When I graduated from riding a 50cc scooter to an 800cc motorcycle , a few things changed : I possessed formal two-wheel training and the accompanying knowledge for the first time ; I became the holder of a bona fide motorcycle licence ; and I gained a sombre respect for the effects that crashing a moto can have on the human body .
I made some deals with myself on motograduation day , one of which was no more openfaced helmets . For three years I had subscribed to scooter chic , sporting a Momo Designs Fighter atop my Vespa on the streets of London . I loved this helmet and furthermore , the idea of wearing a closed-faced helmet seems contrary to the spirit of bike riding . Yet I came to see that I had been riding on borrowed time . Call me vain , but I like my face the way it is ; yet even a 25mph spill wearing an open-faced helmet could see it rearranged .
Since then , it ’ s been fixed full-faced helmets whatever the weather and whatever the bike . Yet if I am honest I remain tempted to ride with the wind in my face , especially when pottering around under a hot sun . I have also remained curious about the suggested advantages of flipup helmets for touring and when I planned my ‘ big trip ’ around South America I considered one . For example , they allow the rider to quickly make eye-contact with people beside the road , something I had learnt from years of travel as being essential in both hostile and benign situations . I came close to choosing a flip-up , but at the end of the day I was less convinced by other arguments such as not having to remove your helmet when filling up and paying at a gas station - after all , removing and donning a helmet only takes a few seconds . I was also unconvinced of the structural integrity of a flip-up , should a rider come off and land on his face ( as I subsequently did in the mountains of Chile ).
When the chance came to ride a Ducati Scrambler around Scotland , the moto-fashionista within me again reared his head once more . Surely this bike demands an open-faced helmet . Then the idea came to me - why not try the Shark Evo-One ? When I was choosing gear for South America , I had looked closely at its predecessor , the Evoline 3 , and liked it . I have also owned and used a Shark Vision X for the last few years .
The EVO ONE front and rear view
The Evo One is available in five sizes and 17 colours / designs .