Harley Davidson Helmet Overview: Types, Safety, and Popularity
The four types of Harley Davidson motorcycle helmets will be examined
in this overview: full-face, modular, open-face, and the half-helmet.
Full-face helmets are popular with sportbike riders and provide the
best overall coverage and protection for your head area by completely
encasing the head and most of the face within a protective shell. The
bike helmet covers the entire area from the brow over the top of the
skull to the base and then stops at the top of the neck. The front
portion of the bike helmet projects forward at the cheekbones to help
encase and protect the chin and jaw area.
Full-face helmets are the heaviest helmet type available and during a
long road trip they can cause more neck strain than lighter Harley
helmets. In addition, they reduce the volume of sounds in the
environment around you and therefore limit the sensory input you
receive. Heat also builds up inside full face helmets during long
periods on your Harley Davidson and this type of bike helmet can cause
a claustrophobic feeling.
Modular helmets (flip-up) are a hybrid version with aspects of both the
full-face and open-face types, but include a face shield that can be
flipped up for convenience and a chin-bar that protects the chin area.
This type of helmet is popular with users who ride cruisers and
sportbikes, but is an excellent choice as your Harley helmet.
Open-face (3/4) helmets are similar to full face helmets and are more
popular with riders desiring comfort and riding cruisers. The main
difference between the two is open face helmets don’t have a bottom
part of the shell that wraps around the chin area and the face shield.
Instead, they generally have a chin strap that secures the helmet
beneath the chin, often with a chin-cup. Face shields are usually
available at time of purchase for most open face motorcycle helmets you
purchase to serve as your Harley Davidson helmet.
An open-face helmet provides less protection than a full face Helmet
and can be knocked off during a crash, but this helmet type is easily
removed without blocking the vision, which is good if you generally
make short runs. The feeling of claustrophobia that you experience with
full face helmets is reduced using an open face helmet, air flow
increases, hearing is slightly better, and peripheral vision is often
increased. Cold weather can be harder to deal with using an open face
Harley helmet and your face may be hit by debris, if you choose not to
include a face shield for longer road trips.
Half-helmets (Shorty) have almost the same front design as an open face
Harley Davidson helmet, only with a raised rear portion. The half
helmet provides the minimum protection expected by law in many states
within the United States, but is definitely better than no helmet.
A half-helmet is even more prone to coming off your head during an
accident than an open-face helmet and they don’t protect your ears as
well. The possibility of injury during a crash increases when wearing
one and the possibility of distraction due to flying debris hitting
your face increases, unless you opt for a face shield with your Harley
half-helmet. The feeling of wind in your face is better with a
half-helmet and you’re hearing and peripheral vision will improve if
you select this type of helmet as your Harley Davidson helmet.
Half-helmets are also very easy to remove and a very popular helmet
type with Harley riders.
Need more? Read and discuss all you want on hundreds of threads devoted to helmets!