I know y'all MUST be gettin' sick of me askin' for advice... and if I'd ever worn anything but half helmets, I wouldn't need the help.
Longer rides, bigger bugs, dry climates, and cold weather are driving me to consider some alternatives. I don't need both a detatch windshield and a helmet with a face shield... so I was hoping to get some of you all's personal experiences with 'em.
At the moment, I'm leaning towards a Nolan N42 or N84 and a Schuberth J1 or S1 . Anyone have any praise for those or any other helmets? Any reasons to go 3/4 over full face? Windshield over helmet? Any insight would be great.
I probably don't know as much about helmets as other's here might. But I wear just a DOT half helmet in most all conditions. Every once in a while when I take off on a trip with that rare extreme cold weather trip, knowing it's going to stay that way through my ride, I will wear a full coverage helmet with the flip up front. I really don't see much advantage in a three quarter helmet when it comes to the elements over a half helmet with zip out ear and neck back protection for cold weather. The advantage of it is that you can zip off the ear liner if it warms up which with the 3/4 you are stuck with what ya brought. But the advantage of the full coverage does keep the cold air from coming up from the chin bottom so much better than a helmet with just a shield even if it's a long low shield. I like the flip up full coverage helmets to totally get the front out of the way that then resembles a three quarter helmet. Works out great on occasions.
Now if it is from a crash protection view..the full coverage is of course the preferred choice.
I have a Buell full face with lots of vents and it works great. I have been looking at the Shoei X-11. It's the best helmet for the shape of my head I've found. It's light and Dot and snell approved. It's around $700. I really fly down the road and have been hit with rocks from those damn trucks that haul material that's not covered many times. I don't see how you guys ride with your faces exposed to all that's out there. I'm also allergic to bees and have been stung with any other type of helmet. The Shoei is very expensive but it is very comfortable. Even with my Buell, in the summer I just wet a bandana on my head under the helmet and the breeze thru the vents feels great. If your spend much time at higher speeds, the full face will be worth it IMO. You have to try on all the different brands for different shaped heads. You get what you pay for when it comes to a good helmet. The Shoei are very aerodynamic and don't buffet much at higher speeds.
Acorns, bumble bees, pecans, rocks, birds, paint balls... I wear full-face all the time because I've been hit in the face shield by of these and more. If you are woried about safety rating, most HJC helmets are DOT/Snell approved. Compare the price of a Shoei to an HJC, then check to see what ratings the Shoei has.
As for what you should wear, it's your noggin. You decide.
It's also been my experience that in exteme heat/cold/weather, full face beats every thing else.
__________________ Cody
"I often question my sanity. It never answers."
06 VRSCD
DesertSpeed, I see your point about the rating system and your point is well taken. The reason some helmets cost so much more is because of the materials used to make the more expensive ones so light and still meet those standards. And then when you put a bunch of vents into one and still keep it light, it costs money. I think my Buell helmet was made by HJC, but the Shoei has more vents and is much lighter and fits better, but at $700 I have not bought one yet. I'm not sure how long a helmet is supposed to last, but when I need a new one I will get the one that fits best no matter what the cost. It should meet snell and dot standards IMO. I think that means full face.
Shoei makes a 3/4 helmet that is both Snell and DOT rated. I am in the market for a new helmet and want to try on a Shoei Platnum R. I like the idea of a full face, but I'm not sure I could get used to all that helmet around my face, and I wonder how warm a full face is on a hot day? Can you wear a full face on a 95 degree day?
I've had occaision to use all 3. I stopped wearing the full face all together, even though it has speakers. In the cold, I always fogged up the windscreen and had to pop it open. Also, (here ya go trigger), in the summer it's unbearable to me. Gotta have that breeze.
Now I wear one of 2 three quarter helmets. One of those has a skirt that zips off and an adjustable visor. That's my favorite. The other is HD, and lighter. I wear a balaclava with either one, and the heated gloves and vest make it even better.
4cams, ALOT of us have windshields and fairings, that's how we put up with it. There are some who rough it. I've been hit by one black walnut behind the windshield. Right between the eyes... scared me more than hurt.
Shoei makes a 3/4 helmet that is both Snell and DOT rated. I am in the market for a new helmet and want to try on a Shoei Platnum R. I like the idea of a full face, but I'm not sure I could get used to all that helmet around my face, and I wonder how warm a full face is on a hot day? Can you wear a full face on a 95 degree day?
Rick
I wore full face on 117+ degree days in Phoenix. At that temperature it's painful to open your visor at highway and interstate speed. It really burns. It's much more comfortable having a full face and mesh jacket than open/no helmet and a t-shirt.
__________________ Cody
"I often question my sanity. It never answers."
06 VRSCD
94, I see your point. I was riding next to a guy on a 95" ultra doing 110-mph and he still had his hat on! And when it's 117 degrees out, like Desertspeed said, in Az. you don't want any of that blasting your face. It's pure torture IMO. I didn't know a 3/4 helmet was both dot and snell, thanks.
I wear a Halfy but also have a wind shield. Ducking works good in the day time and keeps you awake. At night those May flies and June bugs can hurt. I bought my windshield after being stuck behind a gravel truck.
I caught a part of a pigeon on the top of me ol noggin. Believe it or not it kinda jammed my neck a bit. Was better by the next day. Windshield was of no help
3/4 helmets vs. full face vs. windshields 
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