Helmet Hints & Tips

Helmet Fit

The best helmet for you is the one that fits you best. A good helmet should be snug but comfortable. This is one item which you may not want to buy online. It is recommended that you go to your local shop and try some on. When you find one that you like, wear it around the store for as long as you can. Make sure it doesn't push painfully anywhere on your head, or that there aren't any pressure points. Also, do the following tests: After you tighten the strap, pull on the helmet from side-to-side. Does it go easily down in the direction of your shoulders? Too big. Next, grab underneath the chin and pull it back and forth. Can you pull it up past your nose or eyes, or, worse yet, to your forehead? Time to try a different model or a smaller size.

Only buy a helmet that you know you'll wear all the time. If it isn't comfortable, and you aren't wearing it, it won't protect you.

Helmet Funk

It's no news to most people that the inside of a helmet will get just a bit stinky after a time. If you don't have removable cheekpads/liner (and many don't) Febreze is recommended to take away some of the smell and make you civilized again.

For funk prevention, Dan Borgeson (link below) suggests putting wadded-up newspaper inside the helmet when it's sitting on the shelf between rides. (And no, the online NY Times won't work.)

For helmet cleaning and care instructions, go to the HJC Helmet Care site.

A word about the shield:

The shield (visor) is an integral part of the safety features of your helmet. You should always ride with it down, and if it breaks or scratches badly, replace it. You may want to lift it a notch or two if it is fogging, especially at stoplights, but don't get in the habit of riding with it up. It will protect your face, along with keeping those bugs out of your eyes.

Defogging the inside: Most helmets have an optional breath deflector (breather) that you can purchase.

How do I keep rain from building up on my visor?

There are several popular methods:

• Rain-X makes a special formula for use on plastic. Reportedly, Rain-X standard glass formula is not good for plastic.

• You can use Nu Finish (car wax like stuff) or Lemon Pledge. You have to reapply Pledge more often, but it gives your riding environment a nice, clean smell, especially handy in cow country. They both do the same thing - keep water vapor from collecting, and allow water to bead up and roll off more quickly. When you go faster than 50mph, and then turn your head sideways, all the water goes shooting off the side of the visor in a fraction of a second.

• Use Novus plexiglass polish on your windscreen and face shields. It beads up pretty nicely, and a turn of the head this way and that and the water rolls right off.

How much will a helmet cost?

Helmet prices are largely a 'you get what you pay for' proposition: The more expensive ones usually give you better protection, and are lighter, have better venting, offer removable padding (for cleaning), and so on. But a good full-face street helmet from a reputable company that has both DOT and Snell approval will still only cost you in the neighborhood of one to three hundred dollars, and will have enough features to keep most of us happy.

Dale Borgeson has some good helmet info at his touring website.

The webBikeWorld Motorcycle Helmets page is also a good source of information.