Who wears flip-up helmets: likes, dislikes?

[MarkH]

Flip helmets are for old people - or smokers. They probably have more parts that can break too

I bought one because I liked the idea. Then for a while I wasn't bothering to flip it up ever and thought that the next time I needed a helmet I would definitely get an internal sun visor but wouldn't care about the flip front. Then I got a cold!

Have you ever sneezed while wearing a helmet?

A good well made flip front like Nolan or any of the dearer brands are unlikely to break. Sometimes you really do have a big advantage with a flip front even for a non-smoker like me.

[mister.koz]

I have had a shoei multitech, an aris (real cheap) and a kbc ffv (i think) the shoei and the kbc were both really comfy and great because i wear glasses.

The aris... well if you say it really fast it sounds like ARSE, nuff said.

The shoei - great but noisy and about the same price as the higher range non-flip lids around.

The kbc has titanium armatures so its not much heavier (200grams) than its non-folding counterpart. It does say on the front of the flip that "this helmet does not offer face protection in an accident".

The downsides to flip face helmets i have found:

• The extra armatures make the helmet heavier and creakier
• They are NOT as safe as solid helmets because they breach the shell
• They are noisier because you have extra gaps and bits that create additional air friction
• They are heavier because of all the extra bits (nominal)
• As time goes on more parts means more wear (face slop)

The good thing for me is all about glasses, but after some time wearing face folding helmets for long rides at speed i am moving to a solid helmet (schuberth i reckon) mainly because of the sound argument

PS i hear the plugz4lugs earplug headphones are awesome.

i ALWAYS take my helmet off at shops, i think its courteous and i have talked to a good few servo attendants who force riders with helmets on to prepay rather than click the button to allow filling and others that make a point of asking riders to take their helmets off over the speaker. I reckon the quicker and easier i can get out of a servo the better!

hope this helps.

[MD]

Since I'm already a fan of Caberg, having their internal visor V2, I might go for this new flipup Caberg Trip when the time comes for a replacement. I like the look and the V2 has proven itself. Their internal sun visor works well, possibly the best shaped and easiest to use.

I try to remove my lid at gas stations some of the time but it's a pain in the arse in winter when you have a balaclava underneath, or you have carefully tucked a scarf into the lower helmet edges.

Sorry, can't find a still pic. to attach.

webbikeworld link here.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motor...t/caberg-trip/

[mister.koz]

Nice lookin helmet dunno about the colour tho

[NordieBoy]

Flip helmets are for old people - or smokers. They probably have more parts that can break too

Old people just have brittle bones.

[Ruralman]

I have had an HJC flipper for the last few years and am getting close to replacing it. I have tried on a few and the one I like the most is actually the new HJC - the internal sunscreen is a good idea, but the thing that impressed me most was the internal cushioning around your ear. It felt very much like wearing a set of earmuffs (but I haven't ridden with it).
I use Plugz4Lugz with an MP3. ANy long trip on pretty well any helmet and you should wear plugs of some sort. I have tried a few non flippers and they weren't noticeably quieter than the HJC. SHrek has tried both the new HJC and new Shoei flippers and reckoned the Shoei was far noisier.
I always flip up the front at gas stations and have never been asked to remove it there but have been at a bank.
I comes down to fit and it may be that one brand just fits your head better than another - luckily for me the HJC fits well because its also not as expensive as some other big name brands

[PrincessBandit]

Balu really likes his Shoei Multitec and finds it really handy for his glasses. I'm pretty sure he often leaves it on too when going into pay for petrol (face flipped up) and has never been asked to remove it. He was looking on the Nolan site the other night and was very impressed with them too - if he had to ever replace the Shoei he would be quite tempted to go the Nolan way.
p.s. he was a bit surprised that the multitec didn't score as well as my Shark in the Sharp ratings.

[yungatart]

I have an HJC flip front. I love it cos it doesn't munt my glasses! Helme twas cheap, glasses were not ($4 short of a grand!)

[junkmanjoe]

while i was looking on the helmet testing web site.

they where talking about side flex, so i went out and got my helmet, and mate, its got some good side flex.

[YellowDog]

The Nolan N102 has a 4 star rating which is good. If you examine the test result:
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/search/details/?id=119

It says:
Percentage of impacts where the chin guard remained fully locked: 100%

So you can feel reasonably safe in this area.

Yep I got a N-102 too.

Once you get used to a Flip-Face helmet you won't change back.

Next helmet will be an N-103.

[PrincessBandit]

Btw, Shark do a flip face - the Evoline. Might be worth having a look at as the front visor can flip right up over the top of the helmet while chin guard stays in place. Think you can have the sun visor down while the clear one is up.....would have to double check on that.

[Katman]

Video of the Shark Evoline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVyIE-XmdMY