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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Choose a Motorcycle Helmet that Looks Good, Feels Good, and Protects

By Bill Jamison


When the weather's fine, it's hard to resist taking your motorcycle out for a ride. You want to be comfortable and look great while you're riding, but you don't want to overlook your safety, either. Instead, give your safety the respect it deserves by wearing a leather jacket, boots and a good motorcycle helmet. Safety is the first consideration when you're shopping for a helmet and other motorcycle accessories. Comfort is next in line, with style and appearance coming last.

For casual riding, your shopping should be based on the assumption that you'll eventually have an accident and need the best head protection. Visit the websites operated by various helmet manufacturers and read up on their helmet testing procedures. Look for the brands that test their helmets more stringently than just fulfilling the bare requirements. Extra safety testing is a sign that a manufacturer cares about providing the best protection.

When you see a helmet that looks promising, try it on. You want it to fit tightly on your head but not be uncomfortable on your face or chin. When you move your head, the helmet shouldn't shift in position. Basically, your motorcycle helmet should feel like part of your body. Experiment with different sizes and shapes to determine which works best for you.

Once you have verified these things, you can start looking at different color and design options. You may not end up with the exact shape or look that you wanted for your helmet, but at least you know your skull will not get cracked if something bad does happen.

For racing, your helmet should do a lot more than just give you a great look. Focus on shopping for helmets that are specifically designed for motorcycle racing. A lot of racers buy helmets that have actually been designed for car racing - either they can't tell the difference between car and motorcycle racing helmets, or they mistakenly think they're the same. The designs are slightly different because motorcycle racers need to turn their heads in ways that car racers do not.

A motorcycle racing helmet needs to allow your head to turn freely and be light on your head. The outer shell should be extremely hard, but the inside of the helmet should use softer materials. This hard/soft combination is what ensures that a helmet is able to withstand the impact during an accident and absorb the force of the collision instead of passing it through to your head.

When you're choosing a motorcycle helmet, put safety first whether you're racing or riding for pleasure. Look for a helmet that provides good protection but looks good too.




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