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Post by jayhawk on Oct 2, 2008 10:27:16 GMT -5
Thanks to slow shipping, I received a late birthday present a couple of days ago:  This thing is pretty cool. Wearing glasses, the flip down shield is so much better at keeping the wind out of my eyes than my former half helmet with snap on shield. Unlike the image on the picture, the flip down shield is clear and great at night as well. My only complaint is that this is a wide helmet, and it won't fit underseat because of the width (if I take a screw driver and remove the hardward that allows the shield to flip down it will fit), so I have to use the helmet hook on it or take it with me if I fear it might be stolen hanging on the hook. Personally, I think the helmet is much cooler looking than my old helmet, but my wife thinks all helmets look funny and this one gives me a "mushroom-headed" look.  Lots of color choices are available...here's a link to the online shop selling them: www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/17061/ITEM/AFX-FX-42A-Helmet.aspxJust thought I'd share, Eric |
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Post by brickstore on Oct 2, 2008 11:54:22 GMT -5
Nice Helmet! Where's the part that covers your chin though?
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Post by jayhawk on Oct 2, 2008 12:07:11 GMT -5
I'm not a huge fan of full-face helmets. In fact, I really dislike the feeling and can't turn my head as well...I'm a big fan of head turning. However, that's just me, on my little ole 50cc...If I were on a highway, I'd be strapping on a full face helmet.
Eric
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Post by brickstore on Oct 2, 2008 14:21:01 GMT -5
That's totally your choice. I won't touch the damn thing without my full face on (50cc as well). I fell when I was a beginner, wasn't moving, I stopped, was distracted, didn't put my feet down fast enough. Luckily I was in my neighbor's driveway. I twisted my ankle, but also noticed several deep scratches on the chin portion of my helmet. If I wasn't wearing a FF I would have banged my jaw good. just my .02  |
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Post by mortar235 on Oct 2, 2008 16:13:37 GMT -5
thats a nice brain bucket....
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Post by kitten on Oct 2, 2008 16:35:10 GMT -5
thats a nice brain bucket.... Brain bucket's a good word for it! But you know, the most painful and difficult part of the head to construct is the face... I may hate full face for the glasses-wearing difficulty factor, but I'd go with no less than a modular. I'm too vain, I like my face and want to keep it safe. Plus rain stings. That being said... It looks awesome!! I love the swirlies! |
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Post by bob67 on Oct 3, 2008 16:25:51 GMT -5
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Post by briggsfab on Oct 25, 2008 2:57:29 GMT -5
i dont wanna go off on a rant here but.....
if it wasnt a law i would wear a helmet at all, further more im of the beliefe the government shouldnt have the right to force me to wear one, naturally this is just my opinion and a personal choice, not advise for anyone!
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Post by harrywr2 on Oct 25, 2008 8:15:57 GMT -5
thats a nice brain bucket.... Brain bucket's a good word for it! But you know, the most painful and difficult part of the head to construct is the face... I may hate full face for the glasses-wearing difficulty factor, but I'd go with no less than a modular. I'm too vain, I like my face and want to keep it safe. Plus rain stings. That being said... It looks awesome!! I love the swirlies! Only half helmets are referred to as brain buckets. Helmets aren't cure alls...a DOT helmet offers protection at an impact speed of 13MPH, 95% of all accidents...a Snell helmet offers protection at an impact speed of 19MPH, 97% of all accidents. The best defense against injury is avoiding an accident to begin with. Safety gear that is uncomfortable doesn't help, it takes ones mind out of the game. I must have tried on 20 different full face helmets...not one was remotely comfortable. So I ride with a 3/4 face with a flip down shield. |
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Post by jayhawk on Oct 25, 2008 9:44:50 GMT -5
Only half helmets are referred to as brain buckets. Helmets aren't cure alls...a DOT helmet offers protection at an impact speed of 13MPH, 95% of all accidents...a Snell helmet offers protection at an impact speed of 19MPH, 97% of all accidents. The best defense against injury is avoiding an accident to begin with. Safety gear that is uncomfortable doesn't help, it takes ones mind out of the game. I must have tried on 20 different full face helmets...not one was remotely comfortable. So I ride with a 3/4 face with a flip down shield. Nicely said, and I agree - I'm not comfortable in a full face helmet and I can't turn my head as well to look over my shoulder, either. Personally, I think using only mirrors leads to a significant number of accidents for scooters and when driving a car. Eric |
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Post by mustang64 on Oct 25, 2008 10:30:56 GMT -5
I like that helmet a lot. The full face question does puzzle me. I want to do the safe thing, but it's just is so uncomfortable that it takes the fun out of riding for me. I'd rather take the car than armor up every time I ride. In my one, and hopefully only accident, I did go down face first in a half helmet and somehow managed to turn my head to the side enough where the helmet completely protected me. Maybe I was just lucky, or maybe my reflexes were up to the task. I am still a bit worried about it and am constantly trying to find a helmet that I find gives me comfort and the extra protection of a full face. If I find it, I'll let you know.
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Post by jayhawk on Oct 25, 2008 10:41:49 GMT -5
I've seen the studies where they show a helmet and where the impact occurs, but these studies tend to be done only on a FF helmet. However, the chin protection area on a FF helmet sticks out further than anyone's jaw does in a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet and does not allow one to tuck your head down. Because the jaw area on a FF sticks out, it increases the chance of impact in that area compared to a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet. I don't know about you all, but I played hockey, took judo, ride horses and I always tuck me head down when I fall off (tuck and roll baby!). A better study would show facial injuries that occur when wearing a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet vs. a FF helmet.
Now, all that said, I've been riding since 1980 and the only accident I had happened in 1980 when I flipped my scooter when jumping it over a curb...Obviously, apart from being 14 and stupid, avoiding accidents beats any safety gear.
mustang64 - it's a darn nice helmet. I'd recommend it. I love the flip up shield. In colder weather, if it fogs up any (which has happened once or twice), I can raise the shield a centimeter or two and life is good...
Eric
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Post by shescoots150 on Oct 25, 2008 10:58:27 GMT -5
Cool design & shield.  |
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Post by scooterollie on Oct 26, 2008 7:46:31 GMT -5
I am curious about the statement of "not being able to turn your head in a full face helmet". I have been riding since before helmets were required and since required, have used all types available. My last two helmets have been full face modular types and I have not had any problem turning my head - on a two wheeled vehicle, you had better turn your head or you will be in trouble fast. Never heard that statement from any other riders I know who wear full face helmets. Yes, they are more restrictive but the safety factor increases dramatically.
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Post by jayhawk on Oct 26, 2008 11:13:41 GMT -5
I'm surprised you've not heard anyone else complaining about their ability to turn their head fully with a FF helmet. I'm not he the first person to make that comment.
Try putting on a FF helmet and quickly turning your head to look over your left shoulder. Try the same thing with a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet. In a T shirt, I still find the FF more difficult to quickly look over my shoulder with. However, now try the same experiment with a heavy winter coat on...the FF helmets I owned in the past would get the chin area hung up in the coat rather frequently.
Some of this likely has to do with physical build - maybe yours is such there is no issue (i.e. - maybe I have a stubby neck), but for me the FF helmet is more likely to cause an accident than help me out. And since I firmly believe not having an accident will protect me more than any gear, why should I use gear likely to increase me having an accident.
Eric
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Post by harrywr2 on Oct 26, 2008 13:46:23 GMT -5
I'll quote Arai which is a helmet manufacturer with a reputation for accommodating different head shapes... www.araiamericas.com/helmets/interiorshapes.pdf"In general, our interiors for the North American markets have an oval shape orientation (somewhat longer front-to-back and a little narrow from side-to-side) because that is the shape that tends to fit most of us." That's a polite way of saying the helmets they sell in North America won't fit everyone...just most. Arai Helmets start at $400. Not many shops carry all 85 shapes and sizes of Arai helmets, and even Arai admits that will only accommodate 'most' heads. |
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Post by scooterollie on Oct 26, 2008 17:13:04 GMT -5
Not saying head turning might not be an issue for some, just that I have never experienced it and haven't encountered anyone who has. Who knows, we are all a little different in the build department!
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Post by harrywr2 on Oct 26, 2008 22:51:23 GMT -5
For people whose heads tend to be larger in width then in height they end up having to get a XXL for width. This puts the bottom of their helmet pretty close to their collar bone if the manufacturer is using the most common head proportions...which most do.
If I think of all my buddies that wear 3/4 or 1/2 helmets..they are all "Fat Heads" like me. Everyone wears fully armored jackets and gloves..so it's not like its a lack of safety awareness.
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Post by scooter3oy on Oct 29, 2008 8:14:52 GMT -5
i'll admit, when i first got my scoot, the reason i wore a helmet was 80% to avoid hassle from the cops, and 20% for safety
i wore a full-faced moto-x helmet i already had
i then bought a beanie/half-helmet, for short trips to the store & such, thinking it was "better than nothing"....well, i kinda felt naked with just the half-helmet....my reason for wearing a helmet was now more like 20% avoiding hassle, and 80% safety
so then i bought a 3/4 helmet with drop down face shield...this seemed to provide a good amount of protection, but yet convenient & comfortable enough to wear for even the shortest trips....i pretty much wear a helmet 100% for safety now
now, realizing that a full-face provides quite a bit more protection than a 3/4, plus the weather is starting to cool, i just bought a full-face
guess that will have me covered as far as helmets go ;D
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