Where I’m riding, I’m going too fast and too far for an open face. But not everyone is… So it requires a bit of judgement and understanding your environment – thinking for oneself sort of thing.

Interestingly…most MSF instructors teach the BRC in open-face helmets (around here). They DO care about safety – and I’m sure many of the wear full face helmets at other times, but standing in the NY heat, riding at 30 mph in a quiet lot with a couple dozen student riders…An open face helmet is safe and practical.

Some neighborhood rides are really low key and probably fine for open helmets… Others aren’t. My rides are mostly the latter – but that doesn’t mean yours has to be.

Going by the statistics you present here, there’s a 1 in 4 chance of a having your face receive serious impact or worse in an accident. I get the “pros” of wearing an open-face helmet you’re submitting, but a 1 in 4 chance of me smashing, disfiguring or losing my face in an accident are really bad odds. VERY bad odds.

I wish I could choose the time and place where danger is most present in my life, but having been hit by a car walking in crosswalk with me in the right of way and being t-boned in a car by a kid making an illegal left turn, I’ve learned my lesson. As it turns out, no one can predict when, where or if danger, big or small, is truly present. So, why risk it? For the sake of looking “cool”?

I’m sure this all sounds absurd coming from someone like me who rides a motocycle or scooter to work, bombs down fire roads on a mountain bike and rides 30 mph criterium races in a pack of cyclists. I recognize that. Still, the way I see it, if life offers you an opportunity to go one step further in getter ensuring you might be just a bit more prepared in case of an accident (i.e. buckling your seatbelt, a full face helmet), then you might as well take it.

I know I’d feel really f’ing stupid if I crashed and smashed my face wearing a open face helmet knowing that I’ve got a full face sitting at home that I chose not to wear that day. The same goes for wearing a t-shirt even though I’ve got a proper jacket with armor, or wearing my Chuck Taylors even though I actually own riding boots. It’s been said a hundred ways, but in the end, I’d rather sweat or get laughed at than bleed.

We all make choices and take risks, this is just how I rationalize mine.

Cheers.

Big guys can ride smaller bikes too. Smaller bikes don’t necessarily mean a smaller riding position. So a Ninja 250 or SV650 is just as roomy with your feet on the pegs as pretty much any standard motorcycle…

But…having said that – I think taller riders have a broader range selection to start off with…so if you want to stretch your legs… Dual sport bikes like the KLR650 are pretty good bikes to learn on if you can flat foot them, and worth keeping for the long run…

The Versys (another 650) is also not a bad way to go…and really practical for the city.

Lots of people learn to ride on 800cc (like the 880 Sportster) Harley’s – they’ll probably give you the most leg room…

And I’m sure there are some other’s I can’t think of at the moment…

They’re not the sexiest bikes out there – but lots of bikers think these are some of the best and most practical… So if you’re big enough to flat-foot them, and comfortable enough with the weight…I’ve known guys in the city who managed to learn to ride on them.

Hope that helps, cheers!

One of my riding buddies put it best: the minute you become 100% comfortable and feel 100% secure is one minute closer to you being 100% screwed.

It’s a Honda, 600rr.