subject: Choosing A Quality Helmet For Your Motorbike [print this page] For seasoned bike riders, the choice of a helmet depends on rigid considerations. This is unlike occasional riders who are content with the helmet that comes with a motorbike.
As your experience with a motorbike grows, you become more discerning about selecting a helmet. Not all helmets are created equal. There are different brands manufactured by different makers with different price tags.
This plethora of helmets can be confusing for a first timer who doesnt know the basics about helmets.
Price is probably the first indicator of quality in a helmet but certainly not the only one. There are conventional methods devised for testing the quality of motorbike helmets so the user is assured of safety during use.
These scientific methods of testing have however come under sharp criticism from helmet manufacturers. All helmets used in the US are required to be SNELL and DOT approved. Europeans helmets have to conform to ECE 22.05 standards set by the European Union.
The problem comes about in that there is no official way of identifying which helmets meet the standards or even exceed it. Many manufactures have their own in house testing procedures that are way sophisticated than the Snell and ECE standards.
The standards are also not enforceable by law unless one is actually caught manufacturing sub standard helmets. Thus, when choosing a helmet it is wise to do research and draw your own conclusion.
Among the first factors to consider when purchasing bike helmets is the material and design. Most helmets feature four different construction components, the hard outer shell, crushable interior foam lining, comfort lining and a chin strap.
The outer shell is a strong, rigid layer designed to provide abrasion resistance and prevent penetration by sharp objects. Modern designs utilize lightweight plastic or fibreglass material. High end motorcycle helmets are made with Kevlar or carbon fibre that is light in weight and very expensive.
Helmet safety is also determined by the interior lining material. Most helmets use a thick layer of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). It is light in weight, rigid yet crushable making it ideal for helmet usage. The foam liner can further be refined and enhanced to feature dual foam liners of various depths and density. This foam liner either absorbs or disperses energy during high impact trauma. This force would otherwise have been transferred directly to the skull and brain.
The second layer is the padded interior which comes into contact with your head. It ensures a comfortable yet snug fit. Several brands have removable layers of varying sizes within this liner to ensure it fits well depending on the size of your head. Some liners can be removed, washed and fitted back to the helmet.
All these protective materials are kept in place by a chin strap that is held in place by a pair of D-Rings. It is a simple yet vital component of a helmet as it ensures the helmet remains safely secured during a crash.
