How to Choose a Motorcycle Helmet
So you got yourself a motorcycle! Congrats! Now what? Your first priority should be to get yourself a quality helmet that will keep you safe while riding in comfort. Not only will it keep you shielded from the elements, but a helmet could save your life and your good looks. Riders who wear helmets are less likely to suffer permanent or long-term disablement caused by head or neck injuries.
For a new rider it’s difficult to know where to start. New buyers may be attracted to flashy graphics or a good deal, but there is more to a good quality helmet than looking sharp or saving the most money.
Don’t feel rushed to grab any helmet just to get on the road. Take your time and find the right fit for you and you’ll thank yourself later.
- Look for the D.O.T. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a standard for all helmets that a helmet must take a significant amount of the impact during a crash, prevent most penetration, and have a fastening system that will withstand a significant impact. Look for the D.O.T. sticker on the back of any helmet. Snell is also a common standard for helmet testing. The Snell Foundation is comparable to D.O.T. but a good rule of thumb is if a manufacturer has gone the distance to meet both standards they are likely to be a safer bet overall. Check out D.O.T. and the Snell Foundation’s website for more information.
- Fit Next, you need to make sure the helmet will stay on your head and fit comfortably. First you should try a retention test. Fasten the helmet and feel the force of the fasten on your chin. Next, grab the rear of the helmet and attempt to lift it off your head and roll it forward. You should not be able to get the helmet off. Make sure the helmet fits snug and it doesn’t move when you shake your head front-to-back, side-to-side and up and down. Too loose and the helmet can come off during impact, too tight and it could effect your comfort while riding and possibly take your full attention away from the road. Have a sales rep. help you compare fits while you shop. Keep in mind many cheek pads are interchangeable in some helmet brands. If your dealer lets you, try to take a test ride with your prospective helmet. This way you can test the comfort, wind noise, wind pressure at higher speeds, and traffic noise that comes through the helmet.
- Full Coverage vs. Half Helmet That’s an easy one, the more the merrier. Half helmets are mostly about looks and less about protecting your skull. Imagine what could happen to your face during a crash with a half helmet. It isn’t a pretty thought. Your head will thank you for the full coverage. A full coverage helmet will, of course, provide full coverage protection. The EPS liner is the styrofoam-type foam lining of the helmet which absorbs most of the energy during an impact. Full coverage obviously contain more EPS. Check that the EPS is extended to the chinbar.
- Cost Many factors can effect the cost of a quality helmet. Graphics can effect the cost greatly. The more elaborate the design, the more expensive the helmet will be in most cases. If you need to save a few bucks but the helmet you’re eyeing has lots of graphics, check if the same model is available in a solid color. Try going for brighter solid color rather than black. You’d be surprised how much a bright-colored helmet can effect your visibility.
Come by RideNow anytime to have one of our sales professionals fit you in the right helmet to optimize your ride and your safety on the road.