Motorcycling can be dangerous, immense fun and a way of life for many. The very sense of danger is what makes motorbikes so appealing and charming.
However, you don’t need us to tell you that riding without a helmet is like sitting on a time bomb.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (USA), in 2014, the number of motorcycling related fatalities was 27 times higher than among car drivers!
| Top Picks For Safest Motorcycle Helmets |
|---|
| Bell Qualifier Motorcycle Helmet |
| Shoei RF-1200 Helmet |
| Arai Vector-2 Helmet |
| AGV K3 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet |
The good news is! Helmets reduce the risk of death by a staggering 42 percent!
So if your looking for a helmet and you want to find something safe, then use the following buying guide to find the safest helmet.
How to Buy the Safest Motorbike Helmet
The safest motorcycle helmets must have the following;
- Full Face (the safest type)
- DOT Approved (a must)
- Snell Certified (optional)
- Material (composite fibreglass)
- Fits Perfectly (super important)
This list of helmet “must have’s” will also improve the odds.
Table of Contents
A Correctly Fitted Helmet is Safest
If I have to pick any of these features over the rest, it would be the safest helmet is one that fits you properly.
- Your Helmet Should Be A Snug Fit
- Not to tight or loose (just right)
- Do the roll over test and try to remove from the back
- Do the four finger test (or twist from side to side)
- Chin Strap secure with a max 2 finger gap
Learn More: How to correctly fit a motorcycle helmet here
How to Pick a Safe Helmet?
We all agree, the “relative safety” of every rider is assured by at least wearing a helmet.
A good helmet should be able to reduce the impact of a crash so your head is not affected. However, you should be ready to cough out big money because such helmets cost an arm and a leg.
So, don’t be cheap with your helmet choice. Ask yourself “is life greater value than money”.
Many riders don’t like to wear helmets and wear them be-grudgingly. They buy some cheap, ill-built helmet and wear it only to keep cops from stopping and fining them.
We don’t want you to do that, so we’ll show you what to look for in a good helmet brand next.
How to Pick a Good but Safe Helmet Brand
Though there are many helmet brands in the market, some of them are not genuine and will therefore leave you vulnerable to serious injuries.
A poorly made helmet is not very effective in preventing head injuries. More often, they are uncomfortable and dangerous.
Sometimes, the quality of glass used for making the visor is so poor that it causes refraction of light – things appear closer or nearer than they actually are. This is extremely risky and may cause loss of life.
Unbranded helmets are not ventilated properly – this can be irritating and the rider may lose concentration. Understand that such helmets do not comply with global standards.
They are made in a dinghy workshop by a bunch of people who know almost nothing about safety, quality control etc. In contrast, a branded helmet is an engineering masterpiece.
Reputable companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on research and development and come up with a cutting edge product that can withstand severe abuse for many years.
Some well-known motorcycle helmet brands that we rated below.
- Icon (Rating: 7.5/10 | Price Range: low to mid)
- HJC (Rating: 8.5/10 | Price Range: low to mid)
- Shoei (Rating: 9.5/10 | Price Range: mid to high)
- Arai (Rating: 9.5/10 | Price Range: mid to high)
- Bell (Rating: 8/10 | Price Range: low to high)
- Shark (Rating: 8.5/10 | Price Range: mid to high)
- Scopion (Rating: 6.5/10 | Price Range: low to mid)
Get a Certified Helmet
DOT is commonly used in the US to show that a helmet is certified by the department of transportation (DOT). It’s actually against the law for any individual or company to trade in helmets that fake the DOT approval sticker. Non Certified helmets are sold as Novelty Helmets and not considered very safe.
On the other hand, Snell certification is not mandatory but an extra layer of helmet safety. This is because Snell assumes the role of industry watchdog as an independent organization.
What’s the Helmet Made of?
Helmet shell manufactures have gotten better over the years and some Thermo plastic (Poycarbonate) shell are getting stronger. But we recommend a composite fiberglass shell to be far more superior in terms of safety.
Bell Qualifier Motorcycle Helmet
image credit: bell helmets
For a start, Bell Qualifier Motorcycle Helmet fits all the boxes.
Bell helmets have a massive range for every rider. Read our Bell brand review here
- It’s a Full Face
- Certified by DOT
- Good Ventilation
- ClickReleaseTM
- 5 Year Warranty
Shoei RF-1200 Helmet
image credit: Shoei helmets
Shoei RF-1200 Helmet is a superb choice. The helmet is light-weight, it has a classic look and is designed to reduce road noise.
Shoei has a helmets for everyone. Read more about Shoei helmet brand
- 3D padding removable interlining
- Breath guard to filter the air-flow
- Front and rear air intake and outlet vents
- Chin curtain is fitted to add comfort.
- Emergency Quick Removal System
- Paired windshield if weather is foggy.
AGV K3 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet
AGV K3 Full Face Motorcycle Helmet features a thermoplastic construction that enhances its durability. The helmet can therefore survive from extreme conditions.
Wearing this helmet is fun because it has air vents on every side, including the chin, sides, front and back. Air enters the helmet through the vents on the sides and exits through the vents at the back.
This prevents you from sweating due to accumulation of heat in the helmet. Your vision can never be affected by fog because the helmet comes with a fog proof windshield.
The helmet comes fitted with a removable nose protector. The interior of the helmet is padded with a Dri-Lex fabric.
The windshield is actually clear. If you want, a tinted windshield, you have to buy it separately. The edges of the neckline are very smooth to avoid interfering with your jacket.
You can wash the inner lining with soap and water because it’s not permanently fitted on the helmet. The helmet is certified by DOT.
Arai Vector-2 Helmet
Arai Vector-2 Helmet is a premium head gear that has a compact design but has so much more to offer to the user. The helmet is certified by DOT and comes with a wide bottom to enable the rider to wear and remove it easily by lifting it up.
The helmet has wind-tunnel vents that allow air to flow inside and leave through the vents at the back. The vents keep the head aerated and block wind noises so that you are able to remain focused on the road.
The helmet has a band at the base that helps in maintaining its balance on the head by reducing the center of gravity.
The chin vent is adjustable, such that you can direct the air that’s coming into your face or to the face shield. The interior liner of the helmet comes in various sizes. Besides that, the liner can be removed and washed as the rider wishes.
Amazingly, the comfort liner has five layers that can be removed to create more room in the helmet. The cheek pads are 5 mm thick and can be increased or reduced according to the preference of the rider.
The helmet has sleeves for accommodating speakers. You can therefore use wired or wireless speakers while on the go. The windshield is clear and comes with its own opening and closing mechanism.
If you want to ride in foggy weather, there is nothing to worry about because the windshield can be paired with another that’s resistant to fog.
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