Open face helmets question

[guest18]

Anyone used a Roof Roadster Helmet? I've been idly considering an open face helmet for the "summertime" (sic) and I've always liked the look of them but don't know anyone who's used them.
Thoughts?
 

[Steve Lake]

I have a shoei open face helmet, it's a lovely item, takes me back to my yoof (remember 'everoak'? )
downside is....the fit is loosening off a bit (its 6 years old), so a lot of wind noise, you really do need a snug fit over your ears, and...unless the strap is done up tight, wind starts to force the helmet upwards.....this might not happen if i wore the peak that came with it ( which i seem to have mislaid ...doh)

[guest18]

Yup, for the sort of riding I do one of the types with a visor would make sense, but I want to be able to move it out of the way like a conventional full face type visor, so one of the modern jet pilot type helmets would seem to make sense (as opposed to the 60's style jet pilots helmets! Logical progression I suppose?)
Something like the Roof roadster or the Osbe Tornado, I especially like the slide down black sunvisor on that type... (on the few days we get sunshine it's invariably shining right into my eyes  )

Osbe Tornado

Roof Roadster

I also wonder if the rounded visor type might be a bit quieter than a "traditional" type open face 

[KirriePete]

Caberg Justissimo - you can take the chin piece off in a minute or so leaving you with an open face, your normal visor and the internal 'Top Gun' tinted jobbie.  Best of both worlds.

[guest18]

Hmmm, it's an option although tbh if I'm going to wear a fullface I'd probably stick with my Arai. With a bit of luck there will be some sellers at the bike show and I can do a bit of trying on of various types 

[002]

On my 4th Davida Classic Jet with Bob Heath flip up visor,riding all year round and trips to Germany and Austria in the winter.

Couldnt/wouldnt go back to a full face.Not enough vision and find it claustaphobic now I think after 20yrs+ of open face .

Jethro

[squirrelciv]

Here here Jethro! Fully agree. I'll be sticking with my Arai open face for the foreseeable. can't beat the all round vision, lightness and comfort. Did dabble with a flip front full face but just ended up feeling claustraphobic.

[Andy M]

I had one. Comfortable and useful when you need to do a quick motorway stint to get somewhere where you'd like to ride open face. They are however noisy as **** and cheaply made. Mine managed two years use until the chin bar screws started to pull out. Only bit I've got left is the visor which now serves as a guard on my spot lights.

If you can pick one up for £70 go for it, if they want the full £170 I'd get a better quality open face.

Andy

[jules]

Smudge,
i used to wear a couple of the Roof lids,the Boxer and the Roadster,that was when they first came out in this country,i found them heavy and noisy,back then the linings weren't removable and at speed the helmet would lift,one time in Europe the chin bar inners became loose,the glue had melted due to the heat,so you could say the quality wasn't that good,also the fit unbeknown to me wasn't that good either,
i think the quality has moved on now from what I've seen these days,how much are they now?.

Now i wear one of these,and i think myself so lucky that i have found my perfect lid,when this one wears out i be shopping for the exact same item,yes its a little noisy but that's nothing compared to its plus factors

[Mark]

I'm a year round open face user and use the Davida Speedster helmet, good seal around the ears and fits snug(could get away without strapping it up).

The shell is smaller than the Jet so less padding but a better look.

[guest18]

I had one. Comfortable and useful when you need to do a quick motorway stint to get somewhere where you'd like to ride open face. They are however noisy as **** and cheaply made. Mine managed two years use until the chin bar screws started to pull out. Only bit I've got left is the visor which now serves as a guard on my spot lights.

If you can pick one up for £70 go for it, if they want the full £170 I'd get a better quality open face.

Andy

Do you mean the Caberg Andy?
I have to admit it doesn't grab me. I like the style of the built in visor types but that depends on them 1, fitting properly and 2, being decent quality.

Jules, I think the roadster is about 100 120ish upwards now depending where you shop, I'd like a good look at them to see what the quality is like, my current helmet is an Arai Signet GT (full face), it's ok but in the extreme cold/wet you have to tape over the vents otherwise the wet/cold on the top of your head gets annoying(!), also a damn noisy helmet. Fit was fine on the Mastiff but with the leant forward position on the traveller it feels as though it's just a little too deep at the back, or my jacket collar is too high, and it's a bit irritating. All that said the quality shows and it's still streets ahead of my old AGV's etc, these are niggles evidenced by the standard of comfort and fit...

Vaugely tempted by the Arai open face but I've always disliked (read hated!) that style of visor, doesn't anyone do a shaped one for it?!? 

[Andy M]

Mine was the Roof swing front thing. Boxer rings a bell (or is that a bad joke!)

Karen has a Caberg. That is superior but can only be worn closed when moving.

Andy

[Steffan]

I had a Caberg and used to ride with it up almost fulltime except on motorways

Steffan

[squirrelciv]

Vaugely tempted by the Arai open face but I've always disliked (read hated!) that style of visor, doesn't anyone do a shaped one for it?!? 

Ah yes, but it works very well. Keeps itself free of rain drops (if not too badly scratched) and stops most of the wet stuff dripping off yer chin and down yer neck! Did over 300 miles in the rain and (with the help of a high collar) nowt wet went down my top.

[robG]

I prefer Arai and have the Freeway  . Like Jules when it wears out { 'bout now actually } , I'll get exactly the same again .The only outsider is the Bell RT , recently reintroduced . Like Jethro , can't see me going back to a full face now , having always had an open face lid .I used to  keep a full face for winter riding in the past , but haven't had a full face for about eight or nine years now .

Rob .