A quality proper fitting helmet is easily the most critical investment in safety weather you’re on the dirt or street. By spending $600 on a motorcycle helmet that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a more safe helmet. As long as a helmet has a DOT or Snell rating it will protect you melon just fine. By spending several hundred dollars on a helmet you can protect yourself in comfort and style. Most helmets in the sub $200 range are made of an injection molded polycarbonate shell. A polycarbonate shell does a good job at protecting you in a crash but it is a little heavier than more expensive helmets made of Kevlar and Carbon Fiber.
Carbon Fiber and Kevlar helmets have roughly the same strength of a polycarbonate but in a much lighter frame. If you spend a lot of time on the bike and notice that you neck gets a little soar on long rides it may be time to step up to a carbon fiber or Kevlar lid.
Sometimes finding the correct size helmet can be a little tough. Just because you wear a size Large in an AFX helmet that doesn’t necessary mean you wear a Large in an Icon helmet. Most of the helmets listed on MxMegastore have size charts next to the helmets features. By using a tape measure and measuring the circumference around the largest part of your head (about 1 inch above the eyebrow) you can find the correct fitting helmet virtually every time.
A new helmet should feel a little snug when you first put it on but not hurt. The helmet liner will relax about a half a size the first few times it is worn. If your head hurts because the helmet is to tight then you definitely need to go up a size. Most helmets have removable liners for cleaning. Most street helmet liners don’t need to be cleaned often if at all, but a motocross helmet may need to be cleaned several times a season, because of the amount that the rider perspires and the dust the rider is going through.
Below is an example of a typical size chart on MxMegastore. Sizes vary a little bit from manufacturer to manufacturer. The chart below is for Icon helmets.
SIZE
HAT SIZE
MEASUREMENT
XXSmall
6 3/8 - 6 1/2
20 - 20 1/2
XSmall
6 5/8 - 6 3/4
20 7/8 - 21 1/4
Small
6 7/8 - 7
21 5/8 - 22
Medium
7 1/8 - 7 1/4
22 3/8 - 22 3/4
Large
7 3/8 - 7 1/2
23 1/3 - 23 1/2
XLarge
7 5/8 - 7 3/4
24 - 24 3/8
XXLarge
7 7/8 - 8
24 3/4 - 25 1/8
3XLarge
8 1/8 - 8 1/4
25 1/2 - 26
Wrap flexible tape measure approximately 1 inch above eyebrows and ears Use this measurement to find your size on the chart to the right
