You've got your motorcycle and you're getting ready to buy your riding gear.  The first thing you need is a helmet.  What kind of helmet should you look at?  How much should you spend?  Is an expensive helmet better than an inexpensive helmet?  These are all questions you're probably asking yourself as you begin to shop for riding gear.  This guide will help you address all these questions.

To determine what kind of helmet you should buy, you should ask yourself a few questions.  What kind of motorcycle are you buying?  Is it a crusier, a tour bike, a sportbike, or a dual sport?  Most crusiers have tall windshields that block the wind and provide adequate eye protection.  As such, you may choose a shorty or 1/2 helmet.  These helmets do not offer much head protection but are D.O.T (Department of Transportation) approved.  They are however lightweight, can come with snap on shields for eye protection, and generally fit the cruiser rider image.  Below is an example of a shorty helmet.

If you are looking at a touring bike like a Goldwing, you have several choices.  One of the most popular choices for these types of bikes is a 3/4 helmet.  These helmets offer more coverage than a shorty but not as much coverage as full face helmet.  They generally come with a face shield or have snaps so you can add a universal shield.  3/4 helmets are lightweight and generally set up to accept headsets which is an important element in touring.  These helmets are approved by D.O. T. and many also have had extra testing at higher rates of speed and carry a Snell safety rating.  This is a more stringent set of standards used to test the safety of a helmet.  These helmets can also come with a removable washable liner which is a nice feature.  Below is an example of a 3/4 helmet.

If you are looking at a sportbike or what are sometimes called crotch rockets, we suggest full face coverage with a full face helmet.  Full face helmets offer the most protection for your head, the least amount of wind noise, and and generally always come with a built in molded face shield.  Sportbikes tend to have very small deflector shields which allow the rider to get a lot of wind.  These bikes usually are built for power and speed and having the most helmet protection is recommended.  Full face helmets come in polycarbonate shells that are lightweight, fiberglass/kevlar shells that are more durable and somewhat light, and fiberglass shells are the least light but have a very durable shell. Durable meaning that the outside shell will take much more cosmetic punishment than say a polycarbonate shell.  These helmets also come in D.O.T. and Snell ratings.  A Snell rated helmet would be a good choice on a sportbike as these bikes operate at higher speeds and are tested by Snell as such.  Full face helmets also can come with a removable washable liner so you can wash the liner when it gets dirty or sweaty.  Below is a picture of a full face helmet.

If your style is more on/off road, you may consider a dual sport helmet.  A dual sport helmet is very much a dirt bike off road helmet.  These helmets are generally worn with goggles and have a long sun visor and "nose".  These helmets are built to go off road.  If you were to go into say the woods, this type of helmet would keep tree limbs from making contact with your face.  It's also designed without a face shield because if you were to choose to go off road, a helmet shield would be scratched up and almost impossible to see through.  That's why goggles are recessed inside the dual sport helmet.  These helmets come in D.O.T. and Snell and also are available with removable washable liners.  Below is an example of a Dual Sport helmet.

Once you've decided what helmet is best suited to the style of motorcycling you have chosen, it's time to find the right size.  For a really good helmet sizing guide, click here   This guide will do a great job of ensuring you get the right fit. 

As for pricing, a very expensive helmet is not necessarily a more safe helmet.  There are plenty of helmets value priced that have the Snell rating.  The important thing when buying your new helmet is not how much you pay but how comfortable the fit is and that the helmet has at least a D.O.T. rating.  What you'll find with very expensive helmets is that they come with more comforts and features than a less expensive helmet.  For instance, more expensive helmets may have velour liners, may come with fog free shields, have very good venting to keep you cool in warm weather, and might be designed to be very quiet.  A helmet is a personal purchase.  The best thing to do is go to a dealer and try on all kinds of helmets.  Don't concern yourself with price just concentrate on the fit.  Generally a comfortable good fit will ensure you'll have plenty of great rides on your motorcycle.