Finding The Right Size Motorcycle Helmet

When it comes to motorcycle riding gear, nothing is more important than the helmet. In an accident, protecting your head should be your number one priority. You do that by selecting a helmet that at minimum meets DOT safety standards. It is also very important that the helmet you select fits properly. The fit of a motorcycle helmet, is as much about safety as it is comfort. Here, we are going to explore some tips in finding the right size motorcycle helmet for you.

Shape

Helmet manufacturers are aware that not everyone's head is the same shape. That is why most they make helmets with different shape profiles. There are three main shapes when it comes to your noggin. There are Long Oval, Intermediate Oval, and Round Oval. What we are referring to is the shape of your head if you were looking down on top of your head. A long oval will be shaped like a football. A round oval will be more like a basketball. And an Intermediate oval will be somewhere in between. Usually, in a helmets description, it will list one of these three head shapes. Simply select the one that best matches your head. There may be more than one shape that fits your head correctly. For example, if you think your head is somewhere between a long oval and an intermediate oval, you might could wear either shape just fine. Selecting the proper shape helmet will ensure that the helmet fits your head in every direction. It also makes wearing a helmet much more comfortable as wearing the wrong shape helmet can cause pressure points. These pressure points can cause headaches in addition to basic discomfort. Neither is good when it comes to safety. Comfortable gear, of any kind, allows you to focus on the road and our surroundings, instead of your discomfort. I really like the Helmet search function on JP Cycles when shopping for a helmet, as it lets you filter helmets by head shape.

Motorcycle Helmet Size

When you shop online for a helmet, there will be a size chart to help you select the proper size. There will be a list of measurements that will correspond to the sizes that the helmet you are interested in is offered. To check your measurement you will need either a fabric (soft) tape measure or a string and a standard tape measure or yard stick. You want to measure around the crown of your head, just above your ears and about an inch above your eyebrows. It should be about where you would wear a baseball cap. Match the corresponding measurement to the provided size chart. A helmet that is a little snug is better than a helmet that is a little loose. Some helmet manufacturers will offer multiple shell sizes. The helmet companies will use one shell size for multiple sizes that they offer. They change the fit of the helmet by changing the size of the foam and pads on the inside of the helmet. So, the more shell sizes offered by the company, the better. If you have a small head and the company only uses one shell size up to a XXXL, the helmet may feel that it fits well, but look oversized and add unnecessary weight. The more high end, aka expensive, a helmet is, typically the more shell sizes they offer.

Check Fit

When you get your new helmet, you want to make sure it fits properly. A proper fitting helmet should feel pretty snug but not uncomfortable. Once you have the helmet on, it should not move around on your head. If you twist the helmet from side to side, it should be snug enough to move the skin of your forehead. Wear the helmet for 5 to 10 minutes to ensure no pressure points are felt from selecting the wrong shape. It is important to remember that helmets do break in over time. The helmet will give and form some to the shape of your head some over time. Most people complain that a good fitting helmet is too tight on their cheeks. After a few times of wearing the helmet, It will have molded to the shape of your face and feel much more comfortable. If for some reason it doesn't, there are options. Some helmets have removable pieces to customize the fit of the cheek pads or to replace the cheek pads all together with another size.

Chin Strap

The chin strap is the webbing material that goes under your chin that is designed to secure the helmet to your head. It is required, by DOT standards to be riveted to the helmet. Most chin straps are secured with a double D ring or a quick release of some kind. The Double D ring is the most secure. Basically, the strap passes through both metal D rings and then passes back over one and under the other. The strap is thin cinched snug. Some quick release mechanisms are better than others. The first is a speed clip, which is similar to what you would find on a paracord bracelet, but made of metal. I'm not really a fan of these, because the connection does not feel very secure. The other option is a ratcheted quick release. Again, not the most secure, but I do like how easy it is to dial in the snugness of the strap. Both quick release options are much easier to and faster (as the name implies) than the double d ring. In fact, I have found I can put a helmet on and off while wearing gloves with the quick release. That is a very difficult task with the d rings.

A proper fitting helmet should have the anchor points of the strap to the helmet above the bottom of your chin. You should be able to pull the strap tight and feel it under your chin. A helmet would have to be way too big for this to be a real issue, but it is still a consideration in sizing a helmet.

Half Helmet Considerations

Obviously, half helmets do not have cheek pads as they only cover the top of your head. The sizing works the same way as mentioned above in terms of how you measure the helmet. We are also looking for that same skin movement when the helmet is on. You can not replace the inside padding to make adjustments for the helmet, like you can with a full face or modular. Half helmet will break in and mold somewhat over time. So, it is better to find a helmet that is a little snug. Proper fit on a half helmet is critical, as an ill fitting half helmet can cause lift. Helmet lift is the feeling that the wind is trying to pull the helmet off of your head. I've borrowed a half helmet that was a little large and had to keep pushing it forward as it felt like it was being pushed off of my head. Not only was it very annoying, but it was obviously not safe. If the wind can push the helmet off of your head what good would it do if it hits the ground? My last thought on half helmets, comes to strap placement. The placement of the straps can impact how secure the helmet feels, but more than anything can determine the comfort level of the helmet. Half helmets will have two straps that form a Y shape on both sides of your ears. If the front strap is misadjusted, this can cause a lot of noise, which leads to headaches and discomfort. On most half helmets, the connection point can be adjusted to limit the noise from the strap.

If you are considering a half helmet, be sure to check out our article on Half Helmet Comparisons.