Getting the Right Fit
There's more to fitting a helmet than just buying the one that matches your hat size or guessing at small, medium, or large. Your hat size is a good starting pointer, however, if you don't know your hat size, you can use the chart below. Measure your head at its largest circumference - usually just above your eyebrows in front, over your ears and around to the back. You may need to take severely measurements to get the largest one. If your head size falls between the numbers listed, use the next largest hat size. Since some helmets are simply marked as S, M, L, or XL, you may need to contact the helmet manufacturer for size equivalencies, as they vary. Inches Hat Size
21 1/4 6 3/4
21 5/8 6 7/8
22 7
22 3/8 7 1/8
22 3/4 7 1/4
23 1/8 7 3/8
23 1/2 7 1/2
23 7/8 7 5/8
24 1/4 7 3/4
24 3/4 7 7/8
Here's the best way to try on your helmet:
Hold it by the chin straps. The front of the helmet should face you with the top pointing down.
Put your thumbs on the inside of the straps, balancing the helmet with your fingertips.
Spread the sides of the helmet apart slightly and slip it down over your head.
The helmet should fit snugly and may even feel a bit too tight until it's in place correctly. Be sure it sits squarely on your head. Remember, if your helmet is too large it can be very annoying to wear because it's noisy and lets in the wind. And, in the even of an accident, it may come off!
Once the helmet is on your head, make a few other checks of its fit, before fastening the chin strap.
The cheek pads should touch your cheeks without pressing uncomfortably.
There should be no gaps between your temples and the brow pads.
If the helmet has a neck roll, it shouldn't push the helmet away from the back of your neck.
With the helmet still on and securely fastened, move it from side to side and up and down with your hands. If it fits right, your skin should move as the helmet is moved. You should feel as if a slight, even pressure is being exerted all over your head by the helmet. Remember too, that a helmet gets "broken in" as you use it, so a new one should be as tight as you can comfortably wear it.
Now, with the chin strap still securely fastened and your head straight, try rolling the helmet forward off your head. You shouldn't be able to pull it off. If you can the helmet is too big.
Take off the helmet. Does your head feel sore anywhere. Are there any red spots on your forehead? Pressure points can be uncomfortable and can cause a headache after a long ride, so be sure your helmet isn't causing any. If it is, choose the next larger size or try a different brand of helmet.
If you're still unsure about the helmet's fit, wear it around the store for a while to make sure it is completely comfortable. A helmet is an important investment, no matter what its price. Be sure the one you choose is right for you.
A word About Chin Straps
Always fasten your helmet's chin strap or other retention system snugly. A helmet will do you no good if it comes off during an accident.
Replacing your helmet
Plan to replace your helmet if it has been involved in an accident. Some helmet manufacturers will inspect and, when possible, repair a damaged helmet. If your helmet has been dropped and you think it might be damaged, you may want to take advantage of this service.
Most helmet manufacturers recommend that, under normal use, you should replace your helmet every two to four years. If you notice any signs of damage before then, replace it sooner. As mentioned above, fiberglass helmets may crack or break if dropped. And, if you see any light brown spots near the rivets of a polycarbonate helmet, it is probably damaged and should be replaced.

Why replace a helmet every few years if it doesn't appear damaged? Its protective qualities may deteriorate over time. The interior padding compresses, offering less protection. The chin strap may fray or loosen at its attaching points. And the shell may be chipped or banged. Probably the best reason, however, is the constant improvements in design and protective qualities of helmets. Chances are the helmet you buy in a couple of years will be better than the one you have now - even if the cost is about the same.

Since 1974, all helmet manufacturers must stamp the month and date of production on the helmet's chin strap. If you can't remember when you bought your present helmet, just check the strap. If there's no date at all, you definitely should replace your helmet now.

Tips on Helmet Care

Follow the manufacturer's direction on caring for your helmet. Use only the mildest soap recommended. Avoid any petroleum-based cleaning fluids, especially if you own a polycarbonate helmet. Exposure to strong cleaning agents can cause the polycarbonate helmet to decompose and lose protective value.

Never hang your helmet on the motorcycle's mirror, turn signals, or sissy bar. The inner liner can easily be damaged from such handling and may lose its protective qualities. In fact, avoid carrying a spare helmet on your cycle, unless it's carefully protected or on your passenger's head. Even the bumps and jarring from normal riding can easily damage a spare helmet carried on your cycle.

Before you do any of your own helmet decorating, such as painting, pinstriping,or applying decals, check the manufacturer's recommendations. Follow them closely.

If you plan to use a CB radio when you ride, find a model that doesn't necessitate drilling speaker holes in your helmet. Even a tiny hole can spread and weaken the helmet's structure. Before you purchase your speakers, check your state's laws regulating their use in helmets. Some states prohibit them altogether.

Retroreflective Helmets
Many states require a specific amount of retroreflective material on a reflective helmet. Check with your dealer to be sure the helmet you plan to purchase meets the requirements or won't be damaged if you apply retroreflective tape to it. Your local motor vehicle department can give you exact information on the location and number of square inches, of retroreflective material required in your state. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has two styles of retroreflective decals available for use on helmets.
There are many considerations when deciding which helmet to buy. Talk with an MSF-registered motorcycle safety instructor, your local motorcycle dealer, other riders, and consult recent motorcycle enthusiast magazines for the most up-to-date information to help in your decision.

Copyright MSF, March 1988

Remember,
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.

Polycarbonate. Three-quarter. Full face. Fiberglass. Helmet styles and materials vary greatly. Yet a motorcycle helmet is probably the first piece of personal protective equipment most motorcyclists reach for when they ride. It's also the most important piece of protective gear a rider can use.
Today many states don't require mandatory helmet use for all riders in their jurisdiction, yet helmet use among motorcyclists is much higher than safety belt use among car drivers. Between 40 and 60 percent of riders voluntarily wear helmets when they ride compared with only 15 percent of car drivers who use their seat belts. And the seat belt is already in the car!

A rider's skill is an important factor in preventing motorcycle accidents. Rider education programs and improved license standards and testing procedures assist in developing safer motorcyclists. But in the event of an accident, a rider's protective clothing can help minimize injuries. Protective clothing doesn't end with a help, either. Every rider should wear a face shield or goggles, gloves, over- the-ankle boots and durable, long sleeved jacket and long pants.

Since head injuries account for the majority of motorcycle fatalities, head protection is of vital importance. While even the best helmet can't guarantee complete immunity from injury, without a helmet you are up to five times more likely to sustain a critical head injury in an accident, than a helmeted rider.

Standards and Testing
Helmets actually protect your head in two ways. The outer shell resists penetration and abrasion and absorbs the large initial shock in an accident. The inner liner absorbs the rest of the shock by slowly collapsing under impact. Both the shell and the liner essentially self-destruct by spreading the forces of impact throughout the helmet material. That's why, in most cases, if a helmet has been damaged in an accident, it may be of little protective value in another mishap.
When you shop, look for stickers on the inside or outside of the helmet confirming compliance with the standards from one or several of these agencies: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Snell Memorial Foundation, or the American Nation Standards Institute (ANSI). [ed. note. ANSI compliance is less common these days]


Each organization has established rigid procedures to evaluate:

Impact - the shock absorbing capacity of the helmet
Penetration - the helmet's ability to withstand a blow from a sharp object.
Retention - the chin strap's ability to stay fastened without breaking or stretching.
Peripheral Vision - the helmet must provide a minimum side vision of 120 degrees to each side (Most people's peripheral vision is between 110 and 115 degrees).
Department of Transportation (DOT)
The DOT sticker appears on the outside, back bottom edge of the helmet. Since 1980 all adult-sized helmets must meet the DOT standard. Helmet dealers and distributors must ensure that all the helmets they sell bear the DOT sticker.
Snell Memorial Foundation
The Snell sticker is usually found on the inside lower back of the helmet. Its use is voluntary. Snell has been testing helmets since the 1950's. Their standards have been revised six times (most recently in 1985 [ed. note. There is now a new standard, 1990, I believe]) as helmet design and manufacturing techniques have improved. They attempt to reproduce, under test conditions, the circumstances that represent potential hazard to motorcyclists. For instance, Snell has begun using a more realistic penetration test. Instead of testing penetration with the needle-like projectile the other agencies use, Snell employs a steel I-beam shaped like a highway guard rail. Snell also tests the chin piece in full-face helmets.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
The 1979 ANSI z90.1 standard is more stringent than the DOT standard but less demanding than the Snell Foundation's requirements in terms of impact and penetration resistance [ed. note. This may no longer be true, as the DOT standard has been updated]. The ANSI sticker is usually located on the inside of the helmet. The ANSI requirement is a voluntary standard developed by a committee or representatives from consumer groups, helmet manufacturers, testing organizations and the military.
Choosing a helmet
A safety helmet consists of four primary elements:
the outer shell
a shock-absorbing liner
a comfort liner of soft foam and fabric
a chin strap or other retention system
While color, design and price may influence your decision about which helmet to buy, protection should be your first consideration. The full face helmet provides the most protection since it covers more of your face. Recent design improvements in shell material and interior ventilation have improved comfort.
The next choice in protection is the three-quarter helmet. It doesn't offer the face and chin protection that full-face helmets do, but some riders prefer it.

Helmet shells are primarily manufactured in one of two materials: fiberglass or injection molded plastic. Helmet manufacturers are constantly working to develop less expensive, stronger, and lighter materials for helmet shell construction.

The injection molded plastic helmet generally is the lightest and least expensive available today. It may also have a shorter life expectancy. Its chemical composition can be changed if it is painted or decals are applied to its surface. Damage can occur if it is stored near gasoline, cleaning fluids, or exhaust fumes. The user should read carefully any and all information supplied with these helmets.

Fiberglass helmets can be more expensive than injected molded helmets,especially if the fiberglass layers are hand laminated. Fiberglass helmets delaminate on impact to absorb shock. You can paint them or apply decals without damage. However, because they are build to absorb shock, they can also break or crack if severely impacted in an accident, a fall or even if dropped sharply onto a hard surface.

The helmet liner is made of expanded polystyrene foam (or "Styrofoam"). This is an important part of the helmet, as this polystyrene liner is non-resilient and evenly spreads the impact in an accident. The more impact energy that can be absorbed by the liner, the less there is of that shock energy to reach the head and do damage.

One look around your dealer's helmet display will convince you that nearly any color and decoration you could want on a helmet is already available. Many manufacturers are color coordinating their helmets with the newest motorcycle models. Choose a bright colored helmet for maximum visibility to motorists.

Jake,

My Speedfight Guru :D --- Why is it that no one brings up the topic of "expiration" when it comes to helmets?.

Arai guarantees their helmets up to 5 years after which they recommend replacing the piece regardless of condition due to aging of polycarbonates (plastics). I guess your well aware of this cause you own an Arai yourself.

Please enlighten me (us) on this matter! :?

I would follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Materials can weaken due to a number of reasons,

Age
Sunlight
Water & Acid from our sweat
Handling
Children

I normally destroy my helmets when I replace them. I know the same anyone else who reads the manual. :D :D :D

How is your speedfight doing? Play around with any other unsuspecting scooters lately? ;) ;) ;)

Jake,

My MODs Guru!!! The SFs doing fine and doing like new except for mileage. Do you know where to get Main Jets(80-90) for a Dellorto 21mm PHBG (the carb I bought was tuned by Topspeed for the Gilera 180---duh!?!).

Anyway back to helmets...

Got this from the web:

"Most helmet manufacturers recommend that, under normal use, you should replace your helmet every two to four years. If you notice any signs of damage before then, replace it sooner. As mentioned above, fiberglass helmets may crack or break if dropped. And, if you see any light brown spots near the rivets of a polycarbonate helmet, it is probably damaged and should be replaced.

Why replace a helmet every few years if it doesn't appear damaged? Its protective qualities may deteriorate over time. The interior padding compresses, offering less protection. The chin strap may fray or loosen at its attaching points. And the shell may be chipped or banged. Probably the best reason, however, is the constant improvements in design and protective qualities of helmets. Chances are the helmet you buy in a couple of years will be better than the one you have now - even if the cost is about the same.

Since 1974, all helmet manufacturers must stamp the month and date of production on the helmet's chin strap. If you can't remember when you bought your present helmet, just check the strap. If there's no date at all, you definitely should replace your helmet now."


With this information does that mean most of the helmets being sold locally are "expired"?. To add insult to injury lots of consumers are paying (investing) a premium for these high end safety equipment. It's like wearing expired rubbers!!!

:8

Tips on Buying Helmets
All helmets are generally lightweight and made of anything from plastic, carbon fibre, fibreglass to Kevlar. Helmets are lined with different materials such as Coolmax & Nomex®. These lining are designed to breath for comfort and some such as Nomex® are flame retardant. Some linings are interchangeable so you don't need to replace the whole helmet when the lining perishes.
• Lightweight - Look for something lightweight so you do not strain your neck trying to support the weight of your helmet.
• Purpose of Helmet - Most helmets are made specifically for a purpose so cannot be interchanged for example, you can't generally shouldn't use a motor cycling helmet for motor racing.
• Tight fit - Your helmet will mould to the shape of you head with time. If your head can move inside the helmet, then it is too loose and will not work as it should under moment of high shock. If there is trouble finding a size that fits perfectly, try another brand - they all have slightly different fitting characteristics (just like shoes & clothing but remember this your head).
• Sizes - Helmets generally begin at 52 for an XXS through to 64 for an XXL.
• Prices - Helmet prices range from 1000Php-40000Php. You should note that generally a lower priced helmet will not have the features or construction to protect you as well as a more expensive one.
• Replacement of Helmets - generally a helmet if used regularly should be replaced every three years. This is because as a helmet is exposed to regular knocks it gradually loses its strength and ability to protect your head. If a helmet is pierced or the shell is broken it must be replaced immediately.
Your helmet is arguably the most important safety device that you wear. You have one head and it is very precious. Remember the value of your head when purchasing your helmet and remember if it doesn't fit or isn't done up properly, then it is not being used as it was designed.

Tips on buying Motor Cycling Helmets

• Full faced - full faced helmets are recommended since they give maximum protection to your face & head.
• Low Noise - Helmets which are low in noise are recommended. Some helmets
• Fasteners - look for helmets which are simple to put on and do up since you can do up some helmets with your gloves on.
• Visors - clear visors that are high in scratch resistant are recommended. This aids safety especially at night. Dark visors are not recommended especially for night riding.
• Fit - for your safety make sure the helmet fits securely.
We consider it just as important for you to get the right helmet for your ongoing safety as it is for us to sell one to you.

Tips on Buying a Motor Racing Helmet

• Compliance with standards - each sport has its own specific standards for helmets. Make sure the helmet you choose will comply.
• High Quality Construction - Quality helmets will have high resistance to sharp objects, high resistance to abrasion and high impact resistance. This is imperative for motor racing.
• Flame Retardant Lining - specify helmets which have flame resistance linings such as Nomex®
• Ventilation - air flow through the helmet while racing is extremely important. A badly ventilated helmet may fog up during a race or not allow you to breath properly.
• Full faced - full faced helmets are recommended since they give maximum protection to your face & head.
• Fasteners - look for helmets which are simple to put on and do up since you can do up some helmets with your gloves on.
• Visors - clear visors that are high in scratch resistant are recommended. This aids safety especially at night. If your sport requires tear off visors make sure you visor can accommodate this.
• Fit - for your safety make sure the helmet fits securely.

Coolmax®
Coolmax is a breathable material used in the lining of some helmets. It provides comfort and helps your performance by keeping your head region cooler more easily. Coolmax is used in a variety of sports from soccer & athletics to motor racing.
Kevlar®
Kevlar is extremely light weight and high strength so perfect for helmets. Kevlar is used in the construction of anything from boats & cars to helmets.


Source: Helmet Magz

Sir,
Do you have any recommended brand of Helmet? How's the modular helmet for you? Does it lessen the safety feature of helmet, since you can change/move from full face helmet into one-third helmet and vise versa.

If you are a smoker I prefer get a modular one. During traffic you can light a cigar and flip on the face shield w/o removing the helmet.. If you're not a smoker I prefer the full face helmet w/ good air vents. I prefer HJC just my opinion.. In terms of safety I guess its much safer to use the full face considering the worst type of accident. I got a cousin w/ modular helmet and unfortunately on his crash the face shield detached from the helmet assembly maybe because of the impact when he hit the ground at 100km/hr. its a branded one but I won't tell the name to avoid confusion to other riders who have this type of helmet... :argue: :( :I

Unfortunately....there's only one thing you can't test when buying a helmet unless you use it on an actual ride...Wind Noise Level.