Summer breeze: Best open-face motorcycle helmets

We’ve all seen plenty of movies and TV shows – most notably from across the Pond – where bikers wear open-face motorcycle helmets and are bathed in glorious warm sunlight as they ride care-free along billiard-smooth tarmac, often with a rolling ocean over their shoulder. But while a Tuesday commute into Swindon may not be quite so romantic, an open-face motorcycle helmet can make a day-to-day ride a bit more enjoyable.

In a full-face helmet, your head obviously has the best protection possible; it is completely encased within the material of the helmet and with the exception of the visor aperture, there is no way any foreign material can enter. However, you are completely insulated from the outside world and for some, this is a step too far.

A flip-front helmet adds a degree of flexibility, in that you can open the flip when stopped to have a drink or a bite to eat or simply for a bit of air and some allow you to also ride with the flip open (if they are dual – P and J – homologated). Look for a tab on the chin-strap to be sure.

Shark’s Evo line (and latterly, LS2’s Valiant model) take this one step further, with a folding chin-bar that rolls all the way over the top of the helmet to the back, effectively turning a full-face into an open-face (or more accurately, a ‘Jet’-style – an open face helmet with a full visor, popular on the Continent particularly for commuters.)

But if you want the genuine impression of the wind on your face, then an open-face motorcycle helmet is the way to go. Generally, these will be particularly well suited to classic or retro-style motorcycles, as trying to get into hyperspace on a superbike or going off-road on an adventurer is likely to be a fairly uncomfortable experience.

You need to be aware that you are far more exposed in an open-face than a full-face or flip with the front closed. Your chin and face are uncovered and this is why they are generally used for low-speed riding. You also need to include some form of eye protection like riding goggles – little will ruin a ride more than hitting a wasp head-on at 50mph or a bit of grit kicked up from the road landing in your eye.

Like any helmet, all open-face (or Jet) lids should conform to the latest regulations, although you are unlikely to see them rated for safety by SHARP, the UK government testing scheme, since they do not protect the chin. However, if you want to get your motor running and head out on the highway, then one of these open-face motorcycle helmets may suit.

What are the pros and cons of open face helmets?

Open face helmets offer excellent ventilation, and being able to feel the breeze makes for an experience unlike any other in motorcycling. The main drawback is safety – your face is more exposed, and so you’ll be less protected.

How safe are open face helmets?

Generally speaking, an open face helmet will be considerably less safe to wear than a full-face helmet. Open face helmets leave a large portion of your face unprotected, which could end badly should you be involved in a crash.

On the flip side though, some people feel claustrophobic in a full-face helmet, and being comfortable in your gear is a big part of safety. As with most things in motorcycling, it’s really up to you how you want to ride – as long as you’re wearing a helmet, you’re still riding on the right side of the law.

If you’re unsure which style will suit you, it’s best to find out by trying some on at your local kit store.

What style of riding are open face helmets suitable for?

Open face helmets are great for summer, as they let lots of refreshing wind onto your face. To be on the safe side, we recommend only using them for urban duties, and slower speed riding.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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