Buying a used motorcycle helmet would be like buying an air bag for your car from a junkyard, when the rubber hits the road it may or may not save you in a tight situation. Your life is dependent on this piece of equipment so you don’t want to be cheap where it counts the most – your head!

Since you don’t know how the previous owner handled the helmet you are taking a risk on whether it will provide proper safety for you. Even if the previous owner didn’t have a wreck with it on, they may have dropped it hard enough at one time to create a stress crack in the helmet.

There is also a slight health issue here since you are wearing someone else’s helmet you will be receiving their sweat and hair that has been embedded in the helmet – not too easy to get them to come completely clean.

And finally you may not get the proper fitting helmet if you go with a used one since you are probably trying to save money you may pick one that is too loose or too tight. Either way it won’t be comfortable and again unsafe to use.

The enjoyment of riding a motorcycle is that cool sense of freedom to be on the open road, to escape from the rat race of life and sometimes just to feel like a cowboy riding off into the sunset. Having a motorcycle seems to bring out that hidden rebel within you, but don’t be a rebel when it comes to your safety.

So use your head and make the right choice – stay away from used motorcycle helmets as if your life depended on it!

The author Mike Webb was an automotive technician at a Chrysler Dealership for 15 years and an agricultural technician for 5 years. He won the prestigious Toptech award from Chrysler in 1996 and is an ASE certified Master Technician. He currently owns and operates the Okinawan School of Karate with 2 locations. To learn more about Mike Webb you can go to his website: http://www.karatebenefits.com

The above article may be published freely as long as no content is changed and all links are included.
Copyright Mike Webb 2007

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