I just picked up a new GasGas last Friday. I'm learning how to ride a trials bike all over again, used to ride a Bultaco Sherpa-T in the mid 70's so it's been a while! Yesterday I fell and scraped my chin on a high-side fall on my super steep hillside. Fortunately it's decomposed granite sand so it was a soft landing. I will however, be riding rocks soon and since something like 80% of all motorcycle injuries include the chin, I'm now practicing in a motocross helmet. It seems OK, it doesn't block my vision that I can tell, at least at this point in my development and if gives me a little more confidence as well. Do any others use a full face helmet?
Nothing wrong with an offroad full face. Just trim the visor to see. Made my son wear one for years for the amount I spent on his smile. Now he wears an open face to be cool. I started riding trials before helmets so anything I wear is a plus!
I just posted this in another thread: I'm 2 years in and I still wear a woods/MX helmet. I took the triple clamp hard to the helmet chin bar during a crash this year. I'd been thinking of getting a trials helmet, but that crash put an end to that line of thought for now. I understand the arguments about the weight and lack of ventilation but I haven't found it to be an issue. I've been giving a lot of thought to a downhill mountain bike helmet as a compromise...
I used to ride with a vinyl montesa cap. Saved my scalp from several get offs from 4th gear wheelies. I also have a trials helmet that I put two separate fist size dents(almost holes) in the shell at the same moment. All protection is fine by me, it just takes one awkward moment to ruin your riding career.
US National Pro #6 Eric Storz and National #7 Logan Bolopue both wear full face helmets. I'm old school like Lineaway. Rode many years without a helmet. I see things very differently now. We had a kid face plant a big rock at our National right in front of me. He had a full face on. He was running out of time and gassing it downhill toward the exit. Lost control and did a lawn dart into big screen tv size rock. He hit so hard I thought his head was gonna come off. Worst trials crash I ever saw in 40+ years. Without a full face I am sure he would have needed reconstructive surgery. In the end all he had was a sore neck.
Myself and offspring all do, I use a Bellistic Downhill Mountain bike helmet, Both kids use a SixSix1 Mountain bike helmet, they weigh the same as a potato chip, almost zero interference with vision, and all under $80.00 Not to mention how much cooler ( Not Style ) they are to wear... I have seen even the best get out of shape and how quickly these bikes accelerate, usually heading into something more solid than your face,,,, Just cheap insurance for us http://www.xsportsprotective.com/bell-sanction-fullface-helmet.html http://www.allsportprotection.com/SixSixOne_Comp_Shifted_Helmet_p/6610007.htm For reference only !!!!!!!!!
I've always worn a full face lid for trials. I went face first into the top triple clamp within a few days of buying my TXT280, after that never considered an open face. +1 on the downhill MTB helmet, so much lighter and cooler than a standard MX lid.
Thanks guys, for the replies! I've been wrong before and I'm sure that will continue, but in this case, it's good to know that my decision is shared by at least a portion of the trials community. I'll check into the mountain-bike helmets but the Oneal full-face is new and seems pretty light (though not as light as a potatoe chip) so I'll use it for a while anyway.
I would have thought the fact a full face MX helmet is going to be very hot to wear for anything other than winter riding, and will make it difficult to hear the motor, are both good reasons to choose a trials specific helmet with proper ventilation, removable washable lining, and provision for improved hearing?
The heat argument is certainly valid, but it hasn't been an issue for me. This last season was plenty hot, with one event in 95F degree temps and very high humidity. I probably would have been more comfortable in a trials helmet but I crashed hard that day and was happy to have my MX helmet on. As far as hearing the motor, I don't think that's an issue at all. I can hear the motor just fine.
I rode yesterday with my Oneal full-face and had no problems with hearing the motor on my GasGas 280. In fact, I always ride (any of my bikes) with foam earplugs and still there was no problem hearing the motor or anything else for that matter. I met a couple mountain bikers and stopped for a bit of converstion. They were wearing light-weight full face helmets so I asked about them, how they liked them and how heavy they were. Wow! Those helmets are much lighter than the full face Oneal. So I ordered a Bell Sanction which weighs in at 2 pounds, 1 ounce compared to my Oneal at 3 pounds 10 ounces! I purchased it here: http://www.xsportsprotective.com/bell-sanction-fullface-helmet.html and with the 20% discount for purchase over $100 (I purchased a set of knee-pads too) the helmet ended up costing $48 with free shipping! The Bell is not D.O.T. approved but is fully approved by the European CPSC and CE EN1078 safety standards which is good enough for me. As far as heat goes, the Bell Sanction has 15 vents, it should be very cool. I've noticed no vision loss with the full face though I was worried about downward peripheral until I wore one and realized it's not a problem. Bottom line is, I've had my chin for 60 years. It's not the prettiest but it works and I would like to keep it in one piece!
I've been wearing one of these for the last year: http://www.giro.com/ca_en/products/men/helmets/remedy.html , and I love it.
Kids and I all were them, the oldest 8yrs, has an open face and took one good whack to the nose and changed his mind about being cool like the big boys. He's also kissed a tree at mild speed previously on his mx bike and full face helmet. I bought a Kali down hill helmet, works fine, I sweat like a bastard in anything. Kids wulfsport helmets are very light. By the way, how does an 8 yr old get an adult medium size skull?
Must be something in the water- my 10 year old son wears an adult large and size 10 boots :huh This is a great thread- I just got my first trials bike and came with a lid, I just ordered the Bell downhill helmet after seeing this post and thinking of cracking my chin on the bars. Might be getting a cup too :eek1
another vote for the mtb helmet,cooler and lighter i practice with my bell bellistic downhill helmet but its not legal to compete with so use a open face trials wulfsport helmet at those times
As I've been researching mountain-bike and downhill-bike helmets I've read some interesting material, lots of it. This article was the most interesting: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/DH-Helmets-vs-Motocross-Helmets-Which-Is-Safer.html It concerns the typical impact sustained on a bike vs. a motorcycle, speed being the difference most of the time. I think typical trials riding fits into the mountain bike category, speed-wise. It seems at high speeds you need a harder helmet, both outside and in, that makes sense. However, at lower speeds, like what we usually see in observed trials, you can use a softer shell and padding which better absorbs any impacts instead of shaking our brains (what's left of them) in our skulls. That's a layman's summary, read the article for yourself and see what you think. I'm wondering if it's necessary for sanctioning organizations to mandate DOT or Snell approved helmets when the CE EN1078 standards have been met by the manufacturers of mountain bike helmets and when these helmets my in fact be better at preventing injuries in low speed falls. Something to think about.
The difference being a 150 lb bike dropping on your head at 20Ft Vs a 15Lb one? I also argue about why we cant use the MTB helmets for ama comp. but cant seem to get anywhere with it....
I think the NATC rule just says it must be a AMA or FIM approved helmet. Not sure what that means. Im sure it must be tied to insurance and could vary state to state.