You only have one brain, so it’s vital to buy the most productive motorcycle helmet you can afford. That doesn’t mean spending more than £1,000 on a race-ready carbon tyre, and there are plenty of well-regarded budget motorcycle helmets that also get the highest protection scores.
By law, the only protective element that must be worn on a motorcycle is a helmet. There’s a clever explanation for this: repeated studies have shown that wearing a helmet can particularly increase the risk of serious injury (or worse) in the event of an accident.
It makes sense to take care of your head anyway, but deciding which motorcycle helmet is right for you can be a tricky decision, especially with such a wide variety.
The first position to start with is the helmet category that suits the motorcycle and the type of riding it does. It doesn’t make sense to buy a well-serviced, feature-rich motocross helmet to ride your GSX-R1000 on the weekend and an FIM-homologated sports motorcycle helmet may not necessarily work on an adventure motorcycle tour in Morocco.
If you already know which headset you want, jump to the corresponding segment here; If not, read on for more tips.
Regardless of the type of headset you need, there are a few general principles you should keep in mind before making a decision. Let’s start by looking for the basics and then move on to the options.
The first function of a helmet is to protect your head from the impact of a forged object. To do this, it uses two main elements: a hard outer layer designed to absorb impact across its entire surface. and a deformable inner layer that acts as a cushion or passage area. Fiberglass, polycarbonate, or carbon fiber are typical fabrics for exterior construction, while expanded polystyrene (EPS) is widely used for interior construction.
Many brands incorporate a multi-directional impact system (MIPS) that provides greater coverage by allowing the interior to move independently, reducing rotational injuries. Some helmets also have an Emergency Quick Release System (EQRS), which provides the ability to remove the cheek in an emergency. pads while the helmet is still worn. This reduces stress on the head, loosening compatibility and making removal less difficult and safer.
All helmets sold in the UK will need to comply with the European standard ECE 22. 06, which replaced the old ECE 22. 05 standard (although the old inventory of ECE 22. 05 helmets is removed first).
This is a comprehensive series of tests to ensure that a given helmet performs as it deserves in the event of an accident. You’ll find a tag somewhere on the helmet to check this, regularly on the chin strap. From July 2023, all new helmets manufactured must be tested according to the new ECE 22. 06 standard, it is still legal to use those tested according to the old ECE 22. 05 certification.
In 2007, the UK government created its own testing programme, the Safety Helmet Assessment and Qualification Programme (SHARP). This program gives helmets a score out of five and can give you an additional indication on which motorcycle helmet is right for you.
Whichever earbud you choose, it’s also worth investing in earplugs. The wind noise you feel at road speed on any motorcycle and with any helmet is enough to damage your hearing, so be sure to do it!
At first glance, an adventure motorcycle helmet may look like nothing more than a motocross or off-road helmet, but it’s so much more than that. Adventure motorcycle helmets combine the airflow, practicality, and sun protection of off-road tires. with the comfort of sports travel helmets for a globetrotting hybrid.
The most apparent external detail of an adventure helmet is the visor, which comes from the off-road world. It’s there to keep the sun out of your eyes and also to offer a little extra protection from bumps from branches or other debris.
The problem with a helmet visor is that it creates extra turbulence and adds strain to your neck muscles during extended high-speed trips, such as road work. For this reason, many adventure helmets also come with shutter panels that allow you to remove the visor if desired.
Unlike genuine off-road helmets, adventure helmets also have the option of wearing goggles or a visor. Wearing goggles improves airflow and can keep you cool when you’re running intensely or riding off-road, but for on-road riding, extra comfort and coverage is a visor.
Adventure helmets that started out as off-road models and have additional road features are less expensive than those designed specifically for this purpose. Here are some of the most productive ones we’ve recently tested at MCN:
Sport motorcycle helmets are designed to be as slippery as possible in terms of aerodynamics, as they are designed to be worn at top speeds. This also makes them ideal for use on naked motorcycles where the rider is constantly tossed by the wind.
Sportbike helmets also have a wide field of vision for track use (so you can see the riders around you) and they also have openings (the gap you’re looking through) that have the most sensitive height so you can see where you are. We are in a race group.
Many brands offer sport motorcycle helmets in the widest range of their diversity as an iconic style and FIM-approved versions (which can be worn at any point in the race) can cost upwards of £1,000. But there are also many features at a lower price. prices.
Below are some recently reviewed sports motorcycle helmets:
Technically, you can wear any type of helmet on an old-fashioned bike, however, as the scene evolved and the market grew, helmet brands sensed an opportunity and many added express features to their lines.
Retro helmets range from modern shells with vintage paint to traditional handcrafted models that incorporate old-school taste with modern protection standards.
A slight drop in demand has meant that some models of old helmets do not comply with the ECE 22. 06 protection standard and are removed from the ranges, but the selection remains wide.
Here are some of the most productive ones tested recently:
Sport travel helmets are similar to motorcycle sports helmets, but they offer comfort and practicality over long distances above lap times. You’re more likely to find folding visors, ratchet chin straps, or seatbelts than you are with dual D-rings and integrated intercoms. Aerodynamic air intakes will also be missing, or at least smaller than in sports bike covers.
Flip-up or modular helmets have been popular for decades with riding instructors and police officers who have to communicate with other people while wearing a helmet. Instead of cutting it all off, a button releases the chin guard and opens the front of the helmet.
More recently, many flip-up helmets have been double approved, which means you can travel with them open or closed. This means you get the refreshing comfort of an open helmet in the city and the protection of a full face when you reach the national speed limit.
Flip-up helmets are also popular with traveling drivers and appreciate the ease of turning the front end to chat with a passenger or buy fuel.
The problem with a flip-up helmet is that it tends to be larger and heavier than a full-face helmet due to the inclusion of the mechanism (although it gets bigger every year). They also tend to feature the maximum fundamental color and design options.
Here are some of the most productive flip-up helmets tested recently:
If you never venture out of the city center or ride a scooter to work, a jet helmet or jet helmet may be a comfortable option instead of a full-face helmet.
These are most popular in the scooter culture of mainland European cities, although many British cyclists use them as well. Open helmets are also popular with cruising or American cyclists, as well as old and old-fashioned bicycles.
While they’re comfortable to wear and cool in hot weather, the apparent problem is that your face is rarely heavily protected in the event of a twist of fate – jet helmets often get larger at the jawline.
A well-compatible helmet is paramount, both in terms of protection and comfort. Too loose can cause it to move when in use, and it may not be able to protect as it deserves, perhaps even loose on occasion. of an accident. Too tight, it will be temporarily uncomfortable, affect concentration, and cause you a headache; A few kilometers with a helmet that is too small may seem like a medieval torture device. The most productive motorcycle helmet deserves to be comfortably compatible and move with the head without causing discomfort.
Measuring your head is a smart position to start determining your head length (above your ears and around your forehead), but the only way to be sure is to go to a store or salon and check it out. Manufacturers offer a variety of shell lengths to accommodate other head lengths, as well as liners and cheek pads for a completely custom fit. The motorcycle helmet is the one you will feel most comfortable in.
Keeping a helmet in position is very important to its effectiveness, and there are 3 main types of fastening systems: a double D-ring, a ratchet clasp or clip, and a car seat belt-type latch. All of them meet the required standards, so it is ultimately a matter of personal choice.
A double D-ring is the classic approach and adjusts every time it is placed by simply pulling it tightly. With no moving parts, it’s also the simplest and remains popular at the highest point of cycling sport. A ratchet clasp is similar in that you tighten it to your liking each time, but some will find that running the strap through the clasp is less confusing to understand. The type of seat belt must first be adjusted. , converting the strap duration accordingly, possibly involving some trial and error. In operation, simply place the buckle on the latch and press a button to release it.
A strap fits snugly when you can slide two hands between it and your jaw. It also can’t limit breathing or blood flow, and nothing less, that your helmet doesn’t stay in position when you want it to.
MCN’s expert road testers delight in testing all facets of motorcycle kits and have put a wide variety of helmets through their paces. Here is our variety in categories: you can find more features and detailed reviews by clicking on the corresponding links.
At MCN, our team of expert hounds has decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of kilometers. We don’t check our equipment until it’s destroyed; We use it exactly as you do, all over the world and in all conditions. This means that we can provide you with unbiased shopping recommendations that you can trust.
Each of our writers deeply feels the desires of today’s motorcyclists. . . because they are one.
If you don’t see an item review on this page, we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we believe they are vital and applicable in the market, and rest assured that we will endeavour to offer a review as soon as we have covered the miles.
For more information, visit our dedicated page that explains how we test motorcycle products.