Shopping for a helmet is an important process because it provides so much added safety to your rides. But with the number of different options to choose from, you want to be sure you’ve picked out the right one. Below, we’ll go over some of the most common types of motorcycle helmets and some questions you might ask yourself while trying to select one.

Types of Motorcycle Helmets

There are several different styles of motorcycle helmets on the market, but the following are some of the most common motorcycle helmet shapes:

• Full-face: As the name implies, this style covers your entire face. It has a clear visor that you can leave down or open up to let in some air.
• Modular: Modular helmets have similar coverage as full-face helmets but with a little more flexibility. It’s easier to pull them on and off, and you can easily open the chin bar and face shield.
• Open-face: This type of helmet offers a little less coverage than modular and full-face helmets. An open-face helmet won’t have anything covering your face at all.
• Half-shell: Half-shell helmets have the least coverage. This helmet doesn’t go down as far in the back or on the sides as the other styles.

While you’re shopping, cost may also be an important factor. Helmets range in price from about $100 to $500. Typically, the more protection and features a helmet has, the more expensive it will be.

What Are the Best Motorcycle Helmets?

There’s no simple answer to this question. Because every rider is different, there’s no universal “best” motorcycle helmet. It comes down to riding habits and personal preference.

If you’re a new rider, you may want more coverage while you’re out on the road. While you’re still learning, you can make mistakes and will likely appreciate the extra coverage provided by a full-face helmet. If you have more experience but do a lot of highway riding, a full-face may still be the best pick. Other helmets won’t protect you from wind and bugs.

Riding on less busy roads with the wind in your face is the most important thing to some riders. When you want this experience above all others, an open-face or half-shell helmet may be the best pick for you.

To get a little bit of each of these options, consider the modular helmet, which offers great versatility for a number of different scenarios. You can open it up to feel the wind on your face or close it for more protection.

For expert advice on finding the right motorcycle helmets near you, visit your local Susquehanna Valley Harley Davidson dealer today! With a great selection of various styles, we have the perfect motorcycle helmets for women and men alike.

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If you want to learn how to ride a Harley trike, read these tips before heading out on the road or signing up for an instructional class.

Turning

If you’ve ridden a two-wheeled motorcycle before, you know that turning involves your whole body. When you take sharper turns, you need to lean into the turn to help get the bike to go the way you want. But when you ride a trike, it steers more like a car than a motorcycle.

Instead of counter-steering, like on a two-wheeled motorcycle, you will use direct steering while riding a trike. Like with driving a car, you need to brake before going into the turn and then accelerate again halfway through. You don’t need to lean at all to help with the turn. The point of counter-steering is to keep your balance. Because the trike has its third wheel, you don’t need to worry about the bike falling over.

Braking

Another difference between riding 3-wheel motorcycles and 2-wheel motorcycles is that trikes are bigger and heavier. You need to take that extra weight into account — you may need to start braking sooner on the trike than you would on a two-wheeled motorcycle.

With two-wheeled bikes, most of the braking comes down to the front wheel. With trike motorcycles, you have three wheels to brake. For regular braking, you’ll use brakes on the back wheels. For quick or emergency turns, you’ll use all three wheels to slow down and stop.

Adapting

Besides braking and turning, there are lots of other ways that trikes are different from motorcycles with two wheels. If you’ve been riding a two-wheeled bike for a long time, you’ll have to un-learn a lot of habits. There’s some important extra stuff to keep in mind while you’re learning how to ride a trike.

Three-wheeled motor trikes are typically wider and longer than two-wheeled motorcycles. This is important to keep in mind while you’re turning, parking and completing other maneuvers.

Like we mentioned before, the third wheel on a trike allows it to stay balanced on its own. Even when you come to a full stop, the bike will not fall over. Consequently, you should never put your feet down. Doing so can get your feet stuck underneath the bike or get you hurt in other ways.

Another difference is that trikes don’t have a kickstand. Like cars, they have a handbrake that you will switch on to keep the bike from rolling away when you aren’t riding it. Before getting off the trike, be sure to activate the brake.

Visit or call Susquehanna Valley H-D® to schedule a test ride on one of our trikes today!

The post Tips for Riding a Trike Motorcycle appeared first on Susquehanna Valley Harley Davidson.

Even if you’ve been riding for a long time, it’s always smart to brush up on some riding tips for heavy motorcycles. Read on for some advice on how to expertly handle your heavy touring motorcycle on your next ride.

Position Your Body Properly

The way you position yourself on your motorcycle has a big impact on how you ride. Knowing how to properly position yourself will give you more control over your heavy motorcycle. Here are a few tips on positioning yourself while you’re riding:

• Sit Up Straight: Keeping your spine straight will help give you more leverage while you’re maneuvering your motorcycle. When you need to turn, sitting this way also helps put more pressure on the motorcycle itself instead of on your body.

• Point Your Elbows Out: When you keep your elbows close to your body, you’re limiting the amount of control you have over the motorcycle. Keeping them pointed out helps you control the bike even through tight turns and while you’re moving at slow speeds.

• Don’t Look Down: Like with other activities and sports, looking where you’re going, or where you need to be, helps keep you on track. When you’re riding slowly, it may be tempting to look down — but don’t do that. By looking forward, you can keep an eye out for any hazards.

When you keep your body in a solid position, you can safely maneuver your heavy motorcycle through whatever conditions you’re facing.

Ride Smooth

When you’re riding a heavy bike, any small maneuver could have bigger impacts. To keep control, it’s key to ride as smoothly as you can. When you’re steering and using the brakes and throttle, be sure to use them carefully. When you use quick, jerky movements, it shows that you’re not feeling comfortable and in control. When you move with a purpose, you can more easily maneuver the motorcycle.

Another thing to avoid while you’re riding your heavier motorcycle is oversteering. You don’t have to make adjustments every few moments — by keeping your eyes forward and your head up, you can make adjustments as you go along.

Prepare Yourself

There are things you can do before you even get out on your next ride to help keep you in control and feeling confident.

First, be sure to wear the right footwear. When you have tough, supportive shoes, you’ll be better able to support the bike’s frame. While you’re out riding, you’ll find that certain muscles feel sore when you get back from a long trip. Once you know the muscles that you’re using the most, you can do some extra weight lifting to build up those muscles even more. Focus on your arms, legs, chest and core — they’ll help you the most in supporting your heavy motorcycle.

Finally, if you’re having trouble with certain maneuvers, just practice! Put yourself in a controlled place, like a parking lot, and practice those tight turns and slow speeds until you feel more comfortable doing them. Then, when you’re out on the road, you’ll feel much more confident.

If you’re thinking of buying a motorcycle with a heavy frame, visit Susquehanna Valley H-D® to schedule a test ride. You can also chat with our staff to learn more tips and tricks to staying in control of a heavy bike.

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