Helmets
If you are a serious and responsible motorcycle rider, you know the utmost importance of wearing a helmet. Which motorized vehicle you ride is of the least consequence because even if you fall on low speeds on a scooter and your head smacks the tarmac, you are most definitely gone. Maybe, now you will wear a helmet. But let me tell you, you have been wearing a wrong helmet throughout your life. Moreover, what do you need to see when you buy your new skull saver? Let me tell you in this article below.
So, you might have heard about different certifications and standards of a helmet. Or let me honest, for most of the common folk and my past self, we only hear of the standard ISI, which is what even the traffic department recommends. But you shouldn’t buy those helmets. You ask, why? Because ISI is not a robust standard and not all manufacturers follow the standard to its word. So, what should you buy instead? Well, firstly let me list down all the known standards for you.
1. ISI — You already know this one. Our own Indian standard. I would advise you to skip these helmets
2. DOT — this stands for the Department of Transportation of the USA. I would argue with you to skip these helmets as well, as they are not thoroughly tested for damages.
3. ECE 22.05 — ECE stands for “Economic Commission for Europe,” which was created under a United Nations agreement in 1958. The 22.05 part refers to the specific regulation that the standards for testing. These are highly recommended helmets to buy because you get these certifications as low as for 4000 rupees.
4. Snell — The Snell Memorial Foundation is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1957 dedicated to improving helmet safety. These are better than ECE but these helmets are usually expensive to buy
5. FIM — the latest and greatest helmet standard. This is the holy mecca of helmet testing and safety. The FIM Racing Homologation Programme was established in order to grant special recognition to products related to safety and as a requirement for FIM competitions.
The main aim of this program is to meet the need for advanced evaluation of the safety performance of different kinds of products. The homologation is obtained when specific high performance and quality standards set for each product are met.
So, you go to a shop to get a new helmet, what are the points to be considered?
1. Measure your head and get the shell that fits you perfectly. Never buy an XL helmet when your shell size is M.
2. Initially, the ECE helmets will be very tight and congested. That is not particularly concerning because, with time, the pads loosen up.
3. you should always get a helmet that is tight on your cheeks and presses your cheeks a little when you wear it for the first time. Your helmet should be so tight that it should move with you when you move your head.
4. Replace your clear visor with a tinted one. This is utterly important for riders who ride long distances during sunshine. The continuous sunshine stresses your eyes a lot and dehydrates them. In the long run, it causes fatigue. Tinted visors help to prevent much strain on your eyes. You can also opt for a pop-up visor.
5. Check if your helmet has spaces to install a Bluetooth intercom system. If you later decide to install Bluetooth in your helmet, these little things help a lot.
6. Always opt for a D-ring clip. They are the safest and that is what the MOTO GP riders use.
I hope these quick tips for getting the right helmet helps you. Always remember to ride safely because when you ride really fast really irresponsibly, you are not only putting your life in danger but also the innocent lives of others.
