What kind of helmet do you wear?

[bohomus]

While reading through some older threads, I've noticed some strong opinions on what type of helmet should be worn. I'm curious about what type of helmets all of you use.

I went to the local motorcycle shop, tried on the different helmets. Seeing as how I've had a whooping 2 weeks experience, my opinion is completely lame but this is what I came up with:

I cannot tolerate the full helmet. Apparently this is the safest but I'd rather sell my trike and find another hobby than to wear that thing. (Yeah I know, I probably wouldn't feel that way after sliding 50 feet across the pavement.)

The modular, still pretty safe I guess, was better but still irritating.

The 3/4 was much better.

The half was great.

I compromised safety and comfort and got a 3/4 with a pull down face shield. It's a Bell Mag 9 Sena.

What helmet do you wear and do you use different helmets depending on the situation (like weather)?

[rhino 2]

I have a 3/4 with a pull down shield, A compromise to be sure.. In cold weather, like today 4 degrees F. and when I'm on my two wheeler it's a full-face modular....

[bongobobny]

We use Nolan modulars and are happy with them. Way back when I had a friend go down on a freshly oiled road (being young and doing dumb and stupid things) and he told me as he was sliding down the road he watched his face shield peel away and he thought hey, that would have been his face! I've been an advocate for full face ever since then!

[tom w]

I have 3. one for each season. skid lid for summer , 3/4 for fall and a full coverage for cold weather. all d.o.t. approved. keeps me legal and somewhat safe

[cavie]

I have 3. one for each season. skid lid for summer , 3/4 for fall and a full coverage for cold weather. all d.o.t. approved. keeps me legal and somewhat safe

Nolan N90 modular. My mom says I'm hansom. I intend to keep it that way. In my opinion trikes are safer but they do get t-boned and you will fall off. I was T-bone while driving a cage. NOT fun. Tom, sounds like you're a bettin' man. You bettin' wreak will happen only in cold weather?? Good luck with that.

[Gold Rush]

Back when I was Active Duty Air Force I also taught the Motorcycle Safety Operator Training course for a while. One of my students asked how much he should spend on a helmet. My response was "If you think you have a $10 head then spend $10. Your brain takes a heck of a beating in any accident to protect it.

I do have a half shell, a 3/4, and a full face. All are high quality DOT approved. Usually the 3/4 is my helmet of choice but when it's really HOT the half shell is cooler. The full face I use mostly when riding my Yamaha Stratoliner S.

[Rick Kay]

I have a Shoei 3/4 helmet, which I normally wear, but when it's hot, I have a Bell 1/2 helmet that does a nice job.

I'm thinking about a full face for colder weather and when riding the Heritage without its windshield, so I'll keep an eye on the full face recommendations posted here.

[rmrc51]

I'm the same way. Can't stand the full faced helmets.

I have the modular Scorpion EXO-900 for the winter, but I have to admit, I've only used it once. What I've normally used was the Scorpion EXO-100 half helmet with the drop-down sun visor.

This past summer, I finally bought a helmet that has always caught my interest. A Seer custom half helmet. The same ones the cops usually use. This helmet has fantastic cooling ability for the hot weather and is now the one I use the majority of the time during the warm season.

[captdanwh]

I own three helmets and the wife has two and all are 1/2 helmets. I have tried others like the 3/4 but did not care for them. Here in sunny Fl. it gets darn hot even when under way and the 1/2 works the best. I would say about 50 percent of bikers wear helmets here and the others go without.

[Golden Dakota]

Wife and I both wear Nolan modular helmets. They are 3/4 with pull down face shield and pulldown sun shield under that so you don't have to wear sun glasses, but also have snap-in chin bars which convert them to an almost full face helmet if you so desire. One of the things that steered us to the Nolan was the Nolan electronics which the helmets are designed for. Outstanding blue tooth connection for phone or GPS, boom mic is behind the face screen so you don't have wind noise problems, rider passenger communication, and the newer model (which I have converted to) has a built in FM radio with automatic station seeking and 6 presets, and the newer models now also enable bike to bike communication to any other make of helmet radio. You can even plug your helmet in to your computer USB port and update the software and set your radio presets! No I'm not a Nolan salesman I just really like the helmet!

[msocko3]

I choose my helmet style depending on weather or type of riding. I have a couple Scorpion EXO900's which are modulars, one is for kicking around local in cold weather, the other is my freeway riding helmet. I prefer a full face style helmet on the freeway to limit the crap that hits me in the face. In 2008 I was struck under the left eye by a chunk of my dads tour-pak latch, it bounced off the asphalt and hit me while we were running 80 mph, left a nice little cut. I've had stones from passing vehicles hit me, the nastiest was a couple years ago I was hammered by a couple large bugs. The worst bug was while running along at 75 mph on the way to Nashville, that sucker splattered all over my face and glasses.

When not wearing the modulars I wear 3/4 helmets, I always carry a 3/4 when I'm on a trip for riding the local back roads. I did half helmets for awhile until I saw some of the carnage a person suffered when a soccer mom pulled out in front of him and he got to do the asphalt slide. If he had been wearing a modular or full face he wouldn't have had a scratch on his face, instead he got some nice road rash when his face contacted the road.

[Rick Kay]

I'm the same way. Can't stand the full faced helmets.

I have the modular Scorpion EXO-900 for the winter, but I have to admit, I've only used it once. What I've normally used was the Scorpion EXO-100 half helmet with the drop-down sun visor.

This past summer, I finally bought a helmet that has always caught my interest. A Seer custom half helmet. The same ones the cops usually use. This helmet has fantastic cooling ability for the hot weather and is now the one I use the majority of the time during the warm season.

Rich, I almost pulled the trigger on a Seer helmet last summer. Glad to hear that you like it so much.

[Softail Trike]

The wife & I both wear Shoei RF1100 full face....Primarily for the obvious safety reasons. They were the most comfortable of the full face helmets we tried on. There are some resonance issues with the loud exhaust but with the ear buds in & music going, the resonance is a non issue.

I would prefer a half helmet but not enough to sacrifice the safety of a full face.....I've seen the results of road rash on the face & it's just not worth it to us.

[Rays Trike]

I also have three one for each season.

[sprt220]

I use a half helmet 90% of the time. In winter I use a HJC Carbon fiber full face which is very light. Ken

[Calgary]

My wife and I each wear a Nolan 104 which for me took some getting used to because I'm claustrophobic.

I for years wore an open face helmet, but a friend and a passenger had a rather serious crash and both of their jaws and faces were saved by full face helmets.

Feeling it was a learning moment we switched to the Nolan and are happy with the decision.

[MDGeorge]

I have eight helmets. I live in Florida where it is not required, and usually don't wear a helmet on the trike.
That said, my wife once asked me why I have so many helmets. I could only respond with "Why do you have so many shoes?"

Truth is, eventually you will have one of each.

[Papa Zook]

We use Nolan N42 NCOMs with bluetooth just like this one.

[rtotten]

I wear the Shoei GT Air. I like the safety factor. I used to be USAF Medic, saw to many accidents, so I wear a good full face helmet. The GT Air has good Air movement and a flip down visor, plus a clear full visor. I like it.

[THEREALTRIKKY]

With any luck, I'll be wearing a Skully helmet in the near future.. The integration, and potential of their helmets is impressive to say the very least! Pricing hasn't been released yet, but as long as I don't have to sell a bike, or my wife to get one, I'm in!