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A helmet is the single most important piece of safety gear a rider can wear on a motorcycle.ÿ Not only do helmets save lives, they prevent devastating and life-threatening head injuries while protecting your face, brain, and skull.ÿ It is crucial to find and wear a helmet that fits just right and will offer you the protection you deserve.ÿ With many top-notch, safety approved helmets on the market today, finding a helmet that will protect your head in a crash, shouldn’t be a problem.

What happens in a crash

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ When a crash occurs, most riders are fully protected.ÿ However, if the impact of a crash is forceful enough, brain damage may occur.ÿ While most brain injuries are irreversible, in rare cases, severe impacts can leave your skull undamaged.ÿ In the event of a serious crash with head injuries, the central nervous system, brain, and upper spinal cord are most likely to be affected.ÿ A common myth that many riders have believed in the past is that a helmet will increase the likelihood for a neck injury to occur in an accident.ÿ However, continual studies have proven this to be untrue.ÿÿÿÿ

What makes a helmet great

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In a crash, the brain and skull need more time than usual to counteract speeds.ÿ When a rider is thrown from their bike, their head can be the first body part to hit the ground.ÿ With a hard outer shell distributing the force of a hard blow, your helmet can be the deciding factor between life and death.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ On the inside of your helmet, you can find a liner made of crushable material.ÿ This restricts the forces that an impact will have on your head.ÿ An impact will actually allow the head to crush the liner, allowing your brain to have a little more time and distance to slow down.ÿ As the liner is crushed, your head is then allowed a gentler stop.

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ A very important feature of a helmet is the chinstrap.ÿ It’s the only piece that will ensure your helmet stays in one place to maximize full protection.ÿÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ One of the most important things to look for when purchasing a helmet is whether or not the DOT (Federal Government Department of Transportation) or SNELL certifies it.ÿ These are two organizations that set safety standards for a variety of helmets, including Motocross.ÿ The DOT has an official regulation that covers motorcycle helmets.ÿ All motorcycle helmet manufacturers must submit a regulated helmet to the DOT in order to obtain DOT approval status.ÿ This will then grant the right for the manufacturer to place the DOT sticker on their helmets.ÿ Helmets that are not DOT approved by meeting their minimal certification standards may not be sold as motorcycle helmets.ÿ In fact, all helmets that are to be used while riding a motorcycle of any kind in the United States must be DOT certified. ÿHowever, they are not required to be SNELL certified.ÿ SNELL and the DOT have strict standards as far as demanding protective capabilities in their helmets.ÿ In fact, SNELL has the world’s toughest standards out there.ÿ For example, SNELL tests samples of helmets before completely certifying them in order to make sure that the helmet is up to their standards.ÿ Moreover, SNELL often buys their certified helmets and takes them back to the labs for follow-up testing.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ

How and why a helmet works

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ A helmet made specifically for a motocross athlete has been carefully and scientifically developed over the years.ÿ In order to provide the best protection, there are four basic mechanisms that collectively work together.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The outer shell is commonly made from a fiber-reinforced material.ÿ The impact action scatters energy to lessen the force before it reaches your head.ÿ But standing alone, it won’t give you full protection.ÿ

Immediately under the shell is an impact-absorbing liner.ÿ This liner is commonly made of expanded polystyrene. In a crash, this styrofoam like layer reduces and absorbs the shock as the helmet stops, but your head wants to keep going.ÿ When acting together, the shell and liner disperse the force of an impact throughout the helmet.ÿ The more impact energy that can be averted during a crash, the less likely you are to receive a head injury.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Next is the comfort padding.ÿ This particular layer sits directly next to your head/face and is made of flexible, delicate foam and cloth.ÿ Even though this layer does nothing as far as protection, it ensures maximum comfort and a perfect fit.ÿ

The final mechanism is the chinstrap, or retention system.ÿ The chinstrap may seem like a small piece to your helmet, but it is the one and only piece that keeps your helmet on in a crash.ÿÿÿ

Try one on for size

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ When looking for a helmet, make sure to follow the right steps in order to find one that not only fits perfectly, but also offers you the protection you deserve.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ When trying a helmet on, it should fit quite snugly until it is in the right place.ÿ It might even feel a tad tight until it is sitting squarely on your head.ÿ This may seem a bit annoying at first, but remember it will eventually stretch out enough while still being protective.ÿ If the helmet is in anyway too big for you, don’t even consider buying it.ÿ When a helmet is too big, it won’t be an effective source of protection.ÿ Not only will it move around while riding, it will be extremely annoying and may even come off in a crash.ÿ An important thing to remember is to know the size of your head.ÿ Simply measure the circumference of your head at its largest point.ÿ Make sure to measure over your ears and completely around your head.ÿ Many dealers will be able to then help you out with finding the perfect size.ÿ This will also be helpful if you choose to buy online as you can follow their sizing charts more easily.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Once you have put the helmet on your head, make sure the following two things are in order before you fasten the chinstrap.ÿ Are there any gaps between your temples and brow pads?ÿ Do the cheek pads touch your cheeks without comfort or discomfort?ÿ If you can answer no to both of these questions, you can now go ahead and fasten your chinstrap.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ With your helmet fully on, try to move it around.ÿ Does your skin shift with the movement of your helmet?ÿ If so, you’ve found the right fit so far.ÿ The helmet may feel a bit snug, distributing an even amount of pressure everywhere.ÿ Keeping in mind that the inner liners will stretch out over time, a new helmet should be as tight as possible, without being uncomfortable.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The next step is to try and roll the helmet off your head.ÿ With the chinstrap still fastened, if the helmet stays securely in place, you’re good to go.ÿ After removing your helmet, if you have any discomfort whatsoever, maybe choose the next largest size or try a different brand of helmet.ÿ As most heads are not the same size or shape, remember that helmets are the same way.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ If shopping at your local dealer, in order to make sure the helmet fits comfortably for a prolonged period of time, wear it around the store for a while.ÿ You want to make sure you are choosing the perfect helmet that is just right for you.ÿ

Helmet upkeep

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ While following the manufactures directions is your best bet for maintaining your helmet, here are a few easy to follow guidelines for proper helmet upkeep.ÿ

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -Use only mild soap when cleaning the exterior since powerful cleaners can cause helmets to decay and lose their much-needed protective value

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -Do not drop your helmet on hard surfaces; even though a helmet is durable, it could decrease its effectiveness to protect you in a crash

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -Do not store your helmet in conditions of excessive heat or near gasoline, cleaning fluids, or exhaust fumes; the materials in a helmet can react negatively to such products

Inexpensive helmets?are they safe?

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Helmets can range in price anywhere from just below $85 to well over $500.ÿ With such a steep range, many would think that the inexpensive helmets wouldn’t be as protective as the more expensive models.ÿ However, all motorcycle helmets that are sold on the market today are either DOT or SNELL approved, including the inexpensive ones.ÿ The only major difference between inexpensive models and the pricier ones is the number of G’s the helmet can tolerate during a forceful impact. (One G is the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Earth.)ÿ Studies have shown that cheaper helmets usually don’t tolerate as much force.ÿ However, they do tolerate more than you would expect.ÿ As stated earlier, since both the DOT and SNELL have such high standards for helmets, price really isn’t a factor.

ÿKeeping you protected?the Bottom Line

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Now that you know the features of a great helmet and how and why it works, finding and properly using a helmet should be an easy task.ÿ Remember, helmets save lives!

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“EVS Winning with Safety”

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