How to Care for Two Wheeler Batteries

Headlight getting dim and horn not working? Slow and struggling movement of the starter? And clicking sounds while trying to start the bike?

Well, these are some tell-tale signs indicating that your battery's health is not in proper order and requires servicing.

A bike battery is a critical element that puts your bike in the starting mode and provides energy to other parts. While a bike battery is what keeps your bike in proper health, it is equally important to ensure that the battery's health is properly taken care of.

Here are some helpful automotive battery tips to improve your bike's battery life:

Visual Inspection:

A visual inspection of your 2 wheeler battery once in every three months is a must-do practice. (Set reminders if you tend to forget) Look for any loose or broken terminals that could lead to dangerous short circuits. Also, check the exterior for any unsafe crack, leakage, bulge or split as it rings a warning bell that your bike is asking for a battery replacement.

Top up at Regular Intervals (Only in case of 2 wheeler conventional batteries)

If you're using regular conventional motorcycle batteries, check and ensure that the electrolyte cells are topped up with distilled water. The electrolyte levels are best kept within the upper and lower limit marked on the container of conventional lead-based batteries. Use only distilled water, simply because it has no impurities and helps the bike batteries last longer. Batteries with VRLA technology don't need any Top-Up.

Clean the Terminals:

The battery terminals and nearby areas should be properly cleaned to prevent corrosion which can cause problems while starting the bike. Keep them in a dry condition always. Cleaning regularly helps prevent the buildup of dirt and sediments which in turn increases the automobile battery's life in the long run.

Regular charging:

Even during long periods of non-use, any automobile battery should be regularly charged. Discharging the battery in an idle state is harmful to the battery; therefore, keep charging the battery every month even if it is not used for a long time.

Keep the battery Grime-free:

Over a period of time tiny dust particles, grime and small pollutants tend to accumulate on the battery. These should be cleaned off using a clamp brush and battery cleaner. To prevent the cleaner from entering the cells, make sure the vent caps are tight. Clean wipe the bike battery with a wet towel and then with another dry towel.

The Best Electric Scooters and Hoverboards - Is the World Finally Ready to Accept Them?

2018 it is deemed to be a lucky year for technology and for hoverboards in particular. After the boom in the past year, the popularity of this electric scooter is destined to grow more and more and to thrill adults and children.

Hoverboards can be considered both an entertainment device and a powerful way to move around the city.

In any case, model after model, the quality of the materials and the level of technology are progressing to being more advanced and with functionality always on the increase. Let's see in detail the most relevant features of the electric scooter.

How and where you can ride an Hoverboard scooter?

Although it is seen more and more frequently, the electric scooter is not recognized today in the Highway Code and this will mean that it can only be used in private or urban contexts, as in shopping centers or inside of parks.

In any case, it is important to buy electric hoverboards that ensure the necessary safety for the user who uses it.

As happens now on any electronic instrument, even the electric scooter undergoes not a few imitations (especially of Chinese mold) and this can lead to the purchase of an instrument that presents a price of lower levels, but that could also go to the expense of safety and quality of manufacture.

Therefore, regardless of where a hoverboard is used, it is important that this is an approved instrument, that is, the UL2272 certification valid for Europe and the United States.

Even if you prefer to buy a used scooter, always check that it is approved and that it is not of Chinese brands.

But how do you use a hoverboard? Simple, it's all about balance! Just lean forward to proceed and retract backwards to stop the instrument.

To be able to maneuver instead, just move the weight on the right foot or on the left depending on the desired direction.

This is possible thanks to the weight sensors positioned below the footrest. In case of difficulty then, on the web there are numerous videos and tutorials that can be very helpful.

Although the electric scooter is very popular with children, it is recommended for users aged 12 and over and under adult supervision.

How a mono electric skate is structured.

The description of a hoverboard focuses on two fundamental aspects: structure and technology. The scooter is composed of a central platform, on which to rest the feet, and two parallel wheels that can be of different sizes depending on the model.

It is important that the materials of the structure and of the parallel wheels are of good quality: the platform, for example, must have a suitable anti-slip coating and the body must be strong enough to withstand knocks and wear.

Some models of electric scooter have bigger wheels, so they can also be used on non-smooth roads and thus guarantee greater stability.

Regardless of the materials used for the construction, however, a single skid must also be light enough to be able to transport it without particular effort.

Generally the weight of electric hoverboards is around 10/12 Kg and has a speed that is around 10-20 Km per hour.

In addition to materials, other relevant aspects are batteries and engines. Generally an electric scooter consists of about 20 batteries, which are recharged in varying times (from an hour and a half to 3 hours) and that give an autonomy of 10/20 Km.

Even the autonomy can vary depending on the type of road you travel and the user's weight. In fact, the maximum weight that an electric scooter can bear is for some 100 Kg, for another 120 Kg.

As for the engine, there are basically two that guarantee from 500W to 1000W of power. Of course, a scooter with 1000W engine is presented as a more professional tool and with a higher speed, less indicated then for do-it-yourself use.

Further features of the best electric scooter.

The technology is always evolving and the electric scooters, in addition to being a good invention in itself, are always enriched with new features.

For example, there are models that have some nice LED lights integrated, which intervene to illuminate the road in the evening but also to give a striking appearance to the walk.

Other additional elements can be the Bluetooth function, the speaker for listening to music and a comfortable backpack to make the transport lighter.

5 Factors That May/Will Influence the Decision Making of the Royal Enfield and Jawa Buyers

A lot has been written about the comparison of technical specifications and design of both Royal Enfield and Jawa, but in this article I am going to discuss the points that are likely to influence the decision of buyers when they choose between the two legendary motorcycles.

Competing with RE is not going to be easy for Jawa as the legendary bikemaker is a force to reckon with in the Indian motorcycling scene. It takes a lot more than just a good price, a superior engine specs and a classic design to beat Royal Enfield in its own backyard.

Iconic and legendary, RE is much more than the technical specifications it offers. As an ardent Royal Enfield rider I can say this with conviction that the motorcycle has a very special place in hearts and souls of its riders and all those who aspire to own it someday. It's a feeling that cannot be expressed in words, it can only be felt when you ride it and feel the thump of its exhaust. To sum it up, "Royal Enfield is a feeling". I am sure that similar is the case with the ardent fans of legendary Jawa.

Jawa is not only back but back with a bang and they mean business. The launch has stirred a debate with respect to its inevitable comparison with another legend that has been ruling the Indian roads like a boss, the iconic RE. Jawa always knew that they are going to compete with Royal Enfield directly, so they have come prepared and launched, not one, not two but three motorcycles, the Jawa, the Forty Two and the Perak (Perak will be available around mid-2019) to take on the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Standard 350, and Thunderbird 350 with premium features and excellent engine specs. Perak being a Bobber has no direct competition in the market in its price and category. Perak surely is a winner at Jawa's hand when it will be available next year provided Royal Enfield doesn't launch a Bobber in coming couple of months before Perak becomes available... You never know.

Below are some of the factors that may influence the decision of the buyers who looking to own one of these legends.

1. Royal Enfield has enjoyed a cult following in India for generations. BULLET has always been considered a symbol of machismo right from grandfather to grandsons who covet the legend and ride one with pride. On the other hand Jawa missed a whole generation of bikers who never rode it and have almost forgotten that this legend once graced Indian roads and was a worthy competitor of Royal Enfield. During all those years that Jawa lost, RE built a loyal customer base which gives it a big edge over Jawa. During all those years Royal Enfield expanded its reach, range of models and upgraded its engines, came up with merchandise and modernized its dealerships. It will take a lot of time and effort for Jawa to fill that gap.
2. RE has a very wide spread network (More than 800 dealerships) that will not be easy for Jawa to match right away though they have started with 105 dealerships, out of which 64 will be operational by the first week of December 2018 as per the Classic Legends.
3. Repair and availability of spare parts of Royal Enfield is not a big deal these days as in last 2 decades the company has developed a dealer networks which is spread to the farthest corners of India and can only be matched perhaps by carmaker Maruti Suzuki. Due to this, they manage to sell huge numbers of motorcycles year after year. So much so that when other motorcycle manufactures begin to feel the heat of low market sentiments RE motorcycles sell with a waiting period of 3-4 months.
4. There is no doubt that Jawa is technically superior to Royal Enfield, and I give full credit to Jawa here, which beats RE engine hands down with its Engine Specifications. With its 293 cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that develops 27 Bhp and 28 Nm, which clearly gives then an edge over Royal Enfield 350 Classic that sports a 346 cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that makes 19.8 Bhp and 28 Nm. Jawa engine despite being lower capacity, produces more power and its torque is same as produced by Royal Enfield 350 cc engine. Jawa's engine is Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) with liquid-cooling and a higher compression ratio of 11:1, as compared to the RE's 8.5:1. Both motorcycle come with an ABS. Jawa sports a single-channel ABS as standard, while the Royal Enfield offers dual-channel ABS. Both the motorcycles sport classic designs but Jawa has used some modern cues in their Forty Two Model to give it an urban-retro look.
5. Royal Enfield has a definite price advantage as its lower end range of Bullet Twinspark 350 starts as low as 1.20 Lac and even the Classic 350 range including Gunmetal Grey and Classic Signals 350 with ABS is very competitively priced at 1.55 lacs and comes in the same price bracket as Jawa and Forty Two.

I think it's a wait and watch situation because it's definitely going to be a battle of giants that is going to benefit riders. It's good for the bikers that Royal Enfield's supremacy is challenged as this will result in enhancements in its quality and cut throat pricing which may follow next year.

What to Wear on a Motorcycle?

We know that big thrills are associated with big risks. And this applies to riding a motorcycle as well. Wearing the right gear can help you prevent a serious injury. Therefore, you may want to invest in quality protective gear and use it before you get on your motorcycle. Given below is a description of important gear that you should buy and use. Read on.

Pants and Jackets

Wearing pants and a thick jacket will secure your skin in case of an accident. Ideally, the fabric should be durable, such as leather. If possible, put on a jacket that is designed for motorcyclists.

Aside from this, you can also put on body armor beneath the jacket. Make sure that the armor can satisfy the safety standards.

Avoid: A Dress or Skirt

Although you may like to wear a flowy skirt and a leather jacket, it can be quite dangerous. Remember: pants are your safest option when riding a motorbike.

Use a Helmet

You can find different types of helmets these days. If you are a new rider, we suggest that you invest in a helmet based on your consultation with your local expert. This will help you choose the right size and style based on your head shape and need.

If this is your first ride, we suggest that you rent a helmet from a local gear shop. For protection, make sure that the thing can fit snugly. You can try out different types of helmets at the shop. Make sure you choose the right one.

Avoid: Dark Clothing

It's not a good idea to wear dark clothing, especially if you need to ride your motorbike at night. Ideally, the jacket you are going to wear should feature reflective stripes. In the same way, your helmet should have reflective patches or stripes on it. This will help other riders or drivers see you easily at night.

Motorcycle Boots

Most motorcyclists want to wear cool and stylish boots when they are riding. However, stylish and cool shouldn't be the only features of your boots that you should focus on. Aside from this, your boots should also be solid and sturdy.

If they are sturdy, they won't bend in case of a crash and will keep your feet stable. Also, your boots should feature non-slip soles. Ideally, your boot should extend to the ankles.

Gloves

Gloves are your best choice as far as safety is concerned. They can protect your hands from a lot of weather elements like wind, sun and cold. Besides, they can help you develop a stronger grip on your motorbike handles.

Ideally, you may want to opt for gloves that can cover your hands and won't leave any part of your skin exposed. There is no need to mention that the gloves should be thick and strong enough to provide protection and stand the test of time.

So, this was a brief description of what you should wear while you are riding a motorcycle. Hope this helps.

Wearing safety gear is important if you are a motorcycle rider. If you want to purchase safety gear, you can check out The Motorbiker.

Best Cafe Racer Motorcycle Gloves

Motorcycle enthusiasts understand that the gear they use when they are riding their bikes is a huge part of the experience and it's not even close to the same thing if they are wearing something that isn't suitable for the occasion. Best café racer suitable motorcycle gloves are certainly a huge part of this gear we mentioned and they play an important role which is why it's extremely important to have the best gloves possible for the best experience. Gloves are worn for style as much as protection and functionality and there are different types of gloves for different seasons like summer & winter.

Depending on the season, riders can pick different gloves because in summer it might get too hot to wear gloves that have thermal insulation to keep your fingers warm while fingerless gloves are unsuitable for winter because your fingers will freeze, especially if you like riding fast. So we prepared an article that looks at the features and qualities of some of the best gloves for motorcycles allowing you to have the necessary information needed to pick the pair that will fit you the most in style, comfort, protection and functionality but before we get to our recommended gloves let's take a look the gloves on the market from a general perspective.

Gloves on the Market

Motorcycle gloves aren't just there to add to your style and you can earn style points for wearing a pair. They can seriously protect you and prevent you from falling down by offering extra control over the motorcycle. They prevent your palm from getting sweaty and slippery which is a common reason why riders are losing control of their motorcycles. Additionally they can protect you if you tumble of your bike because a lot of them have protection systems in place like extra padding and hard knuckles. The best gloves have a lot of features that designers thought about and made them extremely useful for riders including functionality, material, and protection. There are a lot of brands on the market that offer different kinds of styles and are made out of different materials but most of them are contributing to the riders and are worth their price.

Café Racer Style Gloves

There are many different styles of gloves that riders can go for and depending on the style of the rider they can go for different types of gloves from many different brands on the market. But the best gloves aren't only different in their style and looks. They also differ in the amount of protection they provide the wearer, the material they are made of and the functionality they offer to the rider because the primary use of motorcycle gloves isn't just to look cool. It would actually come in a last place if we have to put an order in which we measure the importance of features.

Protection

The primary purpose of wearing motorcycle gloves is protection from the elements and potential accidents that might happen when you ride, especially if you're the type that wants to go fast. Gloves would make sure in the rain your hands are protected from the water and the cold while in summer they would ensure that they don't get sunburns. They also protect the rider from possible crashes as they are infused with padding technology that would absorb shocks and impact and many of them have hard knuckles made out of PVC or other material that further protects the entire hand should a crash occur due to unforeseen circumstances. In this case, the gloves would protect your skin from bruising if you fall down and slide on the road because you were going fast and slipped while the hard shell knuckles will ensure protection of your bones and prevent them from breaking till certain point.

Functionality

The functionality of the glove is the second most important thing that it offers to the rider because the best gloves are designed to have a grip that will prevent your hand from slipping and you are less likely to lose control of your motorcycle. A special material is used in certain parts of the glove to make sure that your hands are stable and won't slip during your ride no matter what the weather conditions may be. Even in rain, the water won't affect the grip of your hand when you're wearing gloves specifically designed for motorcycles. It also prevents accidents by absorbing the moisture of your palm that happens when you're riding for longer period of time or during the summer when it's hot. The gloves have special moisture absorption materials on the inside that are specifically designed for this purpose and they also have a ventilation system that allows the hand to breathe naturally through the leather.

Material

Most gloves are made out of leather because it's proven to be the best material for motorcycle gloves because of the protection and functionality it has but also because it looks the coolest and most stylish. The outside of many gloves is made out of some kind of leather and different companies use different type of leather to manufacture their gloves. While most of the glove is leather there are parts that are covered with a different type of non-slip material that improves the grip of your hand and prevents it from slipping when the weather conditions aren't great. The inside is made of different types of fabrics for padding to increase the impact absorption and some parts include fabrics that absorb moisture to keep your hands as dry as possible.

Style

There are a lot of brands that offer very stylish motorcycle gloves and while it's the last thing that should be on your mind when picking out the best gloves for riding, it still contributes to the choice because we all want to look cool when we ride so we can feel confident and have the best possible time. So far we believe that the full leather gloves are the most stylish ones and the ones that look the coolest but some people might go for fingerless while other may pick a different material that works best for them. Sometimes it also depends on the type or ride you have. If you're going fast than fingerless gloves aren't a great choice because your fingers would freeze and might cause you to lose control of the motorcycle.

Our Top Picks

While there are a lot of different brands of glove makers that offer their products both online and in their stores, there are some that are much better than others in the quality and attention to detail with which they are made. The competition is vast and everyone are trying to bring out their best product but regardless of trying, some companies have better product than others. They differentiate themselves from the rest by implementing better features, materials, stitching and padding. The ones that we use and recommend are the following.

Biltwell Work Gloves Chocolate

These gloves are definitely the best ones that we recommend to everyone out there because they are extremely versatile for all riders who like functional gloves. They are 100% leather and are constructed with fleece half liner to add to the comfort. They are also perfect for summer, fall and spring.

They have some amazing features as well including anatomically designed suede panels for the palms that have padding inside that can absorb shock and resist abrasion. Wrist opening that can be adjusted with elastic gathers and leather closure and a fleece tricot half liner that won't make you sweat too much. They use single and double needle polyester stitching.

The price of this pair of gloves is $49.95 and you can pick them in a few colors although the chocolate one is the one we recommend as we believe it's the most stylish of them all. They also have different sizes that you can choose from and considering all the features these gloves have and how cool they look, the price is just right and buying them is totally worth it.

Alpinestars Mustang V2 Leather Black

Gloves that offer an extremely good protection as they have PVC knuckles in the leather construction that protects the rider from impacts. They are perfect for every season even though they are made out of leather because they have places made out of perforated leather that lets the hand cool down and breathe in the hot summer days.

The amazing features is what makes this glove among our top choices and recommendations like the perforation zones for increased breathability among the full leather construction. The glove also has a synthetic suede material as reinforcement on the sides and padding in the landing areas for increased safety. An important feature for safety are also the hard PVC knuckles that are covered by leather. They have an ergonomic design so your palm feels comfortable at all times and they have extra foam padding on the fingers. The palm and thumb are reinforced with an advance poly blend for much better grip. The fingertips are compatible with using touchscreen smartphones and tablets.

These cost a bit more than the previous ones and their price is $89.95 but when you take the extra features they have into consideration and the increased safety they offer because of the padding and hard PVC knuckles, if you're riding a fast motorcycle these are much more advantageous for you. They come in a few colors and sizes and they can be found in many motorcycle shops and online stores.

Leather Motorcycle Gloves Fingerless Yellow, Thin

These are the simplest gloves on the market and definitely the cheapest because of their simplicity. They are made out of leather and are best used for casual riders that don't enjoy going too fast because these gloves don't offer a hardcore protection like the ones we presented before.

These gloves are entirely made out of leather but the protection they offer is minimal and not suitable if you like to ride very fast. They are perfect for summer days because your fingers are not concealed and your hand can breathe but they can be worn during late spring and early fall too while the weather is still not cold enough for your fingers to freeze. They are easy to put on and take off and perfect if you're looking to improve your grip when riding.

This pair of gloves is the cheapest and most affordable but if you're looking to get protection out of your gloves for faster riding you won't get much from them. They are about $8 and can be easily found on Amazon and shipped directly to your home.

Joe Rocket WindChill

The best winter gloves without any doubts or suspicions because they will keep your hands warm even in the coldest weather. They are extremely well made and waterproof while they are also insulated for warmth.

The features they have are quite amazing too as they have a mid-liner that is waterproof and 100G thinsulate. The knuckle armor that is high density integrated in the leather gives a lot of protection in case of accidents and impacts and the entire glove is reinforced with leather. There is a gel in the palm area that dissipates vibration and their design is perfectly made for riding because it's pre-curved. The fingers have expansion panels for extra comfort and the securing the glove to your hand is easily done by using the secure hook on the wrist.

This glove is totally worth the price of $76.49 because of how much it offers to the rider in terms of safety and shock absorption but it's also extremely well made and looks very cool and stylish at the same time. It provides the rider with the perfect grip as well and it's definitely one that belong on our top picks list.

Conclusion

Having the best gloves for the proper summer & winter season is an important part of getting the best experience of riding your motorcycle and knowing which features are most important to you is key to deciding the right pair of gloves for you.

Making sure that the gloves you pick aren't just for the looks and style points but also for protection and functionality is extremely important to increase your safety on the road from any potential accidents.

Different Style Of Cafe Racer Helmets Through The Years

Helmets are an important part of road safety for motorcycle riders because they may prevent serious injuries to the head and reduce the chances of fatalities in motorcycle accidents by a huge margin. This is all because our head is the most vulnerable part of our body when we're riding a motorcycle and the one that suffers the most in case we have an accident. However, it's not just a safety measure because there are different styles of cafe racer helmets through the years that have risen in popularity and became classics because of the way they look and the style and personalization they offer to the rider. Ever since they were invented they've completely changed the entire look of motorcycle riders for the better and added an extra item that can be personalized and used for expression.

Although, at first there were many riders that preferred not to wear helmets because they considered it to be uncool and gross, the opinion of a lot of people has changed once they realized the amount of protection it offers and the decline in total fatalities it had during the years where it was mandatory for people to wear their protective helmet.

For many motorcycle riders, it became a part of their persona and character to wear a helmet and what they once deemed uncool and gross to wear, was now something that they couldn't ride without. The popular opinion of using helmets changed throughout the years and people started finding it cool while people today prefer wearing some classic helmet wear that look exactly like the ones that were produced back in the days but with modern day technological improvements.

The history of popular helmets is quite interesting and dates back quite a bit so let's dig into it and learn a few things about a few helmets through the years that left a mark and became classics that many companies are influenced by when designing their products today.

History and Development

Helmets didn't appear as soon as the first motorcycle did because when it was invented it wasn't fast enough to require any special protective gear like a helmet. It was built for fun and the inventor that built this also had a leather cap that he used as a form of protection although it didn't really provide much because it wasn't a helmet.

As motorcycles became faster and more advanced the need for some protection was felt although it wasn't invented until a very popular historic person called T.E. Lawrence died from an injury to the head that he received in a motorcycle crash in 1935. His death made people aware of the dangers associated with riding motorcycles and authorities made it a requirement for people to wear protective helmets when they ride for their own safety. Motorcycle companies at this time were in a competition against each other of which one can make the fastest motorcycle and it meant that the deaths from accidents became more often when people weren't wearing helmets.

Helmets weren't worn and many people resisted until the 1941 when the British Army suffered a loss of two soldiers within a week and demanded that their soldiers have helmets as part of their gear which they had to wear when they rode.

It wasn't until the 1953 when the first helmet that could absorb shocks from accidents was introduced to the market by Professor C.F. Lombart. He designed the helmet for speed racing because motorcycles were becoming faster and faster. This invention by the professor of the University of South California was a true turning point for helmets. It was made of a strong outer shell that had two more layers of padding that was used for both comfort and to absorb the shock from the energy surge caused by the impact of the crash. One of the most popular helmets of all time and a complete classic was the Bell 500 helmet that came out in 1954 made by Roy Richter.

A few years after the classic helmet was made, a company was established with the purpose of testing helmets that other companies produced and it used to test the quality of the helmets without being influenced by anyone including the government giving fair and correct results about the safety of each helmet they tested.

Although wearing helmets was proven to be much safer and it prevented many people from dying by head injuries suffered from motorcycle crashes people still didn't like wearing them and there was no law requiring them to wear them whenever they are riding on their bikes. The popular opinion among many riders was that it was completely uncool and gross to wear something of the sort until the 1961 in Australia where the first law for mandatory helmet wear was introduced where anyone riding a motorcycle had to have a helmet on as a safety precaution.

A few years later, similar law was introduced in the US through the Highway Safety Act that made it mandatory for helmets to be worn in every state. The states had to implement this law because otherwise they wouldn't get any funding for their roads and highway building and maintenance. In the same year, the standards of safety motorcycle helmets were set and all manufacturing companies had to have their helmets meet these standards so they could pass their product to the market.

In the year of 1971, the first full face helmet was created and hit the market become extremely popular among riders. The popularity of open face helmets started to drop during this period and the popularity of open face helmets was on the rise and many riders accepted this emerging trend.

In 1975, the strict helmet wearing rule was revoked and many states revoked their strict helmet laws from use resulting in many people deciding to not use helmets anymore while others wore them because they became trendy and cool.

Ever since the mandatory law for wearing helmets was revoked, the fatalities caused by head injuries in motorcycle accidents increased and continue to increase significantly. Many companies who make motorcycle helmets had decline in profits because less people were interested in wearing one they didn't stop making them for those who were concerned with their safety and felt like they are looking more stylish with their helmets on.

Open Face Helmet

One of the best examples of an open face is the Bell 500 helmet that was one of the first helmets made in the 1950's and became an immediate success for the company. Today it's available as Bell 500 Carbon and it has a lot of updated safety features but it was designed to look exactly like the one they had back then as kind of a tribute that boosted their success. This is definitely one of the most popular helmets of this time and company and it has amazing features that many serious riders love.

It's a helmet that has a carbon composite shell that is low profile and a multi dense EPS liner sizer with 5 shells. The interior liner is custom suede leather and it also has EPS foam layer with a narrow profile. It comes without a visor but it has an integrated system that allows you to strap shields or visors quite easily. It straps to the chin with a chin strap that has a D-ring closure. It also features a leather goggles strap. Of course, it has DOT and ECE certifications and on top of everything the company offers a 5 year warranty with a bonus leather bag for the helmet.

It's a bit pricey, costing a little below $400 but for the features it has and for riding enthusiasts it's an investment that is completely worth it because it'll keep you protected while providing that stylish retro look that people had back in the 1950s. If you're into classics that would never go out of style this helmet is the right pick for you and you won't lose a minute sleep over the money you spent.

Full Face Helmet without Shield

Aside from the open face helmet that left its mark in the different styles of café racer helmets through the years, another retro styled helmet that is very popular and designed to look like a few popular helmets through the years is the Biltwell's Gringo Helmet which is a helmet that offers minimum protection and it's very shiny. Their 2019 line is the one that caught our eye and what the company did is actually made their design similar to the style that was in motorsports in the 60's and made the helmet suitable to the safety standards of today. Basically they managed to create a helmet that is as stylish as the ones available back in the days with the appropriate safety features that keep riders safe of the present.

This helmet has a lightweight ABS outer shell which is injection-molded with Three-piece EPS that makes the helmet fortified and able to dissipate impacts because the helmets structure is made for increased security. It also features a molded urethane chin bar pad which protects against frontal impacts. The inside of the helmet has removable cheek pads and comfort liners made of lycra for better absorption with an adjustable strap. The three-piece Expanded Polystyrene has recesses inside to support communication tools that might be installed after purchasing the helmet.

This helmet isn't as pricey as the first open face one and in fact it's nearly half the price costing around $175. It comes in many different colors and it's one of the best helmets that represents the 1960's culture of riders. It offers good protection and if you are into popular helmets and classic styles this one should be one of the first in that category.

Full Face Helmet with a Shield

Another very popular helmets type that was extremely popular in the late 1960's and definitely worth mentioning as one of the most popular helmets through the years that is still being used today is the full face helmet with a shield and the best example in this category is the Bell Bullit helmet. This helmet is extremely well made and has the same style as the classic they made back in the day with infusing modern technology that offers maximum safety, comfort and protection for the riders.

This helmet has amazing features as well. It has a fiber composite shell with ultra-low-profile with a multi-dense EPS liner. The interior liner is brown with a pull tab on the face shield which is also brown. The entire interior is made out of antibacterial material and it's removable and washable. The fabric is perforated micro-suede with some leather trim and it has a padded chin strap that features a D-ring closure made out of stainless steel that has a black pull. It has not just 1 but 5 intake vents and an exhaust vent in the rear. The cheek pads are 3D cut and feature speaker pockets. It has both ECE and DOT certifications and it's an amazing retro style option.

The helmet is quite expensive, costing about $420 although it can be found for $400 in some stores. Even though it's quite expensive it's a classic helmet that true riders will appreciate and would love to have in their collection despite the cost. Enthusiasts understand that a rider's helmet is an investment that always pays off as it elevates your style and safety at the same time.

Bubble Shield and Flat Shield

While in the early days people used to wear goggles with their helmets for extra protection against, wind, rain, or the sun, after a while, shields were invented and many people turned to them instead of the goggles because they were more practical and easier to use. Instead of putting on a helmet, goggles and a scarf over your mouth and nose, all you needed to do is put on the helmet that already had a shield on it and you were good to go. It was a nice invention at the time and there were two types of shields, bubble shield and a flat shield.

Both of these shields served the same purpose of extra protection against the elements but they also left their mark in history in terms of style and they are used today for both reason. Although the shields today are made out of much better material and come in different shapes and sizes, with or without tints for extra protection from the sun for long rides, many riders still add them to their helmets because of the classic retro look it adds to the entire helmet. They can be paired up with many popular helmets of today and give them a vintage style look and many riders are actually getting them for this exact reason.

The bubble face shield is the one that gives a bit more of a retro and vintage look when they are both compared in different helmets but aside from the look, people also say that these shields allow them to ride longer on their bikes and even have fun when they are riding in the rain because there are no more "needles" hitting your face and on top of all that it provides the much necessary protection from the sun that might burn your face and lips from getting cracked from the heat.

Popular paint jobs for helmets

Throughout the years, there were a lot of different colors and styles of helmets but there are a few paint jobs that really stood out and made their mark in history that they are extremely popular even today.

Faded

Faded helmet colors are among those different styles of care racer helmets through the years that left their mark and are being produced today. They give a classic, old and vintage look to the helmet that when you look at it, it really takes you back to the days when they got like that from being worn constantly. Faded colors on helmets are definitely some of the all-time bests and deserve a mention here in our post.

Discolored

These are similarly popular as the faded ones and many companies are producing deliberately discolored helmets that have that old school look because of the paint job that people very much love. The old, worn out look that it gives, reminds people of the old days where helmets were personal items that had sentiment to the riders.

Rusted

Some of the helmets in the old days didn't have the best paint job and after a while that same paint job would be gone and the rust would begin to cover the helmet. It gave such an old and cool look to the helmet that it became a very popular paint job today and many riders want their helmet to have that rusty look.

Chipped Paint

In the old days a lot of the helmets didn't have the greatest paint job, as we mentioned above, and the paint would fall off even with a slight bump which after a while turned into a trendy look that became a classic and it's a very popular paint job for many popular helmets today.

Conclusion

Following the many different styles of cafe racer helmets through the years we can come to the conclusion that a rider's helmet isn't just a piece of equipment that is there to protect him from a potential fall. For true riding enthusiasts, the helmet is a piece of them and their personality. The type of helmet they pick is a style choice among other things that allows them to truly express their personality and the way they feel when riding a motorcycle.

There are quite a lot of choices and options that riders can use to express themselves and personalize their helmets while still increasing their safety and security in case they crash. They can go for the oldest and one of the classic open face helmets that used to be used with goggles to protect the eyes and a scarf for the rest of the face back in the day. Companies have adapted their designs of these helmets with the latest materials and technologies available that offer the maximum protection and comfort for the rider while still retaining the same look they used to have when they first came out. They became much lighter in weight and much safer in the same time.

Aside from the open face helmets that were very popular helmets in the 1950's the full face helmets with and without shields came next that took over and had a rise in popularity during the 1960's. They provided a little more protection against frontal falls because they have padding on the chin too and you could buy them with a shield or without one. Either way, the look from back then became a classic today and there are many companies producing this type of helmets that are designed as the ones from the 1960's with better materials that provide extra safety and comfort for the wearer. The looks however match the ones from long ago which is exactly what people who like old school style are looking for.

A lot of these helmets through the years got improved and some features were added but one thing that many companies made first is the possibility of adding a bubble shield or a flat shield to both open face helmets and full face helmets. The main purpose of them was to protect the rider from the elements such as wind, rain and sun but they also became quite popular for how they made the helmets look and how stylish the wearer was. Their primary use of replacing the goggles quickly became secondary because their popularity was based on the style it provided for riders.

The different styles of café racer helmets through the years also have us some unique paint jobs today. Many paint jobs back then weren't as good as they are today and it often happened that the paint would fade or completely disappear or even become rusty which made the helmets look even cooler because of the antique style it gave them. This stuck through the years and companies today are making helmets with paint jobs that resemble those faded, discolored and rusty helmets to give them a classic style and a vintage look.