Full face or 3/4 helmet ?

[Penrod]

How many here use open face helmets instead of the full face ones? And please tell me why you do? Trying to make a choice for my next helmet (currently using a 1/2 helmet, Harley style) so the full face feels like a small prison cell. I'd like to know the difference between the two.

[Wooster]

Ah a helmet thread ! Sure to please the opinionated.

Me, I use a full face helmet for cross country touring and a 3/4 for summer rides to the harbor.

The difference, well, 3/4 is cooler, easier on the eyeglasses yet less protective when crashing;

full face is warmer, more eyeglass hassle yet the absolute hot set up when crashing.

 

Wooster w/o commitment to logic

[E30TECH]

Ah a helmet thread ! Sure to please the opinionated.

Me, I use a full face helmet for cross country touring and a 3/4 for summer rides to the harbor.

 

Wooster w/o commitment to logic

I use a Nolan modular. Full face helmet, that can have the chin bar lifted up, converting it to a 3/4 helmet.

[AndyT]

I use to use a 3/4 helmet until about 15 years ago. When I first tried a full helmet I thought I would not get over the claustraphobia, but did pretty quickly and greatly enjoyed the air management and secure feeling of full coverage. My wife balked at replacing her 3/4 helmet, but now loves the flip front full helmet. I tried hers and liked it too, so am in the market for a quality flip front!

[Lawman]

The 3/4 is cooler and easier to put on and take off and will work just fine for you........Until you crash..

[tgiffel]

Perhaps this link will help you make your decision.

TG

 

http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/swisher.htm

[Deadboy]

I am on my 2nd flip jaw style full face....lots of folks like the 3/4 or less (or none) but I just cannot justify the risk...on the other hand I never wore a helmet while riding my ATV around the property, so I guess everyones level of acceptable risk is largely based on what they perceive to be risky...find one that fits and wear it...the new super moto style looks interesting...dirt bike meets full face... http://www.araiamericas.com/helmet_details.asp?model=XD

[John Bentall]

How many here use open face helmets instead of the full face ones? And please tell me why you do? Trying to make a choice for my next helmet (currently using a 1/2 helmet, Harley style) so the full face feels like a small prison cell. I'd like to know the difference between the two.

 

The Schuberth J1 http://www.schuberth.com/j1 is getting good reviews. A 3/4 face helmet with a chin loop to give almost full-face protection. I've tried one and they feel really "airy" - definitely much more 3/4 face than full-face or flip.

[EffBee]

I understand about the different feeling when changing from a beanie helmet to a full-face. But you can learn to like anything.

 

My $.02 is that asphalt is very hard and very abrasive. And even though I'm a crusty old fart, my face is relatively soft and I'm already ugly enough.

 

It's a full-face for me.

[ericfoerster]

About the time your face is headed for the pavement is when you are are really going to decide. A full face takes a few rides to get used to, but it is better than having your jaw wired shut and sucking dinner out of a straw

A wise rider once told me to wear what I wanted to crash in because you can't stop and get dressed before you go down.

[Penrod]

I can't argue the safety issue, the full face IS better, much better. Guess safety will win out over comfort/enjoyment.

 

Thanks for all the imput, info, advice and wisdom.

[Mike O]

The Schuberth J1 http://www.schuberth.com/j1 is getting good reviews. A 3/4 face helmet with a chin loop to give almost full-face protection. I've tried one and they feel really "airy" - definitely much more 3/4 face than full-face or flip.

 

I just read the online manual for this. It looks like an alternative compromise. Could you comment on insertion and removal of the chin loop?

 

Mike O

[W8NONU]

I switched from a 3/4 to a full face a few years ago and recently changed to a flip up full face. I found the 3/4 helmet to be the quietest of the three, for me anyway.

 

I ride in Oklahoma and it gets a tad warm here. I do not do a lot of in town riding unless traveling and go through a city. In the summer I do not find the flip up to be hot. The air flow is enough to keep me cool unless I am in town and hit several stop lights. It will get warm then so I open the face up while sitting at a light. I have come to feel much safer in the full face or flip up so I will not go back to the 3/4. My .02 worth.

[lawnchairboy]

I have been on the receiving end of too many motorcycle trauma cases with massive facial trauma... full face for me, no hesitation. Some day, your face may thank you.

 

chris

[Paul Mihalka]

Just from pictures, I don't like the idea of the Schubert chin protection loop. In cycle get-offs you are likely sliding on whatever is touching the ground. With a full-face or flip-up, there is a chin piece with a good somewhat rounded surface that can slide. I think that chin loop would protect in a frontal impact, but would hook up too easy with the ground if sliding, twisting the helmet in some way.

[Bob Palin]

3/4 on any bike with a windshield, I hate being enclosed in a full face. I'm not claustrophobic at all, I just like to be out in the air, might as well be in a cage in a FF. (Actually I'd rather drive my convertible with the top down than wear a FF)

 

There is a safety issue, I have a chipped tooth to prove it, but is everything in life about safety?

[dancogan]

When they showed us a helmet in Riders Edge, with the incidence of impacts from crashed marked on it, it was very clear that the majority of impacts are to the front facing portions of the face and only a full face helmet would really do the job. That pretty much made my decision easy.

[steveknapp]

Guess safety will win out over comfort/enjoyment.

 

That's your choice to make, and no one else.

 

Having said that, I'm not sure I agree that a full face helmet limits my comfort or enjoyment. I've not worn a 3/4, but when riding without any helmet I really don't enjoy the ride. The wind in my face at speed makes my eyes water. Bits of road debris smacks me in the face. Plus I'm very used to riding with the helmet. That's just me.

 

If you're on the fence, I'd suggest buying a good quality, good FITTING, but inexpensive full face. I place the emphasis on comfort/fit because if that's not right you won't enjoy the helmet.

 

But when you go shopping, keep trying things on looking for a good fit even if that means pulling some mega-buck helmets onto your head. Don't start with a price or brand ("I want an HJC CL-15, what size fits me"), start with a good fit so you know what's right then try to find that fit in other helmets. Arai makes different models of helmets in different head shapes, and other brands just fit a bit different too. Try em all on.

 

Give it a shot, see if maybe after a few weeks of riding with one you might see it as safe, enjoyable, and comfortable all at once.

[Bob Palin]

When they showed us a helmet in Riders Edge, with the incidence of impacts from crashed marked on it, it was very clear that the majority of impacts are to the front facing portions of the face and only a full face helmet would really do the job. That pretty much made my decision easy.

They showed "a helmet", that doesn't prove anything. I've crashed a number of times and never hit the front of my helmet, the chipped tooth was from being rear ended into the car in front and biting my windshield! I don't deny in any way that a FF is safer, just that the probability of a facial injury in a normal riding lifetime due to the difference between a FF and a 3/4 is not sufficiently high to force the decision if you prefer a 3/4.

[GordonB]

Full face for me...But I'll ride with the shield up around town and when in the country (fells like a 3/4).

[John Bentall]

The Schuberth J1 http://www.schuberth.com/j1 is getting good reviews. A 3/4 face helmet with a chin loop to give almost full-face protection. I've tried one and they feel really "airy" - definitely much more 3/4 face than full-face or flip.

 

I just read the online manual for this. It looks like an alternative compromise. Could you comment on insertion and removal of the chin loop?

 

Mike O

 

I didn't try (and would not want from a safety aspect) to remove the chin loop. One just does not notice that it is there.

[marcopolo]

As so many have said, it's a personal decison. For me, safety trumps all other considerations, otherwise why wear one at all (though here at home one has no choice)? That means a full face. I now have an Arai Quantum, but just ordered an HJC AC-12 Carbon, mainly because it's lighter, and the system for changing the face shield is so much simpler than Arai's. Arai seems pretty stubborn about their system, insisting, as do their dealers, that it's easy to change shields as long as you practise it 300,000 times to get the hang of it. After trying 299,999 times I haven't got the hang of it, and have given up.

[steveknapp]

Arai seems pretty stubborn about their system, insisting, as do their dealers, that it's easy to change shields as long as you practise it 300,000 times to get the hang of it. After trying 299,999 times I haven't got the hang of it, and have given up.

 

The advice I was given that works well for me it to quit being nice to it. Watch at the track, they just rip the shield out and literally SHOVE the new one in. No finesse at all.

[marcopolo]

Arai seems pretty stubborn about their system, insisting, as do their dealers, that it's easy to change shields as long as you practise it 300,000 times to get the hang of it. After trying 299,999 times I haven't got the hang of it, and have given up.

 

The advice I was given that works well for me it to quit being nice to it. Watch at the track, they just rip the shield out and literally SHOVE the new one in. No finesse at all.

 

I tried that a few days ago, after watching an Arai video of a racer (well known, but his name escapes me), change shields with helmet on, sitting on the bike. Result was side pod popped off (not the first time , BTW) and bits flying across the room. It had gotten to the point where it was becoming a safety hazard, in that I'd be reluctant to chnage my tinted shield (which I use all the time) to the clear shield when dusk was approaching, or if it got really dark as a result of a rain storm etc. I finally thought, this is crazy. I was prompted to get a new helmet in part because I'm going to get an Autocom system and thought it didn't make a whole lot of sense to install speakers/microphone in a five-year old helmet.

 

I also didn't like the fit of the new Arai Quantum II as much as I do my Quantum/f, but the face shield system was the ultimate determinant in moving from Arai.

[hopz]

I have just been through a month-long investigation prior to purchasing two new helmets- one for wife, one for me.

 

I read everything there is to read on the web. I went to at least 5 different shops here in SLC, and tried on helmets of every price range and style.

 

Where I ended up was that the full face models (either fixed or flip) have three drawbacks...

1)peripheral vision is greatly reduced.

B)Up and down vision is reduced to the point that to see my GPS and other gages requires a significant tilt of the head.. (thus taking me away from the line of sight), and

three, Heat. It gets really hot here. A ride anywhere to the west involves dessert. I mean HOT!

 

Our decision was to go 3/4 (actually the top of the line HJC AC3) with full, flip face shield (bugs, sand, wind etc)

 

Is it the most safe?... I think it is closer to a toss up than many believe. At our advanced age the flexibility of the neck comes into play as well.

 

And there is a final factor... the loud whine from the back if the pillion is not comfortable.

 

Your actual mileage may vary.

[Redbrick]

As so many have said, it's a personal decison. For me, safety trumps all other considerations, otherwise why wear one at all.

 

+1

 

Phil........Redbrick

[keithb]

Bill

Arai has a new helmet out called the SZ Ram III. It is an open face helmet that came over from the RX-7 Corsair. It is light and has the ventilation system. I am looking for something like this or a flip up helmet myself that will be cooler while riding in the summer.

[E30TECH]

the loud whine from the back if the pillion is not comfortable.

 

 

You better clear your PC cookies.

[Jim VonBaden]

Guess safety will win out over comfort/enjoyment.

 

That's your choice to make, and no one else.

 

Having said that, I'm not sure I agree that a full face helmet limits my comfort or enjoyment. I've not worn a 3/4, but when riding without any helmet I really don't enjoy the ride. The wind in my face at speed makes my eyes water. Bits of road debris smacks me in the face. Plus I'm very used to riding with the helmet. That's just me.

 

If you're on the fence, I'd suggest buying a good quality, good FITTING, but inexpensive full face. I place the emphasis on comfort/fit because if that's not right you won't enjoy the helmet.

 

But when you go shopping, keep trying things on looking for a good fit even if that means pulling some mega-buck helmets onto your head. Don't start with a price or brand ("I want an HJC CL-15, what size fits me"), start with a good fit so you know what's right then try to find that fit in other helmets. Arai makes different models of helmets in different head shapes, and other brands just fit a bit different too. Try em all on.

 

Give it a shot, see if maybe after a few weeks of riding with one you might see it as safe, enjoyable, and comfortable all at once.

 

+1 on everything Steve said!

 

I cannot ride without a faceshield. I can't see, and am uncomfortable.

 

My helmet of choice is the Schuberth C1.

 

Jim

[Laura]

The 3/4 is cooler and easier to put on and take off and will work just fine for you........Until you crash..

 

I'll second that.

 

I'd like a little less meat on the tip of my nose but don't want an asphalt nose job.

 

Try a modular....ride full faced and flip up to put your glasses on, drink water, talk to the gas station attendant. Best of both worlds IMHO.

[David]

For me, safety trumps all other considerations.

 

For the record, I too wear a full-face helmet (except during trials work). So I wanted you to have that context when I say that that's about the funniest thing I've read in awhile, coming from a motorcycle rider.

[Redbrick]

Threads gettin' interesting !

 

Phil..........Redbrick

[marcopolo]

For me, safety trumps all other considerations.

 

For the record, I too wear a full-face helmet (except during trials work). So I wanted you to have that context when I say that that's about the funniest thing I've read in awhile, coming from a motorcycle rider.

 

You're right, but of course this was all in the context of riding a bike. If I wanted to be completely safe, I'd stay indoors, though I might have to consider wearing a helmet in case I slipped on the stairs It would be a toss up as to whether I wore my bike helmet, or my hockey helmet, which comes equipped with a metal cage. Guess it would depend on whether someone was shooting a puck at me. Does Snell test bike helmets for that?

[David]

Yeah, I was just trying to point out how ludicrous our choice of words is sometimes. Sloppy thinking--me too.

 

What you really meant to say is that you have drawn a personal line that allows you to accept substantial risk in riding a motorcycle, but that during this activity you try to minimize risk as much as possible without minimizing your enjoyment.

 

Other people think the answer to that is a 3/4 helmet!

[eddd]

I have just been through a month-long investigation prior to purchasing two new helmets- one for wife, one for me.

 

I read everything there is to read on the web. I went to at least 5 different shops here in SLC, and tried on helmets of every price range and style.

 

Where I ended up was that the full face models (either fixed or flip) have three drawbacks...

1)peripheral vision is greatly reduced.

B)Up and down vision is reduced to the point that to see my GPS and other gages requires a significant tilt of the head.. (thus taking me away from the line of sight), and

three, Heat. It gets really hot here. A ride anywhere to the west involves dessert. I mean HOT!

 

Our decision was to go 3/4 (actually the top of the line HJC AC3) with full, flip face shield (bugs, sand, wind etc)

 

Is it the most safe?... I think it is closer to a toss up than many believe. At our advanced age the flexibility of the neck comes into play as well.

 

And there is a final factor... the loud whine from the back if the pillion is not comfortable.

 

Your actual mileage may vary.

 

You make some good points that I have found to be true as well. I have a 3/4, and a flip. I too am really bothered by the reduced peripheral vision. Less important but still bothersome is the reduced vision of the gauges. I don't have one yet, but I would think this would be a real problem if you were tring to glance at a map on a tank bag.

[Mike O]

 

I just read the online manual for this. It looks like an alternative compromise. Could you comment on insertion and removal of the chin loop?

 

Mike O

 

I didn't try (and would not want from a safety aspect) to remove the chin loop. One just does not notice that it is there.

 

Thanks... I'm with Paul on this one. It doesn't look like an even reasonable substitute for full face wrap-around protection. And the fact they recommend you insert and remove it every time you don the helmet seems mighty inconvenient for IMHO marginal safety improvement for a standard 3/4 helmet.

 

For the record, I now own all three:

 

- Shoei Syncrotec (flip up)

- Shoei RJ-air (3/4)

- Scorpion EXO400 (Full face).

 

I love the convenience of the flip up, but its noisy.

I love the venting and 'open-air' of the RJ-AIR. It really hearkens back to what I think of when motorcycling. Best vision of the bunch. But God help you if you ride through sand or it starts raining!

I love the safe feeling in the Scorpion, but it's damned inconvenient compared with the Shoei.

 

Having said this all, my next expensive helmet will likely be a Shoei Multitec.

 

Mike O

 

Mike O

[outpost22]

Rode with a 3/4 helmet from 1972-1984. The very next day after buying a full face helmet, my buddy accidently cut me off trail riding, taking out my front wheel. My face went straight into a rock about the size of a beach ball. There were three deep gouges on the frontal part of the helmet where my teeth/nose would have been with a 3/4 face.

 

So, either full face helmets cause frontal face plants, or they can save your teeth and nose or both.

[Bob Palin]

Huge difference in the risk factor riding trails v riding on the street, I (the FF hater) have a FF moto X helmet for riding in the dirt and lots of other armour. I like the motoX helmet because of all the extra space it has between my face and the chin bar, it wouldn't be practical for the road and I see no reason to use it there anyway.

 

I think it's sad that the motorcycle community has become so hung up on safety.

[Mike O]

...I think it's sad that the motorcycle community has become so hung up on safety.

 

the motorcycle community? or

our motorcycle community?

 

I only visit one other online site (stn) and maybe it's just me and I'm paying more attention here, but it strikes me (bad choice of words) that with a whopping sample of 2 we focus a lot of energy on safety in our community.

 

Is it just me?

 

Mike O

[Bob Palin]

Actually I think the whole of society has become overly pre-occupied with safety.

[wilsons]

Man, I've been using my 3/4 (snowboarding) helmet so much lately, cuz the slopes. I put the full face on today to go ride the bike, and it felt like crap compared to the 3/4.

 

I think I'd like to get a flip up, taking glasses on/off is pretty annoying.

[s3steve]

Well I started out 3/4 the first two seasons. I did have a wasp fly in behind my glasses once while down shifting and braking for a light. A little unnerving to say the least! I was also stung on the face one that same year. I guess it could have happened with a full face with the visor up. But it was still pretty scary the have a wasp less then an inch from your eyeball!

 

I got into more sporting bikes and switched over to a FF so now I'm use to it.

 

If you look like a dork on a Harley with a FF, it would stand to reason you would look like a dork on a sport bike with a 1/2 helmet.

 

marcopolo said

 

"I also didn't like the fit of the new Arai Quantum II as much as I do my Quantum/f, but the face shield system was the ultimate determinant in moving from Arai."

 

I noticed the same thing on Friday when I was trying on a Quantum II. It seemed very tight on the forehead compared to my Quantum R. Then I tried on the RX7 and it fit prefect! Of course it's more expensive.

[NoHeat]

I think I'd like to get a flip up, taking glasses on/off is pretty annoying.

 

Flip up helmets do make it easier to deal with glasses.

 

I dealt with that problem the expensive way, with lasik a year ago, so I no longer need glasses, except for reading. A full-face helmet became easier to use (also, no more eyeglass fogging in winter).

 

A webbikeworld writer found a cheaper way to solve the problem -- cutting the curved earpiece off the eyeglasses.

 

BTW, do flip-up helmet generally have no styrofoam in the chinbar?

[Deadboy]

If you look like a dork on a Harley with a FF, it would stand to reason you would look like a dork on a sport bike with a 1/2 helmet.

 

I used to get a lot of grief wearing a full face on my shovelhead back in the day...of course most of the folks who pointed it out were also unwilling to go riding with me if it was on overcast/raining type day, which is most of em in Seattle....I figure the biggest dork is the guy in Harley edition Ford truck with his OCC t-shirt and Arlen Ness limited editon leather jacket...but that is just my opinion, clearly many of them are pretty impressed with themselves...

[John Bentall]

 

I just read the online manual for this. It looks like an alternative compromise. Could you comment on insertion and removal of the chin loop?

 

Mike O

 

I didn't try (and would not want from a safety aspect) to remove the chin loop. One just does not notice that it is there.

 

Thanks... I'm with Paul on this one. It doesn't look like an even reasonable substitute for full face wrap-around protection. And the fact they recommend you insert and remove it every time you don the helmet seems mighty inconvenient for IMHO marginal safety improvement for a standard 3/4 helmet.

 

For the record, I now own all three:

 

- Shoei Syncrotec (flip up)

- Shoei RJ-air (3/4)

- Scorpion EXO400 (Full face).

 

I love the convenience of the flip up, but its noisy.

I love the venting and 'open-air' of the RJ-AIR. It really hearkens back to what I think of when motorcycling. Best vision of the bunch. But God help you if you ride through sand or it starts raining!

I love the safe feeling in the Scorpion, but it's damned inconvenient compared with the Shoei.

 

Having said this all, my next expensive helmet will likely be a Shoei Multitec.

 

Mike O

 

Mike O

 

Mike well done for finding the instruction manual for the J1 on the website - I didn't know it was there.

However the tip says that it is not necessary to remove the chin hoop each time

"In principle, the helmet can be put on and taken off with the chin guard hoop locked in place. However, the chin guard hoop makes the helmet significantly stiffer - even compared to a fullface helmet - in the opening area. If you find it more convenient to leave the chin guard hoop in place, you can simply and comfortably put the helmet on by releasing the chin guard hoop on one side only. This will allow you to slightly open up the helmet by pulling on the chinstrap ends.

If you use this method, each time you ride always check that the chin guard hoop is properly locked into the fastener on both sides."

When I tried the helmet on at a show, I left the loop guard in place on both sides.

Shuberth state openly in the manual that the protection offered is not as good as a full face helmet - but is has to be better than a 3/4 face.

[outpost22]

Huge difference in the risk factor riding trails v riding on the street, I (the FF hater) have a FF moto X helmet for riding in the dirt and lots of other armour. I like the motoX helmet because of all the extra space it has between my face and the chin bar, it wouldn't be practical for the road and I see no reason to use it there anyway.

 

I think it's sad that the motorcycle community has become so hung up on safety.

 

There may be a huge difference in risk factor, but the results would be the same in the event of a crash. Witness my buddy getting his front wheel taken out by a cage near Seattle last year. The resultant slide created some nice rash to the front of his full face Shoei. I'd hate to see what his face would have looked like without the frontal protection. Well, he's ugly anyway...

 

I have no problem with what anybody else wants to wear. And I'm not sure its "hung up" on safety as much as it is vanity.

[Darren]

The best solution is a BMW System V with its removable chin bar, it converts to an open face with sun visor, open face with face shield and a moto cross style for use with goggles.I'm not sure if you guys over the water can buy them, but I am on my second System helmet, (the first was a System IV)and its a great helmet. I have the face shield fitted for my commute to work in town, where vision is great. But if a longer ride is planned, the chin bar is fitted with either a double glazed anti fog shield for winter or a dark shield for the rare sunny day here in England.

Darren

[Boffin]

Unfortunately Darren, BMW do not sell their helmets in the USA.

 

Andy

[Darren]

I'm sure that some bright spark could get one from north of the border

[marcopolo]

I'm sure that some bright spark could get one from north of the border

 

Nope, they don't sell them in Canada either. A friend of mine even had a hard time buying one at the big dealer in London last fall. He had to resort to using the hotel's UK address before they'd sell him one.