The helmet is arguably the most important piece of gear that any motorcyclist owns. It plays a vital role in protecting the rider from impact or abrasion to the head in the event of a crash. Perhaps because it is so important, numerous types and styles of helmets have become available to meet the needs and preferences of a variety of riders. This page is the perfect starting point to find the right helmet for you.
We want your shopping experience to be as simple as possible. That’s why we’ve split our helmets into categories based on the type of motorcycle you ride: dirt bike, street bike and adventure motorcycle. All you have to do is pick a style that you like, and you’re ready to go. The product description of any particular helmet can fill you in on the finer details, and the customer reviews can give you real insight directly from other riders.
There are several types of helmets. Full face helmets provide the most protection, while open face and half helmets leave your face exposed. Safety is the primary advantage of full face helmets, while freedom and the open air are the primary draws of open face and half helmets. Modular helmets are also available. These appear like full face helmets and feature a chin bar and face shield, but they can convert to open face helmets when you are not riding – the chin bar flips up. Most modular helmets are not designed to be used in the open-face position while you are riding.
Off-road helmets borrow concepts from the full face helmet, but the design is modified for the needs of dirt bike riders. Goggles are designed to be used instead of a built-in face shield, helping to improve visibility in dusty environments. A long visor is included on top. The chin bar is long and pointed. This improves airflow, allowing the rider to exert more energy while riding without running out of breath. Adventure or dual sport helmets feature a hybrid concept, preserving the built-in face shield of traditional full face helmets while including the visor and pointed chin bar of off-road helmets. They’re a fantastic option if you think that your riding will take you anywhere from highways to forest roads.
In the simplest terms, motorcycle helmets are built with a durable outer shell (made out of materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber) and an inner layer of EPS foam which cradles the skull. In an impact, the outer shell protects the rider’s head from abrasion and punctures, while the inner shell cushions the head against the impact. As a result, some accidents can occur that leave the helmet looking perfectly fine even though the inner foam has been compromised from the impact. Because of this, you should not continue to use any helmet which has been in an accident. If you want to maintain impact protection, you need to get a new helmet.
To ensure safety and quality, helmet manufacturers make their helmets according to certain safety standards. As you research your next helmet, you may notice such standards mentioned in the product description. These standards guide manufactures in creating helmets that keep riders protected in the event of a crash on or off road.
For example, one exemplary certification is Snell. The Snell safety certification is enforced by a private, non-profit organization. Rigorous testing makes this standard hard to earn, therefore making its certified helmets extremely durable. Another safety certification is ECE. This is a European standard and is widely recognized internationally. It uses a relatively rigorous testing procedure and is regularly reviewed and updated.
A safety certification is one thing to watch out for when you are shopping for a new motorcycle helmet, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Your helmet also needs to fit well. An improperly fitted helmet will not protect you in the way it is designed to do. Because of this, proper fitment is essential. We have fitment details on all of our helmet product descriptions to ensure that you’re able to get the right fit for that specific helmet. If by chance you order a helmet that doesn’t fit quite right, please take advantage of our fit guarantee. It allows you to exchange your helmet for the right size – and on the first exchange, there is absolutely no cost for you (not even shipping). It’s important that you take safety seriously and get a helmet that fits correctly.
Keep in mind that a new helmet will generally fit a little tight when you first put it on. Through the normal course of wear, the material will loosen. If you get a new helmet that doesn’t fit tightly, after a few months, it might be too loose. If your helmet feels a little snug when you first get it, don’t worry – it’s intentional.
Although safety should be your primary concern with any helmet, there are a number of additional features that might persuade you toward one helmet or another. For example, some helmets feature fog-resistant face shields. This can be important if you ride in cold weather. If you ride in warm weather, you might want to look for extra vents in the helmet for increased airflow. Removable liners can make cleaning your helmet easier. Remember, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your head inside of your helmet. A little comfort and convenience can make a huge difference in how you feel about your helmet six months down the road.
If you’re ready for a new helmet, you can’t go wrong with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. We’ve got a selection of many brands, designs and colors. Check out our options today and pick out your next helmet now.
Matthew in UT
Fit the kids just fine and they love it. Like that it has the MIPS rating
Read All ReviewsMorgan in MN
I'm kind of a research freak and went super deep to understand the technology and construction of the latest helmets. The Fly Formula Carbon is even better then expected. Compared to my old Klim, it is slightly lighter in feel. The fit and finish is top notch. The helmet fit true to size based on head circumference in centimeters... it was spot on. Overall, comfort is excellent, with roomy pockets over the ears. New helmets are always a little snug but I think this will break in perfect. I was curious to see if the RHEON pad at the very top of the helmet would create a hotspot. But it did not. No issues at all. Super comfy. The ventilation is also excellent, even at slow speeds in the woods. I think this helmet deserves all of its positive ratings. I would recommend it. I found it on closeout so I'm ranking the value a little higher than I normally would. It's definitely a spendy helmet.
Read All ReviewsJeff in CA
I used this helmet for a ride that was 400 miles over 4 days and came away overall happy with it. Some takeaways, it's not the lightest but the weight never became uncomfortable. The visor is a little on the short side and not adjustable so depending on where the sun is, tough. It does come with a visor extension but it's tinted not solid so I put a sticker on it to make it block out the sun better. But the visor extension is no good at highway speeds, so I kept it in my pack mostly. The helmet does have great room to install coms and the chin feature for a hydration tube works great for the mic boom. A little tight getting it on but very comfortable once it's on. Didn't get the opportunity to crash test it but I'm sure the protection will be adequate based on the protection technology Leatt claims.
Read All ReviewsBret in CO
I had the previous version of this helmet and needed to replace it, so I bought this one. Some differences: The V24 size (XL) is bigger on this version than the V23 I had. This one does not fit as tightly on the sides as my V23. Still useable but a looser fit and both were XL sizes. The cheek pieces do not pull out as easily as the V23 thus making it more difficult to remove them in the case of an accident recovery situation. The headliner does not snap in the way the V23 did. The front has plastic "sliders" that you press in between the shell and the crush element, instead of just snapping in place. More difficult to remove and install. The visor is a snap-on type with a cinching screw-tab on top. Very little adjustability. I'd have kept my V23 version, but it had hit the ground once too many times and had to me replaced. :-(
Read All ReviewsWENDALL in CO
Looks like a nice helmet. My daughter likes the color and the helmet fit.
Read All ReviewsRobert in PA
I like the fact that it is very lightweight but it is not as plush inside as other helmets . If you were using this for motocross it would be an excellent helmet but if you wear the helmet all day as in a Enduro it is not as comfortable as I would like . The magnetic fastener which many people like I did not like and do not trust it to stay buckled when riding through branches which may grab the little tab and open the latch.
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