Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi, my name is Chad. I’m going to talk a little bit more about sport bikes. This time
we’re going to cover some gear- we’re going to start with helmets. As we’ve said,
with a bike, your gear is important as anything you can choose on the bike. You don’t walk
out buying a bike off the show room floor without a helmet. It’s a very bad idea-
it’s a matter of time before you fall down. The helmet is the most critical part. Of course,
it protects your head. It also protects you while you’re riding just from getting hit
in the face because you do get hit in the face with things; bugs and rocks. So a helmet
is absolutely critical. Basically, what a helmet mainly is is a shell. Can be something
as simple as polycarbonate, like plastic, all the way up to, they have Kevlar fiberglass
weaves. The shell, contrary to belief, isn’t really what protects you. It keeps you from
getting sharp objects- if you fall down- or rocks. But what really protects you is the
inside of the helmet. Underneath all this padding is kind of like foam- is kind of like
foam that’s in a cooler. What happens when you go down is your head hits that foam. The
hard part will hit the road, and your head will hit that foam. That foam collapses and
takes the shock, keeps all those G’s of force from going into your head and causing
you to get brain damage or break your neck. Also important is that you get a full face
helmet. A lot of people ride around with open face helmets and it’s better than nothing,
but without a full face helmet you can get some serious damage to your jaw and to your
face that can actually kill you. So it’s very critical that you get a good helmet,
you get a good brand, and that it fits you properly. When you get a helmet and you put
it on, it should be very tight. Not so tight that it hurts your head, but tight enough
so that when you grab the chin bar and you move it back and forth, that your skin will
actually move back and forth. And that it fits your head in the shape. There’s basically
two shapes. There’s sort of a round oval and just round. Different models within different
brands will fit your head. Go in, try them all on. Make sure they fit nice and tight,
good and snug. They loosen up quite a bit so they need to be really good and tight.
That basically, that they’re comfortable. The best thing to do is put it on and walk
around with it for fifteen minutes if you can or more while you’re in the shop- make
sure you’re not going to get a headache or anything. Also important is your visor.
I have a tinted visor on this one. When you’re riding into the sun sometimes, just like when
you’re in a car, you get blinded by the light. If you can’t wear sunglasses- you
wear glasses like I do- get a second visor. The visors are removable, real easy, just
a couple of switches and they come right off. So a clear visor for night or other situations,
and a tinted visor for days. But the helmet is probably the most important piece of safety
gear. I never ride without a helmet ever. I’m going a block, I have my helmet on.
Because you go down at the most- most times you’ll never expect you would. And just
a fall from the height of the bike can actually cause brain damage. Never go without your
helmet- the most important piece of gear you can buy for the bike.