How To Make a Motorcycle Helmet Fit Better-Advice From A Pro

In this article, we’re going to walk you through the different types of motorcycle helmets available and we’re also going to help you determine the correct shape and size to work with to make your helmet fit better.

There are a few ways to make your motorcycle helmet fit a little better, it may not just be the circumference of your head but the shape. Did you know that we all have different shaped heads? There are round oval heads, an intermediate oval head, and you’ve got a long oval head. Our video tutorial explains exactly how to get your helmet to fit a bit better.

Every helmet that we’re going to discuss will carry a Department of Transportation or DOT sticker associated with it, which means that it’s legal for street use in the United States. You might see some other safety ratings out there like Snell or ECE, we’re not going to cover those in this article.

Regardless of what helmet price point you’re shopping at, or what safety rating you’re looking for all the sizing information in this article will apply to all helmets.

The first thing you need to determine is what type of helmet you’re looking to buy. There are five different types of helmets available to purchase at the moment, we’re going to kick things off by taking a look at the open face helmet.

Open Face Helmet

The open face helmet is available in two different styles, there is the three-quarter design and the three-quarter design actually adds additional protection down around the side of your head. Open face helmets are also available in a half helmet design, which only protects the very top of your head.

The benefits of an open face helmet is a mass amount of ventilation, they’re going to be easy to get on and off, and they’re not going to feel restrictive when you’re wearing them.

Pros

• • More ventilation

  • Easy To Get On and Off

  • Less Restrictive

The main drawback to an open face helmet is that there is no protection for your face or your eyes. I mean no protection in the event of a crash but there’s also no protection from the elements, so if it begins to rain or it gets cold you’re going to get all of that right in your face

Cons

• • No Face Protection

  • No Eyes Protection

For a bit of additional protection let’s take a look at a full-face helmet.

Full-face Helmet

The full-face helmet is the most typical you’ll see on the street and it’s the only helmet you’ll see at the racetrack.

The main benefit here is you do not have the added protection of a chin bar, that works its way across the front of the helmet as well as a built-in face shield to protect your eyes.

Another additional benefit to all of this protection is that it’s quieter than an open face helmet when you’re riding down the road.

Pros

• • Pros

  • Built-In-Face Shield

  • Quieter

Some of the drawbacks are it’s a little bit harder to get on and off, and If it’s not fitted correctly it can be uncomfortable and that’s why getting a correctly fitting helmet is so important.

Cons

• • Difficult To Get On & Off

  • Uncomfortable If Not Fitted Correctly

This is a traditional full-face helmet but there are a couple of different varieties on the full face so let’s take a look at those right.

Starting with the modular helmet

Modular Helmet

The modular helmets have become extremely popular with both touring and commuting riders because the main benefit of a modular helmet is that you can actually open it at the chin bar.

This allows you to get the helmet both on and off a little bit easier and when you’re sitting around in the gas station you can eat food, take a drink or simply have a conversation without taking the helmet off.

Pros

• • Chin Barr Opens

  • Easy To Get On & Off

  • Less Restrictive

Some of the drawbacks of a modular helmet are they tend to be a little bit heavier and noisier than a traditional full-face and the chin bar can be a potential point of failure in the event of a crash.

The one note I want to make is that these are not designed to be worn in the open position while riding your motorcycle, so just keep that in mind.

The next variation I want to take a look at is the ADV helmet

The ADV or adventure helmets are designed for folks that like to ride both on and off-road. The benefits you’re going to see with this is that you have a helmet that’s going to be more comfortable and quiet than a true dirt bike helmet would be on the street.

You will still be able to use goggles with this, and these are going to be safety rated which means you can use them both on and off-road legally.

Pros

• • Comfortable & Quiet

  • Usable With Goggles

  • Safe On & Off-Road

The drawbacks here are they’re going to be a bit heavier and not nearly as well ventilated as a true dirt bike helmet. They’re still going to have this peak on the top which can cause lift at fast highway speeds.

Cons

• • Heavier

  • Less Ventilation

  • The peak can cause a lift

This is going to take us right into the final variation of a full-face helmet which is going to be a true dirt bike helmet.

Dirt Bike Helmet