I strongly recommend the Shark evo3 with the flip up which goes all the way to the back. It's the only helmet approved from both full face and open face riding. I find over 50ks it has a bit too much wind resistance open but that's a good time to close the chin piece anyway. Very comfortable and miles quieter than my Shoei xr1100. Not so sure about the ventilation though. Just a chin vent and one on top and I really can't tell the difference when they are open. Has improved my riding enjoyment heaps.
I also love the integrated shades because when you move onto a bit of shady road you can flip it back up which you can't do wearing sunnies.
Are there any good quality helmet for both men and women?
I've been using a Shark Evoline series 2 for a couple of years and find it very comfortable. As you know it can be a full face or open. In open mode there is a lot of cheek protection.
Wife also has one and loves it for the versatility. The series 3 is out now so check them out if you want the best of both worlds.
I started off with a Nex open face which I've had for 2.5 years now, but after it had worn in, I wasn't able to tighten the chin strap any further, and it was bad for catching the wind, especially above 90 km/h. I kind of got annoyed with having to use a face mask and goggles after a while too, so reverted back to my old Bieffe road/ motocross full face as I started riding to my new work place which is about 100 Kay's each way & is mostly Hwy commute. The old Bieffe had seen better days (I'd had it since late 90's early 00's) and by now it fitted like a sock on a chickens beak, so a couple months ago I purchased a Shark S700 series full face with built in retractable tinted visor. It is ok, still a little noisy above 90 km/h & feels a little claustrophobic to me because the chin guard is way closer than the old Bieffe helmet, but prefer it much more for hwy use. I now just use the open face for a quick trip to the shops, or just cruising along all the beach strips during the summer months.
Shark Evo 3 best of both worlds open face and converts to full face
Those face masks look so silly and dont do anything to protect your face
I've been riding 32years and wear a full face shoei.I also own a half that I wear around local when I feel like it.
I have herd of a couple people around the traps getting hammered by cars lately and I needed a new jacket so I bought something with some
colour in it so I have a little more chance of being seen.
I wouldn't get caugh dead with a full face helmet !
Started my days with a open face helmet with a clip on visor where I snapped on a clear screen on long rainy trips
Found it too enclosed (especially on long trips when its hot) so I swapped it for 1940's vintage Swedish military bike skidlid with leather sides (one size fits all with a nylon strap you could pull to make the "helmet" larger/smaller
Nowdays I use half helmet with integrated visor that I can drop down @ will - works great when you need glasses and you still get to hear the engine
I always viewed full face helmets as a somewhat dumb option - things possible changed somewhat, but I know for a fact that these helmets generally are heavier than open face ones where people have ended up bouncing like a football on the pavments after an accident resulting in serious neck and spinal injuries.
I have also heard stories about ariways being blocked and if you end up uncoucious (which is likely) someone tries to remove the helmet, your neck is forced into a position that also could cause spinal injuries - If you really insist on a full face one I would look for one where the cheek can be removed (such as the BMW ones)
Even though I would prefer not to ware a helment or at least decide myself if and when I want to use it (there are days when you really want to cruse without - special feeling), I rather have a broken but reparable jaw in the event that I end up on the pavement compared to a f**ked up spine
cheers
Whatever floats your boat. I have both, but since purchasing a new full face helmet, I've worn it most times since.
Riding in hail or snow I find a full face more on the comfy side.
In blistering hot weather I find a full face better too, just hate boiling hot air getting blasted up the nostrills.
Sliding along the bitumen at speed, face down is where the full face comes into it's own. Face mask or not I doubt anyone would prefer an open face in this situation. Same goes for running into a swarm of bees, or when the vehicle in front throws up a chunk of rock that smacks into your visor so hard you know that if you only had sunnies on you would be blind in one eye at the least.
Other times an open face is the go.
When you get to a certain age and not exactly sure what that age is...but when you get a bit saggy, it's great fun to go fast with an open face. If you glimpse quickly at youself in the rear vision mirror you can see your face with all the skin pushed back in the wind and get a clear picture of what your skull looks like. It's kinda creepy.
Open faced ones are great on warm days, they also act like a bit of a speed limiter. They are generally lighter in wieght too, which can be easier on the neck muscles especially if like me you use one of those "cannonball" or "bushranger" novelty ones that are really low profile,lightweight and have the added bonus of being illegal to use. How cool is that?.
For me short trips to town 60klm return= open face.
Serious rides full face.
Masks are for wierdos who think they are too tough for a full face but too dainty to deal with the consequences of wearing an open face.
You know it makes sense.*
* (quote, Sam Keckovic)
I will never forget a picture on rotten.com of a bloke missing his lower jaw and his top teeth where his cheeks should be from an open face helmet accident.Maybe that's why I wear a full face Guess i'll never know It just seems to be the smarter choice.
Quote [Sorry, but cant help linking some of comments made to the "Old man driving a Volvo" (wreally, wreally slow)" ] end quote.
There used to be a sticker for bike riders that said " Volvo aware motorcyclist". For good reason. Volvo drivers are generally pretty shithouse drivers. Having had a leg smashed to pieces on a Volvo bumperbar that sticker had an extra ring of truth to me.
Have been called all sorts of 4 letter things before and that's fine, water off a ducks back. However to have some of my comments likened to a Volvo driving old man......couldn't imagine a bigger insult. A VOLVO DRIVER ! for heavens sake!
Anyway Ghostdog, you said you meant no offence.
I'll accept that. No point gettin angry with cyber folk.
Movin right along