Full vs three quarter

[alanmcorcoran]

I'm thinking about picking up a second, three-quarter size helmet for the commute to the office and short rides around town. On a scientific basis, I'm aware that this is probably not a good idea as pretty much everything I've ever read says: 1) you get in as many accidents just popping out for a quick errand as you do on a gnarly tour and 2) always wear all the gear all the time, fool!

Nonetheless, I don't wear the armored Batman pants into the office already (wranglers) and, the 3/4 would save me from the whole eyeglass dance and allow me to finish my coffee before I head out in the am. Besides, my ski helmet is a three quarter type - not sure they even sell the full monty. Back (in the Jurassic period) when I rode the scooter I had a three quarter as well.

Seeing how it's winter and all, and this is a nice polarizing, emotional (and absolutely for real!) topic, I thought I'd throw this chum in the water and get your collective wisdom. (I'd still go full battle rattle for extended rides, canyon twisties, freeway, etc.)

[Dupo]

Nothin wrong with a 3/4 helmet. Go for it.

I have a full face, 3/4, 1/2 DOT helmets and my non DOT german helmet. I'm covered for anything lol.

Full face is for those sub zero nights or rain, 3/4 just sits cuz i look like a sped in it. 1/2 helmet is for if i have to go into Jersey (helmet laws there) and the german one is for fun ... everyone says i look pissed off when i wear it, like im going to rip someones head off. I dont see it .. lol. Maybe i'll post a pic :)

[alantf]

Hi Alan,
I've never worn anything else but a 3/4. Never had any problems. Goes on o.k. with glasses on. Only thing I've found (this helmet is 4 years old) is that the lining has worn through where the glasses arms rub - but no problem as such, & I suppose it could happen with any type of helmet.
The helmet I've got is an Aeroh, & the visor slides up under the peak to protect it. This is a nice touch, but sometimes the wind gets under the peak at highway speed, & I've got to really concentrate on stopping it pushing my head back.

[5th_bike]

How about full with flip up front ? Makes putting on your glasses so much easier.
Procedure:
1) flip up front
2) put helmet on head
3) flip down front.
You can just keep your glasses on during this.

[Sarris]

Alan, I wear a DOT Harley 1/2 police style helmut (sic) and a 3/4 when it's too damn cold for my Florida ears. 99% of the time it's my half. My biggest bitch with the full face is that it obscures your vision in all directions making you have to REALLY turn your head, you can't hear shit with it on (I needs my stereo!!), and it's hotter than two mice screwing in a wool sock.

Helmut is the Norwegian that invented the skull bucket. FYI

:2tup:

[music man]

http://www.fulmerhelmets.com/Product/af655.html

Hey alan, this is the helmet i wear, it is very nice, I am like Sarris I feel like a full-face inhibits MY vision to the point of being dangerous, so I got this helmet. I realize that it is not quite as protective as a Full-face but I weighed the option of not being able to see and giving up a little bit of safety and took the latter route.

I used to wear a Beanie Style Helmet (AKA the Brain Bucket), but I have at least partially turned over a new safer leaf, Plus like Sarris said, the weather is rough on you in a Half Helmet, I even like the 3/4 helmet with a tinted face shield in the summer over the Beanie style, It is actually COOLER believe it or not.

[Sarris]

My 3/4 is a Nolan N-100. Light weight, great vents, visor, and tilt-up sheild w/ multi-position ratchet mechanism. Just be aware that Italians must have small heads, as Nolan helmets run really small. I wear a XXX. It doesn't get much use.

:whistle:

[dan_]

1/2 helmet is for if i have to go into Jersey (helmet laws there)

What's with this law? Can you not wear a full face? Or is this just you rebeling because they make you wear a helmet?

[Easy Rider]

What's with this law? Can you not wear a full face? Or is this just you rebeling because they make you wear a helmet?

IIRC, he wears "none of the above" most of the time.....as I do for short trips around town.

P.S. Does your brain run in OVERDRIVE all the time ?? :biggrin:

[dan_]

Im a 19 year old rock star wannabe that rides a motorcycle and quotes fear and loathing in las vegas there's a reason for my lack of brain cells.
:rawk:

[music man]

Dude, Just WATCHING Fear and loathing in Las Vegas will Fry your brain :popcorn: :bong: :bong: :bong:

[Dupo]

[quote="dan_":3hj2jdyz]
What's with this law? Can you not wear a full face? Or is this just you rebeling because they make you wear a helmet?

IIRC, he wears "none of the above" most of the time.....as I do for short trips around town.

P.S. Does your brain run in OVERDRIVE all the time ?? :biggrin:[/quote:3hj2jdyz]

Right. I should have stated that i usually do not wear a helmet .. unless its the non DOT german helmet to keep the sun off my face and back of my neck.

The halfie is what i wear in Jersey because i must have a DOT helmet. I only resort to the full face in extreme cold or rain. And really, i have figured out a way to use neoprene mask and knit hat etc .. to keep warmer, so the full face was kinda mute this winter because of that.

---------------------

I must add though, i am STILL floored that PA dropped their helmet law a few years ago. This coming from one of the most aggressive seat belt law abiding states that i know of (besides nazi new jersey). "hey we'll set up seatbelt checkpoints and ticket your ass for not being buckled in ... but have at it on your motorcycle."

Big signs posted everywhere about driving SAFE and being buckled in 'because its our LAW'. While that biker passes you doing 65 with no helmet on lol. What a f'd up message PA sends to people. Don't get me wrong, i DO like to have a choice .. but you cant enforce safety in one vehicle and not another type. If you have a choice to ride w/o a helmet (which crashing would do 1000x more damage to you than being in a car) then you should have a choice to belt up or not without being ticketed $50.

ps to pa - all that ticket money and our roads still have pot holes - maybe thats why we need our seatbelts, so we don't fly out of our seats soaring over those PA craters on the roads. :skeptical:

[music man]

Hey Dupo, Arkansas is another one of those states, wear your seatbelt or the Gestapo will lock you up, but crack your head like an egg on the pavement on your motorcycle, we don't give a shit.

Here is the STUPIDEST part though, IF you are 21 and older you don't have to wear a helmet, 18-20 you do, its like the underage Drinking law, when you turn 18 you are an adult, we expect you to be responsible for yourself, to fight for your country if you are needed, but you are not responsible enough to chose whether or not to drink, or to wear a helmet on a motorcycle.

I actually had a friend of mine that that happened to once. When he was 18 he joined the National Guard, before he ever even got out of AIT school they sent him a notice telling him his unit that he wasn't even officially in yet was going to Iraq (the first time, DESERT STORM). He stayed there for about 6-7 months, when he got back, he was still only 19, he wanted to go out and celebrate, so we go to the liquor store (He wore his Dress Uniform thinking that he surely wouldn't get carded like that right, WRONG They wouldn't let him buy a damn thing.

Some freedom he was risking his life for huh??? Just some food for thought. By the way, I am in no way UN-American, I just think that some of our policies are thought up by crack-heads.

[Water Warrior 2]

Hey Dupo, Arkansas is another one of those states, wear your seatbelt or the Gestapo will lock you up, but crack your head like an egg on the pavement on your motorcycle, we don't give a shit.

Here is the STUPIDEST part though, IF you are 21 and older you don't have to wear a helmet, 18-20 you do, its like the underage Drinking law, when you turn 18 you are an adult, we expect you to be responsible for yourself, to fight for your country if you are needed, but you are not responsible enough to chose whether or not to drink, or to wear a helmet on a motorcycle.

I actually had a friend of mine that that happened to once. When he was 18 he joined the National Guard, before he ever even got out of AIT school they sent him a notice telling him his unit that he wasn't even officially in yet was going to Iraq (the first time, DESERT STORM). He stayed there for about 6-7 months, when he got back, he was still only 19, he wanted to go out and celebrate, so we go to the liquor store (He wore his Dress Uniform thinking that he surely wouldn't get carded like that right, WRONG They wouldn't let him buy a damn thing.

Some freedom he was risking his life for huh??? Just some food for thought. By the way, I am in no way UN-American, I just think that some of our policies are thought up by crack-heads.

19 in a uniform and been to the sandbox. I'll buy him a drink. If the powers that be have deemed this young man old enough to take a bullet or worse then he should be old enough to have a drink. "No you can't drink but thanks for your service". Sounds kind of odd to me.

[Water Warrior 2]

Back to the subject. Helmets and stuff. The type of helmet and whether you wear one at all is determined by the amount of risk you are willing to accept while riding. We both wear full face helmets, Lynda's is a modular, and both of us are comfy doing so. Injuries to the face occur 27 % of the time in bike related mishaps.

[dan_]

Back to the subject. Helmets and stuff. The type of helmet and whether you wear one at all is determined by the amount of risk you are willing to accept while riding. We both wear full face helmets, Lynda's is a modular, and both of us are comfy doing so. Injuries to the face occur 27 % of the time in bike related mishaps.

See I wear a full face helmet cause i have this beautiful face to protect i mean i'm just freakin' gorgeous. :whistle:

[music man]

Back to the subject. Helmets and stuff. The type of helmet and whether you wear one at all is determined by the amount of risk you are willing to accept while riding. We both wear full face helmets, Lynda's is a modular, and both of us are comfy doing so. Injuries to the face occur 27 % of the time in bike related mishaps.

I agree with that assessment, and I wanted so bad to get a full face when I upgraded my helmet, but Like I said, I felt like giving up the protection of the chin guard part of a full face was better than giving up unrestricted vision.

I may regret that when I have an accident one of these days, but at least I will see it coming. :retard:

[Easy Rider]

See I wear a full face helmet cause i have this beautiful face to protect i mean i'm just freakin' gorgeous. :whistle:

Gorgeous in the mind of the freakin' !!! :poke2: :biggrin:

[patrick_777]

See I wear a full face helmet cause i have this beautiful face to protect i mean i'm just freakin' gorgeous. :whistle:

:facepalm:

[Dupo]

Yep, its confirmed ... he is what he says he is ...

http://www.puppethead.com/photoblog/photos/2007/P1000807.jpg

[dan_]

Oh jeez those photos are on the internet?!?!?! I'm so ashamed.

[Water Warrior 2]

[quote="Water Warrior":3km8oeak]Back to the subject. Helmets and stuff. The type of helmet and whether you wear one at all is determined by the amount of risk you are willing to accept while riding. We both wear full face helmets, Lynda's is a modular, and both of us are comfy doing so. Injuries to the face occur 27 % of the time in bike related mishaps.

I agree with that assessment, and I wanted so bad to get a full face when I upgraded my helmet, but Like I said, I felt like giving up the protection of the chin guard part of a full face was better than giving up unrestricted vision.

I may regret that when I have an accident one of these days, but at least I will see it coming. :retard:[/quote:3km8oeak] 30 years ago full face helmets restricted your vision. Modern helmets will not restrict vision. The opening is much larger and the materials are better. You just have to acclimatize to the new hat and learn to swivel your head properly.

[dan_]

Btw Dupo what's your girlfriend gunna say when she sees the image search "Transvestite bikers" on your internet history?

[music man]

[/quote] 30 years ago full face helmets restricted your vision. Modern helmets will not restrict vision. The opening is much larger and the materials are better. You just have to acclimatize to the new hat and learn to swivel your head properly.[/quote]


I have tried on many Full-Face helmets, the only ones I found that I could see out of comfortably (for me anyways) were the 3-400 dollar helmets, and I just ain't gonna come off that much for a helmet, or should I say I can't come off that much for a helmet.

[alanmcorcoran]

30 years ago full face helmets restricted your vision. Modern helmets will not restrict vision. The opening is much larger and the materials are better. You just have to acclimatize to the new hat and learn to swivel your head properly.

Yeah, I don't feel the full restricts my vision any more than the 3/4. My main restriction is laziness and old age (its HARD to turn your head halfway around!) My main interest is:

1) Eliminating the eyeglass dance.
2) Finishing my coffee without using a crazy straw.

I realize these are pretty dumb reasons for risking my teeth, but so far, nobody has really taken me to task. One of my soccer buddies is a city motorcycle cop and he was very supportive of the 3/4. So I think I'm gonna go for it. I'll still wear the full one for anything further than the office (a seven mile cakewalk with 45 mph max speed.)

I think I will also look a little less dorky, but, the rest of me screams dork so loudly, that I don't think this will reduce the overall dork rating much.

[dan_]

Do you ride down the road on your bike drinking coffee? Cause if you could get a picture maybe even a video this i wanna see.

[alanmcorcoran]

Yeah, I got two cup holders on the Strat.

[dan_]

Man. No offense Alan, but I have to look at this sorta like people that say "I love camping!" And then show up in a huge RV with air conditioner, microwave the works. I guess i've always viewed a motorcycle as the transportation version of "ruffing it" Why not just take the car if you can't do without coffee and donuts on the way to work? It cant possibly be safe either. Imagine this scenario if you will: Fresh starbucks. MMM yummy. You hit a pot hole. Spill fresh coffee all over your "member" swerve in agony. Side swipe the SUV next to you. Bye bye Alan. Oh all while wearing a 3/4 helmet.

[alanmcorcoran]

... but I have to look at this sorta like people that say "I love camping!" And then show up in a huge RV with air conditioner, microwave the works.

Camping can be fun. Burning stuff, wicked awesome gear, playing with knives and guns. It's the crappy food, sleeping in a tent and crapping outdoors that I don't care for. RV's are sort of fun. Like a big suitcase with a drivetrain and a bathroom attached. Downside? Lots of stuff that is both cheaply made and requires effing with (leveling the fridge, filling the water, emptying the toilet, raising the antenna, hooking up the cable, hooking up the juice, lowering the antenna, filling the gas tank, etc.)

... Imagine this scenario if you will: Fresh starbucks. MMM yummy. You hit a pot hole. Spill fresh coffee all over your "member" swerve in agony. Side swipe the SUV next to you. Bye bye Alan. Oh all while wearing a 3/4 helmet.

There aren't actually any cup holders on the Strat. But I liked your scenario! "Mmmmmm......, donutssss!" An excellent way to go.

Also, if I hit an SUV with the Strat, it's buh-bye SUV. I think I scraped an Escalade off my windshield last week.

[dan_]

Aight man as they say "When I die may I be covered in burning gasoline and scattered chrome!" :roll:

[music man]

My sister actually does take coffee on her 1500 vulcan when she rides it, and yes she does have a cup holder. There is a guy here in hot springs that rides around town on his big ass Goldwing in shorts, t-shirt, no helmet, smoking a cigar every time I see him.

[Easy Rider]

There is a guy here in hot springs that rides around town on his big ass Goldwing in shorts, t-shirt, no helmet, smoking a cigar every time I see him.

OK, this one should REALLY date me..........
The first bike I ever rode was a Harley 74 back about 1966. It had a hand operated gear shift, suicide (foot operated) clutch and manual spark advance.

Mind you, **I** only "rode" it about a hundred yards but the guy that owned it (a roommate) could eat a sandwich and drink a beer while cruising down the road and then smoke a cigar. He did have to stop to light the cigar, however. :roll:

I think that machine gave rise to the term "shake, rattle and roll". :biggrin:

A "high side" was when you set the spark advance wrong and the kick start threw your ass into the ditch.......without also breaking your leg, if you were lucky.

Ah, them were the good old days !! :bong:

[dan_]

The first bike I ever rode was a Harley '74 back about 1966.

Was this bike also a time machine? or is that the make of the bike?

[patrick_777]

It did sound funny, but the bike was probably a Harley Davidson Model 74.

[Dupo]

Btw Dupo what's your girlfriend gunna say when she sees the image search "Transvestite bikers" on your internet history?


She is the one that found it for me :rawk:

[Easy Rider]

The first bike I ever rode was a Harley 74 back about 1966.

Was this bike also a time machine? or is that the make of the bike?

Yes, as in 74 CI.

Shouldn't have put that apostrophe in there; fixed. :cool:

[Chris]

Around Georgia the bike shops sell full face helmets for $300 or so. But Walmart (yes, Walmart) sells a terrific Bell full face helmet for $100. So that is what I bought and I just love it. I feel much safer having a full face helmet. I do not feel restricted in any way. I cannot imagine wearing anything else. Why would I wear something that I know is not as safe as my full face helmet. And I always dress heavy, even in the summer. Perhaps I know more about how asphalt tastes than you do.
So you don't think the quick trips to the store, etc. deserve the full safety treatment that the longer rides do? I've never met you...which part of your face is so ugly that you would not miss it when you fall?
"Don't dress for the ride, dress for the slide! Cause it's coming!"

Chris, retired guy near Atlanta

[Easy Rider]

Perhaps I know more about how asphalt tastes than you do.
So you don't think the quick trips to the store, etc. deserve the full safety treatment that the longer rides do? I've never met you...which part of your face is so ugly that you would not miss it when you fall?
"Don't dress for the ride, dress for the slide! Cause it's coming!"

Chris, retired guy near Atlanta

Since there was no quote to indicate exactly WHO this comment was aimed at, so I will assume that it was me.

My response:
Give it a rest. I have lived 62 years and ridden 40 or those without tasting asphalt and I don't intend to start now. It is a choice; I made mine and you made yours. I won't chew your ass out for your choice and would appreciate it if you give me the same courtesy. It is, after all, none of your business.

[patrick_777]

Around Georgia the bike shops sell full face helmets for $300 or so. But Walmart (yes, Walmart) sells a terrific Bell full face helmet for $100. So that is what I bought and I just love it. I feel much safer having a full face helmet. I do not feel restricted in any way. I cannot imagine wearing anything else. Why would I wear something that I know is not as safe as my full face helmet. And I always dress heavy, even in the summer. Perhaps I know more about how asphalt tastes than you do.
So you don't think the quick trips to the store, etc. deserve the full safety treatment that the longer rides do? I've never met you...which part of your face is so ugly that you would not miss it when you fall?
"Don't dress for the ride, dress for the slide! Cause it's coming!"

Chris, retired guy near Atlanta

I'm going to go ahead and reiterate what Easy just said. Give it a rest. The helmet or no helmet debate will quickly get a thread locked. :bang:

As for the actual topic, I think it's a matter of taste, as much as safety. Some people feel claustrophobic in full-face helmets and others feel their vision is restricted. The more comfortable you are riding, the more attention you can devote to actually riding safely, the better. If you prefer the feel and openness of a 3/4 or half-helmet, then you shouldn't be criticized for it.

[dan_]

I'm going to go ahead and reiterate what Easy just said. Give it a rest. The helmet or no helmet debate will quickly get a thread locked.

As for the actual topic, I think it's a matter of taste, as much as safety. Some people feel claustrophobic in full-face helmets and others feel their vision is restricted. The more comfortable you are riding, the more attention you can devote to actually riding safely, the better. If you prefer the feel and openness of a 3/4 or half-helmet, then you shouldn't be criticized for it.


Yeah real fair you get to throw your two cents in but if we do its locked. :poke2:
Ah behold the power that is ADMIN! :biggrin: :whistle:

[Easy Rider]

Yeah real fair you get to throw your two cents in but if we do its locked. :poke2:
Ah behold the power that is ADMIN! :biggrin: :whistle:

The point IS, Dan, that one should not chew on his fellow riders ASS about the personal decisions he makes in life!!! This is especially true if he also happens to be the forum admin. !!!
(But then YOU know that already, don't you?) :shocked: :)

[patrick_777]

Yeah real fair you get to throw your two cents in but if we do its locked. :poke2:
Ah behold the power that is ADMIN! :biggrin: :whistle:

http://www.postimage.org/PqAi7s0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqAi7s0)

:biggrin:

[dan_]

Jeez I was just picking on the guy for contradicting himself. I didn't mean anything by it. Can we still be friends? :cry:

:chop:

[Easy Rider]

Can we still be friends?


With benefits ?? :crackup :cry:

[quote="dan_":1rbf5ggk]Can we still be friends?


With benefits ?? :crackup :cry:[/quote:1rbf5ggk]

I don't now who is funnier, Alan with his witty, self - deprecating humor or Easy with his pointed (sharp tongued?) jabs, but I laughed out loud at this one.

[alanmcorcoran]

I'm funnier. Trust me.

[Easy Rider]

I'm funnier. Trust me.

Probably. I AM funny looking; that should give me a head start....NO ?? :)

[Chris]

Thanks for not chewing my ass out.
I still think I know more about how asphalt tastes than you do.

Now I ride the safest way possible. I do not cut any corners when it comes to safety. As I said, I wear heavy clothes in the summer when I ride. And a new full face helmet.
To promote anything that is not as safe as possible is silly. Personal preferences??? To run an increased risk of being injured??
Go right ahead.

Chris, safe in Georgia

[alanmcorcoran]

Chris,

One of the things I was looking for when I started this thread was some direct experience with a crash, be it low-side or high side, when one was wearing either the full or the three quarter. Did you crash with a three-quarter? Did you scrape off your front teeth or your chin? You are the only person that came down strongly in favor of the full helmet. Even my motorcycle cop soccer buddy didn't feel the full helmet was necessary (except when it is cold out [he has both.])

There's no question that there is an increased measure of risk with a 3/4 vs a full face. The question is, how much?

And as far as a blanket statement that you should ride as safely as possible, well, that would be with a full helmet on, in a rear facing baby seat in the middle of the back seat of a Volvo. Seriously, the safest way to ride a motorcycle is not to ride one at all. And, shouldn't everyone driving a car wear a helmet and a fire suit? NASCAR guys do.

Tell me about your crash. It will have the greatest impact on my thinking.

[music man]

. Personal preferences??? To run an increased risk of being injured?? Go right ahead.

Chris, safe in Georgia

That is a great quote, that is one of the best (and most intelligent things) I have ever heard someone on this site say. Wear what you want to wear and I will wear what I want to wear, now we are getting somewhere. :plus1: :plus1: :plus1:

[Easy Rider]

. Personal preferences??? To run an increased risk of being injured?? Go right ahead.

Chris, safe in Georgia

That is a great quote,


Interesting approach. Let's see if he "gets it" now. Somehow I doubt it.

[Chris]

My major crash happened 40 years ago before Georgia required helmets so I was not wearing one. I was on a Honda 305 and took a 35mph turn at 60mph. In retrospect perhaps that was not very wise. The bike went down and slid under a car. I was seperate from the bike and made a dent in the truck of a parked car with my head (again, no helmet). Woke up in the Emergency Room. Lived, of course, with no real damage, but there was no part on my body as big as your hand that wasn't bleeding. Appearantly I rubbed off speed and skin as I tumbled down the road.
In the Emergency Room I knew I was dying. A very strange feeling. You will probably make fun of this, but it was serious at the time. By the way, I have had that postive feeling one other time when in Viet Nam a sniper caught me out in the open. He fired twice. I knew I was going to be dead any second. But he stopped firing and I lived another day. Thankfully.
Don't know how my accident affects full face helmets, but since you asked... Sure wish I had had one on when I went down.

Chris, retired near Atlanta.

My major crash happened 40 years ago before Georgia required helmets so I was not wearing one. I was on a Honda 305 and took a 35mph turn at 60mph. In retrospect perhaps that was not very wise. The bike went down and slid under a car. I was seperate from the bike and made a dent in the truck of a parked car with my head (again, no helmet). Woke up in the Emergency Room. Lived, of course, with no real damage, but there was no part on my body as big as your hand that wasn't bleeding. Appearantly I rubbed off speed and skin as I tumbled down the road.
In the Emergency Room I knew I was dying. A very strange feeling. You will probably make fun of this, but it was serious at the time. By the way, I have had that postive feeling one other time when in Viet Nam a sniper caught me out in the open. He fired twice. I knew I was going to be dead any second. But he stopped firing and I lived another day. Thankfully.
Don't know how my accident affects full face helmets, but since you asked... Sure wish I had had one on when I went down.

Chris, retired near Atlanta.


The helmet vs. no helmet debate can be divisive, and no doubt we won't solve it here. I personally feel as you do, that I wouldn't ride without a full face helmet, but I also understand the freedom of choice position (none, full, 3/4, 1/2, lid, etc.). In any event, I can certainly understand why you feel so strongly about it, given this experience.

BTW, my brother has told me stories about what he saw and experienced in Vietnam, so that part of your post resonated with me. One thing I'm pretty sure we can all agree on is that we thank you for serving your country, however we feel/felt about that war.

Keith

Oops - screwed up the quote.

Sorry to confuse,

Keith

[alanmcorcoran]

Keith, you can go back and edit your own messages. I do it all the time.

[Water Warrior 2]

Crash protection is obviously best with a full face helmet and few would dispute that. But how many riders "REALLY" consider smaller objects that suddenly appear in front of their face and splat. Birds, bees(my fav), flying junk kicked up by other vehicles, and of course that one dumb Bald Eagle that scared me half to death. I did have a small bird connect with my VStrom. The bird lost badly but without a full face hat my vision would have been more than impaired. Quickly wiping bird remains off a face shield is easier than off your face and out of your eyes.
My second EX had an open face helmet. She picked up a bee at 70 MPH. You can bet that will leave a mark.

[dan_]

My buddy I ride with is an older guy like 50 he took an owl to the face one night in the 80's. Got this bad ass talon scar on his face. Dude looks evil!

[alanmcorcoran]

I believe my prospective 3/4 (HJC) had a face shield. I cannot top the owl or eagle stories, but about a month or so into my riding career I bounced a hummingbird off my HJC. At least I think it was hummingbird. Happened so quick I did not have time to react (and crash!) Thing flew right smack into the side of my helmet. My first thought was someone a had thrown something, but it was too soft and it was definitely flying. Plus there was no one around anyway. Too small to be a "real" bird, but a lot bigger than a bee. It might have been a bat - it happened real fast and I didn't get a good look at the body.

I've been "dive-bombed" by blue jays, so unfortunately I am familiar with what a regular bird feels like when it hits your head. BTW, do NOT mess with blue jays. They will eff you up but good!

[mr. softie]

Just Thought I might chime in on this topic, been a while so hi to all. I rode for years with no helmet at all, no problem. Then I had a German half helmet for a while I would wear with goggles if it was rainy etc. No problems. Luckily when I did have a bad crash I happened to be wearing an AGV full face, as I ground the chin bar against the pavement for a bit during my tumbling slide at 55 mph. No armor though. OUCH! doesn't quite capture the feeling somehow. Lost a lot of skin but none from my face. Since then I have worn a full face. And armor. I could post some pics off the web of folks who lost their noses/mouths/chins etc. in bike crashes, some while wearing 3/4 helmets, but I'm sure you all can get by all right without seeing that. And I agree it is a personal choice. I choose full gear at this point in my life, that's my choice. But I would not presume to tell another what is best for him. Here are a few pics of some helmets that did their job. Ride safe y'all.
http://www.postimage.org/aVS5e7J.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVS5e7J)

http://www.postimage.org/PqPUJ70.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqPUJ70)

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[Chris]

I bought my full face Bell helmet at Walmart and I like it a lot. Many Walmarts don't carry helmets so I had to call around instead of driving around.
With this full face helmet I don't lose any vision at all.
About drinking coffee with a helmet on...I think you have me on that one. Somehow drinking coffee while the bike is warming up is just not that important to me. Certainly not an important as leaving my teeth on the road.
At 200 pounds riding a GZ250 with a milk crate on the back, I believe I can compete in any dorkiness contest! By the way, my milk crate on the back is just great. Looks dorky, but it really is handy.

Chris, retired near Atlanta