Everyone enjoys the freedom of riding and having a helmet that perfectly expresses their own personality only adds to that pleasure. Riders have strong opinions about what makes a perfect helmet. Some prioritize safety on the open road. Some focus on the airflow and ventilation in the helmet. Some are particularly concerned about how the helmet looks in relation to the shape of their face and the overall shape of their body. Selecting the right helmet is a start, but there is plenty of room to customize it once found. Helmets can be painted; exactly the right visor or goggles chosen; and decals or stickers added. Those who want to make a particularly strong statement may add horns, spikes, or mohawk-styled bristles in any number of brilliant colors. To help riders personalize their motorcycle helmets, we will review some of the considerations that go into selecting the right helmet, including safety, shape, and helmet materials. We will then discuss in detail some of the customization options that are available for individual installation, from basic painting to decals and other add-ons.

Each rider has specific interests in a helmet, from safety to comfort to the visual impression its shape and any painted or attached designs will create.lightweight flip up motorcycle helmets The first distinction made among helmets is whether a particular helmet is DOT or Not DOT: that is to say, whether or not it has been approved as safe by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. motorcycle shop bluewaterSome states require helmets, and when helmets are required, they must comply with DOT standards. motorcycle jacket ramonesSome states have standards that are stricter than those of DOT. dirt bikes for sale memphis tn

When making a long trip that crosses state lines, it is important to confirm that the helmet meets the standards of any jurisdictions where the rider will travel.husqvarna motorcycle dealers long island Some custom helmet fans prefer "Not DOT" helmets, which are usually fitted too tightly and have too little interior cushioning for U.S. DOT to consider them to offer adequate protection. honda motorcycle dealers in bakersfield caWhile riding, the helmet may feel like a second skin. Unfortunately, in a fall, it also offers little more protection than a second skin, allowing for a potentially fatal head injury. DOT approved helmets have more interior padding and often are made of sturdier material, which mean they are usually larger overall. The custom helmet fan can consider this alternate perspective: there's a larger surface area to make his or her own.

The helmets most frequently purchased in the U.S. market are full-face helmets from manufacturers such as Arai, Icon, and Shoei. Other helmet shapes frequently worn and customized include open face, which leave the ears and chin unprotected, half helmets, and the German style helmet. These offer less protection although some are DOT approved. Many consider them to offer a more enjoyable ride with better peripheral vision and a wider range of styles to match with their bikes and personalities. Carbon fiber is the most durable and most expensive helmet material. Many excellent helmets are made of a fiberglass composite using a laminate construction process that makes the fiberglass more durable than traditional fiberglass helmets. Other recent helmets with DOT approval are molded from thermoplastic or epoxy resin. Customizing a helmet gives the rider a chance to extend the personal statement that was created when the bike itself was purchased. When planning a helmet, think about the bike and what is usually worn while riding.

A great customized helmet will look terrific with the bike, the jacket, and any bags regularly used. The base color and overall design should harmonize with all of the above. Consider whether there is a particular theme to note in the customization. Depending on the rider's interests, this might include: Once these have been considered, a basic plan can be put in place and the elements for the customization selected. The first step in changing the base color of the helmet is to remove everything that will not be painted: padding, screws, and any existing accessories. Use painter ' s tape to cover anything that can't be removed. Then use wet 400 grit sandpaper to rub most of the varnish layer off the existing paint. Complete the fine sanding with 600 grit sandpaper and wipe down the helmet with a soft lint free cloth or tack cloth. Anyone painting a motorcycle helmet needs to make sure that the paint selected will work on the material of the particular helmet, whether carbon fiber or fiberglass.

Apply the base color with an airbrush in a thin layer. A single layer should cover. If after several minutes dry time it has not covered adequately, a second coat may be applied. Airbrushed designs are usually custom painted by a professional who specializes in helmets. Most people want to develop some experience with airbrushing paint before attempting to paint designs onto a motorcycle helmet. The easiest way to do a first effort is with stencils, which may be cut from thin plastic and secured in place with painter's tape to create the various designs that have been imagined. Motorcycle helmets may be further customized with various add-on elements, some of which must be custom built by specialists and some of which may be purchased. Below are examples of some of the add-ons that are widely available, but still offered in forms sufficiently diverse to allow for the creation of a truly unique helmet. Allows communication within a traveling group or with other friends while riding

Includes standard and reflective decals; bullet holes, flames, cartoon characters, product affiliations, slogans, and custom-made name decals Options range from jungle beast vibe to Old Nick Technically not part of the helmet; can complement a custom helmet; essential protection against bug inhalation while riding Varying shapes for various helmet types; clear, colored, or mirrored; ordinary snaps or snaps topped with colored rhinestones For those who wear German style or other visorless helmets Cars have hood ornaments: helmets get head ornaments that depict wolves, tigers, skulls, and other dangerous symbols Helmet Pigtails and Ponytails The only helmet hair a girl wants; attach to the outside of a helmet; come in real hair colors, plus such vivids as cobalt blue, hot pink, and crimson Suggests every threatening horned beast, from gargoyles to trolls Helmet liners and headwraps can be washed, keeping the inside of the helmet fresh and clean

Stiff bristles attach with adhesive; comes in a rainbow of colors or light up with fiber optics Depicts anything from a butterfly to an iron cross A full helmet cover made of stretchy fabric that completely encases an adult or youth helmet; may be removed for machine washing; designs range from skull to flames to solid colors A row of spikes, curved "dinosaur teeth," or talons adhere to glossy surfaced helmets; often worn along center top Vent Sliders and Visor Bolts Replace originals to match a new visor or the designs added to a helmet These elements are all designed for easy installation or use by the helmet owner, with no need for professional assistance. On eBay, you will find many motorcycle helmets plus the elements to customize them. Often, the easiest way to locate an element for your helmet design is simply to search from the main search window. Type in "motorcycle helmet" and then add the element you are looking for, whether horns or skins or stickers.

In most cases, you will see a great many options. Suggestions that appear may help narrow the field or lead you to other specific possibilities that may be of interest: for example, reflective decals. On eBay, you will see that each listing includes feedback if the seller has any previous customers. This is a good way to make sure you are dealing with reputable sellers. Larger feedback numbers mean more positive feedback, although of course small numbers may just mean that the seller is a newer eBay seller. You can always check the most recent feedback to see how well the seller treats customers. Sellers with a ribbon by their name are top-rated sellers, with a long history of positive feedback over many transactions. The perfectly customized helmet only adds to the pleasure of a perfect day on the road. Once a rider has found a helmet that meets all of his or her goals for safety, on-the-road comfort, and general appearance, he or she has the opportunity to turn the helmet into a creation that expresses the owner's unique personality.