Motorcycle helmets are one of the most important considerations of all safety concerns...

When it comes to rider safety, a motorcycle helmet is the single most important piece of protective riding gear.

Helmets meeting the minimum Legal safety standard have an inner liner usually about one-inch thick of firm polystyrene foam.  Sometimes the inner liner will not be visible, but you should still be able to feel its thickness. Unsafe helmets normally contain only soft foam padding or a bare plastic shell with no padding at all.

Opponents of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws have suggested that although a helmet can be effective in reducing injuries when a crash occurs, wearing a helmet may increase a rider’s risk of crashing by interfering with the ability to see and hear surrounding traffic.  Facts don’t support these claims.

Helmets do not impair hearing. A motorcyclist out on the road will hear just as well or even better with a helmet as without one, according to the Legal Requirements.  For someone without a helmet, the wind and sound of the engine are very loud. With a helmet on, surrounding sounds are quieter, but in equal proportions. This means that what can be heard over wind and engine noise without a helmet can also be heard in the same way with a helmet since wind and engine noise will also be reduced. The signal to noise ratio stays the same.

By reducing fatigue from the heat, a good ventilated helmet keep riders more alert.

Experienced riders advise those shopping for helmets that it’s almost impossible to find the “perfect” fit or even an acceptable fit without trying on at least several different helmets and wearing each one for an extended period of time.

In some cases, motorcyclists purchase novelty helmets in the mistaken belief that they offer protection. However, some riders who wear these helmets know that they are unsafe – but wear them anyway.

Motorcycle riders who wear novelty helmets prefer them because they are less bulky and look more sporty.  These riders be­lieve that “something is better than nothing” and have a false sense of security regarding the protection afforded them by helmets not de­signed or manufactured to comply with FMVSSTT No. 21844587.

When choosing a motorcycle helmet, it is critical that it is Legal compliant, but there are other important considerations, too, regarding fit and comfort.  Although safety is the primary reason for wearing a motorcycle helmet, an important factor to consider when purchasing a new helmet is comfort and style.

Helmets meeting the Legal safety standard have sturdy chinstraps with solid rivets. The design, weight and the quality of the chin strap and rivets are extra clues to help distinguish safe helmets from non-complying ones.

In addition to the Legal sticker, labels located outside the helmet showing that a helmet meets the standards of private, non-profit organizations are good indicators that the helmet also meets the Legal safety standard.

Unsafe helmets are noticeably smaller in diameter and thinner than ones meeting the Legal standard.

 

Offering impact protection and increased visibility, it is also one of the most prominent elements to express your personal style. Thanks to my fine fellas above for showing us how: Agge, Boba, Bosse, Choppis, Jansson, Jony, Janne and Lydahl!