Thumper Club Forum

Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: Richard on September 30, 2009, 12:50:37 PM

Title: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on September 30, 2009, 12:50:37 PM
Best place to buy/try open faced helmets anybody.  I have long fancied a Davida but am none too sure about the legality of the various models.  Also Ihave to think about what goggles will work best with glasses without looking like a Power Ranger !  Any advice as I know that a fair few of you wear them.
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: 002 on September 30, 2009, 03:23:51 PM
Best place to buy/try open faced helmets anybody.  I have long fancied a Davida but am none too sure about the legality of the various models.  Also Ihave to think about what goggles will work best with glasses without looking like a Power Ranger !  Any advice as I know that a fair few of you wear them.


Davida Jet is legal,European Spec.....Classic Jet(mine) American Spec....Speedster,Scandanavian Spec..
If you are in Cardiff you can try Bevans,Riders and Heine Gherkin !
Llandow Classics,Cowbridge sell Davida and a small concern in Crickhowell.

Jethro
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on September 30, 2009, 07:06:34 PM
Tried the Gherkin already - no joy.

Where are the others then - its been about twnety years since I liv ed there and they seem to have moved.

Richard
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Furry John on September 30, 2009, 10:18:34 PM
I have to think about what goggles will work best with glasses without looking like a Power Ranger !  Any advice as I know that a fair few of you wear them.

Richard, I use a Davida Jet with Aviator goggles also from Davida. They make a model with a cutout in the padding around the outside of the lens to allow the earpierce of your glasses through. I don't think they look too bad and they are OK in rain and at speeds up to about 110mph, at about 120mph on the Ducati the strap starts to vibrate in the wind around your helmet and make a lot of noise, possibly not a problem for you?

Furry
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on October 01, 2009, 07:51:06 AM
Well 120 mph is a theoretical possibility on the Beemer I suppose, but only approached on the IoM where at speeds like that everything was vibrating rather a lot, including me.

At those sorts of speeds my glasses are vibrating particularly badly, so much so that I can barely see and have to slow down.

I've also been looking at the open face Bell but see that they use a car seat belt style fixing instead of my preferred double D ring.  But then they are 'only' £170 and still have a leather interior.

I've looked up where Riders and Bevans are these days so shall try to head out there at some point.

When I last went into a modern dealer I came out having fallen for the new Morini 1200 Scrambler.

Richard
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Mart on October 01, 2009, 08:29:33 AM
Have you tried contact lenses instead of spectacles? They work for me, much more comfortable and no risk of misting up.
?
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: jules on October 01, 2009, 11:10:37 AM
I have to think about what goggles will work best with glasses without looking like a Power Ranger !  Any advice as I know that a fair few of you wear them.

Richard, I use a Davida Jet with Aviator goggles also from Davida.
Furry
Furry John's helmet was a bit floppy at speed(so i hear) before he had his Davida

(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll130/chairhead64/ewok.jpg)


Mart wrote
Have you tried contact lenses instead of spectacles? They work for me, much more comfortable and no risk of misting up.
?
3 pints of feeling foul stout and you always make a spectacle of your self,you old crusty :D ;D


Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: robG on October 01, 2009, 09:22:04 PM
Furry John's helmet was a bit floppy at speed(so i hear) before he had his Davida
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll130/chairhead64/ewok.jpg)

Blimey, Twins. I thought I'd seen Furry before. The star of stage and screen no less.

Rob .
 

Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on October 01, 2009, 09:35:51 PM
Doesn't take long for the dialogue to sink into the inevitablle smuttiness does it ?  I would be disappointed were it otherwise...........

Has anybody tried out one of the Davida leather facemasks then.  A 'protective' for the lower face ?

Richard
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: guest7 on October 01, 2009, 10:01:33 PM
Aschually th'leffermask ish prethy nithe... hang on, that's better, I've taken it off now... I can talk properly...

On a slightly unrelated note, I have just tonight sold a WWII gas mask on Ebay, under the category 'militaria'. However Ebay, in its wisdom, has suggested other 'similar' items, but they are all bondage masks and the like. It's making me wonder if I placed it in the wrong category  ;)

GC
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: 002 on October 01, 2009, 10:02:28 PM
Doesn't take long for the dialogue to sink into the inevitablle smuttiness does it ?  I would be disappointed were it otherwise...........

Has anybody tried out one of the Davida leather facemasks then.  A 'protective' for the lower face ?

Richard

YES ! I have Tried one  ;D ;D

My Beard stuck out the bottom  ??? ??? ???

Jethro
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: guest7 on October 01, 2009, 10:04:00 PM

My Beard stuck out the bottom  ??? ??? ???


Not for the first nor the last time I fear  ;)

GC
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on October 02, 2009, 04:01:03 PM
Hmmmmmmmm............Only my doing this on a hospital computer prevents me from searching ebay for similar potential opportunities.

On an unrelated note  must try to obtain a large empty syringe - just the job for reverse filling awkward hydraulics, or accurately measuring fork oil.

 Any opinions of the Bell open face ?  If I could get to Staffs I could try on all the options.

Richard
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: 002 on October 02, 2009, 10:59:18 PM
Hmmmmmmmm............Only my doing this on a hospital computer prevents me from searching ebay for similar potential opportunities.

On an unrelated note  must try to obtain a large empty syringe - just the job for reverse filling awkward hydraulics, or accurately measuring fork oil.

 Any opinions of the Bell open face ?  If I could get to Staffs I could try on all the options.

Richard

I'm going to Staffs so that I can order my 5th Davida !
As No4 had a slight impact....with my head in it !

Jethro
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on October 03, 2009, 10:49:20 AM
Jethro,

Which of the Davidas do you buy, and what do you pay ?

The Jet seems to be the most likely choice and I have seen them advertised for £205 plain.

The Bell RT is  still in the running.

As for beards sticking out of the bottom (get thee behind me Satan Smutty) mine is  rather less bouffant, I refuse to write  smaller as it will only encourage Carrick.

See you this evening.

Richard
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: 002 on October 03, 2009, 03:38:22 PM
I wear the Classic Jet.
Cant remember the price !

Jethro
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: guest18 on October 03, 2009, 04:11:47 PM
I wear the Classic Jet.
Cant remember the price !

Jethro

It's all these bangs to the head that do it....  :P ;)
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Richard on October 03, 2009, 04:41:31 PM
I wear the Classic Jet.
Cant remember the price !

Jethro

£186 plus VAT at openfacehelmets.co.uk  Not legal for road use in the UK you naughty boy.  I'll get you at the next Shed Meet !!   Which one does Mr G wear then ?

It looks a bit thinner than the Jet.

Richard
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Mark on October 03, 2009, 05:26:25 PM
I use the Davida Speedster, thinner lining so closer fit. Again not legal here but a real good helmet.

Mark
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: xbruby on October 04, 2009, 04:13:24 PM
I use a Davida Speedster with Aviator goggles as I too wear specs and the Aviators are first class (albeit expensive), great quality, superb optically and very comfortable although I did manage to get an insect of some sort flying around in the left eye this morning which was a bit disconcerting to say the least!

Whilst on the subject of lids what do you guys think is an acceptable life span for a used but undamaged lid?

I recently read that you should change your lid every 5 years but surely this must be dependant on the amount of use said lid has had? My Speedster is just over 8 years old and looks immaculate although I do have a full face which I use more than the Speedster.

What say you guys?


Davida Jet is legal,European Spec.....Classic Jet(mine) American Spec....Speedster,Scandanavian Spec..
If you are in Cardiff you can try Bevans,Riders and Heine Gherkin !
Llandow Classics,Cowbridge sell Davida and a small concern in Crickhowell.

Jethro
[/quote]
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: guest18 on October 04, 2009, 06:44:50 PM
Dunno about good quality open face lids but my Arai full face (used daily) is due changing after about 2 to 3 years, swmbo's at about 5 years (used intermittently). We've got a couple of plastic lids at the moment and I'll replace those after about 1 to 1 1/2 years. Lids are cheap, brain damage permanent... any *big* impacts mean replacement (hence why I bet Jethro bought a new one after his off)
There are times I wouldn't bother with one, but if I'm going to it might as well be a good one  ;)

That said I'm seriously considering a decent open face to add to the sartorial options  ;D
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: guest27 on October 04, 2009, 07:50:55 PM
The issue is UV degradation of the outer and chemical degradation and packing down of the inner.  The former does not happen if it is kept out of direct sunlight (to any great extent) the latter depends on how often you wear it and the mess you leave it in.  So if they are used rarely, put away clean and not left in the sun, they should last more than the 5 years recommended.

R
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: robG on October 04, 2009, 08:25:48 PM
I wear the Classic Jet.
Cant remember the price !
Jethro
Which one does Mr G wear then ?
It looks a bit thinner than the Jet.
Richard

I wear an Arai Freeway, Richard. Due for replacement about now actually.Torn between ' same again 'and a Davida Speedster but would like to try before I buy. I like the look of the Speedster due to the small size and reduced 'Mekon' appearance.As an outsider, would also consider the Bell RT, but am in the same position as the Davida.
As an aside Jethro gets his Davida cheap because no one else buys such a gopping colour scheme. :-*
Basically it boils down to quality of fit and quality of product.I've only got the one head.

Rob .
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: Gaylord on October 04, 2009, 08:52:54 PM
Hello chaps
I wear a Arai SZ and have for at least 16 years. It was expensive but worth it being comfy and light but a bit hot for off road use. The foam comfort padding in the top bit is rotting somewhat and i get bit of it on my solar panel. Its currently painted satin black with a few layers under that one. I use the origonal clear visor, the deep scratches are not on the bit i look through. So there.

yours with not too much  Gaylord
Title: Re: Open face helmets
Post by: guest7 on October 04, 2009, 09:26:28 PM
My last Arai SZ lasted for about 6 years. My current SZ should last forever because I only wear it for long trips and I rely on a Lidl £20 job for the rest of the time. Mind you, if I was riding a solo more often then I'd get the Arai out every time.

GC