Helmets
 

Hi

Any reviews/recommendations of good Dual-purpose helmets?

Thanks

Hi Sean,

The helmet you choose should/will depend on the fit, usage, riding conditions (climate) and availability (ie in your country) not to mention the price. Where do you stand on these points?

I use an Arai Tour X3 because of it's visor and comfort and the removable liner that can be washed easily.

There is some fitting info here: Motorcycle Helmets

Also there is a detailed thread here on another forum... but feel free to start a discussion here about helmets. I'm especially interested to hear from other HUBBers whether they prefer visors or goggles.

IMO goggles are good for sand and dusty conditions where as visor is good for rain and colder conditions.

I'm in love with my Tour X. It's served me over three continents with no problems..

Get some tinted MX goggles with "QUICK STRAP" velcro releases. Wear the goggles for sunny, hot days and then when you want a clear visor for cold or overcast days, just put the goggles on backwards...

It works so well it should be illegal.

I got goggles for my tour-x for exactly that reason, but delivering pizza I've found that goggles are THE thing to use for snow and also in very cold or damp conditions they don't fog up at all, massive bonus over the visor.

Hey TT, when you mean backwards, you don't mean with the strap across your eyes and the goggles on the back of the helmet do you per chance :rofl:

No but seriously it's a good tip, reversing the goggle lens. Do you know where authorities stand on the use of tinted goggles? I expect it's the same as tinted visor ie. for Day-time use only.

Ahhhhh you see.. Thats the magic of quick straps !!

http://www.mx1australia.com.au/index...2/700/464/3/22


I have never ever ever heard of anyone being gripped for tinted MX lens. Even if you do get hassel from plod, you have the clear visor to show him !! :)

Not wishing to de-rail the thread, but what are the benefits of a helmet like the Arai Tour X over a 'normal' full face helmet? I have a new Arai Quantum, and it's excellent for both comfort and wearing all day (touring!). I'm not thinking of a change, just curious . . . . :innocent:

I prefer my Nolan flip front.

On the road it's far better than an MX style lid - no peak trying to drag your head backwads.

Off road you flip the chinbar up and ride with no restriction to your view at all.

It has a built in sun visor, and the unique feature of the Nolan is the 'eccentric' cam used to hinge the chinbar - it doesn't just rotate and end up miles above your head, it sits pretty close, cutting down on the pendulum effect.

It is on the heavy side, but personally the benefits far outweigh the, er, weight!

Touring round SA from november. So pretty broad range of climatic conditions etc. need a good all round helmet that can hold up in freezing patagonia

My road lids wont fit goggles through them, visibility is limited to the sides and bottom compared to the tour-x and the visor (removable if wind drag is doing your nut in) is very useful at cutting down the glare and keeping rain off your goggles if your doing town speeds.

I have the BMW Enduro dual-purpose. Good quality,comfortable enough to wear all day and the peak and/or visor are quickly and simply removed/replaced.
Having said all that, I also have the new Shoei XR1100. The best crash-helmet I've ever had.

edit;I hav'nt crashed in it yet though. Here's hopin' I never do.

Best of both worlds !
 

Hi
I've got a Shark Evoline , it's a real dual purpose helmet as it can be used as a full face or open face. Unlike flip fronts this is legal to ride with it in the open face position ( unlike flip fronts that stay at 12 o 'clock these go all the way to the back , click into place just like an open face )They've also got an internal sun visor, all in all a great all rounder ! :D

Cheers

Neil :thumbup1:

Not all of them...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...800GS/N103.jpg

I have a flip front Caberg GT Justimo? they now have a new flip helmet that locks up and is apparently the only helmet you can legally wear up & ride

Personally I always wear an open face hat, I know all about the arguments for the safety issues but your much more in touch with your surroundings as you ride (even more so if you crash) they are far better if you stop to speak to people, and tend to be much lighter and good ones quieter than full face. Some open faces shuberth for example (fairly heavy)offer a degree of face cheek and jaw protection bye the use of a chin bar (this is the helmet I used most in the last 10 years, but its now worn out and I am back to an arai sz very very light and comfortable, very cool in hot climates (bit cooler in the winter) and has a visor for eye / face protection from stones insects and rain. I have been using open face hats since 1978 - riding almost daily and many long tours under the belt and my face seems to still be attached to my head.

I've got a Tour-X which I love .... now!
It wasn't good at first with too much drag from the peak. I spoke to the dealer I got it from who called the rep in. He ensured the helmet fitted properly by adding some padding under the liner so now it's 'custom fit'. The peak still catches a little at high speed but I tend to avoid M'ways wherever possible so it isn't really an issue.
I also use the Pinlock system which is a replaceable insert. It acts like double glazing so doesn't fog and you can get different tints. I use a dark insert which is legal as it's an insert not a coloured visor and is perfect for cold, bright winter mornings - and hot summer days!
For me the benefits over a standard full face helmet are; improved visibilty (bigger visor area), peak acts as sun shade, also acts as rain 'shade' if you tilt your head a little and cooler in hot climates as less padding sticking to your cheeks.
I'd go for the Arai again, even though they're quite pricey, because of the general quality, removable/washable lining, Pinloc system and excellent dealer service.

I don't know if they have change dthe design but on my Tour-X it takes less than a minute to remove the peak - keep the little blanks that come with the helmet!

What about this flip front, approved both as open face and full face:

YouTube - Shark Evoline Series 2 Flip Front Motorcycle Helmet - GhostBikes

+1 (at least for touring)

You dont have to take your helmet off to communicate with locals, or for police ... you are instantly less threatening and intimidating when people can see your smile. For the same reason its a huge advantage for photographing locals ... your open face is non threatening and people pose for you without you having to take the helmet off. You can shoot a DSLR camera at very short notice, because you dont have to remove your helmet to accurately line up the shot.

They are lighter and infinitely cooler in hot weather. And realistically, most touring is done with a very heavy bias to the warmer / hotter months.

Have been wearing nothing from 1955 to 1966 :thumbup1: (pillion from '55 to '64), open-face from 1966 to 1970, full-face from 1970 to 2009, and now both open and full-face.

And have concluded, if you can, have one of each.

Definitely, in Africa, the open-face seemed much better for staying in touch with people (very important) and surroundings.
In the rotten English weather, full-face definitely wins.

Have never tried a flip-front, so maybe they would be the best of all. Maybe I'll try one some day, but, really, just don't like the appearance of them........

I just hope to God they don't make helmets compulsory for cycling. It's happened in Australia and they're talking about it in N. Ireland.

I have two Schuberths: one, a Concept; another, a C2 with pinlock. They are flip helmets, safe, and works fine through the Patagonia's winds :) !

Open Face - Light, great to communicate with people

Full Face - protective but a little restrictive.

Flip front - good compimise but weight penalty

mx - offers benefits of open face but with added protection of a chin guard

peaks can make helmets more noisy and suffer windblast but are removable.

if you can - why not take a full face for the high speed stuff and take a cheap open face and goggles for the slow stuff, this way you always have a spare helmet so you can offer people lifts :):scooter:

I was going to change to a flip front helmet but the extra weight scares me, nobody wants that in a fall.

I had a good look into this not too long ago.

I haven't done international travel (yet), but I'm happy with a Schuberth C3. It's the helmet I plan to take on a large trip.

All the benefits of a full-face (but it's a flip-head), with a in-built sun-visor, pinlock visor (no fogging) and it's actually light - only 1700g.

Really like it so far. :mchappy: