Help with my first helmet!

[Smokin]

When it comes to the fit of a helmet, should it be the same size of your head or a few centimetres bigger? I'm not sure whether it should be tight or whether it'd be better to have some movement in there.

Thanks

[*Touring Ted*]

The best advice I would give you is to go to a shop which sells helmets as the staff have often been on courses etc. There you can try lots of lids on and find out what size you are.

As a rule, A helmet should not move if you nod or shake your head but it obviously shouldn't be tight enough to cause any discomfort.

[Smokin]

Thanks a lot, Ted. I kind of had my heart set on an Arai Tour X and I can't find a shop near me which sells one, so I was thinking of just buying one online and if it wasn't right, sending it back. I'll do what yuo said though and just hope that different brands fit the same.

By the way, I always like looking through your posts. It may sound a bit stalkerish, haha, but your advice is good, so I've gone through your posts a couple of times, especially regarding an XT. Always good information.

[*Touring Ted*]

Always happy to help !!!


I actually have a tour-x. I bought mine off Ebay and like you, took a chance with the size knowing that I'd be able to sell it on if I got it wrong.

If you're going to buy offline, measure your head with a tape-measure (there are guides on the websites you buy from) and then go that way. All the manufactures have the sizes in circumference CM etc.

You can buy an Arai Tour x3 for under £150 on ebay. You will never know if it has been dropped though. That is a personal choice.


Ted

[1000mph]

I bought an Arai Tour X size L (headsize 59 cm ish) blind via the internet and am pleased. Obviously it's best to try a helmet on in the shop but even then it's not always apparent if you'll get on with it in the long run. I bought a BMW flip front after trying it on and had to sell it eventually for a knock down price in perfect nick as it gave me splitting headaches after about an hour. I have a mate who loves it though. Was unlucky once with a SHOEI too but have also had one that I really got on with. Shark worked for me also. It's a bit of a gamble as a lot of places won't take back a used helmet for obvious reasons. Also, different manufacturers seem to work best with certain head shapes. My advice would be to try one on if possible and then shop around. That wasn't possible for me so I took a punt with the Arai and it worked out. Good luck.

[Huan]

You can buy new grey market Arai Tour-x from Bikers bargains in the UK for 290 in white.
Pretty good price for a New Arai IMO.
I have had Arai in the past and was pleased with them, but the Airoh S4 was on offer at less than 100 euro from Germany and I just couldn't pass it up at that price.
I am really happy with the S4 it fits well and is reasonably priced for a DS with visor.
If you want to you can detach the visor and use it with goggles.

[shu...]

I buy a lot of stuff off the internet, but not helmets. The fit is too important and they cost too much to make a mistake. I won't buy someone's used helmet, you never know what it has been through. (Kinda like buying a used climbing rope - won't do that either.)

You have to know that you can wear it 10-12 hours a day, day after day. I go to local shop with a paperback book in hand, put the helmet on and sit in their lounge area and read for about an hour. If it's comfortable for that, I'll buy it.


...........shu

[Wheelie]

If you feel a single pressure point in the store, even a faint one, regardless where on your head you feel it, you will most likely be in pain after riding in it for hours at end. And, if you ride many long days in a row, it all adds up, and the end of every day will likely feel worse than the previous. I have never really experienced that a helmet's pressure points gets "broken in". Even though helmets after lengthy use can feel roomier, the pressure points seem to remain... Maybe I got a weird head???

I've spent thousands of Euros on helmets which now just gather dust, so don't just listen to the sales guy, but also to how it really feels on yor head. My favourite is my new shark evoline series 3. I broke it in on a two consequitive 1.000 kms/15 hour per day, ride, in a row... with only slight discomfort at the end of each day.

[Wheelie]

Originally Posted by shu...

I go to local shop with a paperback book in hand, put the helmet on and sit in their lounge area and read for about an hour. If it's comfortable for that, I'll buy it.


...........shu

What if you after an hour find that it wasn't any good, how many will you try before calling it the day? Better get in early . Then again, if I had listened to that advice, maybe I wouldn't have wasted so much money

[Huan]

If you feel a pressure point mark the spot and use the back of a dessertspoon to push the foam back a tiny amount.