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461 Posts
This topic has probably come up before too, but as I'm trying to get rid of the dreaded newbie label I"m reaching for straws.
I use a Shoei open face helmet. Stripped the stickers and painted a diagonal tire track on it with Krylon. Never lock it up and it will never be stolen. I wear glasses, so it's much less hassle.
Back in the olden days (there's those words again - almost as bad as "The Old Corps") I wore full face Arai and screwed with the glasses and anti-fogging gimmicks. That helmet ate it on a high side after a tank slapper (talk about tank dents - the stops both broke) on a Bonneville. Ground a hole through the shell to the styrofoam.
As I see it, the big advantage of a F/F is protection of the chin and jaw. There might be a weather advantage, in that rain probably doesn't migrate all over by going around the shield, too.
And the advantage of O/F is that it seldom fogs, is easy-on, easy-off, will never be stolen, costs less, and 3-snap flip up shields cost less. Usually I carry a flat 5-snap shield for real rain.
Another subtle advantage is that with the screen up, my face is clearly visible. Thus the babes can either swoon or continue to march, eliminating the wasted time and effort of pulling off an all-concealing lid to facilitate their swooning/marching. (Hmmm - "marching babes." There's a visual for you.)
In addition to that Arai, I've had to replace three or four other helmets over the years because of accident damage, but have never had anything happen to my chin or jaw. Never even close. The hit is usually high and on a side.
OK, open face helmets are only popular with the geriatric curiser/tourer brigade - the same folks that wear visors and golf shirts. But as an iconoclast, that isn't enough for me to eliminate them from consideration.
Anyone else here admit to function over form? No, that's a loaded question. Anyone else here use O/F.
-Don
I use a Shoei open face helmet. Stripped the stickers and painted a diagonal tire track on it with Krylon. Never lock it up and it will never be stolen. I wear glasses, so it's much less hassle.
Back in the olden days (there's those words again - almost as bad as "The Old Corps") I wore full face Arai and screwed with the glasses and anti-fogging gimmicks. That helmet ate it on a high side after a tank slapper (talk about tank dents - the stops both broke) on a Bonneville. Ground a hole through the shell to the styrofoam.
As I see it, the big advantage of a F/F is protection of the chin and jaw. There might be a weather advantage, in that rain probably doesn't migrate all over by going around the shield, too.
And the advantage of O/F is that it seldom fogs, is easy-on, easy-off, will never be stolen, costs less, and 3-snap flip up shields cost less. Usually I carry a flat 5-snap shield for real rain.
Another subtle advantage is that with the screen up, my face is clearly visible. Thus the babes can either swoon or continue to march, eliminating the wasted time and effort of pulling off an all-concealing lid to facilitate their swooning/marching. (Hmmm - "marching babes." There's a visual for you.)
In addition to that Arai, I've had to replace three or four other helmets over the years because of accident damage, but have never had anything happen to my chin or jaw. Never even close. The hit is usually high and on a side.
OK, open face helmets are only popular with the geriatric curiser/tourer brigade - the same folks that wear visors and golf shirts. But as an iconoclast, that isn't enough for me to eliminate them from consideration.
Anyone else here admit to function over form? No, that's a loaded question. Anyone else here use O/F.
-Don
