Open Face Crash

[redbirds_imp]

This is a decision that only you can make. I struck the back of a car 45 years ago and did a flip over the trunk. My open face helmet protected my head from the initial impact but I suffered some road rash on my face and a cut on my cheek. When the Bell Star came on the market I saved the money to buy one. Full faced helmets ever since.

The older I get (66 now) the less able I am to tolerate the summer heat and an open face helmet is something I'm considering. This past Saturday we rode with a small group of friends and I chose to ride in a long sleeve shirt. It was simply too warm and humid for even my summer riding jacket. The ride was worth the risk.

Motorcycling is a risk that we have all decided as being worthwhile. Wear the gear you feel comfortable in. Diligence and riding skills are still your best safety gear.

[AzBob_imp]

So, I ride in the worst heat anyone who doesn't live in the desert has ever experienced. I still ride with a full face helmet, and quite frankly, just don't understand how one 1) Rides without a full face helmet on a bike without a windshield (I can't breathe with 70mph air hitting me in the face) or 2) Can ride in hot, I mean REALLY hot (115+) weather without a helmet, jacket and gloves; that hot air on the skin is AWFUL.

Anyway, I heard a story of a guy a few decades ago who, wearing an open face helmet, stopped at a red light, put his left boot down into some oily slop, dropped the bike, and basically curbed himself on the curb to his left. Needed a new jaw. At zero miles per hour. Never would have happened with a full face helmet.

Of course, you do whatever pleases you, I just can't make logical sense of some of the choices people make.

[lola_imp]

Always wore Full Faced helmets but When I got The CB1100 the thought Of getting me a opened faced helmet crossed my mind almost every time. I guess its because of all these advertisements of honda on the CB1100 and the rider riding through the open road looking all cool with his open face, ah freedom... It's ok to be cautious however to me an open face helmet is like driving a convertible car versus driving a car with a sun roof, Which you get more roll over protection with the latter . I still want to feel how it is to ride with a open face until I found a compromise which is the New Bell Bullit helmet. It has a Huge Eye Port almost like an open face but has a thin/Narrow chin bar with an option of a regular or bubble Visor. It is I believe Snell and Dot Certified maybe ECE? but Unfortunately it is still on back order and is pretty expensive. But if I had enough Coin to spend I would definitely consider the Bell Bullit.

Here is video / benefit of riding with a full face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxnW95rdT...ture=share

[RetroKitch_imp]

I got tagged by a car and thrown off my 1200 Sporty at around 25MPH while wearing a 3/4 face back in '98. I was VERY lucky as my face was untouched and the gouges in the helmet were in those lower percentage areas. Still, I was hauled away on a backboard with a shoulder contusion, sprained ankle and needed some stitches in my side.

Nowadays I wear modular helmets but once in a while I'll wear a Retro Bell 500 open face with goggles when taking my vintage CB's to a local cruise night. As far the rest of the gear I'm always wearing either textile or mesh. So many great choices for protective gear these days....still shocks me how most of the cruiser crowd still rides in jeans, t-shirts and skid lids

[flynrider]

Despite having a glut of very nice full face helmets. I'm still drawn to an open face number for the summer.

I know this has been discussed before, but is just want to know, has anyone (or anyone they know of) crashed in an open face and come to any harm?

I see so many of the retro/Guzzi boys poncing about in them here and I'm getting slightly jealous.

When I was in Italy a few months ago they were ' de rigour ' and I dint see too many disfigured youngsters....

Am I being over cautious, or rightly wary?

That's a question that only you can answer. Personally, I've always worn either a full face or (very recently) a modular. I've had several crashes in the last 35 years and in most of them, my full face ended up with deep scrapes and gouges around the face area.

I'm not one of those who dresses head to toe in protective gear for every ride, but I draw the line at facial road rash. That's something I don't want to take a chance on.

[Houtman_imp]

Full Face Arai for me, boots, Held gloves ,knee / shin protectors and a Joe Rocket jacket with armor.
I rather be uncomfortable on my ride than be uncomfortable in a hospital .

[JohnNevets_imp]

I have no data what so ever, and like everyone else has said you need to do what makes you feel comfortable.

I will say that when I was looking for a new helmet I was trying both full and modular helmets. Some of the full helmets were tighter in the cheek then they should have been, so I tried a modular from the same company. I noticed that when I put it on my cheeks would push out the sides enough that it actually felt more comfortable, and stayed that way when I put the front down. This made me think, if just my cheeks can push this out, how is it going act in an accident. Now I'm sure it would probably be fine, but just having that bit of doubt, convinced me to go with a full face helmet, because I was more comfortable with it. Plenty of very smart people are fine with a modular helmet, and I respect there decision, it just wasn't for me.

[Tripod_imp]

In the summer, I am usually no helmet or open-faced. In the colder months, modular...

[shdwghst457_imp]

Gotta admit, my RF1100 Shoei has a lot of air flow in it. Sometimes I crack the visor open if I want more.

[Deanohh_imp]

Ever had a big flying bug strike your shield? Now think about it hitting your face.