Motorcycles Helmets near San Diego, Carlsbad & Encinitas
When it comes to motorcycle helmets, you have a variety of styles to choose from. Biggs Harley-Davidson® wants you to know the choices you have when picking a helmet. Stop by our Motorclothes Department near San Diego, Carlsbad, and Encinitas.
There are four primary types of helmet on the market today. Which type is best for you depends on your riding style, your bike, and what feels most comfortable. Whether you get a half helmet or a modular, there are three things to keep in mind: 1) A helmet does no good if you don’t wear it. 2) A good fit is the most important aspect of a helmet, try a helmet on before you buy unless you’re certain it will fit right. 3) If your helmet has a hard fall, or if you have an accident where your helmet absorbs significant impact, replace it. Helmets function by ‘breaking’ when the internal elements absorb a shock, so even if your helmet looks fine, it can be completely compromised, so don’t be stingy if you think your helmet could be broken.
Half Helmets
Half Helmets provide the minimum protection on the road. These helmets only cover the top of your head, leaving your ears nose and chin exposed while you ride. Plenty of experienced riders prefer wearing a half helmet because they’re lightweight, relatively cheap, and offer the full ‘wind in your face’ comfort while you’re riding. The biggest drawback to a Half-Helmet is that very few of these helmets come with any sort of eye protection, so you’ll want to make sure you pick up a pair of goggles to match your helmet, or a set of sunglasses that can handle a bug or two.
Open Face / Three-Quarter Helmets
Three Quarter helmets, also known as Open Face helmets, are a step beyond a half helmet in terms of protection. These helmets cover the back of your head, as well as your ears, but don’t feature a chin bar. Three quarter helmets often incorporate a snap on windscreen visor, which allows you to go without goggles in some cases.
Full Face Helmets
A full face helmet is made to give the most robust protection among helmet classes. These helmets are made with a full chin bar to protect your face in the case of accident. Full face helmets provide the best protection from the wind as well, and they cut down strongly on the noise of the wind while you ride. The most significant downside to full face helmets is the weight. These helmets can start to feel heavy and strain your neck and back on a longer ride. Full face helmets can also cut your visibility a bit by crowding your peripheral vision. It’s an unfortunate tradeoff for the significant protection these helmets provide.
Modular Helmets
Modular Helmets are pretty cool. They combine the buffeting protection and integrated windscreen of a full face helmet, while simultaneously providing the convenience of a three quarter helmet thanks to the movable chin bar. While the chin bars of these helmets provide questionable protection in a crash, it’s still easy to lift up for eating and drinking, and provides great protection against bugs and dust on the highway.
Stop by the Motorclothes Department at Biggs Harley-Davidson® for a great selection of motorcycle helmets to choose from. We’ll help you pick the perfect helmet to match your style and experience level. We’re just a short ride from Oceanside, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, and San Luis Rey, California.