I Need Advice: Full Face Helmet in 95ºF Hotness - What do you do?

[FL Vulcan Rider]

I have a Full Face Helmet. HJC AC-12 Kawasaki Helmet. I feel very safe with it on. I feel weird with it off. I ride every now and then without my helmet, but it is very rare. I much rather use my Full Face Helmet. In the past 6 months, there have been only 3 times I didn't use a helmet that I know of. Once in Daytona, and twice on group rides.

With that said, you can see how attached I am to my Full Face Helmet.

It's approaching Spring Break hotness with temperatures over 80ºF here. As summer nears, it will easily be 95ºF most days. I am a daily rider. I commute daily to work Mon-Fri.

For people that live in Arizona, SoCal, Texas, and the lower states.... what do you usually do?

My buddy wears a bandana on his head and then puts his Full Face Helmet on. This prevents tons of sweat and grease going into the Helmet.

Another friend washes his pads inside the Helmet often.

I know sweating it definitely an issue with Full Face Helmets. So, my question to you is... what is your trick?

[ClarkeyBalboa]

Wear sunglasses and pop the face shield open to various settings to allow more airflow. I only get those kinda days for a few weeks though, most of the time i am gearing more for the cold than the heat

I have the same model helmet as you, i just crank all the vents open and have the shield popped open some. The pads are washable, so i dont worry about them soaking too much sweat.

[Deeppurple52]

FL.... It is HOT here but it is a dry heat. Therefore, what is tolerable at 110 degees and 5% humidity may not work for you in FL. I always wear my FF helmet. In fact, it is significantly cooler than no helmet at all. I know that sounds strange but the blast furnace breeze roaring up off the asphalt will cook you if exposed. Just putting the visor up is misery... visor down is nice.
doo-rag under helmet is a good thing.

[NCDave]

My half helmet has held up very well for 7+ years now. I wear a dew rag with it all the time. I have several of them and change them as often as my underwear.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Deeppurple52

FL.... It is HOT here but it is a dry heat. Therefore, what is tolerable at 110 degees and 5% humidity may not work for you in FL. I always wear my FF helmet. In fact, it is significantly cooler than no helmet at all. I know that sounds strange but the blast furnace breeze roaring up off the asphalt will cook you if exposed. Just putting the visor up is misery... visor down is nice.
doo-rag under helmet is a good thing.

I guess ur right. You have a different type of heat over there. IN Florida, it is unbearably hot because of the humidity. I'm definitely going to do the doo-rag trick. I would rather sweat a little bit and have my FF Helmet on. Having the visor up in Florida feels great because of the wind.

I have just converted from Half Helmet to Full Face in October. The only reason why I converted is because in the cold 40ºF nights, my face would freeze with a Half shell on. That's when I decided to invest in a FF Helmet.

I'm glad I did. My Full Face Helmet gives me peace of mind, security, and tons of protection. Now that I am so used to the Full Face Helmet, I really don't want to go back to the Half. I want the chin and cheek protection on a FF Helmet if I do go down one day.

I'll def. take the advice on the doo-rag. Thanks DeepPurple!

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by ClarkeyBalboa

Wear sunglasses and pop the face shield open to various settings to allow more airflow. I only get those kinda days for a few weeks though, most of the time i am gearing more for the cold than the heat

I have the same model helmet as you, i just crank all the vents open and have the shield popped open some. The pads are washable, so i dont worry about them soaking too much sweat.

I usually wear sunglasses in my FF Helmet, but I usually have the shield closed.

I'll take your advice on opening it up. I'll probably end up wearing a doo-rag, open the vents, wear sunglasses, and open the shield.

I'll probably wash the pads on a weekly to bi-weekly basis.

[Danase]

I know you said you feel safe with your helmet and all but I'd look at a new helmet. I road with a HJC for a year and thought it was alright. I read several bad crash test and reviews about the HJC's that scared me and I went and got a Scorpion. All I can say is the Scorpion is night and day. Soooooo much more comfortable than the HJC, breathes and flows air soooooo much better too. I'd look into a different helmet. I know it sucks to buy a new helmet after just buying one but I think it's worth it.

[ClarkeyBalboa]

Do you remember where you read the crash reports? If you do, can you provide some links? Not calling you out, but if my helmet isnt holding up well under a real crash, then it's definitely something i'd be interested in knowing all the details and possibly use it as an excuse to buy a Shoei...

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by ClarkeyBalboa

Do you remember where you read the crash reports? If you do, can you provide some links? Not calling you out, but if my helmet isnt holding up well under a real crash, then it's definitely something i'd be interested in knowing all the details and possibly use it as an excuse to buy a Shoei...

+1

I would like to have information about that. I read somewhere that most FF Helmets will provide almost the same amount of protection. The only major difference is the look, feel, comfort, and airflow. But the amount of protection between the FF Helmets were the same. I read that in a few places.

[Guidosarducci]

I wear a half helmet in 100% humidity never sweat, and besides, if you go down at 50+ mph it won't matter if you have a FF or half. There have been a few post on here about the differences and the first thing that will hit the ground is your head depending on the type of crash. I do agree that it will protect your face in a slow impact. But hey if it make you feel safe then so be it.

I am sorry I completely refuse to wear a FF in 90+ degree weather but that is just m and if it is 40 degrees then that is different even though I still wear a half at that temp.

[Danase]

I'll look for the articles I found a while back. For starters though the helmet you got is not Snell approved.
http://www.smf.org/certlist/std_M2000.html
It appears to only be DOT. When you think about it, a little beanie cap helmet can get DOT approval. Personally I will at least only wear a Snell rated helmet.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Guidosarducci

I wear a half helmet in 100% humidity never sweat, and besides, if you go down at 50+ mph it won't matter if you have a FF or half. There have been a few post on here about the differences and the first thing that will hit the ground is your head depending on the type of crash. I do agree that it will protect your face in a slow impact. But hey if it make you feel safe then so be it.

I am sorry I completely refuse to wear a FF in 90+ degree weather but that is just m and if it is 40 degrees then that is different even though I still wear a half at that temp.

There is a difference. Many people that I personally know have had their full face helmets on and their whole front of the helmet was completely scratched and torn up. They took the helmet off and their face was flawless. 3 of these people were going 60-80 MPH. So yes... it does matter. If they were wearing a half shell, they would have at least scratches and road burn on their chin and cheeks, if not a broken jaw!

On the other hand my friend josh got into an accident at 40 MPH with a half helmet and he now has permenant scaring on his face. He also lost his leg.

So yes, a full face helmet is completely different than a half shell.

It's tried and true.

I know you refuse to wear a FF Helmet, but when I get in an accident, at least my face will be nice and pretty still... can't say the same if you were wearing a half helmet. The last thing I want is my face to be messed up. You can't hide your face. Your face is what everyone looks at.

[Bubba68CS]

Originally Posted by FL Vulcan Rider

+1

I would like to have information about that. I read somewhere that most FF Helmets will provide almost the same amount of protection. The only major difference is the look, feel, comfort, and airflow. But the amount of protection between the FF Helmets were the same. I read that in a few places.

That was pretty much the impression I got as well. I've already made the switch to Shoei...but still have an HJC as a spare (or for a passenger). If there is some solid data against the HJC, I'll go ahead and toss it out.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Danase

I'll look for the articles I found a while back. For starters though the helmet you got is not Snell approved.
http://www.smf.org/certlist/std_M2000.html
It appears to only be DOT. When you think about it, a little beanie cap helmet can get DOT approval. Personally I will at least only wear a Snell rated helmet.

Thanks Danase. I got my HJC Kawasaki AC-12 and was looking for it purely as a cold wind deflector.

Now that I know the benefits second hand from friends that have crashed, I now know that there is nothing like a good Full Face helmet.

I plan on getting a good Full Face within the next year.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Bubba68CS

That was pretty much the impression I got as well. I've already made the switch to Shoei...but still have an HJC as a spare (or for a passenger). If there is some solid data against the HJC, I'll go ahead and toss it out.

My girlfriend and I both have matching Kawasaki HJC Helmets. If this is true then I'll be looking for replacements.

[NCDave]

Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Danase]

Here is some rating from the SHARP test as well. Looks like they have 2 that do well and the rest are like 2-3 stars. But there is nothing for the AC-12

[rocknskot]

have you thought about getting one of those open-faced motocross helmets? they still have the protection, but no visor. they have a shade and a larger chin brace, and probably more venting.

in South TX around the coast, it gets hot but always really humid. like around 50%. you sweat at the beach at night. you sweat yourself to sleep, because you're too macho to cry. i wear the face visor up a little bit to let more air in. when i wear the road shades, the weatherstripping around the oculars causes my eyelid sweat to fog up the lenses. i have gone to wearing my specs with a tinted visor, but with it raised up a click or two. i don't like to wear contact lenses when my face sweats. it hurts.

the bandana thing might be a good idea. maybe roll it up like a headband on your forehead to catch more sweat with it.

[Bubba68CS]