[polar]

Hello
Unfortunately I live in a state where you are required to wear a helmet.
I am having a hard time finding one that doesn't make me look like a total dork. I currently use a skid lid, but I figure it I have to wear one, I should have some protection. Any thoughts?
Maybe you can steer me in the right direction.
Thanks

 

[Unome]

Lot's of things to consider....full face, 3/4, half with detachable part that goes around ears(i.e. h-d Americana style), going to wear face shield, etc.?

What kind of bike do you ride? If Ultra Classic with intercom/CB, are you going to be using it to talk to passenger?

I use the h-d Americana half helmet with detachable part and have a face shield on it. It was only one that fit in shop when I bought bike and other places were about to close. I plan on going to full face for winter riding and may stay with that or add 3/4 helmet. Thing with mine is that when I take off the detachable part, I can slide helmet off without undoing the strap. Makes me kind of wonder what would happen if I went down on road.

 

[MountainMan]

First of all, a reality check: What is most important to you? 1) Not looking like a "dork" or 2) protecting the most important part of your body? If the answer is 2, then the only real option is a full-face high quality helmet. Personally I prefer flip-up convertibles such as the Nolan N-100 for instance. If that makes me look like a "dork" then so be it, it makes no difference to me what other people think.

 

[Sidewalk]

Guess it depends on your definition of "Dork". I have never thought a full face looked dorkish. I have seen a helmet that was bright pink, and I would think that would look a little gay on a guy, but not exactly dorkish.

Of course, if you go down and smack the face, what will you look like then?

 

[hezgon]

I use only a DOT helmet. I went down in'85 and it saved not only the right side of my face, but the noodle as well. That was on a rocket with a full face. Now its a 1/2 with detachable part and wind screen on the bike. I'll be going to a 3/4 for using the intercom/CB in the next month or two.

 

[VA V-Rod]

It's kind of like what a friend of mine said: “You ride a Harley what do you care what other think. You can wear what ever you want.” And protection is the name of the game. Hopefully you'll never need to use a helmet but when you do you’ll want the one that gives you the most protection.

Just think how bad you'd look if you were in an accident and lost your chin or jaw, talk about looking bad, you can call me a dork all day long.

I wear 3/4 to work just because the guards need to see my face otherwise it's a full face.

Both helmets are Snell approved, so is the one for my wife.

 

[thomas_l]

I am using a DOT half-helmet with the zip out ear cover right now. Soon it will be getting cooler and I'll probably start using my full face G-force I bought for car racing. Because it was bought for racing it is a tight fit and I may end up buying another one a size bigger for motorcycling comfort. Depends on how much my eyes are watering

 

[Lubey]

I'm thinking of getting a full face for freeway only riding here in SoCal. Anyone have an H-D full face model? I'm curious who really makes them. I saw an all chrome full face at the dealer that l thought looked cool and was comfortable. Any thoughts?

 

[Unome]

http://www.helmetshop.com/
http://www.accwhse.com/
Are some websites you can check for helmets. You're going to pay $80 - $100 more for an official h-d helmet just because if has h-d(huge demonination) on it. Oh, yeah, mine's an official h-d helmet and it's made overseas.

 

[polar]

Please let me clarify the "dork" comment.
I do use a DOT approved helmet, just they look like I'm wearing a mushroom on my head. I do know there are helmets that are DOT approved that have a more "true" fit. I just cant seem to find one. I do have a half helmet, and a 3/4 type, they just don't seem to fit very well.
I'm lookind for one that's more close fitting.

 

[01PurpRK]

I am in the same boat as polar. My 1/2 HD helment looks pretty stupid. I bought a Simpson many years ago when I was in college so I looked up their website. Dayum!!! Those bad boys are $400.00 plus these days!!! I know they say if you got a $50.00 head buy a $50.00 helmet, but still.....

 

[tadams6580]

Most helmets look goofy without a visor.

 

[Thealien]

No matter what helmet you use, ride safe. Avoiding the accident is your safest bet.

 

[JFScheck]

Check out this thread we had on helmets a few months back....

http://209.151.86.249/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3296&highlight=helmets

 

[Fugly]

I have a long term solution for your dorky helmet dilemma, Polar.

Join ABATE and help repeal all the dumba** laws. In the meantime, where whatever you are comfortable with.

Let Those Who Ride Decide !!

 

[Thealien]

Yeah Mass will repeal a helmet law. We voted against seatbelts, we got them. We voted to lower the tax rate to 5%, they just raised it to 5.3%. The new gun law just reduced the number of licensed gun owners from 1,300,00 to just 200,000. The Mass politicians don't care what the constituants want, how do they keep getting voted in.

 

[Fugly]

Yeah, the politicians have it down to a science on how to split the vote. All of the single issue voters are getting screwed, because they know how to divide us up and kick our a**es. I guess all you can do is pick the issue that is most important to you, and vote on it.

See, everybody usually votes on one issue only, such as on gun issues only, labor only, right to life only, motorcycle laws only, and the polits know how to divide us so they get what they want. From what I've seen in my life, what they want is to take away our freedom.

Their job (which is paid for with your tax money and money from large corporations and special interest groups) is to pass new laws that control every facet of your life.

So try to understand, Thealien, that when they tell you to wear a helmet (and maybe an orange vest too while riding a motorcycle, this was recently brought up by lawmakers), tell you to give up your guns, call in the National Guard to bust your head for going on strike, and tell your wife or girlfriend what she can or cannot do with her body, just remember they are doing it because we are too stupid to live our lives without their wisdom and guidance (errr, actually the wisdom and guidance of the corporations and lobbyists that tell them what to do).

Umm... I just went on another rant didn't I ?

 

[Thealien]

Don't get me started, them bastards!!!

 

[blackwhisper]

I always did wonder why people spend 200 million dollars to get elected to a job that only pays $200,000 a year.

 

[eagleman]

I wear a HJC full face for winter because it
was the only full face that I could find that
actually fit me.
The rest of the time I wear a 3/4 with a visor. I had a face shield on the 3/4 for a
while, but I got too much wind buffeting because of the sport windshield that I have on my bike.