ddlooping Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 Hi all I'm new to biking and need to buy all the gear. First on the list is a helmet. I'm leaning towards an open-face one as it seems to be the best compromise in terms of protection and look for my XVS125. Unless you know of a full-face that wouldn't look out of place while riding this bike I'd appreciate if you could recommend one with good side protection, that looks cool and doesn't break the bank. Thanks in advance.
Toutsuite Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 I have both full face and open face helmets which I wear depending on how cold it is. But as we're nearly in spring you can start with an open face one. Have a look here: http://www.ghostbikes.com/categorylist/Helmets-Open-Face-Helmets/ I don't see the point of an o/f helmet being too expensive (say above £50) Ride safe.
neversaydie Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 NITRO X550-JV, between £50 to £70, the clear main visor fits close to the helmet so less wind noise, good ventilation, integral tinted flip down visor. Mine just stopped me having a head injury when someone knocked me off the Dragstar 3 weeks ago, hit the deck back of the head first. Good entry level lid
ddlooping Posted March 11, 2012 Author Posted March 11, 2012 Thanks for the recommendation, neversaydie.
up.yours Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 how much do you value your head? not very much? then buy an open face helmet. very much? then protect it with the best you can afford? i.e. a full faced helmet.
Moderator Airhead Posted March 12, 2012 Moderator Posted March 12, 2012 how much do you value your head? not very much? then buy an open face helmet. very much? then protect it with the best you can afford? i.e. a full faced helmet. or as a compromise perhaps a flip up one?
ddlooping Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 or as a compromise perhaps a flip up one? Yep, looking into them.
ddlooping Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 Thinking about getting this one. Do you guys think that having a silver one would make me noticeably more visible at night?
ddlooping Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 Or the black one with reflective strips at the back.
trumpetdude Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 Not long gone from a Duchinni to a caberg V2rr. The Caberg is nice, not as noisey as the Duch, the flip down visor is handy too. Good sharp rating and not fogged up in me much. look at your budget as there's loads of choice.
ddlooping Posted March 12, 2012 Author Posted March 12, 2012 Thanks for the recommendation, trumpetdude
Moderator mervin Posted March 12, 2012 Moderator Posted March 12, 2012 Apparently the Caberg Konda is noisy , i have recently got one of the last Caberg Trips from northern Ireland , also have had some J1,s but they are NLA now
up.yours Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 folk say it's just me being paranoid? but them flip ups look like they would fall apart on impact..
nayruf Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 Hi I too am interested in a flip front helmet, But I believe that not all flip front helmets are legal if you ride with the front flipped up, I think MCN had a feature on the topic many moons ago, I recall the feds use flip front helmets but their brand/model of helmet was tested as an open face helmet so they deemed it ok to ride with the front up. things may of changed since then so I might be wrong.
up.yours Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 i would imagine you would a need a very strong neck to ride with it up?
neversaydie Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 This is always a problem when someone asks for a recommendation, you'll get differing opinions Best thing is to visit sellers and try on a number of different types, try doing lifesavers both ways with them on, its my view that open face lets you have more vision, but its a personal thing. Make sure that whatever you pick has conforms to the EU standard, it should have a sticker/label on it saying so, but I cant remember the code
Moderator DirtyDT Posted March 12, 2012 Moderator Posted March 12, 2012 I had a Givi 10.4 for a time. Very light, half helmet. Great fun and road legal but I don't know how much protection it would have given. I also still own an AGV Longway. This is a flip lid. I think it is great, especially for the summer. I use the flip closed through the lanes and then open around a ring road. It can be a little wind resistant however, when in the flip open position, make sure that the visor is closed. It is a snug fit on the front of the face but fine when you get used to it. You need to flip the front to put it on or off. It has a button on the inside of the chin guard that is easy to use with gloves on so no stopping to use the flip part. Great when filling up with petrol, just flip the front and there is no need to take the helmet off when paying. I think it is ACU gold standard as well - I think!
Ttaskmaster Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 This very morning, I was pootling along at 35-ish MPH. Full-face lid, but with visor still fully open as I hadn't reached the A-Roads yet and was behind a slowish car. Got a stone chip fly up and smack me square in the cheek. I now have a bloody scab. Imagine if that was an eye... I ride a 650cc Cruiser and I still wear a full-face. You can get flip lids too, don't forget. But remember, no matter what lid you wear, you ain't gonna look very cool cruising around with half your jaw missing from an off! For the record, I still wear the Caberg 104 V2 - Costs about £100 and has excellent Sharp rating.
Moderator drewpy Posted March 12, 2012 Moderator Posted March 12, 2012 I got a BOX open face with Stadium goggles. very comfy and no noise.
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