My unkle (who's been riding a Harley for 25 years and has fallen off more than once) came into town and advised me on what kind of helmet I should get.
Not only should it be DOT aproved (obviosly) but the material is important also. Plastic helmets, which is what most cheap helmets are, let your head bounce when it hits the asphault this results in brain trauma. Fiberglass helmets, generally more than a hundred bucks, crush when they hit the road at high speed and absorb the impact instead of transfering it back into your brain. After telling me all this we cruised down to the local Harley dealership and boght a nice HJC open face fiberglass helmet. It was a little more than I wanted to spend but I think my head is worth it. After all If something happened to me who would look after my Ped?