Would you wear a flip front helmet?

[BanannaMan]

Would you wear a flipfront helmet?
Are they safe?

A young rider asked my opinion on flip front's but tbh I don't know.
All I've ever heard was horror stories of them coming apart, but all seemed to be 2nd hand tales.
While I do know a few riders who wear them I don't really know anyone who's crashed wearing one or anyone who's been with someone who's crashed wearing one,
so I thought I would ask the OMO.

Anyone with any 1st hand knowledge or experience?

Me I'll stick with my full face lid thank you.

[jambo]

I'm often tempted by the convenience of one for town work. One thing to be aware of is that some are tested as both a full and open face lid, while some are only tested as an open face with the flip down section being considered weather protection. I'd still rather be in a flip face than an open face in an off, but it's worth being a bit picky on these i think.

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

[L3nny]

I can't see the point of them and I think people would rather be saved from the horror of looking at my face.

Seems like a big compromise in safety for little benefit.

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

I've worn one when I went to Germany, makes getting through passport control a lot easier on the ferry as you don't have to take your helmet off.

My rule of thumb with helmets is the same as with biking gear in general, I'm not going to ride hell for leather in an open face with textiles on. You wear what you need for the ride your gonna do.

For a gentle bimble I am happy with textiles and a flip-front, if I am off for fun on my R6 I'll wear full leathers and my full Face.

I know I can't stop people crashing into me, but, if I am going slower the textiles and helmet will offer the protection I need

[pookie]

I use a yellow bmw system 5 . Its a lot heavier than the standard full face. I dont worry too much when filling up at stations and walking past security at work. Easier to wipe my nose in the winter. It is noisier too with more whistling. Not been in a crash before so cant comment on structural integrity. The flip models did come with an optional integrated bluetooth kit which drew me to them.

Its good for start stop and commute journeys.. I prefer my full face generally.

[STRAMASHER]

Had a flipper for a year or so and its been a revelation. It makes a big difference having a big screen infront though. Very little wind and few bugs or stones get past.

A much more visceral experience with it flipped up (and the small internal visor down for eye-protection) always in town, much better peripheral vision and awareness (of your own mortality too so it keeps my speed down so I tend to chill out more.)

Brilliant abroad in the heat. No chance of the old head boiling!

No worries not getting served in petrol stations. Especially handy for commuting. And tabbers. And conversationists (congenial and not so!)

The full face lid has been sitting gathering dust.

[Red Herring]

All I've ever heard was horror stories of them coming apart, but all seemed to be 2nd hand tales.


I only ever hear 2nd hand tales about what happens if you ride under a bus...... I wonder why that is....:eek:

[Red Herring]

On a more serious note I think that as with many things around motorcycling it is all about compromise. I suspect that for all practical purposes the modern flip fronts offer an equal level of protection to a reasonable level full face (which can also be of variable quality and performance) however you pay for it in terms of weight and noise. If the convenience of the flip front outweighs the loss in comfort then there is no reason to dismiss them on safety grounds. There are so many variables in a crash, especially on the road, that even with the ultimate in protection there is still a chance something will get you.

[NTECUK]

I have just purchased a lazer Monaco.
There's no option for
Yes I would/do wear one but don't feel as protected.
Weight wise it's fine
Easy to speak to people if I need to.
Came with a free bluetooth kit.
The reactions visor is a good thing too.

[atassiedevil]

Yes, i would and i do.

The reason i chose the caberg duke was because it's 5 star sharp rated, and generally reviewed as one of the best flip helmets around. I did a lot of research before coming to that decision, and i haven't regretted it.

It's a very good compromise, and a hell of a lot lighter than my last flip face helmet. Very quiet too, and quieter (and lighter) than some full face helmets i have used. On the whole, i am very very happy and would buy the same again.

Sharp impact protection tests rate it 5 star across the board. That's good enough for me.

[Corny Gizmo]

+1 TassieDevil

Got my Duke last week, its snug, comfortable and a hell of a lot quieter than the last 4 full face lids I have owned.

Best thing about it is pinlock and it doesnt look like a flip face :)

[embee]

I have a Shoei Qwest and a Neotec. I got the Neotec after many years of resisting temptation regarding flip-fronts much for the reasons expressed by others.

Having now worn the flippy for a couple of European touring holidays I wouldn't use anything else there. I still use the Qwest for fun rides out or just going on a fixed ride to somewhere, but for touring the flippy just has so many practical benefits it outweighs any downsides.

The Neotec is slightly heavier than the Qwest but it's not an issue, similarly it isn't really any noisier, the bigger difference coming from which bike I'm on (screens etc). The internal sunvisor is worth its weight in gold, the ventilation in the Neotec is excellent (fine in 30C) and much better than the Qwest, and the practicality at Passport/fuel stations etc or just being able to flip it up at traffic lights is brilliant.

I don't know how it would stand up in an off, just hope the tests are right. You do have to make sure it is latched properly, if anything this is the least good feature of the Neotec, it's not a nice positive clunk, you have to check it's latched fully by trying to lift it. That could be better, but otherwise very nice.

[Nutsinatin]

I've only ever worn full face, have been tempted by a flip front for convenience, especially when I'm going lots of places in one day so keep having to take my helmet off and put it back on again. Personally I would only use one that was tested to have a successful locking mechanism and I would only ride with it down, flipping it up when I was off the bike.

[littleoldman2]

Yes, i would and i do.

The reason i chose the caberg duke was because it's 5 star sharp rated, and generally reviewed as one of the best flip helmets around. I did a lot of research before coming to that decision, and i haven't regretted it.

It's a very good compromise, and a hell of a lot lighter than my last flip face helmet. Very quiet too, and quieter (and lighter) than some full face helmets i have used. On the whole, i am very very happy and would buy the same again.

Sharp impact protection tests rate it 5 star across the board. That's good enough for me.

As above
Also you seem to get a more friendly reaction from some folk when they can see your face.

[CharleyFarley]

agree 100% with atassiedevil & Corny Gizmo, the Duke is (fa me) light, comfy, draft proof, and I feel safe/secure riding in it!!! Feel 'uneasy' with it 'open' over 30mph tho........


"Gas it w###a".........

[dirtydog]

I wear a shoei syncrotec when I ride now after the lining on my xr1000 disintegrated, don't feel any less safe in it at all, had a syncrotec when I was doing some courier work as well made it much easier as I didn't have to keep taking it off as I was delivering/collecting from banks

[Essex of Essex]

I've worn them for years, as a wearer of glasses they make life much easier and the sun visor is very useful.

[Jayneflakes]

I use a mat black Shoei Neotech flip front and I love that thing. It is not rated for use with the face open, but if I wanted that I would use my old ****pot (which sadly it makes me look like one of the village people!) anyway.

Noise is low even at motorway speed, comfort is fabulous (I swear that I could sleep in the thing) and we have put bike to bike radios in both of ours. Yes, the Wife uses one too.

I asked her if she would recommend one and she said yes, although at close to five hundred quid, she wishes that they were cheaper.

So that is two votes from us. :D

[kaivalagi]

Make that 3, I have a white neotec. The clasp is solid and yes it may not protect as well as my xr1100 but will be better than the cheaper end of full faces.

[Specialone]

I've got one, I bought me and the wife one when Amazon were selling off the bell lids.
They are brilliant for touring and when you have a pillion, the internal sun visor is good too.
I do find it more noisy than my arai chaser full face but I can live with it.

[shiftin_gear98]

Always liked the idea of them, however having "tested" my first full face helmet and ripped the visor clean off on a crash barrier, I think I'll stick to a full face.
I'd like to NOT crash again, but if I do I'd like my jaw to stay where it is.

[ClunkintheUK]

Not worth the risk for the gains for me. Though I have thought about it.

I've never had a problem with my head getting hot, I think I only open the top vents on my Qwest when its 25+ out, so about three times so far. I don't think I've ever needed to fully open the vents on my X-Spirit 2.

I only once had a petrol station ask me to remove my lid, but there were a dozen on my commute, so I just went to the next one.

I thought for a while that the internal sun visor would be handy, but now I seem to have my routine for using tinted visors, it just doesn't seem like that big an advantage, but would still be nice.

One of the big problems for me is that the mechanisms for the chin guard and internal sun visor make the helmet too narrow internally at the temples, I can feel a headache coming on about 3 minutes of wearing all the flip-front sun visor lids I've tried.

[NTECUK]

Hey its a good point about the mechanism.
Maybe why the lazer Monaco fits me as well as it does

[cb1000rsteve]

I wouldn't bother with a flip front as I don't need a flip fronted helmet. Also my eyes stream on warm summer days with visor open under thirty so this is another reason I wouldn't buy one.

[NTECUK]

I wouldn't bother with a flip front as I don't need a flip fronted helmet..
That's possibly the best reason I've ever heard