Brief History of Harley Motorcycles and Helmets

Harley or Harley Davidson sells a wide range of products. However, the brand has gained fame for its unique motorcycles.

The origin of the Harley company dates back to the friendship between two childhood friends – William S Harley and Arthur Davidson. The two friends had a vested interest in mechanics and design. In the beginning, they experimented with incorporating small engines on belt-driven bicycles.

However, the additional help from Davidson’s brother Walter (machinist) in 1903 fueled the success of the company. In that year, Harley sold its first motorcycle made in a 10 by 15-foot wooden shed factory in Milwaukee, USA. Over the years, the factory graduated to a six-story building.

Their big moment of fame came when Harley supported a team of riders into races and dominated top positions. Soon, the brand began making army-customized motorbikes and expanded its market share to overseas customers.  

Are Harley-Davidson Helmets Quality?

Harley stocks a wide variety of helmets for its riders. Among them are modular, half helmet, and jet helmets. You can count on Harley helmets as they have certifications from reputable bodies like ECE, DOT, and SNELL. Some of their most reliable hoods are full-face helmets.

However, remember that Harley stocks even open-face and half-shell helmets. Although such helmets are more comfortable and versatile in use, they provide less protection.

Otherwise, the helmets feature high-quality materials that make the lids resistant to scratches, scuffs, and harsh weather.

Does HJC Make Harley Helmets?

HJC

HJC is one of the world-class helmet manufacturing companies. And it’s no surprise that it also manufactures snug-fitting Harley helmets. For over 50 years, HJC has been dedicated to making helmets.

Some of the Harley Davidson helmets HJC makes include full-face, open-face, and modular motorcycle helmet types. Outstanding examples of Harley HJC-made helmets include FXR, Sportster, Dyna, Softail, and V-Rod helmet class.

The years of experience, advanced technologies, state-of-the-art testing facility, and numerous certifications make HJC reliable. Talk of a snug-fitting helmet with unparalleled ventilation and the HJC brand nails it.  

Bell

Bell is a California-based helmet brand. For over the 50 years that the company has been in existence it has gathered valuable skill and experience and advanced its helmet quality. Like other reputable bodies, Bell helmets are DOT-approved. The brand’s helmet stands out for comfort and safety.

In most cases, Bell made the following three types of helmets for Harley: Half shell, Full-face , Open face

Arai  

Arai also stands out among the premium helmet brands, especially from 1976. The Japanese-based brand prioritizes safety in its helmet design.

As such, it pays so much attention to detail when designing the Harley helmets. Some of the famous Arai-designed helmets for Harley include the Defiant X and Signet Q.

Nevertheless, the company stocks plenty of helmets, full-face, open-face, off-road, and half-shell helmets.

Shoei

The Shoei is another brand to reckon with in high-end motorcycle helmets. The helmet company has been around for more than five decades. Although the brand manufactures a broad range of helmets, its famous models for Harley are the GT Air II and RF 1200.

Why do Harley Riders Wear German Helmets?

The fame of Harley bikes picked up around the Second World War era. Harley motorcycles by then found most use in military expeditions. So many people believe that after winning the Second World War, many German soldier travelers brought helmets and wore them as symbols of pride.  

Read More: Best modular motorcycle helmet Reviews - The Complete Guide

What Materials are Harley Davidson Helmets Made of?

Harley presents helmets in a variety of styles to suit the varying tastes of preference and class. Accordingly, the Harley uses composite materials. The materials include carbon, polycarbonate, and fiberglass Spectra fiber, Kevlar, and a blend of those materials. 

Which Type of Helmets do Harley Riders Use?

Harley stocks various types of motorcycles. Therefore, the type of helmets their riders wear depends on the motorcycle and riding style.

Generally, the range of helmets is from half-shell, full-face, and open-face helmets. For example, when on a race bike the full-face helmet becomes ideal. That’s sensible because full-face provides maximum protection from bugs, dirt, and direct impact on the head

For adventurous or short rides, open or half-shell helmets feel more comfortable though at compromised protection. And when undertaking long and demanding rides, nothing beats a full-face or modular motorcycle helmet. An open-face or modular helmet brings an unobstructed view, superb ventilation, and ease of communication.

If you care about your life, don’t ride a Harley or any other motorcycle minus a helmet. Besides conflicting traffic laws, you risk suffering an injury in one of the most delicate parts: your head and brain.

 Harley motorcycles and helmets have a long history. And the company takes the safety of its riders with utmost caution by providing the best quality helmets. And how does it achieve that? By letting leading reputable helmet brands handle the task.

Such companies include but are not limited to HJC, Bell, Shoei, Scorpion, and Arai. Besides, Harley also manufactures parts of its helmets.

Since the brand lets professionals take over manufacturing Harley helmets, you can count on the quality of Harley Davidson’s hoods. Therefore, HJC Harley isn’t the sole manufacturer of Harley helmets.

But it's only the reputable companies with outstanding success over the decades that manufactures Harley helmets. And Helmet Gurus helps you to identify those famous companies known for making safe and comfortable helmets.