Let’s talk retro style helmets

  • Thread starter Thread starter Voodooo
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Stephen_Spencer said:
Ok, I have decided to risk the wrath of you traditionalists! In for a penny.

I love the look of the open face helmet and goggles. It is just how the original Cafe Racers would have protected their skulls and really fits with the classic Norton look. No question. With the pretty radical riding position on the CR, it would greatly improve the over the shoulder visibility for old dudes like me.

That said, I cannot bring myself to wear an open face helmet for purely safety reasons. We would all have seen the stats relating to the high percentage of crash damage that happens in the chin area. My mates and I ride pretty hard and my mind set is that the full face helmet is an essential.

Would love to know how you guys judge/rationalise your helmet choice.

Long live Norton

Steve
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If you go down turn your chin up.
 
Britfan60 said:
If you go down turn your chin up.
Click to expand...

Very hard if someone hits you unexpectedly, but the times I have gone down I always try to keep my head up and to relax my body, the more tense your body the more injuries you will get, but I don't plan to go down but accidents do happen whether you see it going to happen or not.
When I was 17 years old I was stopped in the middle of the road to turn but giving way to a on coming car I was hit from behine from a speeding car no brakes sound no nothing, didn't see it coming at all, car went straight over me, open face helmet, tee shirt, jeans and boots, bike didn't even get a mark on it and I ended up with a busted up knee, 4 months later before I was able to walk on it.
When out on the bike I am very aware of what is happening around me and the open face is better for me to do that, but I find wearing my full face I do miss things, plus I can't handle having my head fully inclosed.

Ashley
 
Let’s talk retro style helmets
My face is so ugly that if I were to crash with an open face helmet, it couldn’t possibly make me any uglier.

The only benefits of me wearing a full face is to hide my ugly mug in public.

Can you guess which one I am?
 
Last year is the first time I ever bought and wore a full face. I'm getting used to it .I just got tired of getting whacked in the face with small pebbles and large bugs.
 
Man I thought I was ugly but would you be able to get a helmet to fit in the first place might have troubles with the ears getting in the helmet as well lol.
As FE said its up to your own choose in what you wear, I always get baled up for not wearing gloves, after 45 years I still have all my fingers as well my chin.

Ashley
 
Full face 99% of the time when usually I have a destination in mind and i'm likely to be in mixed traffic, open face for those bimbles far from the maddening crowd.

Full face also quietens the engine, with open face I am more aware of all the bits thrashing away beneath me, sounds I've never heard on any other bike i've owned lol
 
I often think how nice the Norton 961 could be if the engine was mechanically quieter and smoother ! This would truly be a wonderful engine. Unfortunately Norton don't have the time or the money to invest in making the 961 more refined . But please don't misunderstand , I think it is easy to blame and complain about the 961. I don't want to diminish the undertaking this was for the small team at Norton to bring the 961 to Market. I appreciate now just how UNDERDEVELOPED the 961 was when Stuart Garner bought it from the US group. !
 
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For me fullface is just in all ways more comfortable .... if going down the hill for coffee and gab , I will use the Bell open face other than that full face full time , best bug stopper available !
 
I don’t mind the vibes personally, but I’d love less mechanical clatter...

It’s the newest bike in my shed (by a mile) and also the one with the most mechanical clatter (by a mile)...
 
TonyA said:
I often think how nice the Norton 961 could be if the engine was mechanically quieter and smoother ! This would truly be a wonderful engine. Unfortunately Norton don't have the time or the money to invest in making the 961 more refined . But please don't misunderstand , I think it is easy to blame and complain about the 961. I don't want to diminish the undertaking this was for the small team at Norton to bring the 961 to Market. I appreciate now just how UNDERDEVELOPED the 961 was when Stuart Garner bought it from the US group. !
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Also add the ongoing support that the factory offers in both servicing and warranty. I know many owners are a million miles from Donington but for us 'locals' we have been and continue to be well served by Olivia (now gone) and Ash in service, and by Rob in warranty who also is extremely knowledgeable about the 961 past and present.
 
late 50s early 60s J Compton Sons London Corker 'helmet' and WWII surplus goggles I wore this rig once around the block for fun then put it on this Graham Hill lookalike foam head
Let’s talk retro style helmets
 
Here in my state of Queensland you can still buy new pot helmets as well the WII German style helmets, since the crack down on outlaw bikies it illegal to wear their club patches when out on there bikes but the cops still pick them when most wear the WII German helmet and outrages ape hangers.

Ashley
 
Mwood7800 said:
I like my Davida shorty but could never find goggles that would work with it. Anyone had any luck with goggles.
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Yesterday I received my Davida classic and V3 helmets.
I also purchased the Aviator and Halcyon goggles.
For the Davida Classic I can wear either of the goggles.
For the Davida V3 I can only wear the Halcyon. But Davida also recommends the Aviator T1, T2 or T3 goggles.

I’m impressed with the quality of both helmets and goggles. Thanks to everyone here for recommending Davida.
I like the light weight and looks of the classic, but it literally provides no safety.
Those racers back in the day had balls of steel!

I ended up purchasing everything through Moto-Amore. https://www.moto-amore.com/
John was awesome and very helpful.
 

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