Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions and answers should be able to provide you, the customer with any and all questions you may have about our products or about motorcycle helmets in general. If there is a question you may have that is not listed below, please contact us using our Contact Us page and we'll do our best to answer it.

1. Why is wearing a helmet important?

Helmets cut down on ambient wind noise which allow you to hear other sounds around you much better.
Helmets reduce fatique from the wind which will keep you more alert.
When wearing a helmet with a visor, it will allow you to see better and also keep you from being distracted when an insect hits your face.
When wearing a bright-colored helmet, it allows other drivers to see you.

2. What's the difference between Full Face, Open Face and MotoCross helmets?

Full Face-

Provides excellent protection.
Comes with a built-in face shield.
Moulding extends over your chin and mouth for extra protection.

Open Face-

Provides the least protection.
Does not have moulding to protect your chin and mouth.
Comes with a chin strap to keep the helmet securely on your head.

MotoCross-

Covers most of your face.
Has a solid piece of moulding that juts out over your chin and jaw.
Provides optimum ventilation around the nose, mouth, sides and top.

3. How do I check for a helmet's comfort level?

The helmet should have plenty of comfort padding which is the soft foam-rubber padding that touches your skin.
The helmet should have a good seal around the ear but make sure it doesn't touch the ear itself.
The helmet should have a neck roll that nestles against the back of your head and neck.
The inside of the helmet should NOT have protruding components from the face shield attachments or strap fasteners.

4. When should I replace my helmet?

A helmet should be replaced after 5 years if it's been taken care of and hasn't been involved in an accident or impact. Helmets are made of materials which deteriorate with age which give them a limited life span.
If your helmet HAS been involved in an accident or first time impact, all of the safety features become obsolete once a helmet has become distressed in some way.

5. Why should I replace my helmet?

Since glues, resins, and other materials are used to make the helmet, these will eventually break down which will affect the interior liner.
The interior liner will start to deteriorate when it comes in contact with hair oils, body oils/fluids and/or cosmetics.

6. What does DOT Certified mean?

DOT is the Department of Transportation which is a branch of the United States Government that makes sure all vehicles are as safe as possible and that all riders and passengers are safe within them. When a helmet is DOT certified, it simply means that DOT requires the helmet to be able to absorb a large amount of energy upon impact, to prevent most helmet penetration, and have a fastener which can withstand a lot of force. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to test the helmet. If the helmet passes these standards, the manufacturer may affix the DOT sticker to the helmet. (See below image)

7. What does SNELL Certified mean?

SNELL Certification is named after William "Pete" Snell who was an amateur auto racer. He died needlessly in a racing event in 1956 when his then state-of- the-art helmet failed to protect him. His friends, including Dr. George Snively, formed the Snell Memorial Foundation to remember Pete Snell and to encourage the development and use of truly protective helmets.

The SNELL testing lab is located in North Highlands, California, near Sacramento and has one of the most advanced and busiest helmet testing labs in the world. Some of the tests conducted in their state-of-the-art lab are an impact test, shell penetration test, faceshield penetration test and flame resistance test. To take advantage of technical and research development and to provide the highest degree of safety to consumers, Snell Standards are updated about every five years. Snell standards significantly surpass those set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission's 16 CFR Part 1203.

8. What does EPS mean when referring to the inside liner?

EPS stands for Expanded Polystyrene which protects the wearer's head by absorbing the remaining force of the impact that was already partially absorbed and dispersed by the outer shell. The EPS is located inside the outer shell and has a varying degree of hardness which improves the helmet and enhances its ability to disperse the forces of an impact.

9. How do I maintain my motorcycle helmet?

Outer Shell- Only commonly available helmet or plastic cleaning products should be used to clean the exterior surface of your helmet. Automotive wax can be applied to protect the paint finish, but other harsh chemicals should be avoided to keep from damaging the high-gloss finish.

Plastic Parts (including the shield)- Plastic parts should not be cleaned with anything containing solvents, including petrochemicals, as these agents are absorbed by the plastic material and may cause them to deteriorate and weaken over time. Acid or alkaline based corrosive cleaning agents, such as window cleaners containing ammonia, should also be avoided. The shield should only be cleaned using a soft cloth or a cotton swab with cool water.

Comfort Liner- Removable padding should be removed and washed by hand in cool water using a neutral cleaning agent or in a washing net in the washing machine. Fixed padding should be wiped with a damp cloth containing a neutral cleaning agent. After cleaning, all parts should be thoroughly dried out NOT in direct sunlight in order to prevent the development of unpleasant odors.

EPS Liner- The EPS (expanded polystyrene) liner is neither solvent nor heat proof, so the liner must be treated with particular care during cleaning. It should be cleaned using only a damp cloth in order to avoid scratching.

10. What features should I consider when purchasing MotoCross equipment?

MotoCross riding can be a very fun and enjoyable sport but without the right equipment, it can potentially be a dangerous one. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 23,800 off-road motorcyclists under 20 years old were treated for nonfatal injuries in U.S. hospital emergency departments each year from 2001-2004. The study also noted that during 2003, at least 13 motorcycle riders under 20 years of age died in nontraffic incidents in places other than on public roads. You can reduce the dangers of dirt biking by wearing safety equipment and following some common-sense safety precautions.

Goggles- When a MotoCross rider doesn't wear his/her goggles, they're placing their vision at serious risk. Flying dirt, rocks and other debris can cause permanent damage to your eye(s) when you're riding at top speed. When considering your options and styles to choose from in MotoCross Goggles, first take into account your vision needs. If you normally wear glasses, there are many styles of "over the glasses" MotoCross goggles that are relatively inexpensive, depending upon the style you choose. If you don't need vision correction, you can easily find a style and type of MotoCross goggles that best suits your needs. Some other things to consider in purchasing MotoCross goggles include non-vented vs. vented (to prevent fogging), sweat-absorbing material, glare protection and correct fit.
Gloves- MotoCross gloves are the least expensive item of MotoCross gear but gives the rider protection from stones, trees and brush alongside the track. If a rider crashes, they generally will put out their hands to cushion the fall and without gloves could cause serious injury to their hands. Some features to consider are MotoCross gloves that are tough but still flexible and that have some kind of mesh material to make them "breathable".
Chest Protectors- When investing money in a chest protector, consider one that has full torso, back, shoulder, elbow and kidney protection.

Credits:

Frank Medley for ISnare.com

Jim Walczak for About.com

Aiya Group Inc.

Dirt-Bike.us

Ezine Articles by Don Shalin