What kind of helmet do you wear and why

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cyclewhitman
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What kind of helmet do you wear and why

Post by cyclewhitman »

I have been reading the discussion about winter riding. So much helpful information, and I'm already thinking about whether or not to buy a full face or modular helmet so I can use that funky foggy mask.

But before I go and spend more money on more scooter gear, I thought I'd ask what helmets people use and why. I've looked at past forums and can't find a discussion about this. If I've missed the discussion, please let me know, and I'll go there.

When I bought my first scooter a couple of years ago (I'm a late bloomer when it comes to scooting), I bought a 3/4 helmet. This summer I bought a 1/2 helmet because I was so darn hot. Now that the weather is changing, I'm using my 3/4 helmet again. I love them both for different seasons. I also want to be safe and use a helmet that will offer me good protection. So for warmth and protection, I'm considering a full face or modular helmet. What do others wear?
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Rob
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Post by Rob »

Generally a full face or modular for the added protection. Every now and then a 3/4.

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Post by Lostmycage »

For Winter riding, get a model that has a Pinlock insert. It's essential for cold weather riding. I can sit at a stoplight for minutes on end (you can run them after 2 minutes in VA if it's safe) in 30 degree temps huffing away without cracking my visor. Summer time this isn't nearly as important.

Fit and finish are a lot more noticeable on full face and modular helmets. Don't cheap out and don't buy online. You'll most likely end up with an ill fitting helmet or one that you're not happy with because one you tried it on it was uncomfortable, visually restrictive or sounds like a banshee whispering not-so-sweet nothings in your ear past 35 mph.

Work with a local place on getting a helmet. Don't go in, try on and buy online. That's a grade A douche bag move. Local places go out of business because of this... suddenly there's no place to try on helmets, talk shop or service your scoot. If you find a better price online, mention it to the local shop. They might be able to get closer to the online price. Not making their full margin is still better than loosing the sale completely.

Go here: Webbikeworld.com. Read reviews. Get an idea of your head shape (this is a lot more prominent of a concern in full face/modulars than with <3/4).

There's a plethora of helmet threads in the forum. Try searching for name brands or models.

I currently use a Nolan n104. It's decent if a little pricy. It's not as quiet as I like (modular helmets are louder in general) but it's pretty good for a modular. The venting isn't enough for 95 degree heat with high humidity (what is?) but it's pretty nice now that it's cooling down. And it had a Pinlock. My last Full face was an HJC fs15. That was a pretty good helmet (my first with Pinlock): solid, sturdy, light, relatively quiet and fairly priced.

Pinlock. Remember that. If you don't get a helmet with a Pinlock insert, think of it as the thing you'll always be searching for with all those "anti-fog" chemicals and wipes. Pinlock. Seriously. Pinlock.
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Post by Mutt the Hoople »

I have two 3/4 copter helmets and a modular. I liked the copter helmets for short local stuff. I don't like my modular at all, it is heavy and noisy. But after my fall, I did a fave plant and LUCKILY it was at the top part of my visor as I was wearing a copter helmet. I could have lost my teeth, broke my nose.... Don't even want to think about it. Ordered an Arai full face w/ pinlock system. When I first started riding I thought full face helmets were really claustrophobic. I got over that.
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OldGuy
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Post by OldGuy »

Mine is a bright red Shoei RF1100 (full face). Comfortable, hi-viz, and very good protection. DOT and Snell rated. I want to be seen and be safe.

When I returned to street riding after years of strictly dirt bikes, I promised my wife I'd be safe. Good protective gear is a part of keeping that promise. I will only use a full face helmet. I don't trust modulars yet, but they are getting pretty good. 3/4 and less leave too much exposed and don't offer the protection I desire. They may look cool, but that is not the main purpose of the helmet.

When we got my wife her scooter we got a full face Shoei for her also.
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HJC IS-16

Post by RexM »

I bought 2 3/4 helmets within my first two months of scooting and replaced them with a full-face helmet in month three. Basically I made myself read all 30 pages of The Crash Thread and there was no question in my mind after that. I can't say that the full face is as enjoyable as a 3/4 in that it's heavier and feels like it requires more head-turn to check my blind spot, even though they say they don't impair your peripheral vision. Maybe because the chin bar catches wind when I turn my head. Anyway, I got used to it after a few hours of riding and now I will not ride without it, ever.

On full face helmets: yes, this guy races motorcycles, but I figure when you're crashing at any speed over 0.5 miles per hour, any pavement is going to taste bad.

I went with the HJC IS-16 because it was plain-looking, sort-of decently vented, available in white, not excessively branded, and reasonably priced. It also has a built-in sun visor that slides down under the face shield, which I love because I am incapable of keeping track of a pair of sunglasses. I have a normal, oval-shaped head and after break-in it is quite comfortable other than the weight. The down-sides seem to be weight and noise.

I'm satisfied with this helmet but next time around I will be willing to spend more. In addition to DOT, I will buy something that is ECE 22.05, which is the European standard, and probably something that is carbon fiber to get the weight down.

More words of helmet wisdom: http://rideapart.com/search/ECE+22.05 (I have no affiliation with RideApart.com, I just think they have great advice and reviews).

Even though I linked to my helmet on-line above, I couldn't agree more with Lostmycage about buying locally, and especially about not trying on locally and then buying on-line. But if you can't find what you want locally, RevZilla gets great customer feedback on its return process (again, not affiliated... yadda yadda).
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OldGuy
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Post by OldGuy »

True that; buy local. A helmet needs to be tried on so you can find the proper fit. Buy it where you try it. Please.
1971 Hodaka Ace 100
1977 Suzuki GT250 is now sold... Good bike!
1980 Yamaha IT125
Honda: '66 CT90 KO; '83 CT110; '92 CT70; 2001 XR250
and 1 or 2 others... I need to sell some bikes!
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Post by CapnK »

Without a nearby store from which to purchase, I bought my first helmet online from Amazon. Made by IV2 & DOT Approved, it had high reviews, was/is a modular/flip-up style, price was around $80 IIRC delivered. Examination after I got it showed that it seemed to meet all of the qualifications of a "real" or "good" helmet according to several articles on the topic (weight, padding thickness, fasteners, etc...).

It did have a slightly uncomfortable spot at the very center of my upper forehead; I trimmed away a little of the interior padding to make it a better fit. I understand that this likely reduced the efficaciousness of the helmet; no need to go into it, it is a choice/gamble I made, not anything I would recommend anyone else should do. Anyway -

I was wearing that helmet this past Sunday when it got smacked down onto some NC mountain pavement going 30/35mph or so on a little twisty two-laner known as "The Rattlesnake".

Thanks to that helmet and the facial protection it provided, I was able to watch the speeding and unforgiving pavement get held at bay mere inches from my wonderful and now still-working eyeballs and nose and lips and teeth and skin. It was an "interesting" perspective; though it happened in one unstoppable instant, I still had time to notice the granularity of the pavement my visor was hitting, and wonder what that black thing was which appeared to have come off the helmet, before sliding off the road and coming to a rolling stop...

Without that helmet, I would probably still be in the hospital, with at the minimum re-constructive surgery and months of healing to deal with, not to mention the financial costs involved that would take forever and a day to pay off. Thankfully, now I have no idea what the results of a full-facial-smackdown on such a hard surface at that speed would be. I can make a pretty accurate guess, though, and I'd say it would be 50/50 that I would have lived. If I did, based on how the rest of me feels right now even having been fully geared-up, I probably would wish I *hadn't*....

Would I recommend my 'bought online' helmet to someone else? Yes. Especially to someone who does not have a modular or full-face helmet, if for no other reason than as a stop-gap measure - Protect Your Face NOW. You won't have the choice, when the time comes, but if you don't, you will have PLENTY of time to regret it later. My helmet was not as pricey as the well-known names, but it worked for me this time, and that is a good thing for which I am extremely Thankful. But I do concur with the above posters - if at all possible, go somewhere locally, get a good fit and purchase it then and there.

I would like to reiterate this point: I STRONGLY suggest that you get a helmet which will protect your face, holding it up and off of the ground on impact. Had I been wearing a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet Sunday, I would not be typing this. I might never be typing on ModernBuddy again, I might never be able to see this forum, or the world around me. I certainly would not be a very attractive thing to look at. As it was, the helmet was a part of the system which allowed me to, however painfully, ride home ~80 miles after an accident which very, very easily might have otherwise seriously injured and disfigured me, if not outright killed me.

I will be buying another helmet, and soon, and this time I will go to some stores in nearby towns and purchase there post-fitting if at all possible.

:atgatt:ATGATT *works*. I know.:atgatt:

Phew!!! :clap:

Report to come.
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Post by EvilNerdLord »

HJC modular
Three reasons:
1) $4000 in dental implants to replace two shattered teeth (one split when bit into an unpopped popcorn kernel, the other an old silver filling I had since I was a teen gave up the ghost and took the tooth it)
2) bugs/stones. I took a June bug to the face once while wearing a 3/4...that's all it took.
3) prescription glasses...
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Post by Wolfhound »

I have no choice. I wear a 1/2 helmet because I have yet to find any 3/4 or full helmet that will fit over my cochlear implant with out knocking it off. I
use a full face snap on visor to keep the bugs out. I have a collection of 3/4 and full face helmets that I have bought only to find that they would not work. I could have saved some money by going to a dealer and trying them on first. My preferred brand is Bell. :(
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Post by craftynerd »

I second the "don't get a full-face helmet online" thing - after my first crash, I was hurting too much to go out and get a new helmet right away, so I hopped on Amazon, found a bright pink full-face helmet in a medium (it was the size my old helmet was, so it should fit, right?), and figured it'd get here by the time I was cleared to ride again.

Well, when it got here, I tried it on, and that damn thing was HUGE. Much too big for me to wear, even too big for my husband to wear. I tried selling it on Craigslist, but it didn't fit anyone who was interested in it, either. A friend of mine and my husband used it for a few months when she'd ride on the back of my husband's scooter, but she hated it and ended up throwing it away.

So. Long story short: Go to your local scooter store to get your helmets, no matter what kind you're getting. :D

And now back to the topic of discussion! Heh. I wear a 3/4 helmet, always have - on my third one, actually. First one was in an accident, and the strap frayed on the second one to the point where I was afraid the snap that kept the chin strap from flapping in the wind was going to fall out. Currently wearing a 3/4 helmet with a face shield and a Bluetooth headset (hubby's got one too - the Bluetooth connectivity is perfect for yelling at him to slow the heck down and remind him he's riding with a 50cc, haha)
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Post by lovemysan »

I wear a suomy vandal full face because I hate dentist. I paid $180 at a motorcycle supply locally. The shield is nearly fog proof. It gets a little hot in the summer so I remove the face shield. I didn't feel safe in the plastic shelled helmets.
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Post by walke2jd »

I have a Scorpion Exo-700 in Hi-viz yellow. I used to ride with a black helmet, and have noticed a huge difference switching to Hi-viz. The near misses are much less frequent now and I feel more comfortable that people see me because they tend to do a double take when they see the yellow.
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Post by KABarash »

Yeah sure, full face and then modular are #1 & #2 in facial protection, that being said I however wear a 3/4 as I am more claustrophobic than I'd like to be, can't wear one.
For the colder weather I wear a neck gaiter that is thin enough to pull up high enough to cover my ears and cheeks inside my helmet and cover my face across my nose. A thin balaclava will do wonders as well.......
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Post by bradsarno »

Read the stat's. The highest proportion of head hits is the jaw/chin area, and that's a real doozy when the jaw breaks or teeth come out or facial skin is lost. There's never time to think to turn your head so the chin doesn't land on the pavement. And it's not just about facial disfiguration and complex reconstructive surgery, there's deeper, injurious risk beyond that as well.

FULL FACE HELMET...



B
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Post by Stitch »

Full bucket. It keeps me face pretty.
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Post by Danielm »

I'm with OldGuy, I've got a wife and a little toddler. Coming home with half my face scraped off because I thought a 3/4 helmet looked cooler or fit under my seat easier isn't really an option in my mind. Full face all the time.

They really drilled it into my head in the motorcycle safety course, ironically enough on the riding portion of the course they handed out 3/4 helmets.

Capnk - if I wasn't already using a full face that story would make me start using one.
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Post by Dooglas »

My preferred helmet is the Nolan N43e. It fits me well, it has good ventilation, comes in Hi-Viz colors, has a face guard, has a retractable shade, and, most important, excellent visibility through the wide opening.
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Post by skully93 »

We rock Scorpion full face helmets, though I do also have one of their modulars.

I dislike eating bugs, and I've been hit enough times in the helmet by debris, birds, bugs, and other stuff that I don't ride any other way. I think a total of 3x I have ridden >1 mile without my helmet on, 2x because I picked up my wife someplace and put it on her.

Lots of folks wear 1/2 or 3/4 and never have a problem, I just prefer the full. My modular is so during rallies I can lift it up at stoplights to speak, or put it on without removing my glasses.
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Post by JHScoot »

i wear full face because i like my face

and they were on sale
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Post by BeefSupreme »

Dooglas wrote:My preferred helmet is the Nolan N43e. It fits me well, it has good ventilation, comes in Hi-Viz colors, has a face guard, has a retractable shade, and, most important, excellent visibility through the wide opening.
I love these helmets, it's the best of both worlds, 3/4 and FF. But I can't find a single dealer in my area with any so I can try one on. I want one something bad.
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Post by PeteH »

I almost always wear the GMax 68s full-face. Lotsa vents, and I've rigged up the Sena Bluetooth/FM kit inside, as The Mrs. likes to be able to reach me by phone.

She also bought me a 3/4 Bell 500 classic-reissue in orange metalflake, and wonders why I don't wear it more often. I just feel more secure in the GMax, and I haven't got a Sena mic/speaks kit for the Bell yet.
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Post by pugbuddy »

OldGuy wrote:Mine is a bright red Shoei RF1100 (full face). Comfortable, hi-viz, and very good protection. DOT and Snell rated. I want to be seen and be safe.

When I returned to street riding after years of strictly dirt bikes, I promised my wife I'd be safe. Good protective gear is a part of keeping that promise. I will only use a full face helmet. I don't trust modulars yet, but they are getting pretty good. 3/4 and less leave too much exposed and don't offer the protection I desire. They may look cool, but that is not the main purpose of the helmet.

When we got my wife her scooter we got a full face Shoei for her also.
My Shoei is black, FF. I highly recommend Shoei helmets--comfortable and well made. Costly, but well worth it.

I believe, at least when I bought it, that Shoei is the only company that actually changes the size/shape of the helmet shell (as opposed to the padding inside) for different sizes. As my head appears to be an "odd" size/shape, this made all the difference to me.

If you're riding across country for an extended period of time, that "little welt" at the top of your forehead (the result of a poorly fitting helmet) will turn into a MAJOR pain! Get a good fit in your helmet of choice!
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Post by J33pman »

I have a Shoei shaped head, so when I got a new lid I went for the Neo-tech. Love it. I do ride with it flipped up too often. Still a bad boy at heart.
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Post by ed85379 »

When I first started scootering a few years ago, I wore a full-face modular year-round. Then I bought a 3/4 backup helmet, and I discovered the extra-enjoyment of not feeling so separated from the world. Also, the better peripheral vision counter-balances the extra crash-protection of the full face.

So now, as long as it is 50 degrees and up, I wear my "V-Can." I really like the look of this helmet. Most 3/4 helmets look pretty goofy in my mind, but I like how I look in this one.

Image

And when it is colder, I wear my Vega Summit 3.0

Image

I think they're both quality helmets. I actually have two of the V-Can helmets, keeping one on my top-case for passengers.

I also got this set of glasses from Amazon which I wear under my 3/4 for more eye-protection (and sun protection).

Image
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FBV8ZW/

At under $20, they're a pretty good deal, even if they are just plastic.
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Post by Mutt the Hoople »

After my accident, I don't think I could bring myself to wearing a 3/4 helmet again. I was REALLY REALLY lucky that I wasn't too badly hurt BUT, everything about that accident fell in line with the statistics. Close to home, (three blocks), not a high speed crash, (20 mph or less) face on the pavement.... And LUCKILY, I faceplanted toward the top of my visor . A bit lower and I'd be looking at dental work. you sort of see things differently when you are reduced to a statistic in one fell swoop. I loved my 3/4 for in town riding on roads that are 35mph and less. I'd never tell someone else what they should do, but as for me, I don't think I'd get that lucky twice. Full face for me from now on.
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Post by CapnK »

Mutt the Hoople wrote:After my accident <snip> you sort of see things differently when you are reduced to a statistic in one fell swoop. <snip> Full face for me from now on.
:+!:

It happens *sooo* fast...

:atgatt:

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Re: What kind of helmet do you wear and why

Post by skipper20 »

I wear a 3/4 helmet with flip-down visor. I've tried on full face helmets in dealer showrooms several times but they just don't feel right with my glasses. I was involved in a one person accident 2 years ago (entirely my fault) wearing my 3/4 helmet. I hit the ground hard with my upper left side taking the major impact and my head the secondary impact. My helmet had noticeable scrape marks on the top left side and left side of the visor which, fortunately, was in the down position. So, even though it was only a 3/4 helmet, it saved me from getting an unwanted "haircut" and a possible eye injury. As such, I'm a firm believer in M/C helmets - always!

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cyclewhitman wrote:I have been reading the discussion about winter riding. So much helpful information, and I'm already thinking about whether or not to buy a full face or modular helmet so I can use that funky foggy mask.

But before I go and spend more money on more scooter gear, I thought I'd ask what helmets people use and why. I've looked at past forums and can't find a discussion about this. If I've missed the discussion, please let me know, and I'll go there.

When I bought my first scooter a couple of years ago (I'm a late bloomer when it comes to scooting), I bought a 3/4 helmet. This summer I bought a 1/2 helmet because I was so darn hot. Now that the weather is changing, I'm using my 3/4 helmet again. I love them both for different seasons. I also want to be safe and use a helmet that will offer me good protection. So for warmth and protection, I'm considering a full face or modular helmet. What do others wear?
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Post by C2 »

Shoei RF1000 full face... with custom "Daft Punk/Tron" style reflective tape added.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30329133@N ... 404/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/9112 ... b8b2fc.jpg" width="500" height="255" alt="helmets"></a>
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Post by JHScoot »

i recently bought a white FF helmet. it has a drop down visor which works well. i wear Sparx brand helmets because they fit my head right, and are inexpensive, good quality helmets to boot. but mostly i know the sizes and styles and so when i order one i know it will fit and be comfortable

i have three FF helmets and two 3/4. i bought the 3/4's when i was a new rider and for hot weather, but after wearing FF helmets through most seasons including summer i find i am not bothered by the heat anymore. don't really notice it, really. and i just feel more secure wearing a FF so my 3/4's go unused for the most part. that may change but i don't see a reason atm
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Post by SYMbionic Duo »

i have a HJC modular FF. mostly because i ride in all weather, and i have yet to find a way to ride comfortably in hail/sleet/heavy rain/dust storms/<0 deg weather other than a full face. Also, my head only seems to fit HJC and Nolan properly, and Nolan helmets are X2 as much as my HJC.
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Post by walke2jd »

C2 wrote:Shoei RF1000 full face... with custom "Daft Punk/Tron" style reflective tape added.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30329133@N ... 404/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/9112 ... b8b2fc.jpg" width="500" height="255" alt="helmets"></a>
Where did you buy the helmet decal? That is pretty sweet. I might get one for my Scorpion.
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Post by Throwback7R »

I have a Vega V-Tune helmet it has the built in sunglasses and Bluetooth .. Great for music of phone calls while on the scooter..

If your looking to ride in the cold I would totally suggest getting a " breath box for what ever full face helmet.. makes your eyes nice and warm!

I will not ride with out it if it is under 50
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Post by cyclewhitman »

Thank you all for your input. I'm going to head over to scooterworks this weekend to see what full face and modular helmets they have. I don't know how I could not after reading all of your advice about protecting myself. I'm hoping they have any of the helmets suggested.
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Post by TroutBum »

I have a full face Scorpion EXO-1100. I like that it has multiple vent options with good air flow. The vent indexer is made of plastic and mine has worn out after a year. There's still enough friction to have it stay in the half open position. I also like the ease at which I can take off and on the face shield and internal sun visor. The padding is removal as well for washing. It does have an air bladder to adjust the fit, but I find I don't use it.

I only use full face because of a motorcycle accident I was in back in the late 70s. I had a full face back then. I slide partially on my face. If I hadn't been wearing a full face my chin and mouth would have been raw meat. As it was the helmet took the punish which I am thankful for.
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Post by C2 »

walke2jd wrote:
C2 wrote:Shoei RF1000 full face... with custom "Daft Punk/Tron" style reflective tape added.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30329133@N ... 404/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/9112 ... b8b2fc.jpg" width="500" height="255" alt="helmets"></a>
Where did you buy the helmet decal? That is pretty sweet. I might get one for my Scorpion.
http://www.streetglo.net/streetglo_file ... .decal.htm ... scroll midway down the page. They have lots of options.

C2
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ericalm
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Post by ericalm »

We have a helmet buying guide that may be of some help in shopping and selecting:
topic4951.html

FWIW, I wear a GMax GM54S modular. I wrote a very long review of it here:
http://www.scooterfile.com/fashion-and- ... ar-helmet/

I have a hard to fit head shape and most full face helmets don't fit right at any size. Even many modulars won't close over my face. It took a lot of searching to find the modulars I've owned, two Vega Summits and this GMax.
RexM wrote:I bought 2 3/4 helmets within my first two months of scooting and replaced them with a full-face helmet in month three. Basically I made myself read all 30 pages of The Crash Thread and there was no question in my mind after that.
There was recently an exchange in the Crash Reports thread in which we talked about the power of denial when it comes to helmets and gear. Many of us are in that state when we start riding — I was! It's odd, but we can give the same advice over and over and people will often ignore it or think they'll somehow be an exception until they have a (sometimes painful) firsthand experience that teaches them otherwise. Take the MSF class, get proper gear, etc. Why are we (people in general) like this?!? :)

Unfortunately, I've now witnessed quite a few crashes. The most recent one was at very low speed, maybe 15mph. Not sure what happened, but I look in my rearview and my friend is face down in the street. He had some bruises and road rash, scraped up hands (his gloves were in his underseat storage) but thankfully, he was wearing a full face. The chin bar and visor were pretty scraped up. He'd have suffered some serious injury.
Wolfhound wrote:I have no choice. I wear a 1/2 helmet because I have yet to find any 3/4 or full helmet that will fit over my cochlear implant with out knocking it off.
There are some newer helmets that have built-in pockets for speakers and audio systems. Something like that might work better.
Dooglas wrote:My preferred helmet is the Nolan N43e.
Have you seen the new N44? Might be my next helmet!
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcyc ... review.htm
ed85379 wrote:And when it is colder, I wear my Vega Summit 3.0
I used to be a Vega fan, but my Summit 3 had a lot of quality and durability issues compared to the previous model. The liner in the chinbar just fell apart at some point.

The bigger problem was that the plastic chin bar latch wore down and would open with very little effort, without having to push the button!

So keep an eye on that latch!
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
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Dooglas
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Post by Dooglas »

ericalm wrote:
Dooglas wrote:My preferred helmet is the Nolan N43e.
Have you seen the new N44? Might be my next helmet!
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcyc ... review.htm
No, they don't appear to be available around here yet, but I presume it will be my next helmet when I need to replace one. The Nolan N43/44 combines the best of 3/4 and full face helmets in my experience. Excellent protection, excellent visibility, and good ventilation. I like them!
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