Leather Motorcycle Gear

Somewhere between the open-face helmet and the full-face helmet is the modular motorcycle helmet – also called a flip-up helmet, flip-face helmet, system helmet and other names. This style helmet permits the wearer to raise the facial section out of the way, allowing him to eat, drink, smoke or simply remove a barrier to conversation without going through the rigmarole of unfastening and removing his helmet and then replacing it and reattaching the strap. Some eyeglass wearers who feel these motorcycle helmets are their only option for full facial coverage. Modular motorcycle helmets are perceived as providing the benefits of an open-face helmet with the protection of a full-face helmet. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday we outlined the top 5 of 10 steps of the guide to buying a motorcycle helmet published by motorcyclecruiser.com.  Though of lesser significance to injure avoidance than the top 5 steps, (DOT Certification, Retention, Fit, Comfort and Coverage) they are none the less central to your wanting to wear your helmet for the long term.  After all, your helmet is something you’ll want to LIVE WITH for a long time.  Pun Indented!

6. Faceshield

If you are buying a helmet with a faceshield, the shield probably has certification info molded into it, as all quality shields that we have seen do. The relevant standards are VESC-8 and ANSI Z-87. Snell-certified helmets also have meet the Sneff Foundation’s faceshield standards. The shield should seal all the way around the edges of the helmet opening and be easy to operate and stay in position when raised. While you are trying the helmet on, close the shield and look for signs of optical distortion (such as straight lines that get curvy). If you note distortion anywhere near your normal line of sight, you should probably select a different helmet. Distortion is rare these days but can be quite annoying and tiring on long rides. Unfortunately, quality faceshields have gotten quite expensive, but the good news is that they resist scratching and are much more durable, so that the cost stretched over several years is about the same or perhaps even lower. In any event, the shield should resist scratching. Most offer UV protection. The best shield mechanism designs have provisions to crack the shield open to prevent fogging and to change without tools. I can quickly change shields on my favored Shoei RF900 without taking the helmet off my head. A simple screw pivot, once the standard, is now pretty outdated and inconvenient and is likely to break or back out. Read the rest of this entry »