Half Shell Motorcycle Helmets

Often called beanie helmets, these are the least intrusive style of motorcycle helmets, covering only the top half of the cranium. They weigh the least, do not block the ears, and offer the least wind resistance. They also afford the least protection.

Those that ride cruisers like Harley Davidson Softtails, FXR-series and Sportsters, or older bikes like Panheads, Knuckleheads and Shovelheads, usually wear half shell motorcycle helmets. This helmet is commonly chosen by those who would not be wearing a helmet if it were not required by state law. Riders of café racers do not wear beanie helmets as they afford too little protection, and riders of touring bikes normally want more protection for the long miles they log.

To meet legal requirements for those states that have a mandatory motorcycle helmet law, all motorcycle helmets must meet the DOT standard, a minimum safety standard set by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Any helmet meeting this standard is required to feature a DOT sticker.
SNELL is a non-profit organization that sets a more stringent voluntary standard. A helmet does not have to meet the SNELL standard to be street legal, but if a helmet is both DOT and SNELL approved, it is designed to meet the highest standards of protection. More protection usually means more weight, and certainly more cost.

It is important that a motorcycle helmet fit properly. If it is too big for the rider, the wind will get underneath it and pull it upwards, straining the neck. If too tight, it will cause a headache. Allow an experienced dealer to help with the fit. The lighter the helmet, the less it will pull on the neck in high wind. New construction using carbon compounds has significantly lessened overall helmet weight since the older fiberglass models.

It is well known that even the safest motorcycle helmets provide minimal protection in the event of a fall. Motorcycle accident statistics indicate that the best protection against injury includes a Motorcycle Safety Awareness course, defensive riding skills and a personal commitment to ride safely at all times.
Some motorcycle helmets have a built-in so-called MROS (Multiple Reflective Optic System): a set of reflective surfaces inside the helmet which together function as a rear view mirror.