Does it look goofey???

Question

Okay before I get a lecture from someone, I realize helmets are for safety and not looks, but let's be totally honest here. How many people wear a full face helmet on their crusier and especially their Harley? Not trying to single out Harley riders, but do you think a full face just looks goofey on a Harley? Personally I would feel safer with one, but don't want to look like a tard either.

Well thanks to some of you for your candid answers, to the rest of you I guess you don't understand the words "no lecture". Everyone knows the safety pros and cons of various helmets. That was not my question. Yeah I'm the only person in the world that cares what looks good. That's why there are no custom painted helmets or cool looking riding gear availible. Jesus some of you folks couldn't get off of your soap boxes to save your lives.

Answer 1

You know what looks even goofier?? A person who has crashed in a half helmet and landed face first on the pavement. Yup - they look like complete CLOWNS.

Dude, Ive heard of people dying from being choked to death when they fall off their bike and are sliding down the road and the half helmets slips off their heads and drags on the ground, all the while still tight around your neck...

You want to look "cool" and die, or be a safe rider?? Get a full face helmet. Besides, being "anonymous" behind a black face shield is just as cool as picking bugs out of your teeth. Just check the latest issue of Cycle World - those guys test cruisers wearing full face helmets. They aint stupid....

Answer 2

The fashion adopted by a lot of chopper/cruiser riders ( not just Harley) is for the more traditional open face helmet. Scooter riders favour this type of helmet too and this goes way back to the mod and rocker era.
It seems to be the fashion for Sports bike riders to wear full face ( The safest type of helmet generally) and the Touring lot ( Couriers and police too) tend to like the flip up type.
The choice is really yours. Either be a slave to current motorcycle fashion or make up your own mind after comparing the pros and cons of each type.
I have both full face and flip up. Which I wear depends not on the bike I will ride, but on what I will be doing. A blast round the country lanes , no stops, tea breaks, asking for directions, just out for a blast. That's when I wear my full face regardless of whether I'm on the Vulcan, the BMW or the Yamaha. Going commuting, touring, shopping, I wear the flip up regardless of which bike.
I personally don't favour open face but then, this is Scotland, and I don't want to freeze.
May be a different story if I was in Miami!

Answer 3

if u ever wind up droppin the scoot, the chances are u are gonna wind up doing some asphalt surfing on yer mug. the only thing that will be standing in the way of ur face and road is the lextan of the sheild, and the chin bar on the helmet.
i've seen what happened to a full face helmet after a guy went down on a bike, and he scraped the glass and some of the chin bar up pretty good.

advantages of a full face: very quiet, high protection factor from rain, bugs, rocks, cold weather, and finally, if u go down, ur face will still look good.....unless u face plant yerself into the hood of a semi.
cons: some helmets isnt vented as well as others, so they'll be pretty hot in the summer. more expensive than non full face helmets, some can be quite heavy after awhile.

hopefully u will never have to find out if its worth it to ride with a full face vs a 3/4 or half shell. the object is to keep the shiny side up, but try tellin that to that dam deer that just bounced out in front of u.

Answer 4

Wearing a helmet is alot like wearing a condom. They look goofy but the protect you.
A full face helmet is best, no matter what anyone says. They give you the most protection. Not just from falling and hitting your head but also from road debris, rocks, bugs, spit, gum, cigarettes and anything else the savages throw out the window. The harley thing is more about image then riding. It's almost like you have to have a certain costume on to ride. I don't really get it. But I guess it's just not for me.
A good helmet will not restrict your field of vision, and they make some flat black and grey models that will match the harley costumes. look into those. Be safe and smart. all the time. oh and yes some sport riders wear silly costumes too.
I try to keep it casual but safe.

Answer 5

Hahahahahah, half helmets are ok, but nothing is better as far as protection than a full face helmet. What if your chin hits the ground first? I ride a standard touring bike (Nighthawk 750) and I wear a full face helmet. I don't care if I look cool or not. If you're riding the bike to look cool you shouldn't be on one in the first place. Also, if you can't afford the gear, you shouldn't be on one either.

Answer 6

If you're in fear of feeling goofy wearing a full face helmet while riding a cruiser, get a unique paint job on it.
Scull and cross bones.
A picture of you riding your bike with a full face and a hot girl hanging on.
Fighter jets.
Vicious animals with their fangs showing, tearing each other up.
What ever your interests - snowboarding, skydiving, etc.
An optical illusion - paint the bottom half of the helmet as a continuation of your neck going up to a half helmet.
That would look great!!!
Use your imagination.
Have it professionally painted.
Viewers will be more interested in the helmet, not the fact that a cruiser rider is wearing it.

Answer 7

But with loud pipes, Harley riders don't need to see, because they think everybody will get out of their way;-))

I ride a cruiser, I have 3 helmets: a 1/2 helmet, a 3/4 helmet and a full-face helmet. Which one I wear depends on what time of year I ride and what the conditions are. The last thing on my mind is if I look cool or not while wearing one.

Answer 8

You sound like the typical Harley rider you'll do it as long as you look cool or at least think you do. Give me a break. I don't wear full face because I don't like them. When it's cold outside they steam up and I can't see. I have deep set eyes and the full face blocks my peripheral vision and I can't turn my head far enough to see where I want to see when I have a full face helmet on so I wear an open face Arai Classic. But I must not look cool in it because the other Harley riders won't wave to me as soon as they spot the helmet. I think they think I'm on a Jap bike because Harley riders don't wear helmets.
If you feel safer with a full face by all means wear it. To H*ll with what the other riders think. If you fall down without it looking cool will be the last thing on your mind....if you still have a mind that is.

Answer 9

I see Harley riders with full face helmets all the time. I wear one for road trips or inclement weather. I could care less what it looks like. I'm not out to impress anyone.

Answer 10

I wear a full face helmet. It keeps my chin on my face whenever I fall over. I'd look pretty goofy without a chin.

My motorcycle is a 1985 Yamaha Virago 700, a "mini-cruiser" style. My helmet, coincidentally, matches the burgundy color of the motorcycle.

Edit:
The helmet does not restrict my vision.