Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 25,082
- Location
- London, UK
I've long been tempted to pick up a few old school, open faces just for decor, though I suspect that She Who Must Be Obeyed would not be happy unless or until we can afford a place big enough that they could stay in my mancave....
Looks like a style very popular with people who keep a scooter for city riding. Very Italian. I saw some of these in Beijing recently. There seems to be no helmet law there - though you rarely see a 'real' motorcycle, most two wheelers there are now electronic scooters, ridden on the road.... in cycle lanes.... up the footpath.... without insurance or helmets! I have notice a few helmets starting to happen there, though bizarrely it's pushbike helmets I see most....
I'm coming from the same place. TBH, I'm surprised open face helmets are still legal to wear in the UK (not least as it's much easier to spot than, say, a Gringo which is not UK road legal). I'm sure it'll change soon. I think the best alternative is a motocross style... (WEirdly, I had a dream the other night involving motocross helmets. Someone was doing a lofi, Netflix backed series based on MadMax, and I was hired to advise them on costumes. Fun dream.....).
My compromise is the Shoei Neotec 2 modular helmet. Full face but you can lift up the front for when stopped at lights etc. flip down sun visor which I love plus I have the integrated Bluetooth comms system from SENA and it’s great.
Not vintage looking but functional and safer, I guess that’s where I draw the line.
I remember when my dad first got back into bikes twenty-five years ago or so. Flip fronts were very new and expensive and only one or two firms did them. Now, of course, they're everywhere! They're especially popular with riders who wear glasses for all the obvious reasons.
I remember when I was first in India in 2010, seeing signs everywhere in Bangalore saying "Be safe, wear helmet", and every main road being almost fully lined with stalls selling helmets of whatever quality (who knows!). No helmet law - then or now, afaik. It would be interstingt to see somewhere where everyone wore a helmet because they thought it sensible rather than through legal requirement. Here in the UK when they brought the helmet law in in 1973, 80% of motorcyclists were already wearing them (the opposition arguments were largely based on personal liberty, but they lost, largely to the argument that irresponsible young (usually men) motorcyclists were causing huge cost to the health service (if they survived) and otherwise needed to be protected from themselves).
The field boots and breeches look fantastic. I'm toying with the idea of replicating a similar look with a shorter pair of Helstons boots and a pair of leather gaiters, worn with some repro Brit WW2 motorcycle dispatch rider's BD trews (kevlar underneath, natch) - perhaps a look best for Winter, though!
