Choosing The Right Motorcycle Helmet

Having the right motorcycle helmet is in my opinion, the most essential piece of equipment a rider will need. So the following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you make the best choice when it comes to choosing the right motorcycle helmet for you.

Having the proper safety gear is very important when you are riding or a passenger on a motorcycle. So while a Motorcycle Helmet is the one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you can have, just any old one won't do! a crash helmet will only protect you if,

1. It is the right type

2. It fits you properly.

The times I have seen riders blasting past cars on the latest expensive super-bike but still wearing that old crash helmet they had years ago, or a young child whizzing around the fields on a motorcycle wearing an adults sized old helmet, or even no helmet at all. In the event of an accident or even the slightest of tumbles, wearing either of these types of motorcycle helmet would be a waste of time and offer no protection at all.

Number one, It is of the utmost importance that you try on any helmet that you are going to buy to make sure it fits properly. If you are considering buying a motorcycle helmet over the Internet or from a catalogue, always make sure you will be able to return it for a refund or exchange if it doesn’t fit that well.

Bear in mind that each helmet manufacturer will size their offerings differently, and remember just because your current one is say a size large, this may not be the correct size for you if you buy a different make. If you are buying off the Internet or by mail order, measure the circumference of your head just above your ears and ask the supplier to give you their helmet dimensions and sizes.

For the best results, I will go around the motorcycle accessory retailers and try on different makes and sizes of helmets and then compare prices on the Internet. Also remember to try on a motorcycle helmet with any items that you will generally wear when riding your bike. For example, many women wear their hair in a ponytail when riding, but may have it down while trying on a helmet. Don't forget that If you wear glasses while riding your motorcycle, that you take them with you when you are trying on any motorcycle helmets.

Your motorcycle helmet needs to fit very securely, but not be too tight and make sure it surrounds your entire head. Even though the chin straps are adjustable you should still do them up to make sure you can get them tight enough to fit your face shape. Consider trying on the same make of helmet in a size larger and one size smaller just to make sure that you do have the best fitting helmet size for your head. For extra comfort, you could consider getting a one that has removable cheek pads and offers air vents. Ones you can easily slide open or closed and so allow more air to circulate while wearing the helmet with the visor down..

Also choosing the right Motorcycle Helmet should not be based only on the looks,style or graphic designs but on the how much protection, safety and comfort it can provide.

The Full Face Helmet
Because of its wrap around design, is the helmet which offers the most protection for motorcycle riders because it protects the whole head. This type of helmet also shields the wearer from rain, wind, insects, dirt and cold. However, it can muffle external noises, and can be the most expensive type of Helmet.

The Half Helmet does offer good protection for the top and the temple area of the head, including the ears. This type of Bike Helmet is preferred by many off road riders because of its lightness and is very easy to put on and take off, unlike the Full Face type. The Half Helmet is also designed to provide the rider with very good peripheral vision. However, it drawback is that it does not offer enough protection for the frontal part of the head.

An Open-Face Helmet offers good protection for the head, neck, ears, and eyes, but cannot safeguard injuries to the face, nose chin areas. There are types that have a face shield that opens up which can be very convenient and protect the wearer from rain, wind, insects, dirt, cold, and is a better safeguard for injuries to the face, chin, teeth, and nose area.

Lastly, always remember to check if your choice has the appropriate certification for example SNELL or DOT.

Never ever buy a used motorcycle helmet no matter what the cost or condition. This is because as a motorcycle helmet ages it degrades, but also it may have been involved in an accident or even just dropped and will not protect you as it was designed to do.

Modern motorcycle helmets are now made from a variety of materials, and for the best in safety and quality, I would choose one that is made from a combination of organic fiberglass and layers of carbon fibers, as this combination creates a very powerful shock absorbent shell. Also I would want to make sure that the my choice of helmet had an inner liner construction that offers a three layer system, as this will give you extra shock absorption.

If you ride your bike a lot you may want to consider choosing a motorcycle helmet that lets you change the visor easily, or maybe one that have the option of dual visors as found on the Caberg helmets.This is a great option for riding during the day and the night. Always make sure that any visors are road legal, preferably fog resistant and of course offer excellent impact resistance.

Investing in a good quality motorcycle helmet that will offer all the protection you need when riding your motorcycle isn’t going to be cheap, but it will be one of the most important investments you make in your life.

If in doubt remember the old Bell Helmets advert:

"IF YOU'VE GOT A $10 HEAD, WEAR A $10 HAT"

You just have to consider the statistics that show motorcycle riders who wear a helmet have nearly a 40% less chance of suffering from a head injury or death.

You can never predict when knowing something extra about how to go about choosing the right motorcycle helmet will come in handy. So If you have learned anything new here about buying the right helmet, why not save or file this page where you can find it again.