| Beanie Helmets are the most popular type of | | | | Once you realize the process of polystyrene |
| motorcycle helmet available to buy. | | | | crumbling you should realize how very important it is |
| Beanie helmets are made up of two distinct parts, | | | | to never ever buy a used helmet. If the used helmet |
| the outer shell and the inner protective liner which is | | | | you buy has been in a wreck and the polystyrene is |
| the actual protecting factor. | | | | crumbled, the helmet is useless for protection. |
| The outside shell is made up of either resin fiber | | | | When you find collectable beanie helmets, or a |
| composite (for example fiber glass), or it may be | | | | vintage helmet at that yard sale by all means buy |
| made from molded thermo plastic. In both cases | | | | them, just make sure you only display them around |
| while it does add some degree of protection it is | | | | your bike area: they are not safe to wear. Whether |
| actually there for the looks. The inner liner is the | | | | you are buying a discount helmet or the most |
| actual mechanism that protects your head and | | | | expensive model you can more than double your |
| especially your brain. The inner liner is expanded | | | | post crash chances of survival by making sure the |
| polystyrene (EPS). Yup, that's right, the same | | | | helmet is DOT certified. |
| material your beer cooler is made from. | | | | Dot is short for the Department Of Transportation. |
| The liner is in a continuous state of expansion | | | | Dot does not govern motorcycle helmets, it provides |
| (swollen to its largest size possible). When a crash | | | | industry guidelines. If a manufacturer follows all of the |
| occurs the expanded polystyrene crumbles and | | | | guidelines the helmets produced can sport the DOT |
| absorbs the shock of the impact. A good fitting | | | | decal. Of all the states in the U.S. where motorcycle |
| helmet will prevent the brain from sliding forward | | | | helmets are mandatory a minumum of DOT |
| within your skull. | | | | certification is required to be legally worn. |