Modular flip-up helmets: Good? Best of fav type?

[Gold Metal Flake]

Also, best for price?

I might have to drop a hint for my upcoming birthday, and I like the idea of these, but know nothing about them.

[flamin lib]

1. I'm interested in this too. I just can't bring myself to get a real one

piece full face 'cause every time I put my helmet on my nose itches. I have an open face now with a full visor but last fall I hit a bird at 70 and smashed the shield so all of a sudden a more substantial head protector looks attractive.

I also understand that they are a bit quieter than open helmets although I've found a good set of earplugs takes care of that. I can actually hear traffic noise better with the plugs than without.

[Robb]

3. You could also consider a full-face with a slightly jutting jaw piece

...which is the way I went. Because I can slip a hand up at my chin and scratch my nose. :D

[Robb]

4. Here's one:

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. I'm thinking the visor is a nice feature to keep the sun out of your eyes.

But, on the highway, it would catch air, no? One more reason for a windshield, I guess.

[Robb]

6. I've never owned an Arai

...I'm too cheap, frankly. :D

But I've heard the design of the visor works at freeways speeds nicely. Good enough for Charley and Ewan. :shrug:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Good enough for Charley and Ewan?

Yeah, but those guys rode behind windshields. How does the "duck-billed" helmet work on a naked bike at 80mph (or higher, though I wouldn't know about such things)?

I'm looking for a good full-face helmet with a clear visor and a dark flip-down "internal" visor, to make it easy to shift from sun to dark. Scorpion has a dual visor full-face helmet with a light tint internal visor. They also have a modular, that moves the whole front between full-face and 3/4 helmet with a dark internal visor, but that one is only DOT, not SNELL certified, so I'll pass.

[happyslug]

2. Look for Snell Helmet sticker

Snell Helmet Safety Standards:
http://www.smf.org/stds.html

Helmets, from a safety point of view, are about the same IF THE HELMET HAS BEEN PASSED BY SNELL. Snell rating meet and exceed the Federal Specs (Snell demands the right to actually test the helmet before approving it. The Federal Spec require no such actual test, just meeting the federal specs and self policing.

2010 Motorcycle Snell test requirements:
http://www.smf.org/standards/m/2010/m2010_final.htm

Federal Bicycle Specs:
http://www.bhsi.org/standard.htm

Comments on the various specs (More on Bicycle helmets then Motorcycle Helmets):
http://www.bikehelmets.com/konfuciy.asp?tda=dt&t=12892&fs=bicycle+helmet+standards

Snell was the big name in helmets till the mid 1990s. The problem was Snell insisted on the right to test helmets Snell purchased at retail (i.e. NOT supplied by the company except as the manufacturer puts into retail stores). To get a Snell Sticker, the maker of the Helmet had to agree to leave Snell buy up to 10% of that company's helmet at retail and reimburse Snell for the cost of such purchases in exchange for the Snell Sticker (Which Snell could demand they pull if Snell in its test finds out the Helmet, as sold, do NOT meet Snell's Specs).

Helmet companies hated this rule of Snell and demanded the Federal Government issue its own specs, which the Government did. Snell modified its specs to be more in line with the Federal Specs, but still insists on testing. Thus a Snell approved helmet is considered better then a DOT approved helmet. Helmets are built to meet both set of specs (Which are almost the same) but with Snell approval the Helmet is subject to actual testing by Snell, while the Federal Government leave such testing up to the Helmet manufacturer.

An anti-Snell Article I ran across while looking for articles on Helmets:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

I put it here to show that there is a dispute even among experts as to what is a "Safe" Helmet, Snell demanding a stiffer helmet then DOT or European helmet safety groups. The article question the need for such high safety margins, but I tend to like Snell on this argument.

Another site that is Anti-Snell (Helmet sellers hate Snell, it increases their costs do to how Snell tests helmets) but it has the actual Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation regarding Helmets.:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/DOT-standard.htm

Other Articles of Modular Helmets:
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/flip_face_helmet_comparison/index.html

List of Snell Approved helmets (No Modular has made the list, I suspect because none of the Makers of the Modular want their helmets to be actually tested):
http://www.smf.org/