AFX FX-97 Flip Up Full Face Helmet

[Admin]

MSRP $109.95 to $119.95

I've never gotten along with full face helmets. I know they are safer and warmer in the winter but I never could find one that I could get get over my big ears and also accomodate my glasses. That's why I wanted to look at the new flip up design. The chin guard flips out of the way to make putting it on a little less painful. The AFX FX-97 is a reasonably priced helmet in this category.

The chin flips up with the simple press of a button and swinging it up. While it's still not as easy to get on as my usual 1/2 helmet, I found that I could get it over my elephant ears without doing too much damage. Once on, the fit was just about perfect and I had no trouble with the glasses. The chin then flips down and locks into place. The visor can be raised and lowered separately.

The helmet itself is constructed using thermoplastic poly-allow and is finished with clearcoat. It is available in a variety of colors and graphics.

The visor Optically-correct, compound-curved, scratch-resistant, and UV-treated. I found that I got zero distortion looking through the visor and it wraps fully to the side, allowing for all of my periferal vision to be used. I did find the visor a little sticky to raise and lower but that could just be because it was so new.

The helmet is equipped with removable linings and cheek cushions which are washable. This is a nice feature if you don't like riding around in a stinky helmet.

Chin and forehead vents let you control air flow through the helmet.

I found the chin strap to be a little difficult to tighten. Examination of the situation revealed somewhat sharp edges on the metal D rings which were hindering the tightening of the strap. A little sandpaper remedied the situation.

I found riding in the helmet to be comfortable. The weight is not excessive at 3.31 lbs. in size large. The aerodynamics of the helmet are good and wind noise is minimal. A cushioned strap guard makes the strap confortable.

If I were a really good reviewer, I would wear it while crashing into a tree and see how well it functions. I guess you will have to trust DOT on that one.

Overall, I've finally found a full face helmet that I can wear without ripping my ears off. The flip up chin feature is just the ticket. Overall quality of this helmet is good for its price. If you are looking to upgrade to a full face helmet for the coming cold weather, this helmet is well worth looking at.

www.afxhelmets.com/06/street/fx97.php

[surfborg]

Thanks for the review Dawg. I've been considering a full face helmet after I read about the tumble that the boss at CBXman had. I have a 3/4 helmet with a flip up visor. It's visor is also a bit sticky to raise and lower but I figure that will just help the visor stay down when bad stuff happens.

[ddillon]

I wonder how the AFX stacks up against the HJC CL-MAX. This was the helmet I purchased several weeks ago. It was a great helmet but I just hate full-face helmets so I sold it. I then purchased an HJC 3/4 helmet with a visor that I love (CL-33). The CL-MAX retails for a bit more than the AFX but you can find them new on eBay for about $125 plus shipping.

hjchelmets.com/clmax.htm

[surfborg]

ddillon said:

I wonder how the AFX stacks up against the HJC CL-MAX. This was the helmet I purchased several weeks ago. It was a great helmet but I just hate full-face helmets so I sold it. I then purchased an HJC 3/4 helmet with a visor that I love (CL-33). The CL-MAX retails for a bit more than the AFX but you can find them new on eBay for about $125 plus shipping.

hjchelmets.com/clmax.htm

The CL-33 is the same helmet I have.

[billramby]

I'm going to have to get me one of these helmets. I currently have a full face with just the flip up visor. Where I live, sometimes traffic on the freeway will come to a stop for 10 minutes or so.

I'm one of those evil maniacal smokers hell bent on world domination of virgin lungs. So this helmet would be good for flipping up to get a smoke when sitting still on the freeway.

[automattic]

I myself use the HJC CL Max with the visor with the mirror finish on the outside (very good in the sunlight). I prefer a full face for the safety reason and I wear glasses. The modular type is perfect for me. It makes putting the helmet on and off easy. Great helmet and probably very similar to this one in features.

[earlwb]

How good or well constructed does the hinge joint appear to be on these helmets?
I have seen that some helmets have a fairly week or defective hinge joint, where it fails after a few uses. So I would think that would be a good thing to check on.
Thanks

[Admin]

The hinges seem pretty substantial to me. Haven't had any trouble with them.

[earlwb]

Thanks, I remember reading about a couple of people who had bought flip up front helmets which had bad hinge joints. So I thought it would be worth asking about.

[einism]

if I remember correctly fulmer had a voluntary recall on their flip up helmets, but those are the only ones I heard about and fulmer now has them on the shelves again. so they must of corrected the problem.
Mike

[johnml]

try this site and this helmet - it gas great reveiws. I bought it and am completley satisfied. compares to helmets 3-4 times as much.

www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/zox-helmets/zox-azuma-r.htm

[isawhim]

I too, use this helmet, for many of the same reasons.

1) It had a great "Field test" review from consumer reports.
2) For the cash, it had all I wanted in one function.
3) I was in Connecticut, while it was -30F outside... (Face-masks just froze to my face!)
4) I needed the extra protection, driving my 50cc on ice-roads.
5) I needed a flip-up visor, due to road-salt-spray. (Needed to be instantly flipped up to see.)
6) I smoke, so it needed the face to raise also.

Now... I am in Florida... so...

5) I need the visor to flip-up when humidity instantly switches at night/dawn, and sea-spray from the beach. (Visor fogs inside and out, instantly... Scares me! All helmets with visors and goggles do that. But being able to remove it, when fogged must be possible, without unsnapping it.)
6) I still smoke... But now the purpose of face-flipping, is simply for air, at stop-lights. It is hot here! (Ok, I smoke while parked too!)

The best undocumented feature of this helmet... You can pop-off your headphones from your head-band, and slide them into the ear-crevasses, with a thin cloth to keep them off your ears. (Run the wire under the foam, and out the back of the helmet.)

I keep my MP3 player on my sleeve-pocket, or on my belt-back-side. The cord reaches fine, and does not bother you when you remove the helmet. Just remember to unplug the headphones, before you throw your helmet down! A yo-yo, it is not... nor is it a pillow! Having that tether caused an unexpected bruise to my elbow... NOT FUNNY!

[jmbirds]

leatherup.com ck it out just bought 2 helmets hawk full face ratchet shield nice came with bag and a 1/2 helmet the price is right and nice jmbirds

[okie34]

I have this helmet and have several hundred miles under my belt while wearing it. It's a little tough helmet for me to get over my fat head. However, once it's on, it's a fairly comfortable fit. In the middle of an Oklahoma Summer, it gets pretty warm, but still not a bad helmet.

I did find out something about it though, it's primary use is Snow Mobiling. It has a array of shields that you can buy for it, Different colors, double paned, electric heat, etc. and something new they came out with are a set of shades that fit in the area just behind the shield. Very nice.

I smoke, and this makes it handy to light up and kill a lung cell or two without having to take the helmet off. I can put my glasses on much easier with this helmet than I can with a standard full face. The Chin piece is a sturdy one piece affair and latches securely on both side at the cheeks. The release is readily accessable at the center of the chin and the piece moves smoothly.

It's about as noisy as any other full face helmet I've worn. It's a little heavy compared to a 3/4 helmet, but that overweighed by the extra protection.

All in all, not a bad helmet for the price I paid.

As always, I recommend that a person go into a MC/Scooter shop and try on various helmets BEFORE you buy one. Sizes vary between manufacturer and sometime, even models! Try one on before you spend the $100+ bucks. After all, you're helmet will do you no good at all if it's sitting at home and not on your head while you're on the road.

JD

[d]

I just got one and it's very tight in the cheek area. gonna take some braking in!!

[jackrock]

Sept 4, 2008 19:09:43 GMT -5 d said:

I just got one and it's very tight in the cheek area. gonna take some braking in!!

I was confused until I saw the date of the original message and realized this was an '06 model. I just got the '08 FX-28. It's tight in the cheeks but that should loosen up. I liked the versatility of a modular and this one seems quite comfortable.

[d]

Yeah, I have been told I have chipmunk cheeks. It's still very tight.......

[neuro]

I picked up one of these AFX FX-97's from DennisKirk.com, who had them on closeout for $78. The price has gone up since then a bit. It's a xmas present, so I haven't worn it out on the road, but I did try it on and it fits nicely. i wanted something full face for more warmth in the winter than my half helmet or 3/4 helmet.
neuro