Flip Face Helmets - How are they

Question

I'm recently back in to the motorcycle world after 30 years and just bought a bike. Now I need a helmet. I noticed they now make flip face helmets where you can lift the face guard above your head. How are they compared to full face helmets? What happens if I bite the dust face first? Will that thing flip up when I hit the ground?

Answer 1

I can only speak for Myself. I High sided back in May wearing a HJC CL-Max Modular and it held up fine. In fact, one thing I remember very clearly is hitting the pavement and thinking D@mn that would have hurt without a helmet on. I have already bought another just like it. :-)

Answer 2

I've been a big fan of full face helmets ever since I was on the back of a bike with my dad and we got sideswiped by a bicyclist. He was wearing a 3/4 face helmet while I had a full face one on. I walked away with just some road rash on my left arm while my dad had road rash on the left side of his face. The last helmet I bought was a flip face and it is great. I wear glasses and with a fixed full face I have to take my glasses off and set them aside while I put the helmet on. Then I would have to put the glasses back on through the visor opening. With the flip face I can flip the helmet open when I put it on and I don't have to touch my glasses. I just close it after it's on and I'm done.

When the helmet is fully closed there is a latch that keeps the flip face locked in the closed position. To open it you have to press the release. This way it wont open in an accident.

As far as comparing them to full face helmets the full face helmet has a stronger chin guard since it is a fixed single piece design versus the two piece setup on the flip face helmet. The rest of the helmet is the same between the two types.

Answer 3

Personally,  I don't like either...they are heavy and uncomfortable...that being said...I know several guys who ride with the flip face style helmet, and they love it compared to the full face....they say they can pull it up going through towns and such to cool off a bit, or smoke a cig or whatever....everyone I know who wheres bigger helmets like that either get the 3/4 or flip face helmet...me I prefer the 1/2 or even better would be the "skid lids"...they are twice as small as the 1/2 helmets...