First ride and a full-face helmet question

[standup]

I picked up a black buddy 50 today, using public transit to get up to the dealer and scooting back. The trip, according to Google, is about 11 miles, but I turned it into almost 25 with a few side routes and windy low-traffic roads reasonably close to where I was.

There's a pasta bar in the neighborhood, and while it's absolutely walking distance, taking a faux-retro scooter up to have pasta at a sidewalk cafe seems like the perfect way to wind up the afternoon.

It was supposed to rain sometime today, but it's clear and 85 degrees or something, I'll probably make up an errand to run after lunch.

The question about helmets: I've never worn a full-face MC helmet before. The size the dealer thought was right is "small", which goes against everything I know about hat sizes and my noggin. I need a large hat most of the time. But apparently my face is narrow. Or my skull. It's got the "Alien" profile, skinny side to side deep front to back. Or something.

Anyway, the helmet did not in fact give me a headache as I had feared. But it's really close/tight to my cheekbones. If I opened my mouth on the ride home, I felt like I was going to skin the inside of my cheek shutting my mouth.

Full face is weird, I really needed the visor up the whole way home, or it seemed very close, a little claustrophobic.

The dealer says the padding will reshape and accomodate my shape. Is this true?

The helmet I'll have to get used to. I want to commute on nice days, and see how late into the season I can continue riding. On a bicycle I stop riding in the mid-to-upper-30's, though scootering might be different.

[jmazza]

Anyway, the helmet did not in fact give me a headache as I had feared. But it's really close/tight to my cheekbones. If I opened my mouth on the ride home, I felt like I was going to skin the inside of my cheek shutting my mouth.

In my limited experience (my first FF helmet too, about 2k miles with it) that sounds just about right.

The padding will adapt, but it should compress your cheeks in there pretty good. Feels like a chipmunk. Even though mine has compressed some, my cheeks still feel a bit like what you said when I open my mouth, but it is better than when the helmet was new.

you've probably read here that helmet/head size varies from brand to brand. It's possible you got a bad shape for your head (I think mine might not be the perfect shape for my head either) but as long as it's nice and tight but not so tight that it gives you headaches, you are likely good and just need to get used to it.

As for the shield being close, I don't know what kind of helmet you have, but mine doesn't feel that close, though it does feel a bit claustrophobic at first as you said.

[standup]

And the other cool thing -- the guage is still on "F" after a 25 mile trip home.

The helmet -- hopefully it feels claustrophobic because it's new/different. I'm not that sensitive to feeling hemmed in, but it definitely seemed less fun without the wind in my face.

[GFridrich3]

Your helmet sounds "just about right" from your description. My hat size is usually one or two sizes bigger than my helmet size. I almost always wear a large hat, but typically, a medium full face helmet fits me just right. Also, i know that Im an HJC guy, i can pick up ANY of their mediums, and they fit me perfect. You might want to hit a motorcycle shop and try on several brands and sizes of helmets (whatever is there, dont worry if its pink or girly, the size is what matters, you can almost always get a different color) If after a 25 mile jaunt you dont have a headache from the helmet your FIRST time, your doing good. You will eventually get used to the front shield on the helmet, everyone gets that bit of claustrophobia the first few times cause its something new and your body doesnt understand it yet. Try putting a full face helmet on the first time you go snowmobiling, on top of the helmet, you have pretty much an entire snow suit encasing your body, heavy thick padded boots, thick padded gloves, and also a breath box and chin cover on the helmet to get used to all at once!

[illnoise]

the 'biting your cheeks' thing sounds about right, but different helmets fit different head shapes better, so it just might not be a good fit. You can't just pick a helmet and see which size fits you best, you need to try different brands and models to see what works best for you.

Bb.

[k1dude]

There's so much padding in motorcycle helmets, I wouldn't know if it was the right shape or not. I have an "alien" shaped head too, but I'm wearing an HJC which is supposed to be for round-headed people. I usually wear a large mountain bike full-face helmet. But in a MC full-face, I'm either a small or XS. I bite my cheeks all the time. But supposedly it will pack out over time.

What I can't figure out is if all face-shields are all wiggly to see through. My face shield has a wavy effect on my vision like the plastic is warped in spots right in front of my eyes. I feel like I'm dizzy sometimes looking through it. Are they all that way or is mine defective?

[sotied]

There's so much padding in motorcycle helmets, I wouldn't know if it was the right shape or not. I have an "alien" shaped head too, but I'm wearing an HJC which is supposed to be for round-headed people. I usually wear a large mountain bike full-face helmet. But in a MC full-face, I'm either a small or XS. I bite my cheeks all the time. But supposedly it will pack out over time.

What I can't figure out is if all face-shields are all wiggly to see through. My face shield has a wavy effect on my vision like the plastic is warped in spots right in front of my eyes. I feel like I'm dizzy sometimes looking through it. Are they all that way or is mine defective?

Do you have polarized sunglasses on?

[standup]

After riding more around the neighborhood (over 30 mi! woohoo!) I think the weirdest thing about the HJC full face helmet I've got is how it cuts off sound. I'm over 40, a musician, and a little more deaf than most people my age. When I close the face sheild, I drop into a world where sounds seem very remote. With the sheild up, I can hear what's going on around me to a much greater extent.

At the full 50cc Buddy 35 mph, I guess it's not a great big deal, but stopped at a light in the city with the sheild down I feel like I'm not real aware of what may be happening around me, and (dang!) the heat builds up fast in that helmet when I'm not moving. I've got all the vents open, so it's OK in motion. But stopped at a light, I feel the heat building up.

I went down the closest street I recall that has one of the MPH signs with radar that tells you your speed compared to the posted limit (to check "buddy MPH" vs real world) but the radar/display was out of commission. Have to find another one.

I got OVER 40 (by the Buddy-ometer) a few times today on my de-restricted 50cc, especially downhill. On a long hill maybe 45. Maybe.

[k1dude]

Do you have polarized sunglasses on?

Nope. No glasses of any kind.

[ericalm]

Do you have polarized sunglasses on?

Nope. No glasses of any kind.

It shouldn't do the wavy thing. Is there a film over the visor?

I made the mistake of buying polarized sunglasses recently. It's like wearing 3D glasses then dropping a mild hallucinogen.

[k1dude]

It shouldn't do the wavy thing. Is there a film over the visor?

I made the mistake of buying polarized sunglasses recently. It's like wearing 3D glasses then dropping a mild hallucinogen.

Nope, no film. The only film was the film the sticker came with. That was removed by the dealer. Just plain ol' plastic face shield.

[jmazza]

Do you have polarized sunglasses on?

Nope. No glasses of any kind.

Did you use windex on the shield? That will cause the waves you're talking about.

[GFridrich3]

Good point about the Windex, its a chemical based cleaner which is a HUGE no no with helmet visors. Warm to medium hot water and a microfiber cloth or regular cotton facecloth and a little TLC is all that should be used to clean a visor.

[DennisD]

I made the mistake of buying polarized sunglasses recently. It's like wearing 3D glasses then dropping a mild hallucinogen.

I read about that.

[scoots4me]

with regards to the heat build up in your helmet at red lights and such, i've had the same problem. i typically flip up my visor if i have time and let my face air out. as the light is about to turn green, i flip the shield back down again. it really helps when it is hot out.

[jmazza]

with regards to the heat build up in your helmet at red lights and such, i've had the same problem. i typically flip up my visor if i have time and let my face air out. as the light is about to turn green, i flip the shield back down again. it really helps when it is hot out.

Yeah that's the way to go. Plus when you flip your shield down as you start to move (gotta get this move real liquid and smooth), you can say something like "7-mary-3 responding" in your head and be like CHiPs!!

[k1dude]

Did you use windex on the shield? That will cause the waves you're talking about.

Nope. Haven't cleaned it yet. It's still too new to need it.

[gt1000]

Not only do you have the right sized helmet, it also sounds like you have a good dealer willing to take the time to fit you correctly.

Regarding visors, if you read through just a few of the helmet tests at Webbikeworld you'll see that they often rate the visor's clarity. All visors are not created equal and visors should be evaluated with the same care as the helmet before buying. Personally, the best visors I've encountered might be on Shark helmets but I can't find a Shark that fits my head. I've had no trouble with Shoei or Scorpion visors though.

[MaxPotter]

The wavy shield thing doesn't sound right. You might want to take it back to the dealer and make sure it's OK.

I was really happy I had my face shield down today. I like to ride with my shield up, sometimes (while wearing sunglasses) to feel the breeze on my face. A car in front of me threw a rock which hit my face shield (instead of my eye). Sounded like a gunshot. Scared the heck out of me. Put a tiny scratch on the shield, too.

[k1dude]

The wavy shield thing doesn't sound right. You might want to take it back to the dealer and make sure it's OK.

I'll call the dealer tomorrow. Unfortunately, they are a 2 hour car ride away. If I don't have luck with that, I'll give HJC a call.

[BigColdMartini]

At first I was worried that a full face helmet wouldn't fit the 'cool' image of a scooter rider, but I now think it looks pretty good. Riding in the city I feel MUCH safer with the full face protection especially when you consider the majority of all helmet impacts occur in the chin/jaw/lower face region. It may be a false sense of security but that extra confidence hopefully makes me a better rider.

My wife has one of the newer modular full face helmets and she loves it. Some of the other full face models made her feel too claustrophobic(sp?) but the modular design has more room in the front chin area so it's less snug.