If you’ve decided to take up motorcycling, welcome to the club – you’re going to have the ride of your life!
And you’re going to because you’re going to make it safe to do so. Regardless of whether or not it’s illegal to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet in your State, you should always wear a helmet when riding because one nasty accident could end it all.
But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
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First, we’re going to show you our Top 5 motorcycle helmets for beginners, along with our reviews, and then we follow that up with a comprehensive buyer’s guide that will cover all the bases, starting right with helmet buying 101.
Finally, we have put together some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
For the purpose of brevity, this article will focus on helmets for adults.
Also, all of the motorcycle helmets in our Top 5 are unisex.
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- 2 Visors Included: Clear + Smoked and 1 Neck Scarf for Winter Use
- Streamlined Aerodynamic Design Reduces Wind Noise and Drag
- Advanced and Lightweight Durable ABS Shell
- Quick Release Clasp and Strap and Removable Inner Lining Pads
- Meets or Exceeds FMVSS-218 and DOT Safety Standards
Best Motorcycle Helmets For Beginners – Comparison Table
Best Motorcycle Helmets For Beginners – Reviews
ILM Full Face Motorcycle Street Bike Helmet with Removable Winter Neck Scarf + 2 Visors DOT (M, Matte Black)
This motorcycle helmet from ILM is a huge bestseller, with over 1000 ratings on Amazon, and still coming in at over 4 stars in total (at time of writing). We’ve had a good look and this rating is totally justified!
Most importantly it’s DOT certified, so you can be assured that it meets the safety standards put in place in North America. To that end, it has an Advanced and Lightweight Durable ABS Shell, for extra protection and comfort.
You can get it in matte black or gloss black to match your motorcycle or you can choose from a few other colors like, white, yellow, red or blue.
And you can be assured of a decent fit since it comes in 4 different sizes, from small through to extra large, and if you’re unsure of what size you need, there’s a helmet fitment chart, on the Amazon page.
What we love about it is the two visors and the neck scarf included in the price. The visors come in two color options, clear or smoked (by which we mean tinted), for that super sultry look. Just use them as and when you please.
It has a Streamlined Aerodynamic Design which means less of the Wind Noise and less drag that can sometimes spoil your ride.
When it comes to comfort, there are some soft, lightweight liner and cheek pads that are both removable and washable. Plus there’s plenty of ventilation points in the helmet.
- Excellent rating on Amazon
- DOT certified for meeting of safety standards
- Affordability
- Lightweight Durable ABS Shell
- Available in different sizes, see size chart on the Amazon page
- Available in different colors
- Clear and smoked visors included in price
- Neck scarf included in the price
- Less of the Wind Noise and drag, thanks to aerodynamic design
- Removable soft, lightweight liner and cheek pads
- Plenty of ventilation
- Not Snell approved
1Storm Motorcycle Modular Full Face Helmet Flip up Dual Visor Sun Shield: HB89 Matt Black
We love this helmet from 1Storm!
What we love about it is it’s Advanced Modular/Flip up and Dual Visor Design, you can just flip up the lower part to switch it from full face to open face, all the while keeping the sun visor right in place (really handy). Simply adapt the helmet to your needs.
There’s a clear outer shield, paired with an inner smoked visor. Both of which are easy to install or remove as you see fit.
It’s roadworthy, meeting and exceeding DOT safety standards, and with a durable Thermoplastic Alloy Shell, so you get full protection from any impact.
There are 4 different sizes available, and there’s a handy size chart on the Amazon page, so you won’t have a problem getting the right fit.
There’s an array of colors available, from glossy pink all the way through to matt black, and some with some striking stripes. You’re very likely to find a style you like.
Each helmet has a UV protective finish, so you can be assured that your chosen helmet color won’t fade.
It’s really comfortable, with removable liner and pads, that you can take away and wash, keeping your helmet clean and odour-free.
There’s good ventilation too, with two front and two top adjustable vent switches, handing control of ventilation over to you.
- Switch from full face to open face or vice versa
- Meets and exceeds DOT safety standards
- Sun visor
- Removable inner smoked visor
- 4 different sizes available
- Loads of colors to choose from UV protective finish
- Really comfortable, with removable liner and pads
- Adjustable ventilation
- Not Snell certified
Bell Qualifier Full-Face Helmet Matte Black Large
Here’s a great little helmet from Bell, which comes packed with great features.
First of all, it is, of course, DOT approved and meets America’s safety standards.
What we really love about it is the shield’s special coating, which is not only anti-fog, and anti-scratch, but it’s also UV protected too!
There’s even integrated speaker pockets.
It has a lightweight polycarbonate ABS shell and has a removable interior for maximum comfort and hygiene. There are even contoured cheek pads to give premium comfort.
Its shield type is click-release, and you can replace the shield without having to dig out any tools.
There’s a padded wind collar which dramatically reduces wind and road noise.
It has a nice ventilation system featuring flow adjust.
Bell is so confident in their product, they offer a five-year warranty, the longest warranty in the industry.
- DOT approved, meets America’s safety standards
- Anti-fog
- Anti-scratch
- UV protected
- Integrated speaker pockets
- Lightweight shell Removable interior
- Contoured cheek pads for maximum comfort
- Reduced wind and road noise, thanks to the wind collar
- Click-release shield
- Flow adjust ventilation system
- Five-year warranty
- Not Snell certified
- Some of the claims made in this review are not adequately reflected on the Amazon page, but they are however all verifiable on the manufacturer’s website
Conquer Snell SA2015 Approved Full Face Auto Racing Helmet
If money were no object, this beauty is hands down the one to go for!
It’s Snell approved which means it meets the highest of all the motorcycle helmet safety standards.
They’ve put a lot of thought into the making of this helmet. In fact, it’s designed for auto racing, (it’s even flame resistant and has a Kevlar chin strap!) but that doesn’t mean it’s not for beginners like yourself!
As a beginner, you’re likely to be comforted by such a safe, well-constructed helmet.
It’s available in a handful of colors, and in 4 different sizes – there’s a handy size chart on the Amazon page.
The shell has a lightweight fiberglass construction which makes it anti-scratch. There’s also a padded interior for a good, comfortable fit, along with removable cheek pads.
- Snell certified and super safe
- Available in different colors
- Available in 4 different sizes – see the size chart on the Amazon page
- Anti scratch
- Padded interior for superior comfort
- Premium product at a premium price
triangle Matte Black Full Face Lightweight, Aerodynamic, Comfortable Street Bike Motorcycle Helmet Unisex Adult DOT Approved (Large, Matte Black) …
Here’s another bestseller that’s super popular with Amazon customers!
It’s DOT approved, so you can be assured that it’s sufficiently safe.
The safety is also helped by its multi-density EPS liner, which absorbs the force of any impact. The liner also provides dry comfort for hygiene and is antibacterial and removable for washing.
It has a lightweight ABS shell, weighing only 3.1 pounds, so you won’t get any tension in your neck from a long ride.
The visor is anti-scratch and provides a wide view, and it’s easily removable, thanks to its quick-change mechanism. You can have the visor up or down as you see fit, and when you want you can lock it into place.
There’s a good ventilation system featuring top and rear extractors.
There’s also a padded chin strap with a Micrometric Closure which makes it real easy to fasten.
- DOT approved
- Anti-bacterial liner
- Lightweight
- Visor is anti-scratch
- Visor provides a wide view
- Visor is easy to adjust Good ventilation system
- Padded chin strap with a Micrometric Closure
- Not Snell certified
Best Motorcycle Helmets For Beginners – Buyer’s Guide
Motorcycle helmet 101
A good motorcycle helmet does more than just protect you in the event of an accident. It will protect you from rain, wind, snow, dust kicked up off the road, and noise pollution.
A motorcycle helmet basically has 3 main components, the hard outer layer, also known as the shell, a softer inner layer for your comfort, usually made of polypropylene or expanded polystyrene, and finally the straps to hold it tightly in place on your head.
Motorcycle helmets may look big, bulky and heavy, but modern helmets are surprisingly lightweight thanks to new advancements in the industry.
They take advantage of such features as carbon fibre materials, improved optics, and special safety mechanisms like MIPS (more on that later).
Safety
Regardless of any fancy features you may have heard of in modern motorcycle helmets however, your first and foremost concern should always be safety. On this, there is no room for compromise.
First of all you must ensure that, at the bare minimum, your helmet passes your local regulations. In North America, it’s the regulations set by the Department of Transportation. If a helmet has passed a certain selection of tests, and is DOT approved, it will have a “DOT” sticker or painted symbol on the rear of the helmet.
More sensible and cautious motorcycle riders will want to take their safety measures a step further, however. To ensure your helmet provides maximum protection, you will also want to look for SNELL certification.
SNELL certification may be optional but the SNELL organization tests motorcycle helmets to a much more rigorous standard. Unlike DOT approved helmets, the label for a Snell certified helmet is found on the inside.
Fit and comfort
A good fitting helmet is absolutely critical, if it doesn’t fit correctly it does not provide the safety it’s designed to provide. And comfort means you can enjoy riding for longer. To ensure your safety, you must fit the helmet as tight as you can comfortably wear it.
A number of factors can influence the fit. Of course, there’s size. Helmet sizes, excluding junior sizes, start at medium, for head circumferences that start at 22.5 inches, right up to XXL, which can exceed 25 inches.
Large sizes generally encompass head circumferences of 23 inches to 24, and XL sizes will bridge the gap between large and XXL.
Then there’s head shape. Most people will have an intermediate oval head shape whereby the front to back measurement is slightly longer than ear to ear. The other types are round oval and long oval. Our recommendation is to determine your head shape. If yours is intermediate oval, then every motorcycle that’s passed the standards ought to provide the right fit for your head shape.
Then there’s the inner layer. The materials in the inner layer can be made from foam of different densities, which in turn affects how it feels on your head. Some helmets can also come with removable pads or inserts, which can have a significant impact on both fit and comfort.
The weight of the helmet will affect the comfort too, especially on longer rides. (And another benefit of lightweight helmets, is that they transfer less energy on impact, which means they are safer.)
Type of helmet
There are a variety of motorcycle helmets out there, each offering different levels of protection and cover. A full-face helmet, by its nature covering the head and all of your face, is the one that provides the most protection.
Since you’re reading this as a beginner to motorcycling, and you’re likely to prefer erring on the side of caution, so we’ve concentrated on full-face helmets in our Top 5.
An open-face helmet, on the other hand, does not have a chin guard, leaving that part of your face completely exposed.
Similar to an open face helmet, a half will cover the top portion of the head, leaving the remainder uncovered.
A modular helmet meanwhile is basically a combination of an open and full-face helmet, and it allows you to remove or flip up the lower section of the helmet.
Off-road or motocross helmets typically feature extra chin protection, sun visors and additional venting.
You can also get adventure helmets too, also known as dual-sport. They’re designed to be worn on or off-road. These tend to feature integrated visors, but not face shields.
FAQs
How do I know my motorcycle helmet size?
On each of our Top helmets for beginners above, the Amazon page for each all have size charts. The best advice we can give to you is to measure around your head with measuring tape and use the size chart for the helmet you have chosen, to identify your helmet size for that particular brand. This is because sizes can differ slightly brand to brand and it’s a hassle having to return a helmet that doesn’t fit perfectly.
If you just wanted an approximate size, however, we went over it briefly in earlier in this Buyer’s Guide.
How tight should a helmet be?
At the risk of repeating ourselves, you must fit the helmet as tight as you can comfortably wear it. This is to ensure your safety and is critical in the helmet being able to effectively do its job in the event of an accident.
Unfortunately, in order to be safe, you do have to sacrifice some comfort.
It’s also important to note that if you lose or put on a little weight around your face then your helmet may become either a bit too loose or a bit too tight!
What are the safest motorcycle helmets?
We’re glad you asked. It’s an easy one to answer though as the safest motorcycle helmets out there are the ones that have been Snell certified. Snell is a non-profit organization which tests motorcycle helmets off the production line and if they meet Snell’s very high standards then they get certified and a Snell certification sticker gets placed somewhere on the helmet.
You generally have to pay considerably more money for a motorcycle helmet that passes Snell standards, but many riders swear by them, and wouldn’t be without theirs. If you’d like a Snell helmet for yourself, check out our Number 4 from Conquer!
Ebay
If you haven’t seen anything you like or you’re on a tight budget and would prefer to buy used, we always recommend checking Ebay!
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