A motorcycle is a very simple idea, maybe even simpler than the car. But unlike the car, the motorcycle exists on a slightly more primal level. There’s nothing to keep you from the water, or the rocks, or the endless stream of tiny bugs that the planet has to offer. There are no extra wheels to keep you stable when the road gets rough. There’s not even a force field to keep you safe from those idiot drivers who can’t be bothered to check their mirrors before they merge into the lane you’re already using. There’s just engineering, skill, and luck.

And so, this tiny metal deathtrap becomes known as the ultimate form of freedom. Like a steampunk cyborg, man and machine fuse to make a symbol of what you can become when style and speed matter more than safety and efficiency. Is it any wonder that some people just get mad every time they see a motorcycle go by? Because it challenges everything they have, while proving to them that they don’t have enough.

A motorcycle helmet like this DOT Certified Black Base MX Motocross Helmet is a statement. All you need is what you can carry, and maybe a socket wrench besides. How can you be any more free than that?