| A helmet is probably the most important piece of | | | | There are many retro styled helmets around today |
| safety equipment that you'll buy when riding a | | | | to compliment classic bikes. Most open faced helmets |
| motorcycle. There is a wide range of helmets | | | | do not provide any eye protection (some do come |
| available today both in terms of style and perhaps | | | | with a handy flip down visor) so you should consider |
| more importantly cost. What style helmet you decide | | | | buying a decent pair of motorcycle sunglasses to |
| to buy and how much money you decide to spend is | | | | protect your eyes from the elements. |
| very much a personal choice, however depending on | | | | Full Face; This type of helmet offers the most |
| how much you value your head you should aim to | | | | protection of all the other types. As the name |
| spend as much as you can comfortably afford. As | | | | suggests, these helmets provide protection for your |
| with everything these days, you get what you pay | | | | face, not just your head. Popular with all types of |
| for! | | | | motorcyclists there are all kinds of colours and paint |
| Rule number one when buying a motorcycle helmet is | | | | jobs to suit all tastes. Current favourites are the |
| never buy a second hand helmet. There a few very | | | | moto gp replica helmets from the likes of shoei, aria |
| good reasons for this. Most importantly you can | | | | and agv. |
| never be one hundred percent certain of it's history. | | | | Flip Front ; These helmets are great for touring. |
| It may look clean shiny and new but serious | | | | Effectively two helmets in one, they offer the |
| structural damage is often not visible to the eye. As | | | | flexibility of being able to wear them as an open face |
| you wear your properly fitting helmet it gradually | | | | helmet or full face. Used widely by motorcycle |
| moulds to the shape of your head to ensure a | | | | instructors and police motorcyclists. Shoei and Caberg |
| perfect fit for you. A second hand helmet will have | | | | currently have a good range of flip front helmets. |
| moulded to somebody else's head. | | | | Off Road; Originally designed to motorcross and |
| If you are tempted to buy your helmet from an | | | | enduro riders, more and more of these helmets are |
| auction site, make sure the helmet is brand new and | | | | coming on to the market with the rising popularity of |
| has never been used. When you come to replace | | | | super moto bikes. Most off road helmets provide no |
| your helmet, don't sell your old one on, for the same | | | | eye protection to you should look for a decent pair |
| reasons. | | | | of off road goggles to go with your helmet. |
| If you are thinking about buying a helmet, time spend | | | | Another important factor to consider is safety rating |
| on a bit of research is definitely time well spent. You | | | | and approval. All helmets sold today must have |
| need to make sure you are getting the best helmet | | | | safety approval... |
| for your budget and also ensure you get the right | | | | Other things to look out for to get the most out of |
| type of helmet for your needs. There are a number | | | | your riding: |
| of different types of helmet available today, the | | | | Noise - make sure the helmet provides good sound |
| main ones being: | | | | proofing. Wind noise can increase tiredness and make |
| Open Face; these are most popular with scooter | | | | it more difficult to concentrate on the road. It could |
| riders these days. They offer much less protection | | | | also leave you with permanent hearing damage. |
| than other types of helmets however many | | | | Whatever helmet you buy, the use of earplugs is |
| manufacturers are producing some very fashionable | | | | always recommended to reduce potential damage to |
| designs, The designer helmet market is growing | | | | your hearing. |
| rapidly as more and more people in towns and cities | | | | Removable lining |
| are swapping for cars for more economical and | | | | Ventilation - look out for big fins and bits poking out. |
| environmentally friends forms of transport. Open | | | | While they look cool and futuristic they often disrupt |
| face helmets are also popular with riders of cruiser | | | | the airflow around the helmet, increasing wind noise |
| style bikes - Harleys etc, and with classic bike riders. | | | | inside. |