10 COMMON HELMET MYTHS & MISCONCEPTIONS: DEBUNKED!

Wearing a motorcycle helmet while riding a two-wheeler is one of those basic things that you would imagine nobody needs to be told, but you would be surprised at the sheer number of people on the road who do not wear a helmet, thereby endangering themselves to the risk of an injury. We talked to people and found the most common misconceptions and myth associated with a helmet, and we have debunked them here for you! Let's get started.

MYTH 1: MOTORCYCLE HELMETS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE  

Many two-wheeler riders do not wear helmets because they feel that wearing a motorcycle helmet makes it difficult for them to breed easily. However, this is completely baseless and not true. In fact, motorcycle helmet manufacturers take special care to design their products with specific ventilation systems and hot air exhaust which allows the cooler to come inside the helmet and remove the hotel which keeps the user comfortable, without creating any issue of breathing problem. Enter case that you feel that wearing helmet makes you feel suffocated or claustrophobic, you can opt for an open face helmet or modular helmet which has open design allowing more to pass through which should solve the problem completely. 

MYTH 2: ALL MOTORCYCLE HELMETS ARE SAME  

All helmets are not designed to be same. If you walk into helmet accessories shop near you, you will find a multitude of options ranging from different styles and decal options to sizes for different user head size. On top of that, helmets also use different materials to enhance the comfort and safety aspect. In addition to that helmets across the world confirm the different safety standards that are approved and checked by relevant safety authorities such as the Bureau of Indian standards in India, the DOT in the USA, and ECE in the European Union. Always make sure to purchase a helmet that has been approved by the relevant authority in your country to ensure that you always get the best of the safety features and prevent any hassle with the law for not abiding by local regulations.

MYTH 3: IT’S OKAY TO USE SOMEONE ELSE’S HELMET  

One of the most common misconceptions that is endemic the Indian subcontinent and some parts of the South Asian region is that people think it is okay to wear someone else’s helmet. Not only is it unhygienic, but it also completely beats the purpose of wearing a helmet in the first place that does not fits your head size properly. It is important to note that a loose-fitting helmet can fly off on impact leaving your head completely exposed to the dangers of the road. Modern branded motorcycle helmets do not cost a lot of money which is why you do not have any excuse not to buy one for yourself that perfectly fits the size of your head. In order to get the size right, all you need is a tailor’s tape, using which you can measure the circumference of your head just above the eyebrows and get a helmet that is the closest match for your head size.

MYTH 4: DUAL VISOR HELMETS ARE JUST TO MAKE YOUR LOOK COOL  

Nowadays, many helmets come with the dual visor technology which has a very specific purpose. Imagine that you have to ride long distances under a bright sunny condition, you definitely need a pair of sunglasses or something else to protect the eyes against fatigue that is caused by staring into a bright environment. To solve this problem best helmet manufacturers across the world came up with the solution of a darkened sun visor which is installed below the normal clear visor which gives you and always present option to protect your eyes against bright sunlight. And when it is dark, all you need to do is lift the sun visor and use the regular clear visor to see clearly under artificial road lighting or in complete darkness as long as you have the headlights on!

MYTH 5: ALL MOTORCYCLE HELMET VISORS FOG WHEN IT RAINS  

People riding in cold conditions avoid wearing a helmet because the visor fogs up immediately as soon as they leave their homes. This is a problem that has been resolved with the use of Pinlock® technology, which makes use of microstructures on the surface of the visor that prevents fogging. Even if your helmet does not have a Pinlock® visor, you can easily remedy the problem by applying a little bit of toothpaste on both surfaces of the visor and wiping it clean with a soft cotton cloth. Another technique to prevent fogging is to apply and anti-fogging spray solutions which are easily available at any motorcycle accessories shop near you.

MYTH 6: YOU DON’T NEED TO CLOSE THE STRAP   

Many people think that just by placing the helmet on the head they become completely immune to the problem of road accidents! But the truth is that unless the helmet is properly strapped on, there's always the risk of it flying off under impact, leaving the head completely exposed. Never think that the helmet straps are optional, the act of wearing a helmet becomes complete only when you strap the helmet properly. 

MYTH 7: LOOSE FITTING HELMETS ARE MORE COMFORTABLE  

Riding in hot and humid condition can be really challenging which is why many people opt for a loose-fitting helmet which they believe keeps them cool, unfortunately that is not true. If you expect the helmet to allow more air on your face, go for the open face helmet or any of the popular modular helmets but never make the mistake of wearing a loose-fitting helmet because it can wobble under strong wind conditions, which is very common on open stretches of road and especially on the highway. A wobbling helmet can be very distracting, and it also creates a lot of strain on the neck muscles. Always wear helmet that perfectly fits your head. After wearing the helmet and strapping it down, it should not move from side to side or up or down when you move your head. 

MYTH 8: MODULAR HELMETS ARE NOT AS SAFE AS FULL-FACE HELMETS  

All helmet designs: full face, open face and modular helmets (both flip-up and flip-off types) are completely safe as long as they are approved by the relevant safety authorities in your country. Some motorcyclists prefer to wear a full-face helmet because it has a chin-bar on the lower half of the helmet which gives additional protection, but you would get less air on the face. Check out all the options by walking into a motorcycle accessories shop near you and pick one that perfectly matches your lifestyle and expectations. 

MYTH 9: WOMEN/PILLION RIDERS DON’T NEED SEPARATE HELMETS  

Anatomically, the size of a woman’s head is much smaller than that of a man which makes it necessary for women to have special helmets designed for them, and that is definitely not the old ones belonging to their husbands and brothers! If you are a woman rider who uses a two-wheeler to commute to work or school, make sure to invest in a branded motorcycle helmet for women that perfectly fits your head size and has all the safety and comfort features you want. 

MYTH 10: CHILDREN HELMETS ARE JUST FOR FASHION  

A child is more susceptible to injuries compared to an adult, which is why it is even more important for children to wear helmets. It is highly recommended that you do not carry children on your two-wheelers whenever possible, and use a car to ensure their safety, but in the rare case that you have to use a two-wheeler, always make sure to encourage children to wear a helmet. Nowadays, there are a ton of options when it comes to children’s helmet and you can easily purchase attractive helmets for children either online or at any helmet accessory shop near you.