Author Topic: Let’s talk about helmets (Read 8850 times)

Gusable · « **on:** May 21, 2019, 10:37:57 PM »

my EV touring screen is buffeting my HJC modular cl max 2 helmet. I’m going to try a half helmet I have as an experiment. That made me wonder.... what helmets do you wear? Open face? Modular? None? I’m concerned about the safety of an open face

Ryan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2019, 10:45:52 PM »

When I started riding, a friend who had grown up terrorizing the streets of Paris on a scooter said, "I have crashed at least ten times, and nine of those I landed on my face." I took his advice and have always worn a full-face helmet. I like the screen up, so I wear roofer's impact glasses that double as sun glasses. Cheap (gc) and easy to find. Current lid in an AGV that I am quite happy with, but it is still noisy enough that I need to use noise filters.

Gusable · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2019, 10:50:08 PM »

I always wear clear safety glasses on the bike. Just in case visor is up

Huzo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2019, 02:54:05 AM »

I buggerised around with different helmets over the years and ended up with a shelf full of half arsed worthless lids.
Now I have two Arai’s.
The woggy one you see in the shots and another identical one with Pommy graphics. More importantly they fit like a glove and last a hell of a long time.
Dump the crap and get a good one.
Aria if you have a melon head or Shoei if you look like a rescued extraterrestrial from Area 51...

Old Jock · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2019, 03:28:58 AM »

Started with a full face AGV when the choices then were pretty much AGV or Bell.

I learned 2 things pretty quick that I still stick to even after all these years

Never have so much as a single beer and ride

Always wear a full face helmet (and other appropriate gear)

Came aroound a corner going too quick, inexperienced and reactions slowed by said beer & planted myself on the asphalt.

Half the front of the helmet was ground down. The more critical might say if I had not being wearing a full face it would have improved my looks.

Mr Revhead · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2019, 05:22:28 AM »

Ditch the EV screen and wear full face. The EV screen is a joke.

Ncdan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2019, 05:41:37 AM »

If you are getting wing buffeting it’s not your helmet, it your shield setup. You probably need some type of fork lowers to deflect the wind from coming up under the shield or coming over the shield. If you have no shield protection, then, IMO, a full face helmet is your only alternative for any possible protection from the elements.

Sykestone8886 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2019, 05:54:52 AM »

When I was young and dumb I wore the cheapest helmet available or none at all. Now that age and common sense has caught up with me I wear a full face modular shoei. Pricey but worth every penny.

blu guzz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2019, 06:03:06 AM »

i agree with several of the posters. always full face, i have an hjc at the moment that works very well( have had arai and shoei as well. adapt the windscreen so that it works correctly, recently added lowers to my cali touring screen, all the difference but even when it was buffeting me, i never considered not using the helmet. i will add that a good snug fit is critical. at a rally many years ago, i had an arai that i did not know was too large. with arai, you can change the padding. the seller who really knew what he was doing changed me from an xl to a medium. that quelled a lot of the buffeting problem i was having at the time with that bike. helmets are one of those things you really need to buy in person and not on-line if you want to be sure of the fit, preferably with some expert help.

80CX100 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2019, 06:47:12 AM »

When I was younger I rode with an open face and goggles, on the highway always behind a windshield, but at this stage, a full face always.

I made a huge mistake and rode for a few years with an old heavy used cheap full face from kijiji. That heavy helmet caused a lot of problems with degenerating disks in my neck.

I agree that a helmet should be tried on and bought in a brick and mortar store. I bought a Shoei GTAir, the lighter weight, better aerodynamics, hopefully will extend my future potential riding years from zero to ???

fwiw

Kelly

Buckturgidson · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:13:54 AM »

I wear a full face Shoei 80% of the time. However for a putt down to the coffee shop I wear an open face, there are some really neat retro designs out there.
For eye protection with an open face I love glasses made by 7eye (7eye.com.) They make prescription glasses that seat to your eye socket, keeping your eyeballs from drying out or getting grit in there. There are also perfect for skiing, another activity where it is wise to wear a helmet.

wrbix · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:23:29 AM »

Some good deals on Shoei GT Airs out there right now, since GT Air II was just released.

Shoei full face has always fit my head shape well (oval front to back).

Rick in WNY · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:23:45 AM »

Always a full face... and I tend to go with HJC since they fit my noggin just perfectly.

Went to a local brick and mortar store and tried on some of the new HJC RPHA series helmets.

I am saving my pennies because that will be my next helmet, hopefully in the next month or so.

Gusable · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:30:16 AM »

I always wear full face HJC. My testing with half lid is just an experiment. I had an airhawk pad before so maybe I sat higher. I don’t remember the buffeting before. I like the big screen and it’s staying.

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:38:22 AM »

Fit is everything with a helmet. Even rather inexpensive helmets are fine if they fit, and pass euro certification.
Eldo Jon used to have 3 full faced helmets hanging in his garage with the chin bars partially scraped away.. he said, "you always land on your face.."

SmithSwede · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:41:18 AM »

Always worn a full face. Used to be Bell, but for years now it has been Shoei.

And it has to be solid white. In 40 years of riding I’ve always had a solid white helmet. It’s a good luck/Safety thing

DougG · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2019, 07:52:55 AM »

Hi Gusable,

I ride a Cali 1400, not an EV. I have two full face HJC helmets...bright red and white. The point is to be safe and be seen. HJC is a great helmet and is less expensive than the top of the line Shoei, and Arai's. They are great helmets as well, just more $$$. Also, if I'm riding and it becomes uncomfortably warm, I'll open the face shield about 1/4". The HJC has a detent there just for that purpose.

Best of luck with the buffeting issue...I agree with NCDan...it is probably lower deflectors.

Be well,
DougG

jim mac · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2019, 08:06:08 AM »

try a couple of rubber spacers between the top bolts and the screen - pushing the screen forward slightly, this will steepen the angle of the screen and push airflow higher. i did that on my Cali 1100i and could ride at 90mph with my helmet flipped open and no buffeting. I am 5'11'

flower_king001 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2019, 08:07:12 AM »

Quote from: Gusable on May 22, 2019, 07:30:16 AM

I always wear full face HJC. My testing with half lid is just an experiment. I had an airhawk pad before so maybe I sat higher. I don’t remember the buffeting before. I like the big screen and it’s staying.

Yes, you sat higher in the saddle using the Airhawk and probably the reason you had no buffering was your face was in 'fresh air'. I personally would ditch the barn-door screen and go to a sport shield to get %100 fresh air in my face with no buffering. You would be amazing how how much better the EV will handle without that huge shield. No matter what helmet you use you'll have buffering if the shield is not setup correct or effective.

Lannis · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2019, 08:20:21 AM »

Quote from: Chuck in Indiana on May 22, 2019, 07:38:22 AM

Fit is everything with a helmet. Even rather inexpensive helmets are fine if they fit, and pass euro certification.

This. Fit, comfort, and lightness are 95% of what makes a helmet "good" or "bad" for you. Some fit round heads, some fit oval heads, some are light, some not.

I've had 'em all. I have two now, one an older leather-interior Davida "Jet" open helmet and Halcyon goggles for profiling on short rides on the old Brits, and a brand-new Nolan N100-5 modular for everything else, although I realize that I'm just as likely to fall and get hurt on a short ride on a BSA as a long ride on the highway.

I use my own judgment as to when to ride with the modular "up" and when to ride with it "down". The Nolan is full of features that make life pleasant, like a flip-down sunscreen, ventilation, ratchet buckle ... it's light, quiet for a modular, and has good peripheral vision, although not as good as an open-face ....

Only you will know what combination of fit and features makes life on a bike worth living ....

Lannis

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2019, 08:55:36 AM »

I use a modular. Been using Nolans but recently bought a SCHUBERTH C4 and am very impressed so far. Some pretty good prices out there on them currently.
GliderJohn

Huzo · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2019, 09:09:25 AM »

Also.
I tend to respect the opinions of blokes who are prepared to run the risk of removing their face in a crash.
I just engage them when they try to tell me there’s no heightened level to their risk.
Still their decision though.

LowRyter · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2019, 09:38:12 AM »

A new helmet won't help a buffeting windshield.

You might search the forum, I know one EV owner that cut holes in the windshield.

Gusable · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2019, 09:59:34 AM »

I like the shimming idea. space the screen out or away from the bike and try the airhawk again. nice to see yall have good taste in helmets! guzzista= smart fellers..

Siamese · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2019, 10:01:18 AM »

Shoei full face. And an armor mesh suit.

Deno · « **Reply #25 on:** May 22, 2019, 10:29:57 AM »

I added a laminar lip to the short windscreen on my 98 EV. It did not eliminate the buffeting but it did reduce it to an acceptable level.
As for helmets; I use Nolan modular. They fit my head better than most others. I do have a HJC 3/4 as well. I prefer the 3/4 for short low speed trips around town on the older bikes I ride. Sort of an image thing.

zebraranger · « **Reply #26 on:** May 22, 2019, 10:39:43 AM »

Lazer Monaco carbon fiber modular helmet.

JeffOlson · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2019, 11:15:11 AM »

I hate helmets, but always wear one...

Which helmet is quietest depends upon my windscreen setup.

On sport touring bikes (Norge and RT), unless the windscreen is very large, an open-face helmet is quieter, with less helmet buffeting, than my supposedly quiet Schuberth full-face helmet.

On my Vespa with no windscreen, my Schuberth is quietest, by far. But with a windscreen, unless it is the tall shower-door windscreen that you look through, an open-face helmet is quieter.

ken farr · « **Reply #28 on:** May 22, 2019, 11:15:18 AM »

If your getting buffeting, try small wind deflectors that mount on top of the windshield.
Amazon has them for $20 on up....
I have one on my B1100, and it has helped a lot.

kjf

Two Checks · « **Reply #29 on:** May 22, 2019, 11:38:39 AM »

I have always said, if you don't think your head is worth the price of a good helmet you're probably right.

Does that windshield have a little "flip" or spoiler at the top? If so its creating turbulence.

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Author Topic: Let’s talk about helmets (Read 8850 times)