December 2019

Protect your Noggin Many people think of dirt bikes as dangerous but truth is anything a person can do is dangerous. With the proper protection like a good helmet, injury is reduced. If the helmet doesn’t fit properly, protection is reduced. No idea how to measure your head for proper fitment? To measure, use a tape measure and go around your head’s circumference (around your entire head), one inch above your eyebrows then compare the measurements to a size chart for the brand you are purchasing. Measuring your head is just one thing that should be done. Here are more tips and tricks to determine if the helmet it one is the correct size. It should feel snug but not too snug that it is uncomfortable or painful. Tighten the chin strap then move your head in all directions, no movement should happen. If movement does happen, you need a smaller size. Put your hands under the back of helmet and pull it forward. You should not be able to pull it off your head. Check to see if you can put one finger between the helmets padding and your forehead, if you can, you need a smaller size. The helmet should feel slightly snug on your head but you should not notice excessive pressure, this excludes cheek padding. If excessive pressure or causes pain, the helmet is too small. When should a helmet be replaced? A helmet will not last forever, even without a wreck. If a wreck does happen and you hit your head, replace the helmet immediately. Once a helmet has received an impact, it is no longer safe to use. What if you have no impacts? Just like your bike, wear and tear does happen to the helmet. The lining and pads can get wore down to the point of the safety being significantly reduced. I ride roughly 200 hours in a year’s time, so for me, one year is max! Just try to use your best judgment and if you really don’t know, ASK! Take care of your helmet! After every ride, clean the helmet and visor. Don’t forget about the sweaty smelling lining and cheek pads. It can be hand washed in the sink or use a helmet clean/care product. I like to use Motorex Helmet Care. It smells great and shines the helmet nicely. Also, do not store your helmet in a place where it could fall. Now on to the biggest question most rider’s ask, what helmet should I buy?! This is my opinion and everyone is entitled to an opinion. If you want an excellent, type of line helmet, I STRONGLY recommend the Fly Formula helmet. It fits good, its comfortable, ultra-light, AND it has the best protection available on the market. It is certainly worth the money. MSRP price is $649.95. This helmet comes with a Fly helmet garage and an extra visor. Below are key features to this helmet: DOT/ECE Approved 12K carbon fiber shell-Produces an extremely lightweight shell with superior penetration resistance Impact Energy Cells-Made of RHEON, the Impact Energy Cells maximize absorption of low speed linear and rotational impacts, reducing forces transmitted to the brain. Conehead® EPS Technology-Provides a softer liner whereby the cones help manage or absorb an impact force more efficiently. Six critical zones have been fine tuned for a progressive response to low-speed and high-speed impacts Expanded volume EPS-Strategic areas of the helmet have more impact absorbing EPS, more suspension between your head and the ground EPP chin bar-Expanded polypropylene creates an additional element of impact mitigation Clavicle shell relief zone-Creates a soft zone filled with EPS and EPP to aid in reducing clavicle injuries Lightweight Custom visor screws and titanium alloy D-rings Comfort liner and quick release Cheek pads are made of a washable moisture wicking, anti-microbial material True Functional Ventilation (TFV)-When in motion air is forced through multiple air intake vents, then passed through aligned vent channels in the EPS and exits out multiple rear exhaust vents. My next choice would be Fly F2 Carbon Helmet. Before the Formula got released, this was the helmet I had been wearing for the last three years. The MSRP price is $299.95. Below are key features for this helmet: ECE/DOT approved Carbon Matrix composite shell Dual-density EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) liner Custom rubber trim with integrated nose guard Lightweight machined aluminum visor screws Stainless steel rivets and D-rings Removable and washable COOLMAX® comfort liner and cheek pads All FLY helmets have TFV (True Functional Ventilation). When in motion air is forced through multiple air intake vents, then passed through aligned vent channels in the EPS and exits out multiple rear exhaust vents Quad-vent above eye port draws air from goggle to reduce fogging A third option that I recommend is, Alpinestars Supertech M10. MSRP is $649.95. Below are key features for this helmet: Weight of S-M10 is 1240g for size Medium (ECE) – 1340g for size Medium (DOT) Heat mapping tests have resulted in specifically designed ducting which produces a positive flow into the helmet over and around the rider’s head, improving comfort while riding and reducing the on-set of heat stress in extreme conditions. Post-crash protection mechanisms are also a key feature of the Supertech M10 design, allowing rapid and safe intervention if the rider has suffered a major impact. MIPS is incorporated into the Supertech M10 to reduce rotational motion energies that impact the helmet causing damaging gyration force to be transmitted to the brain. Visor release mechanism is conceived to avoid the inherent weaknesses in other types of anchoring systems. Maintaining shell integrity is vital for safety and with the possibility of multi-directional forces impacting on the visor, separation at the critical point of loading reduces potentially damaging leverage and rotational accelerations that refer injury to the rider’s neck and spine. The base of the S-M10 has been sculpted to give a relief section, where the bottom profile is raised to clear the collarbone (Clavicle). Also, incorporated into the area of the