Caring for Bike Helmets – Important Tips - By: Lucy James

If you want your motorbike helmets to last for many years, you have to take good care of them. Motorbike helmet care involves the caring for the inner lining, caring for the outer shell, and maintaining the aesthetic value of the helmet.

The Liner
The liner is the most important part of your motorcycle helmet since it cushions your skull in a fall or a crush. This liner is made from foam material. To clean the foam liner, simply wet a rag, apply some soap, and wipe it. To get rid of the smell, use a non-scented dry sheet. The liners of most motorbikes are made of EPS or expanded polystyrene and you should avoid placing the helmet on the gas tank because the fumes can destroy or degrade the EPS. The lining will also melt if exposed to the bike’s exhaust pipes or hot engine. You should only use a fitting helmet because the liner will be damaged in an oversize helmet and an undersize helmet.

The Outer Shell
You should also take good care of the outer shell because it holds the helmet together and gives it its structure. Cracked bike helmets are weak – even a split will compromise the integrity of the helmet in case of a fall or a crush. You should always keep your helmet in a place where it cannot be scratched, cracked, or kicked. You should not hang the helmet from the handlebar, the rear view mirror, the backrest, the turn signal, or the clutch or brake lever. When cleaning the outer shell, you should use a corrosive cleaner. You should particularly avoid cleaners and polishes with acid-based or alkali-based cleaning agents, ammonia, petrochemicals, and solvents.

You should also clean bug guts and road soot from the bike’s shield pivot mechanism. This will prevent premature wear and crunching sound whenever you open and close the shield. You should do this every time before storing the helmet. You should avoid modifying motorcycle helmets by adding accessories, removing parts, painting, and drilling holes. This will compromise the integrity of the structure. To give the bike a shiny look, use a helmet polish after cleaning the shell.

About the Author

Lucy James was born in London in 1982. She graduated from Southampton University with an honours degree in Fashion Design. For several years after graduation Lucy worked as a safety consultant for a leading motorbike helmets manufacturing firm. Her main duty is to make sure all the bike helmets and motorcycle helmets pass the safety check procedure before they reach the customers.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Lucy-James/85995

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