Things to Consider before Buying a Motorcycle Helmet

Wearing the right helmet is a good way to stay safe when you are out there on a motorcycle. But your previous helmet has worn out and you are looking for a new safe helmet to replace it with. You are in the store and you have to narrow down your search to choose the best helmet for your next ride. In this situation, there are a few things to consider before buying a motorcycle helmet.

The outer shell, visor, chin strap, helmet liner, helmet types, and helmet weight are some of the things to look out for when buying a helmet. 

These features and the contribution they offer to protect a motorcyclist are something that needs to be explored more. For a reason, you are here reading this informative article which covers many points and after completing this article, I am sure that you can comfortably point out to the salesman to pick a best one. A good sized helmet will not only keep you safe from severe head injuries but also make you comfortable to wear.   

Here are most important factors to take into consideration when purchasing the perfect protective gear.

1-Outer Shell

What does a material use to make a helmet?

The helmet shell can be made out of one or more materials. Two classifications can be made for the full face helmet based on materials utilized for their construction.

Plastic: 

The helmet shells made by any plastic material can stop a stone, nail, or screw from penetrating, but these materials are inflexible and hard to crush on a speedy impact.

As a result, the whole force falls on and crushes the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam).

The plastic helmets could be of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), Polycarbonate & Lexan, or Advanced Thermoset Resin (ATR).

Composite: 

The choice of material used to make the composite helmet depends on the characteristics required in the composite shell helmet.

Composites made from fiberglass and carbon fiber are often used in high-impact situations. They can disperse energy across a larger area, preventing localized impact damage to the head.

The speedy impact crushes only the thin outer shell and makes the EPS liner able to stop the rest force of the blow from being transmitted to the head. 

Modern motorcycle helmets are made of a composite material of fiberglass reinforced with Kevlar, carbon fiber, or Synthetic Reinforced Shell (SRS). In brief, these materials are called CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic). All these materials provide excellent impact protection.

A motorcycle helmet with a composite shell is worthy of consideration because it prevents sudden pressure buildup, which can cause severe injury or death. 

Safety is the top concern of helmets but they wear out over time and need to be replaced. Read the article “Do motorcycle helmets go bad” to find out how helmets degrade over time.

2-Visor

A visor protects the rider’s eyes from the sun, wind, rain, cold, and weather. The best face shield provides the largest field of view and the highest level of protection from airborne elements like rocks and debris.

A common misconception about a few helmet visors is that they are universal motorcycle helmet visors and can be attached to every helmet. The article “Are Motorcycle Helmet Visors Universal?” clears the misunderstanding.

There are two types of visors.

Clear: 

The most common type of visor is the clear or transparent visor. In low light conditions, they can provide better vision. 

It allows the off-road motorcycle riders to see where they are going with more clarity, and it helps them avoid obstacles in their path.

Tinted: 

They come in different shadings, including grey, green, yellow, brown, black, and blue. But most people like dark black, mirrored, or rainbow tints. A tinted visor offers better protection from the sun, but you will still be able to see traffic and road signs.

What is a Dual Visor Motorcycle Helmet?

The dual visor helmet reduces glare and improves visibility based on the weather or other situations.

The dual visor helmet has a translucent outer screen and a tinted inner screen, and a rider can close or open each screen independently.

The inner visor knob is what you need to operate the internal screen from outside of the helmet chamber. 

This quick action knob closes or opens up the inner visor on the up or down position, respectively.

The benefits of a Dual visor helmet.

A dual visor helmet provides two levels of protection, including daytime and nighttime visibility.

The daytime visor has UV protection, while the nighttime one has an anti-reflective coating to avoid blinding lights from other vehicles or bright lights at night that might cause glare.

Another advantage is that if a rider wears sunglasses with polarized lenses, they will see through the visors without those lenses being affected by the polarized light coming from the sun.

Overall, the dual visor helmet is a good replacement for the traditional visor helmet and offers the same protection.

3- Chin Strap

A chin strap is a device worn around the neck that holds the helmet in place and prevents it from slipping off during high-speed crashes or falls.

Commonly helmet strap comes with a plastic cup to place on the chin. A chin strap is just an adjustable belt that helps the rider to fix and tight the helmet around his/her neck. The chin strap can be fine-tuned according to the size of the head by using the buckle.

It is very essential to have a look over the chin strap weather it is fitted in the helmet and its buckle working properly.

4-Ventilation

A motorcycle rider needs to have a good ventilation system in the helmet. A ventilation system keeps the rider cool in hot weather and prevents sweat from dripping down their face.

There are many different types of ventilation systems used for motorcycle helmets. These ventilation systems include the mesh, screens, air channels, and air vents, and they are placed in strategic locations to allow maximum airflow.

The chin bar and the top front of the helmet have air intake vents. On the other hand, exhaust vents are provided on the back of the safety gear. The fresh air enters from the front, and after cooling down, the helmet chamber exits from the back.

The above lines explain how the normal ventilated motorcycle helmets work.

A good helmet shouldn’t just protect the head, but it should also provide a comfortable experience. If you aim to ride in hot weather, ensure you choose a helmet with an adequate number of vents.

5-Helmet Padding or Liner

What do helmet liners do?

The padding inside a helmet protects the wearer from impact forces. Inner foam material absorbs energy by deforming during an accident and returns to its original shape after the force has passed.

They provide a barrier between the inside of your helmet and the outside environment, keeping moisture out and providing a comfortable fit. The liner is designed to be soft enough to conform to the actual shape of your head while still being durable enough to protect against impacts. Liners are available in different materials such as foam or gel-filled plastic. Some liners have vents for airflow. 

How often should I replace my helmet liner?

Many riders use a new replaceable cheek pads every year because they’ve worn their old one so much. However, it’s ideal to delay until your liner becomes dirty before replacing it.

Dirt and sweat build up quickly on a liner, making it harder to keep clean. Also, the inner foam material deteriorates over time, losing its ability to absorb shock.

The most important thing about a helmet liner is that it should fit well, and it should be made of non-slippery fabric, which can provide a better grip while riding.

Ensure that there’s enough space around the ears and below the jawline.

6-MIPS (Multi Directional Impact Protection System)

Modern helmets have an extra safety feature installed inside the helmet. This feature is known as Multi directional Impact Protection System. It’s a new technology that protects your skull from injury in case of impact in any direction.

The non-MIPS helmets are only efficient when linear force falls on the head during an impact. But MIPS helmet prevents the brain from the rotational force when a tangential force occurs.

MIPS Helmets are equipped with a slip liner between the EPS and the soft padding capable of moving up to 15mm in any direction. The slip liner reduces the intensity of the rotational force and prevents the brain from concussion.

7-Helmet Classifications 

How many types of helmets are there?

Various types of motorcycle helmets are available to choose from, including some more popular than others. Helmet classification makes you enable to discover different helmet types that meet your requirement. 

Each type of helmet provides certain advantages, each of which has a different price point and fit.

One type might be better for a taller person, while another does a better job protecting your noggin if you have a smaller head. Here is a description of a few well-known and widespread types of motorcycle helmets which falls into the helmet classification.

Full Face Helmet:

Full face helmets are typically the most commonly used helmet. A full-face helmet covers your entire head, and it protects your scalp as well as your ears, nose, eyes, and mouth.

The full-face helmets have a large integrated chin bar that offers the best level of protection against injury as well as against rock debris and flying moths. You can usually adjust these helmets, so they fit snugly on your skull.

With additional level of features some full face helmets are also know as dual-sport helmets. They can be used for both dirt bikes and everyday motorbike riding.  

Modular Helmets: 

A modular helmet is almost like a full-face helmet, but there is a slight difference. The modular helmets are built with two individual components that fit together through some mechanism.

The upper part covers your head, and the lower part covers your jawline. The modular helmets allow the rider to customize the chin guard, and he can flip up and flip down the chin guard as needed in the long rides and in the short road trips.

A modular helmet is slightly heavier than a conventional full-face helmet due to its design and feature. 

Half Helmet:

The half helmet has one component covering your entire head but does not cover your face and neck. It may also have a chin strap and some additional padding around the sides of your head. These helmets provide a wider visibility area but reduce the level of protection.

Open Face Motorcycle Helmets:

The open face helmets or 3/4 helmets cover the entire head, sides, and neck but do not cover the jawline. Some open face helmets may have a chin strap and face shield, but the unavailability of a chin guard reduces the face protection.

8-Helmet Weight

The weight of the helmet is an influential aspect in a safer motorcycle ride and it has an effect on the rider’s comfort. A lightweight helmet can be used for a longer period of time, as the weight of the helmet increases, the comfort of the rider decreases. The weight of a motorcycle helmet is determined by its structure, design, type and size.

9-Helmet Size

A helmet should fit comfortably on your head and should not be too tight or too loose. A good fit is essential for protection. When you buy a helmet, it is important to make sure that the helmet size is the same as the head size. The helmets are manufactured in medium, large, XL or XXL sizes.

It is important to choose the right certified helmets according to the head shapes that fits your head properly. Measure your head size to determine whether your head has a round oval, intermediate oval, or long oval shape.

The helmet should fit snugly, without any gaps. A helmet that fits too loosely can lead to the helmet sliding off your head.

The head shapes of the riders can vary from one rider to another, so it is essential to measure your head for the right size of helmet.

10-Helmet Color

Helmet Color is also an important feature that is included in the list of things to consider before buying a motorcycle helmet. There are many different colors to choose from, including black, white, gray, orange, red, blue, and silver but choosing the right color for your helmet is very essential.

It is important to select a prominent color that increases your visibility on the road so that other riders can notice your presence on the road from an adequate distance. For example, If the rider is wearing a black helmet, it may not be easy to recognize him from far away.

Additionally, if the rider is wearing a bright red helmet, it will be very easy for others to see him from far away. So choose a right helmet color to stay protected in motorcycle accidents during your long rides.

11-Safety Standard Certification

The helmet is a safety equipment that you should always use when riding a motorcycle. It is very important to choose a helmet according to your riding style that meets the safety ratings to avoid serious injury. Motorcycling without a helmet gives the rider a little protection. Everyone should be aware of the reasons to wear a helmet on a motorcycle.

Safety Standards are a set of rules and regulations that are established to ensure the safety of the rider and the motorcycle. The safety standards for helmets include the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Snell Memorial Foundation. 

The Snell Foundation tests the helmets by using the helmet’s impact test, which measures the force that a helmet absorbs when it is hit by an object. The test also measures the helmets’ resistance to being hit by objects.

The Snell Memorial Foundation also measures the helmets’ ability to protect the rider’s head and neck when they are hit by objects.

It is the responsibility of every helmet manufacturer to ensure that their helmets comply with whatever standards are set out by the relevant government.

This may be at the national level, but usually relates to the country in which the product is being sold. For example DOT is an American standard, whereas ECE 22.05 is a European Union standard.

A helmet certification label or sticker shows the safety standard certification that the helmet has been certified to meet. This label should be placed on the helmet, where it is easily visible.

Conclusion: Things to Consider Before Buying a Motorcycle Helmet 

There are a number of exciting things to do in life and as a motorcyclist, one of them is to have fun while riding.

But while some motorcycle riders view motorcycles as toys they can play with, they should always be conscious about the importance of wearing helmets at all times to avoid injuring themselves because it gives you protection from any fatal crash.

Helmet is a most important piece among the safety gadgets for motorcycling. Always wear a helmet before riding and make it a habit if you want to enjoy having fun on your motorcycle for years to come.

Now you know all the important things before buying motorcycle helmets, so, look for the above factors, compare them, and then choose wisely. Your new motorcycle helmet search will end here.

FAQs:

What is the main objective of a helmet?

The most important function of a helmet is that it protects the brain from injuries when the bikes are involved in accident. There are a lot of things that could cause a crash; falling off a bike, being hit by a car, crashing into a wall or a tree, etc. Consider a dot certified helmet or a helmet which has Snell certification because only a standard helmet can reduce the risk to life on the road.

Do you prefer to wear a full face or half face helmet?

I prefer the full face helmet because it has more protection. A half-face helmet covers only the front of your head, not all the sides like a full face does. A half-face helmet can be damaged easily. It is important that the helmet fits correctly to your head so it will provide maximum protection.

How can I make sure my helmet fits properly?

This is a great question! The best way to determine if a helmet fits you well is to actually try it on and make sure it fits you well before purchasing it. You’ll feel the helmet snugly and comfortably around your neck. If it feels tighter or looser on your skull, then it probably isn’t the right size for you.

What’s the average price of a helmet?

The price for a helmet should be decided by you. How expensive helmet can be? It depends on the design of the helmet, the quality of the material, and the type of helmet. Here are some ballpark estimates for cheap and expensive helmets:

A quality motorcycle helmet: $100 – $200

A motorcycle helmet for a younger rider: $50 – $100

A racing helmet: $150 – $300

A high-end performance motorcycle helmet: $500 – $1000