Which Is Correct For You?
What is SNELL anyways and why do I need it?
With the myriad of selections available on the motorcycle helmet market, choosing an adequate head protection solution to match the rest of your gear can be a daunting task (As a safety conscious rider, you are sporting high quality leather riding gear right?)
No matter what style of helmet you consider, remember that the safety certifications that a helmet carries are arguably the most important feature that it could have. Checking which certifications a helmet has is easy - simply look on the back of the helmet towards the bottom. Depending on the helmet it will either have a sticker from the Department of Transportation (DOT), Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL), or none at all. At minimum you will want to choose a helmet that passes the Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. While they are not the best protection for your head at least you are riding legally in states that have helmet laws.
Helmets that pass the extensive tests from the Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL) are the best protection for your head. These helmets must pass a variety of impact, penetration, chin impact, and faceshield penetration tests. These tests simulate some of the greatest stresses that motorcycle helmets are subjugated to in daily use and in traffic collisions. The latest SNELL standard is SNELL 2005 and helmets that meet this standard will have a sticker showing it.
Helmet Types
Which helmet type is the correct type for you? Open faced, full faced, modular or half helmet? These are just a few types of motorcycle helmet available for purchase. Ideally all motorcyclists would be wearing full faced non-modular helmets. Full faced helmets will provide the most protection in the event of impact. Modular helmets are full faced helmets that have movable front portions. The face and eye protection of a modular helmet can be unlocked and lifted up allowing greater flexibility and convenience. This comes at a cost as the hinged parts of modular helmets are a structural weak point and may fail on impact.
Half helmets (aka beanies, brain buckets) are the absolute minimum required to be a legal helmet. These types of helmets are frequently worn by "cruiser" type riders but may not offer enough protection in a crash.
A Note On Half Helmets:
Many half helmets are sold as novelty items not for street use. However many unscrupulous stores will sell counterfeit DOT stickers for use with these novelty helmets. Do not be fooled by these schemes and conduct the proper research before buying a helmet.
Quality head protection combined with leather riding gear for the rest of your body will decrease the chances of death or injury in a collision.
|
