[Nela Skul]

... snipped ... 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.

First, contrary to popular belief, not every dropped helmet needs replacement. In fact, if it was dropped from a height of 4' or less and wasn't hard enough (i.e. thrown) to damage the EPS liner (and it takes a lot to damage those impact absorbing layers), then your helmet is likely just fine. You just need to contact Bell to see if a replacement shield is available for your model. Been there ... done that.

Secondly, you might want to check out the 1981 Hurt Report which although very old now, still has some great data in it. Pages 91 and 432 are most relevant to your question/issue.

Lastly, you might want to check out the linky below. David Hough also publish something similar in his "Proficient Motorcycling -- The Ultimate Guide" book. Also "dated" but a great collection of articles on just about every aspect of riding including lots on riding safety .

Where's the most likely place your helmet will take a crash impact?

There are full faced, flip up and flip over helmets that are designed to give you lots and lots of peripheral vision. Anything much over 180* (the most I've read about is 190*) you can't physically take advantage of anyway (due to the limits of a human's peripheral sight). This is coming from someone who rode with jet (3/4) styled helmets for many years before making the "never go back" switch to a full face, flip-over helmet about 3 years ago.

 

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

In many states, South Carolina being one of them, helmets aren't required at all.

Any time I went to SC on vacation, seeing the helmetless riders (not to mention t-shirts, shorts and sandals) unnerved the hell out of me! Fine, it's hot and sunny, but no way I could do it.

My first helmet was a 3/4, but I switched to full face as soon as I could. Now my wife rides in a 3/4, and I'm still trying to get her to switch, but she likes it open like you, Professor.

 

[Ruby]

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?

The National Motorcycle Safety courses all recommend a full face helmet as the majority of injuries all happen around the facial jaw line. I have a Schuberth helmet and I love it.

 

[BackRdRider]

I didn't even see a mention of modular, which is my pick. Most of the protection of full face, easier to take on and off, and you can just lift up the front for short stops.

 

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Take note that modular helmets do not meet SNELL standards.

 

[Jedi Leba]

I agree that full face is the way to go, because I’d like to keep my full face.

My usual helmet is also the Nolan mentioned above, though I never remove the chin bar. I know most if not all helmets offer plenty, if not more than plenty, peripheral vision, but I also want the vertical vision, which the Nolan does very well. It’s technically 3/4, but rates as high as full face helmets in tests, at least with the chin bar attached.

My first helmet, which I still wear on occasion, is the Torc T-1. Full face, but great vertical vision. Very similar to the Bell Bullitt, but better ventilation and half the price (at least it was when I bought mine). My problem with the Torc is the inability to quickly and easily swap visors. It doesn’t have an internal sun shade, so it really requires the visor swap if you rode to work in daylight but ride home at night.

And then I also have another helmet similar to the Nolan with a removable chin bar, but it doesn’t look good with my CTX (looks racer-ish with a lot of graphics), so it’s in a bag for now. Can’t remember what make/model it is, but I know it’s discontinued and was hard to find my size in the color I wanted. AFX-55 or something maybe.