Motorcycle helmets are a personal thing and come in 3 main types, open face, full face and half helmets. Helmets for motorcycle riders are much heavier than bicycle helmets as they are meant to take more of an impact. They are manufactured from plastic which is reinforced with Kevlar or carbon fiber, and are generally designed to break in a crash (thus expending the energy otherwise destined for the wearer's skull), so they provide little or no protection after their first impact.

 

Motorcycle helmets are devices used to protect motorcyclists from head injury and are made to absorb the energy and impact in in motor vehicle accidents with the purpose of keeping you alive and safe. Helmets are 46%-85% effective in reducing the incidence of severe, serious, and critical head injuries and 29% effective in reducing fatalities. They are the most important piece of protective gear a motorcycle rider can wear.

 

Open face motorcycle helmets, or 3/4 motorcycle helmets, are designed to cover the ears and side of the face but fail to protect the chin and eyes (unless visors are added). Shorty helmets, or half motorcycle helmets, are simple helmets that leave the chin and side of the face exposed.

 

Full-face motorcycle helmets are the most popular among the street styles affording the highest level of protection to the rider. Full face helmets are DOT approved and and Snell rated. Full-face helmets provide additional protection for the mouth, chin, jaw, and neck.

 

Half helmets and skull caps are very popular with the cruiser crowd. Half helmets are only DOT rated, while full face helmets can be both DOT and Snell rated. This should mean something to you. Half helmets are similar to three-quarter versions but expose more of the lower jaw, sides, and back of your head.