OSC MRC Helmet Considerations

Helmet Considerations

Why Wear a Helmet?
Most motorcycle fatalities are the result of head injuries, and a helmet is the main defence. A good helmet protects from a variety of head traumas such as abrasion, concussion, and fracture.
      Your helmet also protects you from the elements. It will keep your head warm and dry, reduce wind noise, and protect you from flying debris and insects. If you have a face shield (and you should) it protects your eyes from wind, bugs, and debris and, if tinted, can double as a sunlight filter. (However, you should never use a tinted visor at night, so a tinted visor should be an accessory, not your only visor.)
      Your helmet, being the highest point on you and your motorcycle, can significantly improve your visibility if you choose white or a bright colour.
      Finally, it's the law. You are required to wear a certified helmet any time you are riding a motorcycle. This is law in every part of Canada, and in most parts of the United States.

Helmet Types
Helmets come in a variety of design styles, with the major types being the following three.

Full-Face. A full-face helmet covers your entire head including surrounding your cheeks and below and in front of your jaw, and includes a visor that can completely seal the face opening. With the visor down, no part of your head can contact the ground in a fall.
Full-face helmets offer the most protection in any kind of accident, and are always your best choice. We recommend them above all other styles.

3/4. A 3/4 helmet covers your head and ears, but not your cheeks and jaw. It may include a full visor, but many include only a "mini visor" above your eyebrows. A 3/4 helmet is moderate protection. It protects your head from top, side, and rear impacts, but will not protect you if you land fully on your face. 50% of head injuries involve the face.
      Riders of large touring bikes often prefer the 3/4 helmet. Their bike's large windshield protects their face from bugs and debris, and the helmet's open mouth area allows easier conversation with a passenger. In North America, many police forces use 3/4 helmets for easier conversation on the radio and with the public.
      Some of our instructors use a 3/4 helmet for teaching (so you, the students, can hear their instructions) but wear a full-face on the street.
      Because of the facial protection, we recommend you use a full-face helmet if possible, with a 3/4 being an acceptable alternative for certain riding styles where the additional convenience is more important than the additional protection.

shorty helmet

Shorty. "Shorty" or "half" helmets are the minimal helmets that meet the letter of the law. They cover only the top of your head, and sometimes your ears, offering little protection in a crash. (You are protected from small objects falling on you from above, perhaps from an overhanging branch.) They have no visor, and are often worn with goggles, or with no eye protection at all.
Shorty helmets are often associated with the "look" of certain styles of motorcycling. Although they are legal, we don't recommend them as safety gear because of the minimal protection they provide.

Approval Standards
To be legally approved for use in Canada, a helmet must bear a seal (usually inside at the rear) from one of the following standards organisations.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)

Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL)

British Standards Institute

American National Standards Institute

United States Department of Transportation (DOT)

Recommendations
We recommend you always purchase a new helmet. Helmets are designed to protect you through only one collision and you won't know the history of a used helmet. Ensure it has one of the above certifications.
      We recommend a full-face helmet, and fibreglass outer shell construction (not the cheaper but brittle injected thermoplastic). We also recommend you have a full face visor with your helmet, whatever the style.
      Your helmet must fit properly. A proper fit is snug enough to avoid coming off in a fall, but not so tight as to be painful when worn for long periods. Get your dealer to help you find the right size. Different helmet manufacturers fit heads of different shapes, so you should also try on several brands if possible.
      Finally, we recommend some colour other than black to enhance your visibility.
      You will be spending a lot of time in your helmet. Buy the best, most comfortable one you can afford.

Helmet photos courtesy of Shoei Safety Helmets, used with permission.

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changed Apr 21, 2006