How to Select the Perfect Motorcycle Helmet

Riding a motorcycle is exceptional fun, whether you go touring, ride off-road, or use your bike to commute around town. Knowing how to select the ideal motorcycle helmet for you is crucial to your overall comfort, confidence, and safety.

Delve into the world of motorcycles and helmets and what to look for when making your pick and note the key safety standards that go along with them.

Understanding the Importance of a Motorcycle Helmet

Apart from aesthetics and style, the ultimate function of a motorcycle helmet is to protect your head in the event of an accident or a fall — finding the right type of helmet that fits your head correctly, offers the appropriate safety features, and complies with standards is essential. This allows you to ride with confidence, knowing that you are protected.

Exploring Different Types of Motorcycle Helmets

While driving around, you will notice motorcyclists wearing a range of different helmets, and these often match the type of bike they’re riding. That is because although safety and comfortability are key, the kind of helmet has different attributes and purposes.

Full-Face Helmets

Full-face helmets offer the best all-around protection as they provide full head and facial protection. They are also prevalent among sports and touring riders due to their superior safety features. Some of their key attributes include:

Protection: These provide maximum coverage and protect the face, chin, and jaw.
Aerodynamics: They have a sleek and aerodynamic design to reduce wind resistance, which enhances stability at high speeds.
Noise reduction: Because of their almost completely sealed structure, they offer better noise reduction and insulation than other helmet types.
Visor: You can have tinted or clear visors that protect against debris and even UV rays. You can often swap them out for different options according to your riding needs.
Comfort: These helmets typically include comfortable padding and ventilation systems to help keep the rider cool and to have fresh air circulating in the helmet.

Adventure-Style Helmets

Adventure-style helmets are typically used by dual-sport motorcycle riders, offering versatility for both on-road and off-road conditions. Due to their versatility, they are often popular for riders needing a helmet with varying characteristics.

Some of the key attributes of adventure-style helmets include:

Removable visor: This allows you to swap out the visor and wear goggles, providing flexibility for different riding environments.
Adjustable peaks: These helmets feature either removable or adjustable peaks. Peaks reduce glare and protect against debris, but you may wish to remove yours when riding at high speeds to eliminate potential drag.
Ventilation: Due to the varied and often intense riding, these helmets provide bikers with enhanced airflow systems to keep them cool.
Durability: These helmets are constructed from robust materials, ensuring they can withstand rough conditions.
Comfort: Many often include moisture-wicking liners and padding to ensure extended comfort during rides.
Safety: Most of these helmets are built to meet and often exceed safety standards to ensure reliable rider protection.

Open-Face Helmets

Open-face helmets offer greater visibility and airflow, making them ideal for slower riding, like cruisers or city riders. They also have a retro look, appealing to those who prefer a classic style. You can find two kinds of open-face helmets:

Half helmets: These are often referred to as half shells, and they offer partial head protection. They are open at the back and do not cover the ears, unlike ¾-style options.
¾-style helmets: This choice offers greater protection for the sides and back of the head. Apart from that, half helmets share many of the same attributes.

Some of the fundamental attributes to consider with ¾ helmets include:

Visibility: They provide an open and unobstructed view, which helps to enhance peripheral vision.
Airflow: Allows for better ventilation, allowing the rider to keep cooler and more comfortable than in other helmets.
Comfort: These are generally lighter and less restrictive compared to full-face helmets.
Style: They are often chosen for their vintage and retro aesthetic, especially for casual riding at slower speeds.
Versatility: These helmets protect the head and the ears but lack chin or face protection. Therefore, many riders will pair them with goggles or a face shield for added safety.

Modular Helmets

Modular helmets wonderfully combine features of both full-face and open-face helmets, offering versatility for various riding conditions. They are perfect for riders who want and need the best that both have to offer. The primary attributes to consider when thinking of purchasing one of these include:

Versatility: These models can be used as a full-face helmet to maximize protection or flipped up to function as an open-face helmet.
Convenience: The flip-up design allows for easy communication and quick access without removing the helmet.
Comfort: They are often equipped with advanced ventilation systems to maintain comfort during long rides.
Protection: A modular helmet provides substantial coverage similar to full-face options when closed.
Flexibility: These are ideal for touring, commuting, and adventure riding, as they can adapt to different needs and preferences.

Determining Your Helmet Size

Regardless of the type of helmet you wish to get, it is crucial to ensure you know what size you need to fit your head snugly.

Benefits of a Properly Fitted Helmet

Finding a helmet that fits correctly has several key benefits, such as:

Enhanced protection
Increased stability
Enhanced comfort
Reduced fatigue
Improved visibility
Noise reduction
Improved riding performance

How to Measure Your Head for a Helmet

Thankfully, sizing up your head and determining the right-sized helmet only takes a few simple steps, as follows:

Use a soft measuring tape: Wrap it around your head, about an inch above your eyebrows and ears.
Measure the circumference: Ensure the tape is level all around, and note the measurement in centimeters or inches.
Repeat for accuracy: Measure a couple of times to ensure consistency.
Consult size charts: Compare your measurement with the helmet manufacturer’s size chart to find the best fit.
Try on helmets: Consider trying on different potential sizes until you find one that is snug and comfortable without causing any pressure points.

Remember that everyone has a uniquely shaped head, and this will also impact how well a helmet fits.

Evaluating Motorcycle Helmets and Safety Standards

Understanding helmet safety standards is crucial to ensuring maximum protection. Explore its importance and how to choose a protective option.

Why Helmet Safety Matters

Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of head injuries in the event of an accident. Additionally, many regions have legal requirements mandating helmet use to enhance riders’ safety and reduce fatalities. Complying with these laws ensures both protection and adherence to the local regulations.

Understanding Key Safety Certifications

When it comes to the safety certification for motorcycle helmets, there are three key certifications to be aware of:

United States Department of Transportation (DOT): This agency tests helmets for impact and retention. If they carry the DOT sticker, the helmet meets the basic safety standard.
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE): A helmet that carries this sticker meets the ECE 22.05 requirements and is recognized in over 50 countries. It is similar to DOT standards but with more rigorous testing.
Snell Foundation (Snell): This is a voluntary certification — however, it is highly respected in the industry. It identifies helmets that have undergone stringent testing and are superior in offering protection.

How to Choose the Safest Motorcycle Helmet

When selecting a helmet, prioritize safety features, such as advanced impact-absorbing liners, reinforced chin straps, and adequate ventilation systems. The material and construction are crucial — helmets made from high-quality materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, or polycarbonate offer superior protection.

Look for multilayered construction that disperses impact force effectively. Additionally, ensure that the helmet fits snugly and securely without causing any discomfort. A well-constructed helmet not only meets safety standards but also provides durability and reliability, ensuring maximum protection in the event of an accident.

Picking the Right Helmet for Your Needs

When it comes to picking the right helmet, each person likely needs something different, and it is essential to ask the following questions when determining what will be best for you:

What do you want to use the helmet for?
What particular features do you want?
What type of safety rating do you need?
What helmet is suitable for your head size and shape?

Get the Best Motorcycle with Family Powersports

Family Powersports understands the importance of reliability and safety, so we only carry quality new and used motorcycles in our inventory. If you want to purchase your next ride, visit us at one of our locations in Texas, where we’ll treat you like family.

If you have any questions about motorcycles, helmets, or other gear, contact us! Our team would love to lend you a hand and provide professional and friendly advice.