Motorcycles are a dangerous yet exciting ride. If you want to make it enjoyable without worrying about your safety, helmets are your best option. Motorcyclists should never ride a bike without their helmets so that if they encounter an accident, their helmets can protect their heads and face from serious damage.
With every fun and exciting ride, safety always comes first. Helmets come in handy whenever you are off to some far and distant places. Safety gear plays an important role in scavenging the protection for your body from accidental hazards.
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Types of Motorcycle Helmets
There are a variety of options in the market that will confuse you with their appealing wrapping and style. First, however, you must search a little about what you require with your motorbike.
Certain helmets offer convenience as preventing the dust from getting into your eyes. At the same time, others are geared to offer your head comfort and proper circulation of air and ventilation around your head and neck. Moreover, it also supports your head and prevents the head from getting deep injuries to the brain. Therefore, you must be able to know the difference between each one of them.
For that purpose, we have gathered some important knowledge that will help you in getting the right one for yourself.
Structure of a motorcycle Helmet
Helmets comprise a complex yet classic structure. However, the structure is readably built to protect the rider`s head from getting gruesome injuries. Therefore, you should understand the structure before you set off to buy any random helmet for yourself.
Motorcycle helmets are geared with four basic parts. These parts include an outer shell, and the other one is an impact-absorbing lining with a systemized and chin strap for the perfect retention. Along with that, the last part is the cushioned padded layering that comforts the head and neck and keeps them in place.
1. Full Face Helmet
Top of the list, a full-face helmet is geared in a way that will cover your entire head, from the base of the skull to the back. A portion of material that generally cradles the visor also protects the face and chin. These are the most popular helmets that can be seen on the streets, and they’re modeled after Moto GP helmets.
Since these helmets cover the full face, that is why they are considered the safest among all. You can wear these helmets if you want to ride on main busy roads as they protect your head from any serious injuries. It has been shown that about 35% of crashes show an impact on the chin area, but if you are wearing this protective helmet, it can save you.
These helmets are round and bubble in shape. Full face helmets, regardless of their shape and appearance, are structurally stronger because of a chin bar that is integrated into the rest of the helmet. Also, there are front wind visors that can be easily opened and closed.
Sometimes, full-face helmets offer you with a venting system that is placed with the chin bar. Furthermore, this area keeps regulating the fresh air around your neck and head. This will help in the proper blood circulation and let you cool down even if it gets frustrating in a heavy traffic jam. In addition, the soft cushioning will absorb the sweat and reduces the steam that fills up the visor.
The vent can be closed too if there`s a storm getting in your way and could block the visor with the dust. However, this feature won`t allow the dust to form a layer within the visor.
2. Flip-Up/Modular Helmets
Modular helmets or flip-up helmets attempt to integrate the greatest features of both worlds. They have a hinge that allows the chin bar to be lifted and lowered or removed to meet the wearer’s demands. This makes these helmets very comfortable and friendly. These are the second most prevalent style of helmet worn by commuters after full-face helmets.
About the safety rating of a modular helmet, if only closed-position safety ratings exist, the manufacturer does not want the helmet to be worn open. In such circumstances, the ‘open’ feature has been added as a convenience feature. Although it is convenient to open the front of your helmet to hold a conversation or while buying something, many people prefer flip-ups since they are quieter.
Since a modular helmet is worn open, the opening at the bottom can be significantly smaller than that of a full-face face helmet. As a result, less air enters the bottom aperture, resulting in a quieter experience.
These helmets have a range of shapes, from round to elongated. These helmets weigh more than full-face helmets due to multiple components used in heavy-duty pivots hinges. Moreover, these helmets are designed with an erect posture that makes them crucial as a traveling companion.
Furthermore, this erect position keeps the chin bar properly sit by keeping it low. In addition, these helmets are built with a heavy mass as compared to the full-face helmets. They have an exquisitely designed structure and multiple functionalities that are incorporated upon the pivot point. It gives extra support and protection to the chin.
3. Half Shell Helmets
Half shell helmets are mostly worn for fashion and to enjoy the wind on your face. They provide the bare minimum head coverage in the upper front, top, side, and rear sections.
Half shell helmets are prized by riders of vintage classics and cruiser bikes because they allow you to view the sights, hear the sounds, and smell the fragrances better than any other form of a helmet. In addition, sunglasses, goggles, and scarves are frequently worn to protect the face and mouth from bugs and other road dirt.
Furthermore, these helmets undoubtedly provide proper air circulation through the vents. However, with the modulated structure, it does not provide much protection as the others do. Nevertheless, given the classic style, it is still very popular among the bikers.
The half-face helmets do not have a protective face shield nor a visor. Therefore, if you want to have extra precautions, you are going to need goggles or sunshades for that purpose. This will protect your eyes from getting dust into them.
Furthermore, few modifications are needed to be done with it. These technicalities ensure your safety needs. Moreover, it also not offers the chin protection, and apart from it, your face is also exposed to accidental hazards and environmental pollution.
4. Dual Sport Helmets
Dirt bike helmets that have been re-engineered for street use at moderate highway speeds are known as Dual Sport helmets. Ventilation is greatly increased for on-road riding due to ducts and vents. Face shields may be flipped down while riding. Alternatively, you can flip the face shield up to use with goggles while off-riding.
Unlike dirt bike helmets, these helmets have permanently incorporated chin bars for improved jaw protection in case of accidents. They also have glare-reducing sun peaks that are less affected by aerodynamic lift as speeds increase. Moreover, these helmets offer improved insulation for the muffling of the sounds and the warmth rather than the other dirt bike helmets. However, not as much as full-face helmets. It keeps the rider comfortable on the road.
5. Open Face Helmets
Open Face Helmets cover the sides, top, and back of the head while leaving the face areas entirely open to the fresh breeze, making them a long-time favorite among lower-speed motorcyclists and scooter riders. However, open face helmets provide poorer crash protection due to the lack of a solid chin portion.
These are connected to your head thanks to an adjustable strap that is placed around the chin. Exposure to road grit, mosquitoes, water, and other elements is a drawback of these helmets. On the other hand, many open-face helmets come with removable visors and air-filtering face masks that solve the problem. In addition, these helmets come with an open front and so can be used more in hotter climates. Although these helmets protect the head quite well and the entire face remains unprotected.
6. Off-Road Helmets
Dirt bike helmets are lightweight and intended for optimal airflow because off-road riding on dirt bikes involves higher physical exertion. Therefore, it is beneficial, especially during the hotter months of off-riding.
These helmets have less insulation inside, which adds to the requirement to stay cool. In addition, the one-piece structure provides exceptional protection around the chin. Finally, riders often wear separate goggles inside the helmet for eye protection since these dirt bike helmets aren’t designed for an elevated speed and don’t feature a wind visor. This is a benefit because goggles are much easier to remove and clean when everything is covered in dirt.
Large, adjustable “sun peak” attachments are found on off-road helmets and serve a variety of purposes. First, they keep the sun glare out of your eyes, which is very important when going up and down slopes at severe angles and so helps you with a safe ride.
7. Smart Helmets
In addition to the other helmets, there is a new featured product for the family of helmets. The concept of dual heads-up displays that can be customized, a touch panel, a rearview camera, and smartphone connectivity makes these helmets very friendly and easy to use.
It directly connects your phone to the helmet, and you do not need any headsets or speakers. These new helmets are innovative and tend to take the place of other helmets due to their customization feature and also due to their ability to let you enjoy its new features.
8. Racing Helmets
You won’t be able to use your regular half-helmet for track racing because it is an extreme sport. Due to the frequency with which racers fall from their bikes, they must be provided with exceptional safety and protection. As a result, don’t expect any Bluetooth speakers or other such features within the helmet. These helmets are usually light and simply include the essentials. Any more than you require will simply add weight to your frame, slowing you down.
To accomplish the reduced weight, manufacturers use space-age materials. In most cases, the lack of soundproofing is due to the weight of the item. Riders, though, always wear earplugs. Racing helmets are designed with safety, weight, and vision in mind. They have large eye apertures that provide excellent peripheral vision. Because racing bikes do not have mirrors, this is a crucial feature.
Even at high speeds, on-road variants have large face shields that are highly durable. They usually include a locking mechanism to prevent the helmet from opening during the race. In addition, all versions have easily removable padding that allows medical workers to remove your helmet in an emergency quickly. Make sure to check the criteria for racing before selecting a helmet.
Things to Consider Before Buying Best Motorcycle Helmet
Helmets hold the safety of life within them. Therefore, they are an essential element wherever you off to riding your favorite motorbike. However, there are certain factors that you should consider before making a hasty choice.
When you invest, you always make sure to get the best possible output from the investment.
You should check some of the factors before finalizing the helmet.
Some of these factors are as Follows:
Visibility
While driving a motorcycle, it is important to make sure that the helmet you use should be visible enough to drive. Otherwise, how do you expect to drive properly? You might have seen some of the helmets, which have additional goggles for protection from dust or insects. So having a helmet with good visibility is a necessary condition for looking before buying a helmet.
Size
It is a fact that a loose helmet would continue to sway over your head, and a tight would make you uncomfortable. So, you have to look for the size of the helmet before buying it. Helmets come in different sizes, but you should go for the one, which is more comfortable and is designed to fit the shape of the head.
Design
We believe that you would never like a helmet that has a less attractive design and color combination. You usually have a color preference for your helmet that is relative to the motorcycle. Similarly, a cool-looking design tends to attract you and makes the driving cooler.
Reliability
A helmet needs to be hard enough to protect the head in case of an accident. Similarly, it should be reliable enough to survive an impact when it comes to striking the ground. In addition, helmets are exposed to the atmosphere, so they should be made up of reliable material.
Wrapped Helmets
The rider always chooses a helmet according to the color of the bike and the suit. You can also wrap a motorbike helmet of your own choice, or sometimes there is a special logo of your team printed on it.
The wrapping also helps to identify you as it covers your full face. Wrapping also helps the helmets and protects them from the excessive heat that will tarnish their outlook. Moreover, it protects your helmet from getting scratched while keeping its surface neat and clean.
FAQs
What factors should I consider before purchasing a motorcycle helmet?
The method to choose the best helmet is to select a helmet design. Then determine the shape and size of your head. Next, put the helmet on and examine for a good fit. If it is a perfect fit, go with it.
What type of motorcycle helmet is the safest?
The full-face helmet provides the maximum coverage around your head and neck and is the safest form of a motorcycle helmet for impact protection. The chin bar, a vital safety component that many helmets lack, is a distinctive characteristic of the full-face helmet.
How much should a motocycle helmet cost?
The price of a motorbike helmet should be between $200 and $450 on average. You can acquire a very basic motorbike helmet for as little as $80. You may expect to pay up to $750 for a high-quality, comfortable motorcycle helmet. But paying more for a motorcycle helmet is not required when you can do the work at less price.
Final Verdict
Helmets are of different sizes and shapes. Every shape of a helmet is made to protect the racers from accidental injuries. One thing is common in all of the helmets, which is the covered head portion of helmets. All helmets are designed in such a way as to protect the head from severe injury.
Now many helmets are geared with advanced features, but an ideal helmet is multi-featured yet is light in weight for the rider’s comfort. Therefore, before buying a helmet, consider its features and then invest by comparing it to your use, because if you buy a half-helmet and plan to participate in a race, it will be a bad idea.
