Motorcycle Helmet Choices

A motorcycle is special for that unique feeling it gives you every time you ride: the feeling that you’re unstoppable. It allows more freedom and attitude than you’d ever get in an automobile, but everything good about riding comes at a risk. Something small like turning a bike over is about as easy to do as getting in a fender bender, but the consequences can be much more severe if you aren’t properly protected. In order to ensure you’re safe in any situations, you have no choice but to wear a helmet. This practice isn’t only a legal requirement, but also makes sure that you have the maximum protection in any riding situation. There are four main types of helmets that all make your ride safer, so if you don’t already have one, be sure to stop by Indian Motorcycle of Orange County. We’ll also set you up with any parts or service you need to make your bike as reliable as possible out there, so come into our dealership in Orange County. We serve the areas of Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Los Angeles, California.

Full Face

If you don’t mind some extra weight, the Full Face motorcycle helmets get our top spot for safety rating. They will cover your entire head and come with a chin bar that runs across your mouth. A liftable visor extends from the chin bar to just over your brow, which prevents wind and any other debris from getting on your face. They’re definitely the best choice for safer riding, but what you get in safety, you lose a little bit in comfort. We don’t recommend a full face helmet for long rides, as the extra weight will put strain on your neck, shoulders, and back over time. Warm days can also make these helmets intolerable unless they’re vented, so be sure you get a model that breathes, since hot weather’s impossible to avoid here in California.

Open Face

Open Face helmets don’t have quite the same amount of protection you get from a full face model, but they still make riding much safer without sacrificing comfort. These helmets are essentially full face ones without chin bars, which means that you don’t get the visor for wind protection. However, that visor-less design also makes them better ventilated, so you don’t have to worry about breathing in your own sweat on hot days. If you absolutely need the visor, it’s pretty easy to find a open face helmet with a retractable or removable windscreen, which still blocks most of the wind and debris from your face.

Half

You might think that a half helmet doesn’t quite measure up to the advantages of other head gear, but these motorcycle helmets actually come with quite a few perks of their own. Sure it only covers the top of your head, but that will still save you from serious head trauma in many types of accidents. Although these hats are made for safety, their main focus is comfort. The minimal design makes them very light, meaning you won’t get uncomfortable even on long rides. They also don’t trap any heat, as they offer better ventilation than anything else, so try one of these helmets out if you’re out cruising or touring. If you’re riding with a half helmet, though, we recommend getting some goggles and a facemask, since you’ll still want some sort of wind protection.

Modular

Modular helmets fall in a class of their own, as they’re a hybrid between full face and open face helmets. This type of headgear essentially has an open face design, but they’re equipped with a chin bar that can be lifted up. This means you can still get maximized wind protection of a visor while enjoying the convenience of an open face helmet, but remember, the detachable chin bar isn’t as sturdy as the fixed ones, so they won’t provide quite as much protection.

There are many types of helmets that provide various levels of protection, but the most important part is choosing a helmet that fits properly and can be comfortable. The type of headgear you choose should really depend on the kind of riding you do, so if you have any other questions, feel free to ask us at Indian Motorcycle of Orange County. We’re here to give you all the advice, gear, parts, and service you need at our dealership in Orange County, near Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Los Angeles, California.