| Be Sure
Your Helmet Meets The DOT Standard. |
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Make sure that your
helmet meets the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) 218. First, look for the DOT symbol on the outside back of the helmet.
Then, look for a label inside the helmet stating the manufacturer's name, month and year
of manufacture, construction materials, helmet model and size, and owner information. A
complying helmet must have both labels. HJC, Shoei and other brands we offer currently
meet the DOT Standard. To Learn More About DOT,
Visit our DOT & SNELL M2000 Page. |
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| Make Sure
Your Helmet Is Well Made and Not A Cheap Helmet. |
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Helmets that comply
with the federal safety standard will have a firm polystyrene (Styrofoam) inner liner of
about one-inch and weigh about three pounds. They will also have sturdy chinstraps with
solid rivets. Safe helmets will never feature spikes or other protruding decorations. We
recommend an HJC or Shoei. They have years of experience and are leaders in their
industry. HJC is the #1 helmet in America. But if you wan to buy the best helmets,
purchase a Shoei. You'll pay more, but they are better. HJC's give you the most bag for
your buck! |
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| Think
About Style. |
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Full-face helmets
offer the most protection in a collision. Plastic face shields protect you from wind,
dust, rain, insects, and road debris thrown up from cars. If you buy a helmet without a
face shield, be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes. Remember, a windshield is not
an adequate substitute for a face shield or goggles. And neither are eyeglasses as they
cannot keep your eyes from watering and are easily dislodged. A popular model are the full
face Symax models by HJC and the Syncrotec by Shoei. A design such as the German Army style or
skull cap style would be considered to be an unsafe helmet. Generally, unsafe helmets are
noticeably smaller in diameter and thinner than ones meeting the DOT standard. |
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| Use Your
Helmet To Be Seen On The Road. |
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Brightly colored
helmets increase your visibility to other vehicles. Add reflective tape on the back and
sides of the helmet for even greater visibility. Decrease the chances of you getting hit
by a car. Let's all be safe. |
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| Make Sure
Your Helmet Fits Properly. |
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Always try on a helmet
before you buy it. Your helmet should feel snug and it should not turn freely around your
head. It should not be able to move back and forth on your head. A helmet should not in
any way prevent you from turning your head to observe traffic. All helmets are required to
provide the wearer with a 210º field of vision. If you purchase a helmet without trying
it on first, then please be sure that it fits! If it doesn't feel comfortable and snug,
then return it immediately for an exchange. When you wear a properly fitted helmet, wind noise is
actually reduced. Although a helmet does reduce the intensity of sounds, it reduces the
intensity of all sounds equally. Loud external sounds such as car horns and sirens are
still very audible above all other street noises.
Each brand of helmet fits
differently. So, try on a variety of brands to find the one that fits you best. The
dealership staff will assist you with the proper fit. Generally speaking the Shoei helmets
will fit more comfortably than other brands. HJC's aren't bad either, for the money, they
are a bargain.
To
Learn More, Visit Our Sizing Chart Page. |
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| Always
Fasten and Tighten The Chinstrap. |
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| NEVER
Wear a Damaged Helmet. |
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Is your life worth
buying a used helmet? Is your life worth wearing a helmet you know was in an accident or a
fall? It's definitely not worth mine. I would never wear a helmet that was involved in ANY
kind of accident that may have reduced the integrity of the helmet. A used helmet may have
been involved in a crash and damaged in ways that are not obvious. Even falls from places
like the motorcycle's seat or the end of a handlebar shorten the life span of a helmet. Be
sure to replace your helmet if it has been in a crash. Any damage to a helmet reduces its
effectiveness, so replace your helmet if it has been damaged. If you are not sure that
your helmet needs to be replaced, arrange to return it to the manufacturer for inspection.
Care for your helmet as indicated in your owner's manual. |
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