Did you know that motorcycle helmets are not all the same?
But many people, especially riders, will surely agree that the helmet is the most vital piece of safety gear. Motor helmets have helped save lives and more lives will be saved if all riders will wear their helmets regularly.
The question now is, what type of helmet do you need in the first place? Here are some of the options you can consider:
Dual-Sport Helmets
A dual-sport helmet is a combination of a full-face helmet and an off-road helmet. These helmets feature a larger visor for eye protection than that of its full-face counterpart. You can also snap the visor in an up position and use it with goggles.
Being an aerodynamic visor, it doesn’t lift in the wind, which is the case for off-road helmets. The chin bar doesn’t have the same kind of protrusion as off-road helmets which reduces airflow and improves soundproofing.
Dual-sport helmets feature an exterior styling that resembles an off-road helmet with a lower chin bar and a large visor. These helmets provide more interior comfort and padding just like full-face helmets. A dual-sport helmet is like the halfway point between a full-face and an off-road helmet as it is designed for use both off-road and on the road.
These motorcycle helmets are also ideal options if you love mixing terrain in just one riding day. Keep the visor down while traveling to the trail from the street and snap it up for maximum airflow and goggles.
Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets
Full-face MT Helmets motorcycle helmets provide the most amount of coverage around the neck and head. These helmets are considered the safest type that protects riders from potential impact.
Full-face helmets are a versatile option for every rider no matter where you ride or what specific type of motorcycle you have. It’s made possible by the different types of full-face helmets intended for every riding style.
Sports riders, for example, are often crouched while riding, which means that their helmet should lift while riding at high speeds. As a result, they often choose helmets with a higher chin bar and visor opening with a slightly angled opening near the helmet’s top portion.
The chin bar is the most distinct feature of full-face helmets. It is a critical safety feature that you can’t find in most helmets today. Almost half of severe impacts during accidents compromise the front part of the helmet, and full-face helmets are the only ones that can keep your jaw and chin protected.
Half Helmets
Half helmets cover only the top of the head as well as the part from the forehead to the browse to offer minimal protection. Several half-helmet models may also provide more coverage on the back of the ears and neck although the rest of the face will still be exposed.
While MT Helmets half motorcycle helmets offer outstanding airflow, the protection they offer is significantly less than that of their ¾ or full-face counterparts. The good news is that these helmets are still approved for use.
Many of these helmets lack a face shield or visor, which means you have to buy a separate eye protection. It can be in the form of goggles or riding glasses.
There are also only limited technological features found on these helmets like Bluetooth speakers because of the lack of space for them. This type of helmet comes with some upgrade options for this reason.
Flip-Up or Modular Helmets
Flip-up or modular helmets are a mix between a full-face helmet and a three-quarter helmet. It’s because the visor and chin bar can flip up to open the helmet’s front.
The fitment and materials are like those of full-face helmets. They feature a visor to protect the eyes and now and then, some may also have a secondary internal visor for extra eye protection from the harsh light of the sun.
Modular helmets often weigh more than traditional full-face helmets because of the additional design hinge features in the flip-up area on the front.
The safety of the rider, however, might be reduced a bit due to the hinge structure because of the slight fissure compared to the uniform entity that a full-face helmet offers. But despite that, it still offers more protection compared to half or three-quarter helmets because of the extra chin protection.
Off-Road Helmet
An off-road helmet is intended as its name suggests which is to ride on dirt roads instead of the streets. These motorcycle helmets may not be the best choice if you’re riding on the highway or city as they are more right at home in areas that require knobby tires.
Eye protection is lacking in off-road helmets so riders must be ready to ride with their goggles or glasses on. Goggles are a better choice if you’re riding on mud or dirt because this motorcycle equipment can seal against the face of the rider to avoid the intrusion of debris while riding.
Off-road helmets have a different design than ¾ and full-face helmets are fitted with a bigger visor and more emphasized chin bar to allow improved airflow. These are often designed for minimum weight, maximum protection, and proper flowing ventilation which is necessary if you are riding in warmer months. These helmets don’t have the usual lush creature comforts such as Bluetooth speakers.
Three-quarter or Open-Face Helmets
Three-quarter or open-face helmets cover the sides and top back of the head while leaving the face exposed. These motorcycle helmets are a favorite among cruisers, tourers, care racers, and scooters because the area of the face remains open to let the rider’s skin feel the wind. The unique feature of these MT Helmets motorcycle helmets is the absence of a chin bar that can significantly lessen their level of safety.
The structure of these helmets is considered equal to that of full-face helmets when it comes to safety in the coverage areas. However, it doesn’t cover every area, unlike full-face helmets. It also weighs less compared to their full-face counterparts because it lacks a chin bar although the reduction is not that significant.