Choosing a Motorcycle
Helmet
The most important piece of motorcycle safety equipment that you
can buy is a helmet. Every rider benefits from wearing a helmet, no
matter how great or how little their level of experience. In order
to choose a helmet that offers the most protection without
sacrificing comfort or style, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration offers some guidelines.
Be sure your helmet meets
the DOT standard.
Make sure that your helmet meets the Department of Transportation's
(DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. First,
look for the DOT symbol on the outside back of the helmet. Then,
look for a label inside the helmet stating the manufacturer's name,
month and year of manufacture, construction materials, helmet model
and size, and owner information. A complying helmet must have both
labels.
Make sure your helmet is
well made.
Helmets that comply with the federal safety standard will have a
firm polystyrene (Styrofoam) inner liner of about one-inch and
weigh about three pounds. They will also have sturdy chinstraps
with solid rivets. Safe helmets will never feature spikes or other
protruding decorations.
Think about
style.
Full-face helmets offer the most protection in a collision. Plastic
face shields protect you from wind, dust, rain, insects, and road
debris thrown up from cars. If you buy a helmet without a face
shield, be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes. Remember, a
windshield is not an adequate substitute for a face shield or
goggles. And neither are eyeglasses as they cannot keep your eyes
from watering and are easily dislodged.
A design such as the German Army style or skull cap style may be a
clue to an unsafe helmet. Generally, unsafe helmets are noticeably
smaller in diameter and thinner than ones meeting the DOT
standard.
Make sure your helmet can
be seen.
Brightly colored helmets increase your visibility to other
vehicles. Add reflective tape on the back and sides of the helmet
for even greater visibility.
Make sure your helmet
fits properly.
Always try on a helmet before you buy it. Your helmet should feel
snug and it should not turn freely around your head. It should not
be able to move back and forth on your head. A helmet should not in
any way prevent you from turning your head to observe traffic. All
helmets are required to provide the wearer with a 210º field of
vision.
When you wear a properly fitted helmet, wind noise is actually
reduced. Although a helmet does reduce the intensity of sounds, it
reduces the intensity of all sounds equally. Loud external sounds
such as car horns and sirens are still very audible above all other
street noises.
Each brand of helmet fits differently. So, try on a variety of
brands to find the one that fits you best. The dealership staff
will assist you with the proper fit.
Always fasten and tighten
the chinstrap.
An unfastened helmet will fly off in a crash. Whenever you have the
opportunity, check the chinstrap to make sure it is still
secure.
Avoid wearing a damaged
helmet.
A used helmet may have been involved in a crash and damaged in ways
that are not obvious. Even falls from places like the motorcycle's
seat or the end of a handlebar shorten the life span of a helmet.
Be sure to replace your helmet if it has been in a crash. Any
damage to a helmet reduces its effectiveness, so replace your
helmet if it has been damaged. If you are not sure that your helmet
needs to be replaced, arrange to return it to the manufacturer for
inspection. Care for your helmet as indicated in your owner's
manual.
