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MOTORCYCLE HELMETS AND MOTORBIKE PASSION

For many riders, their helmet is the most prominent and identifiable object that represents their motorbike passion - other than their motorcycle itself.

If you were to walk into a store or a restaurant with a biker jacket on, you may - or may not - be perceived by others as someone who rode there on a motorbike.

But if you walk into that same store or restaurant with a helmet in your hand, you are instantly identified as a motorcycle rider.

Over the decades, the selection of helmet styles, designs and colors have continued to expand. As well, their construction and inherent protective qualities have improved, even as they’ve gotten lighter. Motorcycle helmets have been traditionally categorized in several ways.

TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

A) MOTORCYCLE HALF HELMETS

B) 3/4 or OPEN FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

C) FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS- a variation includes FULL FACE MOTOCROSS HELMETS

In recent years, a hybrid of the “Open Face” and “Full Face” helmet has offered an additional choice:

D) MODULAR “FLIP UP” MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

Modular motorcycle helmets offer some compelling advantages to motorbike riders seeking the best compromise between rider safety and rider convenience. However, there are some cautions to be aware of, noted a little later.

MODULAR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

A Modular “Flip Up” Helmet, as the name implies, allows the frontal part of a full face helmet (the chin area) to be quickly moved up and out of the way, when a rider is stopped. Typically, the rider pivots the frontal chin bar section of a modular helmet out of the way by a lever on the helmet.

In this way, the rider may have a drink, grab a snack, or have a conversation without removing the whole helmet. Thus, in the open position, the modular helmet is similar to an open face helmet.

Obviously, when the frontal area of the helmet is closed, while riding, the modular helmet offers the face protection that a full face helmet would.

Hence, the advantages of full head and face protection, combined with the convenience of opening the helmet without removing it, has established the winning combination that has resulted in the rising popularity of this newest type of motorcycle helmet in recent years.

CAUTIONS ABOUT MODULAR MOTORBIKE HELMETS

It should be emphasized that modular helmets are designed to be worn in the closed position while riding. In other words, a modular helmet is not a substitute for an open face helmet in terms of active motorcycle riding.

In fact, if the modular helmet were left open while riding, it could be argued that this helmet would reduce rider safety.

If the helmet were left open while riding, the chin bar section which protrudes higher above the rider’s forehead, would act like its own sail, directing wind pressure against the helmet and putting stress on the rider’s neck.

Further, if the rider were to crash with the helmet open, not only would he/she not have the face protection benefit, but the protruding chin section would increase the risk of rider neck injury due to the additional leveraged pressure exerted om the rider’s neck, if that section were to hit something.

Anyway, the point is that a modular helmet should be worn in the CLOSED position while actually riding.

As a further note regarding biker safety, since modular helmets are a relative newcomer to the motorcycle helmet industry, they have not been subject to the scientific tests and scrutiny as the other well-established helmet categories.

Without such testing, it’s somewhat presumed that the modular helmet (when worn in the “closed” position) offers greater protection than an open face helmet, but may not meet the safety standards of a standard (non modular) full face helmet.

Of course, regardless of what helmet you select, it needs to fit correctly. Here is an article on How To Fit A Motorcycle Helmet.

COMPARE MODULAR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

Modular motorcycle helmets do offer a compelling choice for riders looking for the greatest combination of safety and convenience, even if they may not offer the same level of rider head protection as a standard, full face helmet. Click on the following link to review and compare Modular Motorcycle Helmets:

Click Here for MODULAR “FLIP-UP” HELMETS