Hi All,
I'm excited about riding and getting some advice from riders. I'm getting my Ls in 2 weeks and purchasing both a Vespa and Ninja 650. I want to buy a modular helmet as I think it benefits me for both bikes and I like I can change the configuration.
I've been watching heaps of helmet reviews and you get swamped with promotional value of the helmet than the helmet itself or difficult to find a comparison.
I thinking of getting one of the following (no particular order and understand price are different but want to know value and is there something better from the expensive helmet) :
LS2 FF324
SHARK Evo One 2
AGV COMPACT ST
Hope to get some input and thank you in advance.
Seeking Motorcycle Modular Helmet Advice
Tekuza on 27/02/2020 - 11:38
Comments
This is the most important. I’ve found (albeit a long time ago) that some brands just don’t feel good on your head. You need to try them on.
Are you actually going to ever use the modular features?
I had a helmet that i had a few different visors for. I only ever changed it once.
I was thinking I'll be using the modular when I am on the scooter i.e. Open face when I'm going down the road for small groceries on the vespa.
If you're just going down the road, you're far more likely to think, "stuff toying around with the helmet, it is just down the road."
i.e. Open face when I'm going down the road for small groceries on the vespa.
Guess your head isn't as valuable when grocery shopping?
try them on first. They will be different shapes.
This! My helmet size varies depending on the brand. Some feel long and narrow, others fit more snuggly.
Two different bikes. Riding positions are different. Shouldn't you buy two different helmets?
That's the consideration for the modular, defeats the purpose of having 2. Vespa open Ninja closed.
I guess you could do with the one.
Go to a store and get them to fit you the helmet. See how it fits and if you like the look.
Looked at some today. Have a look at the Shark "Evo-One 2" I think it is called. One of the best looking modular helmets I've seen so far.
That's the one I mentioned 😁
Ironically, I wasn't even shopping for helmets and saw these on the shelf. They are one of the best looking and actioned modular helmets I have seen. And still really comfortable.
I see modular helmets as useful for couriers or long bike tours where you don’t want to keep taking your helmet on and off again every time you stop.
As for riding with an open face helmet, that’s a no from me for obvious reasons.
Modular helmets do not perform as well as a traditional full face helmet, and in a crash, you want a full face helmet, Every Time!
Have you done much reading up on helmet safety and the like? It's just that modular helmets aren't generally designed for open-face riding, it's a convenience feature so you don't need to remove your helmet as often.
I've been riding for 10 years and wouldn't go for anything other than full face.
Hmmm no haven't really and no from a concern point maybe i should shop for a AGV Veloce S or would a modular helmet still have the safety if it's not open-faced riding?
As I mentioned above I would only do open face for the scooter for short trips etc. As a rider do you think this would be a bad idea? I understand we have to be safe but just notice most people use open face for scooters.You do not control when a vehicle picks up a sharp stone and shoots it your way.
If you wear glasses, I guess the worst case scenario is a scratch or small bruise. If you do not, maybe get goggles too.
You can pick up open faced helmets pretty cheap (~$100). I would just buy two…
I know… not very OzBargainer of me, but I'm lazy too.
As the saying goes, two dollar helmet, two dollar head.
Although if they meet the Aus standard what is the real difference between a cheap one and an expensive one. Do they provide quantitatively better safety, better comfort and straps or just better graphics?
My experience has been that more expensive helmets wear better and are generally more comfortable in terms of internal padding, noise reduction and weight.
So as an example, one of the first helmets I bought was a Shark, can't recall the exact model, but I used it daily for about 2 years before it became too loose internally to offer proper protection. I replaced it with a more expensive Shoei and that turned out to be much better value for me because I got nearly 5 years out of it.
@Gronk: While I tend to agree here, I have a $1,200 Arai for all my road and track work (cheap head/cheap helmet), but if all you are doing is commuting 5 to 10 km to work on 50~60km/h roads, a good quality modular helmet is the way to go. I kinda look stupid (generally) when I'm out on my Vespa and in my Race Replica Arai helmet.
@pegaxs: It's mostly the lack of chin / lower jaw protection that gets me, you could still make a mess at >60kph. I do the vast majority of my riding on public roads so for the most part don't get above 100kph (wink) but even still I want the best protection possible.
So back to this Vespa for a second - are you also wearing a full track suit with pucks? :D
@Gronk: All The Gear, All The Time… One piece, knee sliders, race boots and my carbon knuckle gloves. Ride hard, or ride home… :D
And I was shopping for a helmet today, and I can tell you, these new modular helmets are on another level compared to 10+ years ago. I guess my risk analysis is different to yours. I mean, come on, I see these Lycra clad road 'roaches doing 40~50km/h on their hopped up treadle-cycles, and you see what helmets they are wearing?
While I wouldn't not buy one of these Bell $120 open face helmets, I would happily buy one of the new crop of modular helmets. I've come off and been knocked off a bikes a few times, and not once have I come down chin first. It's always been the back/side of the head that eats the ground.
And let's face it, it's a Vespa with an old, fat guy riding it, I don't think it does more than 60 :D
@pegaxs: The only situation where I'd have thought it possible to land that way is if you went over the bars, any other sort of accident it would seem very unlikely. I do agree that the chances of this happening are low, but I've seen proof of at least one occurrence of this type of injury and it stuck with me.
I'm lucky enough that I've not yet come off, hope to keep it that way.
All The Gear, All The Time
This. Just had to help someone recently who decided it was too hot so they removed their leathers.
Then decided to slide on the road and left a lot of skin on it.
They thought it would be fine because it was just going to be 60kmph roads.
Not pretty, just because it wasn't comfortable. They learnt their lesson the hard way, and everyday I see plenty of riders yet to learn theirs.
@pegaxs: "And let's face it, it's a Vespa with an old, fat guy riding it, I don't think it does more than 60 :D"
🤣🤣How rude! I'm young and fit lol, is there such stereotype that you'd expect only fat guys riding Vespas. I'm just using the scooter as I have multiple work offices in the city and easier than taking the train. Then I'll be using my Ninja on the weekends.
Thus consideration of Modulars. It is interesting now though reading the different view points and opinions of Modular helmets that ozb community is giving.
Really thank you all for these comments btw 😊
Yep agree with Gronk, I'd rather invest in a more expensive single helmet than having 2 cheap ones as it's your only safety on the road.
Silly question but can you wear open faced 'helmets' into restaurants, stores, petrol stations and maybe even the odd trip to the bank?
I thought all those places have these signs saying no helmets, but the pictures always suggest the closed whole head covered helmets…
Not exactly the answer your after, but i regularly wear my full face (visor up), into my local butcher and bottlo without issue. .
I've witness petrol attendants yell at motorcyclists with their open face helmets on whilst filling up the tank so I wasn't sure what exactly the 'rules' were!
I'd also probably have two seperate helmets if the budget was right. But if I had to choose a modular one I'd look at what HJC has just because I've used their helmets forever.
I once was riding to the nearby shop to get a pack of smokes. Normally cautious, but only short quick trip so thongs and T shirt. I forgot to put the sidestand up. Went around the first left hand bend, stand dug into rubber expansion joint on concrete road, I ended up in gutter on other side of road. Lucky nothing coming opposite direction (busy road).
Lost some skin and pretty sore. Learned good lesson.I’m a rider, and just happened to arrive at the scene of an accident where a motorcycle had been turning right across traffic from a standing start (the kind of thing you might do when just heading down to the shops).
He hit a small patch of gravel at a slowish speed and low-sided.
He was riding a cruiser and had the classic open face helmet. He ended up with a big gash and a concussion from whacking his chin on the road.
Moral here is that with a full face he could have just brushed himself off and kept on his way. Get a full face and wear it for all of your riding. AGV K5 is a good helmet and is only $500 at most.
Which one fits your head the best?