Motorcycles have been around since the4 turn of the 20th century. Their popularity has grown greatly over the last 20-30 years. This is due to the freedom a rider feels on a motorcycle. Riding a motorcycle provides a rider with a feeling similar to flying. With all the benefits of riding come some dangers. One of the biggest dangers is the chance of a fatal accident. Motorcycle helmets are designed to greatly reduce this risk.

Helmets provide protection to the most important part of your body, your head. Most fatal accidents on motorcycles are as a result of proper head protection. Unfortunately it is a fact of life that accidents happen. While you cannot avoid an accident necessarily, you can prepare yourself for the event of an accident.

Protecting your head makes sense and so does the idea of using a helmet. However there are some riders that feel that helmets are restricting and that they take away some of the feeling of freedom that is associated with riding a motorcycle. Helmets may keep the wind from blowing through a rider’s hair but they still allow the rider to have that freedom they desire to feel.

In fact the first helmet was created by a doctor as a result of a fatal accident. A Dr. By the name of Hugh Cairns created the first motorcycle helmet. He had lost a patient who had suffered an injury to his skull as the result of a motorcycle accident and he desired to help others avoid the same situation from happening to them. As a result of his work there have been an untold number of saved lives.

The helmet that Cairns designed is much different than the helmet that is commonly used today. The typical modern helmet is more aerodynamic than those of the past. They also tend to be lighter and better ventilated but stronger than older helmets. Today’s helmets offer electronic gadgets such as headphones and intercom systems for listening to music and communicating with another rider.

Many modern helmets also offer face protection through the use of a Plexiglas or synthetic face guard. Face quads are a good idea since they keep loose objects that come off the road from hitting the rider in the face. They also provide protection from flying insects.

Helmets with face guards are known as full face helmets. Full face helmets have a hard surface over the chin area and a windshield that can be lifted. These helmets also tend to offer ventilation slits for air circulation. Full face helmets are believed to offer the fullest amount of protection.

There are also motorcycle helmets that are intended for off road use. The sport off of road riding is known as Motocross. Motocross organizations have implemented rules that regard the amount of head protection required.

The Shorty or half helmet has been a popular helmet since the’50’s. This style helmet is regarded as providing the minimum amount of protection. The Shorty basically covers just the top of the head. There is no back of the head protection or chin protection with this style of helmet. It is common however for riders who use this style of helmet to use eye protection such as goggles.

These are just two of the many types of motorcycle helmets. The other helmets fall between the Shorty and the full face helmet in regards to the amount of protection. The helmet style a rider chooses is based on personal preferences. No matter what style of helmet you select using motorcycle helmets make good sense.

Riding motorbike is great way to escape and feel free but they can also be extremely dangerous. The best way to protect yourself from the potential danger is to employ a few safety procedures, such as wearing Motorcycle Helmets specifically DOT Helmets .