Open Helmets... Fashion?

I can’t think of one person that would describe you as good looking.
Lanky , string bean or pissed then I would say yep that’s how I would describe you

 

I've got a Davida hot and sweaty (leather lined),uncomfortable, bad visibility, shit with wearing glasses so much prefer my flip Caberg with sun visor for £110

 

When I started riding on the road again a few years ago, No 1 Son insisted I had a full face. I got a Shoie Qwest and it’s pretty good. I did take a while to settle to it, and wore a HJC FG-Jet for a while in summer, which I prefer around town for the lightness, all-round visibility and drop-down sun visor, but now I wear the Shoie most of the time

 

I have the shoie jo and Love it. Don’t use it all the time but occasionally. It’s comfy doesn’t ride up at speed, light. Gives me a greater field of vision. I’m aware of the risks but feel it’s worth it for the pleasure. I know we’re meant be responsible to try to reduce the risks of injury to ourselves but I doubt many of us are riding around on fluorescent bikes. Apart from MrO that is

 

I’m reminded that my first full face helmet was a Griffin Clubman...

 

Orange?

 

Yellow, as it happens..

 

My 1st helmet was an EverOak Corker, smallest size you could get, might have been kids size, and a 3/4 length thick black 'oilskin' jacket that I could hardly bend my arms in when it was cold with a belt with a reflector patch that went round me about twice, plus a pair of Waddingtons gauntlets about 10 sizes too big, and fighter pilots goggles, well I was about 5 years old, that was just to ride in the side-car of my dads Square Four!
Oh, when life was so simple..............

 

Dill,
I'd keep the chin bar down to stop scaring the kids!
Happy New year,
Cheers, Pete.

 

I have an open face lid and a Shark Evo, the Shark is definitely the better for motorway speed rides but I do like to wear the open face on gentle rides around town or through the lanes on my Bonnie. Personally I find the added safety of the Shark lid is balanced by the better visibility and greater awareness I feel with the open face lid reducing the likelihood of an accident. Back in the days when I had the Fireblade Streetfighter and the GSX1400 I always wore full face lids and armoured leathers which made me feel better protected but with hindsight that invulnerable feeling did make me ride like a twat at times!

 

It's also worth remembering that nomatter how strong your crash helmet is if your head comes to an abrupt stop your brain can continue moving until it hits the inside of your skull, a scenario which can and does lead to death or life changing injury.

 

I am of a similar age when it was not compulsory to wear a helmet, leather jacket, ordinary denim jeans and a pair of boots was the order of the day, yes you can see the safety argument but when I see the one piece leather suit clad sports bike riders who can hardly walk and are baking in their suits, I think motorcycling is all about freedom and freedom to choose so I say each to their own but the spaceman look is not for me, I'll take my chances.

 

As a fellow ‘crusty’ I totally agree. I chose to wear an Everoak full face from day one and skimp on jeans but it was my choice. I despair at how infantilised and risk averse we have become. It is not about taking risks but being able to assess them and being vaguely consistent. The best protection won’t save you from riding like you are immortal.

 

I too can remember the days of no lid, well it was the cross over time, but I have been down the road 3 times, fortunate maybe, but the lid did not hit the deck, bruises that's another story, I am looking for a new lid and have gave great thought to this, full, 3/4, I remember riding 3/4 in the 70s, cold, wet, hail, but we were young and enjoyed life on our bikes, today yep would still go for a 3/4, but in later life I do not live on my bike as I did, so now pick and choose day or weather to ride

 

A lot of it has nothing to do with safety in mind, it makes me laugh at some of the bike meets I've been to, fat blokes with a beer gut shoe horned into a full leather one piece baby grow, looking ridiculous, and having spent a grand or more to look like it!
When I was in a maxi-scoot club we had one member who we called Mo after one of the Rolly Polly's!
Sad thing was he looked upon it as an honour!
If he'd have fallen off he could have been mistaken for a downed weather blimp rolling in the road!
Then on the other hand when I used to go out to the MFN pub nr Nottingham, there were some bikers there in jerkins, tatty leather trousers, open/no sleeve jackets but if they'd have fell of I think the road surface would have come off worse, I kid ya not!

 

Self inflicted water boarding.

 

Visibility has been mentioned a few times. For those that wear glasses i would suggest giving contact lenses a try, you get good peripheral vision that's just not possible with glasses and no misting up problems. The soft "Dailys" are easy to get on with and relatively cheap.

 

Tried that can't get the damn things in, manual dexterity isn't what it used to be, just made the eyes sore

 

I found I could not see to put them in without my glasses on