Riding a motorcycle isn’t for everyone, but those who do it love it. Motorcycling does come with a list of risks however as you are more exposed to the elements and you don’t have the same amount of protection that you would in a car. Therefore, you must take your safety seriously, as even a minor crash can result in serious injuries.
One of the most important pieces of safety equipment that you are going to need is a motorcycle helmet. Statistics have shown that you are much more likely to survive an accident if you are wearing a proper helmet. With all that being said, how can you go about choosing the right helmet? With so many designs and features out there, it can be difficult to know what is best. Here is a guide on how you can choose the right motorcycle helmet for you.
Sizing is Important
Before you decide on any motorcycle helmet, you should ensure that they have a DOT safety approval. If they don’t have this approval, it means the helmet is going to do very little for your safety. That being said, however, a helmet can have this approval rating but still not help you in any way. Why is this? It all comes down to sizing.
Your helmet should be properly sized for you and that means it matches your head shape and everything. A helmet that bounces around or is a little too tight is going to do nothing for you if you find yourself in an accident. Sizing, according to Helmet Labs, is one of the most important things that you should be looking at when it comes to motorcycle helmets and you should not be neglecting it. Everyone’s head is shaped differently, therefore you should have a general idea about the size and shape of yours when you are buying helmets, especially if you are going to be buying online.
The last thing you want is to spend a lot of money on a helmet only to find that you can’t wear it or that it doesn’t fit properly. Never neglect your safety, ensure that your helmet is the right fit for you.
The Types of Helmets
Now that we have talked about the sizing of motorcycle helmets, it’s now time to talk about the styles that are out there. Each of these has its pros and cons and it is up to you to make a decision based on what you like. Here is a list of some of the types of helmets and how they can benefit you.
The Full Face Helmet
This is the most popular helmet when it comes to motorcycling. The full coverage gives you a great deal of protection from not only the elements but from accidents as well. In most of these helmets, you are going to find eye ports as well which is going to let you see clearly. Some helmets can lift at high speeds however this one is designed to stay snugly on your head. Finally, the ventilation in the helmet will help to ensure you are getting fresh cool air while you ride. Overall, this is a great helmet that guarantees safety, although it does come at a higher price than most helmets.
The Modular Helmets
Modular helmets are similar to full-face helmets, however, they come with a bit more design and customization. You can easily flip up the face shield in the front to turn it into an open face helmet. While this is a nice feature, keep in mind that the ability to flip it up and down does make it slightly weaker than a full face shield. That being said, however, if you want to be able to have both an open-faced and closed helmet, this is an ideal choice for you.
The Open Face Helmets
Open face helmets are great for riding around in scooters and slower vehicles. At faster speeds, however, you are going to get blasted by the wind, dust, and other types of debris. This means goggles are essential if you are going to want to wear this helmet. If you can get over the fact that it is open in the front, it is still a versatile helmet that is going to offer some safety.
The Half Helmet
The final helmet we are going to mention is the half helmet. This just sits on the top of your head and does not provide much protection along the sides. It is incredibly light however and it can be the most comfortable helmet out there. That being said, there is a huge lack of protection should you find yourself in a sticky situation.
These are a few of the helmets you are going to see out there on the market. Find what design works best for you and then figure out your size to pick out the right helmet. Neglecting safety is something you never want to do with a motorcycle as one mistake can be fatal. What are you looking for in a motorcycle helmet?