Question for those that use open face helmet

[rhoag]

I know the advantages of using an open face helmet. It sure would be great to never again fog up from heavy breathing. I'm considering switching to open face. What are the disadvantages? What are some good helmet goggle combinations? What is the best mask to buy to keep your face warm?
Thanks in advance!

 

[impalapower]

You got a good pair to do that! I'd stick with full face.

 

[98srx6]

I wonder if he is talking about switching to a snocross style helmet.

 

[rhoag]

I don't know I see a few guys riding with open face helmets and goggles. I don't know if the are snowcross helmets. Every one of the guys I have talked to that wear them love it. I workout (run lift etc..) so i'm not out of shape or over weight, but when I ride hard my piece of sh__t helmet gets iced up inside, even with a heated visor. If any knows a way to prevent this let me know. None of the antifog stuff works that I have tried.

 

[Ski-Dog]

I use a open face helmet for a few reasons. I find full face have limited view area, fog up way too much, even with electric visor, are hard to fit some communicators onto and except vor a few newer units you have to take the lid off to take a beverage outside. My open face only fogged once at -50 and I don't run an electric shield. Its a HJC FG8. That said I have looked at the new Bombi modular and BV2S but big dollars and lots of pieces to break in the cold. I like the doo slide down tinted visor thugh as it elimintes requirement for shades. It boils down to personal preference.

 

[JDKRXW]

No offence, but if you use an open face helmet, you are an injury looking for a time and place to happen.

 

[Tork]

I wont even wear my open face on my bike if it gets below 50.
Cold, noisy and less protection for my $02.

 

[BlueBlood]

I like my snowcross helmet, but you've got to make sure you don't have any skin exposed. Especially bridge of nose and sides of eyes. Like Tork said they are noisy, and think before you tilt your head back at anything over 80 mph. Scott has goggles called Voltage X Thermamax that have a nice face shield on the bottom of the goggles, going to get some soon.

 

[Mikey]

Oakley also makes a Half mask that attachs to thier goggles it covers the nose and cheeks. I also wear a no fog breath deflector and have zero fogging problems. I cannot stress the fact that you have to get double lense goggles designed for skiing or snowboarding they just do not fog. I have left my goggles and helmet on to pay for gas and they still never fogged going from -20 to 68 and back again.

 

[Indy]

I've seen guys wearing these on trails, when you stop to get gas and they take them off, these morons have tape (duct and electrical) all over thier faces to prevent frostbite.

 

[Mikey]

They obviosly arent wearing a half mask and a no fog. I have riden in -40 without any problems. I dont know how cold it gets there but I will guarentee its colder here.

 

[RX-Dave]

I have made this move a couple of years ago, and will never go back to my Doo modular.

Advantages: Lighter (a Moto-X weighs about half of a full face), less fogging, and flexable ( you carry 2 sets of goggles Night+Day). The helmet I have is a Ski Doo model (have to get a can of flat black to fix that LOL), but has a upper and lower breath deflector built into it. Then the goggles will sit on them.

One time I have had to "tape" up the sides of the goggles to keep the wind off, but it was -13 deg F, and all my buddies with their full faces could not even see (elec visors or not)

Scott has about the best deal going with goggles. $32 I paid for mine, and they out perform the $60 Oakleys I have.

 

[rbhme]

To answer the question, I use a HJC Openface motorcross helmet. Use oakley googles and this year will conver to the new oakley style that looks like all windshield. HJC actually makes a piece that goes over the bridge of the nose and across the skin area below eyes that is a thin leather to keep off frostbite and allow the use of googles. I also have a HJC symax and gave it to my sister after 2 rides. I rode in -10 farenheit last year to no problem. had less frost bite than all of my full face. no one can understand it but trust me once you do it and get the wind areas that affect you covered, you will never go back. And my helmet is red from my honda cr250r just so happens I ordered a 04 warrior le.. works great.

Ok about the noise....... Guys is this not a yamaha 4stroke site? NEVER have i thought my warrior was to loud. I can hear my ski slighty over the snow in front of me. if that is not quiet i do not know what is. in fact i love that tone at about 40 to 50, turn your head slightly and hit it, aaahhhhh the sound of a symphony. the only noise will be made from a helmet that does not fit right thus leaving gaps and ways for air to circulate an whistle. Try one some day from a buddy. that is the only way to know.

 

[Swiss Sledder]

Rhoag, I tried an HJC motor cross style helmet several years ago for the same reasons. I was not able to find a pair of googles to fit properly around my eyes and get a proper seal. Without a proper seal, too much wind comes into the goggles making your eyes water every time you go above 50 mph.

With that said, the user "lakercr" uses a motor cross style helmet and he has not problems. Check with him.

 

[Fox1_RX-1]

I use a HJC ACX-1 open face and bought the nose piece that snaps into place. I use the Scotts turbo flow googles and use the frost mask that I bought from Yamaha. The mask has the balaclava hood with the microfleece neck. Had the frost mask with full face helmet which worked very well so I just continued to use it with the open face. This combination works great. Just make sure all open skin is covered. Advantages are being able to see around you alot more and easier. I went with the higher end HJC motocross style because of weight saving as well. The full face is heavy and very difficult to turn. I usually had to turn my whole body around almost 180 to make sure that I could see behind me. I guess some mirrors would have helped but with this motocross helmet it is soooo much easier.