Guide to buying your first motorcycle crash helmet

The sheer number of styles and makes available, not to mention the wide differences in prices, can make buying one a bewildering experience for the biking newbie. That’s why we’ve come up with these buying tips, specifically aimed at the inexperienced rider, to help you decide which one is right for you.

Do research…

There are loads of places to research your helmet purchase. The internet can be a great source, with loads of YouTube videos and web articles like the one you are reading here – but we’re going to go old school here and suggest that you can’t beat a visit to a reputable bricks and mortar dealership.

A good dealership will have a range of items for you to touch, feel and try on first hand but – more than that – they should have a trained clothing specialist who can answer any questions you will (inevitably) have. They can check the fit with you (more on that later) and give you some good old-fashioned advice. It’s not to say that there are not some very good online retailers, but when you’re buying for the first time (as opposed to replacing) there really is a lot to be said for making a face-to-face purchase.

One particularly useful website is SHARP, the Department for Transport’s Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme. They not only offer good impartial advice, they test helmets in a laboratory, using various impact tests, with the results published on their website.

Buy new (and the best you can afford)

Crash helmets are designed to do one main job, and that is to absorb energy from an impact before it transfers to your head. If they’re involved in an accident then they need to be professionally checked over (which, as it normally involves an X-ray, is usually prohibitively expensive) or written off. Often any damage is under the shell and can’t be seen, which is why buying a second hand crash helmet is a risk that just isn’t worth taking.

Buying new means you know the history. You’ve been solely responsible for looking after it and can vouch for its integrity.

We’d also strongly recommend buying the best you can afford. Kenny Roberts, a famous racer from the 1970s and ‘80s once said ‘if you have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet’ and it’s probably still the best advice anyone ever gave on the matter. The consequences of having a crash in a substandard helmet don’t bear thinking about. Sure some of the cheapest helmets out there meet the minimum safety standards, but aspire to get something that exceeds those levels. That said…

More expensive is not always better

There are a lot of factors that go into making a crash helmet and sometimes the features you pay for are not necessarily safety related.

For example, Shoei is one of the most respected helmet makers in the world. Their base models are renowned for their uncompromising design for safety in themselves. More expensive models from them and the other big manufacturers often have extra comfort features, like vents, linings, lighter materials, inbuilt communications, sun visors and snazzy graphics, but if we’re just looking at safety, the base model is already at a very high level.

That said, top of the range helmets are usually more expensive because more work goes into creating them. Cheap helmets may meet a certain standard but for the new rider, trying to spend a bit more and move into the mid-range, with a model from one of the bigger names might be one of the best investments you ever make.

Look out for fakes

Fake helmets are out there – maybe not in huge numbers but certainly enough for buyers to beware. Fakes can be found in the form of cheap helmets being passed off as premium brands, for example counterfeiters have been known to make copies of £1000 Arai helmets, but without the build quality or safety features of the Japanese brand. While these may look almost indistinguishable to the average punter (in the same way a counterfeit Rolex can look good on your wrist) protection is the only thing that matters and fake helmets are just about the worst thing you can buy.

As well as imitation helmets, we do see cheap and ineffective crash helmets being adorned with fake accreditation, pretending to have passed the important tests required to legally go on sale as protective equipment.

The best way to avoid fakes is to do your research and buy from a reputable source. If something seems too good to be true, it almost certainly will be.

Get a good fit

The best helmet in the world is no good if it doesn’t fit properly. An ill fitting helmet will be uncomfortable and distracting in itself, and if it’s too big it might even come off in the event of an accident. Tempting as it might be to get a cool bargain that’s just one size out, we’d strongly recommend against it.

Likewise there are a number of different styles of helmet. For high-speed and long distance riding, a full-faced helmet is usually the best option. Retro and open faced helmets might look cool, but they’re generally less protective (especially to the face) and can be less comfortable at speed.

Make sure it meets the standards

You probably don’t need to understand what this means chapter and verse, however it is important know that in order to be legally sold as a motorcycle crash helmet, any product must undergo tests to ensure it meets the minimum standards to be classed as personal protective equipment.

EC 22.06 is the current Europe-wide standard helmets need to meet in order to go on sale as personal protective equipment. All helmets need to meet this requirement in order to be sold as a motorcycle crash helmet. Anything else is just a hat!

And finally…

While safety is king, it’s important to get a motorcycle crash helmet that you actually like. You’ll be wearing it every time you ride and you can argue that it’s your ‘face’ on the bike. It makes a real statement about you and while you may get a good deal on a helmet with jazzy graphics, or a sombre plain colour, if these don’t represent who you are or what you want, you may well end up regretting your choice. There are so many great helmets out there, you’re sure to be the right one for you. Buy the right helmet and it will be one of the best investments you make.