Flip-up helmets - Good/bad?

It's close on time for a new helmet, I was in Holland last week, where it
seems the vast majority on big bike riders now have flip up front helmets.
These certainly look a good idea, but are they actually any good, and is
the price premium over a std. helmet worth it?
Also, if the views are positive, what brands should I be looking at? (yes,
I know, the one that fits my head - I seem to have a funny shaped head, so
the only helmet I have ever felt comfortable in is an Arai Rapide, which,
although now 5 years old, is still in really good nick - so something with
a similar fit to Arais would be ideal.)
Ta
Alan.

 

Depends how often you need to remove your lid IMO.

Don't ask me. I prefer to balance a full face on the top of my noggin

 

A.Lee wrote

Qualified yes.

Yes.


One point to note is that they are significantly noisier than normal
yerrats at proper cruising speeds but as you ride like a wuss this won't
be an issue.

 

As Auvache says, trhey are definately noisier than ff helmets.

The best part of a flip-front is that on hot days you can open the
front and get fresh cooling air to your face. Not recommended over
60mph, as the 'air brake' effect is likely to tear your head off.

I have a Schuberth Concept and absolutely love the internal dark
visor.

Go and try a few

 

I am on my second IXS, and they have both been quieter than any Pull-on
helmet I had before.

Cost of IXS, when I last bought one, UKP 150.

Spoke to someone today who swears by his Roof.

Excellent advice.

 

I have a Caberg Justissimo, £150 internal dark visor anti-fog main one. I
love it to bits, as others have said, it is really refreshing to be able
to flip the front up when tootling through villages and get soem fresh
air. It is slightly noisier than a FF but not that bad. I'm not someone
who wears ear plugs and I don't have any problems with it. If you wear
specs it also means you can put the helmet on without removing them.

 

I was aware of the increased noise levels around the hinge point, but
is what I have also heard - that flip-front helmets also noticeably
heavier than integral helmets - correct?

 

On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 08:05:51 +0000, entwisi wrote:

I've got one of these as well.
I'd strongly recommend using ear plugs with this or ANY helmet, unless you
actually look forward to tinnitus.
The supplied anti-mist insert is crap: I replaced it.
It's one of the few flip-front helmets I;ve found which I can actually put
on without removing my glasses.
The ventilation isn't very good: too hot in warm weather and not enough
air-flow to prevent misting. (Obviously the anti-mist insert takes care
of that to a degreee.) The dark visor is also susceptible to misting,
particularly on bright, winter days. Oh: and it's not as dark as I'd like.

However, it's comfortable and seems to be reasonably well made. Not too
heavey, either, which is a problem with some others. Not perfect, but
good value for money.

 

In a sample of one, my Schuberth concept (which I very very rarely wear as I
don't actually like it) weighs more (or at least is balanced differently)
than my Shoei Z-One - by a fair bit.

Would get a Z-One again (and have) - would not, in a million years, get
another Schuberth.

But other people swear by them

 

er.. did he have the flip _down_ though?

 

Paul Varnsverry wrote

No.

Some may actually be heavier but you adapt within minutes and after that
it becomes normal.

 

Insert? mine is a normal visor with a coating on it. I've never managed to
get it to mist up even on warm wet days with the visor shut at lights.

Again I'm querying the insert you speak of. You sure its a Justissimo and
not a J1? The dark visor bit could be a bit darker but it is certainly
better than nothing. I have also not had any issues with ventilation, I
have teh front and top vents open and its always seemed Ok to me

Agree on that last bit.

 

Looking at the figures on the Schuberth website, the Concept is
anywhere between 8% and 13% heavier overall than their integral
helmets - although the Concept shell is lighter than many of the other
models!

The timing of this thread is particularly fortunate because I have
recently been drafting a guidance document, part of which focuses on
the different types of helmet that are available. One concern that has
been expressed with regard to flip front helmets is whether they might
cause an increase in neck injuries due not only to their increased
mass, but also the relative positioning of that mass when the front of
the helmet is being worn in the raised position immediately prior to
and during an accident. One for the neurosurgeons, I suppose...

I am generally pleased with my Schuberth S1. The anti-mist visors
(including the internal flip-down black visor) work brilliantly and
the fit and comfort are superb, but the ventilation system is simply
inadequate behind the RT's fairing when the temperature climbs much
above 20C - that's when I switch to the OGK, whose ventilation system
moves far more air.

 

Mine also has a coated visor, but it still misted up badly on miserable
cold, wet days in the middle of winter. It also came supplied with an
insert: FogCity sort of thing. With that it was a bit better, but still
not very good. I remvoed that - which didn't do the coating a lot of good
- and fitted an actual FogCity, which did a rather better job.

It says "Justissimo" on the side, so I guess that's what it is.

Well, I'm used to more fresh air. And my glasses still steam up, much
more than they do in my AGV X-Vent.

 

In message <>, Paul

You are *very* unwise to ride with the front up at anything above urban
speeds. They simply aren't designed for it.

 

Hear, hear! In our youth we may think our hearing will last for ever,
but the frequencies generated within *any* helmet are very injurious to
the vitals of your hearing - and the damage does not repair itself, so
every (fast) ride without ear protection is a step nearer to turning the
TV up too high for everybody else.

Always wear ear plugs. I said ALWAYS WEAR ....

 

So no worse off than a normal open face. Was he riding with the chin up
or down?

 

I like my open face Davida, nice quality (leather lined), good fit (I,
apparently, have an Arai shaped head) and very very pleasant in summer.

I wear mine all year. Winter can be a bit of a tit though, so for you it
could Arai in the winter; open face for the summer.

 

And you get to look like Biggles

 

dwb says...

On the Frankfurt run Sweller was christened "George Shuttleworth" because
of his bike gear and riding style.