Whether you are new to riding motorcycles or have been riding for years one thing every rider needs to do is buy helmets. While riding a motorcycle is considered fun for most riders, it is important to first take the proper safety precautions in order to get the most out of your ride and minimize risk of injury. When you buy helmets and take the time to keep your motorcycle running and yourself safe as well as ready for some great rides on your bike its important to make sure your helmet is DOT approved.
The first thing to do as you prepare to buy helmets is to find a motorcycle store. By shopping in a place that specialized in motorcycle accessories you will be able to tap into the knowledge of the staff and are more likely to buy helmets that best suit your needs. Just as there are several different types of motorcycles, there are also different types of motorcycle helmets. Street motorcycles should be paired with street motorcycle helmets, cruiser helmets go with cruiser style bikes, and so forth. It may be tempting to buy helmets that are in a lower price range than the intended helmet, for example cruiser helmets are generally less expensive than street helmets, but staying protected with the right helmet is worth having the pay a little more.
In addition to finding the right type of helmet, you also will want to buy helmets that are the right size. In order to assure that you buy helmets that are the right size, you will want to measure your head circumference about an inch above your eyebrows. Most brands of motorcycle helmets are sized based on centimeters, so you will need to make sure you make note of this measurement. If you plan on riding with a passenger, or think you might let someone else take your bike for a spin, having a spare helmet that will fit likely riders is also a good precautionary measure.
Of course, there is far more to helmets than motorcycle helmets. You will also want to buy helmets for your ATVs, scooters, dirt bikes, or water riding vehicles. Children involved in these sports should also have helmets that fit both their head and the sport they are taking up. Simply borrowing an adult helmet is not sufficient in these cases because the extra room can cause extra distraction and will not offer the level of protection that it would if the helmet actually fit. It is also important for adults to act as role models and wear their own helmets while on their vehicles.
Of course, just because motorcycle and other helmets can do wonders for helping riders stay safe and are responsible for preventing many injuries and saving lives, it does not mean they can not be just as cool as the motorcycle or other vehicle that they are ridden with. Ideally you should always aim to have helmets on hand for whatever situation might arise, but in a pinch, a certain amount of improvisation is still better than not wearing a helmet at all. And if the riding bug hits they can always head to the motorcycle store and buy helmets of their own.