Always buy new, and try on several different makes as fit is very important and, like clothes, different manufacturers work to different shapes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Buying a second hand helmet is not recommended. There could be damage you can't see. You are also unlikely to get the right fit. You must be cautious and only buy if you are satisfied that the helmet fits and is in a usable condition as designed. If you are in any doubt, contact the manufacturer for further information.

Get a friend to try to twist the helmet on your head (gently!). If it moves more than a few millimetres it’s either too big or the wrong shape for your head. It shouldn’t move enough to hurt your ears! If you’ve got the unflattering hamster-cheek look,  that’s a good sign.  Watch out for pressure across your forehead as this can cause headaches and affect your concentration.

There are 3 styles – full-face, open face and flip front. Clearly, full face offers the best protection, but the best flip front helmets should protect your face and chin in an accident. Off-road helmets are a slightly different shape, and may not have a visor, so you need separate eye protection. They give you the Dakar Rally look, but they’re not nearly so aerodynamic as a full-face road helmet, and riding in goggles at normal traffic speeds can be wearing.

Some people prefer an open-face helmet, especially for town riding. Just bear in mind that as well as giving less protection, again it’ll be harder work at motorway speeds, and you may need goggles if it has no inbuilt visor.

Always buy a new helmet. It will fit better, and you know it hasn’t been dropped, or rolled along the road, or painted with something that’s busy eating through the shell. All those things can reduce the protection it would give you in an accident. If you want to buy one as a present, make sure the rider is with you to try it on. Helmets can’t be returned or exchanged unless there’s a fault, so get it right before you leave the shop.

And if you’ve just dug out a helmet you wore years ago, check that it’s still good enough. If it has been stored in sunlight, the lining is compressed, the strap is stretched or frayed or the visor is scratched it’s probably time to buy yourself a new one.

Once you have, you may be pleasantly surprised by how light, quiet and comfortable modern helmets are.

Helmet Care

Your helmet is the most important piece of kit you will own - if you look after it, it will look after you! In general, a helmet has a shelf life of around five years, but if used regularly around three years. You should keep your helmet in the best condition and clean it regularly. Whilst many helmets are made of similar materials and can be cleaned using the same method, we recommended that you always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for the specific helmet you have purchased.

Here are some general tips:

Cleaning

Daily cleaning:

Daily cleaning should be part of your helmet ritual - especially the visor. This is the window on your world so it should be clean and free of dirt, flies and scratches. You should also make sure that when you go out to ride, you have the correct visor fitted for the conditions. Cleaning your visor after every ride should be part of your post-ride ritual, as it's easier to clean before the flies dry out! If you don't have time, there's a simple way to clean it without scrubbing. Simply wet some paper towels and leave them on your visor for a few minutes and then wipe off.

Weekly cleaning:

Modern helmets are festooned with vents and intakes, which will only work if you keep them open and clean. Spend a few minutes a week with an old toothbrush or a cotton bud to clean out the vents to ensure that they are free of obstructions.

Monthly cleaning:

Many helmets today have removable linings or cheek pads. Remove these and follow the helmet manufacturer's guidelines on cleaning. Some will be washing-machine friendly, or some will need to be hand-washed and dried.

Every six months:

Even if you remove the lining and wash it regularly it's important that you give your helmet a thorough 'spring' clean. It's not nice, but over the months your helmet can receive a build-up of sweat, skin, hair-gel and even dandruff. The helmet interior, including any padding that is not removable should be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Allow to dry naturally.

Stickers, paint and storage:

Great care must be taken when it comes to the application of paint and stickers. Helmet painting is best left to the professionals who know what paint will not damage the shell. Stickers also must not have adhesive that will attack and weaken the shell. If in doubt, do not apply them. If you are an infrequent rider, store your helmet safely, preferably with a helmet bag over it and somewhere it won't get dropped or knocked. NEVER store the helmet lying on its crown.

Whether it’s a basic double-ring system or a seatbelt-style buckle, you should be 100% confident that you will do it up securely every time. There’s really no point in wearing a helmet that could fall off.

Noise

The sound of the wind rushing over your helmet can damage your hearing surprisingly fast, so it’s worth having a pair of earplugs in your pocket, especially for longer trips. But helmets also vary in how much noise they let in, something that it’s hard to measure in the shop, unfortunately.

Visibility

Most visors are fine in shop conditions. It’s when they get covered in rain or misted up, that the problems start. You can buy various anti-fog or water-repellant coatings or gadgets,  but you should at least be able to open the visor a crack while riding, as that’s often the simplest way to clear a foggy visor.

You’re allowed to wear a lightly tinted visor to keep out sunshine or glare, but take care not to leave yourself riding in the dark. Check that your visor has a CE mark as some dark visors are illegal.

Some helmets have darkened visors that you can drop into position as you ride. Others have quick-change visors so you can put the tinted one away at dusk and go back to a clear one. Or you could just find some sunglasses that fit inside your helmet.

Ventilation

Most helmets have some kind of vent system to keep air flowing through, which helps keep your visor clear, and to keep you cool in summer. And clearly it’s better if you can open and close them easily, with one hand, so you don’t have to stop every time you want more air.

Lining

Some helmets have removable linings that you can wash. Others have adjustable padding so you can get a really snug fit around the face.

Visors

A good quality visor is essential equipment for the motorcyclist. It is important that you look after it to maintain a good field of view in all weather and lighting conditions. Your visor will often become soiled with dead flies, bugs and road debris even after short distances, and as a result will need regular cleaning. It is important that this should be done with care so you avoid damaging the front surface of the visor. A scratched visor can cause dazzle from oncoming vehicle headlights. If yours becomes scratched, get it replaced! You should also make sure that when you go out to ride, you have the correct visor fitted for the conditions. Visors with heavy tints can be dangerous, both for you and other road users. Visors that transmit less than 50% of visible light do not fully comply with any of the standards and cannot legally be used on the road.