The thrill and sheer enjoyment of riding a motorcycle is addictive to many enthusiasts, and it’s becoming more and more popular. With the large number of vehicles present on today’s roadways and the incredible speed at which motorcycles can operate, a motorcycle helmet is absolutely a necessity. Many riders put on motorcycle helmets every single day, and yet few people actually know its true origin.

The United States Air Force contracted with a professor named Dr. Lombard to create a helmet suitable for use by its cadets. The result was an invention that was later patented and used in many different applications, including motorcycle helmets. Dr. Lombard’s work also lead to a new race car helmet that quickly became high in demand, and work on the motorcycle helmet was placed on the back burner. The original helmets had very little padding, and it was questionable how safe they truly were.

While many companies began to produce the helmet, there really were no specific standards as to their design or manufacturing. Snell, a name very popular in the industry, developed some testing requirements in 1957 and became the only national independent motorcycle helmet testing agency. After developing several independent tests, a number of different motorcycle helmets were evaluated and miserably failed. Much more information was available as to the effectiveness of various materials, and many helmets in production were pulled from the market. Several years later, in 1961, the first helmet laws were passed. It took another 13 years for the U.S. Department of Transportation to finally set the required standards, and even now there are DOT approved stickers present on each motorcycle helmet.

Motorcycle helmets now come in a wide variety of different styles, but all of them must adhere to the same safety requirements. Many individuals prefer the full-shielded helmets in which the entire face is protected, whereas some riders seek a helmet as small as possible. No matter what motorcycle helmet a rider chooses, they can rest assured that it is made of high quality materials that have been tested and proven to withstand significant force.

Riding a motorcycle is a favorite pastime for many, and necessary transportation for others. The invention and subsequent incorporation of the motorcycle helmet into the industry has revolutionized the practice of operating a motorcycle. As a result, it is not only much safer to use a motorcycle helmet, but in many places it is the law as well.