What Kind Of Helmet Do You Wear?

[Serk]

For those who wear by choice (If you're wearing a helmet against your will, I'm gonna assume you're wearing the least you need to get by with), what kind do you usually wear? I recently made the switch from a skid lid to a modular full face, and have been wondering about this lately...
I know many, if not most of us have multiple helmets for different reasons/seasons, but what type would you prefer to wear in ideal conditions or do you find yourself wearing the most. No reason, just curious and nosy...

[doubletee]

I only wear one when forced (Michigan, anyone?) or when it's really cold and/or raining. If forced and the weather's nice, I'll wear my Scorpion EXO-100 half helmet. If it's cold/raining, I'll wear a full face.

[Normandog]

When I got back into motorcycling ten yrs ago I took a look at myself in the mirror and thought, man, I'm too good lookin' to risk road rash on my face.  So I wore a full face for 3 or 4 yrs then switched to a modular. After seeing pics posted on this web site of mbrs who went down wearing a skid lid, half or 3/4 helmet and the damage that was done to some of their faces, I try to reisist the urge to flip it up in hot weather.

[hubcapsc]

I live in South Carolina, they don't make us wear a helmet.

I wear a Shoei X-11 everywhere I go, I don't even know it is there.

I remember when I stuck a "tint-stripe" across the top of the visor to help when the sun was low. It was
different - oppressive - I hated it - for about 15 minutes, now I don't even know it is there.

It is such an easy habit to get into, and I suspect I'll really like it if I ever find myself sliding down
the road on my face. I'm already sure I like it when one of those bugs the size of an acorn hits my
faceshield going about 80mph combined speed...

-Mike "Is there a choir anywhere nearby I can preach to?  "

[solo1]

Full face modular Nolan. Great invention for eyeglass wearers.  I always wear a helmet.  If it's hot, an open face Nolan for short rides.

[n5odj]

Full face modular Nolan.  I can put on my eyeglasses while wearing it.  I hate riding when everything looks fuzzy.

Robert

[fudgie]

Clicked to 'forced to' nub. I use to wear one on trips till I met Kit and she showed me the light!  Perfer to wear my beanie when its cold or my visor when its warm. In the rain around home its the novelty skid lid. Out west in the rain its a bandana. A full face would be good in the rain since the b'wing sux in the rain, but thats not gonna happen. 

[SANDMAN5]

Wasn't sure how to vote. I wear a 1/2 helmet when it's
warm enough, modular full-face when it ain't. Helmet
required in TN...I'd wear one anyway....ALWAYS!

[Joe Hummer]

I picked up a Shark Evoline Modular helmet this year and I really like it.  It is different from most modular helmets in that the chin bar rotates to the back of the helmet and you can wear it as a 3/4 helmet with a shield.  Helmets are required all of the time...by the wife...and I agree. 

Joe

[Black Dog]

Most of the time I wear one...  Wisconsin does not make us wear one, but I do 99% of the time (% has gone way up in the past few years).

Warm days, HJC 1/2 helmet.  Cooler weather/rainy weather, I wear my Fulmer Modular/Full face.

Black Dog

[Daniel Meyer]

Mostly wear by choice...it holds my earbuds in.

Full face...I would wear a modular if I could afford one. I just look at the prices, and how many tanks of fuel that would buy...and then go riding (a LONG way).

Kind of like underwear...I figure if I'm gonna wear anything, it ought to cover everything.

[Kaiser]

I'm with Joe - state laws don't hold a candle to wife-laws.

I don't have to wear one in FL according to their laws.  But, the gene pool needs my DNA, so I choose to wear one.  I wear an HJC 3/4 with the built-in sunshade.  But lately, I've been thinking about switching over to a full face.

I've heard (but don't have first-hand experience) that Arai makes the best "I don't even know it's there" helmet.  I might pick one up after I find someone to buy one of my kidneys.  Those things are mega $$$!  But, you get what you pay for.

[stormrider]

Always, was in FL this past weekend at Thunder Beach. 95% of riders had no helmet till Sunday on the way outa town.

Nolan 102 N-com. Looked at the newer version Nolan 103 N-com. Fits great. Around town and at slow speeds, I'll occasionally wear it flipped up.

For a sun shade, someone here suggested black electrical tape to the bottom of the clear face shield. Works excellant. Three strips of tape to the bottom of the shield, flip it up for blocking the glaring sun at any position, and lets in plenty of air, flip it down when raining or it gets cool like last evening on the way home at dusk.

[Jack]

Arkansas is a "right-to-choose" state.  However, I always wear a full modular helmet and a padded jacket.  I know for a fact I'd be dead if I had not been wearing 3 yrs ago.

[valkyriemc]

Full face Arai, and now ear plugs, cant without either...

[flcjr]

I wear a full face 98% of the time the other 2% none or half helmet. and thats when i know i am not leaving town i live in small town with no traffic lights and max speed 25 and you sually never see another car.

[six2go #152]

I wear a Shoei Multi Tech Modular because Arai doesn't make a modular helmet and this was the next most expensive brand I could find. Besides, it fits well. 

[NiteRiderF6]

Fulmer Modus Trident Flamethrowerer; reflective paint at night and shows pretty good in the daytime too.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/ValkZoom/62329b5a.jpg

[R J]

Used to be a Fulmer, regular full helmet, it got worn out so I replaced it with a Fulmer modular.

My state is by choice, and my head is not as hard as it used to be.

[BF]

Florida, not requried.  Wear one anyway.  An HJC AC-2M half. 

[ChromeDome]

I always wear my HJC Modular when on a road trip no matter the weather. When it starts to get cold (October through May) I wear the HJC Modular. During warmer weather (May through October) around town and for day trips I wear a HJC 3/4 helmet.

[elraque]

A lot of this is personal preference (for fit, comfort, cost, visibility, etc.).

As far as the standards go, DOT is the standard. If it says DOT on it, it meets the standard. The primary reason the SHOEI et al cost more is because the use lighter, more expensive materials to meet the DOT standard. Of course, it's the lighter materials that increase the comfort...

For me, I wear a full-face for now -- I bought it cheap from a buddy when I first got the "thick chick" last spring. Soon (maybe next spring) I expect to get a 3/4 unit with a flip-up face shield and a sun visor. They're pretty inexpensive ($60.00). The long-term plan is to paint the helmets to match the (still to come) custom paint on the bike. After the other house sells...

[Big IV]

I've owned several Nolan full face modular helmets in the past several years. I wear by choice even though my primary riding state requires the helmet.

[grizs50]

I only wear one when forced to or it's very cold outside, Which is most of the time here in Missouri! Dangit!!!  Then it's a skid lid!!

If you want to wear one it should be your choice and if you don't want to wear one then that also should be your choice! 

[Jess from VA]

You should have made a distinct choice between non-DOT skid lid and DOT half.   

I wear fully approved DOT half helmets (mostly) for 40 years, but never a novelty skid lid (most of which are a joke for a helmet).  While many would argue a DOT half is a poor choice compared to a 3/4 or full face/modular (and this is probably true), I believe a DOT half is still far superior to the novelty skid lids worn by many of the Harley crowd.  [And the EXO-100 Scorpion is the best DOT half I've ever seen.]

I have never lived anywhere it was legal to ride without a helmet, and though I would liked to have had the choice, I now would wear a helmet all the time regardless of the law.  I might take one off for a while if riding around Monument Valley way out West with no car traffic, but I am in traffic where ever I ride in the East. 

I have noted it strange when taking long trips, I will find myself going down the superslab in other states with guys/gals with no helmets, but I don't take mine off just because I can.  At least not on busy traffic superslabs.

[Serk]

You should have made a distinct choice between non-DOT skid lid and DOT half. 

I see your point, but in my thinking, anyone wearing a novelty helmet was grouped into the "Only wearing against my will group"... I guess it's possible that someone would have the option to not wear a helmet, and would wear a novelty helmet by choice, but that just seemed kinda out there to me...

And for what it's worth, really, really REALLY not trying to start a helmet law argument. Although I wear 99% of the time, I FULLY support rider's rights to choose... Of course, I also always wear my seat belt in the cage too, but am very much against laws requiring that be done...

I'd been wearing a DOT half helmet the last decade, but just recently switched to a modular (I'll admit, that pic of the guy on Deal's Gap going down with a half helmet face forward, just milliseconds away from his nose being shoved into the great belt sander that is pavement helped convince me!)

I am finding it interesting just how prevalent the modular helmets have become... I'm really liking mine, the transition from half helmet to a modular hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be.

[Daniel Meyer]

...(I'll admit, that pic of the guy on Deal's Gap going down with a half helmet face forward, just milliseconds away from his nose being shoved into the great belt sander that is pavement helped convince me!)

That pic still around?

[czuch]

Fulmer Full face. Gotta protect the public. I have a modular but I didnt like it, didnt feel safe.
It mystifies me to see folks riding without gloves. The first impact will peel off your palm.
 Seen it done, real ugly.
Helmet, Eh, you decide.  Ride smart.

[Jess from VA]

I see an awful lot of modular helmet guys who seem to wear their helmets open on a full time basis.   Seems to me if that's what you want, you could save a bunch of money and just wear a 3/4.

I am a bit claustrophobic, and have been smoking tobacco behind my fairings for decades (tough to smoke a cigarette in a full face), but I have quit the dreaded cigarettes, and I do have a beautiful full-face, drooling-dragon Icon Mainframe that will be a bunch warmer in Winter.

It has scared small children at the gas station.  (smile)

[Jess from VA]

...(I'll admit, that pic of the guy on Deal's Gap going down with a half helmet face forward, just milliseconds away from his nose being shoved into the great belt sander that is pavement helped convince me!)

That pic still around?

Not a half, but here's the pic, I think:

[..]

I live in South Carolina, they don't make us wear a helmet.

I wear a Shoei X-11 everywhere I go, I don't even know it is there.

I remember when I stuck a "tint-stripe" across the top of the visor to help when the sun was low. It was
different - oppressive - I hated it - for about 15 minutes, now I don't even know it is there.

It is such an easy habit to get into, and I suspect I'll really like it if I ever find myself sliding down
the road on my face. I'm already sure I like it when one of those bugs the size of an acorn hits my
faceshield going about 80mph combined speed...

-Mike "Is there a choir anywhere nearby I can preach to?  "

+1 on what Mike wrote

A report a few years ago concluded that 60%of helmet to road impacts were on the chin bar or face. 

[big turkey]

No helmet would have been a disaster.

For the guy who was shown wrecking on the Dragon.


He would not be getting up but going to the emergency room or morgue.

I like my eyelids , my nose, and my lips to damn much to go without at least some

protection.

The best hands down in all University of Tennessee studies was a hocky helmet for Brain Bucket

protection.

But since the hockey helmet is not street legal, the full open face won the contest.

Of course of high quality such as DOT and Snell Ratings.

HJC has these and they are very affordable.

AL

PS My life has been saved at least 5 times when riding and racing motorcycles.

I am a Believer.

But you do what you want and ride however and whatever trips your switch.

I would not be writing this letter if I had not worn a Helmet.

[Thunderbolt]

most of the time anyway.    I used to wear a 3/4, until I saw pictures of folks who lost a lot of skin on their faces with them on.  I wear an HJC modular flip up in white.  I know, doesn't match my bike, but the object is to be seen.....right?

[flatsixlover]

A full-faced Arai Profile (egg-shaped) 100% of the time cause I want too.  So comfortable, I could sleep in it!

[big turkey]

This is damage to a guys hands.

I wrecked without gloves once, with almost exact results.

In a slow speed accident, motorcycle of course.

Now imagine your face, scalp, or nose in the same circumstance.

Motorcycle Crash Aftermath	powered by Aeva

[fudgie]

This is damage to a guys hands.

I wrecked without gloves once, with almost exact results.

In a slow speed accident, motorcycle of course.

Now imagine your face, scalp, or nose in the same circumstance.

Motorcycle Crash Aftermath

Chics dig scars! 

[Valkahuna]

I agree with Jess from VA that there should have been two categories for DOT Half Helmets, and the Skid Lid/Novelty Helmets. There is a definite difference!

Neither of the states I live in require helmets, but years of riding off road and bouncing off trees have made me feel naked without a helmet, and I don't look that good naked.

I wear either a DOT HJC Half, or in cold weather, a DOT 3/4 HJC (actually also Snell approved). When I rode bare bikes without fairings I did wear Full Face, but was never really comfortable. With fairings and windshields, I find full face just too much. I know, I could be safer, but I wear a helmet to protect from skull injuries. I wear leather jacket, not armored also, so I compromise there as well. Even in a car I am not totally safe, so I make some concessions for comfort. 

I don't ever compromise on riding over my head, or too fast for conditions. Concentrating on preventing crashes is always the FIRST defense. 

[big turkey]

True, Chicks Dig Scars and bad boys and millionaires.

But do they go for a guy with no nose.

No Lips.

No chin.

Probably not.

But who really knows.

I wear a HJC Modular.

Fulmer 3/4.

Harley Brand Half Helmets.

HJC Dirt Bike Full Face Helmet.

Nitro Racing Full Face.



But the Best thing I wear as my wife tells it,, is a smile,,,,,,,,, everytime I ride.

It makes me happy.

Al

[chrise2469]

I've always used a shoei.  It is just the best fit for my head.  I wish I fit a Scorpion or a Nolan/  1/3 the price the price and darn near as good.   

I use the helmet and my gear all the time.  Even in choice states and in rodeo's 



Ya'll are adults and can make your own informed choices about helmet and gear.

Whatever you choose:  Ride safe.

[F6Dave]

Motorcycle Helmets are like Airplane Seatbelts!!!

That was the opening line to a safety article in a MC mag about 30 years ago.  The point was obvious:  either may help a bit in a few cases, but regardless of the protective gear used, the injuries in MC and airplane crashes are usually serious or worse.  Accident prevention is the best protection.  Hard to argue with that logic.

I wear a full face in cold weather and a 3/4 in hot weather.