Title: A Beginner’s Guide to Types of Motorcycle Helmets
1A Beginners Guide to Types of Motorcycle Helmets
A must for motorcycle riding is a helmet that
provides full protection. However, many are
stills unaware of facts like the benefits of
wearing a motorcycle helmet, how many types of
motorcycle helmets are available, what one should
consider before buying, etc. If your mind is
brimming with curiosity regarding motorcycle
helmets, you have reached the right place and we
intend to educate you on that very topic all you
need to do is stick with us till the end! Open
face helmet injuries Open face helmets are always
preferred due to the sleek and stylish looks they
come in people especially admire the fact that
putting them on will leave their face exposed,
meaning it is easy to catch the eyes of all
pedestrians while strictly maintaining the
law. However, motorcycle helmet impact
statistics constantly keep on showing us how
dangerous open-face helmets can be. As you can
guess, it will provide no shielding to your face
during frontal smashes, i.e., If it doesnt slip
out of your head in the first place. Severe
injuries can be caused to the jaw and broken
noses are not a rare case besides that, if you
are wearing glasses or sunglasses, they will
likely smash, possibly risking
blindness. Although it is said that despite
providing little security for your face, the open
face helmet will diligently guard your head
during accidents, a study made by Brazilian
researchers brought new motorcycle helmet
statistics to the picture which indicated
otherwise. Amongst 51 patients who suffered from
injuries due to motorcycle accidents despite
wearing open-face helmets, 39 suffered from
traumatic brain injury or TBI. A whopping 76.5
chance of getting brain injuries clearly shows
that open-face helmets are not as safe as they
are meant to be. When compared with those not
wearing any helmet, it was seen that the
percentages of brain injury were very similar
and thus, the researchers stated in The Journal
of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery that open-face
helmets provide little to no protection against
head injury due to their inefficiency in
absorbing shock.
2- However, it should be noted that the statistics
also show that an open-face helmet protects
against upper face injuries something is better
than nothing after all. - Half helmet vs Full helmet
- Half-face helmets provide protection for the
upper half of the head and the ears. It is best
for anyone who wishes to enjoy the wind while
riding and thus, is often used by those who
intend to go on long trips on their bike. It
provides maximum ventilation while cushioning
the head from impacts. - Pros of a half helmet
- It is extremely comfortable to wear and provides
the rush of freedom that many look for while
riding their motorcycles riders can hear and
feel the environment while riding. - Offers outstanding ventilation that is
incomparable to all other types of helmets. - Users are granted a cool and vintage look that
makes them stand out in the crowd. - It is lightweight and as it doesnt block out
sound, you do not have to remove it during
stops. - Allows you to look at nearly everything and can
be paired with sunglasses or goggles. - Cons of a half helmet
- Half helmets expose many parts of the head and
thus, arent the ideal choice safety- wise.
Chins and jaws are at major risks. - Face and eyes are not resistant to dust or dirt
meaning your vision is very likely to be
affected during rides. This increases the risk of
accidents. - As your face and neck are completely exposed, you
are much more likely to catch a cold during the
winter or rainy season. The snow or rain can also
have a numbing effect on your head or neck. - Full face helmets, unlike half helmets, will
cover everything your head, face, jaw, chin,
ears. It is the best protection wise and the face
shield will also screen out dust, dirt, wind,
etc. which might cause hindrance to your eye. - Pros of a full-face helmet
- Gives maximum protection against injuries for
your entire head. The chin bars offer maximum
safety for the chin and jaw in cases of a large
impact.
3- Face shield is usually resistant to scratch so
you will not have a hard time with your vision. - Noise is reduced and you can also add or replace
liners to make it more comfortable to wear. - Comes in aerodynamic styles that are stunning to
look at. - Cons of a full-face helmet
- They are often termed claustrophobic motorcycle
helmets since every nook and cranny is shielded. - Ventilation is usually not that good making it
extremely uncomfortable to wear on hot summer
days. - Not suitable for long rides as they are quite
weighty. - Blocks out important noises on the road meaning
users can mistakenly end up ignoring horns. - Why should I use a motorcycle helmet?
- As the brain is one of the most important parts
of our body, the head needs some extra
protection during motorcycle rides to prevent any
ill-fated brain injuries. Motorcycles are shock
absorbing and thus, can lessen the effect caused
by sudden large impacts to the head. - Motorcycle helmet statistics show that amongst
all deaths caused due to motorcycle accidents,
66 of the people were not wearing a helmet. This
proves that wearing a helmet could make the
difference between life and death. - A motorcycle helmet that shields your face also
can prevent dust particles, debris, and smoke
from getting into your eyes meaning you are less
likely to face any sort of hassle during your
ride. Helmets also do an amazing job against
weather conditions the sun is less likely to be
a hindrance in your vision while the rain and
snow are less likely to cause a cold or
numbness. - Some helmets also block out extra noise, allowing
motorcyclists to focus solely on traffic
signals. To conclude, a motorcycle helmet will
save your life along with the lives of anyone
else present on the road. - What I should consider to buy the safest
motorcycle helmet
4- The safest motorcycle helmet is likely to be made
of carbon fiber. This material has the most
outstanding shock absorbing property which makes
the helmet impact-resistant and lightweight.
Besides that, it needs to be full-face to provide
the ultimate level of protection for your entire
head and possibly neck. - Before purchasing, it is ventilating, fits
properly, and has the type of visors you wish for
it to have (adjustable or non-adjustable) since
comfort will help increasing safety visors that
prevent reflections from the sun to cause
disturbance in your line of vision are highly
recommended. A helmet with a chin strap will also
sit more firmly on your head and thus, will
prevent the helmet from wobbling around during
the ride. Comfort liners are also a praiseworthy
feature. - Motorcycle Helmet Safety Standards
- Each country has their laws sat that dictates
whether or not the helmet offers safe usage.
Most countries will demand it to be above a
certain weight to ensure it carries out
shockproofing duties properly. Many will also
demand the inclusion of features like
impact-absorbing liners and chin straps to allow
safer usage. - Before buying a helmet, make sure to identify
whether they have been certified safe according
to the law as otherwise, the police are likely to
charge you for not wearing proper safety attire
while riding your motorcycle. - The anatomy of the safest motorcycle helmet
- For a safe motorcycle helmet, the following are
likely to be a part of its anatomy - The outer shell is made of materials like carbon
fiber, Kevlar, polycarbonate, or modeled
plastic. During sudden impacts, this will prevent
the motorcycle helmet from breaking upon large
impacts or blows. - An impact-absorbing liner made of EPS foam that
absorbs shock should be present underneath the
outer shell. The expanded polystyrene foam
prevents the energy of the helmets collision
from reaching your head, in turn protecting it. - A visor that doesnt hinder your vision and stops
dust, buds, debris, etc. from getting into your
eyes or nose. - Padded insides are made of open-cell foam which
allows comfort and absorbs sweat preventing them
from rolling down to your eye.
5- A ventilation system that allows good airflow and
prevents the insides from feeling humid. - A chin strap that firmly holds the motorcycle
helmet in place during bumpy rides. - Removable cheek pads that allow comfort and
prevent hurt. - FAQs
- What type of motorcycle helmet is safe for
ladies? - Similar to men, the full-face motorcycle helmet
is the best for women. They offer protection for
the entire head and shield the face from dust. - Which helmet is still good after an accident?
- There will always be unnoticeable problems caused
to your helmet in case of a crash (such as
damaging EPS) which will result in it being less
impact resistant. Hence, all helmets require to
be changed after an accident - Which motorcycle helmet is most comfortable with
full safety? - A full-face motorcycle helmet that is
lightweight, has a good insulation system, and
has a cozy interior is the most comfortable and
safe for usage. - What type of motorcycle helmet is safe for
beginners?