Choosing the Best Motorcycle Helmet

With the heightened need for cheaper and more efficient transportation, many people have resorted to using motorcycles. However, like other modes of transport, all riders must have a plethora of accessories that enhance their safety, and improve their riding experiences. One essential, but often ignored accessory is the motorcycle helmet. It plays a crucial role in protecting the rider from injury and even death if an accident or crash occurs. To enjoy this and a host of other benefits, riders must wear good helmets that function appropriately. However, with an array of helmet designs and styles now available in the market, choosing the right one is a challenging task. If you are a novice rider and or buying a helmet for the first time, consider the following when choosing the best motorcycle helmet.

Helmet Size

Many riders have a common misconception that motorcycle helmets are free size accessories that can fit all size, and head shapes.  As such, they choose the first type of helmet that pleases their eyes, even without trying them on. Individuals who have the wrong size of helmets have serious problems when involved in accidents. For instance, if you have an over-sized helmet and have a fatal crash, chances are that the extra space between your head and helmet can cause great harm, and even kill you. To avoid this and a host of other issues, you should take your head measurements,  Before walking into a store or buying a motorcycle helmet online, you must measure circumference of your head one inch above your eyebrows, and use it as a reference value when buying. Many of times, manufactures in different countries have discrepancies in their measurements. Keep these differences in mind when choosing the best motorcycle helmet.

Safety Level

When you are looking for a motorcycle helmet, safety is a major attribute that you must keep in mind. With a bit of legwork, you can find many helmet styles and designs that have different safety levels. For instance, although novelty helmets are aesthetic and lighter than its alternatives, they are also the least safe models in the market. This is because they lack the inner shell that cushions your head during high impact situations. On the other hand, helmets that have a high safety rating have thick inner linings that protect your skull when you crash. Depending on the design, some also partly or fully cover the face to offer more protection. When you are looking for the best motorcycle helmet, consider the following major designs:

Open Face Helmets

Open face helmets offer medium safety. They consist of a tough casing and an open front part. This type of helmet is suitable if you are a luxury rider or do not like cruising at high speeds. However, because the facial area is open, you must protect your face from bugs and oncoming debris. Consider pairing this helmet with a pair of sunglasses for better results

 Full Face Helmets

Full-face helmets are the most popular designs among novice and professional riders. Overall, because this design covers the head as well as the face, it is among the safest, and offers maximum protection in the event that an accident occurs. If you are a fist time rider, it is advisable that you stick to this design until to you become a more experienced rider.

Modular / Flip Front Helmets

Flip front helmets resemble full face designs, but with an advanced feature. The only difference is that the front cover flips up to expose your face when you are riding or when you stop for a rest. They are popular, mainly among police riders who cover their faces while riding and expose their faces to talk to traffic offenders. If you are adventurous and want to have maximum safety at the same time, a flip front is one of the best motorcycle helmets that you should consider.

 

Personal Budget

When you are looking for the best motorcycle helmet, you must draw a budget and stick to it.  By doing so, you will refine your search to only products that you can afford, avoid the issue of dealing with many confusing products, and thus, have a promising buying experience. As a rule, whether you go for expensive branded motorcycle helmets or their cheaper alternatives, make sure that you buy good quality products. Make sure that the helmet that you go for has the following two quality certifications before you spend your hard-earned money:

  • DOT Rating

The DOT rating, a quality certification developed under guidance of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is a good indicator that you should check. It is a mandatory rating that all helmets that meet the minimum standards for safety have.

  • Snell Rating

The Snell rating, a quality standard that emerged after the death of Pete “William” Snell, a racing enthusiast, in 1956.  It is more stringent, and requires a higher level of testing compared to the DOT standard. Generally, this extra certification is a hallmark of the best motorcycle helmets on the market.

No matter the motorcycle helmet design that you choose, make sure that you buy it from a reputable retailer who offers quality items. It is advisable that you research, do comparisons, and seek referrals from friends to ease the process.