Motorcycles

Types Of Motorcycle Helmets
By Andrew Kelly

Motorcycle helmets save lives. Motorcycle helmets are protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of motorcycle helmets is to protect the rider's head during an impact. Sometimes helmets offer other conveniences such as face shields, ear protection and even intercom systems.

There are three basic types of motorcycle helmets. There is also a fouth category for motorcycle helmets that encompassing every other type of novelty motorcycle helmets.

The full face motorcycle helmets cover the entire head. They also have a rear that covers the base of the skull and a protective section over the front of the chin. Full face motorcycle helmets have an open cutout in a band across the eyes and nose, with a plastic face shield that is either clear or tinted that generally swivel up and down to allow access to the face.

Most full face motorcycle helmets include vents to increase the airflow to the rider. The reason for the popularity of these motorcycle helmets is their protectiveness.

People that don’t like full face motorcycle helmets criticize the increased heat, the sense of isolation, the lack of wind and reduced hearing that full face motorcycle helmets have. Full face motorcycle helmets are intended for off-road use and sometimes omit the face shield and extend the visor and chin portions.

There are full face motorcycle helmets that are made where the chin bar can pivot upward allowing the rider to eat or drink without unfastening the chinstrap or removing their helmet. These full face motorcycle helmets are called "Convertible", "Flip-face" or "Flip-up".

Open face motorcycle helmets have a rear that covers the back of the skull. These motorcycle helmets lack the lower chin armor of the full face motorcycle helmets. They also lack a face shield. Many open face motorcycle helmets offer visors of selectable length with choices ranging from opaque to tinted. Visors on the open face motorcycle helmets are used by the rider to block out sunlight or even headlights.

Author Details:
Andrew Kelly, copywriter for various websites including, The A to Z of Motorcycles, part of an ambitious project to cover various subjects.

Source: Information Junkie

NOTE: This article may be reproduced ONLY if this note, the author details and links remain in place and active.

Related Motorcycle Articles: