What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
We checked in with Revzilla’s gear guru Pat McHugh for pro tips on what to look for in a motorcycle helmet. Here are some picks for the absolute best you can buy. what the Best Motorcycle Helmet
REVZILLA/MIPS
As the saying goes, there are two types of motorcycle riders: those who have crashed, and those who will crash. Statistics suggest that almost every motorcyclist’s luck eventually runs out—and more than half the time, it’s not even the rider’s fault. Despite your best efforts and advanced riding skills, chances are most motorcyclists are gonna kiss the pavement someday. Will you be ready when it happens to you?
While crashing may be practically inevitable, ending up with a serious head injury (or worse) is not. According to the NHTSA, in states without universal helmet laws, more than 57 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2020 were not wearing helmets, as compared to 11 percent in states with universal helmet laws. So wearing a helmet while motorcycling is a must.
But there are a gazillion motorcycle helmets on the market. what the Best Motorcycle Helmet Which one is right for you?
How to Choose a Motorcycle Helmet
Another old rider’s adage says, “If you’ve got a ten-dollar head, buy yourself a ten-dollar helmet.” That’s an aphorism, but the point is clear: A quality motorcycle helmet is essential for safe motorcycling. Which helmet you select will depend on a number of factors:
- Style is subjective to every rider, so there are plenty of helmet types, colors, and graphics to choose from. Basic black is always “cool,” but keep in mind that a bright-colored, hi-vis, or even gaudy-graphic helmet might make a rider more conspicuous to motorists. Making sure you’re seen by drivers is one of the keys to riding—and arriving—safely.
- Next, consider what type of riding you’ll be doing. Carving canyons on a sportbike? Touring long distances? Cruising the boulevard? Riding streets to get to the trails? There are many different ways to enjoy motorcycling, and there are a plethora of helmets to suit each style. What, where, and how you ride is as important a consideration when shopping for a helmet as it is when buying a bike. what the Best Motorcycle Helmet
- Of course, motorcycle helmet fit is supremely important. Any helmet you ride in must fit well and be comfortable for long stretches; any decent helmet will offer multiple shell sizes and shapes to suit every shape and size of head. If you wear subscription glasses while riding, consider the fit with those on.
- In addition to shape, weight is an important consideration. A lighter helmet might be more comfortable, but super-lightweight helmets (say, 3 to 3.5 pounds) tend to be more expensive due to premium materials. Either that, or they’re cheap junk that you shouldn’t buy. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
- Features, such as built-in speakers/comms systems (or places to install them) and internal sun visors, are essential to some riders but irrelevant to others. Decide what’s important to you before committing.
- Wind Noise is an important feature of any motorcycle helmet. But you’ll never know how loud a helmet is on the road until you ride with it. That’s why you should try to buy a motorcycle helmet from a dealer or an apparel and gear retailer such as Cycle Gear and Revzilla. Most have return or exchange policies that let you swap one helmet for another if it’s too loud for you.What the Best Motorcycle Helmet
Types of Motorcycle Helmets
There are three main types of motorcycle helmets, with plenty of options within each segment to suit every motorcyclist’s riding style:
- Full Face Motorcycle Helmets — This type of helmet has a solid chin bar that wraps around from one side of the face to the other, protecting the chin and jaw from impact in case of a crash. Paired with a visor, they provide premium face and head protection for motorcyclists. Full face motorcycle helmets are generally considered the best motorcycle helmets.
- Modular (or Flip-Up) Motorcycle Helmets — With a modular helmet, the aforementioned chin bar flips up on hinges to rest above the eyeport, to provide the rider some fresh air, wider sightlines, and the ability to converse with others. They’re particularly handy at gas stations and for quick conversations among group riders. what the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
- Open Face Motorcycle Helmets — There are various styles of open-faced helmets—3/4 helmets and caps (aka “brain buckets”) chief among them. They’re mainly popular among riders of Cruiser and Bagger motorcycles from OEMs like Harley-Davidson and Indian—although many younger Cruiser and Bagger riders are coming around to appreciate the advanced safety a full-faced motorcycle helmet offers. You won’t find sportbike or ADV riders wearing open-faced helmets.
So which helmet is the one you need? McHugh offered the selections below as a starting point. Note that while we have linked to Revzilla and other Comoto brands, we’ve also linked to other retailers such as Amazon. What the Best Motorcycle Helmet By all means, shop around. Be advised, though, that many major moto-gear brands don’t sell their products direct via Amazon; chances are, you’re buying from a local dealership somewhere instead of a nationwide retailer with warranties, return policies, and other consumer perks.
Besides, who hasn’t been burned by Amazon at one time or another? Remember, if you’ve got a ten-dollar head . . . you know the rest. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
BEST EVERYDAY MOTORCYCLE HELMET
Scorpion EXO-R1 Air
$399 AT REVZILLACREDIT: REVZILLA
PROS
CONS
The EXO-R1 Air brings a host of winning features to all styles of road riding. It utilizes a proprietary blend of fiberglass for high strength, low weight, and better impact dispersal. A central locking mechanism for the face shield guarantees an uncompromising seal at even the highest speeds. On the inside, inflatable cheek pads let you dial in the fit, and the liner channels airflow from the large ram-air intake vent at the front through four exhaust ports at the rear. It’s the ideal full face motorcycle helmet for everyday motorcycle riders. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
BEST MODULAR MOTORCYCLE HELMET
Schuberth C5 Helmet
$769 AT REVZILLACREDIT: REVZILLA
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Modular helmets are perfect for both everyday riding as well as touring because the flip-up chinbar lets you eat, drink, and speak to riding buddies (or ask for directions) without removing the helmet. They’re key when filling up the tank.
“For years, one of the most popular modular helmets on the market was the C3 Pro,” McHugh said. “The C4 was a bit of a dud, but the Schubert C5 is a return to quality design and materials, great ventilation, and a comm-ready helmet. What the Best Motorcycle Helmet This one is really comfortable on longer hauls.”What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
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BEST VALUE MOTORCYCLE HELMET
BILT Nomad Modular
Now 13% Off
$140 AT CYCLE GEARCREDIT: CYCLE GEAR
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The Nomad is a no-frills modular full-face helmet that readily splits the difference between high quality and a great price. It features an injection-molded, aggressive shell design, multiple vents, and a quick-release chin bar for supreme convenience at gas stations and stoplights. Best of all, it comes in three colors and multiple sizes, from XS-5XL. If you’re just looking for a quality everyday helmet that’s versatile and affordable, you’ve found it. Note: BILT is an in-house Comoto brand that specializes in quality, affordable motorcycle gear. What the Best Motorcycle Helmet McHugh didn’t recommend this helmet to us, but we’re touting it anyway because it’s a great price for a decent full-face helmet. What the Best Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
MOST VERSATILE MOTORCYCLE HELMET
Icon Airflite Peacekeeper
$320 AT REVZILLACREDIT: REVZILLA
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With plenty of colors, styles, graphics treatments, and shield options, the Airflite is renowned as an affordable, versatile motorcycle helmet that’s great for almost any rider and any ride.
McHugh: “It’s big, it’s a bit loud on the road, but damn if it isn’t one of the most popular helmets on the market for the past four-ish years. You can take the shield/graphic/spoilers and customize them to look the part for any riding segment (vtwin, commuter, touring, etc). The style factor is pinnacle ICON.”What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Long Oval
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BEST MOTORCYCLE HELMET FOR THE TRACK
Arai Corsair X Helmet
$800 AT CYCLEGEAR.COMCREDIT: CYCLE GEAR
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McHugh actually selected this helmet’s precursor, the acclaimed Corsair V, as his favorite track helmet, calling it “one of the best options on the market from Japan.” The Corsair X is the latest iteration of Arai’s venerable track stud and takes that helmet’s legendary performance and comfort to an entirely new level with a stronger shell and smoother shape that redirects impact energy rather than absorbs it. The interior lining features ear-pocket recesses to accommodate speakers. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
BEST OPEN-FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMET
Bell Custom 500
$145 AT REVZILLACREDIT: REVZILLA
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Bell brought its classic 500 helmet back to the future with the Neo-retro Custom 500. A new headform fits better and looks smaller, and the thin-profile shell allows it to sit lower on the head. With five shell sizes, it’s easy to get the look you want while getting a great helmet for that open-faced riding experience. It comes in white, matte or gloss black, and this sick silver flake.
Note: McHugh didn’t recommend this helmet either, saying “I’m not really one for recommending open-face helmets—just too many safety concerns even though they’re so popular.” But if you’re looking to rock the open-face look, this is a fantastic choice. Cruiser-face, engage!What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
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BEST SPORT-TOURING MOTORCYCLE HELMET
HJC Helmets RPHA 71 ST
$450 AT AMAZON$270 AT WALMARTCREDIT: REVZILLA
McHugh recommends this HJC helmet on personal experience: “I daily ride my RPHA 70 ST, and while the new 71 is a bit more touring-oriented, [it] has some really cool features. It flows a ton of air and the drop-down internal smoke visor can be adjusted so you can even wear sunglasses underneath. They also partnered with Sena for a built-in comm system, as a lot of companies are doing these days.” What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
Note: The recommended 71 ST (pictured) was out of stock online at press time, but there are plenty of RPHA 70 STs still available at other retailers, such as Amazon.
BEST ADV MOTORCYCLE HELMET
Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS
Now 20% Off
$192 AT AMAZONCREDIT: AMAZON
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ADV, or dual-sport, riding has exploded in popularity in recent years. But every rider knows that when it’s time to transition from asphalt to dirt, a street helmet just won’t cut it. The Bell MX-9 Adventure features three shell sizes plus multiple colors and styles, and the MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) technology absorbs side and glancing impacts to keep the head and neck more stable.
“It’s the best bang-for-buck ADV helmet money can get you,” McHugh said. “You can set it up for the trail or the road or both on a long trip. . . . You’ll see this at damn near every single ADV ride out there.” What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Shape: Intermediate Oval
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What to Look For (and What to Avoid) in a Motorcycle Helmet
When shopping for a helmet, there are plenty of things to consider. Improvements in design and materials have made helmets safer and lighter than ever. Even many chinstrap clasps have moved beyond the trusty ol’ D-ring slip-and-loop system of yore.
Most modern motorcycle helmets can also be outfitted with techie features like Bluetooth connectivity, internal speakers, rider communications systems, and more. (Plenty of companies have tried, but sadly, a functional head-up display has yet to come to market.)What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
So what should you look for in a motorcycle helmet, and what should you run far away from? Revzilla’s YouTube channel offers a fantastic 2-minute video on how to buy the right helmet for you. Even the NHTSA has a great list of guidelines on how to choose the right motorcycle helmet.
First and foremost, size and fit are the keys to a motorcycle helmet’s comfort—and its safety. A helmet that doesn’t fit right could move around or come off completely in a severe impact crash, eliminating its efficiency. Even if the helmet stays on but moves around on your head, it could compromise any safety features the helmet might offer. See below to determine the best shape and size for your helmet.
When it comes to features, get a helmet with adjustable airflow vents. Venting is essential on hot days; sweated-up helmets can end up smelly, and cleaning the interior padding can be tricky. On soggy, humid days, face shields can fog up while riding. Vents will help keep fresh air flowing. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Look for helmets with a removable lining for easy cleaning. Many offer removable cheek pads to improve fitment, and some will offer removable ear pads for installing aftermarket speakers and in-helmet comms systems. Versatility is key here.
Many helmets offer switchable face shields that allow you to swap in shaded or colored visors. These are key for riders who wear glasses or don’t want to wear sunglasses under their helmets. Some pricier helmets will even come with an optional shaded visor. Flip-down interior sun visors are also popular; they’re usually actuated by a lever on the helmet’s shell that’s easy to flip with gloves on. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Despite the temptation, we don’t recommend buying a used motorcycle helmet. Secondhand items purchased online from private sellers are, shall we say, not always exactly as described. Moreover, helmets are designed to absorb a severe impact once; after that, their ability to function in the event of another crash is deeply compromised. So if you ever do go down and bang your helmet on the ground, you should always buy a new one before you ride again. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
Finally, never buy any helmet that doesn’t have an oval DOT badge on it. Helmets without this permanent U.S. Department of Transportation approval sticker are considered by law to be “novelty helmets”—toys, effectively. They are illegal to wear while riding on most U.S. highways (except in states without mandatory helmet laws).
Even better, look for Snell certification when shopping for motorcycle helmets. Snell is an independent non-profit organization with a far more rigorous testing process than either DOT or ECE (European helmet standards). Snell puts helmets through their paces and randomly re-tests them occasionally, to ensure the latest versions are up to its stringent standards.
If you’re considering buying an off-brand helmet online, watch out for counterfeits disguised as the real thing; we’ve seen plenty of fake “DOT” and “Snell” stickers for sale at rally booths and even on the internet. Don’t fall for it! An authentic regulatory sticker will be non-removable and shellacked over. If you can peel it, don’t buy it. What the Best 6 Motorcycle Helmet
