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Solid State Cover...NO GO. I ordered a Bell!

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by prince_albert3, Dec 15, 2011.

  1. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    They are sort of like a face cover, more for longer rides.

    http://www.solidstatecovers.com/
    Check 'em out.

    I was wondering what everybody thinks? My wife is always wiping bugs from my face when I get home. I never enjoy taking June bugs and bees to face either.

    I don't care for full face helmets so I think I might add one to the x-mas list!
     
  2. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    gonna have to take that in for a minute.
    kinda makes me want to mount a shotgun to the bars and go mad max mode.
     
  3. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    Taken from their site:


    "Important Safety Notice

    This product is intended for the purpose of protecting the face from flying insects and airborne particulates such as rain, sand, or rocks small enough to fit into the tread of a tire. It is NOT designed to protect the rider from facial or cranial injuries as a result from impact with objects, surfaces, wild animals, human beings or beings from another world during an accident or unintended use. Any rider using this mask assumes all liability for any injuries that occur as a result of this mask being subjected to any circumstances outside it’s intended use.

    In short, if you don’t want to risk this getting stuck in your head or any place else just as uncomfortable ride safe and be aware of your surroundings pal. Your most important safety device is what’s between your ears. Keep it there…

    A further FYI.

    Considering that about 96% to 98% of all motorcycle accidents involve injuries and 20% of those injuries are to the head and neck the possibility does exist that the mask can contribute to further injuries."



    Doesn't make sense to me to wear half of a helmet, then cover your face with something that would break your nose if you crashed...might as well just go full face helmet and be safer.
     
  4. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    I don't have a very high opinion of those.

    dave
     
  5. andrewlong

    andrewlong Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    I'm scratching my head here...

    It's like re-inventing the wheel. Is their next model going to be...a full face helmet? Because that's what they're working towards. It's like...you have a brain bucket, but your face is exposed. Hmm, how can we fix this. Ah! Sunglasses. But now I eat bugs for lunch on the way home. Ooohh ooohh...a slab of metal in front of the face! Next step...hmm, the metal is too heavy, and I don't want this diamond plate pressing up against my nose. I know! Let's make a one piece plastic and fiberglass helmet with a big ol visor on the front! Oh wait...

    Not trying to rain on your parade, it's just how I see it lol.
     
  6. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    hogfiddles: May I ask why?

    I understand there is some risk in wearing the cover and that the company must have their disclaimers. On the other hand, I have a hard time believing that it wouldn't help more than hurt.

    I don't know. I just can't follow the "it might cause harm so better to go without" thought

    Maybe I just think it looks cool or maybe I've eaten to many bugs.
     
  7. ken007

    ken007 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    personally i dont like the look of them, but the last 2 look to me like they would dig into the top of your chest if you to bent your head to look at the speedo then it would probably ride up on your face a bit, maybe partially blocking your view untill you pulled it down, but if you like them really thats all that counts.i like my full face especially after a bloke at work once bought in a photo of somebody who didnt like them, i wont describe it for you but it still sends shivers up my spine.
     
  8. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    I wear a modular full face, its not real expensive either, its a Daytona and Im real happy with it. In fact its my first street full face. I dont know why I ever rode any other way.
     
  9. flynnski

    flynnski Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    I feel like they'll decapitate me if I rapidly depart controlled flight.
     
  10. lostboy2

    lostboy2 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    These things look scary to me just thinking about what would happen to you if you were in an accident. Be a whol lot safer and just wear a full face helmet.
     
  11. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    History lesson:

    Back in the "old days" motorcyclists didn't bother with helmets because most motorcycles didn't go over 35mph or so.

    Then in the '50s and '60s, "pudding bowl" helmets became popular; they were very similar to today's "shorty" style helmets.

    Then came what we now refer to as an "open face" helmet; the standard "jet fighter pilot" style that was the norm for years to come. When they came out they were called "full coverage" helmets because they now covered the critical area at the back of the riders' head, that had been left exposed by the "pudding bowl" style.

    Finally in the late 70s we got true "full coverage" (full FACE) helmets.

    For some reason, the "shorty" helmet has gained in popularity amongst a certain faction of rider in the last few years, effectively "going backwards" evolution-wise, to the poor protection offered by the original "pudding bowl" of the 50s.

    WHY is beyond me.

    This product looks to me to be a decent idea but dangerous in its execution; and it fails to address the TRUE shortcoming of the "shorty" helmet:

    No protection for the Medulla Oblongata, (the base of the brainstem and junction between the brain and spinal column.)

    Folks really need to worry about that more than they do bugs on their face.
     
  12. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    i'am pretty sure Fitz doesn't like 'em
     
  13. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    Having wrecked with full-face helmets more than once I can say without a doubt that I am here now due to wearing a helmet.

    The first time I wrapped my body around a tree via the upper front of my ff helmet-it was cracked, I had a minor concussion-without it my skull would have fractured.

    Another time I was run off the road by an SUV (he changed lanes and kept coming) and while sliding away from my bike I impacted an aluminum light pole on the front lower portion of my helmet. It shattered and broke away from the helmet. So without a FF I wouldn't have teeth, and possibly wouldn't have much of a jaw either.

    Looking cool or being comfortable isn't worth losing your health or life over-IMHO.
     
  14. RookieRider

    RookieRider Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    I don't know...
    I'd feel naked without a jousting pole if i was wearing one of those masks. lol.
     
  15. McGyver

    McGyver New Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    If you want a full face, go buy one. Myself, I own both a full face and an "open face" with a retractable visor. I prefer the open style 90% of the time because it's lighter and I get a better peripheral range of view. I do like the full face when it's raining or colder, but it does fog up even with the vents open. The only benefit I can see for this product is to have "slight" protection on long highway rides between destinations, then stow in a saddlebag during short commutes. I think it would depend entirely on what you ride, how you ride (fast and aggressive/leisurely/group) or, how long and in what weather. Some people may want to conceal their identity while riding either through a shady neighborhood or with shady characters LOL I won't judge.
     
  16. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    Hell! Now you guys got me checking ebay for full face/modular helmets. They are even half the price...
     
  17. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    I love my modular and I dont get a fogging problem, sometimes it will a little but I found (at least on mine) if I crack the the visor open just a tad, I mean litte, almost all the way closed I dont fog. rain-x on the inside and outside of the visor works like a charm too.
    I wont ride any other way now
    but Im just one person - to each his own
    they would be great to have in the zombie apocolypse though with a matching 12 guage pump
     
  18. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    Even what we're referring to here as an "open face" helmet is still 110X better than a "shorty" (that the dumbass product was intended for.) Like I said above, the modern-day "open face" was originally referred to as a "full coverage" helmet because it protected the all-important Medulla Oblongata-- take a hit there and you're a vegetable. Tearing the lower half of your face off is merely "cosmetic" by comparison.

    Ever crashed? Hard? Broken bones, ambulance, hospital crashed? I have, and so have some of the others here, based on the responses above.

    It tends to affect your choices in safety gear.

    I used to wear open face helmets, and still do for the occasional ride in the country. (I like to listen to my Norton.) But for full-on Detroit urban combat traffic-pothole-missing manhole cover-supermotard on my XJ I wear a full face. (I like my chin.)
     
  19. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    yeah I just got back from a ride into Pensacola, (our version of the city) and 3 times I had to avoid jackyls that would have taken me out, I gear up every time and want all I can get. I feel safer in my full face, good RIDING boots, leather and proper gloves.
    Down here I see Idiots riding with no lid, shorts and flip flops. women on the back with no protection and open toed shoes, etc.
    stupid.
    Im a full face advocate and my wife has one too
     
  20. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    someone asked why I don't have a very high opinion of these.....well, first off, it my OPINION. Second of all, if you really NEED clarification, I don't have a very high opinion of these at all because I think these things are one of the stupidest things to come around. Just my opinion, that's all.

    Carry on.............

    Dave F
     
  21. flynnski

    flynnski Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    oh hey, nice. not to threadjack, but I /just/ moved to PA from Destin. :)
     
  22. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Re: Solid State Cover...

    Where in PA? I grew up in the Poconos (Delaware Water Gap area.....Marshalls Creek) and am now about 3 hrs north of there in NY

    Dave
     
  23. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    Do to the mildly poor responses, I have decided not to chance it with the Solid State Cover. I may have been intrigued by the novelty of it, who knows. I do think it would work as advertised though...

    I checked ebay for a decent helmet. They offered a few prospects with good looks and some nice features for a great price. Thankfully, the bid I did submit fell through! That one was an impulse move... After reading/watching some reviews, I decided not to trust my life in a bargain buy.

    Instead, I hit the first few pages of Google! After getting the Mrs.' approval, I finally decided on/ordered the Bell 2011 Revolver, in black. I had seen it on ebay previously and really liked it but it was still too pricey then.

    Google spit up cyclegear.com in my search. They offer tons of great gear at very reasonable prices. The Revolver is a modular with some awesome features. I'm pretty stoked about it.

    Check it out:
    http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/20 ... web1000908

    Last night, I got it for $79, free shipping!!!
     
  24. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Well, I guess if you're gonna have your bell rung, you'd better have a bell.

    Uh....midly poor responses?!? I thought they were pretty blatant, blunt and straight to the point.

    Dave
     
  25. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    Hmmm...wonder if I can convince the wife the helmet I bought last year just isn't gonna work for me....
     
  26. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    for sure Hogs. I did not mean that I did not get enough or that the reviews were poor. I got the feel that people thought it was a poor product. Thats all.

    I appreciate the opinions and felt they carried some merit. Thus, I went with that modular Bell. Thanks again
     
  27. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

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    i'm all about the full face
     
  28. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    I like that bell, its like a hyper upgrade from from mine, same features but better, plus the lines (profile not graphics) of it are really cool.
    I gotta get one, same here though...... how to convince the wife??
     
  29. iwingameover

    iwingameover Active Member

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    I've been looking for a helmet with the flip down sun shade and that's a great price. But they're nowhere near big enough to fit my head, damn it.
     
  30. redsix

    redsix Member

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    Have you tried HJC? Their IS-16 models have sunshields. Some Scorpions do as well, though they are pricey. I'm in the market for the same thing, only my problem is that they usually don't have small.
     
  31. iwingameover

    iwingameover Active Member

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    I looked at some in a shop here awhile back. I don't recall which specific models but it was all brands. I wear a 7-7/8 hat size. My current helmet is a full face vega XXXXXL yes 5 X's.
     
  32. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    It depends on the brand. I'm a 7 3/4, and an XXL in HJC's range fits fine.

    Fitz=Old School. HJC Model CL-SP; quiet, fits like a glove, shield holds whatever position of the 4 available you click it into even if you turn your head at 70mph. DoT and Snell; not expensive but not cheap either.

    Basic, simple, functional. Highly recommended; and I do mean highly.

    [​IMG]
     
  33. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    Fitz: when you say quiet you mean like no wind noise? like you can hear the engine when cruizing around at say.......4k?
    I dont have to be going all that fast and all I hear is wind OVER the engine in my daytona.

    I was looking at the HJC's but I want to stay in a modular, kinda pricey though, which is why I liked that BELL, same price.

    Prince:give us a review after you get it?
     
  34. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    A well made and properly fitting helmet should give you hardly any wind noise at all.


    .......you only cruise at 4,000?
     
  35. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    oh no more like 6 to 7 highway normal, no i just picked 4 out of the air as a general starting point for the wind noise picking up.
    Its a Daytona so not an HJC by any means, fits good though and has all the same features as the BELL Revolver, just not a super quality lid ya know?
    I'm gettin a new one pretty soon and I dig the revolver (and the price)
    but no bro it's a Seca, if I just cruized around at 4k I'd give us a bad name!
     
  36. broccili

    broccili Member

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    I lucked out last night, it's been a long time since I've ridden, and I think my old helmet went into the bin. I looked around, and went into a shop in Boston and really liked the Scorpion with the flip down sun visor inside. It was $200 there, and $200 on all the inter-nets places I looked.

    THen, on the way home early for once, I stopped in my local shop a few miles from my house, and they had that helmet, in the color that I wanted, and I got better fit advice there too. To top it off, they were having a two day sale to try to move all of their street stuff, so they sold it for fifty bucks off! Needless to say I snapped it right up.

    I am a total fan of full face helmets.
     
  37. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I was going to say exactly the same thing; and on both points.

    Since we've already addressed the cruising at 4K thing, I'll speak to wind noise.

    With my shield fully closed, there is little or no wind noise, even at 80mph. I like to run with it open at least one "click" unless I'm getting on the superslab. Below about 55 or so, I like to run with the shield about half open, and in either of those positions there really isn't an excessive amount of wind noise, either.

    I will say this, though: I've had a LOT of helmets over the last 43 years of street riding; helmets from Buco (remember them?) Bell, Kiwi, Arthur Fulmer and the last few have been HJCs. Of all of them, this particular HJC is the best-fitting, most comfortable helmet I've owned yet.
     
  38. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    I was used to it with the fighter pilot job, so when I went full face I didnt pay much attention till I read about yours being quiet. Im shopping around now though
     
  39. redsix

    redsix Member

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    Since we're on helmets, you guys know of any really good/inexpensive online retailers? I, too, am looking for something with a drop-down sunshield, probably an HJC.
     
  40. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    With the holidays and all, my helmet is scheduled to arrive on the 29th. I will certainly let everyone know how it turns out. Although, I will not be able to comment on wind noise until the weather breaks or at least warms up a little.

    Like I said, after several pages of google search results, cyclegear.com got my business.
     
  41. HESH

    HESH Member

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    Maybe it's just me but, I don't see the point of leaving the cage in the garage, getting on the bike just to put a cage on your head. Full face helmets are uncomfortable and they restrict vision. Shortys or bobber style helmets are all I will wear unless it is raining. I like the open feel of riding my XJ. Full face helmets completely take that feeling away.
     
  42. prince_albert3

    prince_albert3 Member

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    Hesh, I understand what you are saying. I feel/felt the same same way.

    After riding for a couple seasons now, I have begin to harbor a great distrust for fellow travelers. I am confident in my abilities to ride and believe my shorty helmet would be enough if I were the only driver on the road.

    However, that is certainly not the case. I have narrowly avoided being run down from behind and seem to always be invisible at intersections. It's the teenage texters, the rushing soccer moms, the withering elderly, the drunk drivers, that I can't trust with my shorty helmet! I can learn to love any helmet if it means I may get to ride a little longer!
     
  43. HESH

    HESH Member

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    If all I cared about was safety I wouldn't have a bike in Los Angeles. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my life but I just don't live by the "what if?" code that some do. I know I'll get some flack for this but I have more fun riding to work then most will have all day.
     
  44. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    i use motorcyclesuperstore.com for a lot of my online purchases.

    And they carry extra parts for most of what they sell, nice when you need a new shield or cam for your lid.
     
  45. redsix

    redsix Member

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    I hear you, Hesh. I have differing opinions. Not giving you a hard time, though. Each to their own. I don't think I'd ever ride with anything less than a full-face for a variety of my own reasons.
     
  46. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    ya ever standup and hit your head and it hurt so bad you didn't care if you pissed your pants ?
     
  47. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    Or even notice that you have while the tunnel closes in!

    Modular full face helmets are a nice compromise for those that want that open air feeling, but still want to pull it down and go full face when needed. I don't buy the lack of vision argument-if you are using your mirrors and are able to twist your neck then your vision is fine in a full face, and I've seen no helmet & shorty riders who can't see a damn thing due to the wind battering their eyes and causing them to squint their watery eyes. Unexpected protein (bugs) in the mouth kinda sucks too.
     
  48. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Precisely.

    All you gotta do is actually crash once, and you'll be wearing a proper helmet too. If you can still ride.
     
  49. Bushy

    Bushy Active Member

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    I've got a face because i wear a full face, for that wind in yr face feeling leave th visor up for a while .. when required.
     
  50. skw1972

    skw1972 Member

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    what they said
     

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