While the debate and controversy carries on whether it should be made legally obligatory for all bikers to wear safety helmets on the road, the truth continues to prove that safety helmets can actually keep bikers safe in the event of an accident. However, it must be noted that the right helmet, which fits him snugly, must be used if the biker wishes to remain safe riding his bike on the road.
Once you have taken the decision to wear a safety helmet while riding your bike, you would want to purchase one. But before you buy, you must know what to look for in a helmet, over and above the comfort and weight. Your primary concern is whether it can provide you with the safety which you require most.
The fist step in buying a safety helmet is choosing the style. Of course, there are a lot of trendy and sporty helmets available in the market, but then they all fall under three basic styles of motorcycle helmets. These basic styles are: full face, which provides maximum protection but weighs the most also; the three quarter face helmet weighs less but protects only half the face; the half face or the beanie helmet offers least protection and is not recommended by any expert in the field.
Your next lookout should be for the standard safety standards for helmets. Whichever helmet you buy must at least conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (DOT) (FMVSS) 218 standards. For enhanced safety, buy a helmet which carries stickers of both Snell as well as DOT. Remember, Snell requires helmets to meet stricter safety standards than DOT.
Your next priority is to look for fit and comfort. After all if the helmet does not make you feel comfortable, chances are that you will not even remember to wear it. Check how snug is the fit. Whichever model or make that you buy, ensure that the helmet can twist or lift with the wind while the liner keeps itself pressed gently against your cheeks and forehead. Of course, the helmet should not be so snug that it leaves marks on your face and head. You could easily make your helmet tighter by putting some Styrofoam fillers inside the helmet. You also have to make sure that your ears are not touched.
Finally consider the material with which your helmet is made. Is it fiberglass or Kevlar? The latter, though slightly more expensive, is considered to be tougher as well as lighter which makes the helmet more comfortable to wear as well as safer to use as it provides better protection to your face and head, in the unfortunate event of an accident.
