Helmets Wearing modular helmet open while riding?

scotto

The other day when it was hot out i took a nice ride down some country backroads. I stopped for a break by a pond and when I got back on the bike I realized I had not put down the chin guard on my flip up helmet. I thought I would ride alittle with it open and realized it was pretty enjoyable! Aside from it looking a little dorky there was no wind buffetting and it was quite quiet. I thought it would be OK at below 50 mph speeds.

So now I am wonderering if it's less safe than wearing an open face helmet or is just a NO NO as far as safety is concerned. I see snowmobilers around here wear their helmets like this all the time on warm winter days.

Scotto
 
I wear a Shoei Multitec modular helmet. If I am moving, it is DOWN and locked. Period. I don't see much sense in leaving it open, as that reduces the purpose of the helmet exponentially and doesn't provide any more airflow than just opening the visor.

Its funny, I am not much of a hardass on most anything, even ATGATT (I believe it and do it, I just don't preach it much on Forums) but there is so little other than manufacturer's recommendations/warning on modular helmets that it really strikes a chord with me. There just isn't a daunting flood of understanding permeating the boards as to what's acceptable, etc.

Obviously, you are free to do what you will, and I am only posting a personal opinion. I just don't see why you'd buy a modular, but not use it to its full advantage; that advantage being open when stopped and closed&locked when moving. Best of both worlds, right? The again, I came from a full face because I wanted the most protection a helmet style could provide.

I know others will cite a particular accident or two where modulars were part of the discussion afterwards. All I know is that down is safer on my head. Up is just a convenience so I don't have to remove it for a quick drink or a quick chat on the side of the road.

I don't mean to sound like I am preaching AT you here, just giving an opinion that was asked for... Take it all for what it is worth :)
 
Seems like the chin bar could catch on something and give your neck a nasty jerk if you went down with it open.
 
It is a simple matter of physics. The faster you go, the more force the chin bar will apply to your neck when it snaps forward or backwards when you rapidly stop.

8 pounds can snap your neck, so depending upon the weight of your chin bar anywhere from 10 to 30 MPH should do the trick.

It is a lot like putting things on the rear shelf of your car. When you stop, those items don't. I have seen air fresheners (the plastic crown type) embedded in a windshield from a 35 MPH impact.
 
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Go ahead, ask me how I know, putting the chin bar into the slip stream at 80 is not such a good idea...About like putting out a drouge chute.

I smoke. I smoke on my MC. I often wear a Modular so that I may satisfy my habit. Much more protection than a 3/4.

For me, better to put the bar up for 5 minutes per hour than wearing the 3/4.
 
I only flip mine up briefly when I need to take a drink. (I love my cupholder...) Around town, cracking the faceshield a little seems to provide plenty of extra air, if you need it. At highway speed I always close the shield.
 
I hear you all,

Thanks for your input. I guess there is a risk of the chin bar coming down at a bad time, and catching air if you go too fast.

On a side note, I wonder though why so many muninciple motorcycle police around the country wear open face helmets. You'd think that their insurance carrier would require them to wear full face helmets if they were really that much safer.

Scotto
 
scotto said:
On a side note, I wonder though why so many muninciple motorcycle police around the country wear open face helmets. You'd think that their insurance carrier would require them to wear full face helmets if they were really that much safer.

Scotto
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This is also simple physics...an object at rest tends to remain at rest...police departments are notoriously slow to change. Tradition has a lot to do with it, safety is too often second. Thus the reason our motorcycle officers in the US still wear dark uniforms rather than wearing something more visible like motor officers in many European countries.

And as far as insurance, most cities are self-insured.

Ride safe,
 
i don't ride with it fully up at any time. knowing how quickly things can happen on a bike, i don't want to compromise the integrity of the helmet. however, i crack the chin bar so i can sneak the drink tube in my mouth, but it goes down directly afterward. i need to get a different byte-valve so i don't need to crack the chin bar, though. on hot days i tend to ride with the shield cracked one notch to increase air circulation across my face. these are small compromises i'm willing to make.
 
I went from a full face helmet to a half helmet and now I am in a modular. I agree it is the best of both worlds when I stop, but if I want to feel the wind on my face (and in my ears), I wear the half helmet...usually around the neighborhood. If I am going to go anywhere that I am going to get out of second gear, I always use the modular closed and locked. I know it is tempting to open it on a hot day, but I feel a little like I am walking around with my fly open if I do. I doubt that anyone would recommend 80mph with the lid open. That's just asking for a neck injury.
mike
 
scotto said:
I hear you all,

Thanks for your input. I guess there is a risk of the chin bar coming down at a bad time, and catching air if you go too fast.

On a side note, I wonder though why so many muninciple motorcycle police around the country wear open face helmets. You'd think that their insurance carrier would require them to wear full face helmets if they were really that much safer.

Scotto
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Another reason they may not wear full face helmets is that if they pull over someone and need to give them orders they may not be able to hear the officer as well. Sure if they had a modular they could flip up the chin guard and it would be no different than an open face.

Another benefit I would think to why they should use a modular is that I would think that their mic would pick up less surrounding noises by being inside a modular helmet so they would be easier to be understood on the radio. That is a guess though as I don't have a mic in my helmet and never have used one. I'm sure the newer noise cancelling technologies have improved that but I would still think it would be better to have the mic in an enclosed area.
 
All or most of the modulars use quick remove visors. On hot days I remove the visor and keep the chin guard locked down. Ventilation is better and you feel less restricted. Eye protection is a must though.
 
The only opening I do on my Shoei Multitec is cracking the face shield to get a bit more air. I'm always afraid of getting my head in the air stream at 60+ and hearing my neck snap. Then there's the decision when you go down; hold on, roll, or put the helmet down.

Doug
 
If your state says it is okay, you could take your helmet off and really be cool, but that isn't the way I would ride.
 
The Multitec does a better job of "field of Vision" then the Sycrotec did (I got both). But the main reason I went with a modular helmet is when I'm on super twisty roads, I get motion sickness. If I can flip up the chin guard, I get more air. It works, I can tell you from experience! :cool:

Also, on some hot days and I stop at a light, I'll flip it up so I can have some fresh air. I flip it back down once I start again, although I've been known to forget to put it back down once in a while. :eek:
 
I can only tell you what I know: I had an open-face helmet on when I had my first crash, this past April. The only significant injury was to my chin -- darned near tore it off when I struck the windshield on my get-off. From now on, I wear my modular and if I'm moving, the chin bar is down and locked.
 
Back to the original question. Some manufacturers actually rate thier modulars as approved for riding with the chin-bar in the up position. Is it as safe as having it down? Obviously not. But then neither is wearing a 3/4. It's all a matter a risk acceptance and personal choice. And I will admit to riding at slower speeds (i.e. in town) with my chin bar in the up position frequently. Especially on hot days like we've been having in the KC area lately.
 
4INer said:
Back to the original question. Some manufacturers actually rate thier modulars as approved for riding with the chin-bar in the up position. Is it as safe as having it down? Obviously not. But then neither is wearing a 3/4. It's all a matter a risk acceptance and personal choice. And I will admit to riding at slower speeds (i.e. in town) with my chin bar in the up position frequently. Especially on hot days like we've been having in the KC area lately.
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On that note I know that the manual for my Nolan specifically said to never do it. I would think this could also be looked at from the lawyer stand point. It sets up a grounds for defense if someone were to fall and have their neck snapped because the a chinguard in the up position caught something. It clearly states in the manual not to do it...
 
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