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Motorcycles are some of the most dangerous vehicles you can drive but they do a number on your adrenal glands and that’s why so many people love them. Generally speaking, human beings are of the mind to continue with a fun activity even if they’re risking their lives. You might never want to stop riding your motorcycle, no matter how risky it is, but you can at least protect yourself by always wearing a motorbike helmet when you go for a ride.
When you get out onto the open road with your motorcycle you’re putting your life to your two hands and the motorbike helmet on your head. If you lose control of the vehicle for some reason and experience a crash you need to know that the helmet on your head will do it’s job and protect its valuable cargo. If the helmet fails you won’t be getting back up to ride another day. Accidents can occur at any time and for any reason, you have to be sure that your helmet will keep you safe no matter what happens.
Take the purchase of your motorbike helmet seriously. Don’t just buy a cheap motorbike helmet and think you’re golden. We know that shopping for helmets can be a difficult procedure because the shape of your head is unique and there are such a variety of styles but that doesn’t mean it should be a chore. To make your life a little bit easier here is the general rule of thumb: all motorbike helmets need to have the following five basic features to ensure the safety of the wearer and the drivers around him.
D.O.T Certification:
If you live in the United States you need to buy a helmet certified by the United States Department of Transportation. The D.O.T sticker on the back of the helmet certifies that it passes the standard impact and retention regulations set forth by the Department of Transportation. The standard deems that a certain amount of energy needs to be absorbed by the helmet upon impact and the helmet must stay on the cyclist’s head. Motorbike helmet manufacturers who place this sticker on their helmets are subject to random testing and if their helmets fail the impact tests they must inform the public and either recall the helmets or remove the sticker.
There are other certifications you can have on your helmets as well, like the Snell Foundation Certification, that test other aspects of the helmets but the most important one is the D.O.T certificate. The difference between a D.O.T certified helmet and a non-D.O.T certified helmet could be a matter of life and death.
Retention Ability:
A motorbike helmet is only useful if it stays on your head. The retention ability of a helmet marks how well that helmet is going to stay on your head if you suffer a major collision. To figure out a particular helmet’s retention ability you can perform an easy to do test on it.
Place the helmet on your head and tie the strap snug. A properly secured chinstrap will put a little bit of pressure underneath your chin. Once you have the helmet properly tied on you should grip the back of it and try to roll the helmet forward and off your head. If the helmet comes off during this test do NOT buy that helmet. It fails. If you can’t get it off, no matter how hard you tug and no matter how bad the chinstrap hurts you, you’ve found a motorbike helmet with adequate retention.
Proper Fit:
To have proper retention on a helmet you also need to have the proper fit. Loose helmets can come off in a high impact crash and that’s not going to help you at all. Every head shape is different and the customer service representatives at most motorcycle shops should be trained in proper helmet fitting but it’s still good to know a little bit about how a helmet should fit on your head.
A properly fitted full-face motorbike helmet should feel like it is a part of your body. When you move your head side to side it should move with you and not shake or wiggle. The padding inside the helmet should also grip your cheeks and jaw just enough so that it is comfortable and secure. If you try to pull or tug the helmet with your hands the skin on your face should move along with the helmet.
Adequate Coverage:
There are three basic motorbike helmet designs: the full-face helmet, the half shell helmet, and the ¾ shell helmet. The safest helmets provide the most coverage and those will always be the full-face variety.
If you choose not to go with full-face helmets you can always get a face shield or something similar to add more coverage to the helmet. Remember, a retro motorbike helmet might look cool but it won’t provide the same safety features a modern motorbike wireless helmet will.
Noticeable Appearance:
The final consideration you should make when purchasing your motorbike helmet is a matter of aesthetics. It’s great when a helmet looks amazing and you feel confident wearing it but you also have to consider the other drivers on the road. A safe helmet is one that can easily be spotted from a distance. Think bright solid colors that are visible in the dark as well as in the bright sun. The easier it is to see you the less risk there is of a driver accidentally running you off the road.
