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Choosing your first motorcycle helmet can be a confusing task. The market is flooded with open faced, full faced and flip fronted helmets. Some are cheap, some are expensive and the rest are somewhere inbetween – but how do you know which helmet to choose? How much to spend? How it should fit?
One of the first things to consider is how much money you can afford to spend on your helmet. It’s wise to spend as much as you can afford to. When the helmet is strapped to your head, the weight, aerodynamics and ventilation system all play a vital part in the overall comfort of your helmet and ultimately, the enjoyment of your ride.
Whilst all motorcycle helmets by law need to meet a certain baseline standard in order to be legally sold within the UK, some motorbike helmets not only meet, but actually far exceed these requirements. It’s this that deserves your consideration when purchasing your new helmet.
Yes, it’s worth checking that your potential purchase meets the legal requirements, but if you’re buying from a UK shop, you can be pretty confident that you’ll be buying a helmet that’s legal for use on UK roads.
So, you have set your budget, you know what you can spend on your new lid, so now it’s time to choose.
What type of motorcycle helmet should you choose?
Generally you’ll see open face, full face and flip front helmets for sale.
Flip front helmets are great for the commuter rider. Flip the front up and cruise into a petrol station without having to worry about taking off your helmet. Nip into Tesco for a loaf of bread without having to un-tack yourself – life for the commuter can be easier with a flip front helmet. Glasses wearers find that a flip fronted helmet can be put on and taken off without the need to constantly remove glasses.
Deep in the heart of all motorcyclists there is the desire to ride with the wind in our hair. Open face helmets can be a remarkably comfortable way to travel on your motorcycle. When the weather is fine and the journeys are short, an open face can be appealing. It’s worth bearing in mind that a large portion of your lower face is exposed when wearing an open face helmet. This leaves you more open to debris in the air, such as small stones flung up from cars or other riders, and of course the flying insect! A bumble bee to the chin at 60mph comes with a good blow, that’s for sure!
Full face helmets are where the choice really is. The majority of motorcyclists choose the full face option. Full face helmets offer the coverage that most riders need. Sports bike riders find the most aerodynamic, lightweight helmets within this section. The price ranges dramatically according to materials, technology, country of origin and brand.
If this is the section you’re choosing from, remember to spend as much as you can afford, this is a good rule to follow. Consider helmets that have been wind tunnel tested if you’re riding at speeds. Think about the ventilation system if you’re wearing the helmet in hot climates. Consider the liners – can they be removed when you need to wash them? What sort of retention system does the helmet use?
This is an occasion where a discussion with a salesperson could be useful to you. Shop staff should be able to guide you in the right direction. If in doubt – ASK!
Take the time to make your decision. Read reviews, look on forums, consider the SHARP rating system (but bear in mind the tests are performed by monitoring the performance of a helmet under multiple impacts – as opposed to one impact).
Enjoy your Motorcycle helmet shopping and ride safe!