Everyone likes to ride without a helmet. It’s a great feeling to get that rush of danger when you’re twenty, going seventy down the highway and feeling the wind whip at your head. But you’re not twenty anymore, and as we grow older, we also get smarter and more cautious. Everyone has seen a riding buddy get hurt because they weren’t wearing the right protective gear. Don’t let a preventable accident happen to you, instead invest in a good motorcycle helmet that will keep you safe as you ride.

Have you ever thought hard about what you’d like to see in a good motorcycle helmet? Most people haven’t, even if they’ve always made sure to wear one. You need to know what components make up a good motorcycle helmet before you buy. One easy thing to figure out is that you should avoid the half shell, or beanie helmet. You’ve seen these before, they look like something out of an old war movie? Well that’s where they should stay, because if you get into an accident, they aren’t strong enough to protect you.

You may have also heard of the three quarter helmet, which covers your head and ears, but not your face, hence the name. It is also called a modular helmet in many stores. This isn’t the safest motorcycle helmet on the market, but depending on what you’re looking for out of a helmet, it can still be a good motorcycle helmet option. If you’re someone who doesn’t like contacts, this helmet gives you the space to wear glasses. It also allows you to feel the wind on your face while still protecting the rest of your head.

If you’re looking for the safest motorcycle helmet you can get, a full face helmet is the right one for you. It looks a lot like a modular helmet, but also includes an adjustable faceplate, protecting your face as your ride, but also allowing you to talk and eat during riding breaks. This faceplate not only protects you in the event of a crash, but will also prevent windburn and harmful skin damage caused by UV rays. Full face helmets also have the advantage of blocking ear damaging engine noise.

As you’re looking for a good motorcycle helmet, can you save some cash by buying used? No, you should never buy a used helmet. When a helmet is dropped, even if there is no damage to the shell, the internal foam that protects you is crushed. This leaves you vulnerable to injury. So always buy new.

A good motorcycle helmet is an investment in your safety and in your future that any responsible rider should make. And you’re not giving up your freedom either. With the right helmet, you’ll actually have a better riding experience than you ever have before. The right motorcycle helmet will not only protect you, it will also keep your face free from injury, and from everyday riding concerns like wind burn and sun burn too!