 
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David Full Member 211 posts
David
I use a full face Kabuto - I found the impact stats V- twin put up convincing enough for me!
2017 Indian Springfield
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Shawnbyrne New Member 5 posts
Shawnbyrne
I always had a full face helment. When road sports type bikes .now I have a chief darkhorse  I bought a open face .Not much fun this time of year I vic ( bugs in the face hurt like hell. Plus struggle with eyes tearing up at speed trying few different glasses .Like look of open face but think time to go back to full face 
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Shawnbyrne New Member 5 posts
Shawnbyrne
Interested  to hear about flip up type helment  thinking of trying one. Wondering how wind noise is with them🤔
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Dr.Shifty Senior Member 1,623 posts
Dr.Shifty
Shawnbyrne wrote:
Interested  to hear about flip up type helment  thinking of trying one. Wondering how wind noise is with them🤔


Noise on my Evoline is OK, but worsened by the Springfield's windshield. I get a fair bit of engine noise reflected back at me when I'm riding around town and wearing it open face. If I take the windshield off then the noise is a lot less. The windshield also gives me a bit of buffeting noise from interrupting the airflow. If your bike has no windshield then all helmets will probably be quieter because of the smoother air flow.

Most helmets are quieter when new as the cheek pads etc press closer and keep wind out. As they soften and loosen over time the noise increases. Another place that wind gets in and makes noise is up the back of the neck. If I stuff a neck sock up behind my neck the helmet is quieter.

When I'm out on the road I wear ear plugs so I don't get all the wind noise. The noisiest helmet I've ever owned was an Italian YES brand full face. It was lightweight carbon and like putting my head into an echo chamber.
Cheers, Kim.

From Woodrising (no, nobody else has heard of it either)
Rides a Springfield Dark Horse
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deano27970 Full Member 57 posts
deano27970
The wife & I purchased Bell Rogue helmets after trying a few different brands. The fit is good for us & the mouth guard clips on & slides off easily enough. All I can suggest is when it’s time to replace your old skid lids, keep trying till you get the one that suits you. No use spending a ton of money on a helmet just because it’s the latest trend. 
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damienpearse Full Member 110 posts
damienpearse
I know a guy that landed head first into the back of a car and messed his chin/jaw etc up quiet badly. They said if he had a FF helmet he would have broken his neck.
I use a full face helmet, currently the Shoei GT-Air with Senna bluetooth.
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Rodd Junior Member 21 posts
Rodd
Recently was hit square in the face by a rock that flew up from a passing truck. The rock broke my helmet (Nolan) and the crack left my ears ringing for 1/2 an hour but fortunately the helmet did it's job of protecting this ugly mug.
While I respect the right to choose what you wear on your head, it's your head, personally I choose to protect my face as well and always wear a full face or modular. Since the rock I now have a shiny new Shoei Neotec 11.
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DWE1958 Junior Member 12 posts
DWE1958
I ride with a Caberg Ghost Matt Black helmet protecting my melon. Nice fit and very comfortable on long rides. It's a helmet with a lift up goggle/mask but like the shark raw it can be reduced in varying stages to an open face. On standby I have two scorpion open face and a Nolan full face - did have a Bell flip up but that was too heavy and vision restrictive for long trips.
2018 Indian Chieftain Limited - White Smoke
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Juice Junior Member 7 posts
Juice
Hey Everyone,

thanks for all your comments.

Eventually decided to go with the Shark S-Drak Open Face with the guard to protect the face from bugs etc.. to cruise around town with

Very nice helmet. Will most likely look at a full face for Long Runs out of Town.

The Scone Burner ended up with an Indian Helmet from the Dealership. We found the Full face was a much nicer fit than the modular Flip up Indian helmet that they sell.

Cheers

Cammo.

Proud new owner:
Chief Dark Horse
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Monty Junior Member 35 posts
Monty
I have the S-Drak also. The muzzle stops the rocks and also the needles (rain) from hitting the face. Muzzle is removable, for around town. Cuttouts around ears for comms speakers and the clear drop down visor is good for no sunnies at night time. 
I only need the stereo ( with stock speakers ) set to level 3 for when on the highway, with adjustable fairing screen in down position.
The helmwet is very comfortable and has the clip strap, not the d rings.
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