My wife and I use open faced helmets . How likely are you to fall on your chin if you crash? Are there any statistics?I don't want to get full face helmets ,but I'm concerned.Thanks

Get some of those nifty modular helmets that the whole front part folds up.. Then it's like a 3/4 helmet when flipped up and a full face when flipped down.  I like full face anyways when your going above say 35mph keeps the bugs and such out of your eyes and teeth.

When I went down 10 months ago, had it not been for a ff helmet I would have sustained severe injury to my jaw.
My jaw smacked the asphalt hard enough to send my shield flying. I am very happy to say I suffered no neck or injury to my head.
Each person decides what is best for them. I won't tell you to wear a ff yet I gave you a good reason why to wear one. kim

i have four different helments  a full face, an open face. a half helmet,,and a beenie  just depends on what the ride is going to be

Have you ever seen a motorcycle cop in a full face helmet?

Here's one statistics diagram that has been around for a while.  I believe its still the one they used in my safety course a while back.  Its from the Hurt Report Study done in 1981.  
http://dontai.com/wp/2010/05/20/motorcycle-helmet-impact-zones/

Paladin. wrote on 01/18/11 at 02:38:01:


first off, I don't understand these numbers, cause they aren't related to how many riders there were in each time period, just how many accidents/deaths, so without that reference this is kinda useless info

and what's the 30 days thing??

just to point out that deaths now are still lower than in 1980 5.1 then vs 4.6 now with a low in 1995 of 2.2  what has happened since 1995 to make those deaths go back up?  relaxing of helmet laws maybe?  better braking technology, better education for riders?  

anyway, the point is, the more you feel protected it is possible that you will take more risky behavior thinking you are protected against any harm, as adults, this should be out of our systems by now. but I can't tell you how many 18 year old brains I've met in 50 year old bodies . . .

personally I wear full face, would love a modular eventually but I've already got too many freaking helmets

Yeah it really should be illegal to get a supersport bike as a starter bike!!  Sure its got less displacement than our savage but its got more horsepower than a harley electraglide and weighs less.  Supersport bikes and motorcycle culture saying anything under 1000cc is a beginner bike really contribute to accidents i think.  It gives sport bikes a bad rap for being dangerous too, when they're probably just as safe as cruisers in responsible hands, possibly more so because of better handling and riding position..