Motorcycle Half Helmets Or Shorty Helmets And What You Should Look For

Motorcycle half helmets, or "shorty" helmets are basically shaped like half a sphere. The front is like an open face helmet, but the back is raised as well, giving the helmet a bowl shape. While there are half helmets approved by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), there are as yet no half helmets that meet Snell standards. Riders who wear half helmets give up some degree of safety, so it is extremely important that they fit properly and meet DOT standards so that the rider gets the most protection possible from his or her half helmet.

That said, there are many riders, particularly riders of choppers or cruisers, who love the look of half helmets and enjoy the feeling of freedom they give on a bike. Half helmets can be much more comfortable in warm weather, particularly if they include vents. For colder weather, some half helmets come with detachable earmuffs and neck curtains. Half helmets may have a snap-on visor, or a semblance of a visor built in to the structure of the helmet itself. Some take face shields and some feature goggle straps on the back.

Polo style half helmets have the visor built into the profile of the helmet itself, but there are half helmets with no visor at all, and that may or may not accommodate snap-on visors. Beanie style half helmets are very simple, and that's just the way some riders like them. Other advantages of half helmets include their much lighter weight, the fact that the lines of the helmets do not interfere with peripheral vision. At low speeds, half helmets allow riders to hear traffic better and communicate with other riders better in the absence of electronic communications systems.

Disadvantages of motorcycle half helmets mainly center around the lower degree of protection they offer because the rider's chin and face are exposed. They can be cold in cold weather, even with earmuffs. Half helmets without shields or visors provide no vision protection, so goggles or glasses are recommended for optimal vision and protection. Riders should bear in mind that two-thirds of multiple vehicle motorcycle crashes are the results of the other vehicle violating the motorcycle's right of way, and that appropriate safety gear cuts down greatly on crash injuries.

All helmets discussed below meet or exceed DOT standards for half helmets.

Bell makes three basic series of half helmets: the Drifter, the Shorty, and the Bandito. The Bell Drifter half helmets are made of a lightweight composite fiberglass shell. They have removable ear pads for cruising in cold weather. The Bell Shorty series of helmets have an outer shell made from injection-molded LEXAN polycarbonate. Bell Bandito Street Half Helmets are about as basic as helmets get, and that's just right for some riders. They have a polycarbonate shell.

Jafrum Half Helmets HCI 100 series are basic half helmets that are inexpensive. They can be fitted with 100 series face shields that snap in place. Jafrum also has an HCI Polo Helmets 105 series. These are helmets with a slight bill at the front, where the entire unit is one continuous piece. The 40 series police style half helmets are quite well-constructed and feature a zip-out neck protector and two vents that are adjustable. The Shorty Helmets J100 series are beanie helmets similar to the HCI 100 series and have snap-on visors.

Vega makes three main types of half helmets: the XT, the XTS, and the XTS Naked. Made of fiberglass, the XT comes in six different sizes, from XS to XXL. A zip-off wind curtain is standard, and the helmet has adjustable forehead vents for great air flow. The XTS Half Helmet is another fiberglass shell half helmet with an "aggressive" cutaway shape. The XTS Half Helmet Naked is as simple as a half helmet gets, with no visor, no snap, and no vents. All three series are available with many color and graphic options.

Daytona makes several styles of half helmets in its lineup, including basic and custom colors, carbon fiber finish, chrome finish, leather finish, and graphics finishes. The Basic Color collection of half helmets come with or without snaps for accommodating a visor or face shield. There's a color for everyone in this lineup. Daytona's carbon fiber motorcycle half helmets are real carbon fiber and are available with or without a visor. The chrome half helmets are 100% real chrome finish, and their leather helmets aren't just leather look, but actual leather finished helmets.