Anyone own a modular helmet?

[duckphreak]

If you own or have used a modular helmet, what do you think are the pros/cons?

I'm thinking about purchasing one for the convenience they offer... but if I really think about it, I think the only time I've ever thought "I wish my helmet was modular" was once at a gas station when I didn't feel like taking off my helmet.

I'm not a smoker and I really can't think of any other time where I might need to flip my helmet up... except I kind of want one INCASE I might :teeth

 

[Junkie]

yeah, I have one and its fairly nice. its a Nolan, I don't recall what model. They are far more convenient if you are wearing glasses, and just go on easier anyway. Its also nice for when I'm running my bike to start it, because I can obviously breathe much more easily than if I just had a visor open.

 

[Gragorin]

I tried on virtually all of the modular helmets that I could find at the IMS and they all had the same problem for me. The problem being that I'm considered a long oval and my chin rubbed against the front of all of the helmets. I suppose it's a pretty small thing but it was enough to drive me nuts in a few short minutes. This even happens to me on my Arai Corsair on occasion but it's only on occasion not a constant thing like these would have been. I did talk to the Scorpion rep and he said they were developing a modular helmet at the moment and that he would pass along my concerns about having the helmet too short from front to rear.

 

[tdah]

a big con in my book is that they are not designed to stand up like a regular full-face helmet. all the ones i've seen say right on them that the chin bar is not designed to withstand a crash.

 

[shraz]

usually they are a little bit heavier and have less "cool" features.

AGV has a good one for only 150bux, which looks amazing. (I tried it)

 

[Mechanikrazy]

I wear an HJC SyMax as my casual around town helmet. It's convenient for me because I'm nearsighted and don't always want to wear contacts or fumble with shoving my glasses into the full face. If I know I'll be going faster than about 45 though, I wear my Arai Corsair.

I've found it's easier having conversations with modulars; easier to hear and to be heard with them flipped up vs full faces.

But yeah shrugs, if you don't need corrective lenses I can't see any great benefit to having a modular.

 

[Lucky_Devil]

I don't think there are any modular helmets that are Snell approved (someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure). That in and of itself has been enough for me to not buy one. I would imagine that they would be handy while travelling (i.e. can take a quick drink without removing helmet, can more easily chat with riding partner, etc.). Shoei just released a re-vamped Multitec model, and I was hoping it would be Snell approved, but it's not... it's only DOT approved.

 

[summitdog]

I don't think there are any modular helmets that are Snell approved (someone will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure). That in and of itself has been enough for me to not buy one. I would imagine that they would be handy while travelling (i.e. can take a quick drink without removing helmet, can more easily chat with riding partner, etc.). Shoei just released a re-vamped Multitec model, and I was hoping it would be Snell approved, but it's not... it's only DOT approved.

The reason modular helmets are not snell approved is b/c at their thinnest point, the second layer of helmet where the movable face plate meets the 3/4 helmet, does not pass the "puncture" portion of the Snell test. When the helmet is closed, most will pass that section of the test.

I have a modular helmet and find that it is very convenient for putting on the glasses, asking for directions, or telling the car behind you to pull up to trigger the light.

Depending on the type of riding one is doing, I would not hestitate recommending a good modular helmet to anyone. In fact, all of the German motorcycle cops use the Schubert modular lids.

Scotty

 

[nweaver]

One of the Berkeley PD also uses a Schubert modular...

I used to have one. I was glad when I switched to a shoei full face over the Nolan flip-up:

A: I don't trus the chin bar. Its better than a 3/4 helmet, but I'm a gear nazi.

B: They are a lot noisier.

 

[Sidewalk]

I have a Nolan and really like it. I use it for most of my commuting and sport touring. I use a regular full face if I think I may get a little aggressive in my riding.

Only cons to me, which are not big deal, is that it weighs more, I need a new mic for my Chatterbox, and has a little less visibility. I would buy another one.

My wife wears a Schuberth and loves it.

 

[license2ill]

The reason they won't pass Snell is the same reason they are short front-to-back. They are Euro-spec models. Euro and Asain market helmets are typically built for rounder heads, where many North American market offerings are relaxed towards the longer oval head shape found more in North America. Money and effort to produce the niche piece have gone into the convenience factors, and they are all already heavier than any full face helmets out there in the lighter spec. Building to pass Snell would require more material, making the pieces heavier and larger, and cost more in production. Building seperate specs specifically for the a smaller-market offering to comply with the regional requirements of Snell is a cost they have surely chosen to offset with their marketing strategy of the more convenience-oriented products. It's no different than the textile clothing industry offerings.

The DOT penetration test is identical to Snell's requirement. Helmets capable of passign the less severe ECE requirements are very capable of passing DOT requirements as well, but not Snell impact tests. Occasionally you will find a lighter ECE helmet that has an issue with the DOT penetration test, but they have shown to be capable of passing that requirement over the years, including some flip-up models.

It's the impact management tests that the Euro spec helmets have trouble with, specifically the hemi-anvil second impact. That is the crux of any current safety-related debate and the reason that Euro manufacturers have cried about it in general to the point of tearing at the Snell requirements. It requires them to re-engineer for the US market to a heavier spec. Lightweight spec sells "for racing" and appeals to the general marketing and profitability strategies of the manufacturers. Let's face it, we want helmets that are smaller and lighter, and the manufacturers are trying to find out just how much range of usefulness we are willing to sacrifice in order to get it, or how much convenenience we will sacrifice in leiu of that range as well.

It's easier to sell a convenience item for a small niche without having to redesign the safety aspects to meet the same size and weight requirements of the market when the market isn't asking for more safety, they are asking for convenience. It's even easier when the market thinks it may be getting both through the use of propoganda.

 

[cvlighthouse]

What you want is one of these: http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/182/572/2787659-1295988-stupid_girl.jpg

 

[boney]

I've got a Nolan X-lite 1002. I use it for commuting and touring. It's well built, the liner pops out easy so I can wash it when the funk gets too much, and it's nice to be able to open it at the gas station, when I wanna eat or take a hit from whatever may be in the camelback without getting off the bike.

It came with a pinlock insert, so it never ever fogs, but the little flip down sun visor add on thing-y that Nolan is putting on it's helmets is a joke. It came down one too many times when it shouldn't have. :mad

Here's the thing. If'n you're gonna open it in town like many of the euro-trash dudes I see, you might as well get a 3/4 helmet. What's the point of eliminating the "I don't wanna rub my face on the ground" part of your helmet where you're most likely to need it?

And the whole DOT vs SNELL thing. Gimme a break.:hand You get what you pay for. Spend a little and get a good helmet that fits, regardless of what the little sticker says.

 

[rumpofsteelskin]

I have a Shoei Syncrotec and started hating it the moment I got an RF1000. The Syncrotec is noisy, windy, and offers relatively poor face protection. Considering how much the damn thing cost, it should transform into a pair of roller skates or a boom box or something. :x

 

[donoman]

Anyone here using a Shoei Multitec right now? I'm just interested in a modular helmet so I can talk to people with my helmet on. It seems that once a week someone stops me to talk to me and I can't hear what the hell they're saying.

Are they really louder than a full-face helmet? My RX7-RR4 is pretty loud already.

 

[QuaiChangKane]

For the most part, the only time I use my modular is for in-town rides in the winter time. As a four-eyed freak, there really is no reliable anti-fog solution for eyeglass lenses to prevent them from fogging up while sitting at a red light - even when the visor is up and all vents are open. Flipping the modular chinbar up at a red light completely solves this problem. It's also handy at gas stations, but this convenience is really negligible.

I'm sure my fellow four-eyed bretheren can appreciate the "hold your breath until the light changes" game at signal lights...

Just bear in mind that the helmet is really no better than a 3/4 coverage helmet when your face smacks the tarmac - the hinges really aren't that strong. The chinbar may save you from some initial abrasion, but not from the impact - in fact, there are plenty of accounts of riders with facial abrasions after crashing in even a true full-faced helmet where their visor flew off or fractured upon impact.

But ultimiately, the choice is yours - in the end, comfort (albiet slightly) outweighs protection when selecting riding gear. But does convenience truly enhance rider comfort...?


-Q!

 

[Starshooter10]

i had one..

it didn't like it ....

rarly flipped it... (normally just opened the sheild) and it was heavy...

and supposedly they are not as strong

 

[QuaiChangKane]

The problem being that I'm considered a long oval and my chin rubbed against the front of all of the helmets.

This.


My head is basically a large block. I never really have fore/aft fittment issues with any other make/model helmet, and almost exclusively wear a size Large (I can wear several models of both Shoei and Arai - the great "either/or" qualifier - fairly comfortably) in virtually every model helmet, although Scorpion size Large is quite a bit snugger than the rest (I was forewarned before I mail-ordered mine, and subsequently re-gifted it the the Mrs. :teeth).

Again, with a wide jaw and short chin (no neck, etc..), nearly ever modular I tried either touched my chin when the chinbar was fully locked down, touched my nose and rubbed my chin when closing, or the chinbar was at least close enough that I could push my chin into the chinbar with a slight movement of my jaw.

In my layman's guess, the farther a chinbar is from your face, the more impact the sidebars will dissipate before the EPS liner gets put to the test upon impacting your face - sort of like a suspension-type hardhat. In my experience, it's rather easy to dislocate a jaw or even shater a jawbone with surprisingly little impact.


I tried on every available modular helmet in town before I bought, and I actually settled for a relatively unknown bargain brand - ZOX. It was at least as comfortable and precise as even the Nolans (one of the older names in the modular game, IIRC? - Schuberths weren't available even at the Bimmer shop), and a friend gave me a great deal on the ZOX in hopes that I could help him promote the line since he recently became a reseller for them.

Overall, the quality is akin to a mid-level KBC (one of my preferred brands) - a touch noisy (although quiter than I expected with a modular), a touch heavy, and the shield-swapping mechanism is a bit fiddly. Otherwise, It's been a decent spare lid. But as I mentioned above, it only gets used around town and very occasionally out of town running errands, and only in the winter...


FWIW, I've talked to many claustrophobic riders whose anxiety was eased due to being able to flip-up a modular helmet when stopped or crawling. If you know anyone with this affliction, recommend them to try a modular as a stepping-stone towards a true full-face helmet. :thumbup


Hope this helps,

-Q!

 

[xgambit]

there's supposedly a PDF of the roof boxer passing snell tests floating around somewhere.

has anyone seen it?

 

[davidy]

I have a HJC CL-MAX for the past year, and just picked up a RF-1000. I am pretty happy with the HJC, but it was a bit loud (hence earphones) and didn't seem to provide enough ventilation as I would have liked. I do like the convince of the flip up especially when I am filling up during the hot days to get a breather or have a itch I just have to scratch :rolleyes. Also, I don't have to remove my glasses to take the helmet off.

The RF-1000 does have a slot for my glasses, so it isn't an issue to put them after the helmet is on... :teeth