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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Why Its Dangerous To Buy A Used Motorbike Helmet

By Pius Ephenus

A motorbike helmet is crucial in case you should fall or be thrown from your bike in an accident. It will provide protection to prevent a debilitating, or even fatal head injury. Because motorbike helmets are so crucial to a rider's safety, many states require riders to wear motorcycle helmets while on the road.

Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be able to feel the wind on their faces when riding a motorbike.

Motorbike helmets aren't terribly expensive, though they're not the least expensive motorcycle accessory either. Many riders make the mistake of budgeting all of their money toward the purchase of the bike, without factoring in the need to buy safety equipment like a helmet. In an attempt to save money, some people even opt to buy a used helmet instead of purchasing a new one. This is not a good idea.

It's dangerous to wear a used helmet, since you don't know whether it's been in a prior accident, or how old it is. These factors affect whether it will provide adequate protection in case of an accident. Helmets are made of a hard outer shell with a layer of expanded polystyrene beneath that is meant to cushion the impact of a fall. If a used motorbike helmet has already been in accident, this means that the polystyrene layer has probably already been compressed, making the helmet ineffective and useless in case of an accident.

You should also know that the age of a helmet is important for determining its effectiveness. Polystyrene becomes brittle as it gets older, so old helmets no longer provide adequate cushioning. Polystyrene can also be easily damaged by the sun and gas vapors, and your helmet will be regularly exposed to these substances as you ride. For these reasons, a motorbike helmet should be replaced every couple of years.

Riders who keep their helmet near the gas tank most of the time are unwittingly damaging the important shock-absorbing material of the helmet. When not in use, it's also important to keep a motorbike helmet out of direct sunlight. Try parking your motorcycle in shaded areas. Also, avoid hanging your helmet on pointed objects to reduce the risk of poking through the inner polystyrene layer. Taking these steps will ensure that your helmet has the longest possible useful life and provides the maximum protection from head injury. - 21393

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