Motorcycle & Exposure to Skin - Page 2

I wore a Shoei half helmet for my first year of motorcycling and yes it definitely affected my skin (especially when it got cold). The wind when riding a bike can be dangerous for a couple of reasons. First, yes it will dry out one's skin and cause premature aging plus you may get cut from debris or from all of the stuff that flies off the road. When I rode with a half helmet, a leaf falling from a tree in Autumn @ 50 mph felt like someone slapping me in the face and those leaves can easily cut one's face as well. The effects of that leaf hitting the face is even worse when it gets cold. When I rode with a half helmet (I commuted for about 1 hr each way to work) I would have to use a cleanser and moisturizer on my face when I got to work. I got sick of the eye tearing, skin drying / hurting, cold, bugs, debris, tire rubber from exploding tires, rocks, exhaust, etc. hitting my face so I got a full face helmet. It not only protects one's face but extends the riding season to year round because the weather doesn't affect one's face. Last year, I got called a pussy (kiddingly) by some guy that I worked with because of my full face helmet. He's probably still in the hospital after his accident. Not sure what his face looks like (or the extent of any head injuries) but his life will never be the same. Also worked with someone who decided to ride up and down the street outside of work without any gear doing some wheelies on a sport bike. He fell and was in the hospital and out of work for several months with lots of head injuries, broken jaw, etc. He'd have walked away with a full face helmet. Vision is fine in a full face helmet but the only bad thing about full face helmets is the fogging. However, if you get a decent helmet (I have a Shoei RF 1000) it will come with a small insert that fits over one's nose and mouth so that one's breath doesn't hit the sheild. There are also visor sprays which are supposed to prevent fog on the visor but in my experience they don't work. Also, hopefully the helmet you get has a small web at the chin to prevent bugs and object getting sucked in/ flying up through the bottom of your helmet at the chin. That's always fun when they do that...

Pinlock visor is the way to go against fog. They really work. You can get them for most major helmet companies' visors. Wear a helmet for crying out loud. And unless you think you'd look cool with no jaw, get one that covers it.

I always wear a full-face helmet. I don't particularly care to have bugs splattered all over my face, or my skin sandblasted by all the crud getting flung up off the road, or a tooth or eye taken out by a rock - I especially don't care to reenact Humpty Dumpty in the unfortunate event that I go down. There are tons of myths about full-face helmets being unsafe: Can't see as well - Tell me how well you see when your eyes are watering like faucets from 50 mph wind and grit. If the helmet is properly fitted you should have no problems with the eyeport restricting your vision. Are your sunglasses rated to withstand an impact equivalent to a .22 fired into a lens? Can't hear as well - Actually, helmets help you hear more distinctly by muffling out the wind and engine noise. In fact, if you're not wearing earplugs on a regular basis for longer rides you will permanently damage your hearing in the long run (I must admit I'm really bad for forgetting or not bothering with earplugs myself). The visor will fog up - Get a good quality helmet with a decent venting system and this won't be a problem. Be safe and you will have many happy miles before you!

Just an extra word of advice... Dont stop at the helmet. Wear full riding gear. With motorcycles its not the question of will you fall, its when. There is nothing worse than severe road rash from a bad lowside. You want to protect your skin? Get gear. I still have scars down my side and my leg, plus my knee. Its not pretty. And thats all WITH gear on. I dont imagine I would have the same quality of life now if I didnt. Dont ride like an idiot... Lastly, dont ride a Vespa...Ive heard instances where many men have noticed their testicles getting smaller to the point where they began to resemble a vulva.

I wear goggles. No teary eyes.


Then how will I hear my Ironhead?

I'm pretty confident I'll never dump. When I do wheelies, I keep it under 65 mph. I always use the "stop" hand signal (because I don't have a brake light) and nod my head in the lane I plan to move to (because I don't have turn signals). I avoid puddles by swerving erratically (because I don't have a front fender), but I'll never lock my rear wheel because I have an ancient drum brake. I accelerate as fast as I can on bumpy roads because I don't have shocks and just want to get it over with, and when I stand on my seat, I never close my eyes. Safety first.

oops see below

Bingo And damn it wear GLOVES. Youd be suprised at the number of riders who literally bleed to death through their hands. There was a man on a car forum I heard about who went down, destroyed his hands to the point where most of his fingers were removed and if not removed amputated to stubs. He typed out a suicide note on this forum(with one of the stubs he had left) and sadly followed through. I care about this stuff Ive taken safety courses and stuff and I just believe that things like this are preventable for the most part.

Hardcore stunna, huh? What's your point?

My point is that I'm young and therefore invincible. Ya'll have just forgot what that's like.

I always wore a full face helmet on my crotch rocket. The argument that a full face helmet takes away vision is BS..I like the idea of having my skull intact incase of an accident. The latter reference is why I got rid of the motorcycle and drive a large automobile or a large suv.

Bet I'm younger than you! Well, I don't know, maybe I have an old soul.

I've never dumped, but have a lot of friends who have. A couple of friends this year alone have written off their bikes, and an acquaintance literally died but was revived at the hospital. My worst fear is becoming a vegetable and being a burden on my parents for the rest of my life - hence the helmet and safety gear. I think being aware that what I do will affect not only me but also the ones I love goes a long way towards curbing recklessness.

Wear full gear! One thing to take seriously is if your going to be riding a Motorcycle, head protection is very serious. Buy a full face helmet with a visor. If you go down, which you will at some point, any skin or non protected clothing is going to rip and burn. You don't want a skin graft on your face or body, its painful and scars you for life. Take it seriously. Theres a reason why insuring a motorcycle costs allot.