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If you only read one article about gear: Difference between revisions

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<td> Melts in high-heat situations </td>
<td> Resists melting in high-heat situations </td>
<td> Y </td>
<td> N </td>
<td> N </td>
<td> Y </td>
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==Picking a Helmet==
==Picking a Helmet==


Helmets come in a variety of shapes, as do heads. In general, each brand will have a different signature shape (although Arai produces helmets with three different shapes). When your head and the helmet have different shapes, you will put it on and immediately feel pressure points and blank spots where the helmet doesn't press at all. Your goal is to go into a shop and try on every helmet they have. It's the only way to get a good fit.
Helmets come in a variety of shapes, as do heads. In general, each brand will have a different signature shape (although Arai produces helmets with three different shapes). When your head and the helmet have different shapes, you will put it on and immediately feel pressure points, and also blank spots where the helmet doesn't press at all. Both of these things will make the helmet very uncomfortable after riding for just a short while. To avoid getting a helmet that you won't wear, you should go into a shop or two and try on every helmet they have. It's the only way to get a good fit.


For more information on helmet selection, please see the [[Helmet|helmet FAQ]].
For more information on helmet selection, please see the [[Helmet|helmet FAQ]].
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<th> Normal price</th>  
<th> Normal price</th>  
<td>These prices are "about normal" for good, high-quality safety gear that's not extravagant or overpriced. </td>
<td> These prices are "about normal" for good, high-quality safety gear that's not extravagant or overpriced. </td>
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<th> High price</th>
<th> High price</th>
<td> This is for normal production items; you can always pay thousands of dollars for custom manufacture, gold inlay, custom graphics, etc.  
<td> This is for normal production items; you can always pay thousands of dollars for custom manufacture, gold inlay, custom graphics, etc. </td>
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<p><table border=1 cellpadding=3>
<table border=1 cellpadding=3>
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<th > Item </th>
<th > Item </th>
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<br>
I like to tell people that they should budget $1000 for safety gear when they buy a motorcycle. That is, they should have $1000 in their hand that they intend to spend on safety gear. This prevents them from doing something silly like "saving $50" by skimping on a piece of gear that's a lot safer for just $50 more.
I like to tell people that they should budget $1000 for safety gear when they buy a motorcycle. That is, they should have $1000 in their hand that they intend to spend on safety gear. This prevents them from doing something silly like "saving $50" by skimping on a piece of gear that's a lot safer for just $50 more.


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However, the point is obvious. Steve, who spent some good money initially, ended up with little financial liability from his crash. Carl, who didn't want to spend much money on safety gear, ended up spending a good chunk of the next few years paying off his medical bills. An ounce of prevention, in this case, is worth hundreds of pounds of cure.
However, the point is obvious. Steve, who spent some good money initially, ended up with little financial liability from his crash. Carl, who didn't want to spend much money on safety gear, ended up spending a good chunk of the next few years paying off his medical bills. An ounce of prevention, in this case, is worth hundreds of pounds of cure.


And, of course, this strictly-numbers analysis doesn't look at what happens to a person who has to endure that kind of pain for 4-5 months. It doesn't examine the mental problems that could develop, or the strain on relationships with other people, or the fact that Carl chose to never ride a bike again as being far too dangerous -- he considers himself lucky (and rightly so) that he didn't die in that accident.
And, of course, this strictly-numbers analysis doesn't look at what happens to a person who has to endure that kind of pain for 4-5 months. It doesn't examine the mental problems that could develop, or the strain on relationships with other people, or the fact that Carl chose to never ride a bike again because it's far too dangerous; he considers himself lucky (and rightly so) that he didn't die in that accident.


==Conclusion==
==Conclusion==
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This work is Copyright © 2004 by Ian Johnston. Permission is explicitly granted for non-commercial reproduction with credit. Commercial use is not allowed without explicit written permission from the author.
This work © 2004 by Ian Johnston. Permission is explicitly granted for non-commercial reproduction with credit. Commercial use is not allowed without explicit written permission from the author.


'''About IanJ:''' I'm just a regular guy who happens to have some opinions on motorcycling and what kind of gear he thinks is safe. I encourage you to read this article with a critical eye, because I'm probably wrong. I am not paid any money by anyone to write this stuff; I do it because I hope it'll help other riders to be safer. Please engage your brain before taking any free advice you found on some guy's website.
'''About IanJ:''' I'm just a regular guy who happens to have some opinions on motorcycling and what kind of gear he thinks is safe. I encourage you to read this article with a critical eye, because I'm probably wrong. I am not paid any money by anyone to write this stuff; I do it because I hope it'll help other riders to be safer. Please engage your brain before taking any free advice you found on some guy's website.
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