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Comparison

Full face vs modular helmet

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Short answer

A modular helmet has a chin bar that flips up, so you can talk, drink or put on glasses without taking it off. A full face has a fixed chin bar, which is simpler, usually lighter and is the standard choice for sport and track riding. Choose a modular for touring and convenience, and a full face if you want the lightest, simplest shell.

Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.

Verdict

Buy a full face such as the Shoei RF-1400 or HJC RPHA 71 if you want the simplest, lightest and cheapest shell, especially for sport riding. Buy a modular such as the Shoei Neotec 3 or HJC RPHA 91 if you tour, wear glasses or stop often, and check the label for an ECE P or P/J rating.

This page is for riders deciding between a one piece full face helmet and a flip-up modular. We explain what a modular helmet is, then compare weight, noise, chin bar strength and ratings, ventilation and day to day convenience. To keep it concrete, we use matched pairs from the same makers: the Shoei RF-1400 and Neotec 3, the HJC RPHA 71 and RPHA 91, and the Schuberth S3 and C5, which list their weights. All product facts come from the listings.

What is a modular motorcycle helmet?

A modular, also called a flip-up or flip-front helmet, looks like a full face when closed. A hinge on each side lets the chin bar and face shield lift up over the forehead, turning it into something close to an open face helmet. The Neotec 3 listing describes this as a flip-up face cover and face shield for switching between full face and open face riding.

A full face helmet has a chin bar molded into the shell. There is no hinge and no latch. It is the most common helmet for sport riding and for many road riders. Our helmet types guide covers open face, adventure and half helmets as well.

  • Full face

    Street, sport and touring

  • Modular

    Touring, riders who wear glasses

  • Adventure

    Mixed road and dirt

  • Open face (3/4)

    Cruisers and scooters

  • Half

    Short, slow rides

  • Off-road

    Dirt and motocross, with goggles

The six common helmet types. Any of them sold for street use in the US must carry the DOT label.

Weight

A modular needs hinges, a chin bar latch and extra reinforcement, so it is usually heavier than a full face from the same maker. Schuberth lists weights for both types, which makes a fair comparison. The S3 full face is about 3.8 lb (1720 to 1740 g) in sizes XS to L, and the C5 modular is about 3.9 lb (1780 to 1790 g) in the same sizes. That is a small gap for a premium pair; across the market the difference varies by model.

Shoei and HJC listings here do not state weights, so we do not compare them on weight. For more on why grams matter over a long day, read motorcycle helmet weight.

Chin bar strength and P/J ratings

In the US, DOT FMVSS 218 is the legal standard, and every helmet in this comparison lists it. DOT does not include a separate chin bar test. Under the European ECE 22.06 standard, a modular can be approved as P (protective, tested as a full face with the chin bar closed), J (jet, tested as an open face), or P/J, which means it is approved for riding with the chin bar either closed or locked open.

The modular listings in this comparison state DOT only and do not state a P or J rating. If chin bar protection matters to you, look for the ECE label on the helmet itself and check for P or P/J. Never ride with the chin bar open on a helmet that is not approved for it. Our ECE 22.06 explainer and DOT vs ECE vs Snell pages cover the tests, and the helmet rating decoder reads a label for you.

Note.A full face chin bar is one piece with the shell. A modular chin bar depends on its latch being fully closed. Check the latch every time you close it.

Matched pairs compared

Facts from the listings only. 'Not stated' means the listing does not say.

  • Type

    Shoei RF-1400
    Full face
    Shoei Neotec 3
    Modular
    HJC RPHA 71
    Full face
    HJC RPHA 91
    Modular

  • Listing price

    Shoei RF-1400
    $549.99
    Shoei Neotec 3
    $949.99
    HJC RPHA 71
    $349.99
    HJC RPHA 91
    $559.99

  • Shell

    Shoei RF-1400
    AIM matrix
    Shoei Neotec 3
    AIM, multi-density EPS
    HJC RPHA 71
    Integrated Matrix EVO Carbon
    HJC RPHA 91
    Carbon and carbon-glass hybrid

  • Rating stated

    Shoei RF-1400
    DOT, Snell M2020
    Shoei Neotec 3
    DOT FMVSS 218
    HJC RPHA 71
    DOT FMVSS 218
    HJC RPHA 91
    DOT FMVSS 218

  • Sun visor

    Shoei RF-1400
    Not stated
    Shoei Neotec 3
    QSV-2
    HJC RPHA 71
    3-step sun shield
    HJC RPHA 91
    3-step sun visor

  • Vents stated

    Shoei RF-1400
    Multiple
    Shoei Neotec 3
    Multiple
    HJC RPHA 71
    2 intakes, 2 exhausts
    HJC RPHA 91
    5 intakes, 7 exhausts

  • Intercom ready

    Shoei RF-1400
    Not stated
    Shoei Neotec 3
    Not stated
    HJC RPHA 71
    SMART HJC 21B, 50B
    HJC RPHA 91
    SMART HJC 21B, 50B
Full face vs modular from the same makers

See the best modular helmets →

Noise, convenience and cost

Hinges and seams around the chin bar give a modular more places for air to sneak in. Makers work hard on sealing, and the Neotec 3 listing claims wind tunnel shaping to cut noise, but a well fitted full face has fewer joints. The quietest choice still depends most on fit and your bike's airflow; see helmet wind noise fixes.

Convenience is where modulars win. You can flip up to pay for fuel, talk at a stop, drink water or put on glasses without taking the helmet off, which helps riders who wear glasses (see motorcycle helmets with glasses). Touring riders and commuters who stop often get the most from that.

Modulars cost more. Shoei's Neotec 3 lists $400 above the RF-1400, and HJC's RPHA 91 lists about $210 above the RPHA 71. You are paying for the mechanism.

  • Choose a modular if you tour, stop often, wear glasses or want an easier fit over your head.
  • Choose a full face if you ride sport bikes or track days, want the simplest shell and lowest price, or want the fewest seams.

Frequently asked questions

Is a modular helmet as safe as a full face? A modular with the chin bar latched is tested as a full face under ECE when it carries a P rating. DOT does not test chin bars separately. A full face has no hinge, so it avoids any latch concerns.

Are modular helmets heavier? Usually. Schuberth's listings show the C5 modular at about 3.9 lb and the S3 full face at about 3.8 lb in sizes XS to L.

Can I ride with a modular open? Only if the helmet is approved for it, shown as J or P/J on the ECE label. The US listings here do not state that, so check the helmet.

What is a modular helmet good for? Touring, commuting, riders who wear glasses, and anyone who wants to talk or drink at stops without removing the helmet.

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