How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Helmet?

 

 

Welcome to one of life’s most exciting experiences. Regardless of whether you ride a bike for fun or as a means of transportation, riding on two-wheelers is a fantastic experience that will provide you with years of delight and fulfillment. 

Whether you are a motorcycle rider who battles daily traffic or plan a weekend trip on country roads, you will need to spend on certain essential equipment, especially riding gear. When riding a motorcycle, body protection is essential, and nothing is more necessary than a helmet.

You probably did some homework before purchasing a motorcycle, so do the same before buying a motorcycle helmet. Although you can find a lot of cheap motorcycle helmets out there and there are many different styles and colors that you will end up being attracted bot but keep in mind that their main function should not be overlooked.

Take the time to choose the right helmet by coming up with a budget before you go looking and falling in love with a motorcycle helmet that is out of your price range or you cheap out and end up choosing something that you don’t have confidence it will do its job if you are involved in a motorcycle accident.

Overall it is critical that you ensure that your investment in a helmet is worthwhile in both its ultimate function to protect your head in case of an accident but also to be functional, comfortable, and affordable as you’ll probably be using the helmet for many years. 

But, how do you decide which helmet is best for you? What criteria should you consider before buying a helmet? When you walk into the helmet store, you should be prepared with some fundamental information.

We provide you with the essential information you need to know before purchasing a new helmet.

Choose the Helmet Type 

Motorcycle riders have never had so many helmet options. While having so many alternatives is good, it may be difficult to pick the ideal one. Where do you begin? Before making your pick, you should be aware of the five fundamental types of helmets. 

• Full-Face  

The full-face helmet provides maximum protection for your head and neck. Hence, it is regarded as the safest style of a motorcycle helmet for preventing probable impact.  

A full-face helmet is a wonderful option for all motorcyclists, irrespective of the type of motorcycle or the location where they ride. The type of full-face helmet you need depends on the type of riding you undertake. Sports riders bike in a hunched stance and require a helmet that does not lift at fast speeds.

As a result, they typically choose a helmet with a taller chin bar and a visor opening that is tilted slightly towards the top of the helmet.  

• Modular 

Modular helmets are a subclass of full-face helmets. When the rider presses the release button, a detachable system swings the chinbar and face shield out of the way, instantaneously changing the full-face helmet to an open face helmet.

The helmet gets its name from its adaptability. Modular helmets give motorcyclists the features of both open face and full face helmets in a single package. A tourist, for instance, may choose complete facial coverage on the freeway but the freedom of an open face when eating lunch at a service station. (It should be noted that modular helmets aren’t designed to be worn in the open position when biking.)

The drawback to modular helmets’ simplicity is generally higher weight and noise compared to traditional helmets, however, modular helmets are getting better every year. Modulars are extremely popular among tourists and commuters.  

• Open Face 

Open face helmets protect the top, back, and sides of your head leaving your face uncovered. They are common with scooters, roadsters, and cruisers because they let the rider enjoy the breeze on their face. The absence of a chin bar distinguishes an open face helmet, reducing the bike helmet’s protection dramatically.  

Regarding safety in their covering regions, open face helmets are deemed functionally equivalent to full-face helmets. Because of the lack of the chin bar, the heaviness is somewhat less than that of a full-face helmet, although the difference is not substantial. Furthermore, due to the uncovered structure of the helmet, it does not shield you from rain or road debris. 

These three types of helmets are the primary types. Other than these, there are a few other types including dual-sport helmets and dirt bike or off-road helmets. Dual-sport helmets are a combination of a street and dirt helmet. Their off-road appearance is combined with the sleek aerodynamic shape of a racing track helmet.

On the other hand, off-road helmets are intended for use away from city streets and on dirt roads, as the name implies. 

 

Check Head Size  

Wearing helmets that do not properly fit your head is pointless. This is due to the fact that a helmet that is too wide will keep bouncing about your head (and won’t provide the same safety as a helmet that fits properly), but one that is too little would exert pressure on all the incorrect parts of your head (and may even distract you to the point of leading to an accident).

If this is the situation with your existing motorcycle helmet, you should replace it as soon as possible … yes, even if you got the motorcycle helmet from a friend or found it online for a steal of a deal!!! 

Leading manufacturers offer a common motorcycle helmet size chart with sizes ranging from XS to XXL and associated measurements in cm or mm. However, various companies’ measurements for the same-size helmet, say M, may vary. As a result, carefully check the circumference of your head to determine which value in cm/mm is similar to this measurement. 

This would be the only way to ensure you order the correct one, especially if you opt to purchase one online. Utilize a fabric measuring tape to assess your head from just above your eyebrows to the thickest point at the rear of your skull. Make a note of this measure and bring it with you when you go purchasing. 

 

The Fit  

If you recall trying an adult size helmet on as a child (just because you thought they were cool and wanted to see what it was like to wear one), you will recall that it used to bounce up and down. This indicates that the helmet is too big for you. When trying on helmets, take this into consideration.

The helmet should fit snugly and not bounce or if it constricts your head/face, then it’s too tight.  Take the “goldilocks” approach and find the one that “feels just right!” If the headgear is excessively loose or too large, it could fall off in the event of an accident or shift around the riders’ head as they contact the ground and not perform properly.  

Try it for a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes to observe how it feels after a while as some helmets will feel about fine when you throw them on your noggin for the first time but make actually feel a little loose after the foam has been compressed for a little while. Or the opposite, it seems fine when you put it on initially but after say 15 minutes, you notice pain points because it just is too snug to have on your head for a bit of time.

The strap should be able to lock in and open readily, but not in a hazy manner. You have to make sure that the helmet must not shift or fall off after it has been secured. Request that someone else remove the headgear for you in order to determine whether or not the strap is correctly locked. 

 

Material Used 

Material selection will also be important, as not every headgear is made with the same components. Hard plastic, fiberglass, carbon kevlar, and other woven fibers with hard shells can enhance the helmet’s protection and lower the likelihood of brain injury and penetration. And the cost varies depending on the materials used.

A carbon-kevlar fabric, particularly one with exposed carbon, raises the price of the helmet due to production expenses. That is something to be mindful of. 

Plastic ones should be avoided since they will shatter even if dropped. Check to see whether the helmet is lightweight enough to be worn for lengthy periods of time and if the internal foam can be removed for washing. Most helmets have a longevity of 3 to 5 years, and the minor features will help you make your ultimate selection. 

 

Certification 

It is really important to choose a motorcycle helmet that satisfies motorcycle helmet safety regulations while choosing the sort of motorcycle helmet that best matches your riding style.

With today’s online purchases coming from unknown companies and countries that may allow helmets with no certifications or with fake stickers on them to be shipped to unsuspecting customers, you’d better be really leery about buying anything that just seems like a really good deal … saving a lot on a helmet that you only find out the hard way wasn’t really a certified helmet and didn’t provide the protection you needed in an accident, may be one of the costliest mistakes of your motorcycle riding life.  

A DOT helmet can be required by law in your state in the United States. To be distributed in the United States, a helmet must be DOT certified.  

Similar certifications are available in other nations or areas across the world, and third parties can also provide certification. Most certifications evaluate the same things on each helmet, with minor differences in the certification standards to meet or surpass for impact forces, energy distribution, and rider head retention.

If you prefer to wear protective gear, which we highly suggest, be sure it meets or exceeds the testing criteria for your region. 

 

Price 

Lastly, everything comes down to the cost. Determine how much you are prepared to spend or how much you have planned for. Even though you might want to save dollars wherever possible, it is strongly advised that you get a new helmet rather than a used one. Because you never know what kind of damage a headgear has gone through when you acquire it preowned. 

The components used and the number of features are frequently factored into the price. In brief, a more costly helmet provides more safety, convenience, and sophistication; however, it does not imply you cannot obtain a good helmet at a fair price. At the end of the day, the choice between spending money on a helmet and spending money on a hospital remains yours. 

 

Final Thoughts 

A motorcycle helmet is often the first piece of riding equipment purchased by a responsible and clear-thinking rider. The bike helmet is an essential piece of motorcycle riding equipment, and it must fit properly in order to function properly in the event of an accident. 

We have gone through the six primary types of motorcycle helmets that you should think about when buying your first or second motorcycle helmet. Always purchase a new, unused helmet and seriously evaluate any alterations or improvements you want to add to it.