Gear Reviews

7 Top Motorcycle Helmets For Every Style; And How To Understand Safety Ratings.

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With such a massive array of motorcycle helmets on the market it can be pretty challenging to decide which is the best to choose from.

Fear not, I have compiled a list of the best motorcycle helmets by style and type so you can make the best possible decision whether you love a full face, a modular or motocross helmet.

If your current skull bucket is long over due a refresh it can be a daunting prospect choosing a replacement.

For many, choosing a new helmet might be as simple as seeing what’s on sale and clicking the checkout button and away they go.

For others taking their time, researching fastidiously and speaking to other riders, may be a more accurate approach.

If that path is your preferred method of purchase this post will undoubtably help out.

Understanding Helmet Safety Standards And Rating.

When you’re scouring the shelves for your next motorbike helmet, you might wonder what the little labels with intricate acronyms and numerical codes signify.

All helmets must be tested to a set of stringent safety criteria, and the results of the testing will define where the helmet may be worn, such as on the road, the track, or the dirt.

ECE Certification:

This logo signifies the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) safety regulations, which are applied to lids sold in the European Union.

SNELL Certification

It is comparable to the SHARP Certification in that it gives the wearer more information about the helmet’s integrity.

FIM Certification:

If you enjoy a track day every now and again, you should pick a lid with this marking.

According to FIM guidelines, any helmet with this symbol can be used on a track, whether it has two or four wheels.

SHARP Certification:

It is worth mentioning that SHARP approved helmets have already exceeded ECE regulations, providing additional protection for wearers.

DOT Certification.

This abbreviation refers to the Department of Transportation and will be found on helmets sold in the United States.

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What features makes a great helmet?

We’ll now go into the specifics of selecting a new lid. Consideration of components like ventilation and visor will beneficial in terms of comfort and ride longevity.

Ventilation

Summer rides are thrilling, but the heat and associated perspiration buildup may cause a helmet to smell less than fresh.

As a result, ventilation is essential for both comfort and safety, because perspiration can generate misting, which can result in a clouded visor.

Choosing a lid with ratcheted open and closure vents is a fantastic idea. This allows you to make minor incremental changes as needed based on the ambient temperature.

So, how do you go about finding a helmet with adequate ventilation?

All helmets on the market will include ventilation vents, known as exhaust ports, at the front, crown, and back.

It’s also a good idea to look for a helmet with a vent on the chin bar, since this will funnel air onto the back of the visor, decreasing fogging.

Helmets with vents at the front and back are perfect for optimal ventilation because they enable air to naturally enter at the front and exit at the back.

In addition, ask other riders whose helmets they found to be the most effective. This is priceless experience.

Helmet Fitting and finish

A better-spec helmet will, of course, cost a little more, but the materials used to make the padding will be of greater quality. Padding composed of antibacterial material is a fantastic illustration of this, since it will play a vital function once perspiration begins to accumulate.

A higher-end helmet may also feature a wider selection of padding sizes, allowing you to experiment with fit to your liking.

Helmet Weight and Balance

If you spend a lot of time on the road, the weight and balance of your helmet will be crucial to your comfort.

The use of carbon fibre into helmets has had a significant impact on helmet design and weight. These specifications are often found on more costly helmets, but they result in a lid that is significantly lighter.

Helmet Noise and Sound

Helmet noise and sound are difficult to quantify since they are highly reliant on other factors.

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Wind noise will naturally rise if you ride frequently on motorways at elevated speeds. In contrast, if you are riding through a big city, the level of wind noise will be reduced owing to slower speeds.

Soundproofing in headgear has improved substantially over the years, which may be crucial if you want to use a bluetooth headset or purchase a helmet that already has one built in. Again, talk to other riders to see what has worked for them.

Helmet Visor

Having the correct visor is critical for safety and user experience.

It is, of course, a matter of personal choice, but the placement of the tab to pull the visor up and down may be significant, depending on whether you are left or right handed.

Another significant consideration is whether the visor is anti-fog. Motorcycle riding is heavily reliant on peripheral vision. If that field of vision is limited owing to fogging, the chances of an accident increase considerably.

Some helmets now include a completely integrated sun visor that may be dropped into position if needed on sunny days. This is fantastic since it eliminates the need to carry sunglasses, which might be an issue if the helmet lacks recesses for eyeglasses.

Motorcycle Type

The range of terrains and applications for which we currently use motorcycles has prompted helmet manufacturers to vary as well.

Whether you’re a weekend dirt biker or you spend hours travelling to your favourite picturesque places. There is a helmet best suited for any use, whether you live for a track day or merely use your two wheels to get to work.

Helmet Manufactures

When it comes to the construction of your helmet, there are two ways to consider: handmade helmets and mass-produced helmets.

Handmade helmets are likely to be more costly and will undoubtedly be built using higher-quality materials.

In contrast to higher-spec helmets, mass-produced helmets will require lower-quality materials and shorter assembly time.

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Motorcycle Helmet Type

There are six main types of motorcycle helmets which we will discuss now.

Full Face Helmet


By far the most popular and safest helmet on the market is the full face helmet.

It’s safer since it covers more of your head and neck and includes features like a chin bar. During an accident, the chin and jaw area are at risk, thus the protection provided by a full face helmet is important.

The advantages of wearing a full face skull bucket don’t stop there; it also decreases wind noise, bugs, and other debris that might be tossed up throughout your ride.

The riding posture will influence the sort of full face helmet you select.

If you enjoy the excitement of tourers, adventure bikes and cruisers, the upright riding position necessitates a lower chin bar and visor for a clearer vision.

Sports bike fans, on the other hand, may spend a significant amount of time in a hunched riding posture. This implies that a full-face helmet with a little higher chin bar and a higher visor towards the top of the helmet will provide you a better vision.


SCORPION EXO-R1 AIR HELMET

Affordable track helmet with MotoGP pedigree

A helmet is equally at home on the racecourse as it is on the commute. The SCORPIIN EXO-R1 AIR, as seen on Fabio Quartararo in MogoGP, is ideal for weekend speed nuts who like an adrenaline-fueled adventure. It is especially popular among daily commuters because to its Bluetooth headphone compatibility and upright riding position.

This FIM track approved composite Fibre helmet comes in three sizes (XS-XXL), features a titanium double d-ring clasp, and has a Pinlock Max vision.

Internally, it has an antibacterial lining, which is ideal for germaphobes, as well as cushioning with an emergency release system. There include recesses for sunglasses, 3D-contoured Kwikfit cheek pads, and Scorpion’s Airfit technology, which inflates to exactly fit spectacle users.


Modular Helmets


Modular helmets are quite popular among tourers, delivery riders, and urban commuters because to their adaptability.

It provides comparable protection to a full-face helmet, with the extra benefit of being able to raise the front chin bar. This function allows you to grab a snack on the road, talk to people without feeling restricted if you’re making a delivery, or get some fresh air without having to remove the helmet.

The benefits of modular helmet don’t end there as typically they are favoured by people who wear glasses, due to the ease on putting the glasses on with the chin bar up. A modular will almost always have a drop down visor internally included and may include recesses for bluetooth comms should they be required.

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One disadvantage is the weight. Expect some extra weight as a result of the chin bar hinge and the added mechanics used to achieve this feature.


AGV SPORTMODULAR CARBON HELMET

A high spec modular from AGV

We lorded the high spec AGV Pista GP RR model in a previous article. The great news is that the AGV SPORTMODULAR HELMET has borrowed a host of features from his bigger brother.

This incorporates a 180-degree panoramic view-port, visor locking and mounting mechanisms, and a high level of protection.

It also has anti-microbial and moisture-wicking fabric cushioning, which is essential for avoiding odour buildup, a pin lock ready face shield, and an internal drop down sun visor, which is ideal for riding in low light.

ADV Helmets


ADV helmets are designed for riders that prefer to venture off the beaten path and kick up a little dirt and mud.

ADV helmets, like adventure motorcycles, are meant to be used for on and off-road use, and as such have designs that combine elements from motocross helmets with full-face helmets.

ADV-style helmets feature fewer view-ports than MX helmets, but they are still larger than the ports on standard full-face versions to maximise the field of visibility.

These kind of helmets may allow googles by just removing the visor.


ARAI XD-4 HELMET

The quality craftsmanship and exceptional fit and finish of Arai helmets are what make it such a strong brand leader in the skull bucket industry.

The ARAI XD-4 Helmet has been the go to lid for On-Road/Off-Road Protection and its easy to why.

It has a removable visor and beak, Arai’s distinctive shield-lock, a pin-lock ready face-shield, and removable 5mm micro-fitting cheek cushions for a custom fit.


Motocross (MX) Helmets


Riding off-road is nearly usually a substantially more physically demanding exercise than riding on smooth roads, hence MX (or “motocross”) helmets have much larger viewports to allow far more ventilation for its rider than a full-face road-style helmet.

MX helmets have larger air ports since off-road motorcycles are often used at slower speeds, when wind noise is less of an issue (particularly while riding over a roaring dirtbike). This larger view-port also allows goggles to be used instead of a visor, providing the optimum dirt and muck protection.

Some motocross helmet types on sale are DOT/ECE endorsed, making them street-legal and hence preferred with riders of scrambler-style motorbikes, since the off-road look of these helmets blends well with retro-themed bikes. A detachable visor/beak is common on these, and some MX helmets additionally include inner drop-down sun visors.

BELL MOTO-10 SPHERICAL HELMET

The BELL MOTO-10 SPHERICAL HELMET is perhaps one of the most sophisticated helmets on the market, including cutting-edge technology and engineering to safeguard the rider’s grey matter in the case of an accident.

Its claims Spherical technology that redirects forces and allows the outer layer of the helmet to revolve around an inner-shell upon impact. This acts to mitigate the effects of high-impact accidents.


Open Face Motorcycle Helmet


The advantages of a full face helmet have previously been addressed; it protects your skull from harm in the event of an accident by encasing your entire head. But what if you’d like the sun’s rays on your face?

An open face helmet, which is typically used on vintage or retro-style scooters and motorcycles, provides the user with a greater wind in the face experience without the advantages of protection that a full face headgear would provide.

An open face helmet is recommended for low-speed riding and should be worn along with some eye protection. 

SHOEI J.O OPEN FACE HELMET

The Shoei J.O open face helmet features a traditional American style and is available in a variety of hues ranging from off white to matt black. The linings may be removed for cleaning, as expected, and there is a manually adaptable visor to protect your face from high rates of insect harm.

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