Topic 01 of 06
Choosing a helmet
Full face, modular, adventure, open face, half and off-road helmets are built for different riding. Start with the style that matches your bike and your miles, then compare weight, noise, vents and visor options.
- Most coverage
- full face, with a fixed chin bar
- US street requirement
- a DOT FMVSS 218 label
A full face helmet has a fixed chin bar and covers the face, jaw and head. A modular helmet has a chin bar that flips up, which is handy at fuel stops and for riders who wear glasses; it usually weighs more and has more moving parts. An adventure helmet adds a peak and a larger eye port for goggles or a visor, and sits between road and dirt use.
An open face or 3/4 helmet leaves the face uncovered and is common on cruisers and scooters. A half helmet covers the top of the head only. Off-road helmets have a long chin bar, a peak and no visor, and are meant for goggles and slow, hot, physical riding.
Shells are typically polycarbonate (thermoplastic), fiberglass or composite blends, or carbon fiber. The shell material changes weight and price; the safety label on the helmet tells you which tests the model passed. Every helmet sold for street use in the US must carry the DOT label.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by looks or brand before checking that the size and head shape fit you.
- Buying an off-road helmet for long highway rides: the peak catches wind and there is no visor.
- Assuming a more expensive helmet passed more tests: check the labels instead.
Pages on this topic
- Motorcycle helmet too loud? Wind noise fixesCut motorcycle helmet wind noise in the right order: check fit gaps, add a chin curtain and neck roll, adjust windscreen height and wear earplugs.Fix
- How much does a motorcycle helmet weigh?Typical motorcycle helmet weights for full face, modular, adventure and open face models, how shell material changes weight, and listed weights of popular helmets.Explainer
- Motorcycle helmet types explainedFull face, modular, adventure, open face, half and off-road helmets compared in one table: coverage, noise, weight and which riding style each one suits.Explainer
- Polycarbonate vs fiberglass vs carbon fiber shellsWhat motorcycle helmets are made of, and how polycarbonate, fiberglass and carbon fiber shells differ in weight, number of shell sizes and price.Explainer
- MIPS and rotational systems in motorcycle helmetsWhat a MIPS slip-plane liner in a motorcycle helmet is designed to do, which helmets use one, other rotational systems, and how ECE 22.06 now tests oblique impacts.Explainer
- How to choose a motorcycle helmetA five-step order for buying a motorcycle helmet: riding style, helmet type, head shape and size, safety rating, then features like visors, vents and intercoms.How-to
- How much does a good motorcycle helmet cost?What changes between a $150, $400 and $800 motorcycle helmet, what stays the same, and whether premium brands like Shoei and Arai are worth it.Explainer
- Full face vs modular helmetFull face vs modular motorcycle helmet: what a modular is, weight and noise differences, P/J chin bar ratings and convenience, with real model comparisons.Comparison
Gear for this topic
- Quietest motorcycle helmets for touring, by listed noise featuresSeven touring helmets compared by what each listing states about wind noise, plus certification, shell, weight and shield details.Gear guide
- Best open face motorcycle helmets for cruisers and scootersSix open face and 3/4 motorcycle helmets compared by listed DOT and ECE certification, shell material, weight, sizes and shield or sun visor.Gear guide
- Best modular motorcycle helmets for touring and commutingEight modular motorcycle helmets compared by certification, P/J rating, shell material, stated weight, visor setup and intercom readiness.Gear guide
- Best full face motorcycle helmets for street and sport touringEight full face motorcycle helmets compared by listed certification, shell material, weight, size and Pinlock or visor setup, from $200 to $780.Gear guide
- Best carbon fiber motorcycle helmets, with listed weightsEight carbon and carbon-composite helmets from Scorpion, Schuberth, AGV, HJC and Bell compared on certification, shell type, listed weight and shield setup.Gear guide
- Best adventure and dual sport helmets for road and dirtSix adventure and dual sport helmets compared on certification, shell material, stated weight, sizing and the peak, shield and visor setup each listing describes.Gear guide