Motorcycle Safety: Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet

As of early 2017, only 19 states require motorcyclists to wear helmets. Most riders know there are studies by safety organizations that show that you are less likely to die in a motorcycle crash when wearing a motorcycle helmet. But it's not enough to wear the helmet – you must inspect the helmet, clean it, and replace it when it’s time. Here’s the rundown on taking safety seriously. After all, you only have one head.

Statistics for Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety cites that 4,693 people died in motorcycle crashes in 2015. Thirty-seven percent of those people were not wearing helmets. The site does not discuss the type of injury, so it is unknown as to whether any of those people would have been saved if they had been wearing a helmet. However, as far as motorcycle safety goes, it's better to be safe than sorry, so it's better to wear the brain bucket.

BMW is working on a concept bike that boasts that you won't need to wear a helmet based on the premise that it can’t fall over. However, you could still be injured when riding. Additionally, state laws require helmet use, regardless of the manufacturer's claims.

Should you have a bike that is designed to stay upright regardless of whether you are driving, stopped, hit a pocket of sand or gravel, or anything else that could happen, there is still danger of being seriously injured in a crash. If a car hits you hard enough, you will go flying through the air. If you're a stunt person, you might be able to avoid landing on your head, but otherwise, your chances of that are not so great. You'll still need a helmet to protect you when you land. A helmet will also protect you if something flies up off the highway and into your face or head.

Motorcycle Helmet Safety: What to look for

It's not enough to wear a quality helmet. You must inspect your helmet every year. Replace it if its structure is compromised in any way.

• Check the date of manufacture for your helmet. Helmets manufacturers typically put a 5-year life on the devices because of the chance that, through wear and tear, the EPS (expanded polystyrene) liner could be compromised. The EPS is what takes the shock out of impacts. If your helmet is over 5 years old, replace it.
  

• Remove and check the comfort liner. If it's dirty, but not compressed, wash it and reinstall it. If it's compressed, you'll need to replace the helmet because this not only is part of the impact-absorption componentry but influences how the helmet fits your head.
  

• While the lining is out, check the EPS for damage. If you notice any cracks or dents in the foam, replace the helmet.
  

• Check the shell. Even if you haven't crashed, the shell can be compromised if it is deeply scratched or cracked. Replace the helmet as it won't protect your head.
  

• Check the chinstraps and the D-rings. If the straps are frayed or thinning and the stitching of the straps around the D-rings is worn or loose, replace the helmet. Retention systems often get the short shrift, but if the helmet doesn’t stay in place it can’t do its job.
  

• Check the visor. It should not have any scratches or cracks that will obstruct your vision. Don't forget to check the screws that hold the visor on the helmet.
  

Motorcycle Accessories for Helmets

Keep your helmet safe and in good condition by storing it in an R&G Racing deluxe helmet bag, available at Twisted Throttle. The bag will protect the helmet for scratches. The bag is lined with fleece to protect the helmet should it get knocked off the shelf or off the bike.

The Helmet Guardian, which we also carry, mounts to your license plate bracket. It holds the helmet securely to the bike so it won't get knocked off the handlebars or the seat. The bracket comes with two locks so that you can lock two helmets to the bike. This way, they don't grow legs if someone decides to utilize the five-finger discount.

Finally, keep your visor clean so your visibility is not compromised with the Clear Shot All-In-One Lens Cleaning Kit. The anti-fog cleaning spray also helps keep the visor from fogging up when you are riding in cold weather.