Buying a Motorcycle Helmet

As fun as buying a motorcycle is, there are certain responsibilities as a rider that you need to take seriously. What you wear when you’re riding plays a crucial role in staying comfortable and safe, and one of the most important pieces of riding gear is your helmet. While broken bones and road rash can heal with time, brain injuries are significantly harder to bounce back from, and we want all our riders to be safe. That’s why Family Powersports Odessa has provided a guide to buying a motorcycle helmet. You can also stop by our location in Odessa, Texas, to ask our experienced staff for advice. We proudly serve Midland and Andrews.

Types of Helmets

As you’ve probably seen throughout the years, some helmets are built a little differently than others, to provide different levels of protection. For example, some of the most common helmets are half-helmets. These are a favorite among cruiser and chopper owners for their aesthetic, but that’s all they’re really good for.

Open helmets are better, as they provide coverage for your ears and part of your jaw, and some even come with visors to cover your eyes. However, the best option is a full-face helmet. These cover your entire head, face, and jaw to give you the most protection in the event of an accident.

Crash Test Ratings

The right helmet is going to come with a crash test rating. These indicate the helmet design has been put through a mock crash to see how well it held up. There are lots of testing organizations for this, and not all are up to par, so make sure the organization approving the helmet is trustworthy, like the Department of Transportation or Snell.

Finding the Right Fit

When you’re trying to figure out what kind of helmet you’re looking for, it’s time to figure out if the helmet fits you right. To help you out, many stores and manufacturers have their own sizing chart to help you know where to start looking.

As you try on helmets, you’ll want to check for signs that it’s too big or too small. If it moves around when you move your head, it’s too big. A helmet that’s too small might be uncomfortable to wear and pinch in spots. Try on a few options and see what feels right to you.

Additional Features and Perks

The type of riding you do can influence what you get. If you enjoy long trips, then comfort will be of the utmost importance. In warmer climates, like here, then breathability should probably come first. You can also look for helmets with Bluetooth capabilities, which can be especially handy when you’re traveling with a group.

And finally, ask about the store’s return policy. Sometimes, the best way to know if a helmet is the right fit is to ride around with it. If you find out after you purchase it that it’s not right, then you’ll want to be able to take it back.

Helmet Care

Once you have your helmet, make sure you’re taking good care of it and that you enjoy riding with it on. You probably don’t want to put a dirty helmet near your face, so periodically wipe it down using a mild soap. Your face shield should also be cleaned fairly often, especially as gunk and bugs build up.

When you have the right helmet, you’ll be able to enjoy a safe, stress-free ride on your favorite motorcycle. Don’t have the bike yet? Then it sounds like you’ll want to stop by Family Powersports Odessa to check out our motorcycles for sale. We proudly serve Odessa, Midland, and Andrews, Texas.