[DesPeresMark]

I’ve worn a Bell Mag 9 which is a 3/4 helmet for past five years or so, fits me perfectly. Dropped it and broke off the flip down shield so I need another helmet. I had decided to get a full face helmet because I’ve got a couple other full-faced helmets I use for my dual sport bike and I figured I should get a full face to replace my Bell Mag 9.

But then I saw a link to a quiz on AdvRider about a motorcycle safety survey and the role helmets play and I got 80%. The two questions I got wrong had to do with the fact three-quarter helmets were involved in fewer accidents. The theory being the greater field of vision and hearing gives you that extra fraction of a time needed to make a decision that avoids an incident. The actual injuries were greater if there was an accident, but the number of accidents were less. I did not read all the details of the survey of the 2000+ accidents they used to compile the data so I’ll have to assume they took the typical steps to make fair comparisons.

Personally, I prefer a 3/4 helmet because I feel safer with a wider field of view. Now, I’ve changed my mind and decided to replace it with another 3/4, but I’m wondering what everyone else thinks about this. Does it make sense that wearing 3/4 helmets results in fewer incidents because you see (and maybe hear) situations brewing so you have additional time to avoid?

 

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Without seeing the actual statistics you cite... personally I'd be more concerned with how well I'd fare in an accident. I mean, be a careful rider, and use your skills and senses the best you can; but considering how many motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers' inattention, carelessness and just plain bad driving, I'd rather err on the side of "it'll probably happen, so be best prepared."

I've had only a few close calls, but I attribute that to paying attention and using my eyes to the best extent to predict driver behavior and identify threats. Hearing is almost never a factor with me, so I make sure I have the best view possible, and not worry so much about hearing.

 

[GeeHaw]

Agree with Steve’s point that having the best visibility you can is imperative. I have the Nolan N70-2GT Touring Crossover helmet with removable chin bar. I wear the chin bar for touring and take it off for commuting and short rides. Also when it is hot, hot, hot! Its wider face shield allows for increased peripheral vision over traditional helmets IMO. Very comfortable! And having a proper-fitting helmet is the key factor for to having the best protection. If it doesn’t fit right, it is not the helmet for you and could cause greater injury even if it is a full-face helmet.

I haven’t seen the safety rating for this helmet, but it works great for me. I imagine the chin bar could come off in a crash, but I hope never to be in one!

 

[rpw00mirage]

these are great statements on the 3/4 helmet... i have always grappled with getting one for the bike but i have to use a full face SA helmet for racing which doubles great on the bike. but if i could be a little more comfortable and have a better view it may be worth it? it doesn't get as hot in the summer here in central MA except for a single month but there are days when my short ride has my head sweating.

 

[TLeventry]

Everyone has to decide for themselves.

My take is that I like my face and plan to keep it intact if possible

 

[CB61]

One thing stood out to me in the statement: “three-quarter helmets were involved in fewer accidents”.
To me, that statement doesn’t necessarily indicate that a 3/4 helmet is safer, it could simply reflect that there are so few in use.

Less 3/4 helmets worn could skew the overall numbers and make you think that is an indication of them being safer.

Example: “3/4 helmets are involved in far fewer accidents at race tracks”

The statement is true, but it in no way indicates the 3/4 helmet is safer, only that fewer are in accidents because they are not allowed to be used on racetracks!

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

It depends on your interpretation of the numbers.

As for me, I wouldn’t consider losing the protection of a full face helmet for an open face helmet.

I’ve worn a Bell Mag 9 which is a 3/4 helmet for past five years or so, fits me perfectly. Dropped it and broke off the flip down shield so I need another helmet. I had decided to get a full face helmet because I’ve got a couple other full-faced helmets I use for my dual sport bike and I figured I should get a full face to replace my Bell Mag 9.

But then I saw a link to a quiz on AdvRider about a motorcycle safety survey and the role helmets play and I got 80%. The two questions I got wrong had to do with the fact three-quarter helmets were involved in fewer accidents. The theory being the greater field of vision and hearing gives you that extra fraction of a time needed to make a decision that avoids an incident. The actual injuries were greater if there was an accident, but the number of accidents were less. I did not read all the details of the survey of the 2000+ accidents they used to compile the data so I’ll have to assume they took the typical steps to make fair comparisons.

Personally, I prefer a 3/4 helmet because I feel safer with a wider field of view. Now, I’ve changed my mind and decided to replace it with another 3/4, but I’m wondering what everyone else thinks about this. Does it make sense that wearing 3/4 helmets results in fewer incidents because you see (and maybe hear) situations brewing so you have additional time to avoid?

with

 

[DesPeresMark]

One thing stood out to me in the statement: “three-quarter helmets were involved in fewer accidents”.
To me, that statement doesn’t necessarily indicate that a 3/4 helmet is safer, it could simply reflect that there are so few in use.

Less 3/4 helmets worn could skew the overall numbers and make you think that is an indication of them being safer.

Example: “3/4 helmets are involved in far fewer accidents at race tracks”

The statement is true, but it in no way indicates the 3/4 helmet is safer, only that fewer are in accidents because they are not allowed to be used on racetracks!

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

It depends on your interpretation of the numbers.

As for me, I wouldn’t consider losing the protection of a full face helmet for an open face helmet.


with

 

[DesPeresMark]

Studies like these typically take steps to account for a disparity in the numbers They would’ve factored that there are fewer three-quarter helmets. Like I said, I didn’t read the methodology in the study so I’m making an assumption they followed standard protocols to account for that in order to make the statement that “proportionally speaking” fewer three-quarter helmets were involved with accidents, but the injuries were more significant in those accidents that did occur.

What would be interesting would be to find a study that included helmetless riders and see if proportionally speaking, are helmetless riders in fewer accidents than even 3/4 helmets? Seems like that would be very difficult to factor out the variances to compare apples to apples, Maybe I’m painting with a very broad brush, but my assumption is helmetless riders are more careless, at least, based on my casual observation. I think it’s fair to say three-quarter helmet riders and full face helmet, riders are on level ground when it comes to riding techniques . At least much closer than you would have with when comparing against helmetless riders.

 

[Hondafan]

I prefer the full-face helmet that way I know my head and face have full protection in case of an accident.

 

[CB61]

Studies like these typically take steps to account for a disparity in the numbers They would’ve factored that there are fewer three-quarter helmets. Like I said, I didn’t read the methodology in the study so I’m making an assumption they followed standard protocols to account for that in order to make the statement that “proportionally speaking” fewer three-quarter helmets were involved with accidents, but the injuries were more significant in those accidents that did occur.

What would be interesting would be to find a study that included helmetless riders and see if proportionally speaking, are helmetless riders in fewer accidents than even 3/4 helmets? Seems like that would be very difficult to factor out the variances to compare apples to apples, Maybe I’m painting with a very broad brush, but my assumption is helmetless riders are more careless, at least, based on my casual observation. I think it’s fair to say three-quarter helmet riders and full face helmet, riders are on level ground when it comes to riding techniques . At least much closer than you would have with when comparing against helmetless riders.

I ran across this article and I’m posting it if any of you are interested. Statistically riding DRUNK is a major factor in deaths from motorcycle accidents.. add in not wearing a helmet and you’ll have to decide if the gene pool can stand such loss. 🙄

From the article below:
Motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists died, and 29% of motorcycle riders who died were drunk.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics Updated to 2023 - MLF Blog

Do Motorcycle Accident Stats Warrant More Safety Now Than Before? Learn which factors influence motorcycle accidents today.

www.motorcyclelegalfoundation.com

 

[SteveDCT]

Ive always worn a 3/4 helmet. Currently a Scorpion EXO-100, looks like it has been replaced with the EXO-CT220.

The data that I'd review would be that if you watch on YouTube - motorcycle crash compilations, the overwhelming majority of crashes are sport bike riders who seem to almost universally wear full face helmets. Like it's going to make a difference when weaving through cars on the Interstate at 120mph.

So I would suspect that the issue is not better visibility, it's that the people who wear 3/4 or 1/2 helmets are more likely to be old guys like me on cruisers who are a little smarter about how they ride.

 

[CB61]

Ive always worn a 3/4 helmet. Currently a Scorpion EXO-100, looks like it has been replaced with the EXO-CT220.

The data that I'd review would be that if you watch on YouTube - motorcycle crash compilations, the overwhelming majority of crashes are sport bike riders who seem to almost universally wear full face helmets. Like it's going to make a difference when weaving through cars on the Interstate at 120mph.

So I would suspect that the issue is not better visibility, it's that the people who wear 3/4 or 1/2 helmets are more likely to be old guys like me on cruisers who are a little smarter about how they ride.

From the website I linked above:

“Over the last 15 years, riders from 30-50 years old have stayed consistent with a slow decline.

While the younger riders have continued to decrease in fatality numbers every year, another age range had to increase over the same time.

Since the early 1990s, riders over the age of 50 have continued to increase in fatalities every year and stayed above 1,500 lives lost in all of the last 8 years.”
____
I found that somewhat hard to believe since I’m 61 (and born in 1961) I also assumed the younger rider <30 would be the higher fatality rate by a considerable margin.

 

[Forestgiant]

Ive always worn a 3/4 helmet. Currently a Scorpion EXO-100, looks like it has been replaced with the EXO-CT220.

The data that I'd review would be that if you watch on YouTube - motorcycle crash compilations, the overwhelming majority of crashes are sport bike riders who seem to almost universally wear full face helmets. Like it's going to make a difference when weaving through cars on the Interstate at 120mph.

So I would suspect that the issue is not better visibility, it's that the people who wear 3/4 or 1/2 helmets are more likely to be old guys like me on cruisers who are a little smarter about how they ride.

I too have the Scorpion exo-100 bought in 2012 and really like it. Due to its over 10 year age, I try on other new ones at motorcycle shops, however nothing fits as well or covers my ears as well. The well protective ear cover seems to amplify the music from my Victory Cross Country. I like the looks and features on the exo ct220 and think I will buy one for this riding season. I have a younger friend and his buddies that ride the sport bikes. They go ripping, especially early spring down past my house upwards of 120 mph and on the backroads (farm country) at ridiculos speeds.

 

[DesPeresMark]

My theory on increasing fatalities over 50 is because riders who may have ridden when they were younger and put it away for a while, as they got a little older and accumulated extra money, they get back into it after a long absence and they lost some of their skills. I think if you combine that with the fact bikes are faster now than they were 30 years ago. Or maybe there’s just more traffic on the road now than there was in the past.

i’m guessing someone has done this, but it be interesting to see statistics on accident severity based on years of experience. Also, with years of experience, if there was a way to show years of continuous riding I wonder if that would show a correlation between fewer incidents with longer and more consistent riding years.

 

[DesPeresMark]

I too have the Scorpion exo-100 bought in 2012 and really like it. Due to its over 10 year age, I try on other new ones at motorcycle shops, however nothing fits as well or covers my ears as well. The well protective ear cover seems to amplify the music from my Victory Cross Country. I like the looks and features on the exo ct220 and think I will buy one for this riding season. I have a younger friend and his buddies that ride the sport bikes. They go ripping, especially early spring down past my house upwards of 120 mph and on the backroads (farm country) at ridiculos speeds.

I looked at that CT220 helmet online and it looks good. Might find a local one and try it on. According to the video on Revzilla, it’s got a lot of really nice features Found the on more expensive helmets.

 

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I’m guessing someone has done this, but it be interesting to see statistics on accident severity based on years of experience...

Yeah, years of experience was one thing not really covered in the statistics article from MFL Forum... they took age into account, and showed fewer accidents over time, but whether that was from greater experience, changed riding habits, better gear, etc, is not specified. They also didn't go into detail about helmet use beyond having a DOT-certified helmet, so it offers no guidance on type of helmet.

It always worries me when I see how many non-certified helmets (and essentially play helmets) are available online, which people are buying based on looks/graphics and not on quality. There may be plenty of 3/4 helmets of dubious quality out there, too. Whatever you get, make sure it's at least DOT certified.

 

[Professor*76]

I ride with a 3/4 HJC helmet because of the comfort and I enjoy the wind. In many states, South Carolina being one of them, helmets aren't required at all. It is really scary seeing a group of Harleys with helmet-less riders. These days, with the number of car drivers who are texting, distracted, high, without licenses, or driving stolen cars, I realize I'm taking a calculated risk being on my motorcycle at all.
Ride safe.

 

[Arrgh]

Lately, most of the riders I see are on Harleys and about half of them are wearing full face helmets. Next would be 3/4 and then the beanies, some of which are obvious novelty helmets. The CHP won’t stop you just for that. Then again, rumor has it that there are more retired CHP in Idaho than working officers in CA.

P.S. I might have started that rumor.

 

[DesPeresMark]

Whenever my local paper, the St. Louis Post-Disgrace, publishes info on motorcycle crashes, I read through them looking for patterns that possibly contributed. Such as riding late at night at a high speed. Sometimes they will publish the make and model of the bike and, for right or wrong, I draw certain conclusions from that as well. Does anyone else do that or is it just me?
One of my favorite television shows is air disasters. Whenever there’s a plane crash, various international agencies research closely looking for the root causes so they can make changes if necessary to avoid incidents from happening again. I think you can do a little bit of that from reading articles about crashes. But to be fair, you’re certainly missing a lot of details so it leads itself to broad generalizations.

 

[TLeventry]

Usually there are few details in the reports I see.