helmet question By puddle jumper (Read 542 times)

[puddle jumper]

If you were trying on a new full face helmet and when you went to put it on your cheeks were pushed in would that be something that would loosen up in time or should I go with the next size up???

[Bashan]

It won't loosen up but a helmet of any kind is not supposed to move around on your face. It should be snug but not painful of course. Most helmet manufacturers have a size chart that shows you how to measure around your head and then look the centimeters up. I'd go with that system, they're all over the web.

I've had a lot of experience with helmets, I ride a motorcycle to work 80 miles round trip. Up until recently I used either a 3/4 Fulmer with a flip down shield, or this little gem, the HJC Symax II:

It's a modular helmet. It's full face but the bottom part flips up with a push of the button so you don't feel so confined and it doesn't squeeze my face much. It's also nice in that it has an internal sun shield that comes down within the helmet with a slide control on top. However, it tends to fog up in cooler weather so I got my first true full face helmet for this winter's commute, a Gmax snow helmet:

It has a double layer anti-fog shield that seals like a NASA helmet when you close it, a flow through ventilation system to move the internal air out, and a lower "curtain" around the bottom to finish off the enviroment isolation.

When I first put it on I had a wrestling match to get it over my bowling ball head, and then a panic attack because I felt trapped. But I gotta tell you, once you get used to the feel of a full face it's great, you're one with your helmet and you just forget about it. It does kind of squeeze your face but it only feels like that for about a minute. Do NOT get a larger helmet size just for comfort, it doesn't protect as well in an accident, and it bobbles around on your head until you're goofy. The full face is an eerily quiet experience, hardly any outside noise at all. The complete lack of wind is nice too, but it might be a bit of overkill for a scooter. Rich

[ccprof]

Rich - I've got to disagree. They do loosen up a little, at least my Fulmer FF did.

Classic - you do want it snug so don't get a larger size. When I went down on Sunday, there was still enough movement that when my face hit and then my head, my glasses were twisted off my nose. There are some differences in size between manufacturers too. My Fulmer is a medium but my wife's Hawk modular feels about the same and it's a small.

[dugglebogey]

IMO there is nothing more uncomfortable than a helmet that is too small.

Having my cheeks pushed in is exactly how I tell if a helmet is too small for me. Yes, they do loosen up a bit when you wear them, but not enough for that. And they don't really shrink that way, it's more of a loosening in the skull area, not a widening.

[Bashan]

Oct 1, 2010 4:57:19 GMT -6 ccprof said:

Rich - I've got to disagree. They do loosen up a little.

That's only because your head became semi-gelatinous after all those years of thinking. ;D. Rich

[wolfhound]

I must have 6 helmets that I can not use so my favorite is a Bell half helmet with a
face guard. I have a cochlear implant and all the others will not fit over it but knock it
loose. The Bell works because I cut away the padding in the location that the devise
attaches to my thick skull. Not the best answer in the world but it works for me. I like
Bashans choice of helmet.

[ccprof]

OMG! My head is shrinking not my helmet. LOL folks!

[puddle jumper]

I appreciate all the reply's that you have posted in here. I did goto a dealer the other day and tried out various manufactured helmets and all of them fit differently and the thing is with the one I have the tightness has been a little getting used to and the only true place that hurts a little it the top of my ear(the ridge that rounds the top of the ear and comes around to the front middle.) Sorry if I can't explain it well. I will be going to more dealers that sell helmets and try them and maybe I'll find one that fits just right. We will see but thanks again.Oh before I forget would it hamper the safety if I cut a little section of the padding to help the point were my ear hurts the section would only be cut about an 3/4" ??

[jake aka:ventoscoot]

Having used a 3/4 helmet with a face shield, a traditional full face and now a modular helmet. I will never use anything other than a modular. I always have sunglasses on and got very tired of taking the glasses off and on and now don't have too. Mine has the drop down tinted visor which really helps when I am riding eather east or west at sunrise or sunset and need to suplement my sunglasses. It also allows me to drink when I am stopped at a light.

[speedracer]

Since I wear glasses I go with a modular helmet. Tried getting a solid helmet on and almost broke my glasses. I bought the AGV Miglia Modular II Helmet from Motorcycle Superstore. Has anti fog shield and sun visor. Works great if you wear glasses.

[martin]

helmets are always so important safety tools for bikers ever, since they learn driving from childhood to young and forever with it.
Till now motorcycle helmets have been essentially used for the biker's head safety while driving. But the developing technology has enhanced the safety versions as provided by the helmets. Now it has been reported that in addition to the safety the helmet would be used for providing a rear vision of the view at the backside of the biker. Yes, with these latest helmets the biker would be able have a clear view of his backside.

These helmets would be powered by an internal rear vision mirror enabling the driver to view directly behind himself. Most bikers believe that it will enhance the safety of bikers and introduce a new paradigm to the motorcycle world. Although bikers have had the facility of exterior mirrors but these mirrors were not very easy to use. The bikers had to adjust their arms of motorcycle jackets in order to view through these mirrors.

Nevertheless, this new introduction of helmets with a rear vision mirror seems to be a good idea for increasing the awareness and safety of the bikers. If used properly it can result in becoming an important part of motorcycle gear and reducing the number of motorcycle accidents. To make sure that the motorists are well equipped this type of helmet should become a must buy and must wear for riding motorcycles.

[wolfhound]

PJ, that is what I did, in essence to get the Bell to fit over the implant. I suspect that it
might compromise the helmet a little but I dont have much choice.

[mthomas]

Oct 3, 2010 5:06:02 GMT -6 ccprof said:

OMG! My head is shrinking not my helmet. LOL folks!

Most things do with age Larry, everything but your prostate.

[ccprof]

Most things do with age Larry, everything but your prostate.


And my waistline!

[mcalli]

Not everyone gets an enlarged prostate with age (me, for instance) rofl. But I am getting a new full face helmet delivered with my bike and it has blue tooth. I have never tried a full face helmet before. I don't wear glasses. I do wear sunglasses when I wear my open face helmet to protect my eyes, but with my full face, I won't have to worry about my eyes. I do wonder though, if I am going to miss the wind on my face. (I won't, however, miss the bugs hitting my face).