The Difference Between Motorcycle Helmet Brands |
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When it comes to choosing a motorcycle helmet there are dozens of brands to choose from. Each one has it’s own unique selling points; fashion, style, performance, construction and safety features, are just a few of the items to consider and with so much to choose from it can be easy to get confused. However, it's important to know some of the main difference’s between the motorcycle helmets out there in order to make an informed choice. As with choosing anything it helps if you have an idea of the market so here’s a quick guide to some of the choices you need to consider when buying a ‘brain bucket. ‘ There are basically three different types of helmet on the market. Open face, full face and flip front (sometimes called modular) helmets. It’s important that you choose the right one for your needs and a trained, competent sales person should be able to explain the differences and discuss your individual needs with you. All helmets sold in the UK must meet with the European standard ECE2205. This is a basic test to ensure the suitability of the product for its intended use. All helmets should have a sticker on them, and a label sewn onto to the strap to indicate that they have passed this test. If you’re not sure, ask to see it. Some may have other labels to indicate that they have passed other tests. The most common one you’ll see is the ACU gold sticker. This means that the helmet is considered suitable for motorcycle racing by the governing body. It is not an indication of helmet quality, though plenty of people will make this claim, merely an acceptance of suitability for use. Helmets come in different sizes, but also different shapes. It’s vitally important that you take your time to try on a variety of models to find the one that’s right for you. An £800 helmet will offer you less protection than a £40 one if it’s not fitted correctly. What you’re looking for is something that is as firm as possible without being uncomfortable. Helmets will give and shape themselves to your head slightly, but it’s important to try and get the best fit from the start. Take your time and walk around the shop wearing it for five minutes. Make sure there are no great pressure points and that you can see out of the helmet adequately. You shouldn’t be able to roll the helmet down over your eyes without really pushing it and your cheeks should be held slightly firm by the padding. Full face helmets are the ones which generally offer the most amount of protection as they cover more of your head than open face ones. The downside to them is that they can have some small blind spots and some users may find them claustrophobic. A properly fitted helmet will overcome most of these problems which is why it’s very important to get the right size and also shape for you. Open face helmets are typically seen as ‘scooter’ or ‘cruiser’ helmets due to fashion association over the years. The advantage of an open face helmet is that they are generally lighter, offer better peripheral vision and are easier to fit under the seat of a bike with that facility. The downside is that they don’t offer the same level of protection.  The other type of helmet is the flip front model. These are typically associated with professional riders such as couriers, Police and ambulance paramedics who need to frequently interact with others in the course of their working day.These are also very popular with commuters who like pop into the shops on their way home, or fill up with petrol and don’t want the hassle of removing their lid to pay, particularly in the winter. The downside of these helmets is similar to full face ones, and they are generally a couple of hundred grams heavier due to the opening mechanism. Some models allow you to legally ride with the front open, though don’t take this as a given. To check this you need to see the letters P/J on the compliance tag. Some popular brands. Arai If you’ve ever watched motorcycle racing then you’re probably familiar with this popular Japanese produced brand. They proudly claim that the helmets they sell to the public for their daily commute are exactly the same ones that the top guys out on the track use. One of the great things with Arai helmets is that a qualified dealer can custom fit the helmet by adjusting the thickness of the liners to suit your individual needs. Arai produce a wide range of helmets that are used in a variety of arenas including Formula one and off shore power boat racing. All Arai helmets come with a Pinlock visor which allows the fitting of the best anti fog device on the market. Arai produce open face and full face models. .jpg) Shoei Like their Japanese counterparts Shoei are well known is racing circles and produce a wide range helmets with some very clever and eye catching designs. They were amongst the first to adopt Pinlock anti fog technology and now offer custom fitting at trained dealers. Their top of the range racing helmet is claimed to have the best ventilation on the market and is very popular with summer sports bike riders throughout the world. They offer open face and full face models and also a very popular flip front model which is used by the majority of London ambulance riders and by other emergency services throughout the country. Schuberth German company Schuberth is rightly proud of its association with well known motorcycle racer and occasional Formula one pedaller Michael Schumacher. They are also generally accepted as producing the quietest helmets on the market which has made them a firm choice with long distance touring riders. Their claims for noise reduction have been proven in any number of independent tests and they have their own wind tunnel to help them achieve remarkable innovations in helmet design. They are also generally credited with manufacturing the first flip front helmets under the BMW brand and all Schuberth models feature an in built sun visor which is lowered by an external lever mechanism. Schuberth helmets produce full face helmets, flip front helmets and an open face helmet with a clever removable chin bar. So, depending on how you use your motorbike, whether it's for racing, commuting, business or pleasure, there are many choices to make. Ideally find a retailer with a large range of brands to choose from and knowledgeable staff who can help you make an informed choice. Do your homework and take your time to find the one that’s right for you. Article source: Infinity Motorcycles
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