Imagine riding on a motorcycle without a helmet and crashing into a tree. Nothing, except a miracle, can save you from a fatal injury.
Most of the riders overlook the need for safety gear. But this is where they should invest before hitting off the road. If you’re a rider, not only should you wear a helmet, but you must also know how to make a motorcycle helmet fit better.
You will often see people ending up with the wrong helmet size. Maximum road accidents occur when the helmets loosen to the extent where they fall off the head.
Buying the correct size can push you towards the safe zone. If you want to know how to stretch a motorcycle helmet or properly fit your helmet, you are absolutely in the right place.
Let us dive into the details!
How Tight Should a Motorcycle Helmet Be?
You might want to ask how much loose or tight your helmet should be.
Choosing a loose helmet carries the danger of flying off your head, giving almost no protection. On the contrary, a very tight helmet can stimulate migraine or other discomforts that steers you away from safe driving.
A motorcycle helmet must not be too easy to move. Sliding it over your head must be challenging. Hence, when you move your head from one side to the other, the helmet should not move accordingly.
Also, try to fill up any loose area inside. If you are thinking about a padded helmet, you can get one! It will effectively protect your head if your flush your head against those interior walls.
How to Make Your Motorcycle Helmet Fit?
Check out this video and the content below to learn how to make a tight motorcycle helmet fit better.
1. Check the Condition of Cheek Pads
Cheek pads come first importance-wise when it comes to motorcycle helmets. While driving, adjust the cheek pads on your cheeks tightly.
The pads might wear out due to friction or harsh conditions after many rough uses.
The cheek pads, usually crafted of soft materials, are vital to ensure a comfortable ride. Thus, you must examine their condition before driving.
They must be in a condition where they provide comfort while pressing your cheeks tightly.
2. Match the Right Helmet Size for Your Head
Follow the steps below to match the appropriate helmet size –
Step 1: How to Measure Head for a Helmet
Decipher the shape and dimensions of your head
Figure out the shape of your head. Three main head shapes exist – round oval, intermediate oval, or long oval.
The best method to determine your head shape is by asking someone to click a picture of your head from above. You might find out that yours is a head shape between any 3 of the shapes mentioned above – this is not very uncommon.
Just be careful measuring the dimensions of your head, as these are factors that determine how snugly motorhelmet will fit your head.
Wrap the measuring tape around your forehead
Take a measuring tape and measure your head’s widest part – from the region slightly above your brows to the rear portion of your head. Otherwise, using a string, you can measure your head size and convert them on a scale.
Match with a chart to find the perfect measurement
Employ a motorcycle helmet size chart to find the best-suited choice. An online helmet chart converter can also be used to ensure head measurement.
We have provided a chart above for your ease. Take a look at it!
Test Before Use
Fix the chin strap of your helmet so that it does not pinch. Also, try to adjust the strap suitable for easy breathing. Do not loosen it to the extent where you can place a finger between your chin and the strap.
If the helmet does not fit you yet, go for additional padding.
Lastly, test your helmet before every use. Do not put it on your head if any flaws remain. Flaws might be any kind of crack, damage, or missing foam.
Step 2: Select a Preferred Helmet Style
Congrats, you have passed the tedious part. Now you need to determine which style would suit you. There are many styles, such as a modular helmet, open face helmet, ADV helmet, and dirt-bike helmet.
Open face helmet
Open face helmets can cover your head, both at the sides and back, but they offer no protection for your face. Scooters, who love to feel the wind rushing against their faces, are suckers for this helmet design.
Furthermore, they lack any chin guard like the full-face helmets have. However, due to their lightweight feature, they are easy to wear and remove.
Open face helmets come in many different colors and sizes. There are two styles – three-quarter design and half-helmet design. While the formers offer extra safety, the latter only shields the top of your head. Here is list of best open face motorcycle helmets.
Full-face helmet
Most riders prefer this type of helmet. Its built-in face protection gives you the most coverage, thus saving you from any potential danger.
Its distinguishing feature is the chin bar – a major safety element that most helmets lack. Even more, it keeps you cool when you ride. The ventilation allows sweat to evaporate and reduces fogging.
It is, however, difficult to wear and take off. In recent years, many features have been integrated into these helmets, like Bluetooth speakers.
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Modular Helmet
Also known as flip-up helmets, the modular helmets are a blend of a full-face helmet and a ¾ helmet. Due to their ability to open the helmet at its chin bar, commuting and touring riders prefer this.
They tend to be slightly heavier than full-face helmets. The helmets, designed to keep an upright riding posture, are often preferred by cruisers, adventure riders, and cruisers.
Its easy-to-open chin bars make it simple to eat or drink without removing the helmet. If you think to buy a modular helmet, you can follow this article – best budget modular motorcycle helmet.
ADV Helmet
Are you among the adventure lovers? If yes, this ADV Helmet is the best there can be. Even though they are heavy, they offer comfort and more padding like the full-face helmets.
There is also the added benefit of less noise as it is soundproof. You can pair it up with goggles due to the aerodynamic visor.
Overall, the ADV helmets are the combination of a full-face helmet and an off-road helmet. Be careful of its less breathability, though.
Dirt Bike Helmet
These helmets are designed not for streets but for dirt roads. So wherever you need knobby tires, the helmets are the best fit for that road. They offer a vast amount of breathability.
They come with a maximum protection guarantee. Alongside this, these helmets are basically lightweight and easy to maintain.
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Step 3: Test Your Helmet
This step is just crucial! Before taking it for an experimental run, you must test your helmet. Ensure that the fit is perfect. Doing so will let you return the product if it’s too loose, too large, too tight, or too small.
Take out 30 minutes and ride while wearing it to measure the comfort level.
- Employ side straps
This is a beneficial step. Ensure that your straps form a Y-shape just below the ear. Till you get comfortable, roll the rubber band. Make sure the helmet stays on your head while you do so.
Notice carefully so that the straps do not block your ears. Your comfort matters as well!
- Buckle your chin straps
It would not be wise to compromise on chin straps. First, pass a finger under your chin. Now pass another and make sure this does not cross that space. Until you reach your comfort zone, keep on resizing the straps.
To give your helmet a proper grip on the head, your chin straps collaborate with your side straps.
Keeping the chin strap in a buckled manner, open your mouth and monitor if your helmet touches your head top. If it does not, tighten it slightly and repeat. Again, be aware as you might overtighten the helmet.
The modern straps, crafted with absorbent products, will not retain sweat. So fret not, as you will not be uncomfortable under any level of scorching heat.
That’s how you can make your motorbike helmet fit your head. Now let us see some of the frequently asked questions about motorbike helmets.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions that you might have had in mind as well:
Final Words
That is a wrap for now! In case of any accidents, the helmets must serve their purposes – ensure protection. Therefore, you should choose one that withstands pressure and protects your face. And if your helmet gets loose, you know how to make a motorcycle helmet fit better. Hope this article helps you!