To flip or not to flip?

[Hitcher]

$1,000 glasses? You should get one of those prescription visors.

[NordieBoy]

Interesting. I've never seen a KBC flipper.

I like it but gonna get rid of it for a Zeus 2100b adventure helmet.
Really positive latching - doesn't go "click" it goes "clunk".

Bought it off TM as an XL and pulled the tag out a bit more and uncovered another "X"
It still had the "new helmet smell".

KBC pics...

[jim.cox]

I had a BMW series 3 flip front for a while

It sucked

You needed both hands to open it and take it off

It leaked along the join in the rain

And it whistled badly at over 80kmh

I ended up giving it away...

[NiggleC]

HJC "flipper" Symax for me. would buy another tomorrow, just a bit noiser than a standard full face.

[TygerTung]

I would suggest that they're not as safe.

For racing you are only allowed to use an integral type (IE full face), or 'jet' type, IE open face.

I don't personally know what the story is with their safety, but this is the deal when racing.

[raftn]

I think it all comes down to personal prefernce, i had a Shoie flip helmet and never liked it, and i feel more secure in full face helmet....just my prefernce, they only real way to know is to try them out, see if you can borrow a mates etc. When ever i stop i always take my helmet off anyway.

[Badjelly]

I have a KBC flipper. I bought it specifically because it was the only helmet I could find in Wellington for under $400 or so that fitted my (large) head.

It's very convenient, at least it would be if I still used the flip-up capability. I dropped it on the face bar from ~ 30 cm a few months back and bent the mechanism slightly. I managed to bend it back so the front can be closed and feels secure, but I've decided not to risk further problems, so I keep it closed and latched.

It's noisy and it's heavy (1.8 kg).

I don't think it's as safe as a comparable full-face. Instead of thick foam next to my ears there's thin foam and a somewhat aggressive hinge. The chin bar has springy foam rather than the energy-absorbing polystyrene stuff. (This is important apparently.) Safety is not just a matter of meeting the standards.

So on the whole I'd avoid having another flip-face.

[Big Dave]

I don't like flip face helmets. Too noisy.

You tried taking a cop seriously when he looks like the guy with the flip top head in the toothbrush advert?

[Mikkel]

Save weight, save money and improve your image...

Go open-face - it's the only thing for the GN-cruiser image honestly! No more fogging visors either...

You won't be wondering if it's safer than the full-face helmet either. (it's NOT!)

[p/t]

While I can see the practical benefits of the flip-front I can't see why I would go for one TBQH. My full-face is nice and it's no big hassle or anything. Let's face it, the only time biking is more practical than driving is when you're looking for a park or lane-splitting

[Horse]

I've got a flip-face HJC FS-MAX. Love it, especially with the internal sun-visor. As a member of the four-eyed fraternity, a flip-face is essential IMO. No leak problems to date (and I've worn it through a couple of really impressive downpours), and doesn't seem particularly noisy at the nana speeds I ride.

[Hitcher]

As a member of the four-eyed fraternity, a flip-face is essential IMO.

As another member of The Society of the Four-Eyed, I'm keen to learn why (IYO) a flipper is an essential item of kit?

[EJK]

Go flip!

Even my v-can $170 flip up helmet is waterproof (no leak)
I can't compare with a Shoei (can't afford it) but I have no problem with my v-can I'm OK with it.

Oh, the only bad thing is, it's quite heavy lol

[Horse]

As another member of The Society of the Four-Eyed, I'm keen to learn why (IYO) a flipper is an essential item of kit?

Because you don't take your glasses off to put the helmet on! No more threading the temples in the open visor, trying not to stab yourself in the eye and hoping they'll actually end up in roughly the right spot behind your ears (because you know there's nothing more annoying than glasses not sitting right. Ever had someone else put your glasses on your head? I bet you took them off and adjusted them within 30 seconds!)

Plus you don't have the drama of where to put your glasses during the "getting on & off the bike and putting on/off all the gear" routine. Stop at the garage: take off gloves, open visor, remove glasses, place glasses carefully on pillion seat, pray you don't bump bike and knock several hundred dollars worth of specs onto the hard concrete, take off helmet, put down helmet (without knocking glasses), put glasses back on face.

[Hitcher]

I guess I have developed a "system" for removal and appplication of prescription eyewear. This includes have frames with stout arms/temples that thread through nicely onto one's ears, but not too wide that these get moved around by the helmet while riding.

[yungatart]

$1,000 glasses? You should get one of those prescription visors.

But what would I do when I'm not riding?
Sitting at the Patangata Pub enjoying a coffee, whilst wearing my helmet??
I look stupid enough without resorting to that, Hitcher!

As another member of The Society of the Four-Eyed, I'm keen to learn why (IYO) a flipper is an essential item of kit?

I have styly modern glasses which are slightly wider than my face..they (the glasses) don't slide in behind my ears when I wear a full face helmet, without getting bent out of shape, so becoming dreadfully uncomfortable to wear and I'm blind without them!