Full Face Helmet

I plan to buy a good quality helmet to match with the use of a bike at 3kW+

I heard that the DOT 3 approved helmet are highly recommendable for that power grade of electric bike.

What your oppinions?

I plan to increase power to 5kW+ at the middle of spring.

What shape, brand, safety aproval, would you recommand ?

Doc

I am not sure what style you are looking for, but I have a HJC CL-14 for my motorcycle. It was inexpensive and comfortable, but I have trouble wearing glasses with it on. Some reviews complained it was noisy at freeway speeds, but I don't really go that fast anyway...

Well, I've just started riding my 5403 at 45mph, and I use this helmet: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600091&subcategory=60001045&brand=&sku=21339&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Adult%20Helmets

It's comfortable and quiet, and it feels very safe... but... I have not tested it. If you'll pardon the pun, bicycle helmet safety ratings do have a good bit of headroom. Still, I can't tell you if offroad/downhill helmets are in the same league as motocross/atv helmets.

I wore my full face Arai motorcycle helmet once on my little 20mph e-bicycle. People were looking at me very strangely so I didn't do it again. I used an old chopper half-helmet for a month until I finally bought a (not full face) real bicycle helmet. That chopper one drww less attention, but the true bicycle helmet is more comfortable, both sweat-wise and attention-wise.

vanilla ice said:

the true bicycle helmet is more comfortable, both sweat-wise and attention-wise.

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I doubt the helmet will draw attention on an x5 system. :lol:

Hi

I use a downhill mtb helmet, it has the vents is full face and very strong, its not a motorcycle helmet though, I did fall off and my head hit the ground hard, the helmet saved my teeth for sure, people may look at you a little more strangely, I always think they would look even more if my face got busted up bad, id recommend a full face lid on any e-bike that runs over 20mph, its a personal choice of course, I feel a lot safer with a full face DH helmet on, try some of the MTB full face lids out for size at your local Bike Shop.

Knoxie

i have heard that bicycle helmets suc in any collision, even at 0 mph. they are designed with vent holes which compromise the protection. they are next to useless in any collision above 15mph (all collisions with cars) and cant protect against non-flat surfaces.

if any one finds a good (thick) cycle helmet without vent holes i would be very interested. i was thinking about the open face motor cycle helmets. i have a Bell cycle helmet.

I usually use my multi-sport helmet which does have a hard outer skin unlike bicycle helmets with the thin plastic asphalt-slider skin. On the box I think it said approved for bmx, rollerblade, skateboard, and bicycle use. It does have a few vent holes on the top, but not so many. If its really hot I use the bicycle helmet. Monster, maybe look for one of those multi-sport helmets. Knoxie you're right, should probably use a full face DH helmet for over 20. Better funny looks than missing teeth!

monster said:

i have heard that bicycle helmets suc in any collision, even at 0 mph.

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I doubt that. I went to elementary school where there was this guy who got in a crash with a car. I don't know what the hell the driver was doing tearing through the mountains at 45mph, but she ended up hitting the kid. He also brought in the helmet he was wearing..


All thirteen pieces of it.

Hi

Normal bike helmets dont suck trust me!! Dermot who posts on here was telling me about 2 cyclists that met each other round a blind corner on an oxford street, one cyclist had a helmet on the other didnt, the combined collision speed was 30mph, the woman not wearing a helmet literally met head on with the helmet of the other rider.

The woman wasnt killed but Dermot went in to great detail on the big dent the woman had in her forehead from the impact, they had to perform re constructive surgery to get her head looking right the other cyclist was un injured. Its well known that bike helmets are a life saver and to suggest otherwise is not right, my downhill helmet is not the foam type thin skinned bike helmet it is more like a motor cycle helmets with vents in, this is perfect, a normal motorcycle helmet will be way too hot to use in the summer if you intended on peddling along with your bike.

It is like I said a personal choice, I dont ever even ride my bike without a helmet on, nobody looks and thinks people that wear helmets are dorks? in fact I think people that dont wear them are! ha ha, like I said no teeth, facial scars etc etc, full face is really the way to go even on a normal bike and I have never understood people wearing open face helmets on motorcycles? I like my teeth and face the way they are!! ha ha.

Cheers and stay safe folks..

Knoxie

Good thread with lots of independent ideas, good for me too as I kinda need a new helmet. When I bought mine twelve or thirteen years ago I bought it from a LBS that has since gone out of business but I distinctly remember reading on the box that if it was involved in an accident to send it back for a FREE replacement. It seems it is designed to crush/crack as a method of absorbing impact. I also seem to recall seeing on "How It's Made" or similar program the testing these go through and it seemed adequate to me.

Our local Wallys World has a pretty good selection and I'd have bought one the other day except they were only available in bright colors and I wanted a plain white one. In the meantime the only real problem with mine is that it shows all those years of wear and painting it would destroy the effectiveness of the outer protective skin. I kinda go along with the hesitation to wear a regular motorcycle helmet and really don't think I need one as the lycra crowd goes over 20 MPH all the time and they wear regular bike helmets. Plus the bike helmet is definitely cooler and lighter and both of these are important to me.

Mike

I"m going with a Giro this year. 8)

Not only for the chin/teeth protection factor, but " that look " that car drivers give you when you wear a full face vs regular bicycle helmet might make them think twice about how serious you are on your bicycle with an electric motor

I have a collection of helmets

- Motocross
- Winter full face with heated shield (modular, it opens up )
- Chopper skull cap ( 2 )
- Bicycle helmet ( 3 of them )
- Vintage ATC helmet
- Full face motorcycle summer Shoei

and soon to add a Giro !

I have flipped... crashed.. wipedout.. ben run over.. you name it.. i've done it.. don't feel or be foolish guys... wear your caps !

mmmmm,

very interesting thread.
i am currently deciding on which lid to buy - i know i have to have one but i dont like normal bicycle helmets at all - problem is a full face will attract wayyy more attention than i want to leaving me a dilemna as to which to buy.
Current frontrunner is a full face "specialised deviant".
interesting to see what doc goes for as mine is around the 2.5-3kw marker too.


Cheers


D

I have one of this style:

http://images.google.com/images?q=multisport+helmet

Seems like it'd be safer in most types of accidents than one of the typical aero bicycle ones. It is hotter, but nearly as bad as a DOT motorcycle helmet. And if I ever decide to hit up the halfpipe I'm set!

The majority of adult bicyclists here don't even wear any helmet at all. I see kids who don't either even though its law that they do. When a regular helmet is the exception you know a full one is going to draw lots of looks..

Here in Ontario Canada a bicycle helmet is required for everyone under the age of either 16 or 18 can't remember? We are in the midst of a 3 year pilot project to see if ebikes will become legal here in Ontario and if your on an ebike you are required to wear a bike helmet and if they catch you without there can be a fine of up to $2,000.00.

My whole life of riding a bike I never wore a helmet but since getting the Crystalite motor I ended up purchasing one.The thought of getting smucked by a car or somehow wiping out whilst going over 20mph on the bike without a helmet kinda made me think that wearing one wouldn't be a bad idea and have done so ever since.The fine thing was also a factor in making that decision.

Eric

I normally don't wear a helmet when riding dedicated non-technical bike trails. However when riding streets or technical singletrack (I was into MTB in my younger days) I always used one. I signed up for a motorcycle school this spring - want to get a license just in case I decide to get a dualsport bike sometime. Hence I am looking for helmets also and I want to get a DOT approved motorcross style one. I'll use it on my X5 setup when riding streets and potentially with a dirt bike later. I wear glasses and do not want to use any goggles on top of that. I remember seeing somewhere a motorcross style helmet that had an integrated retractable shield - but it was awfully expensive.

Guys, I don't see the big deal about funny looks, especially on a 2kw+ bike. I promise you, when you're in traffic at 30, 40, 45mph, they won't be staring at your helmet. I promise you, if you crash without a full face helmet at those speeds, you'll get more funny looks after you leave the hospital than you could have in a lifetime of wearing a full face.

we should have a poll on this. full face, multi-sport, cycle helmet, motor cycle helmet or none.

it would be interesting

monster said:

we should have a poll on this. full face, multi-sport, cycle helmet, motor cycle helmet or none.

it would be interesting

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Agreed, but... I sure hope that that last option would be unnecessary. I choose to live, thank you.

Re helmet safety: Daytona, the home of Speed Week and Octoberfest, hosts a million motorcycles between both events. Helmets are not a part of Florida law and the wearing of one is left to the rider. The local paper, The Daytona Communist Journal, reports on each and every wreck and whether or not a helmet is worn. Most of the fatalities were not wearing one.

Many years ago, riding a 750cc Matchless motorcycle, I rode down what I thought was a familiar street about 11:0'clock at night. It turns out I made the turn a block early and the street I was on was a dead end cul de sac. After winding out second gear to about 75 MPH I looked up and there was a HUGE concrete block wall. I tried to lay the bike down but the speed was too fast, the distance to short and I hit the wall head on. The wreck collapsed the front forks into the engine, crushed the front tire/wheel and crushed the fuel tank. I went over the handlebars upside down and backwards with the back of my head hitting the wall. I woke up with the ambulance attendants trying to stop the bleeding and was alert enough to name a hospital. Four days later I was discharged with a huge scar, concussion, injured shoulders and hands. My helmet was at home.

About three years later while riding a Harley Sportster, XLCH, at around 5:O'clock in the morning, tired as can be, I pulled out from a dirt road and accelerated hard to about 70 - 75 miles an hour onto a three lane highway. Unfortunately a car pulling out failed to take my speed into consideration and wound up clipping my rear wheel. This was not a good thing. While tumbling down the road at that speed I was able to observe sparks and flames coming out of my bike every time I faced that direction. The seat of my jeans was destroyed, my hands, sans gloves, were covered with road rash, my leather jacket almost destroyed and my helmet severely scratched. I got up, put the bike on its wheels, picked up the left handlebar and rode two hundred miles home. I had learned my lesson and had my helmet on my head instead of the dresser. Except for my hands and pride all was well.

Helmets are cheap. Cheaper than heads. At 20 - 25 mph however I do think a lightweight bike helmet is sufficient.

Mike

Wanted a helmet to keep my head warm. Went to Ski Shop and bought Giro Fuse. Wore it in the car on way home from Ski Shop. Never wore it on Bike. Its got vents that open and close with lever on top. Like air-conditioning for your head.

Bought dark gray because that is what they had in stock. Should have got bright color so car drivers better able to see me. Would like to paint it ORANGE YELLOW and RED

This is the mofo I roll with. Cheap, comfy, safe, and good looking.


Flat black is my favorite. Always been a fan of the mad max movies....




http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4645491

I have the Specialized Deviant 07' (Black flames). I also wear my goggles because of the 25-45 mph makes my eyes tear up and by the time I get to my destination my eyes dry and itchy. Regardless of what people think, they are going to look at you and wonder who, what, where, is he riding or wearing. Forget vanity and just ride with protection. You'll be glad you did. Besides, wearing a full face helmet prevents them from knowing who you are anyway.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEquipPopup.jsp?equipimage=/OA_MEDIA/equip/6068-407_l.jpg&equipmodel=Deviant Helmet

A highly ventilated full-face helmet that's as breezy as many XC helmets, but built for riders looking for full-face protection. Its 21 vents and tough fiberglass shell makes it ideal for freeride, aggressive XC or any conditions that benefit from extended coverage.

Along with the full face helmet, DocBass might want to go the whole distance with knee and elbow protectors, leather gauntlets... Athletic "cup" for sure. There's just no such thing as TOO safe, right?

loCk

Gloves are worth mentioning..

I think most if not all my videos on youtube and google.video have me wearing gloves when i ride.. the first thing you do in a wipeout is use your hands to brace for impact.

My left hand has out-of-place knuckes, i've learned the hard way :lol: