7 MIN READ
How do you determine the right motorcycle helmet size and fit?
The correct sizing and fit of a motorcycle helmet is more important than you think. With this guide from RAD, you'll discover how to determine the right helmet size and how a new helmet should fit.
Measure Your Head Circumference
To correctly measure the circumference of your head, you need a tape measure and one extra person. You can also try it alone, but by asking for help it will be easier and faster. Measure the circumference of your head, do this about 2cm above your eyebrows, just above the ears, and find the largest possible circumference at the back of your head. By moving the tape up and down, you can quickly measure this. Feel free to repeat this 3 times to compensate for deviations in measurements and take the average.
Determine Your Fit
Now that the circumference has been determined, you initially have a good guideline regarding helmet size. For each brand, we have a size chart available which allows you to determine the correct helmet size based on the corresponding circumference. However, the head circumference does not take into account the shape of your head. For this reason, we tell our customers that the size chart of the helmets is not a guarantee for an immediately fitting helmet. To keep it simple, there are three fits. Round-oval is the most common fit and the majority of helmets are shaped accordingly. The others are round or oval. You can easily see this by taking a photo of the top of your head.
The fit can vary from brand to brand and even within the same brand it can differ per model. It could be that you had a helmet in mind, but when trying it on you notice that it does not fit as well as hoped. Try not to fixate on a certain model and try on a number of different motorcycle helmets to find the right fit.
A well-fitting helmet is a safe helmet
Take your time to fit a helmet, a rushed or wrong choice can have serious consequences. A helmet that is too small will not feel right and will exert too much pressure on your head. This can be uncomfortable or even cause headaches. A helmet that is too large, can easily twist on the head which can cause unsafe situations. This is also detrimental to the shock-absorbing properties of the helmet.
Putting on the motorcycle helmet
Grab the two parts of the chin strap and pull them outward to create more space to pull the helmet over your head. With modular helmets, you need to open the chin piece to make this easier, once the helmet is on you close the chin piece to check if the helmet fits well. Ensure that the top of your head touches the top of the helmet. Now it’s time to really try it on!
How do I know if I have the right helmet size?
You can quickly determine whether the motorcycle helmet fits based on a few simple questions and actions. The helmet should fit tightly around your cheeks. You can answer the initial questions more easily if you’ve put on the helmet.
- Does the helmet feel comfortable?
- Does the inner lining press comfortably against your head?
- Does the helmet press firmly against your cheeks?
If the helmet does not fit comfortably and you’re not almost biting into your cheeks, this is an indication that the helmet is too large and you may want to try a size smaller.
Place your hand on the back of the helmet and push it forward. There should be room for one knuckle between your forehead and the inner lining of the helmet. If this seems very tight, keep in mind that when you wear the helmet for longer, the size will become a tiny bit bigger once the inner lining has adapted to your head. You may also notice a difference between brands, for instance, a Shoei helmet will become a bit looser over time, while a HJC helmet will maintain its size. This is due to the difference in material they use for the inner lining.
Check if the helmet can’t rotate on your head
Check if the helmet does not obstruct your field of vision. Your eyes should be nicely in the middle of the visor’s recess. A good view of the road ahead is important. Hold the helmet with both hands at the chin piece and try to move the motorcycle helmet in all directions while keeping your head as still as possible. If you feel the skin moving along, then the helmet fits well. If you feel the inner lining sliding over your face and you can easily move the helmet from left to right, then the helmet is too large and may twist while driving.
Check the chin strap
Fasten the chin strap and adjust it. The closure should not be loose and should fit nicely against your chin, without cutting into your neck. Depending on the type of motorcycle helmet, this will be a micrometric closure or double D-closure.
Place both hands at the back of the helmet and try to roll it off your head by pulling the bottom up. Try this also in the other direction by pulling the chin bar up. It should be impossible to pull the helmet off your head, this way you can be sure that the helmet always stays properly on your head.
Television test
If you notice during any of these actions that something doesn’t feel right, even after trying different sizes of the same model, it’s better to consider a different model. Did you notice that the helmet fits fantastically? Congratulations, you’ve found a helmet that fits like a glove. As a final test, you can wear the helmet for half an hour to an hour. We call this the television test. Take the helmet home (or have a helmet delivered at home), put it on and watch an episode of the latest series you’re checking out. If you feel that you would still get a headache, you can make use of the 30 day return policy. If you remove all the stickers from the helmet and go for a test ride, we cannot take back the helmet as new. Hence this final test.
Is there a difference between women’s motorcycle helmets?
No, apart from a smaller helmet size or a pink colour (stereotypical much?), there is often no difference. Motorcycle helmets are designed to protect every head and are, as a result, unisex. Very occasionally, a manufacturer will make a women’s model with slightly thicker cheek pads. Don’t pin yourself down to this, as long as you choose a helmet that fits well and that you will want to wear.
Is there a difference between a jet helmet and other types of motorcycle helmets?
Yes, a jet helmet or scooter helmet is the only type of motorcycle helmet that does not have a chin piece. For this reason, it is important that the chin strap fits properly so that the helmet stays nicely on your head. With this type of helmet, it is important that the fit of the helmet matches the shape of your head as closely as possible. You can easily distinguish between a classic jet helmet and a maxi-jet helmet, which has a larger visor and a helmet shell that extends further down the cheeks.
Can you adjust the fit of a helmet?
Since no two heads are the same, it can sometimes happen that the helmet fits well around your head, but is too tight on the jaws or vice versa. In this case, it is possible (if available) to buy a different set of cheek pads for this helmet. This small adjustment can help you create the right size for you. Scorpion has developed the Airfit system where you can inflate the cheek pads through a small pump that is built into the chin bar. Shoei also knows like no other how important a good fit is and has trained RAD personnel to become Shoei Personal Fitting experts. When such a fitting takes place, we measure your head and determine based on the profile we create which adjustments are needed to your helmet, so that it really fits like a glove.
A helmet that fits well everywhere will also be quieter than a helmet that is too large in certain places. Wearing a helmet liner has a positive effect on the noise level in the helmet. There is a difference between a luxury helmet developed for high comfort on the road and a racing helmet developed to remain stable at high speeds. An expensive aerodynamic helmet is most likely not a quiet helmet, for this the focus is stability and not silence. If you want a quiet helmet you should look at a helmet with a focus on touring and comfort. Regardless, helmet manufacturers recommend always wearing a set of earplugs in your helmet to prevent hearing loss.
Find the right helmet
Hopefully, after reading this guide, you’ll be able to determine what size motorcycle helmet you need. It’s important to consider these many factors and not blindly choose a helmet, assuming that determining size is as easy as just measuring your head. We are all unique and deserve a helmet that keeps our head and our mind safe on the road. Feel free to visit a RAD store to choose a helmet that suits you and your motorcycle, or order easily online and use this guide to check if everything fits as it should. Stay safe on the road and keep your head in the game!
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Nathan is our webshop employee who is ready with advice and assistance to help customers. When he is not answering customer questions, he writes helpful texts and blogs for the RAD site.