Choosing a HELMET for motorcycles etc.
KNOW THIS or buy a DUD and get a POLICE FINE, and waste your money! Or worse,
you or your kid might be seriously hurt or worse due to an unsafe helmet !

I've been a rider since I was a kid on the back of my Dad's, I've been in the industry for years
and I'm qualified... BUT you shouldn't trust some guy off the internet just because I say I'm good,
so if you aren't sure about anything below, also ask your local motorcycle club
(e.g. Motorcycle Riders Association Australia) or ask your State
Roads Authority, they have helpful pamphlets, or your local Learn-To-Ride school.

****1. YOU MUST GET PROOF OF SAFETY APPROVAL
It is ILLEGAL to ride on the road without it. Your club will NOT let you ride on their racetrack without it.
The seller MUST supply you with a helmet with an AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS 1698 APPROVED sticker.
This GUARANTEES the helmet type has passed Australian safety and quality tests which are among the toughest in the world.
A cheap helmet without safety testing is no better than an icecream bucket, and will get you a FINE and forced to walk home!
The sticker MUST be left on so a cop can see it.
These safety stickers are Silver foil with a red edge and say Australian Standard AS1698, they show the logo below
or another approved logo, along with serial numbers etc.
Any visor/screen fitted must also have safety approval (# AS1609 sticker, white and red) because if you're travelling
at 100kmh, and a car coming the other way throws up a rock at you, thats a _big_ impact. If the helmet doesn't have
eye protection built in, you MUST wear some other kind, e.g. goggles/safety glasses/etc
It is AGAINST the LAW to advertise or sell a helmet for motor vehicle use in Australia if it does not have this safety,
so if you don't get the sticker, you ARE entitled to a REFUND (Trade Practices Act, suitability for purpose).
 

*****2. SPARE PARTS SUPPLY
Can you get replacement screens? Tinted screens for sunny days? How much $?
What about fragile parts like vents, side covers, that might break easily?

*****3. FEATURES
For as little as $100 you can get a safety approved helmet in a shop, with spare parts supply, warranty, and features like
- removable washable interior
- cooling vents
- clear screen for eye protection (road) OR good access for wearing goggles (offroad)
- A chinbar will help prevent serious facial injury, even at moderate speeds they are highly recommended.
- What is the wind noise like? A better helmet will be quieter, and given that most helmets at 100kmh are
  _nearly_ noisy enough to cause temporary or permanent hearing loss after a couple of hours... (105-120db!)
I always wear earplugs for road riding, but you may not want to. Dirt riding is slower and less noisy.


*****4. FIT
I wear a size Medium. You'd think I could fit every brand in the world. But no... every brand has a different idea of how
big a "medium" or "large" should be. Also, shape of your head makes a huge difference to comfort and safety.
The wrong helmet will give you a blinding headache, or not even go on! Or worse, fall over your eyes blocking
your vision while you ride. It must fit secure, but not so tight it hurts.
Some people have a long, narrow head. Some have a wide head. Different brands suit different shapes. If the brand doesn't suit your head,
can you exchange it? If it's the wrong size, can you exchange it? How much postage will that cost? Is there anywhere you
can try it on (e.g. can you do personal pickup and just take whatever size suits you?)

******5. SECONDHAND OR NEW?
Every authority says don't buy secondhand because you can't see internal damage to helmets.
The danger is that the material of the outer shell will weaken over time, exposure to UV/Sun,
 or over a series of small impacts (e.g. dropped off the handlebars). Racing and road traffic organisations
say to throw away any helmet over 10 years old OR more than 3-5 years use OR with any damage
OR if it has been dropped. A helmet must still have its standards sticker.
Also, the interior impact-absorbing liner will squash over several uses, loosening the fit, reducing
the impact absorption, and shaping itself to fit someone else's head, not yours.
However, a secondhand not-used helmet in perfect condition, that hasn't been stored for several years,
in your size and shape of head, can save you some $  (I only ever did this once, because I knew
the guy had his bike stolen before he had worn his helmet)!

Riding is heaps of fun, and the fact that it's cheap and practical is a great excuse.
It's more fun if you have gear that fits comfortably, is safe and legal.
Happy riding, and happy E-Bay-ing.