Warthog, few months ago I bought Schubert C2 that is the flip up helmet, and I have only good things to say about it.

1. Easyer to put on.

2. You can talk to people without yelling.

3. This thing is so silent! I ride TT600R and even after long rides 4+ hours my ears don't hurt at all.

4. In many situations there is no need to take it off, like: Gas stations, borders, police, take a photo...

5. I really like internal sun visor, much much better than Nolan, which has one but it is outside.

6. It weights 1700 grams, many full face helmets are havier than that.

bye

Nikola

I did have a Nolan N102 but after doing a 5000km ride with it, gave it away and went back to a trusty Shoei fullface. After being spoiled by Shoei for so long I found the Nolan incredibly heavy and noisy. The build quality wasn't the best either. I do miss being able to flick it up for talking, photos etc.. Pity I wasn't built like a front row forward or probably would have stuck it out with the Nolan.

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There isn't a perfect answer. I wear a Roof flip front in the city on two or three wheels, usually in open face mode so I can see and hear and talk to people, but closed up when it rains/sleets/snows. The thing is useless on the motorway and I switch to a Schuberth, which promtly annoys me by giving the vision you'd get in a tank and misting like mad unless I've fitted the (serious winter rally) heated visor. I have an open FM with goggles that works best off road (very light, perfect vision) and in fog.

I'll take the ability to see over chin protection anyday, you use the former all the time and the later rarely, but it really is personal choice until they come up with something that's properly modular and can be switched from one type to another at the road side.

For a 55 mph sidecar ride away from the motorway I'd go open face and carry a face mask/scarf.

Andy

I'm with Colebatch and Stuxtttr.

My very first helmet (back in '72) was a full face Shoei) this was back in the days when full faces had just been released.

When I did my Singapore to London ride in 1977 I used a full face but actually got into trouble in Malaysia where full faces are illegal in the cities.

When I got to London I then used an open face to ride down through Africa in 1978.

Similarily when I rode from North America to Argentina in 1984 I used an open face the whole way.

Riding around Australia on my high speed trips I use a full face but have gone back to an open face in the past few months as I have a fairly large fairing on my Suzuki, and I find that wind turbulence causes massive in-helmet noise, which is considerably reduced using an open face. Using a flip up is pointless because the windblast from the fairing would try to pull the flipped up portion off the top of my head

On my China-Russia-Europe ride, which I start next week, I will also be using an open face the whole way with a snap on shield for inclement weather conditions.

When riding with an open face, and no visor I feel much, much more part of the environment and it heightens my overall experience of the journey dramatically.

As has been pointed out by other posters, if you are that concerned about safety then either stay home or drive a car.

Garry from oz.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

So, i supose then that because i choose to wear boots, gloves jacket and pants and a full face helmet, then i should just stay home? To be a REAL adventurer, should i ride naked? The first trip i took with my girlfriend on the back, i warned her to keep her visor closed when on the highway. She didn't listen, and at high speed a rather large insect of some sort hit her below her eye, leaving a bleeding welt. It could of been a lot worse had it hit her only one centimeter higher. Now she is quite comfortable riding with her visor closed, but i guess she should just stay home? Can't take a bug in the face, can't take the adventure? I couldn't care less if someone chooses to ride with or without a visor, helmet, chin-strap or clothes for that matter. If you really feel that protecting a few vital parts of your body takes away from your traveling experience, fine, to each their own, but i do take offence when someone sugests i stay home because i choose to protect my body.
I also drive a car. Would you sugest i not wear my seatbelt because i'm not getting the full experience out of driving with it on? I'm not preaching to anyone on this forum what they should or shouldn't do. I am only sharing my experience and my opinion, which is what the thread starter asked for. If you don't like it or disagree, fine, but don't sugest to me i should stay home!

To be honest, as a motorcyclist, I feel I am far more concerned safety than many other people on the road, and a better road user as a result. Its being "concerned" that keeps us bikers alive when faced with hordes of drivers that do not see us a a threat to their car or their person and, so, simply do not see us.

I can well imagine that less obstructions to the face makes one feel more in contact with the environment, but when I am riding a solo, I have and will always where a full-face: not wearing one just does not add up for me: I don't want my chin left as a greasy stain over a 75 metre stretch of road: don't feel I'm less of a motorcyclist for it, though... I don't even own a car!

Difference for me here is that an outift is certainly less likely to low-side/high-side unless you really cock up a corner, so the risk of coming off is decreased in that respect. Then there is the speed aspect. Realistically, the Ural will not easily exceed 60 mph on a regular basis. Having ridden it for a while now, I can also say that I don't really see myself riding faster than 50 mph on the open road. Its not a bike built for speed, and even at 50 mph it takes a more subtle hand to keep the bike steady. This is why I am considering an open face. That said, I may simply comromise and stick to my M-cross lid that has a very big facial opening and is almost an open face if the goggles are down. Time will tell as my outfit riding experience increases.

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You seem to make similar point to other posters on here.

Although, I do like the idea of the open face (breeze on my face: nice in hot climates) I feel, as I posted just a bit earlier that a fullface is a better option and for that the MX lid is a good compromise. However, I am intrigued by the flip-up configuration and I may well investigate them as a possibility.

Where the open face wins hands down with a Ural outfit is the look: it suits the old-fashioned style and poise of the Ural more that a graphic-ed up crosser lid. However, I do tend toward function first, form second...

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
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Fair enough Ron, I can see that my final words may have come across as a little glib - not intended - I'll add a smiley face next time I say something like that.

Basically for me it is horses for courses. If I'm riding superfast (which I do on occasion) then I'm all geared up for it as I know I am pushing my limits. However, when I do my long distance international rides I go slowly, take it easy and avoid putting myself in risky situations. Yes, I know I can't avoid situations that are caused by others but I am still convinced that 90% of bike accidents are a result of our going far too fast for the conditions and us not appreciating that other road users are not expecting us to be in that particular piece of road space that quickly.

So yes, I take the risk of scraping my chin down the road but I ameliorate that risk by riding sufficiently defensively, and slowly, to reduce the probability considerably. Of course I am still at risk of other road users mistakes but I'll happily live with that.

As for the risk of bugs in the eyes, well my large screen handles that aspect for me.

I totally agree Warthog, I like to lope along at no more than 80km/h - it's part of that whole interaction I'm referring to - I'm never in a hurry when I am travelling overseas.

Garry from Oz.

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Wow, i just re-read my rant ... my apolagies! Had a really strange day yesterday and your post for some reason rubbed me the wrong way. Have you noticed the moon yet??

Have you looked at the schuberth J1 open face I use one all the time when travelling and riding. I have used it from arctic to desert tarmac and dirt road all on a solo bike, it has a short (summer visor), longer winter visor (excellent at keeping serious weather at bay, Internal flip down dark visor -saves wearing sunglasses and a removable chin bar that acts a bit like a full face helmet keeping your face and nose out of the tarmac in a fall, The chin bar is well out of line of sight and does not detract from the open face feel. It is comfortable quiet and very stable at speed or in wind. Its a pretty expensive hat but it does almost everything a full face does in an open face package, its not prone to steaming up in the wet so much, is good in very hot weather with a good vent system and if its safety well its up there with the best protection you can get. Ive had mine almost 4 years/over 60000 miles of use now and think its the best allround hat I have used in thirty years of riding.
Cant say more than that really.

Flip Front! The only down side is that they are noisy and heavy (although my shoei syncrotech isnt too heavy)but the Flexibility makes it worth while.I get claustrophobic in a full face and ride round town with the front up usualy, and close the lid whenever i get going over 60/70 . On a long motorway blast the noise can get tedius but as with everything else compromises have to be made.

Just curious, but i've noticed a lot of people complaining about helmet noise. Have you guy's tried ear-plugs? I was skeptical at first, but now would never travel on the highway without them. I also use ear-plug type speakers from Etymotic for my i-pod. 30Db earplugs with speakers... who woulda thunk it

Ron,

Definately agree about using ear plugs! Especially on the highway. Seriously, if you ride a bike a lot you risk causing long term damage to your ears. So anyone who starts riding reasonably young, and continues to do so for, say, 40 years could easily end up deaf as a post!
They also make the whole experience of riding more comfortable.

Re: helmets. I wear a full face these days for reasons of comfort because I live in Scotland where the rain and bugs make open faces a bit of a trial. If I lived, or was to travel again to a warmer/drier climate, I think I'd go with an open face. I'm one of those people who likes to feel the wind in my face, and I agree that it makes communication with the locals easier.
At the risk of being excommunicated from the church of motorcycling safety, I must also admit to have ridden sans helmet in Morocco, and it was lovely! (My life, my descision!)

Matt

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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Since this thread started, I have thought it through, and I am sort of erring toward a full-face still, for the sake of protection, even if a n outfit is less prone to falling over! However, of all the open-faces, I think the J1 is the only one I'd serious ly consider. The only problem is the ludricrous price tag!! The cheapest I've seen is £300, or €450. I can get a top end plain f-face Arai for that!! That also represents about 5000 miles of petrol! That is a lot of miles when I already have a serviceable lid!! I'll think about it, but I think prices would have to drop to make it worth my while...

Nice features though. Does the sun-visor interfere with specs? I am blind and need my glasses on all the time!

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Interesting looking lid. I like it. Might have to try one on in the flesh ... I like that you can get a peak for it as well ... http://goodwood-hd-lifestyling-fashi.../j1c_sv_wv.jpg

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