Open-face helmets?

[1200custom]

what are opinions on them from people here, brands etc good, bad or indifferent?????

[BiK3RChiK]

what are opinions on them from people here, brands etc good, bad or indifferent?????

Not that I've been riding forever or anything;) but I've got a full faced helmet and I can tell you that when that bug/wasp/bee etc hits my visor I am grateful I have my full faced gear!

[swbarnett]

Try diving head first of your bike on to the road in an open-face helmet. Chances are you won't have much of a face left. Personally I won't wear any helmet that is not full-face. And while we're on the subject I don't like those full-face helmets that have a hinged chin piece. From what I've heard they're not much good in side impacts - the hinge mechanism doesn't leave much room for padding.

[Subike]

Use to use them on my sporty back in the 80's. was the "done thing" then
Now?
wouldnt ride with anything less than a full face.
I,m ugly enough as it is, dont want the road to make it any worse, and an open face is no protection from a face grind, nose job, and new teeth!

[Jiminy]

Full helmet all the time.

I sometimes ride with the visor on and when I hit the occasional big bug, aouch, I close it presto!

I've also ridden a couple of times with an open-face helmet with a big visor (is that called a 3/4?) and the wind was catching below visor everytime I was turning the head, making the whole bike quite unstable.

[JimO]

its all about the "image"

[bucket boy]

After having a pokeko hit in the face at open road speed visor shut was glad i had a full face helmet still managed to bust visor broken nose and cut up mouth i would not like to of seen the out come with open face helmet

[craneman]

open face helmets ar ok for local rides on nice days, as long as you dont mind the bugs etc,or the rain (it really stings at motorway speeds)or, have a crash (theres nothing as good as a quality fullface in a crash).

[James Deuce]

Sigh.

Cue safety lectures.

[Steam]

I read that around 20% of helmet impacts are on the chin-bar area. So in an open-face that'd be you actual chin. Goodbye chin!

But I do have an open-face helmet, just for fun. Once in a while it's enjoyable. Plus they look fucking awesome with a skull mask.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamie_from_dunedin/515606019/" title="skull mask by Jamie McEwan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/515606019_53179e1bda.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="skull mask" /></a>

[Big Dave]

Well I ain't afeared.
I wear a Davida Jet from Motomail. The leather interior is very comfortable and durable.
I use it on Harleys and classics quite a lot.
Well made, excellent quality and quite legal.

[Waylander]

After having a pokeko hit in the face at open road speed visor shut was glad i had a full face helmet still managed to bust visor broken nose and cut up mouth i would not like to of seen the out come with open face helmet

"open road speed" Maybe if it was the German Autobahn.



Used to ride with an open face helmet and to be honest, here it's not a good idea. Not for any safety reasons, your body your decision, but damn those bugs hitting your face hurt and are really nasty when they go splat near your mouth.

[Motu]

Sigh.

Cue safety lectures.

If open face helmets were banned,only criminals would have open face helmets! Do we want our society to come to this?! Can you change your oil in a full face helmet? Do full face riders only use synthetics,and open face riders use dino oil? Did you wave today....I suspect you didn't....do you have proof?

We need to fit beer in here somewhere,but I've run out.

[swbarnett]

and quite legal.
So is riding in shorts and a t-shirt but I wouldn't do that either. Each to their own. After all, it's all just opinion.

[Paul in NZ]

If open face helmets were banned,only criminals would have open face helmets! Do we want our society to come to this?! Can you change your oil in a full face helmet? Do full face riders only use synthetics,and open face riders use dino oil? Did you wave today....I suspect you didn't....do you have proof?

We need to fit beer in here somewhere,but I've run out.

Motu's right - you just cant enjoy a beer while riding with an open face helmet... I have 2 - for local riding...

[Waylander]

Motu's right - you just cant enjoy a beer while riding with an open face helmet... I have 2 - for local riding...
Um, are you sure you've got that right?

[scumdog]

80% to 90% of my riding is done with a shorty opn-face helmet and padded skull mask.

Bugs are not that bad, even a bumble-bee right on the tip of my nose at 100kph stung only for a second or two.

But as mentioned by others - they don't do much for you when ya face-plant the road - and that's the only negative comment I can make on open-faced jobs.


Personal choice and responsibility and all that.

[Motu]

Personal choice and responsibility and all that.

The Collective disagrees - you will be assimilated.....











Unfortunately this means they will have to wear tassels.

[P38]

I like open faced helmets and used to wear one almost exclusively at one stage.

I also like having a nose and chin.

In fact I like having a nose and chin more than I like wearing a open face helmet nowadays.

Guess thats what a few more years under ya belt does for ya.

[yungatart]

I binned and slid down the road. My visor was munted completely.
Now, I ain't the prettiest thing around here,but if I'd been wearing an open face, I'd probably be one of the ugliest!
If you're not worried about such things, go for it!

[James Deuce]

I'm going to buy an open face, just to piss you lot off. I've got my eye on a Momo with a checkerboard pattern down the centre, and a fighter pilot type visor. It will go nicely with the Katana.

[Usarka]

I went for a ride without a helmet yesterday. Completely different experience, might have to try one of these open facers (a cool one though).

Fuck it, another bang on the head and I'll probably be one of those people drooling and masturbating in public anyway.....

[Okey Dokey]

Hi! As I understand your post, you were just asking for opinions on what style helmet people wear. Seems like their are valid opinions on both sides.

I wear a full face because I think it is more comfortable than an open face style, and also because the protection is better. I haven't actually ridden with an open face helmet, so I'm relying on my imagination and other people's comments on what they are like at 100kph.

It may help in your decision making to make a list of pros/cons for each type, or according to different values. I'm thinking along the lines of Style preference, Safety, Open road vs town riding, etc

Good luck with your decision. Try on lots of helmets and get the very best one you can afford.

[James Deuce]

Try on lots of helmets and get the very best one you can afford.

Get the one that fits best. Price is irrelevant when all helmets sold in NZ have to meet the same base standard. Price doesn't mean better.

[Okey Dokey]

Sorry, jim2 is right. The correct fit is most important. I didn't express that very well.

[sunhuntin]

80% to 90% of my riding is done with a shorty opn-face helmet and padded skull mask.

Bugs are not that bad, even a bumble-bee right on the tip of my nose at 100kph stung only for a second or two.

But as mentioned by others - they don't do much for you when ya face-plant the road - and that's the only negative comment I can make on open-faced jobs.


Personal choice and responsibility and all that.

agreed. ive done all of my riding in an open facer. only time ive ridden full face, aside from when i was a kid, was right after my wreck and i hadnt got a new lid yet so borrowed dads. a bee somehow got INSIDE the visor and caused a bit of panic while i worked out how to get rid of it.

ive done wangas to paeroa, and wangas to bluff twice, plus a few thousand k inbetween those trips [nearing about 30thou k travelled] and the worst ive encountered would be: cattle trucks, hail and hay trucks. bugs hurt for a few seconds and tend to bounce off. i often see riders scrubbing their visors at work... i dont have to do that.
and yes, ive been hit by a car while wearing an open facer, and my face is still fully intact. i landed on my back after playing superman. i feel the brain subconciously trys to protect the bits that are exposed. my most protected part, my legs, is what copped the most damage.

i am considering taking a full face to burt munro for shit weather [ie, when i cant see shit due to sunnies fogging when pushed right up to protect my eyes from drops] but we will see.
i am going to buy my girlfriend a new helmet, cos shes wearing my one and its too damn small. i think im gonna go full face for her... i dont mind my maybe being hurt, but wont let her take any chances.

but hell... nothing beats riding past the local strawberry fields on a hot summers day and breathing in the scent of the berries.

[CookMySock]

aint no way I would wear an open faced helmet over 80km/hr. A large bumblebee will knock yer fucken eye right outa its socket at 100k's, and it will come at you like a thief in the night. Many many large bugs every day richochet off my helmet like a bullet, leaving a massive guts trail cleanup job. You CANT see them coming, and if you do its all over in the blink of an eye, if you still have one.

You will wear a full face helmet on the open road over 80k's wont you ? at least a visor of some sort ? Good.

DB

[James Deuce]

You will wear a full face helmet on the open road over 80k's wont you ? at least a visor of some sort ? Good.

DB
What if I don't want to? Are you going to come and "sort me out"?

[Steam]

What if I don't want to? Are you going to come and "sort me out"?

Nah, that job is mostly left to the Pukekos.

[James Deuce]

Oh yes, I forgot about the Pukekos.

[sunhuntin]

You will wear a full face helmet on the open road over 80k's wont you ? at least a visor of some sort ? Good.

DB

ive been open facer at 120k... even faster on the back of my mates harley. i wear sunglasses during the day, and clear safety glasses at night and in the rain. i did have a visor, but found it directed wind into my eyes, which stuffed my vision at even 50k, so took it off.

[Ocean1]

Doesn't seem all that long ago that this discussion would have been about the relative merits of wearing a helmet at all. But dem's were different times, and maybe we didn't know fuck all...

Now, if one of mine were asking I'd be taking them shopping for a full face helmet.

[CookMySock]

Nah, that job is mostly left to the Pukekos.haha, nice comeback. +1

DB

[Ixion]

Some posters have commented on the risk of an insect etc in the eye. It may be pertinent to note that back before full face helmets were invented, most everyone wore goggles, at least on the open road. So the "x in the eye" is not really an issue.

I wore open face helmets , both pudding basins and jets for many years without incident. But then I also rode for years with no helmet at all, without incident (though I did once get a large bee trapped in my hair, which was then very long. That was interesting)

[ManDownUnder]

2 thoughts - bees etc in the face are not fun (nor is rain at speed, hail's downright NASTY)

The other is the nature of injury suffered if the face hits the ground in an accident. I only saw a picture of that once... once was all I could stomach. The dude's bottom jaw was still attached - on the left hand side... just...

[scumdog]

Some posters have commented on the risk of an insect etc in the eye. It may be pertinent to note that back before full face helmets were invented, most everyone wore goggles, at least on the open road. So the "x in the eye" is not really an issue.

I wore open face helmets , both pudding basins and jets for many years without incident. But then I also rode for years with no helmet at all, without incident (though I did once get a large bee trapped in my hair, which was then very long. That was interesting)

I wear thick wrap-around polaroid sunies during the day and aviator type goggles at night.

And I see a guy who HAS face-planted the road every time I do a pub check in a small town - so I get reminded of what happens when a ride goes pear-shaped, it's not I'm in blissful ignorance of that aspect.

[scumdog]

2 thoughts - bees etc in the face are not fun (nor is rain at speed, hail's downright NASTY).

My skull-mask takes care of the rain/hail/bugs aspect. (It's made of wet-suit material)

[Nagash]

Personally I prefer the best of both worlds. I have two full face helmets, one for touring and one for when i'm in the mood for driving like a prat. Also I have a half helmet (Old German Military style, yeah!) for general commuting, take it easy while wearing that helmet. Also have a face mask like scum's describing and it keeps out all the rain, bugs and hail you can throw. (Maybe not pukekos)

When I got my first helmet I had the argument of whether to get a half helmet or a full face with the fact that full face helmets are able to snap your neck :blink: That was kinda funny.

[swbarnett]

I'm going to buy an open face, just to piss you lot off. I've got my eye on a Momo with a checkerboard pattern down the centre, and a fighter pilot type visor. It will go nicely with the Katana.
I've not changed my opinion of them but good for you. We need more people that think for themselves. It doesn't matter if I agree with you or not, free thought and an open mind is what's important.

[sunhuntin]

I've not changed my opinion of them but good for you. We need more people that think for themselves. It doesn't matter if I agree with you or not, free thought and an open mind is what's important.

i think thats the most intelligent post ive ever seen on here!!! bling to you sir!

[rat]

Hi Guys, A couple of years ago, I was swinging on a classic sidecar at Paeroa.
We crashed at the hairpin and flipped. My rider had a open face helmet with aviator flying goggels. When he ate the tarmac it ground part of his face off and pushed part of the goggel in to his eye socket requiring it to be removed by operation. I had a full face hemet and I had ground a flat spot into the helmet but came away with only a broken thumb. Ask yourself will I look cool with part of my face missing. Also I think MNZ should ban them from all road and circut racing. Just my 2 cents worth for what its worth. Cheers.

[sunhuntin]

Hi Guys, A couple of years ago, I was swinging on a classic sidecar at Paeroa.
We crashed at the hairpin and flipped. My rider had a open face helmet with aviator flying goggels. When he ate the tarmac it ground part of his face off and pushed part of the goggel in to his eye socket requiring it to be removed by operation. I had a full face hemet and I had ground a flat spot into the helmet but came away with only a broken thumb. Ask yourself will I look cool with part of my face missing. Also I think MNZ should ban them from all road and circut racing. Just my 2 cents worth for what its worth. Cheers.

in all honesty, wearing anything other than a full facer while racing is just stupid.

wont stop me wearing one on the open road.

[Usarka]

No ones brought up the ACC argument yet......

:wait:

[Nagash]

Won't somebody please think of the ACC!

[Pwalo]

Make your own mind up. I don't think you really need to see what other people think.

If you want an open face helmet then just buy one. If you don't like it buy something else.

[1200custom]

Hi! As I understand your post, you were just asking for opinions on what style helmet people wear. Seems like their are valid opinions on both sides.

I wear a full face because I think it is more comfortable than an open face style, and also because the protection is better. I haven't actually ridden with an open face helmet, so I'm relying on my imagination and other people's comments on what they are like at 100kph.

It may help in your decision making to make a list of pros/cons for each type, or according to different values. I'm thinking along the lines of Style preference, Safety, Open road vs town riding, etc

Good luck with your decision. Try on lots of helmets and get the very best one you can afford.


thanks for the post....i have a full face helmet at the mo that i will always wear in the country......im thinking of a open face for town riding in the summer while its bloody hot

[1200custom]

aint no way I would wear an open faced helmet over 80km/hr. A large bumblebee will knock yer fucken eye right outa its socket at 100k's, and it will come at you like a thief in the night. Many many large bugs every day richochet off my helmet like a bullet, leaving a massive guts trail cleanup job. You CANT see them coming, and if you do its all over in the blink of an eye, if you still have one.

You will wear a full face helmet on the open road over 80k's wont you ? at least a visor of some sort ? Good.

DB

i will never be stupis enough to wear a open face in the country....im just thinking for town riding in the summer

[JimO]

that town road surface is way softer than the country road surface, come off ya bike in town and your lower face will get a soft massage from the ashpalt

[heyjoe]

I go for my full face helmet now after a over the handlebars headbutting session with a Subaru Station wagon several years ago. Don't really want to do that again like that. Too dangerous for me. I was lucky to not get badly injured.

But like many are saying on this thread - it is up to you to decide as you have your own criteria. People will always have differing views/different reasons for their decisions.

[scumdog]

i will never be stupis enough to wear a open face in the country....im just thinking for town riding in the summer

I'm stupid enough to wear an open-faced helmet eveywhere - and a 'shorty' model at that.


It's a risk - and I know it.

[Big Dave]

I'm stupid enough to wear an open-faced helmet eveywhere - and a 'shorty' model at that.


It's a risk - and I know it.

yuh - no poofy windsceens and an open face helmet (no ghey neoprene either just quietly) .

hard to get a speeding fine. About 90-95 is as fast as you want to go.

If i'm going to do something risky or fast - shoei or arai san to the fore.

[steveb64]

Motu's right - you just cant enjoy a beer while riding with an open face helmet... I have 2 - for local riding...

What? Beers? IME - drinking beer while riding is a fruitless exercise - damn stuff goes flat at an incredible rate! :beer::laugh:

[steveb64]

And in response to the thread - I've had a number of crashes (for some strange reason, all on dirt bikes) where I'd be either dead or well crippled if I had been riding with an open face - including one where I left my two front teeth embedded in the inside of the mouthguard, and this one http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=80379&d=1197982547 from just before Christmas, which was with a full face helmet AND goggles.

Oddly enough, the few crashes I've had on the road or race track have left my helmet(s) practically unmarked - other than one where I got stabbed in the face - THROUGH a 2mm visor - by the end of my bars... ...and even then, the helmet itself was unmarked. :dodge:

You'll still not see me in an open face. :whistle:

[NordieBoy]

If I'm on a slow section of trail on the mighty DR and want to see more of the world I just flip up the flip up on the KBC FFR. It latches very positivly and at the first sign of bees it comes down again.

Never do it without sunnies though.

[MisterD]

I wear a Davida Jet from Motomail. The leather interior is very comfortable and durable.


I got one of them too, but I got it in the UK before I moved out. Very comfortable, but I find it too hot for Auckland, so I have a full face with vents which is better.

On the chin-impact thing, I've been falling off treadlies for years and have yet to impact that area...but then I doubt I could lie on the ground and lift the chin-bar of my helmet far off the floor..you can prove anything you like with statistics

[Usarka]

I go for my full face helmet now after a over the handlebars headbutting session with a Subaru Station wagon several years ago. Don't really want to do that again like that. Too dangerous for me. I was lucky to not get badly injured.

So you go flying head first into a car, and you reckon the helmet is too dangerous????

did you also go buy a scooter (or a car)?

[jim.cox]

I like the wind on my face

But I dont like the idea of sand-papering my jaw on the road

So I use an MX style helmet - the best of both worlds

[Paul in NZ]

What? Beers? IME - drinking beer while riding is a fruitless exercise - damn stuff goes flat at an incredible rate! :beer::laugh:


I've given up drinking and riding as I spill too much running over the curbs but an open face does mean quicker pit stops when bar hopping...

FFS - I can invent a billion potential scenarios that would leave me disabled before I left the garage even if I was wearing every piece of kit in the bike shop - Riding a motorcycle is afterall a bloody risky business... Christ I damn near lost a thumb because the glove I was wearing was not up to the job of stopping 400lbs of BSA grinding it off but then few gloves would be...

BUT I'm happy to wear an open faced lid on a nice day when tootling about Kapiti - its a bloody wonderful feeling. I've even worn a tee shirt and no gloves and I once took my hands off the handlebars too - I'm thinking of taking up stunt riding with these fearless acts as the climax!

Argue all you want about the kit, its a personal choice to a point but think about this. How many times have you been out and seen a fully kitted rider doing stoppies, wheelies, scraping pegs, speeding or passing without due care? A full face helmet is not a sheild of invunerability you know - common sense helps.

[swbarnett]

I'm stupid enough to wear an open-faced helmet eveywhere - and a 'shorty' model at that.


It's a risk - and I know it.
So your choice of risk is in the gear you wear. Good for you. It's your choice and you're entitled to it.

How does this differ from someone in full gear putting on a little bit of extra speed ?

[Paul in NZ]

So your choice of risk is in the gear you wear. Good for you. It's your choice and you're entitled to it.

How does this differ from someone in full gear putting on a little bit of extra speed ?

One is legal..

[swbarnett]

One is legal..
Agreed. However, the question was not about legality, it was about the "speed kills" attitude that I and others consider to be blatantly wrong and prejudicial. The result of which is that we get wrongly pinged for endangering public safety.

[Tank]

its all about the "image"

On the baby Harley - surely not!

[JimO]

On the baby Harley - surely not!

he is still a baby himself only 19

[Tank]

he is still a baby himself only 19

In that case a open faced bonnet perhaps?

[scumdog]

Agreed. However, the question was not about legality, it was about the "speed kills" attitude that I and others consider to be blatantly wrong and prejudicial. The result of which is that we get wrongly pinged for endangering public safety.

There are so many innept drogos out on the road that keeping the speed down is one thing that can 'level the playing field'.

[steveb64]

There are so many innept drogos out on the road that keeping the speed down is one thing that can 'level the playing field'.

So you're advocating a national 50 kph speed limit then? :confused: :bleh:

How about teaching them to drive, rather than teaching them how to pass their licence? :rolleyes:

Then require everyone to re-sit their licence under the new PROPER examination/testing regime? :devil2: And DON'T say "But the cost/time will be too much" - (almost) everyone with a firearms licence has had to do it - and there's more people killed by traffic accidents than guns...

[James Deuce]

So you're advocating a national 50 kph speed limit then? :confused: :bleh:

How about teaching them to drive, rather than teaching them how to pass their licence? :rolleyes:

Then require everyone to re-sit their licence under the new PROPER examination/testing regime? :devil2: And DON'T say "But the cost/time will be too much" - (almost) everyone with a firearms licence has had to do it - and there's more people killed by traffic accidents than guns...

Great idea.

Now stump up the cash to turn it into legislation and setup the bureaucracy and trainers required to start it up.

All mouth, no trousers.

[swbarnett]

There are so many innept drogos out on the road that keeping the speed down is one thing that can 'level the playing field'.
The playing field is already level for someone who uses speed responsibly.

140kph under the right circumstances is a lot safer than 100kph under the wrong circumstances.

[swbarnett]

Great idea.

Now stump up the cash to turn it into legislation and setup the bureaucracy and trainers required to start it up.

All mouth, no trousers.
The cash already exists, what is missing is the political will. I for one would vote for anyone that I thought had any chance of getting this going (assuming their other policies weren't abhorrent to me).

This is, however, a different issue than the efficacy of the judicious use of speed under the current climate.

[James Deuce]

The cash already exists, what is missing is the political will. I for one would vote for anyone that I thought had any chance of getting this going (assuming their other policies weren't abhorrent to me).

This is, however, a different issue than the efficacy of the judicious use of speed under the current climate.
The cash doesn't exist, as there is no programme anywhere that I can see.

It needs significant funding and should be a private enterprise not a government operation, however the legislation for minimum driver training will have to be a reality to compel people to attend, because they aren't going to do it otherwise.

The whole thing needs to start in school.

This has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with providing a service, once a cogent argument has been formed to make it a legislative reality, instead of the normal foaming at the mouth reactionary rubbish that passes for expert opinion.

You cannot leave something like this to politicians.

[swbarnett]

The cash doesn't exist, as there is no programme anywhere that I can see.
Not allocated no but I can't think of a better use for the current budget surplus (except maybe tax cuts).


It needs significant funding and should be a private enterprise not a government operation, however the legislation for minimum driver training will have to be a reality to compel people to attend, because they aren't going to do it otherwise.
Agreed. And if this were the case you wouldn't need the public funding (although maybe a bit to police the driving schools).


The whole thing needs to start in school.
Exactly, get kids back on bicycles and walking to school. This could be achieved easily by ticketing every mum or dad double parked to let the kids off (it would also likely be self funding if Westlake Boys is anything to go by).


This has nothing to do with politics
It does if it's going to be a legal requirement. You need political will to make anything compulsory.

[1200custom]

he is still a baby himself only 19

didnt know being 19 was still classed as a baby.....that means you guys intermediate school students and you would have to be 200 to be a pentioner

[Paul in NZ]

The playing field is already level for someone who uses speed responsibly.

140kph under the right circumstances is a lot safer than 100kph under the wrong circumstances.

Meh! The right circumstances become the wrong circumstances really quickly and then people call them accidents. On the road - ANY road I would hate to pick to odds of walking away from a 140kph off regardless of what I was wearing. Racetracks are completely different - besides this whole using speed responsibily argument is silly - most people (especially bikers ) are NOT responsible - and I kinda like that...

You should post this in the firearms thread - trust me - they will understand :2guns:

[scumdog]

"Must spread rep" - sorry Paul.

[Dodger]

"Must spread rep" - sorry Paul.
Don't worry I'll give him some :)

[heyjoe]

So you go flying head first into a car, and you reckon the helmet is too dangerous????

did you also go buy a scooter (or a car)?

No mate, I never said my old open face helmet was dangerous. I just said I opted to go for a full face helmet after that incident. The thing that was dangerous was the driver of the Subaru who turned right directly in front of me without giving way, without indicating and (as she says) without seeing me (even though my motorbike had its headlights on).

Still riding.

[swbarnett]

On the road - ANY road I would hate to pick to odds of walking away from a 140kph off regardless of what I was wearing.
I know of one rider that came away relatively unscathed from a 330kph head-on (assuming the car was doing 100kph).


- most people (especially bikers ) are NOT responsible
Just because you're not responsible doesn't mean others aren't.


- and I kinda like that...
On the one hand you want people to be "responsible" and not pass an arbitrarily set speed limit and on the other you like the fact that people aren't responsible. Which is it?

[HenryDorsetCase]

Fuck it, another bang on the head and I'll probably be one of those people drooling and masturbating in public anyway.....

I already am and I tell you, its fantastic!

My vote would be Davida Jet also. I am seriously looking at buying the Mike Hailwood rep one.

[James Deuce]

I know of one rider that came away relatively unscathed from a 330kph head-on (assuming the car was doing 100kph).




Yes and I didn;t walk away from a less than 50km/hr one.

[swbarnett]

Yes and I didn;t walk away from a less than 50km/hr one.
Which proves my point. It's not speed.

[James Deuce]

Which proves my point. It's not speed.

No it doesn't, and an open face helmet would have made no difference in the accident I'm talking about.

All my response to your subjective point proves is some people are lucky and some aren't. Empirical data tends to be less equivocal and would indicate that risk increases in proportion to the forces involved in an accident. Velocity has a nasty tendency to make force increase dramatically.

Until the "driver training programme sponsored by Labour party voters" is in place and the majority of road users have been through it, the speed limit should be dropped to a blanket 50 km/hr. There will still be people that can't cope with 50 km/hr though.

[Paul in NZ]

Which proves my point. It's not speed.

It 'proves' nothing and what point? That its OK for 'some' superiour skilled, responsible people to speed on the open road if they have all the best gear? Thats not going to happen....

[Big Dave]

It 'proves' nothing and what point? That its OK for 'some' superiour skilled, responsible people to speed on the open road if they have all the best gear? Thats not going to happen....


I'd vote for it though.

Morons: slow the f*** down. Then - every stupid thing they get caught doing - we remove a spark plug. yes, I know - cheeenius.

[Paul in NZ]

Too many morons think they are skilled Dave. The best bet is to get the franchise to do the testing and fail the lot of em leaving you and your fellow 'instructors' as the only qualified people... hmmm...

[MisterD]

Velocity has a nasty tendency to make force increase dramatically.

Science alert.

Kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity.

[fergie]

as usual we have drifted off subject, but my ten cents worth, whatever spins ya wheels!. i have both but tend to use the full face more. had a mate who slid along the road in his open face and still have visions of the mangeled mess his face was and still is 20 years later.

[James Deuce]

Science alert.

Kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity.

I'm alerted! And alarmed.

I may have to lie down.

[MisterD]

I may have to lie down.

Good call, it's Friday afternoon after all...

[NordieBoy]

I'd vote for it though.

Morons: slow the f*** down. Then - every stupid thing they get caught doing - we remove a spark plug. yes, I know - cheeenius.

Yay for twin plug heads :2thumbsup

[twotyred]

what are opinions on them from people here, brands etc good, bad or indifferent?????

I bet your sorry you asked about the safety aspects of open fa... oh wait!... you didn't!.... :brick:

If you've got the readies go for Davida... or if you are into classic bikes and like the 60's look take a look at Cromwell hurricane/spitfire.
I tried one on and found it to be the most comfortable OF helmet I've ever tried

[jim.cox]

Yay for twin plug heads :2thumbsup

Yup - one in each ear :)

[swbarnett]

No it doesn't,
It shows that bad accidents can happen at low speed and an accident can still be minor at high speed.


and an open face helmet would have made no difference in the accident I'm talking about.
Didn't really mean to hijack the thread but the same principles hold for gear. I wear good gear and think someone not doing so is asking for trouble. However, that is their choice and all power to them. All I'm asking for is the same pragmatism when it comes to a bit of extra speed in the right place and time.


All my response to your subjective point proves is some people are lucky and some aren't.
Exactly, irrespective of what speed they happen to be doing at the time.


Empirical data tends to be less equivocal and would indicate that risk increases in proportion to the forces involved in an accident. Velocity has a nasty tendency to make force increase dramatically.
Which will increase your chances of serious injury IF you crash but won't necessarily increase your chances of crashing in the first place. Bear in mind that I'm talking about Judicious use of speed, not the "screw the circumstances I'm going for it" testosterone fuelled mayhem.


Until the "driver training programme sponsored by Labour party voters" is in place and the majority of road users have been through it, the speed limit should be dropped to a blanket 50 km/hr. There will still be people that can't cope with 50 km/hr though.
If the cavemen took this attitude we'd still be living in caves. Life has risks attached. Note that I mean life, not survival.

[steveb64]

Snip'd

The whole thing needs to start in school.

Snip'd

You cannot leave something like this to politicians.

Hell YES! Bring on drivers ed. classes at high school (It's supposed to prepare the youf of today for life in the real world... - innit?). And not just driving theory, but basic automotive mechanics/engineering - you know, how an engine and gearbox works, how to do an oil and filter change, how to (safely) jack up a car and change a tyre, what a sparkplug is (yes - some people don't know what one is or does), and how to change one.
They could even get in some basic skid/slide control and braking training on the school rugby fields :eek: - (apparently rugby is going out of fashion...) :laugh: All they'd need was an old banger or two - and some open face helmets, to keep on thread. :msn-wink:

Sadly - the only way that something like this would happen is if the politicians DID get involved. :(