Helmets: Who Needs Them?

Should You Wear A Helmet?

Crash Protection:

The helmet is there to protect your head in the unfortunate circumstance that you have an accident. Remember, they call them accidents because you don't get to pick and choose when you're going to have them. But if you do fall, your head can sustain serious, even life threatening injuries. A fall from 5-6 feet up (about how high your head is when you're seated on the motorcycle) can generate a serious amount of force if your head hits the ground. Figure that you're head weighs about the same as a bowling ball (a light one, let's say - 8 lbs) - would you be willing to lie down on the floor and have someone stand over you and drop that ball on your head? Put it another way - the sudden deceleration when your head comes to a stop in a few nanoseconds when it hits the ground can exert well over 400G's - that means that your head instantaneously weighs about 3,200 lbs - about a ton and a half! A unimpeded fall from 6 feet up to crack your head on the ground can be enough to kill you - it only takes once.

Ride Protection:

OK, so you don't fall every time you ride (if you do, we should REALLY talk!) - but it does protect you from other things every time you ride. A helmet can help protect your from bugs and rocks - catch one in the face at 60 mph and it hurts! Wind can cause your eyes to water and rain can sting when you hit it at speed. There are lots of things a helmet protects your head from EVERY time you ride.

Comfort:

You don't need (or want) to suffer when you ride; that applies to a helmet as well as your bike. Helmets can help keep bugs, rocks and rain out - definitely more comfortable. On a cold day, your head is warmer inside a helmet and on a hot day you can open the vents and get some airflow. Sunny out - wear shades or, if you've got a full-face helmet, a dark visor. Just remember to carry a clear visor and switch it out when the sun goes down (or take the shades off). You'll find that a properly fitted helmet will reduce wind noise.

Visibility:

We all know that car drivers don't see us out there. Its one of the biggest problems we face as motorcyclists - being seen in traffic. One way you can increase your chances of being seen is with a bright colored helmet. It's the highest point on the bike (usually) and one that tends to be seen first. Wear a bright or light colored helmet and think about retro-reflective for night riding.

Proper Fit:

So, if you've made the choice (or maybe the law doesn't give you a choice) to wear a helmet, how do you find a good one that fits well? You're going to have to try a bunch on - there's no way around it. A helmet that fits well should be SNUG - that means not too loose and not too tight. Put the helmet on, fasten the chinstrap and pull it snug. Then, shake your head - is there any slop or movement of the helmet on your head: yes - keep looking, no - this might be the one. Can you fit your finger up between your forehead and the helmet - there should be a little room up there, but not enough to insert a full finger width. If the helmet's gotten this far, then leave it on and walk around the store for 15 minutes (check out all the cool leather, chrome and other goodies!) and then find a mirror. When you take the helmet off, look for red spots on your forehead or anywhere that you can feel pressure spots - these will turn into headaches if you wear the helmet longer, best to keep looking. On full face helmets, a properly fitting helmet (when new) will make you look like you have chipmunk cheeks - this is normal and the pads will break in and compress slightly with time.

Remember that different manufacturers use different head shapes for their forms - just because a friend wears a certain brand helmet doesn't make it necessarily the right one for you (unless your head is exactly the same shape as your friends). Try lots of helmets on - you're going to be spending a lot of time with your head in it, might as well get one that you'll enjoy wearing.

One last note, when considering what helmet to purchase - buy one that is DOT and/or SNELL approved. This certifies that the manufacturer has designed a helmet that meets or exceeds certain crash protection standards. Beanies and other "novelty" helmets are just that - novelties and don't provide any meaningful protection in a crash.