The Importance of Choosing the Right Motorcycle Helmet
If you’re as enthusiastic about motorbikes as we are we are, then you’ll know the importance of being able to put safety first in the roadway. The most essential element of any driver is, of course, the helmet for motorcycles. In this article, we’ll discuss why selecting the appropriate helmet for your riding is necessary and why it shouldn’t be made with seriousness.
A helmet is the first protection you need while on the road. It’s more than just an attractive accessory; it’s an essential piece of safety equipment that could help make a difference in your life should you be involved in an accident. In this regard, Here are a few essential factors to take into consideration when selecting a helmet for your motorcycle:
1. Fit: It should sit comfortably and snugly over your head. It shouldn’t be too tight or too loose, as both could hinder its performance in the event of a collision. Make sure to test various helmets before you choose the one that perfectly matches the shape of your head.
2. Certifications for safety: Search for helmets tested to meet safety standards like DOT (Department of Transportation), ECE (Economic Commission for Europe), and Snell. This certification means the helmet can pass stringent safety tests and gives some level of safety.
3. Style and visibility: The appearance and visibility of fashion are essential; however, it is also visibility. Choose a helmet with bright colors and reflective features so that you are more apparent to other motorists on the road.
4. Ventilation: Wearing an appropriately ventilated helmet could make a considerable difference, particularly on scorching days. Ensure you choose a helmet with enough airflow to remain comfy and cool during long trips.
5. Other features: Certain helmets have built-in sun visors, Bluetooth communication systems, or rapid-release mechanisms. Take into consideration your requirements and needs when selecting an appropriate helmet. Extra attributes.
Remember that your helmet represents a significant investment in your security and well-being. This isn’t an area in which you should cut corners or sacrifice the quality of your helmet. If you select the correct helmet, you’re making sure you’re safe and setting an instance for the other riders.
If you’re a veteran driver or just getting started, always put safety first and pick the helmet that suits your requirements and complements your style. Ultimately, nothing is more enjoyable than feeling safe and doing your best on the roads.
Always be safe on the road, and put on your helmet!
Why Do I Need a Good-Fitting Helmet?
Just because a helmet fits your head, doesn’t mean that it’s the right size for you because it might end up being too wide or narrow for your head and thus doesn’t provide the best safety measures.
The best helmet that would ultimately provide maximum head protection would be the one that is compatible with your head dimensions and figuring this out is a crucial step to finding one.
Whenever the helmet is subjected to an impact, the impact-absorbing liner is designed to withstand such forces.
However, if the gap between the helmet and your head is big, your safety gear could be a hazard to you as it would hit you hard in case of an impact.
On the other hand, if the helmet is too tight, the gap between it and your head could be at its minimum making the entire system uncomfortable.
Eventually, you wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the road because your helmet serves as a distraction as you’re trying to adjust it.
A good-fitting helmet would prevent the above problems from occurring, thus, giving the safety device ample space to provide maximum protection on the road. Therefore, you are required to choose the right helmet and the first step would be to figure out how to size a motorcycle helmet appropriately.
The Following are Steps on How to Size a Motorcycle Helmet
We also have a detailed review on how to measure the head for a helmet in case you want to check that out!
Step #1: Choose Your Helmet Style
There are many options when it comes to motorcycle helmets and these can be overwhelming for a rider looking for the perfect solution.
However, one should know that there are usually five basic types of motorcycle helmets available. The following is a brief introduction to these various types of motorcycle helmets.
Open Face Helmets
These types of helmets are considered the least restrictive as well as the least protective motorcycle helmets in the market.
The name was derived from the design of the helmet because the shell doesn’t cover the rider’s face or chin, thus, allowing a significant amount of airflow onto the rider’s face.
It could also be half the normal helmet which only covers the top of your skull and is held onto the head by straps. Similarly, it can also be a helmet that covers every other part of the head except for the face of the rider.
Normally, these helmets tend to be less expensive than other types of helmets and carry fewer features with them. They are typically worn by riders on retros, classics, or even cruisers.
Full Face Helmets
These types of helmets are entirely different from open-face helmets as they cover the rider’s face completely.
They serve as a face shield protecting every part of the rider’s face like the nose, mouth, and eyes. There is even an extension of the shell known as the chin-bar that covers the chin or bottom of the rider’s face.
However, full-face helmets tend to be poorly ventilated, but also the most protective helmets available. They also eliminate all the background noise as well as the one from the bike making it the most silent helmet around.
This feature allows the rider to concentrate on the road without any noise as a distraction. You would find full-face helmets around many race tracks as well as every kind of street bike.
ADV Dual Sport/Adventure Helmet
On the other hand, if your motorcycle takes you on and off the road, then you would have to consider the ADV Dual Sport or Adventure helmet.
These helmets combine features that are suitable for riders on the streets who also maneuver off-road to the trail in a single ride.
When on the street the ADV helmet provides an effective face shield as well as street-legal safety on the highway and a sufficient mask for the eyes on dirt roads. They also come installed with lots of ventilation and compatibility with goggles.
If your motorcycle adventures are based on both the road and dirt, then there may not be a worthy helmet as compared to the ADV Dual Sport helmet. It offers maximum protection in various environments that your bike can run on.
Modular Helmets
Modular helmets are a sub-type of full-face helmets that use a hinged mechanism to swing the chin bar and face shield out whenever the rider hits the release button and the helmet would be transformed from a full-face to an open-face one.
Such modularity is what gave the helmet the name. Modular helmets allow the rider to choose between open-face and full-face helmets.
This way, they can enjoy the benefits and protection of both helmet types depending on their preference and the road they’re using. They are especially popular with commuters and touring crowds.
Half Shell Helmets
These types of motorcycle helmets only cover the top of the rider’s head and area from their foreheads to the brows.
Some of them tend to offer a little more cover at the back of your neck as well as ears but leave the rest of your face exposed.
They are also well-ventilated but offer significantly less head protection as compared to full-face or open-face helmets.
Furthermore, most of these helmets don’t come with face shields and, thus, require you to buy your goggles for eye protection.
Step #2: Determine Head Shape and Size
After knowing the type of environment you’ll be riding your motorcycle, you’ll also figure out the perfect helmet suitable for you.
Therefore, you would now be required to find out your head shape. There are normally three basic head shapes in which almost everyone fits and they include:
Long Oval
The shape of a long-oval head is usually longer front-to-back instead of side-to-side.
Intermediate Oval
The helmet with this kind of shape would be slightly longer from side-to-side rather than front-to-back and is usually the most common of shapes.
Round Oval
This head shape is almost equal side-to-side as it is front-to-back.
To find out your head shape, you could ask a friend to take a photo of it from above. You would.
However, need to flatten your hair as much as possible because this tends to obscure the original shape of your head. Before you move on to sizing, check carefully to be sure which shape your head falls into.
Once you’ve confirmed whether it’s long and thin, round, or somewhere in between, then you can move on to measuring its circumference appropriately.
Step #3: Determine the Circumference of Your Head
You can take a measuring tape, and wrap it around your head just above your eyebrows ensuring that it lays flat against your head.
Doing this alone can be difficult at times and, thus, you are advised to let a friend or family member help out to make the results more accurate. You can also opt to use a mirror in case there is nobody around to assist with the task.
You should take more than one measurement and when it comes to decision making, always settle for the biggest value. This is because the biggest value would accommodate the best fit for a how-to-size motorcycle helmet.
Step #4: Trying on the Helmet
Once you’ve settled for the best helmet that meets your taste and serves your much-needed protection requirements, you should try it on and see if it fits comfortably.
This ensures that the helmet is capable of protecting all the vital organs on your head in case of an impact or accident. Put the helmet on and shake your head front as well as sideways.
If the helmet happens to wobble in either of the two directions, then it might not be the right one for you.
Also, try putting your hand on the helmet and twisting it. If it happens to turn freely on your head even, then it might be loose. Remember, while fitting helmets, just because it’s tight, doesn’t mean that it is the best fit.
It might even cause more harm to you if there is entirely no space between your head and the shell of the helmet.
(FAQs)
Q: Why is it important to wear a properly sized helmet while riding a motorcycle?
A: A properly sized helmet is crucial to your safety while riding a motorcycle. It is designed to absorb the impact of a crash, protecting your head and brain from serious injury. If your helmet is too loose or too tight, it will not be able to perform its intended function and may even increase your risk of injury in a crash.
Q: How do I determine the correct size of a motorcycle helmet?
A: To determine the correct size of a motorcycle helmet, you should measure your head circumference at its widest point, usually just above your eyebrows and ears. You can then compare your measurements to the size chart provided by the helmet manufacturer to find the appropriate size.
Q: Can I just buy a helmet based on my hat size?
A: No, you should not buy a helmet based on your hat size. Helmets are designed to fit differently than hats, and using your hat size as a reference can result in an improperly fitting helmet.
Q: Should I try on a helmet before buying it?
A: Yes, it is highly recommended that you try on a helmet before purchasing it. Even if you have measured your head circumference and found the appropriate size according to the size chart, different helmet models and brands may fit differently. Trying on a helmet will allow you to ensure a proper fit and determine whether the helmet is comfortable enough to wear for an extended period.
Q: How should a properly sized helmet fit?
A: A properly sized helmet should fit snugly on your head without being too tight. It should not move around on your head or shift when you move your head. The helmet should also be level and sit squarely on your head, with the chin strap securely fastened.
Q: What if I am in between two helmet sizes?
A: If you are in between two helmet sizes, you should try on both sizes and choose the one that fits snugly without being too tight. If the smaller size feels too tight or uncomfortable, you should choose the larger size. It is important to remember that different helmet models and brands may fit differently, so you should always try on a helmet before purchasing it.
Q: Can I wear a helmet that is too big or too small?
A: No, you should not wear a helmet that is too big or too small. A helmet that is too big may shift or come off in a crash, while a helmet that is too small may be uncomfortable to wear and not provide adequate protection. It is important to find a helmet that fits properly to ensure your safety while riding a motorcycle.
Final Thoughts
Riding a motorcycle can be very exciting as it is exhilarating. However, it also carries with it many risks that you are required to protect yourself against and a helmet is the most recommended measure.
So take your time when it comes to finding out how to size a motorcycle helmet to get maximum protection out of your choice.
