I'm wishing now someone told me the truth about open face helmets. Don't get me wrong if your going to ride a classic style cruiser it's almost a must - and the Davida Classic Jet certainly offers more protection then your typical retro helmet on the market, yet looks aside, I have a few points you may want to consider after 2200 miles of experience in 8 weeks.
1. Get googles - you'll need them, sunglasses are useless over 40 MPH.
2. Get a strap buckle - saves some time, most importantly could save your life.
3. Get use to all the extra protein you be ingesting due to flying insects.
4. Even a slight rain feels like bb pellets at 30 MPH.
5. Hopefully you enjoy the subtle, yet tart flavoring of windshield washing fluid and the smoky flavor of cigarette ash.
Again, those are some serious negatives to consider and truthfully they don't bother me all that much but as the winter approaches I may reconsider...
7 comments:
The joys of open face helmets are well known to those of us "of a certain age". I've only gone without a bike for about 2 weeks since 1968 & didn't get my first full face helmet until 1975. Helmets of any kind were a rarity as I grew up, even the motorcycle police only got half helmets in the mid-sixties. I spent 8 months knocking around Europe & there, helmet use was mandatory above 50cc. , so I bought my first helmet over there...purchase based entirely on minimal price. The first full face helmet I ever saw except on TV was on the autobahn moto poletzei....fully faired 800cc Beemers, full green racing leathers, & white Bell Stars...serious rig, and VERY expensive. Having aquired the helmet habit over there, I kept using it when I got home. When I had a girlfriend up in Smith (in N.Hampton Ma., 100 mi away) I finally invested in my first Bell Star. (the Star 2 had just come out & the original Star was discounted) It cost $115. I was paying $125/ month for a 5 room apt with heat, at the time. Worst experience of the open face years was the bee flown into the helmet right between lining & my temple, @ 40 mph. Stung me badly before I could get to the side of the road & get the Hat off to get at him. The side of my head swelled up so badly I couldn't put the helmet back on!
I prefer a full face these days.
Last weekend 1000kms out west on my '01 Bonnie and I was covered in bug guts and looked like some kind of alien life form.
BTW why is bug guts bright yellow?
Oh did I mention I live in Australia?
I would not consider an open face, out of safety. But, in addition my Schubert has an easy operated sunvisor built in. That way I don't have to make any decision about sunglasses or not before getting on my bike. The visor is always there if I need it.
I did briefly consider 3/4 or 1/2 helmet before buying my full-face. The points noted (pollen, cig ashes, bugs, etc...) certainly played a part in the decision. The larger part of the decision is the fact that I kind of like my jaw and fear that it would be ground off, were I wearing a 3/4 or 1/2 and landed just so. So I gave up style, cuz I'm a wimp :)
Regardless, thanks for tips; they'll come in handy lest I change my mind.
TBD
What is the name brand of the helmet you have pictured? Thanks
Hey what kind of helmet is that in your picture?...Thanks
thanks, that was helpful.
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