It's disconcerting when.......

[tris]

..... it's a lovely day, you're nearly home and bimbling along at 30 MPH with your visor open and something yellow and black comes in and smacks you on the left cheek.

Said bug then drops down into your helmet and out the bottom

That was lucky you think only to have it start climbing up  your right cheek

It's surprising just how fast you can stop the bike and get your helmet off before the stingy thing gets you 

[kballowe]

Yikes !

I have had that happen.  Ya think the dang thing is gone ....
..... and then.....

[JJ]

Be glad it was not.....A large, ASIAN, MURDER HORNET!!!

[Scout63]

Another reason to go modular. I had a bee go down my collar, down my shirt to my belt line and just walk around.  Another reason to wear a belt.

[bottler]

Years ago I was riding to work in Sydney when I felt a strange sensation between my helmet and my skull ( I am completely bald). I stopped in world record time and removed my full face helmet to see what was the cause. There in my helmet was a lizard, about 4 inches long. I released it and continued to work. That was around thirty two years ago, so ever since I have had a real good look inside the helmet before putting it on.

Cheers

Bottler

[Monza-jockey]

Had wasp fly into the collar of leather jacket. Got stung repeatedly at 50 mph in the neck. I was able pull off the road in a semi controlled manner and eject the little bugger. Started wearing a fleece neck gaiter ever since that episode.

[Kev m]

I've been stung on my face (near my eye) twice over the years.

Both times the little F'r got caught between my sunglasses and eye/nose and probably stung when I reacted and grabbed (or tried to) him.

My own fault.

And obviously wearing a 3/4 helmet most of my life didn't help.

Probably will happen again, but we're currently averaging less then once per decade.

As long as he actually misses my eye I'm good.

[Motormike]

About 4 weeks ago, I was on a ride when, unknown to me, some stinging insect flew up my right sleeve.  As luck would have it, I pulled off into a parking lot to check my phone just as the little bugger decided to let me have it.  I yanked my jacket off as it nailed me several times. It was quite painful.  Shook my jacket out, but never did really see what it was.  Only the after-effects.  Luckily I'm not allergic, but my arm looked like Popeye for a few days. I try to synch my cuffs down a little tighter now.

[Cam3512]

Happened about 10 years ago, then again recently on the way to the National rally in NH.  Lifted my visor to get some air and I saw the yellow blur come straight toward my face.  Must’ve been a Jewish bee, zapped me right in the left temple. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I was coming home from the Kentucky rally on a really hot afternoon. Decided to unsnap my collar,  oh, you know what happened.  I finally smashed him somewhere around my navel..

[John A]

We were following a one ton pickup pulling a flatbed trailer on a two lane road somewhere in  Montana.  Looking for a chance to pass we went through some hills and corners in beautiful country.  The flatbed in front of us started to hit some highway cones in a construction area, we were far enough back to be able to avoid the bouncing cones that littered our path.  That’s when we ran into the angry wasps.  Not a good place to stop so we bumped up against the rev limiter, neither one of us crashing somehow. Deb and I got  nailed enough times to be concerned about anaphylactic shock so we stopped and got the Benedryl out of the first aid pack. Wasp stings are irritating for about three days, after a day or two of pain, the itching starts.  We have encountered bees or wasps many times and they all seem to have a similar outcome that is usually memorable.  A few times we have gone through a cloud of bees that are moving a hive. They are docile and slow because they are loaded with honey and make a big sticky splat,  hundreds of big sticky splats. I’ve learned that when three unusual things happen in a short time, it means you are ripe for a wreck. In that case it was the truck not keep his trailer between the lines, the bouncing cones and the bees.

[Motormike]

Then there was the time the wife and I were in California on a rented Harley, cruising slowly down PCH to tour the Hearst Castle.  That was back in my open-face helmet and sunglasses days (It's better to look good than to feel good!) I saw it out of the corner of my eye...Incoming!  Because we were only rolling at about 35 miles an hour, instead of a splat, the bug just went "thunk" and stayed right where it landed on my cheek, pissed off and stinging my face repeatedly!  Now I'm trying to use my left hand to swat it away, and the bike is weaving all over.  "What's the matter" the wife yells, and I tell her I've been stung by a wasp or something.  By the time we get to Hearst Castle for the tour, the right side of my face is red and swollen.  We stop at the first aid station for an icepack, which I then have the pleasure of holding against the side of my face for the remainder of the tour.  Fun times.

[Kev m]

That was back in my open-face helmet and sunglasses days (It's better to look good than to feel good!)

I truly "feel" better in my open face helmets from an experience of the ride point of view which includes both airflow that is unmatched by my FF helmets (I have an Arai and two convertible Nolans) and from the additional peripheral vision it allows me specifically where there is no chin bar (for looking at things on the bike, and myself, and simply having the chin bar out of the way).

When I want/need "more" protection from the airflow (rain or extreme cold) I install the face shield on one of the Nolans and that comes down to my chin BUT remains clear so it doesn't take away any of my vision that I want (again only for close-up stuff, but it's my preference).

Just sharing to say that not all wear what they want for the same reason you did and might presume.

[Moparnut72]

You might want to try a Nolan modular. I have a 100-5, it has a wide field of vision when closed. It is designed to be ridden either open or closed. The chinbar opens on an eliptical system that keeps it close to the helmet when opened so as to work well as a 3/4 helmet at moderate speeds. It is also fairly quiet especially for a modular. I bought a Shoei Neotech 4 as an upgrade, it was awful. I sold it and still ride with my "old"Nolan.
kk

[Kev m]

You might want to try a Nolan modular. I have a 100-5, it has a wide field of vision when closed. It is designed to be ridden either open or closed. The chinbar opens on an eliptical system that keeps it close to the helmet when opened so as to work well as a 3/4 helmet at moderate speeds. It is also fairly quiet especially for a modular. I bought a Shoei Neotech 4 as an upgrade, it was awful. I sold it and still ride with my "old"Nolan.
kk

 

If it's quiet I should consider one for sure. That's the one Achille's heel of my current Nolans. Even with the face shield (and chin bar on the rare occasion) installed it's still a bit on the noisy side.

Thanks for mentioning it.