A thread on 5ch’s Newsspeed VIP board claimed that riders who always choose a full-face helmet, no matter the situation, have been “too influenced by things they’ve read online.” The thread’s creator argued that switching helmet types based on use case is “normal,” and questioned whether always going full-face reflects a kind of ideology — but most replies pushed back hard. Commenters pointed out that choosing a full-face helmet for safety and forcing that choice on others are two different things, with comparisons to professional riders like mail carriers and traffic police also cropping up. In the end, the discussion never quite converged, running on in parallel tracks.
For touring, I mainly go full-face for comfort when I'm on highways and bypasses too.
The daytime thread had already died, that's why.
I don't really get the "salty" framing, but it made me realize there are people out there who only know things from what they've read online and don't seem to see reality clearly.
I wear a full-face because it's simply the safest option.
I'm not saying choosing a full-face itself is being influenced by the internet.
So what's your actual point?
My point is that it's normal to switch gear depending on the bike, destination, and purpose.
Also, if you're that obsessed with safety, just get off two wheels altogether.
I don't really get that.
Whether it's a moped or a big bike,
whether I'm going somewhere close or far,
I think the risk is about the same once you're on public roads.
That's why I go full-face no matter where I'm headed.
You seem to have the wrong idea — riding isn't something only reckless people who ignore safety do.
I take safety seriously because I want to keep enjoying it for a long time.
Is something wrong with that?
Do you actually understand that full-face helmets have downsides of their own?
They're heavy, not great for frequent on-and-off, and so on.
Look at mail carriers — none of them wear full-face helmets, right?
Being heavy and a hassle to take on and off — that's the "danger" of a full-face?
Both traffic police and mail carriers would probably wear full-face too
if they didn't need to interact with the public.
It's their job, so it can't be helped.
If you're fine wearing a half helmet and not regretting it even if you crash and wreck your face, that's your call.
Personally I hate that idea, so I wear full-face — and if it's too hot, I just take the car.
"I don't care what other people do," "you worry too much about others" —
funny how the people who post replies like that tend to keep arguing purely from their own standard anyway.
I've noticed that pattern for a while now, too.
safety gear doesn't really matter"
are just plain stupid.
That's extreme.
Just pick whatever's best for the situation each time.
How much you value your own life is up to you.
People who take it lightly can do whatever they want.
But don't go criticizing other people who take their lives seriously.
Hey, you're the one who wrote "just pick whatever's best" in Re: #27.
You're all over the place now.
I think you're the one who keeps arguing from your own standard here.
Maybe think it over.
You think so?
I'm just saying you should pick based on the situation and use case each time.
I'm not forcing it on anyone either.
Go back and reread the thread from the start.
I don't ride thinking about all that stuff.
Basically people just gear up for comfort so the ride feels good, right?
→ Sure, but I choose full-face because I don't want to die.
"If you're that obsessed with safety, just get off two wheels"
→ That makes no sense.
Are riders not allowed to care about safety?
If you also wore a full-face helmet while driving a car, like a race car driver, then what you're saying would actually carry some weight.
………?
I seriously cannot understand what you're saying.
What are you even talking about?
Uh…
a race car and a regular car on public roads are completely different things…
But if you're someone who prioritizes safety above all, wouldn't that logically follow?
No it wouldn't…
Do you wear a bulletproof vest when you ride a bicycle?
The whole reason I made this thread is that there are people out there who've turned it into that kind of ideology.
Wearing a full-face helmet ≠ excessive safety precaution.
I can kind of get the argument that wearing full-face just to pop into a supermarket or convenience store is overkill, but
comparing it to wearing a bulletproof vest on a bicycle → that level of "excessive"
makes no sense to me.
Personally, I think of it like shoes.
in Re: #59, by the way.
I never said it was excessive.
The main point is about the mindset that you "must" do it that way.
Sorry, I genuinely don't understand what you're saying.
I don't get what this "mindset" thing you're talking about even is.
Switching helmets by use case and always going full-face for everything aren't mutually exclusive, you know?
It's weird that you're stubbornly treating "always full-face" as excessive.
You claim you never said "excessive," but that's exactly what your argument amounts to.
Lines like "if you value safety that much, don't ride," "just take a car instead," or "well, if you wore full-face like a race car driver all the time…" are all completely off base.
If there were some trend saying "everyone must wear full-face," then sure, "I'll do what I want" would be a fair response.
But here someone's simply decided to wear full-face themselves, and outsiders are butting in with a bunch of noise about it.
I want to value my life as much as possible for my family's sake
so at the very least, I take proper precautions…
This really isn't something outsiders should be lecturing people about.
Everyone can decide their own approach.
Full-face helmets and body armor are perfectly reasonable choices.
Background and Key Points of This Debate
Japan’s Road Traffic Act requires helmets when riding a motorcycle, but the choice between full-face, open-face (“jet”), and modular/flip-up (“system”) helmets is left up to the individual. The point of contention in this thread wasn’t safety itself, but where to draw the line: is always choosing full-face, no matter the situation, behavior shaped by things read online, or simply a consistent safety mindset? The thread’s creator supported switching helmet types by use case, while those pushing back argued that risk doesn’t really change based on distance or destination, so consistent gear makes more sense. Both sides shared the same premise — “it’s for safety” — yet never reached a shared conclusion. What’s easy to miss is that this thread wasn’t really about comparing helmet performance, but a circular argument over the motives and attitudes behind people’s gear choices.
※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Newsspeed VIP) thread “Isn’t there this type of biker out there who’s like “I’m safety-conscious because I wear full-face 😤” but is clearly way too influenced by stuff they read online?”.
