Choosing the Perfect Motorcycle Helmet: Which Style is Right for You?

It’s an argument that’s being going on for a long time – whether or not people should have to wear a helmet when they’re riding a motorcycle. No matter what your life philosophy might be, or how your friends and family feel about it, the reality is that the laws are there and you have to abide by them. Maybe you feel a helmet cramps your style, but the fact is that helmets save lives. On a more personal level, wearing a motorcycle helmet also means you’ll save on your medical costs and insurance premiums thanks to the added safety.

When it comes to choosing a motorcycle helmet, there are three main types available – full-face, three-quarter shell and half-shell. Let’s take a look at each one, and see what their good and bad points are.

Bell Apex Ripper Red Street Full Face Helmet

Bell Full Face Motorcycle Helmet

Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets

These are definitely the safest and most secure type of helmet that you can buy. They cover the face entirely, and also offer some protection to the neck. There’s also a clear visor covering the eyes for added safety. The visor helps to stop dirt and debris landing in your eyes, and the bottom part of the helmet also stops anything unwanted entering your mouth. A full-face motorcycle helmet is a very comfortable once it’s in place, and provides the highest level of safety, but some people find them difficult to get on and off, and restrictive when they’re in place.

Hawk DOT Gloss Silver Open Face Motorcycle Helmet

Hawk Open Face Motorcycle Helmet

Three-Quarter Shell Motorcycle Helmets

If you’ve seen a law enforcement official riding a motorbike, then chances are he or she was wearing a three-quarter shell helmet. This type of helmet covers most of the head, apart from the face, and are held in place by a chinstrap. They provide a good level of safety and security, similar to a full-face helmet. They’re also much simpler to use in conjunction with some type of communication device if you’re traveling with a group of motorcycle enthusiasts.

Outlaw Half Face Motorcycle Helmet

Half-Shell Motorcycle Helmets

Although this type of helmet is the least restrictive of the three types, it also offers the last amount of protection. A half-shell helmet really only protects the top of the head in an accident, hopefully preventing brain damage. The regulations in many states require a half-shell motorcycle helmet as the absolute minimum that can be worn, but for safety purposes they are very ineffective, and are quite likely to fall off in an accident, providing no protection at all.

Wearing a motorcycle helmet may not be your idea of fun, but when you consider what a dramatic effect a serious motorcycle accident could have on your quality of life, if you’re still alive, then it makes sense to wear one that provides as much protection as possible.