|
SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Half face helmets /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1263430070 Message started by stratman on 01/13/10 at 16:47:50 |
|
Title: Half face helmets Post by stratman on 01/13/10 at 16:47:50 OK this is kind of gross. Has anyone been riding with a full face helmet and had a sneeze attack? I was riding yesterday with a bad head cold and had about 4 in a row. I had to pull off the road for a few minutes and clean up the helmet. Putting up the face shield doesn't help much. I'm thinking of getting a half face helmet, but i know they don't provide any protection for the chin. Also when i'm riding in the fog the face shield fogs up on the inside. Then i have to put the shield up and wipe my glasses every couple hundred feet. whatchathink? |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by ero4444 on 01/13/10 at 17:51:44 a faceplant in the wrong helmet would be gross - you just put anti-fog on your shield |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/13/10 at 18:17:41 Started riding in '64. No other vehicle has ever contacted one of my bikes. I have never had an occasion to "use" a helmet. They do interfer with my safe riding. Since I am in a Nanny State I wear the lightest helmet I can find, just to be legally allowed to ride. IMHO, the purpose of a DOT Beanie is to meet the Letter of the Law -- they are basically useless as far as any real world protection goes. If you are not legally required to wear a helmet the choice would be, as fasr as I figure, full face for the highway and nothing in the city. I do not need protection -- I need to be able to avoid the collision. Which means I will not ride with a head cold -- if I'm impaired I want a steel cage around me. Fog on the other hand, is COOL! I love riding in the fog. Speeds are below 35, which means I do not need eye protection from the wind. Ride bare faced, grinning. Nothing between me and the world to block vision -- I can see better than anyone else, hear better. (If you need glasses for distant vision the above might not apply.) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by LostArtist on 01/13/10 at 18:39:21 I have a problem breathing without a full face helmet on, at speeds over 35 mph it gets hard for me to breathe. that and I'm one of those people with a whole head, not a half head so . . . and bugs have splattered all over my face shield before, and i mean big giant dragonfly bugs and June bugs sound like stones bouncing off a windshield when they hit my helmet, and massive clouds of mosquitos. . . and I would feel more secure if I would ever have to dump my motorcycle if I have to slide with a helmet on. So to each their own, but that's why I like full face helmets |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by babyhog on 01/13/10 at 19:10:46 I wear what I've always heard called a 3/4 helmet. Has a full face shield, its just minus the part that covers your chin and mouth. Opposite of LostArtist, I feel smothered in a full-face helmet. I CAN'T breathe in one. I love my helmet. I figure it isn't quite as safe, but to me, its a trade-off that I'm willing to accept. The only problem I've had with it is when I first installed my windshield, the face shield had a tendency to fly up when I passed a big truck (traveling in the opposite direction, not going around one) but once I adjusted the windshield, I haven't had the problem. My husband has a half helmet, full-face, and 3/4 and he prefers the 3/4 also. Just our 4 cents. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Skid Mark on 01/13/10 at 20:39:20 I use a 3/4 with a flip up shield. Good precription sun glasses and the visor up in the city. Face shield down on the hiway. At hi speeds my eyes don't like the wind. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by alcoa on 01/14/10 at 04:39:47 I wear a full face helmet. If you wear the cheapest, just legal brain bucket, you must sign a waver so I do not have to pay for you to be on life suport when your brain dead. Thats what freedom has to offer, pay now or we pay latter! :( |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by babyhog on 01/14/10 at 05:15:04 727170777675747B7A430 wrote:
I read an article about a very extensive helmet test that was done and the Price of the helmet does not necessarily equate to the amount of protection. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html Its very long, but hey, its our heads we are talking about! |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by bill67 on 01/14/10 at 05:34:16 I've always used a 3/4 helmet with sunglasses and full size windshield for almost 40 years.To me the full helmet restricts vision. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by 12Bravo on 01/14/10 at 05:35:26 It all depends on the weather (raining/temperature) on what helmet I wear. I have a half helmet and a 3/4 helmet with face shield for cold/rainy weather. If you go with a half helmet, use a good pair of glasses/goggles to keep the wind out of your eyes. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by EJID on 01/14/10 at 07:31:56 I grew up riding snowmobiles with a 3/4 helmet until I was about 12, then switched to a full face helmet and I've never looked back. I've become so accustomed to the full face that when I got this bike and needed a new road helmet, I thought I would try a 1/2 helmet, but I felt so exposed. If something were to happen, I want to be here for my wife and kids, so I chose another full face and feel much more comfortable about it. Just my $.02 8-) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Oldnewguy on 01/14/10 at 08:06:22 I have a 3/4 helmut. Didn't care for the visability with a full face. I figure that at my age, if my chin is on the hard top, I might just as well kiss my *ss goodbye. :( |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Stones on 01/14/10 at 11:38:20 I use a full face Arai and an open face helmet. The open face is for local riding and fly catching on a nice day. The full face gives more protection imho. Depends on my mood really [smiley=evil.gif] |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Yonuh Adisi on 01/14/10 at 11:44:44 Full face for winter, open face for the rest of the year. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by LostArtist on 01/14/10 at 12:02:59 I think my next helmet will be one of those modular helmets that goes from full face to 3/4 helmet, biggest reason is I wear glasses and I hate taking them off to put my full face helmet on, they've already slid off my seat once and I stepped on them, luckily only a screw popped out and had to be replaced, also hearing all these comments about visibility is making me think of trying a 3/4 face helmet. but I ride mostly at 60mph so not sure how I'd feel about using one of them the whole time |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/14/10 at 12:24:57 With practice,... you can learn to sneeze downward.... keep wearing the FF and the practice will come naturally... Piglett,... I like both halves of your face... bet hubby does too... Wear a FF.... :-* |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by babyhog on 01/14/10 at 12:36:53 4650475A42575A41350 wrote:
Thank you darlin', I may be able to handle a modular... Next time I'm at the motorcycle shop, I'll try one on, just for you. But I think back to the motorcycle safety course. They compare the risks that bikers take to climbing a ladder. The riskier you are at climbing a ladder, the further you have to fall, therefore, the higher risk of injury. This compares to the risks you are willing to take riding a motorcycle. I am a very careful, non-risky rider overall. I rarely even ride over 55 mph. So to me, the risk of the 3/4 helmet is lessened by my increase in other safety measures... |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by jabman on 01/14/10 at 13:33:03 yep i second the ff when my dad crashed be face planted another car (not his fault) and lost all his front teeth there artificial now and you carnt even tell he was wearing a ff helmet but i don't like think what would have happened if he had an open face. another friend got in the same situation the chin section of his helmet was scraped and broken, his chin was bloody and bruised but not broken |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by raggedred on 01/14/10 at 13:49:09 i had a wreck last year with no helmet 20 mph put me in hospital three weeks in reguard to the person wearing glasses try putting your fulface helmet on by putting your face in first insteed of pulling it down over ur head, works for me i never have to take my glasses off!! |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/14/10 at 16:01:27 I got hit by a truck last year... and I'm still pretty... ;D http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C09%5C06%5Cbikepics-1408766-full.jpg http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C09%5C23%5Cbikepics-1427611-full.jpg |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/14/10 at 17:33:52 787B7A77756F160 wrote:
I am a professionally trained climber of ladders and stepped poles. I am terrified of heights. To pass the class I had to install a mid-span clamp. The "span" is the telephone cable between poles -- just lean a ladder against the cable in between the poles and climb up to the cable and attach a clamp. As the cable sways. Fun. You get religious about safety. Proper angle, always maintain three points of contact, don't over reach. I will decend and move a ladder six inches rather than have a shoulder past the ladder rail. I'm about as bad on the bike. I am checking both mirrors every five seconds to track the vehicles behind me. Every intersection is scanned before entering for any possible incoming vehicles. As I pass each intersection I check further to the sides for vehicles that may be coming in behind me. I really need to figure how to mount a head camera to take a video of how much I am looking around me as I ride. A heavy helmet stops me from riding in the manner that has kept me collision free since 1964. If I am t-boned by a red-light runner doing 35 mph I don't see a helmet doing me a whole lot of good. I figure collision avoidance trumps collision survival. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by JohnBoy on 01/14/10 at 17:59:45 I felt that I should weigh in here having had some experience with open face helmets. Aside from the long term physical damage of an accident there is the cost. A short flight over a Dodge Stratus cost me a broken nose...and $56,000.00. Mind you, there were no other broken bones and no road rash and only one night in hospital for observation. Eventually the insurance paid off but it took 10 months and a lawyer. Buy a full face...and wear it. JB |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/14/10 at 18:40:30 Vigilance and caution will save your a$$ 99% of the time... FF is for the 1%... |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Jack_650 on 01/14/10 at 21:07:13 Don't know about other states but here in MN they took away my medical liability on my cycle insurance. The state says they don't have to take the financial risk. Make sure it's somebody else's fault. As to helmets, I wear a full face with the chin bar that folds up. I can slip the visor up a bit, half way or put the chin bar up like a 3/4. It's only my second helmet, the first was a $30.00 Bell 3/4 which is noisy and a bit too large. The visor I got for it helped a bit but not much. Most of the serious injuries and most of the accidents happen at under 20 mph. A lot of those head injuries are from simply falling over and smacking the ground from 6' or so at pretty slow speeds. Doesn't take much to snap a neck, break a jaw or permanently un-pretty a face. If you leave the bike at over 45 mph or so I'm not sure any helmet's going to be a huge help. The helmet might survive but the stuff in and under it are going to get whacked around. Drive offensively defensive and look everywhere twice. When I was in training for my CDL my training driver was always asking me what the mile marker was, what color the car in back of me was and if the guy who just passed me was wearing sunglasses or not. His point was that you need to always know your environment. I try to take that to the nth power when I'm on the bike. Jack |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by stratman on 01/14/10 at 22:51:54 Vigilance and caution will save your a$$ 99% of the time... FF is for the 1%... ....I didn't think there were any 1%'ers without the winged skull on their jacket. I don't know about other states, but in California i think it's against the law for a harley rider to wear anything more than a half-face (more likely a bean- cap). I have a full face now, i was just thinking about getting a half face as an extra helmet. Thanks for all the responses. Serowbot your picture made me soil myself. - the stratman |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by kimchris1 on 01/15/10 at 17:30:15 I wear a ff and have been very happy with it. I also wear glasses and when they fog up I lift my shielf a bit and that clears them. Also here in Wa. We can ride with our shields up as long as we have some kind of eye protection. So my glasses help with that as on hot days I am able to lift the shield while riding for some nice air cirulation. It also keeps the bugs out of my teeth and the bird s*it out of my eyes as well as mouth.. ;D |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/15/10 at 22:25:28 7066716C74616C77030 wrote:
No... due vigilance will keep you safe better than 99.999% of the time. The helmet is for when you fail to be vigilant. I learned my lesson in '65. I have not run into anything since. People have only managed to hit me when I have been stopped/stuck in traffic. No other vehicle has ever touched a motorcycle I have been on. If thought that there was any chance that someone could get past my guard and nail me I would not be riding a motorcycle. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/16/10 at 00:42:41 0D3C313C3934335D0 wrote:
Yeah,.. I was that confident, once... |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/16/10 at 07:34:59 "The helmet is for when you fail to be vigilant. " So how old are you and what got past your guard? What should I be looking out for? Right now I am watching every vehicle within 100 feet of me for errant moves. I am checking every incoming path that a vehicle may take. As long as I don't slip up I figure I will have sufficient warning to avoid the collision. Yeah, I can miss the idiot doing 120 mph through a red light -- but that is less likely than being struck by lightning and "gear" wouldn't do any good anyhow. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/16/10 at 08:54:47 Believe me,... you only think you're covered... Pay very close attention to what you watch, and notice,... there is a point of no return.... your hand covers that brake lever right up to that point and then relaxes, instinctively knowing no avoidance is possible past that point... You are not safe,... just past the point of no return... That's the point when you have committed to crossing the line of fire... At that point, no braking or swerving will get you out of the way, and a totally ridiculous move on the cars part will result in unavoidable collision... After you get hit, recover, and you start riding again,... that point is a lot easier to see... I call it the flinch point... It's the point where I can feel what it felt like to get hit,... gets easier after about 6 months... but you definitely know when you are crossing it... with every car you go by... That point is there... and no amount of reflex, skill, or vigilance can avoid it... I've ridden for 30 years with about 10 years of off-road experience, and I'm still light, fast, and fit... if I can't avoid it,... neither can you... nobody can... |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/16/10 at 10:00:09 Sorry, but I don't see it. First of all, cars do not do totally ridiculous moves. They cannot break the laws of physics. Bell System Policy is that there are no unavoidable collisions. That is the level of defensive driving that I have been taught and re-taught over the past 40 years. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/16/10 at 10:05:15 Well,...I guess the phone company has it all figured out... :-? That's incredible,.... literally.... |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/16/10 at 12:19:01 Sarcasm is not a valid argument. The Bell System had the largest privately owned vehicle fleet, was self-insured, intensively studied and analyzed accidents and how to avoid them. *ALL* figured out, no. Largely figured out, yes. You can learn from mistakes, or you can repeat those mistakes. Tossing up my hands and saying "accidents are unavoidable" is not an option. I *KNOW* that a helmet cannot protect you from all injuries. Statistically a helmet is useless for saving your life. Collision avoidance is the only sure way to ride without risk of injury. You claim that that "there is a point of no return.... your hand covers that brake lever right up to that point and then relaxes" ... "At that point, no braking or swerving will get you out of the way" I do not accept that. I do not relax vigilance as I do not go past any "point of no return." -- just different escape routes. I do not allow vehicles to approach to where I cannot dodge. If braking or swerving will not suffice acceleration is an option. You can claim incompetence for yourself. I am not. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/16/10 at 12:49:16 I find the arrogance of your premise insulting.... That, has driven my persistence in this argument... Now,.. what has driven yours?.... I'll give you this... It is true,.. that all motorcycle accidents are avoidable... just don't ride.... Now, believe whatever lets you sleep at night... but, don't be insulting about it... You don't know me, and you weren't there... so, unless you think you're god... don't pretend to be all knowing... |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by jabman on 01/16/10 at 13:04:14 how is a helmet statistically useless at saving your life? |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by bill67 on 01/16/10 at 13:07:44 I just use my helmet to keep my wig from blowing off. 8-) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by kimchris1 on 01/16/10 at 16:31:29 Whether one prefers a helmet or not is ones choice. Isn't it great we live where we can voice our opinions? Most if all accidents are unavoidable if a person is aware of their surroundings. I find this is true in all aspects of life whether riding my mc or doing my job. Myself I ride as defensively as I can. I make sure I am not in anyones blind spot and I don't get bottled up in traffic. I am watching my mirrors all the time especially when stopped at traffic lights and 4 way stops. I also do head checks anytime when changing lanes. Yes their is alwasys the chance that I may miss the one going 120 mph and it cost me my life. I will ride and take that chance knowing that my helmet may not save my life, yet again it may help leave something for them to identify me by. Each time I leave my house I know I may not return the same way I left, yet this could happen when driving my cage as well. So on that I will close saying that just because one prefrences is different, does not make us wrong nor right for that matter, yet again I do believe a ff helmet gives me more of a chance of saving some of my brain than a 1/2 or no helmet at all.. OH and for those of us who have hair, isn't helmet hair great? ;D |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by wolfmrp on 01/16/10 at 17:36:08 784944494C4146280 wrote:
It is hubris to think that we can perceived and predict what other motorists are going to do. This is not to say we should just toss up our hands, but we should do everything in our power to increase our chance of survival. I fully believe we have the right to choose what we do with our own lives, but lets be clear on statics. * Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. (U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, State Legislative Fact Sheet) * Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, Motorcycles, 2006) * Wearing a properly fitted helmet can actually improve the rider's ability to hear by streamlining the head and ear which can deduce wind noise allowing the rider to hear other sounds. (Safe Cycling-Motorcycle Safety Foundation Publication.) * Helmets prevent eye injuries and distraction from dust, dirt and debris thrown up by other vehicles on the road. (Safe Cycling-Motorcycle Safety Foundation Publication.) * Per vehicle mile, motorcyclists are about 37 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash and about 8 times as likely to be injured. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, 2006) * Hospital stays are longer for unhelmeted riders and the cost to taxpayers is significantly higher since many motorcyclists are uninsured. (Michigan Traffic Safety Information Council.) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by JohnBoy on 01/16/10 at 18:17:51 4E7F727F7A77701E0 wrote:
Then there is the guy that crosses the center line (and two lanes of oncoming traffic) to chase you into the emergency lane and hit you head on. Or, the guy that decides to make an unplanned u-turn into your path, in the dark, while your moving at a posted 50mph. Or the guy that passes you on the right, “in the grass”,while you are making a right hand turn into a parking lot. Or my favorite, the guy that pulls alongside, catches your eye, smiles, and forces you into oncoming traffic. I have yet to be struck by lightning. The helmet is "Not Just" for when you fail to be vigilant. Helmets save lives. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/16/10 at 18:35:00 2922212E222D430 wrote:
The citation is that "Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, Motorcycles, 2006)" The weasle word here is "estimated." It nulifies any claim of FACT. The authorities are in the pockets of the automobile insurance companies. Five years after California passed it's mandatory helmet law motorcycle deaths had dropped 40%. What they avoid mentioning is that motorcycle ownership/riding dropped 39%. Motorcycle Helmet Laws *do* decrease motorcycle fatalities -- by reducing the number of riders. Thus saving the automobile insurance companies big money as they are the ones who pay out on most motorcycle-car accidents. The Statistics are on-line, just spread out and hard to find. But you can pull up motorcycle registrations for each State. You can see which States have mandatory Helmet Laws. You can get morotcycle accidents and fatalities for each State. Roll them together and you find that the States that mandate helmets have an insignificantly higher rate of accidents per registered motorcycle, and an insignificantly higher rate of death per motorcycle accident. IF helmets were indeed "37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists" why is it not reflected in the Statistics? The Nanny States should show a 5-20% reduction in the per-accident motorcycle death rate. They do not. While you are at it you can look at historic motorcycle accident and fatality rates. fifty years ago hardly anyone wore a motorcycle helmet. Now, the vast majority do. Compared with fifty years ago the per accident death rate has tripled. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by JohnBoy on 01/16/10 at 20:21:14 596865686D6067090 wrote:
While you are at it you can look at historic motorcycle accident and fatality rates. fifty years ago hardly anyone wore a motorcycle helmet. Now, the vast majority do. Compared with fifty years ago the per accident death rate has tripled.[/quote] When I checked the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) I find that we have 185 million more cars on the road than in 1960. I know that I personally see lots more traffic than I did in the past. Speeds are higher, and people seem to care less about each other. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/17/10 at 05:15:57 667E7D777C6361110 wrote:
I do not claim to know what other motorists are going to do. I am watching to see what they are doing. From that I know what they probably will do and possibly could do. I drive for the probably but hold contingencies for the possible. People do not do things without reason. The classic "turned left in front of me" has warnings -- vehicle slow or slowing, a path to turn onto. People running lights and stops fail to slow (those that do their stop somewhat past the limit line have me starting my escape.) This is not easy. It is not relaxing in that you can kick back. It is "relaxing" in that it requires total concentration and all other concerns are shelved. It is not something that can be maintained constantly, but there are straight sections with no incoming and me away from other vehicles that are short breaks. And I'm talking City Driving, not town, villiage, country. Get away from Los Angeles and different rules apply. It is not something I expect others to do, just as I don't expect others to play tournament level chess. That others do not do this does not mean I cannot. THAT is the Hubris -- that you are as good as it gets and no one can be better. Going back to helmets. Here in L.A., the way I ride, a helmet is a deadly handicap. It interfers with the way I ride and anyone claiming otherwise is ignoring the laws of physics. Elsewhere, other people, yeah, a helmet has advantages. People often cite rocks and bugs. Some 20,000 hours of riding and there is not a single bug splat on my 7" headlight -- L.A. is relatively flying bug free. When it comes to helmets, a full face provides far more protection than a beanie. If you are going to wear a helmet for protection, the FF is the way to go. If you must wear a helmet to comply with the law, a Beanie is the way to go. If not for the law, I see no reason to wear a half helmet. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/17/10 at 06:08:11 042126200C21374E0 wrote:
But the accident rate is 'Way down. There was a huge push for driver education starting in the late '60's. The MSF started up, early '80's? We are, on average, FAR better drivers today than in the 1960s. The accidents we are having are far deadlier. Yeah, people are driving faster. They are told that they have "safe" vehicles with crush zones and air bags and all that fancy safety crap. And instead of saving lives the safety crap gives a sense of invulnerability that leads to more deaths. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/17/10 at 06:42:07 58404349425D5F2F0 wrote:
58404349425D5F2F0 wrote:
58404349425D5F2F0 wrote:
58404349425D5F2F0 wrote:
58404349425D5F2F0 wrote:
58404349425D5F2F0 wrote:
====== If helmets are so great, why do they have to publish the above crap? Why can't they just publish the statistics of helmeted riders surviving more crashes than unhelmeted riders? |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/17/10 at 07:08:17 4A6F686E426F79000 wrote:
Guy crossing the center line, crossing lane 1, crossing lane 2, I'm not moving from lane 3 to the shoulder -- I'm going for the lane 1 that he's vacated. U-turns are not done at 50 mph -- he gave warning by going slow. I check my mirrors and do a head check to boot for the guy passing in the grass (Actually more for other cycles passing traffic.) I don't ride alongside vehicles, if they start to move sideways I have the choices of speeding up or slowing down and letting them have the space. Not to mention that a helmet isn't going to do a whole lot for a 50+ mph impact. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by JohnBoy on 01/17/10 at 07:42:18 "Guy crossing the center line, crossing lane 1, crossing lane 2, I'm not moving from lane 3 to the shoulder -- I'm going for the lane 1 that he's vacated. U-turns are not done at 50 mph -- he gave warning by going slow. I check my mirrors and do a head check to boot for the guy passing in the grass (Actually more for other cycles passing traffic.) I don't ride alongside vehicles, if they start to move sideways I have the choices of speeding up or slowing down and letting them have the space." I want to ride where you ride. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/17/10 at 12:35:19 90249 -- Suburb of Los Angeles. I am about four miles from the Flash Point of the Rodney King Riot. 15-25 million people in a 100 mile radius. My uninsured motorist insurance is more expensive than my liability insurance. Been here since '65. Have never hit anything with a vehicle. Have only been hit when stuck stopped in a cage unable to escape. We have the best drivers and the worst drivers. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by stratman on 01/17/10 at 18:09:16 -anyway, has anyone sneezed in their helmet? -stratman |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/17/10 at 21:36:17 4E494F5C49505C533D0 wrote:
Oh yeah,.. definite.... as I said,.. with time and practice you can learn to sneeze downward.... One time,.. I was riding with the flu, and had a lozenge in there... It was kinda' strong so I was flippin' it over and over,.. and I somehow flipped it out of my mouth and stuck it to the chinguard... Then, I spent the next 10 miles, tryin' to stretch my tongue to the guard to get it back... Nearly crashed... :-? |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by John_D on 01/17/10 at 23:55:59 6B6C6A796C757976180 wrote:
Numerous times, and haven't gooped it up much, yet... :P |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/18/10 at 00:42:41 Not so bad, sneezin in a helmet. Just gotta control it, let it out thru the mouth. I used to sneeze very violently, but have learned how in recent years,, gee, now I think about it, since I started wearing a helmet..I am no longer so completely taken over by the whole "body spasm & scream" sneeze. Being on a creeper, tight, under a car, now theres a bad place for a big sneeze. Smack a forehead on something..DAMHIK |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by wolfmrp on 01/18/10 at 18:18:29 Since I have no desire to continue a back and forth discussion on statistics. I found a good sight with loads of statistics that are all referenced to the original publisher. If anyone is interested in them the link is below. Even though the word estimate is used, these all seem to be legitimate sources (and yes most statistics are based on estimates). Many of them are comparisons between fatalities in states that have switched between having universal helmet laws and not having them. I thought the section entitled "How do helmet laws affect motorcyclist deaths and injuries?" was particularly telling. http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/helmet_use.html#cite3 |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 01/18/10 at 20:10:35 I am Highly Interested -- in the truth. "the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute is wholly supported by auto insurers" -- http://www.iihs.org/members.html Most automobile-motorcycle accidents are the fault of the automobile, and it is to the automobile insurance companies benefit to reduce the number of targets. These companies do not care about *life* -- they care about money. Motorcycle Helmet LAWS reduce motorcycle ridership by a large percentage. In California motorcycle ownership dropped 39% after the passage of our mandatory helmet law. The IIHS is *NOT* an unbiased source. The Claim: " NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of crash fatality by 37 percent. Norvell and Cummings found a 39 percent reduction in the risk of death after adjusting for age, gender, and seat position." *IF* this were true, the States that mandate helmet use would have a *significant* reduction in deaths per motorcycle accident due to "Based on helmets judged to be compliant with federal safety regulations, use was 73 percent in 2002 and 78 percent in 2008 among motorcyclists in states with universal helmet laws and rose from 46 to 50 percent among motorcyclists in states without such laws." (from item 4) The fact is that States that mandate helmet use would have an insignificantly *higher* rate of deaths per motorcycle accident. The Claim: "Are there drawbacks to helmet use? Claims have been made that helmets increase the risk of neck injury and reduce peripheral vision and hearing, but there is no credible evidence to support these arguments." Ignore evidence that disproves your position, ignore drawbacks you cannot address. When I am riding, or driving for that matter, I am constantly moving my head so as to watch all of the traffic all around me. It is not physically possible to move your head as fast with a helmet on as without. You cannot break the laws of physics. They do not address the problem of fatigue associated with the weight of a helmet. There is obviously *some* drawback to Helmet Use as the States that mandate helmet use have insignifiantly higher rates of accidents per motorcycle ownership and deaths per motorcycle accident. Yes, accidents and deaths and thefts decrease with the passage of helmet laws -- due mostly to the reduction in motorcycles. Yes, accedents and injuries increase with the repeal of helmet laws -- due to a marked increase in ridership, with new unskilled riders who are at greater risk of accidents. ============ For me the bottom line is that States that mandate helmet use have roughly 80% riders with DOT helmets and those that do not have roughly a 50% DOT helmet usage. If helmets were significantly useful in preventing deaths in motorcycle accidents the Nanny States would have a significantly lower per accident death rate. They do not. Repeating the Shinola from the automobile industry does not address this fact. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by wolfmrp on 01/18/10 at 20:58:09 Yes, this site is presented by an insurance group. I think only one of the 32 references used on the site were gathered from insurance based publications. Many were scientific medical journals(Annals of Emergency Medicine, American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Epidemiology ect). Some other sources used were the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The reason references are sited is so you can check the validity of the sources used. No site is wholly unbiased. It costs money to put up a sight and there is always an agenda behind money. Paladin, I am not in favor of mandatory helmet laws. If you do not want to wear one I have no problem with that and it is possible that you are safer without one. However, I do not see a big conspiracy or cover up in any of these statistics. There is so much data, from several different sources, all pointing to the majority of cyclists(maybe some are safer without do to special training) being safer with a helmet on. There is even another study from Spain finding a 25% decrease in crash mortality in helmeted riders (They do not have our insurance companies or government if that is the problem). My point in posting these stats is one of information. I like to be as informed as possible when making my choices. Since I do not have any special training that allows me to be a totally safe driver and sometimes even I (gasp) make mistakes I wear a helmet. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by gerald.hughes on 01/18/10 at 21:03:24 I guess that I will throw my two cents in. Over the years I have ridden with all the options-no helmet, half helmet, three-quarter helmet, clamshell, and Full face. Currently, I have a full-face for the Winter, and a 3/4 for the Summer here in Tucson. I wear them for comfort, not safety. I would like to make two points in this debate about what kind of helmet. First, the Hurt report (The only true large scale study of motorcycle accidents.) found that wearing a helmet reduced the incidence of serious injury and death. Their data did not show a statistically significant difference based on the type of helmet. Wearing a helmet was important. What type of helmet wasn't. Second, I would point out that all law-enforcement motorcycle officers, not only in the U.S. but in Europe as well, wear 3/4 helmets. Maybe they know more than they tell us. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by verslagen1 on 01/18/10 at 21:17:37 797B6C7F727A30766B79767B6D1E0 wrote:
A motorcop has to be able to communicate at all times. Taking off their helmet also would mean a moment of breaking eye contact with the perp and in some cases involve both hands. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Polar Pilot on 01/19/10 at 06:22:23 I switched over to a full coverage helmet with a flip up chin bar in the late 1990's. I found oune that was comfortable and thought I could learn to like it. I quickly learned that I wanted to ride with the face shield flipped up and shortly thereafter with the chin bar flipped up/ Two years ago I bought a short - 1/2 half helmet. I liked it immediately It is lighter more comfortable and easier to use. I think for a long ,ulti day ride at high speed I would put my full cover back on - but for day runs or to run to the store and back ( I ride from our summer home in western Canada) the 1/2 is my helmet of choice |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by qp on 01/19/10 at 07:48:12 When buying a helmet make sure it has a Snell (SMF) endorsement. The DOT endorsement means that it meets the minimum standards (which are very low) and manufactures need not offer any proof of that. The Snell standards are higher, every helmet with it must comply and the manufactures are required to submit their helmets for testing if they want the Snell rating. Snell: http://www.smf.org/ Helmet Safety: http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/beginningatv/a/atvriderhelmets_4.htm |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by EJID on 01/19/10 at 07:54:02 414051535B514254300 wrote:
I could be wrong here, but I believe when I was shopping for a full face and considering a modular with the flip up chin, the salesman asked me if I wanted one with a Snell rating. Apparently only full face helmets with a fixed chin are even eligible to be tested for that rating. The Snell rated helmets that he had were also about 3X the price of the rest of them :o I ended up going with a DOT approved full face that FIT and I am happy as a clam ;D |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by LostArtist on 01/19/10 at 09:53:33 there are a few Snell approved 3/4 helmets or "Open Face" so that was just an upsale technique or a miss guided sales person which we all know is impossible ;) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by ero4444 on 01/19/10 at 09:56:57 I am still looking for a new fullface helmet and evaluated Snell vs DOT standards and testing results of each. Snell allows (REQUIRES) higher impulse/forces on the head because the tests include 2 impacts, if I recall. This stiffens the required construction in order to pass Snell tests. DOT tests result in lower forces on the head for a single impact. I'm getting a DOT helmet. Snell sounds good but it is not necessarily "better". |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Serowbot on 01/19/10 at 10:29:48 I still think,.. no matter how good half your face looks after the accident,... it's not gonna' be the same without the other half... :-? |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by EJID on 01/19/10 at 10:35:37 697F68756D78756E1A0 wrote:
+1 :) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by jabman on 01/19/10 at 11:12:11 4C43404D090 wrote:
+1 :)[/quote] +2 :) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by LostArtist on 01/19/10 at 11:30:44 this might be my next helmet http://www.g-max.com/gmax/gm44s.html now if I can find it in silver. . . |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Biddie on 01/19/10 at 21:27:20 I have a modular and also a full face. When I was hit the back of my head hit the ground then I rolled and the front visor was scraped up as well, so I will always stick with the full coverage. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Bubba on 01/20/10 at 07:00:28 Full face helmet...I live in a State with no helmet law but I wear one riding my bicycle, when I ski and when I go climbing...why not when riding my suzi??? Besides it gives me peace-of-mind. I don't fault anyone for NOT wearing one but for me I feel nekkid w/o one... (btw, there is NO augument you can give me telling me it's SAFER w/o one) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Reelthing on 01/20/10 at 11:27:26 Several different helmets here - the 3/4 open face I wear much of the time on the beach/dirt bike - let's me wear some serious shades that are easy to clean and the wipe outs are into soft stuff - on the open road I wear a full face nolan x-lite 901 - in addition to more coverage to keep out the bugs, rocks, and various flying debris it is a very quite helmet little wind or engine noise has air vents all over the place to clear the fog or let out the heat and of course the backwards baseball cap for short beer runs. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by babyhog on 01/21/10 at 12:57:38 I stumbled across this page: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmets.htm Lots of info about helmets! |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by kimchris1 on 01/24/10 at 04:42:32 Thanks babyhog on the info. It seems no matter how much info a person has on this subject, some just seem to think that no helmet is okay. Well again we can argue this back and forth and still have the same outcome. It's not that I don't have the confidence in myself or my riding, I don't have the confidence in others driving. Also I suffered a concussion a few years ago from getting hit in the head at work. So I know it does not take a huge blow to the head to cause that. I will continue to wear my ff and if I go down at least know I have some kind of protection on my skull.. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by iMc on 02/08/10 at 15:42:16 ff, 1/2, 3/4 it's all personal preference and how much risk you're willing to accept. What do y'all think of this? http://www.blutekhelmet.com/helmetDisplay.php?prodId=4 |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by EJID on 02/08/10 at 15:58:25 0B110F010E070C060D0C620 wrote:
Looks neat and all, but in my opinion, I get on my bike to enjoy the ride and focus on me, my bike, and the ride. Distractions like music or phone calls interrupt that peace and tranquility that I seek. Things can seem to happen so much quicker with less response time on a bike too, so the added distractions can slow reaction times in my opinion. So, not for me, but a nice looking helmet (I don't even see DOT or SNELL approvals listed anywhere on their website either :-[ ) |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by iMc on 02/08/10 at 16:21:47 http://www.blutekhelmet.com/media/helmetPhantom.pdf dot approved |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by bill67 on 02/08/10 at 19:16:54 The girl or the helmet is dot approved? |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by Paladin. on 02/08/10 at 20:02:19 Must be the girl -- DOT does not approve or certify helmets. As for the BlueTooth helmet -- I want absolutely nothing that may distract me from the task of riding collision free. I also do not have any confidence in the driving of others, which is why I want to be able to keep an eye on *all* of them at *all* times. |
|
Title: Re: Half face helmets Post by iMc on 02/08/10 at 22:03:50 touché |
|
SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2! YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. |