The CB1100 Community Forum

The responses on here have been great and very interesting. I actually expected there to be more 3/4 helmet users than there are (at least as the poll currently stands). 40 out of the 47 who have responded primarily use full coverage; either a full face or modular helmet. That's just over 85% of the votes.

I usually ride without my glasses which I use primarily to read. Most of the time I'm just fine like that. When I ride in unfamiliar areas or at night, however, I find myself wishing I had my glasses on. I, too, have struggled to find a full face helmet that comfortably accommodates my eyeglasses. When I've tried to wear them, they end up being pressed hard against one side of my nose or pushed askew in one way or another. Not fun. If I could find a helmet and eyeglass combination that I like, that work together well, I might even be okay with the glasses-off-helmet-on-glasses-on and reverse routine.

The idea of a 3/4 helmet is rather appealing. I just don't know that I'm ready to give up the protection a full face provides. An interesting side note - About seven or eight years ago, a small piece of metal lodged itself into the white of my eye as I was riding. I was wearing a full face helmet at the time and the metal must have been carried by the wind under and up the inside of my helmet. I felt the pain immediately. Not excruciating but just a bit more than the normal getting something in your eye pain. I suppose that's not surprising given that it turned out be a piece of metal. My eye watered relentlessly until I made it home. I couldn't see what was in my eye but I sure did feel it. It was a relentless torture that had me holding my eye open under the shower trying to dislodge whatever it was that was in there. Nothing worked and I eventually went to urgent care where the doctor numbed my eye and located the piece of metal. To dislodge it, he used a needle. That's right, he literally stuck a needle in my eye. The procedure was successful, the metal was removed, the relief was instant.

I realize that's more bad luck than anything else. But had I been wearing a 3/4 helmet (or less), I'm sure I would have blamed my predicament on my choice of lid and I would be here sharing my needle in the eye story as a testament to the value of full face coverage. My point? I don't know that I have one really. Just thought I'd share an interesting story and observation. I'm certainly not saying that full face helmets provide inferior protection because clearly that's not the case. Maybe it's that anecdotal evidence is not always the most reliable or accurate evidence on which to base decisions although, it's human nature to do just that. We can't always rely on stats and even when we can, there are so many variables that call into question figures that on their surface appear certain. Uh oh, I'm starting down a rabbit hole I'd rather not venture into.

I feel myself being drawn towards the Bell Bullitt. I like the retro-styling that goes well with the CB plus the full face protection. I wonder how well my glasses would fit underneath...

The "right" helmet is the one that's right for you.

Well, I did it. I took a gift card from Christmas, added some birthday cash, plus my revzilla bucks earned from prior purchases and I bought myself the new Bell Bullitt helmet:

[url=http://s51.photobucket.com/user/jamesfontaine/media/bell_bullitt_retro_helmet_blue_detail.jpg.html]

I went back and forth on whether to go with the blue or stick to something more subtle. I decided I already have subtle and if I want to go that route I can choose between my gloss black Scorpion, my matte black SevenZeroSeven, or my white Bell Vortex. When I'm feeling a bit more colorful, I can opt for either my Bell RS-1 which I have in the Roland Sands Flash design or, now, this nice looking Bullitt. I'll give the helmet a proper review and post more photos in the Gear section once I receive it.

MG, follow CA200s advice in reverse and be sure to take your specs when you try the helmet.

I endorse everything others have said about glasses being part of your face when you wear the all the time. Like ES, though, I find taking them off and putting them on is just part of the whole complex rigmarole of getting ready to ride. What decided m to stick with a full face was that the Nolan and Bell modular helmets I tried still retired me to take off my glasses to put them on whereas the Shark, with its cut outs, makes putting glasses on a breeze.

MG..LOVE that lid....great combo of protection and retro, I think.

Going to look sweet with that new jacket!!


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I've had tri-focals wireless frames for a few years, until the blessing in disguise of having cataracts 2 years ago....I went with mono vision and can basically go without any glasses now.

But glasses can make my vision a little better and at night when sunglasses are not appropriate they are needed if I decide to put the visor up for any reason.

So the next glasses I get I'll be sure to NOT get the behind the ear loop style glasses so putting them on after the helmet is on will be easier!

I have a Shoei Neotec which wasn't cheap but it's a good fit and is relatively quiet for a modular. For all of the forty miles I've ridden with it, seems like a good helmet.

The coolest part is the wine red color matches the CB1100 deluxe perfectly.

I wear glasses and have been really happy with my Nolan N104. It's modular and pricey, but when I got it a couple years ago it was one of the only modulars that tested as safe and protective as a regular full-face helmet. I can keep my glasses on while getting the helmet on and off, though about 20% of the time I need to adjust the glasses a bit once the helmet is on. My glasses are the only reason I went modular instead of full-face, though it's a nice bonus to be able to flip it up at the gas station, etc. I'm an all-the-gear-all-the-time rider so can't imagine riding with less than full coverage on my head, even though it's not always convenient or comfortable.

MG, that Bell Bullitt looks fantastic. Good choice!