I always put a helmet on however it has always been a half helmet. I would like to try a full face helmet however everytime I put one on they feel so confining and I just hate it. Any out there that are comfortable? Seems like I tried on at least 20 with same result. I do want to pursue more safety for my noggin but would like it to be comfy. What do you wear and why?
Helmet...
- Thread starter Radical
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slapnpop
Rest in Peace our Forum Founder
What's uncomfortable about the full face helmet to you?
There's defiantly an "acclimation period," but I'm hardly ever uncomfortable because of my helmet. I had to try on a lot of different helmets to find one that was perfect for my head though.
There's defiantly an "acclimation period," but I'm hardly ever uncomfortable because of my helmet. I had to try on a lot of different helmets to find one that was perfect for my head though.
Silver Penguin
Silver Penguin
I believe it's a matter of habit. I've worn a FF helmet since I started riding, as a kid. Anything else leaves me feeling very vulnerable. Kinda like the seat belt in a car. If you've always worn one, you don't even notice it unless it's missing.
My shelf currently has three helmets - a Bell Sprint, which is wired for the Chatterbox, a helmet brought back from the UK, with a real cool Union Jack pattern, and the new Icon Hooligan. All fit slightly differently but all are just 'there' and not really noticeable.
My suggestion to you is to keep trying helmets, perhaps with the help of an experienced salesperson, until you find the best fit. Then, wear the new helmet for short trips to gradually get used to it. You could even wear it around the house, but that would look sooooo strange.
Jill
Rickster
Well-known member
evil_henchman
Well-known member
My wife gets clostrophobic in full faced helmets but she does just fine with a flip face. HJC Sy-Max to be specific. The act of putting on a full face helmet brings it on but if she puts it on with it flipped up and puts it down once we get going she's fine. Who ever said irrational fears were rational? B)
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RsvlFeej
RsvlFeej
I am currently wearing an Arai Quantum f after years wearing various Shoeis. Once I discovered I do NOT have a "Shoei head", I've been a lot more comfortable and the miles I'm happy to be riding has increased in kind.
+1 on Silver Penguin's "My suggestion to you is to keep trying helmets, perhaps with the help of an experienced salesperson, until you find the best fit." I'm pretty sure Arai alone makes helmets designed for at least three distinct head shapes, with fine-tuning available through different pad sets.
The option one of my coworkers went with was to copy the local city LEOs and get a helmet with a 3/4 bubble shield. Although undoubtedly not as safe as a true full-face, maybe it could work as a transition helmet?
Good luck,
RsvlFeej
+1 on Silver Penguin's "My suggestion to you is to keep trying helmets, perhaps with the help of an experienced salesperson, until you find the best fit." I'm pretty sure Arai alone makes helmets designed for at least three distinct head shapes, with fine-tuning available through different pad sets.
The option one of my coworkers went with was to copy the local city LEOs and get a helmet with a 3/4 bubble shield. Although undoubtedly not as safe as a true full-face, maybe it could work as a transition helmet?
Good luck,
RsvlFeej
HaulinAshe
Well-known member
A good fit on a full face helmet requires a very snug feel at first. Trust that after about two hours of wear time that the fit will vastly improve. Loose is bad and hurts later on. Snug is good and fits like a glove with some breaking in time.
Avoid sharing your helmet with anyone else. One hour on someone else's head will often change that custom feel.
Avoid sharing your helmet with anyone else. One hour on someone else's head will often change that custom feel.
Bike Effects
Well-known member
Although this picture does not show all of the damage, it does not take too much imagination to guess what my face would have looked like if I were wearing something less in my March 2000 get off. I would feel naked and at extreme peril if I wore anything less.
Well first is the fact that I can't get one over my glasses and need to take them off, then once the helmet is on I can't get my glasses back on, then there's this side vision thing as mine is greatly reduced, and it seems to place pressure on all parts of my head. They all feel very heavy to me and I just flat out feel out of balance with one on. I'll continue to try some more on there's got to be one out there that fits right. Thanks guys.
Knifemaker
Not me
Well, seatbelts are confining too, but I always wear one. The diffrence between feeling comfortable over feeling safe can be a hard comprimise. If your really want the added safety of a full face helmet, your only recourse is to find one that fits you properly, then just get used to it.
I rode offroad for years with a 3/4 helmet and goggles, then switched to roadracing and HAD to wear a full face (snell approved) helmet. Took a few weeks to get used to it, but now, I won't get on a bike without my fullface helmet. (shoei RF1000)
Standing in a dealer with the helmet on, you will of course feel a bit claustraphobic, but once your out actualy riding the bike, your attention will (hopefully) switch from what you have on your head to watching out for the various idiots out there trying to kill you.
KM
Wolfhound
Wildman
I'm opinionated, egotistical, a bit goofy, & plenty more that others call me but the Shoei (RF1000) seems to fit my kind of head. You'll find different shapes & sizes among the brands but you get what you pay for with helmets. No one brand will work for all as they are all shaped a bit differently. I could not stand a full face helmet until I had to wear one for kart racing , very confining until I got use to it & now would not leave the house on the bike without one. Definetly spend time wearing the helmet in the store to make sure of the fit. It will grow on you after a while....I also wear glasses....
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Fencer
Why yes, I am a Smart ASS
A modular would prob do you best for getting your glasses on and off. I had one but went to a Scorpion EXO. It fits great. I tried many diff on like you and found one to fit me. Take your time. Also, get a pair of glasses that have a straight frame rather than behind the ear. I have no prob sliding them in the visor.
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Silver Penguin
Silver Penguin
Again, it takes practice, and the helmet that's best for you, your head shape and your glasses. I wear sunglasses for the majority of my riding. There's a knack to getting them in and out of the helmet. I promise you that it does get easier with time.
Blueliner
Well-known member
I have no trouble getting my glasses on and off with a full face helmet. It took once or twice to figure it out with every helmet I try on but its a piece of cake after a short time. Had a big rock take a chunk out of an AGV lid years ago and would hate to think what it would have done to my teeth-jaw, had the helmet not been full face.
As posted earlier a modular might be best for you.
As posted earlier a modular might be best for you.
mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
I've always worn glasses. When I first started putting on a helmet I had to take them off or they always seemed to tangle, even with the flip-up up.
I now find I can put the helmet on and off without having to remove them. It's a matter of technique.
I put the helmet on from the back rather than the front, so engage the back of the helmet against the back of my head, pull the straps outwards to widen the helmet a bit, then roll it forward and down. The ears act as feelers to help you guide it straight, and by doing this my glasses are only rubbed slightly as the helmet comes down in front of my ears. (I occasionally have to unfold my ears with a finger.) This "from the back" technique may also help with the claustrophobic effect of putting it on from the front.
Removal is the reverse process, undo the straps, pull them out a bit to stretch the helmet, then roll it back off the face and head. Again, my glasses are barely touched.
I would reinforce the general opinion here, you really should persevere with a full-face, nobody wants their face re-modelled by the road. You rapidly get used to the extra weight (you won't notice it after a few minutes), and the protection from wind, rain, bugs, stones etc is really worth while, let alone the possibility of an "off".
Find a dealer who is interested in choosing a helmet to fit you. When I got mine, the dealer spent about half an hour with me, trying helmet after helmet, until we were both satisfied with its fit.
Good luck, and I hope you never actually need its full face!
dhalen32
Well-known member
Radical:
What you have gotten for responses so far has all been excellent advice. I notice you live in Wisconsin and I have a suggestion for you if you can wait about 6 months. Make a point of going to the Superbike races the first weekend in June in Elkhart Lake. I attend every year and I manage to find a new helmet or other piece of gear to take back home with me to Nebraska. There are usually many helmet and gear vendors present and you can try on many different brands to find the best fit for your shape of head. I know that both Arai and Shoei have different helmet lines that fit round and oval heads. The other manufacturers probably do the same. Be patient and try a lot of them on. One shape will fit you better than the other. Also leave them on your head for awhile in the vendor's booth. Leaving the visor open should help you any fight claustrophobia.
I usually ride with sunglasses and find that with the right temple style you can easily insert and withrdraw them through the helmet's eyeport. All DOT approved full and flip face helmets must meet fmvss 208 dimensional standards for preserving your peripheral vision. I think the specification is 220 degreees. Reduced peripheral vision is one of those ABATE myths used to argue against helmet laws. I find no reduction in my peripheral vision and have worn full face helments exclusively for 36 years.
It might be easiest for you to start first with a flip face helmet as a transition to a full face in order to provide yourself with the most protection available. Good luck in your quest for the perfect helmet. I used to wear Shoei all of the time until I bought an Arai in 2003. Now, I can't imagine owning any other brand as they always seem to fit me the best. I do keep trying on others as Arai's are usually ridiculously expensive. I will be doing so again this coming year at Road America looking for the perfect fit at a lower price. Perhaps we'll run into each other there.
Dave
What you have gotten for responses so far has all been excellent advice. I notice you live in Wisconsin and I have a suggestion for you if you can wait about 6 months. Make a point of going to the Superbike races the first weekend in June in Elkhart Lake. I attend every year and I manage to find a new helmet or other piece of gear to take back home with me to Nebraska. There are usually many helmet and gear vendors present and you can try on many different brands to find the best fit for your shape of head. I know that both Arai and Shoei have different helmet lines that fit round and oval heads. The other manufacturers probably do the same. Be patient and try a lot of them on. One shape will fit you better than the other. Also leave them on your head for awhile in the vendor's booth. Leaving the visor open should help you any fight claustrophobia.
I usually ride with sunglasses and find that with the right temple style you can easily insert and withrdraw them through the helmet's eyeport. All DOT approved full and flip face helmets must meet fmvss 208 dimensional standards for preserving your peripheral vision. I think the specification is 220 degreees. Reduced peripheral vision is one of those ABATE myths used to argue against helmet laws. I find no reduction in my peripheral vision and have worn full face helments exclusively for 36 years.
It might be easiest for you to start first with a flip face helmet as a transition to a full face in order to provide yourself with the most protection available. Good luck in your quest for the perfect helmet. I used to wear Shoei all of the time until I bought an Arai in 2003. Now, I can't imagine owning any other brand as they always seem to fit me the best. I do keep trying on others as Arai's are usually ridiculously expensive. I will be doing so again this coming year at Road America looking for the perfect fit at a lower price. Perhaps we'll run into each other there.
Dave
drew231506
0 Posts Per Day
Humans natural reaction to change. My old man is the worst. Anytime he changes something…anything, he ******* and moans about how the old way was better...blah blah blah. There is always an adjustment period with anything new/different. You WILL get used to it...and eventually find it better than what was done previously. Even the feejer had an adjustment period for me. I questioned if it was right for me in the beginning because it was so different than what I was accustomed to. Now though...it is the greatest bike in the whole world! Yep.
As for Helmets...I had an Arai Astral and now a Shoei RF1000. The Arai was very comfortable but I hated the visor system and it was relatively loud with those ear visor covers in wind. Also the shell is bigger than the Shoei...so it gave that kind of spaceman look. The shoei isn't quite as comfy for me yet though its still pretty new. But the visor system is far superior to Arais...and it does worlds better in the wind. It's much quieter to the point I don’t wear earplugs except on long rides and my head doesn’t bob in the wind. Just my opinion...there are good reviews on webbikeworld.com as well.
As for Helmets...I had an Arai Astral and now a Shoei RF1000. The Arai was very comfortable but I hated the visor system and it was relatively loud with those ear visor covers in wind. Also the shell is bigger than the Shoei...so it gave that kind of spaceman look. The shoei isn't quite as comfy for me yet though its still pretty new. But the visor system is far superior to Arais...and it does worlds better in the wind. It's much quieter to the point I don’t wear earplugs except on long rides and my head doesn’t bob in the wind. Just my opinion...there are good reviews on webbikeworld.com as well.
Hi,
I'll add my 2 cents with perhaps a couple thoughts I haven't see written above. All of the above is good advice.
The weight of the helmet decreases when you are on the bike with some wind pressure holding it up... and different shell materials affect weight and cost -- do some research and you will be glad.
I recently bought a closeout AGV designed racing helmet from Dennis Kirk online for $60 (usually $260) and the peripheral vision is outstanding, though the fit tight. They do loosen up. It doesn't fit perfectly for me but my plan is to only wear it at the dragstrip for short rides
+1 on buying an everyday helmet in a store.
I have used every helmet style I can think of, including no helmet years ago when I was young. My SHOEI years ago never felt right, felt heavy, and was a PIA to get on with eyeglasses -- I bought it because it was "the" helmet to get rather than the right one for me -- $300 mistake in 1990 dollars. I swore I'd never wear another full face helmet. My SHOEI "mistake helmet" was on the shelf and I was lidless when I went down in 1992. All I could think of as I was falling was "keep your head up!" I never want to have that feeling again.
I still wear glasses. My everyday helmet has become a flip-up for comfort and ease of wear, with admittedly compromised lower jaw safety. I bought one 15 thousand miles ago for a long-ish trip on a slab and knew the noise and buffeting from my half helmet would kill me. Never looked back. The half helmet with extended face shield sits on a shelf and I haven't worn it since.
Then they came out with lighter materials, better visibility, different shell shapes and even the flip-up hybrid.... So I tried a flip helmet last year. But the best helmet is the one you will wear, so make sure it fits.
Nolans don't fit me, though they are stylish and wish they made a shell for my noggin.
I have seen written the SHOEI RF1000 is eyeglass friendly with spaces for the arms to slide in easier than other brands/models.
Like finding the right fit in gloves, jacket, or motorcycle, it will take some research, time and experience to find the right one for you. But the search can be fun too.
Good luck.
I'll add my 2 cents with perhaps a couple thoughts I haven't see written above. All of the above is good advice.
The weight of the helmet decreases when you are on the bike with some wind pressure holding it up... and different shell materials affect weight and cost -- do some research and you will be glad.
I recently bought a closeout AGV designed racing helmet from Dennis Kirk online for $60 (usually $260) and the peripheral vision is outstanding, though the fit tight. They do loosen up. It doesn't fit perfectly for me but my plan is to only wear it at the dragstrip for short rides
+1 on buying an everyday helmet in a store.I have used every helmet style I can think of, including no helmet years ago when I was young. My SHOEI years ago never felt right, felt heavy, and was a PIA to get on with eyeglasses -- I bought it because it was "the" helmet to get rather than the right one for me -- $300 mistake in 1990 dollars. I swore I'd never wear another full face helmet. My SHOEI "mistake helmet" was on the shelf and I was lidless when I went down in 1992. All I could think of as I was falling was "keep your head up!" I never want to have that feeling again.
I still wear glasses. My everyday helmet has become a flip-up for comfort and ease of wear, with admittedly compromised lower jaw safety. I bought one 15 thousand miles ago for a long-ish trip on a slab and knew the noise and buffeting from my half helmet would kill me. Never looked back. The half helmet with extended face shield sits on a shelf and I haven't worn it since.
Then they came out with lighter materials, better visibility, different shell shapes and even the flip-up hybrid.... So I tried a flip helmet last year. But the best helmet is the one you will wear, so make sure it fits.
Nolans don't fit me, though they are stylish and wish they made a shell for my noggin.
I have seen written the SHOEI RF1000 is eyeglass friendly with spaces for the arms to slide in easier than other brands/models.
Like finding the right fit in gloves, jacket, or motorcycle, it will take some research, time and experience to find the right one for you. But the search can be fun too.
Good luck.
