Buying the Most Important Piece of Equipment For Motorcycling - Your Helmet

Buying the Most Important Piece of Equipment For Motorcycling - Your Helmet
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lloyd_Robles]Lloyd Robles

More Americans than ever before are turning to two wheels for transportation as an answer and solution to the rising gas prices across the country. But before throwing a leg over the "horse" of choice, all riders should consider carefully their choices and options when choosing the most important piece of safety equipment should an accident occur. Studies have shown that a rider who wears an appropriate helmet is less likely to be involved in an accident in the first place, but when he or she is, is less likely to incur neck or head injuries than a rider without a helmet. Protecting your head is a necessity, and nothing does it better than a carefully selected helmet.

The first thing that is essential (and the law) that your prospective helmet possess is its certification from the U. S. Department of Transportation. D.O.T. certification is proven by a sticker affixed to the rear of the helmet, and guarantees the helmet has been shown through rigorous testing to significantly reduce the energy felt by the skull on impact, protect against puncture, and maintain the ability to be securely fastened to the rider's head. Other certification testing may also be done through the Snell foundation which subjects helmets to other safety standards as well as those imposed by the D.O.T. You must try on the helmet for retention (that it will stay on), size, and fit. A motorcycle helmet should fit snugly to protect best. Roll the helmet on, from front to back. It should not go on too easily. Once on your head, you should be able to feel the skin of your skull move when the helmet is moved. The interior padding should hold your chin, cheeks, and jaw firmly (if it is a full-face model) and always make sure you cannot remove the helmet when the chinstrap is fastened. Attempt to take it off with force, to ensure this. While some riders may assert that no helmet is comfortable, this is an untruth. With many styles and brands on the market, all riders should be able to find a helmet that fits, protects, is comfortable, and suits their aesthetics when it comes to styling and color. More coverage by a helmet is better, as a full-face helmet protects the chin, jaw, and teeth as well, but some riders enjoy the freedom that open-face and half helmets provide.

Wearing a proper helmet should be first on every rider's checklist before mounting their bike and riding. Truthfully, any helmet is immediately better than no helmet at all, but in the event of an accident involving an automobile, the motorcyclist is definitely vulnerable and put at risk. Even the best helmet cannot prevent all injury when one occurs. Protecting yourself after the accident by hiring a personal injury lawyer that is well equipped to argue for your rights and ensure your due compensation is essential.

Lloyd Robles heads Robles & Associates, an Austin, Texas based firm, specializing in car accident law. Please visit roblesassociates.com for more information.

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Top Five Street Helmets

Top Five Street Helmets
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Candace_A_Crown]Candace A Crown

1. The Boneyard half helmet design:
The Boneyard has been one of our best selling helmets at the rallies and shows. This is a Black Boneyard Series Shorty DOT Motorcycle Helmet which is the lightest and smallest in the market. Three different shell sizes are used to make different sizes. There are similar looking helmets available which are heavier and bulkier. This one weighs approximately 30 oz and measures 8.5 inches from ear to ear and 10.5 inches from front to back.

2. German Style Chrome Helmet:
This Helmet is the latest release is a NEW take on the "CLASSIC GERMAN CHROME HELMET". This not only a beautiful rendition of the classic German Helmet---BUT IT IS D.O.T. Approved.
That's right this is not a Novelty Helmet. This is the safest German Style helmet on the market TODAY. These Helmets Retail in the $150.00+ range and the reason for that is that they're worth it. When you consider fit, comfort, style, freedom, AND ALL THE SAFETY you get in this unit--its a bargain.

3. Easy Rider style helmet:
Classic design from the movie Easy Rider. The shell is constructed of Fiberglass and has premium padding for comfort and safety. The Bubble visor is removable to fully duplicate the retro look from "Easy Rider." The graphics and paint is clear-coated for durability and longevity.

4. Vented half helmet design:
This is a DOT Vented Silver Shorty Series DOT Motorcycle Beanie Helmet which is the lightest and smallest in the market. Three different shell sizes are used to make different sizes. There are no other helmets on the market that vent like this one. The Silver Vented Motorcycle Helmets are tested and keep you 20 Degrees cooler when opened. This Motorcycle Helmet weighs approximately 30 oz and measures 8.5 inches from ear to ear and 10.5 inches from front to back. This has a new EPS liner which is only 1 inch thick compared to 1.5 to 2 inches you will find in other similar helmets

5. Flat Black, Chrome Flame design:
This is a Matt Black Flame Series Shorty DOT Motorcycle Helmet which is the lightest and smallest in the market. Three different shell sizes are used to make different sizes. There are similar looking helmets available which are heavier and bulkier. This one weighs approximately 30 oz and measures 8.5 inches from ear to ear and 10.5 inches from front to back. This motorcycle helmet has a gloss black covered with awesome inlaid Matt Black Flames. This has a new EPS liner which is only 1 inch thick compared to 1.5 to 2 inches you will find in other similar helmets.

Candace Crown http://www.skullskidder.com

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How to Buy a Motorcycle Helmet

How to Buy a Motorcycle Helmet
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Padway]Michael Padway

One thing almost all motorcyclists do is buy a helmet. Interestingly, there is very little information available on what specific features to look for in a motorcycle helmet.

Here are six features you should look for to ensure your helmet offer the highest protection and performance:

1) Safety and Impact Protection

The most important feature for any motorcycle helmet is safety and protection from impacts. There are many testing groups that test and certify helmets as being safe. The most widely-known testing groups are "Dot" (Department of Transportation) and "Snell."

DOT: The DOT tests which are preformed by the helmet manufacturers, analyze straight-on impacts, or radial impacts. In reality the most likely type of impact a motorcyclist will have is a slanted impact which occurs during a fall from a motorcycle to the road surface or when hitting the windshield of a car.

SNELL: The Snell tests also test only radial impacts. However their tests are more severe than DOTs. Whether this additional severity adds safety to the helmet is questionable according to many experts. None the less, the Snell Foundation sticker is found on most high-end helmets. smf.org/

SHARP: This slanted impact test, also called oblique impact test, is used in the newer British SHARP Program. This more comprehensive study of helmet performance measures how much impact is absorbed, not just the damage to the helmet. The SHARP program rates helmets on a scale of one to five stars. Interestingly there is little correlation between price and SHARP performance.

2) Hard Outer Shell

Helmet outer shells need to be hard to distribute the force of a impact blow. The harder the shell of your helmet, the better protection it will provide you. Polycarbonate shells are the least expensive and offer the least protection. Fiberglass shells offer good protection, but not the best. The material that offers the hardest shell and best protection is carbon fiber. Carbon fiber helmets are made of tightly interwoven layers of carbon fiber sheets and Kevlar sheets bonded together with high-strength epoxy. This "space age" material is expensive but its ultra strong and super-light weight properties make it the hardest and most protective material. Plus, it looks good.

3) Dual-Density Foam Core

The liner should be dual density foam, because the foam should be a soft as possible, but not so soft it compresses all the way to the liner. If too dense, it won't compress enough. Therefore, the best way to balance the density seems to be different density foams.

4) Chin Protection

Another important feature is that there be protection on the inside of the chin bar. Almost 40% of impacts to the helmet are in the area of the chin bar, so it needs to be padded. Further, this area is opposite the neck, so you don't want unnecessary transmission of force to the neck. Remember, there is no bone connecting the head to the spine, so this is a structural weak spot in the body.

5) Proper Fit

Look for a snug fit with a chin strap that fits tightly enough to keep the helmet from coming off. The helmet can't do its job if it flies off or is too loose to provide impact protection. Of course, the more comfortable the helmet is, the easier it is to wear, and the more attention you can pay to riding. Try to find a helmet that fits the shape of your head. Most motorcyclists should look for a full face helmet that fits well, from a model with a good SHARP rating, preferably a 5 star rating.

6) Colors and Options

Last, choose the color and graphics you like and other options. Other options may include visors, flip-down face shields, air-flow venting, provision for sound equipment, and others. Pick whatever else floats your boat. Personally, I like to have a tinted strip inside the face shield and above my eyes. Otherwise, be sure that you can comfortably fit sunglasses while wearing the helmet.

In summary, most modern day helmets produced by major manufactures perform well. Remember price does not mean safety, so don't assume that by buying the most expensive helmet you have just purchased the safest helmet. The new SHARP test is probably the best source of safety information you can get. Try on a new helmet after you've been out for a ride - make sure the fit is snug but is still comfortable. Have fun on your next ride wearing your new classy helmet.

About Michael Padway

Michael Padway, http://www.michaelpadway.com/ is an experienced motorcycle lawyer specializing in motorcycle accident cases. He has represented hundreds of motorcycle accident victims and works to bring his clients the best settlements possible in a timely and efficient manner. Because Michael is a motorcycle rider himself, he understands the ins and the outs of motorcycle accidents and what is needed to win his cases. Injured motorcycle riders can call Michael Padway & Associates, California motorcycle injury accident attorneys at 415-777-1511, or visit MichaelPadway.com.

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DOT Approval For Motorcycle Helmets

DOT Approval For Motorcycle Helmets
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Candace_A_Crown]Candace A Crown

When obtaining a motorcycle helmet it is very important that your helmet is safe for use on the roads. You want to know that you are safe from harm when you are investing in something that could save your life you want to be sure it is something worth the money you spend.

It is not necessary to pay a lot of money when you are buying your helmet, there are just a few things you want to look for. The most important thing you want to make sure of is that the helmet has been DOT tested and approved.

The Department of Transportation has certain regulations that helmets have to meet in order to be street safe. If a helmet is not DOT approved it is not legal to wear on the street when riding your motorcycle.

The DOT performs a straight forward impact test. Using a simulated head placed inside a helmet, testers drop the helmet from a height of ten feet. The head cannot receive more than 400 G-force units on impact. A G-force unit measures the force of gravity exerted against an object in motion.
There are other safety tests out there. One of the best is the Snell approval test. This is a very thorough test on the helmets. When a helmet is both DOT and Snell approved it is safe for use.

Snell cites the following areas as critical in helmet safety:

• Impact management: how well the helmet protects against collisions with large objects

• Helmet positional stability: whether the helmet will be in place, on the head, when it's needed

• Retention system strength: whether the chin straps are sufficiently strong enough to hold the helmet throughout a head impact; and

• Extent of protection: the area of the head protected by the helmet.
Snell Memorial Foundation, Inc. ( 2005). 2005 Standard for Protective Headgear, 4.

Helmets don't always have to be both DOT and Snell approved. One or the other is great. To be legal on the roads you have to be DOT approved, but you don't have to be Snell approved. The Snell approval is just an added bonus when looking for a helmet.

It is important to know that you are safe when you are out there riding your motorcycle.

Candace Crown http://www.skullskidder.com

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