HELMET

A helmet is probably the most important piece of safety equipment that youll buy when riding a motorcycle There is a wide range of helmets available today both in terms of style and perhaps more importantly cost What style helmet you decide to buy and how much money you decide to spend is very much a personal choice however depending on how much you value your head you should aim to spend as much as you can comfortably afford As with everything these days you get what you pay for

Rule number one when buying a motorcycle helmet is never buy a second hand helmet There a few very good reasons for this Most importantly you can never be one hundred percent certain of its history It may look clean shiny and new but serious structural damage is often not visible to the eye As you wear your properly fitting helmet it gradually moulds to the shape of your head to ensure a perfect fit for you A second hand helmet will have moulded to somebody elses head

If you are tempted to buy your helmet from an auction site make sure the helmet is brand new and has never been used When you come to replace your helmet dont sell your old one on for the same reasons

If you are thinking about buying a helmet time spend on a bit of research is definitely time well spent You need to make sure you are getting the best helmet for your budget and also ensure you get the right type of helmet for your needs There are a number of different types of helmet available today the main ones being

Open Face these are most popular with scooter riders these days They offer much less protection than other types of helmets however many manufacturers are producing some very fashionable designs The designer helmet market is growing rapidly as more and more people in towns and cities are swapping for cars for more economical and environmentally friends forms of transport Open face helmets are also popular with riders of cruiser style bikes Harleys etc and with classic bike riders There are many retro styled helmets around today to compliment classic bikes Most open faced helmets do not provide any eye protection some do come with a handy flip down visor so you should consider buying a decent pair of motorcycle sunglasses to protect your eyes from the elements

Full Face This type of helmet offers the most protection of all the other types As the name suggests these helmets provide protection for your face not just your head Popular with all types of motorcyclists there are all kinds of colours and paint jobs to suit all tastes Current favourites are the moto gp replica helmets from the likes of shoei aria and agv

Flip Front These helmets are great for touring Effectively two helmets in one they offer the flexibility of being able to wear them as an open face helmet or full face Used widely by motorcycle instructors and police motorcyclists Shoei and Caberg currently have a good range of flip front helmets

Off Road Originally designed to motorcross and enduro riders more and more of these helmets are coming on to the market with the rising popularity of super moto bikes Most off road helmets provide no eye protection to you should look for a decent pair of off road goggles to go with your helmet

Another important factor to consider is safety rating and approval All helmets sold today must have safety approval

Other things to look out for to get the most out of your riding

Noise make sure the helmet provides good sound proofing Wind noise can increase tiredness and make it more difficult to concentrate on the road It could also leave you with permanent hearing damage Whatever helmet you buy the use of earplugs is always recommended to reduce potential damage to your hearing

Removable lining

Ventilation look out for big fins and bits poking out While they look cool and futuristic they often disrupt the airflow around the helmet increasing wind noise inside

If you have a motorbike or are considering buying one then a motorcycle helmet is an absolute necessity Indeed in many parts of the world it is a legal obligation to buy one

Walking into a motorcycle accessories stockist you may be confused by the range of helmets on offer Fortunately things arent quite so daunting as they first seem

Lets take a closer look at the four main different types of motorbike helmets that are available

The first is the full face helmet which is ideal for those who want to feel better protected These helmets provide full cover for your face including a hinged visor

As a result a full face helmet is perfect for providing protection from the elements It also offers greater protection that some other alternatives in case of an accident

An open face motorbike helmet by contrast offers a lower degree of protection Youll find that it doesnt have any protection for your chin

Its generally worn with goggles or a visor depending on the preference of the rider Given that it leaves the rider feeling more exposed it tends to be preferred by those looking for more freedom in their riding experience

A compromise between protection and exposure is provided by flip up helmets These will also allow you to talk to other people more easily while still wearing your helmet

Finally youll find that there are a range of off road helmets These are aimed at those wishing to take place in motocross and other such sports

If you have ever tried to ride in such an event then youll know the importance of keeping all of that mud and grit away from your face