I have an Italian made Flip front helmet made by Caberg Justissmo, it is a fairly run of the mill design with the flip down sunshade. This helmet looks like something off of a fighter pilot when the sunshade is down over your eyes, this works out great if you wear glasses, the sunshade doesn't interfere with them. The sunshade also does a great job if you ride all day and into the evening, when it gets dark if you are wearing your regular glasses, just flip the shade part up, no need to stop and change from sun glasses to regular glasses.The flip part of the helmet was designed to easily come off, this looks like a 3/4 helmet when this part is removed. Also if you need a communication set-up installed inside the helmet, provisions are already made for this.
Cost, it's around the $300.00 mark. Heat, there is no getting away from the heat when going slow or at a stop, I've not noticed any heat when riding at speed. I have several other types of helmets which include two other flip face units, these feel like your head is about to bake inside of the helmet when it's real hot out, but again they're not too bad when riding at speed. When I purchased my Caberg helmet it was DOT rated, I asked about the Snell 2000 rating but were told any helmet with a flip front can't pass the Snell testing yet.
One other note I have found about motorcycle helmets and their ratings. A DOT rated helmet VS a SNELL rated helmet use totally different methods when tested (or not actually tested). All a manufacturer needs to do in order to gain a DOT sticker for their helmet is to believe their helmets will withstand the testing perameters set forth required to achieve a DOT rating. The DOT may come in and take some of the manufacturers helmets for testing, but most are sold with the DOT sticker on them never having gone through any type of testing at all. In other words the manufacturer just has to believe their helmets are built to these standards to receive the DOT certification, that's it! A SNELL rated helmet on the other hand has to go through rigorous testing in order to achieve that SNELL rating, the manufacturer brings their helmets in and pays for this certification. Which one do you want on your head? Granted you are going to pay a lot more for a SNELL rated helmet, but it's worth it if you ever need it. Got a $5.00 head, get a $5.00 helmet. Got a $500.00 head, get a $500.00 helmet. :yahoo:
If you don't believe what I say? Do a search.......Plug in DOT and SNELL Motorcycle Helmets: Understanding DOT and SNELL ratings. EZINEARTICLES.COM
Good Luck,
clutchless1
