Helmet Type

[PlaynInPeoria]

I don't get it. I was on a COG ride and a wife of one of the riders missed a turn and went to an embankment. Her modular was not open, it was secure and locked. Her face hit the hill and the chin bar busted right off. Her face was not in good shape. She had to be taken out by life flight.

Ok, that's scary. I have a Shoei Neotec which I love.

[MrPepsi]

I don't recall he brand, maybe someone else does, but it was a major brand.

[Pokey]

Called a faceplant for a reason, my luck would have me with the modular flipped up during a wreck. So.......nothing but a full face for me, if I get hot I will flip it up and wear some glasses.

[Pokey]

You're not suppose to ride with it flipped up...

You'd also have problems if you put the helmet on backwards...

Don't blame the helmet for misuse by the rider...

Jeff

I have seen "many" riding with it up, part of the reason for the design. 

[Jake Mountain]

I will only wear a DOT and Snell 2010 helmet so that leaves out all but the most expensive modular helmets. I recently bought an Arai Signet Q to go with my new to me 2011 C14 and I could not be happier with both purchases.

[Conrad]

Flip up for me. It's too hot in houston in the summer not to be able to get some extra air at stop lights. Heck I've even been known to remove the visor during the summer to help cool my head. Of course I always ride with prescription riding/safety glasses so the visor almost seems redundant. 

If you ever took a hit from a three pound june bug (like we have around here) @ 80mph on your visor you'd be VERY thankful that it wasn't your face.

[maxtog]

If you ever took a hit from a three pound june bug (like we have around here) @ 80mph on your visor you'd be VERY thankful that it wasn't your face.

Insects indeed.  And I have had a rock hit my visor, it was with enough force to actually turn my head some.  I can't imagine what that would be like in a "partial" helmet or without a visor.

[maxtog]

I will only wear a DOT and Snell 2010 helmet so that leaves out all but the most expensive modular helmets.

Until just THIS YEAR, Snell would not certify ANY modular helmet.  And there is really only one, the LS2  FF394 (since the other is in small ONLY).

[VirginiaJim]

Nolan N90 Helmet Review at RevZilla.com

I like the Nolan N90.  I have a Scorpion 1000 helmet and while I do like it's features (fog free shields, sunvisor), I hate the noise level and the poor fitting visor.  Leaks rain something awful.  I don't think I would wear it flipped up but I can see where that could come in handy at times, though.

[Rhino]

Why do they do that?

Off road helmets are designed to accommodate full goggles with the strap over the outside of the helmet. They also have better venting because in theory they don't need to be as aerodynamic and accommodate lower speeds but more physical effort. The new duel sport designs such as the Shoei Hornet and the Arai XD4 with face shields seem to offer the best of both. I works good on my Suzuki DR650 even on the road at 75 mph without a windshield. But I think it would get uncomfortable at higher speeds. But with the big CB windshield on my C14 it works well at any speed.

[MrPepsi]

I don't get it. I was on a COG ride and a wife of one of the riders missed a turn and went to an embankment. Her modular was not open, it was secure and locked. Her face hit the hill and the chin bar busted right off. Her face was not in good shape. She had to be taken out by life flight.

Here's the story.
http://forum.cog-online.org/index.php/topic,26469.msg103366.html#msg103366

[sherob]

I have a few friends who have gone off-road w/ various flip-ups unintentionally and not have any problems... one w/ his ST1300 wearing a Nolan N102... right into a tree.  The ST was wrapped around the tree... a broken rib, messed up shoulder... and head & helmet survived.

I know of a friend who wore a full face who did not survive.

You can have a cheap flip-up or full face fail... in helmets, sometimes you do get what you pay for.

[maxtog]

I have a few friends who have gone off-road w/ various flip-ups unintentionally and not have any problems...

Of course, all of this is just anecdotal.   One can fall 100 times, even be killed, and yet not fall on the chin of the helmet.  Or the first fall ever could be on the face, chin, and fail.

It is generally accepted fact that a good modular is not going to be as strong or as safe as a good full faced.   There are better ones and cheaper ones, and it might be possible that a high quality modular is as front-impact/chin-impact "safe" as a cheap full face... maybe even better.   Everything is relative.

[stevewfl]

I don't get it. I was on a COG ride and a wife of one of the riders missed a turn and went to an embankment. Her modular was not open, it was secure and locked. Her face hit the hill and the chin bar busted right off. Her face was not in good shape. She had to be taken out by life flight.

Hate to hear of this.

Before we generalize all modulars...........was  it a cheap modular such as HJC?

I use the only DOT approved modular, the Schuberth C3 PRO and suspect the physcal helmet body will break before the latch would give

[Cuda]

Hey Hey watch what you say about those cheep HJC's
I have two SY-MAX III's and the worst thing about them is the removable inside sections that don't stay snapped the way they should after a few cleanings , In Florida I sweat a LOT so I clean them alot and they **** me off cause they come loose after a while, good air flow on hot days.

[ZG]

Hate to hear of this.

Before we generalize all modulars...........was  it a cheap modular such as HJC?

 

[2talltim]

Hate to hear of this.

Before we generalize all modulars...........was  it a cheap modular such as HJC?

I use the only DOT approved modular, the Schuberth C3 PRO and suspect the physcal helmet body will break before the latch would give

not defending HJC quality i think they are crap too, but they are ALL DOT approved, so im trying to find relevance in your comment

[maxtog]

I use the only DOT approved modular,

All legal helmets you can buy in the USA are DOT approved.   DOT certification means just about nothing.

And you can't have meant ECE- since several modulars have that approval.  And only one modular has Snell (and it is not the one you listed).

" DOT sets minimum standards that all helmets sold for motorcycling on public streets must meet. The standard is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 (FMVSS 218) and is known commonly as the DOT helmet standard.   DOT certification is done on the honor system. The helmet's manufacturer determines whether his helmets satisfy DOT and then claims the qualification for himself. There is not even a reporting requirement. The government does contract for some spot check testing at commercial and private labs but not very much."

[sherob]

That fact we ride has inherent risks... we try and reduce the risk of us getting hurt, or even death, by the gear we wear... some of us anyway.    We as individuals, choose at what levels we accept that risk by the gear we purchase.

As far as helmets, some feel a certain flip up is fine, like myself...  some would never be caught in a polyester based jacket, preferring kevlar, like myself. 

[mntbiker-junkie]

HJC is making some very nice helmets.  I recently replaced my Arai Signet with a HJC RPHA full face and love it. They make low end helmets but so do others like Scorpion and Bell