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Anybody wear a modular helmet?

Sure, falling is bad. More gear is better if you crash. Full face > modular/flip > half helmet > do rag. Leather > textile > blue jeans. Two wheels < Can-Am < Car. We can escalate the need for protection all the way until you are off two wheels.

Choices.
 
We wear helmets for one reason: unexpected accidents. If there's one piece of gear that can be the difference between life and death to a rider in a crash, it's the helmet.

You wear...I wear it because it is the law. Would probably do without around town. Why? My choice.

Would disagree with your second premise. The most important gear that can be the difference between life and death is those turning between the rider's ears. Everything else is secondary.

We both choose to ride a motorcycle. Those that don't would use your arguments against our choice. Asking you not to judge those that make other choices, as right or wrong. Just acknowledge their sense of risk management as different from yours.
 
I have a Shark Evoline, and have never had any problems with it, or felt vulnerable as a result of wearing it. Comfortable, convenient (you don't always need to take your helmet off to talk to somebody, take a drink etc.) and a bonus if you ride wearing glasses.

corndog67 said:
Going a bit off topic, does anyone wear an adventure type helmet, with shield and visor? My dirt bike helmet tries to tear my head off above about 70mph.
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I also have a Fly Trekker dual sport helmet (hi-viz FTW), but don't suffer the 'head ripping off' effect as I put a small blade-type windshield on my KTM950 which gives me enough protection (and I've run it up to 100mph or so). But it is a noisy helmet for sure.
I did have an Arai XD before the windshield was fitted and did experience the feeling you mentioned - I found the thing to do was keep my head down so the wind didn't catch the visor, but if you're running a lot of highway/fast road miles, you might want to take the visor off (or use a different helmet if you have that luxury). I sold the Arai as it didn't comfortably fit my long-oval head.
 
fast4ward said:
I have a Shark Evoline, and have never had any problems with it, or felt vulnerable as a result of wearing it. Comfortable, convenient (you don't always need to take your helmet off to talk to somebody, take a drink etc.) and a bonus if you ride wearing glasses.



I also have a Fly Trekker dual sport helmet (hi-viz FTW), but don't suffer the 'head ripping off' effect as I put a small blade-type windshield on my KTM950 which gives me enough protection (and I've run it up to 100mph or so). But it is a noisy helmet for sure.
I did have an Arai XD before the windshield was fitted and did experience the feeling you mentioned - I found the thing to do was keep my head down so the wind didn't catch the visor, but if you're running a lot of highway/fast road miles, you might want to take the visor off (or use a different helmet if you have that luxury). I sold the Arai as it didn't comfortably fit my long-oval head.
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I've got an Arai full face, but I wear my moto helmet for more airflow on hot days. I've been checking out the Shoei and Arai Dual Sport helmets, but I don't know anyone that has actually used one.
 
redruM said:
but you'd change your tune if those seams on your convenient modular helmet didn't stand up to a frontal smash on the pavement... of course, that's assuming the crash doesn't happen while the front is flipped up....
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if the front isnt flipped up, then the modular helmet should be able to withstand the frontal smash.

if the front is somehow smashed open, i would worry more about other problems, like broken neck - which seems to be the common form of death going through my Brother's ER when there's a motorcycle accident involved.

but anyways yah, it shouldnt flip open.
 
BillSmith said:
The most important gear that can be the difference between life and death is those turning between the rider's ears. Everything else is secondary.
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I appreciate the play on words... but I said "the difference between life and death in a crash". Meaning, one's intelligence and/or skill are no longer in play since the crash has already occurred.
 
crick said:
if the front isnt flipped up, then the modular helmet should be able to withstand the frontal smash.

if the front is somehow smashed open, i would worry more about other problems, like broken neck - which seems to be the common form of death going through my Brother's ER when there's a motorcycle accident involved.

but anyways yah, it shouldnt flip open.
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I certainly appreciate the convenience factor.

But there's gotta be a good reason why sportbike racers don't wear them. or rather, aren't allowed to wear them.... beyond lack of aerodynamics.
 
I've worn an Arai for years and wanted to give a modular a try. I bought the HJC Sy-Max. I found the venting to be mediocre and most importantly the wind noise pretty bad. After about 6 weeks of use the little plastic tabs that hold the chin bar up busted and the chin no longer stays up defeating the purpose. I looked for repair parts and didn't get any traction so it's sitting on the shelf. I still needed a new helmet (after 7 years and three race seasons in my old one) and got another Arai full face when I found one on sale. I've decided that the fit and comfort of the Arai far surpass the convenience of the modular and will stick with the full face.
 
redruM said:
I appreciate the play on words... but I said "the difference between life and death in a crash". Meaning, one's intelligence and/or skill are no longer in play since the crash has already occurred.
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I had a friend that wore a full face helmet that rode like an idiot and made a stupid pass that cost him his life.

A helmet can only help so much.
 
The quality of modular helmets can be dramatically different between vendors and models. A lot of them have very weak hinges, weak chin-bars, and little or no padding for the face.

Look for: Strong hinge pins. Strong locks. Multiple points securing the face-shield in the down position. EPS liner in front of the face. Strong chinbar.

Good brands: Nolan, Shoei. Bad brands: Most, but not all, of the others.
 
redruM said:
No doubt. And sorry for your loss.
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Thanks - but sadly he wasn't the first.

Sometimes wearing all the right gear and riding like a fool is riskier than riding with less gear but riding smart. If you’re not tuned into the ride then you're at risk no matter what you wear.
 
corndog67 said:
Going a bit off topic, does anyone wear an adventure type helmet, with shield and visor? My dirt bike helmet tries to tear my head off above about 70mph.
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I do. I had an Arai XD when they first came out and used it for every bike (including my 999) which looked funny. I had no issues with visor lift or any of that nonsense.

I just retired my XD, and picked up an XD4 over the weekend. Same exact fit (round oval) and the improvements are nice. Much better venting, and a much lighter helmet than my first gen XD. Well worth the $600 entrance price IMO.

I still have my 'normal' helmets, and my Suomy race lid, but when I go hope on the Multi, the XD is the first helmet i'd grab.

The sun visor WORKS. Never needed a tinted shield for my XD.
 
I want to get this. It is handy. Around my house, I can use it as a open face helmet (OK with a visor) and on freeways it will be a modular full face. Too bad Yamaha doesn't sell this in US.
 

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redruM-

Thanks for being civil about our quibble. Realize you might think I put spin on your statement, I'd like to think of it more like...torque. ;)

Racers do what what wins a race. The evolution of racers wearing helmets has gone from skid lids to modern aerodynamic protective bubbles.
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Have this same debate in sports. I played baseball as it went through the transition of making helmets mandatory. See more NFL players wearing the more protective shell within a shell versions depsite how ugly they are. Hockey players add more compulsory gear every year. I get it.

Will recommend to any rider, wear earplugs, get gear, wear it, ride safe. But if someone asks if I wear a modular helmet, that answer will be a resounding, YES, `cause it works for me.

Regarding the "if" sayers,

If I hadn't played football...
If I hadn't faced 90+ mph fastballs...
If I hadn't dodged bullets...
If I never rode over 100+ mph...
If I...

Oh, you get the idea.
 
redruM said:
I certainly appreciate the convenience factor.

But there's gotta be a good reason why sportbike racers don't wear them. or rather, aren't allowed to wear them.... beyond lack of aerodynamics.
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there's probably a wide variety of reasons but i can assume afew:

1) their crashes are at higher than legal speeds

2) modular helmets are NOT aerodynamic - all the gaps and such make for really noisy helmets

3) they're a lot heavier.

4) there's really no need for a convenience for the type of riding they do.

regardless, i've been thinking of going back to fullface just to get a lighter helmet. I raringly find a use for the modular except at fillups or when a LEO's got me pulled over.
 
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crick said:
i've been thinking of going back to fullface just to get a lighter helmet. I raringly find a use for the modular except at fillups or when a LEO's got me pulled over.
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When you start wearing glasses they become more of a necessity, especially if you wear light framed glasses.
 
High-Side said:
When you start wearing glasses they become more of a necessity, especially if you wear light framed glasses.
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i hear yah!

i wear a different pair of glasses while riding. currently wearing something called "Swissflex"

http://opticaluniverse.com/store/images/products/84_06621.jpg

no metal frame, all plastic. great for riding, horrible for sailing (they'll fly right off!)

cant feel em, no metal either so purty comfy. if you get a chance check em out (or if you have a rec, i wouldnt mind hearing? always open to new ways to make glasses more comfy while riding).
 
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