Helmets recommendations on flip up helmets?

Don, By all accounts the HJC Symax flip-ups are really good helmets; you've made another wise purchase there.

I stuck with Nolans because I've had them before, so I know that the Large size will fit me like a glove. The Small size is also a perfect fit for my SO.

My [now] old Nolans are open face jobs, but just like you, safety-wise I just don't have confidence in this style anymore, particularly after reading those horror stories (I like my chin just the way it is ... doesn't need modifying by an unfortunate accident!).

Yesterday, on my first ride-out with the new Nolan flip-up - which was just around town by the way - I didn't get above around 45 mph. But around 40 mph the increase in wind-blast noise was very noticeable indeed, much more than my open-face, which never got noticeably noisy until I reached around 65 mph.

The thought of living more "inside" a helmet made me think that I might get a bit claustrophobic, but this is not the case. Vision is not impaired at all, and I actually feel far more secure when the chin guard is down and locked.

Despite the new Nolans "Fog Resistant System", I also feared that the visor might fog-up with my nasal breath. Well it does, but only a little, and then only when wearing it in a stationery position, e.g. stopped at traffic light. The answer is to open the visor about half-an-inch (to the first or second 'click'), and any fogging then disappears immediately. When you pick-up speed again the ventilating system deals with any potential fogging-up. So the visor can be shut again when moving forward.

In summary, the advantage of better protection; the various combinations of visor up -or- down; chin-guard up or locked-down, etceteras, far outweigh the disadvantage of a little extra noise, which I can deal with one way or another.

Executive summary: A real good buy - glad I've got them (also like the cool 'Darth Vader' look!).

Regards

Keith (UK)
 
Thats too bad about the Nolan for you. Just the same with the Symax with me. I can use it for about a couple hours before the pain starts. During the rain the water just pours down and does not follow the visor, it ends up in my face. Maybe not with you, I had the standard 03 without the motorized windshield and the is lower than the motorized ones. So you might have more protection in the rain.
 
I recently got my first flip open, last fall. I did a fair amount of research and ended up with the Jarow X2. It was $100 less than the Schuberth has the same features. It has good reviews, the only con was I couldn't find one to try on. They were hard to find, actullaly not hard to find but hard to find in stock somewhere. Seeing as they seemed to be popular I thought if I didn't like it or had issues, I could always ebay it.
Well i'm not gonna ebay it. The quality is excellent, solid build, and comfortable for me. It is big, SWMBO LOL'ed the first time I put it on, and the anti-fog doesn't work that well.

I got it from http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store

Tom de - newbie ST'er
03 ST1300
 
Well I can say that the Nolan X-lite helmet is great. Rode about 100 miles in it and no problems. First day the forehead was hurting a bit after an hour but bearable. Today I wore a liner underneath and no problems. Probably one of the seams must have moved while putting on the helmet. My head frose too and thought this can't be right so I checked the vent and was pushed in. So I can say it has good ventilation and its quiet compared to the Nolan 100E and the Symax.
 
My wife and I both got Symax's last week. Comfy, noiser than full face, but not obnoxiously so. No rain riding yet. The Symax only uses one shell size for all the helmet sizes, so changing out padding, in effect, gives you different sized helmets. Good venting. Only fogged up once in 40 degree weather at a street light. I opened the chin bar vent and she cleared right up.

The Nolan I tried on was quite a bit smaller from front to back. It had my chin very close to the chin bar, which also made it fog up a lot more. All in all, happy with our purchase. Got them for $168 each from Motorcycle Emporium.
 
Some of the guys on the goldwing site I've been looking at like the Vega Summit.. It's only $129 and webbikeworld did a review here.

Splat Hat (never dealt with this site before) has them and in what appears to be very close ST colors (I think the titanium is actually closer to the ST silver than the Silver listed).

The reviews on this helmet basically say it's VERY similar in sizing and fit to the HJC Symax with a little extra room between the chin bar and your chin...

I'm going to try and pain my current fullface to match the new Wing but if I botch that up... I'll get this helmet.
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Don't let the price fool you, all the reviews I could find say this design, albeit cheap, is one of the better ones and very quiet.
 
For myself, the next helmet I buy will be the lightest snell approve full coverag I can afford. CASCI's blurb on possible eye socket injuries are enough to have me stick with my old standby the full coverage. Perhaps too conservative a view, but it's the one I'll be sticking with for the time being.

Perhaps when the manufacturers create some flip ups that get submitted and pass snell, I'll reconsider, maybe.
 
Carl_T said:
For myself, the next helmet I buy will be the lightest snell approve full coverag I can afford. CASCI's blurb on possible eye socket injuries are enough to have me stick with my old standby the full coverage. Perhaps too conservative a view, but it's the one I'll be sticking with for the time being.

Perhaps when the manufacturers create some flip ups that get submitted and pass snell, I'll reconsider, maybe.
Click to expand...

I don't believe that report and the results. The helmet stayed intact. There is something about that report, that is missing.
 
The difference between the Symax and the Summit is material. Where the Symax is Fiberglass/Kevlar, which will absorb an impact, the Summit is Poly, which will bounce or deflect an impact. Having been down 5 times on crotch rockets, I'll take the absorption any day.
 
<RANT MODE>

Something that's gotten lost in this discussion is the fact that the best/cheapest/coolest/newest/whatever feature helmet isn't worth a ***** if it dos not fit right. Buying an ill fitting helmet just to save a few bucks is Darwin at his best IMNSHO. Proper fit is my first criteria, features second. Snell rating and price are dead last in no order.

I think Snell may be relevant for track situations and I wear a Snell rated helmet on the track. Urban legends aside, I've yet to see a well documented situation in which a properly fitted, fastened flip front failed in real life. From what I've read, the only reason that there is no Snell rated flip front is that none of the manufacturers have submitted one for testing. Speculate on their reasons if you want.

<RANT MODE OFF>

And now back to your regular programming. :)

Steve
 
I've purchased 3 helmets from splathat... the are great and easy to work with... they actually answer the phone and don't give you BS. They deliver when promised and their prices include shipping! :D
 
\OFF THREAD
I wear a Symax Flipup, my second flipup type helmet... fit is perfect... I feel safe in it... it is lighter than ther other one I have. I wear glasses, so it makes my life easier being a flipup. When I pay for gas, or run into a store real quick, I can just flip it up, don't have to take it off... european police wear them, so I feel it is good for me.

Compared to the half helmets I used to wear on my cruiser, this is a more comfortable feeling... safer for me.

And yes, I've heard the "rumors"... but have yet to see a real case of it failing and the hinge causing the injury.
\THREAD

That is a nice helmet as I said before... but I like my Symax. Rain... got caught in a downpour, Houston style... had it opened a crack... yes it dripped a couple of times, but not enough to be a bother :)
 
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I think I'd wet myself if I had to ride any distance in a 3/4 helmet. :rolleyes:

A half helmet would put all systems into immobile standby mode. :eek: I've never purchased anything but full coverage, both rider and passenger.

Apples for you, oranges for me. I never did figure my head was worth anymore at the track than it is on the street.

I admit the flip up looks really convenient. I guess no helmet is super convenient. As you said, everyone has their own comfort level. You guys are real nice testing the flip up safety out for me though. :) ;) :D
 
Carl_T said:
You guys are real nice testing the flip up safety out for me though. :) ;) :D
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Glad to be of service! :D When snow tires come out, let me know how those work out for you... :D
 
Regarding the HJC Symax: Unfortunately, I know first hand that the HJC open-faced helmet works very well. I am on my second one ( I was wearing the first one when I went down). I think that they are very confortable and work very well. My only small complaint is that I believe they are not as quiet as some of the more expensive ones.
 
For flipups, I have the:

1. symax - comfortable, wind and rain protection non-existant
2. Nolan 100E - way comfortable, better rain protection, wind the same
3. Nolan X-lite - corfortable after riding 300 miles and a liner. Way better wind and rain protection the symax and 100E together and its a poly helmet.

The X-lite is well worth it.
 
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