Flip front helmets

[craynerd]

Guys, do you go for a flip front helmet? If so, why and if not why not? Is it something you look for when buying a helmet.

I've ridden 125cc for 6 years and never owned one but I've just done and passed DAS and getting a new bike and fancy one. I liked the flip front option when doing my lessons but then maybe that's because I was stopping and talking a lot and in normal riding that isn't needed.

[Ali in Austria]

Being a smoker I find them very convenient. I've lost count of the number of foam covers on my Boom Mic that I have melted mind

[Tiggie]

I have 2 lids, a flip and a regular. The flip one is much noiser in comparison but is much better when you want to talk to someone

[Darkest-Star]

I have a Caberg Duke its convenient in that I can have a conversation clearly, I flip it up when buying fuel and have never been asked to remove it by forecourt staff before a purchase.

Best thing is the open air feeling when locked in the open position with sun visor down. Rubbish at speed though.

[MR_W]

Someone told me once that flip fronts are weaker than full face.

I'm not even prepared to test that one out, but flip front can be a bit heavier than full face, so that's my reason for using full face.

[Tango]

My previous lid was a flip front.....I found it very noisy.....and it was incredibly uncomfortable after about an hours riding......current lid is a bit quieter, and I can wear it all day without any problems.... And the flip front weighed a ton....whereas the current lid hardly weighs anything....

[al_stu]

I have a Caberg Duke its convenient in that I can have a conversation clearly, I flip it up when buying fuel and have never been asked to remove it by forecourt staff before a purchase.

Best thing is the open air feeling when locked in the open position with sun visor down. Rubbish at speed though.

 

I've just bought one. Well a Caberg flip, god knows which model. My old one was an outgoing HTC regular bought on sale at the NEC.

Not sure I can notice any wind noise extra, but FF are definitely heavier. I can notice it in the shop but on the bike I'm ok.

I find the flip front can feel claustrophobic at first as it sits a lot closer to your face.

All in all...I'd go flip because its handy for chatting at the lights or when you stop for a minute and I find it easier to put it on, but it really is just a personal preference. Tend to be a bit more expensive presumably as there's a bit more work required to make them.

No safety issues any more, they all go through the same tests.

If you need to wear glasses then FF is the way to do things. I know sports bike guys who can get a bit cagey about FF, one of those daft image things.

[rennie]

I've never owned a ff, never even tried one on.

Not something I've even thought about really.

[Glorian]

When my helmet went in due to a leaky visor. I was given a rental flip up front. It was a Caberg something or other. It was alright, It rattled a little at speed. I also have heard (as some others have pointed out) that the protection is not as good. Not sure if it's been tested but i'd prefer a full face. I don't often need to talk to people on my bike =D

[TC1474]

If you do a search you will no doubt find the article I wrote here some time ago, but the bottom line is that research has shown that riers are 70% more likely to suffer a diffuse fracture to the base of the skull (broken neck) than compared with a conventional full face or open faced helmet.

The frontal area is also a known weak area and has been known to cave in on impact as it is an inherent weak spot.. I actually had one case where the rider choked to death because the front caved in and it was impossible to raise the front or get the helmet off until it was to late.

This was an extreme case, but my old force used to issue flip fronts as standard, but after a couple of riders were killed, and the flip front helmet was shown to have contributed, they reverted to conventional full face.

It is like anything, horses for courses.

But for what it is worth, I never consider a flip front, even when instructing or examining.

[klingelton]

it's heavy compared to a full face, but you get used to it after a while.

they're noisier - but slap some tunes on and you hardly notice.

would i buy another? yes, I probably would.

[Throttled]

I have a Shark Evoline as I prefer to ride open faced. The Shark gives a good degree of protection when open, more so than actual open faced helmets and if the weather is rubbish or speeds go up, I can close the chin bar.

I did recently find a closed faced helmet I do find claustrophobic as it has a big visor, the AGV K3. I use that when i know the weather will be rubbish and for my short commute.