So you've bought that bike you were dreaming of for ages. So what is the first thing that you do? Get yourself a helmet, that's what. A helmet is your first line of defence in case of a bang-up, something that could make a difference between life and death. Sirish Chandran brings you the lowdown on helmets, how and what helmet you should buy, helmets you should avoid besides evaluating eight of the best helmets available in the country.

As usual, I tried hard to come up with something funny to start off this feature. But fret and fuss as much I could, there was nothing funny to conjure up when the subject veers around to helmets. My dear friend and colleague Freddy Gilles was killed in May purely due to negligence. Negligence on the part of the road development authorities for littering the road with debris but more importantly negligence on Freddy's part for not protecting his head with a helmet. Had Freddy been wearing a helmet as he used to daily, he would have been with us today.

Helmets save lives. Period. Anybody who tells you otherwise is insane or has his eye on your share of the inheritance.

In all developed countries and most developing nations helmets are compulsory for bikers. Back in the seventies when helmets were made compulsory in Britain, anti-helmet activists went to great lengths to protest against what they felt was an infringement on their rights, some even converting to Sikhism to avoid wearing a helmet. But now a helmet is a part and parcel of the biking culture and nobody questions the wisdom behind its use. Even in countries like Bhutan and Nepal, helmets are compulsory. It is only in India that political compulsions have come in the way of enacting and enforcing legislation making helmets compulsory. Sad but true, our government is more concerned with protecting its vote bank than protecting lives of citizens.

History:
The basis for any protective device is two-fold: there must be the perception of risk and also the perception that the said device somehow attenuates that risk. From antiquity to the present, protective headgear has prevailed whenever both these perceptions exist, and has disappeared whenever either perception is questioned.

The use of protective headgear may be as old as warfare itself. There are numerous accounts of how Alexander the Great had been saved many times by his fluted helmet and even the 'Iliad' contains references to head injuries prevented by helmets.

The protective capabilities of all headgear are continually being balanced by their wearers against other features such as visual impact, comfort and ease of use. The importance of visual impact, what sociologists might describe as the headgear's ceremonial and decorative function, is particularly strong in our species. This visual impact of headgear will always weigh heavily in subjective evaluations of a helmet's worth.

What does a helmet do?:
For starters, a helmet keeps your head warm and dry while also protecting you from the elements. The second and most important function a helmet serves is to protect your 'nut should you get knocked off. A helmet can't protect your head against all-foreseeable high speed and low speed impacts, as there are a number of accidents that can take place. The use of a well-fitting, securely fastened helmet can minimise the risk of death or permanent impairment due to head injury.

There are broadly two types of helmets: full-face (where a chin bar and flush-fitting visor cover the face and chin), and open-face (sometimes referred to as Jet-type helmets) where the face and chin are exposed. The type you choose depends largely on what type of riding you plan to do and what level of protection and comfort you desire.