• The Bell Hornet is a full-faced motorcycle helmet similar to the pictured.latina rider image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), wearing a well-made helmet is an important component of motorcycle safety. When buying a helmet, it is important to buy it from a reputable dealer and look for genuine DOT markers and labels. The Bell Hornet is a DOT-approved helmet designed to provide proper head and face protection during an accident.
  
  

Snell M-rated

• The Snell M-rating is given to helmets designed for motorized highway vehicles and situations where the helmet is not required to be fire-retardant. Helmets rated to Snell-M standards offer adequate impact management, a stable helmet position and a strong enough retention system to protect the head during many motorcycle crashes. As a full-faced helmet, all components of the Bell Hornet must adequately protect the head and face to receive the Snell M-rating.
  
  

Full-faced

• Motorcycle helmets are designed to protect different percentages of a rider's face. The Bell Hornet is a full-faced helmet. The lower part of the helmet extends around the chin to prevent facial contact with hard objects. Although full-faced helmets can be worn without a plastic face shield, they add an additional layer of protection. Standard Bell face shields have passed the Snell M-rating. When selecting an alternative or replacement face shield, using a Bell shield will ensure the protection remains at Snell M level. Using a Bell face shield will ensure the shield fits properly on the Bell Hornet.
  
  The Hornet uses the Bell #286 face shield, which includes clear, light smoke, dark smoke, fog-free, silver chrome, blue chrome and gold chrome face shields.
  
  

Ventilated

• On hot summer days, full-faced helmets can become hot. The Bell Hornet offers vents both on the top of the helmet and around the face shield. These vents allow outside air to flow around the rider's head. Cooler air enters through the front. That air forces the hot air inside the helmet through vents in the rear of the helmet.