would you rather: loose full face or well fitting 3/4?

[MrAtom]

I know proper helmet fitting is important but how important. If you had to choose between a 3/4 helmet that fit you perfectly with a full visor, or a full face that was too big, which would you choose and why? Just curious :-P

[cadd]

Full face for me as long as it's only 1 size off. As long as the helmet won't come flying off when I impact, I'll be happy.

I am afraid of losing my teeth and/or chin with just a 3/4 helmet.

[NevadaWolf]

Uh neither? Ok, if those were the only options and I had to go riding with no other vehicle or gear choices, the full face if it is only slightly too big where I could cinch it down tighter, otherwise the 3/4 and take residential back streets only on the way home.

I do ride with my chin bar up on the modular but only when going 25mph or less. At that speed, hoping no accidents will cause me to face plant and skid my chin across the asphalt. Anything faster and well, I like my face. I like being able to eat and drink and talk and make funny faces at my cat. So full face only for me. Plus wind bothers my eyes and makes breathing difficult, so for my own safety, I need that enclosed shell.

[capt_bugaloo]

I used to prefer wearing a 3/4 helmet: more comfortable, slightly better peripheral vision.
Then I saw a guy who did a high-speed face plant with an open-face helmet: he had his lower jaw ripped right off his face.
Now the 3/4 sits in the back of the closet gathering dust.

[DEFY]

Full Face, always.

[Sirref]

I'd go out and buy a full face that fit

they're worth every penny

[Panda]

I agree with the choice of neither. It's kind of like the choice between a half poop in your pants and a full load of pee or a full poop and a half load of pee.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I know proper helmet fitting is important but how important.

[supersport]

My head is worth more than my whole bank account. Why would i even consider a non full face helmet or any helmet that doesn't fit.

Riding comfortable helps with my safety so a helmet the fit makes my ride safer and more enjoyable.

Get a helmet that fits. If you don't like full face, get some thing you do like.

Theres a lot of ways to safe money and penny pinching on a helmet isn't one of them.

[TheJeepGuy]

I've seen too many times people buy or wear a helmet too big and walk away with minor neck injuries and acute whiplash, I know one girl who still has neck issues because of a ride she took in the yard wearing my helmet instead of hers. Should have supervised closer...she was 19 and indestructible, or so she thought.

[dcj13]

So general consensus (including me) is “full face.” And fit is important.

‘Wolf threw the modular helmet into consideration: can go open face when desired. I’ll throw another candidate into the ring: DOT-rated motocross helmet. My KLR250 came with a motocross helmet that happens to fit me perfectly (best, snug, most comfortable helmet I’ve ever worn). You get a lot more air, good visibility, and an “open feeling.”

If you want to get raised eyebrows from fellow riders, ride your sport bike while wearing a optical yellow touring jacket, cruiser boots, and the motocross helmet.

At least no one has suggested those silly half-helmets…

[Skullz]

Perfect fitment for summer and loose for winter so i can wear a balaclava under it when it starts getting cold, so i have 2 helmets myself.
I always error on the side of full face for the unseen things that are possible to happen, i had a friend who wore a full face and was adamant on going 3/4 until he hit his chin on the crossbar of his dirt bike splitting the chin apart, and had that been his face he would have required a lot of surgery and reconstruction. Helmets are replaceable, face parts are not.

[Toly]

Originally Posted by capt_bugaloo

I used to prefer wearing a 3/4 helmet: more comfortable, slightly better peripheral vision.
Then I saw a guy who did a high-speed face plant with an open-face helmet: he had his lower jaw ripped right off his face.
Now the 3/4 sits in the back of the closet gathering dust.

Do U happen to have a pic? Might settle the dispute right here.

[adouglas]

Neither.

There is NO good reason to make such a choice. If you can afford to put gas in a motorcycle, you can afford a decent full-face helmet that fits.

Shop around and you can find good helmets - even Snell-rated helmets - for under a hundred bucks all day long.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Neither.

There is NO good reason to make such a choice. If you can afford to put gas in a motorcycle, you can afford a decent full-face helmet that fits.

Shop around and you can find good helmets - even Snell-rated helmets - for under a hundred bucks all day long.

Why does everyone assume I'm actually deciding between the two options? Its hypothetical. Jeez. I was just curious as to how much people value helmet fitment.

Get off my case, mom.

[adouglas]

Apologies. Such discussions usually arise from someone looking to make an actual choice.

So let me ask one:

If you had to choose between shooting yourself in the knee and crushing your hand with an anvil, which would you choose and why?

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Apologies. Such discussions usually arise from someone looking to make an actual choice.

So let me ask one:

If you had to choose between shooting yourself in the knee and crushing your hand with an anvil, which would you choose and why?

Can I do both?

[snot]

if it's the only choice I go full face.
why? I wear a ponytail to take up the extra space so it fits,

[wardie]

Originally Posted by Sirref

I'd go out and buy a full face that fit

they're worth every penny

That's the answer score one for Sirref!!

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

....... I was just curious as to how much people value helmet fitment.

Fitment is important because any air gap between your skull and the foam means strong deceleration of the head/brains while fist impacting the foam inside the helmet.

Destructive deceleration or G forces generated during impact are inversely related to time during which the process happens.
Time is what the internal cushion/foam buys for your brain.

40 to 0 mph in 0.001 second is much more destructive than 40 to 0 mph in 0.1 second.

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207260

Because 15 to 20% of head injuries are taken by the jaw, a 3/4 helmets protects less.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

Can I do both?

I HATE when that happens....

https://screen.yahoo.com/know-hate-n...000000299.html

[JasonJ]

Originally Posted by adouglas

If you had to choose between shooting yourself in the knee and crushing your hand with an anvil, which would you choose and why?

Knee. Knee joints can be easily replaced all day long, hands cannot (unless you're talking transplant, which has its own issues).

That being said, I'd rather take the hypothetical loose full face, assuming its only a size or so too big. I actually have a full face i USED to wear that was technically too large. I wore a grey cotton hoodie under my riding jacket and with the hood up over my bald head, it made the loose full face fit snug. So I was content until I bought a properly sized full face this spring.

I still have my 3/4.... am frequently tempted to wear it because it goes on easy, feels free and open and less claustrophobic... but then I think of my pretty face and don't want to mess up my beard if I go down.

My father-in-law, a metric cruiser rider, only has and uses 3/4 face helmets. I get it, it looks "odd" wearing a full face on a cruiser, but really, its still only protecting you 73% since you're more likely to eat gravel then bonk your skull cap on it.

[M42]

Loose full face... No matter how well the 3/4 fits, it's still got nothing covering the chin.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by Motofool

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207260

Because 15 to 20% of head injuries are taken by the jaw, a 3/4 helmets protects less.

According to the pic, it's actually 44.5% on the chin bar or visor.



By wearing a 3/4 instead of a full-face, you're removing the protection from where nearly half the damage occurs. If you go to a 1/2 helmet, you're removing over 60% of the protection.

My face and brain are way too valuable for nonsense like that.

[MrAtom]

Interesting discussion. No doubt i prefer a full face, but i see that pic a lot and never see any sources. Who put that info together?

[choneofakind]

Originally the hurt report from the 70's iirc

[adouglas]

Nope. It was a study by a German, Dr. Dietmar Otte, of accidents in Germany and the UK in the 90s. The study came out in 2001

Article in the Journal of Trauma that appears to be the original study, for you academics. It's painful to read (see what I did there? Lord, I crack myself up sometimes....)

http://www.smf.org/docs/articles/hic...MC_JTrauma.pdf


Something very interesting and a bit more approachable here:

https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/visualrh...mpact-diagram/


Aaaand just to round it out, work from the CDC that's worth checking out:

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafet...revention.html

[Hero Danny]

Full face all day. Besides the superior protection they offer over 3/4. They also look cooler too. I don't know why but 3/4 always looked kinda dorky to me.

Currently I use an HJC cl-17 and it's nice, but the medium wasn't tight enough and the small fits nice but leaves imprints on my forehead after a long ride. Very annoying. My next helmet (which might be next season) is going to be a Shoei.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

Currently I use an HJC cl-17 and it's nice, but the medium wasn't tight enough and the small fits nice but leaves imprints on my forehead after a long ride. Very annoying. My next helmet (which might be next season) is going to be a Shoei.

Cool! HJC's have a large shell shape, try a different brand for a good fit (different fit around the forehead).

Good luck, if you're as picky as me about helmets, you're gunna need it. lol

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Cool! HJC's have a large shell shape, try a different brand for a good fit (different fit around the forehead).

Good luck, if you're as picky as me about helmets, you're gunna need it. lol

Thanks, nothing was worse than the "speed and strength" helmets I tried. Luckily the store took them back, constant pressure points on my cheeks and forehead after about 20 minutes of riding. Felt nice in the store though, even after sitting in the store for 10 minutes it was still good. But right around that 20-30 min mark it was murder...

Stinks cause I really liked the looks and features of the helmet. HJC was definitely an improvement but I heard Shoei was the best for comfort (generally)

[csmith12]

The Shoei will be a way different lid, maybe try a scorpion before the buy. I went from an HJC to a scorpion, the shell shape was similar but different enough to make the difference. Maybe it will be the ticket for you. imho... the padding is better in the scorpion mid & top tier line but the weight is better in the top tier line for Shoei.

Full disclosure; you know I ride mostly track, so take that into consideration with my comments but I did try on 22 helmets about 6 months ago. hahahahah

[choneofakind]

Love scorpion. The shape is so good for me that I'm on my second scorpion and shopping for my 3rd

[GregS]

Full face anyday, some quick Googling will lead to graphic pictures showing you why not to use 3/4 or 1/2 helmets