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wearing a helmet

3K views 23 replies 15 participants last post by  markk53 
#1 ·
I'm having bit of trouble with my full or 3/4 helmet..when changing lane's I first look at mirror then double check over shoulder..but seems bit awkward and cumbersome... could be design of heavy helmet not sure, or the fact I wear corrective eyewear lense

Anyone else have this minor trouble, almost tempted to buy a beanny helmet?
It's not something I can't live with..just curious if this happens to others?


oops should of posted on another section, sorry
 
#2 · (Edited)
I would look into getting one with a wider shield. I wear glasses and I do notice that sometimes I have to turn a lot more when checking behind me. Also seeing as how I only have one small bar end mirror on my right side, I really have no mirror to help me look back.

I have looked at getting something like this one, but I am wary on how the sun shield would act in the wind.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/36189/ITEM/Fly-Racing-Trekker-DS-Helmet.aspx
 
#3 · (Edited)
I would look into getting one with a wider shield. I wear glasses and I do notice that sometimes I have to turn a lot more when checking behind me. Also seeing as how I only have one small bar end mirror on my right side, I really have no mirror to help me look back.


ok thanks, just looked at the helmet in link...sure looks like a possible remedy..I had a look at my helmet here and definitly has less open space to view then the one listed for sale
 
#4 ·
I wear glasses and a full face helmet doesn't bother me at all. I do find that I prefer to actually turn my whole upper body when looking to change lanes. Thats something I couldn't do on my last bike, a cruiser, but the standard seating position of my Bandit allows me to do.
 
#5 ·
I wear glasses and a full face helmet doesn't bother me at all. I do find that I prefer to actually turn my whole upper body when looking to change lanes.
I also wear glasses and a full face helmet. Turning your upper body helps a lot.

I barely notice my el-cheapo HJC-16 after a few minutes, as far as vision goes. I won't wear anything less than a full face, because I'm already short and fat. Don't need to be ugly too. ;)
 
#6 ·
Accident

I broke my left mirror and turn signal lens when I slipped and dropped my bike stopped on a road. The arm had spun around to point at my windshield. I unscrewed the mirror and replaced it. I got my wrenches to reposition and tighten the new mirror.

When I mounted the bike I could see my shoulder and behind me, then it hit me that in this position the mirror head was closer and higher. Now with both mirrors pointing in I just have to glance with my eyes vs moving my whole head to see behind me. The old position had the mirro heads just over my hands.

I also used an older Fulmer modular helmet and I had to turn my head to look in the mirrors and down to see the speedometer. Now I have a Shoei Multiech helmet and the opening is larger. Their new helmet has an even bigger opening
 
#7 ·
I broke my left mirror and turn signal lens when I slipped and dropped my bike stopped on a road. The arm had spun around to point at my windshield. I unscrewed the mirror and replaced it. I got my wrenches to reposition and tighten the new mirror.

When I mounted the bike I could see my shoulder and behind me, then it hit me that in this position the mirror head was closer and higher. Now with both mirrors pointing in I just have to glance with my eyes vs moving my whole head to see behind me. The old position had the mirro heads just over my hands.

I also used an older Fulmer modular helmet and I had to turn my head to look in the mirrors and down to see the speedometer. Now I have a Shoei Multiech helmet and the opening is larger. Their new helmet has an even bigger opening
thanks for posts guys, I wish had read up on it before, just something not on my radar...I'm going to see if twisting around a little more helps... my mirror's on little cruiser are fairly good for visability, but like to look over shoulder for any blind spots.
 
#8 ·
A very high percentage of head injuries are to the jaw and face area. Since you are asking, I feel that a full face helmet is significantly more protection.

I just went back to wearing contact lenses vs. my glasses. Side visibility is much better.

Of course some full face helmets have better vision than others.

Ken
 
#10 ·
I started wearing glasses again recently for distance. I found that the distance lenses made reading my guages difficult, so I went with progessives. Man, were they hard to get used to, but they work great for the intended purpose.

I rode the past year with a FF helmet from Daytona. Nothing fancy and quite comfortable, but I always found it difficult to easily swivel my head to see behind to the right or left.

Since I started using the HJC Sy-MaxIII, which is a modular helmet, I have complete ease with turning my head. Until I got this helmet, I had no idea how much difference there could be between helmets. Both fit comfortably and both provide full face coverage. The Daytona was, however, difficult to turn my head fully. The HJC is not.

I don't doubt this is particular to me and others will probably have completely different experiences with different helmets. It's just that it reinforced for me how fit is so important.
 
#11 ·
another variation on the head turning technique ...

instead of turning your head on a swivel (on your neck) ...
tuck your chin down (head forwards) - and then poke your chin towards either your left ear or right ear. your peripheral vision will catch the lane to the left or right just fine.

you don't get the same wide view that you do when swivelling your head on your neck - but it does give you a quick lane check.

dT
 
#14 ·
awsome helmets in those links

Yes will try that next time out, I sense may work....I did ride in my youth never had that problem, maybe it could be the style of cruiser handlebars, thanks for info and tips.. I'm sure other posters reading will be helped also
 
#13 ·
gah that helmet looks nice. i'd like one in white most definitely and i actually have a 1/2 helmet as it is now b/c every FF i tried made me feel really uncomfortable.

just need some time to head to a bike shop and spend a couple hours (days) in there trying on helmets. well, once i get my "i want now" list for this bike to stop growing.
 
#15 ·
This is the only mirror I have on my bike. The stock ones did nothing but show me my elbows no matter hoe I adjusted them. I really only use it at red lights and stop signs so I can see when some one is gunna hit me. Also for the occaisonal check for the Po-Po, as I have a tendancy to go a little faster then the posted speed limit on those darn two lane roads.

 
#19 ·
Every time I'm tempted to switch to a three quarter or half helmet (aka "facelift helmet") for more airflow I go look at the visor and chin area on the HJC I was wearing when I wrecked last summer. Both are horribly gashed/scratched. I don't want my face too look like that...its enough work convincing a chick to go out with me without having to wear a frankenstein mask ;p

I sometimes wear prescription glasses as well when I'm too lazy to put my contacts in...the scorpion exo 500 I wear has pretty decent visibility. Only time I have any trouble at all is with a larger passenger, and that's only cause I always turn my whole body to look to the left, since my neck doesn't turn quite as far as it's supposed to in that direction. (It's a long story lol)
 
#21 ·
It's you. I've never really had any big issue looking behind me other than when I had the old Bell Star 90 (really only a 90 degree eye port, new ones are more like about 150 degrees or more, more than most people have peripheral vision). The limiting factor for me is a fused C5/C6/T1, just can't quite twist as far as I used to.

Try looking slightly down and to the side, it works better. Same way most dirt trackers look to the side and back. The combined rotation of down and back seems to allow more movement toward the back.
 
#22 ·
No I don't think totally me , I tryed the chin position some what helped.

I think will need another type helmet my vision is poor trying to get a blind spot view..lucky the mirrors are working good.

Guess will try to sell new dot helmet at a loss and next helmet will test better...
 
#24 ·
I guess I'm missing the point that it is a cruiser with bars that make a rider ride with their arms raised making their shoulders lift. Then there is the glasses thing which I also missed.

I would venture to say you need to decide just how much you are willing to trade off in "inconvenience" to yourself for safety. If you want to maximize protection, you do a full face and do whatever it takes to see. If you aren't willing to do what is necessary you decide where you hit the limit. No helmet no inconvenience.

Having ridden wearing a full face since 1975 and with glasses full time since around 1995 I deal with whatever is needed. I don't even notice it.
everything is automatic. Glasses off to put on or take off a helmet - no problem - automatic. Turning however necessary to see in my blind spot a bit of problem onlly due to the three fused cervical vertebrae, not the helmet. I turn at the shoulders and waist as needed, depending on the situation.

I do make sure my mirrors (both sides all the time) actuallly enable me to see behind and as best possible to the sides of me. I will lean forward or lean slightly to see what is close behind as well as turning to look.

To put it mildly, I wear the best head protection (brain injuries, like eye injuries don't heal well), I do whatever is needed to see what is behind me and in blind spots. I actually do worse with the blind spots in the car.
 
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