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Full Face Motorcycle Helmet
Why Choose a Full Face Motorcycle Helmet?
When you are shopping for a new motorcycle helmet there
are many styles available, from open face helmets to
full face motorcycle helmets. But why should you choose
the extra weight of a full size motorcycle helmet over a
lighter model?
The primary job of a motor cycle helmet is to protect
the head from brain injury. But more can happen to the
rider’s head than the impact after falling off.
An open faced motorcycle helmet will not protect the
face while riding or during an accident. Neither will it
protect the face from minor annoyances such as insects,
wind and rain. A full face motorcycle helmet will
provide all the protection you need, even when there is
no likelihood of injury.
The usual objection to a full face motorcycle helmet is
that it gets too hot in the warm weather. But measured
against swallowing a bug or losing most of your face
sliding down a dirt road head first, a little discomfort
on a sunny day seems mild. Besides, motorcycle helmet
companies have been busy tackling that very subject and
have come up with a variety of ingenious cooling
systems. Just pick the one that works best for you.
The first thing you should check for is DOT and Snell
approval. All motorcycle helmets sold must have DOT
approval, but Snell conducts its own tests before
approving one of its stickers.
A good full face motorcycle helmet will cover the entire
head and most of the face. It will have an EPS liner
that covers the whole head, and not just the cranium
area, and that protection should extend to the face.
It will have a visor or windshield with good clear
vision that does not allow the sun to dazzle you, and it
will give good peripheral vision. It should be vented so
your head will stay cool.
The helmet should fit snugly, but not too tightly and it
should not feel loose. Try taking it off with the chin
strap fastened. If you can get your head out of the
helmet, do not buy it.
Bright colors and graphics are not vanity – they help
keep you visible to other road users.
With a full face motorcycle helmet covering your own
head you have the best prevention in the event of an
accident. Even a minor accident can prove serious if
your unprotected face hits a hard or rough surface, and
the consequences can be more serious than scarring.
A 2003 study at the Los Angeles UCLA School of Public
Health into emergency medicine showed that motorcycle
riders who sustained facial injuries in an accident were
three times more likely to sustain a brain injury than
those whose faces were protected. Of 5790 riders
involved in accidents, one in four suffered facial
injuries. The protection provided by a full face
motorcycle helmet is invaluable.
When you decide to choose a full face motorcycle helmet
you will find a wide range of styles – the sleek motor
racing style overcomes the problems of wind resistance,
and the flip down visor style offers facial protection
without having to wear a full face style.
If you are still undecided about the wisdom of a full
face motorcycle helmet, just ask yourself what the
professional riders are wearing.
About the Author
Gail Kavanagh is a freelance writer living in
Queensland, Australia. A former newspaper journalist,
Gail has written for anthologies and for print and
online publications, as well as a number of content
sites. She writes an astrology column for Coffee Cramp
Magazine, is the editor of The Kitchen Herbal at
www.openhearth.com and the author of several books at
www.lulu.com/kavanaghsattic including The Working
Writer's Market Guide. Gail's website is
http://www.valeofavondale.com. She is a regular contributor to
http://My-Motorcycle-Helmet.com
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