Flip Up vs Full Face

[dibbster]

I went looking for a new helmet yesterday and quite liked the flip up style ones.
Now I know there is no difference in terms of safety standards between Flip Up and Full Face helmets but upon handling a flip up helmet even with the front locked down they do seem more flexible than a full face helmet.
Anybody had a spill whilst wearing a flip up helmet? how did the helmet stand up to the impact?
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[Jrod]

I was told flip up's are more noisey and heavier.

[Azmodeus]

I would have loved a flip-up helmet, it would have made taking my glass on/off a lot easier. But apparently "My face is not suitable for a flip-up helmet".

[instigator]

Hi

I use the slightly older Caberg J1 plus helmet, quite popular with riding instructors I find. The updated model from this now has a flip down black visor and I'm sure it'll be quieter.

I find that the chin does get a bit cold but I ride with a nack warmer 24/7 and wear ear plugs whenn I'm out on the motorway, so I can see absolutely no difference between this £80 helmet to a £400 one.

Don't think I could live without a flip face. Never been asked to take my helmet off in petrol stations, as I flip it up. Much less hassle. Need to ask for directions? Much easier when you can be heard nice and clearly as you flip the front up

Impact wise, no, dropped it form hip height onto the chin guard and it didn't seem to do a thing to the mounts. I do retighten the chinguard screws about once a month as all that flipping up and down does loosen them. Only takes 10 seconds though. Visor change is a bit niggly on mine, but its a case of once you get a hang of it, its easy. Within 2 minutes and its changed

Flip ups are heavier but to me, weight is as unimportant an issue as it is with mobile phones. I carry it everywhere but never get sore arms or any problems with it. I susually just shove it in my bag and weight is not an issue. Even riding for a good few hours doesn't put a strain on my neck or give me headaches.

Much more flexible. Can't recommend them any more (so long as you ride with ear plugs) but as I say, I have an older slightly noiser lid and got on fine before I found the marvels of ear plugs.

[dodsi]

I use a caberg justissimo.

Its flip front, but its light and pretty quiet.

The main reason that I bought it was it has an internal smoked viser.

I need a replacement helmet soon and am probably going to get a full face.

[instigator]

Any particular reason Tom?

Why stray away to the dark side?

[dodsi]

Oh ok.

The caberg justissimo is a very popular helmet and I see a lot of instructers (my instructer tried mine on and looked at it and then bought his own) and a lot of people wearing them on the road.

The internal viser is fantastic to help stop glare but does not completly.

its a comfortable helmet and I would reccomend it highly to anyone.

Just I want to get a full face helmet as I am sick of having to lift the front to take it off.

Plus I want to try a full face lid and if I dont like it I can allways go back to the light side of the force.

My last lid was a caberg J1 plus I liked this lid it was comfy but wanted the justissimo as its a better built helmet and has the built in viser.

[instigator]

Oh aye, the justissimo does look better. Agreed, with the internal tinted visor, I wouldn't mind one myself.

Dibbster - Hope you find this useful, loooks packed with information to rest any worries you may have on the helmets:

Motorcycle Cruiser Review

[KnightTyme]

I had a full face until my bike introduced me to the pavement . Now I have a flip up, but will be going back to a full face as soon as I can.

The flip up is actually lighter, but is a whole lot noisier. I also don't feel so comfortable in it, and I do feel a little less safe in it.

Also I would be worried that in the event of an accident, someone may decide that because it is a flip up helmet they could safely remove it. I hope that a full face helmet would deter most people from attempting that. Of course, I hope I will never have to find out.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

I had a Caberg J1 plus as well and thought it was ok (previous helmet being an AGV that I quickly grew out of (I was at that age) feeling alot heavier by comparison. I have now gone over to an Arai Condor and there is no comparison. It may be due to the quality of the helmet's but the Arai is alot quieter. I would need earplugs on the Caberg to get rid of engine noise whereas the Arai does much the same job upto 90 without any earplugs!
Never crashed in my Caberg (or crashed at all, touch wood!). I realise im also comparing two brands and not open Vs flip-up here but I have also found the Arai to be alot easier to use, simplaet things like after closing the visor having to use both hands on the Caberg to open it, and one on the Arai.

In my experience I would stick with closed helmet, unless your doing courier work or something. Otherwise they are noiseier and as mentioned dont feel as safe.
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[matlow]

on a ride out a fella with an R1 told me a story, basics were that on a ride out in previous years someone on the ride out had an accident.
because he had a flip front on they could open the helmet without taking the helmt off and clear his airway as the poor guy had swallowed his tongue.
had the guy been in a full face i guess the rule would be dont take it off, so no airway clearance and a much less happy ending to the story.
i have a full face but every time i remember that story i think " must get a flip front".

there's arguments for and against just guess i'd add to the discussion.
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[Bendy]

I dropped my Lazer Revolution from about shoulder height onto the kitchen floor and broke one of the clips that hold the flippy bit in place.

Didn't impress me much.

[18aprilia]

I seen pics of people that wear flip up helmets, some have half there teeth missing, and face. bit shit if you ask me, which you did.
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Supra King

[THCi]

Ive got an Arioh Mattise (sp, i know). Great lid, cold chin and a bit noisy, but i ride up until about 40mph with the visor up.

I dont tend to notice the noise with my mp3 player on anyways. Ive tried opening the face without using the mechanism and cannot.

Good lid!
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[MarJay]

Before I started my current job, I applied to become a trainee paramedic at the Royal Berkshire Ambulance trust.

I spoke to a Paramedic there of some fifteen years experience who, on mentioning I was into bikes, asked me if I had a flip up lid straigtaway.

"You don't have one of those helmets where the whole front lifts up do yer?"

I asked him why, and he explained to me that he and a number of his other colleagues had seen accidents where the rider had been wearing a flip front lid, and by and large the chinbar had become detatched from the rest of the lid if the rider had hit the ground face first. This meant (and he went into some gory detail) that said riders often ended up with a lack of face...

I wouldn't touch one personally, especially after that glowing endorsement from a man who had seen literally hundreds of motorbike accidents.

Scary stuff!

{edit} And now I work in the broadcast industry! {edit}
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[mr.z]

Mainly because i have glasses i've got a flip up caberg helmet...

Hugely impressed with it, quite noisey, heavy, the visor has gone off yellow on acocunt of UV light after a year (do ride every day though)

Appart from that though, makes glasses no problem, not overly loud (you need earplugs for any significant distance anyway :/) comfy, you can walk into a shop without everyone thinking your about to do them over... and £150

safety wise i'm not supprised, they were illegal not all that long ago on account of the chin bar not holding together... the main of the helmets weight is the metal chin bar gear, hopefully it will hold up in the event of a fall...

wan't a semi motox-ish elmit next time when ive got contacts sorted... but will defenately keep this for pootleing off to the shops and that sort of thing
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[Frost]

15 years ago, the helmes probably weren't up to the standard of modren ones.
I have complete faith in a flip up helmet to provide protection in the event of a crash. However as others have allready stated, they are noisey and heavier than normaly helmets, not to mention the increased cost.

I wouldnt buy one,just for the weight and noise. The cost and apperance of them are also negatives.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I think that some of the flip helmets are homologated to the open face regulations, and these will be far weaker. Not sure which ones though.

All the best

Keith
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[BLOFLY 636]

I have recently fell in love with the MOMO helmet. apparently there is a removable aluminium chin bar that when removed along with the large black visor, then becomes a open face helmet. unfortunately Australia does not import these items because they do not pass our Australian safety standards
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[tgabber]

[Flip]

I would be too scared of the front breaking off in a crash. I'm not the best looking fella around but I value having a jaw.

[Summerleft]

I had a flip up one previously because i was a bit funny about being claustrophobic in a full one.

But it was really heavy especially when you did flip it up , so now ive got over my phobia and use a full face one i feel far more secure and padded and quite enjoy wearing it now
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