Looking for a lid and don’t know where to start?
We get a lot of questions at VC about helmets and how to choose the right one. Your helmet is one of the most important bits of kit you’ll be throwing your cash down on when you start riding so it’s worth thinking long and hard about how much your noggin is worth as you generally get what you pay for. That being said, you don’t always have to break the bank as there are many helmets out there on offer at a good price that you don’t have sacrifice safety or style for.
But where can you go to try them on, how do you know your size and even then how do you know it fits?? We get it… It can be a bit of a minefield. Worry not! We’re here to help with Bell Helmets to give you the heads up (literally!) about how to choose your first lid and what to know before you take the plunge on that shiny, sparkly skid lid of your dreams. We’ve also done a little run down of some of our favourite Bell lids for all kinds of riders / styles to get you started so check it out and see ya on the road soon!
RACHEL BILLINGS
STYLIN’!
When it comes down to style there is a lot of choice out there! There are quite a few things you should also ask your self other than ‘does this colour match the tank of my bike?’, before you buy! Even though you might want that cool bright yellow open face helmet, if you’re taking any fast main roads you might wanna think about a full face with a visor for all weathers (and the extra protection for that beautiful visage!), for example. We’ve put together a little list of things to ask yourself before taking the plunge on the first helmet that grabs your eye aesthetically:
What type of riding will you be doing? Will you be riding long distances often (a full face with an attached visor is deffo gonna be your mate if this is a yes!)
What kind of terrain will you be riding? If you plan to do road riding and also some adventure trail riding maybe you’ll want one helmet that will do it all!
What’s the climate like where you’ll be riding? If it’s rain, rain, rain, like here in the UK, get something that’s gonna be right for that.
Will you be wearing a bluetooth comms device like a Sena for example? Make sure there is space for it on the helmet you’re looking at.
Do you need to wear glasses / sunglasses with your helmet? Don’t forget to try your fave sunnies or specs with the helmet as there’s nothing worse than buying your lovely new helmet and finding out you can’t fit your all important specs don’t fit!
This list isn’t exhaustive but hopefully it’ll get you thinking practically as well as stylistically about which lid to go for!
Next up… nothing beats asking for advice from other people that ride, and social media has made this one even easier! See someone riding in a helmet you like the look of ? Shoot them a DM and ask where they got it from and how they feel about it, how does it fit, is it comfortable? You don’t ask you don’t get my friends!
OPEN OR FULL FACE
So just to break it down: open face helmets are basically helmets without the chin area so they do not cover the rider’s chin or face, hence the name. Full face helmets come with a chin bar across the bottom and in most cases with a visor (either one already attached or a snap off version). Right now, full faces come in many different shapes and styles from solid full face helmets to modular full face helmets (that the chin area flips up on), dirt bike style full face helmets and ADV style full face helmets, so there is a lot of choice out there and you don’t have to sacrifice style for safety.
This decision is up to each an every rider as you can get ECE approved helmets in both open and full face; for us it’s a bit of a no brainer and we recommend a full face if you’ve got the choice.
SAFETY FIRST
The next thing to check is that the helmet you want is ECE rated and road legal here in the UK. ECE is the European safety standard that all helmets must comply with and you can usually find out whether a helmet is ECE or DOT (the American safety standard requirement) by a sticker found on the back of the helmet. We won't bore you with the blurb but here is a link for the UK government requirements for UK road legal helmets.
Next up, NEVER and we mean NEVER buy a second hand helmet! Basically you never know the helmet’s history (it could have been dropped or even worse - in a crash) and even though it might save you some ££s it’s basically like saying that you value a quick saving over your head’s safety. Just don’t….
HELMET SIZING
Choosing a helmet isn’t just about going for the most sparkly or that great paint job you want! The first thing you need to find out before even choosing your helmet is your size. Every helmet brand (and even different helmet styles from the same brand) have their own different fit and shape, so don’t think that because you've tried on one small helmet size from one brand that you’ll be the same size in all helmets. Most websites have a size chart that will guide you on the specific measurements of each helmet design’s sizing scales. Here’s one example for the Bell MOTO-3 to get an idea (remember every helmet size chart can be different so make sure you check the one you’re wanting specifically)
SO WHICH SIZE AM I?
People generally fit into one of three head shapes: long oval, intermediate oval, and round oval. To find out what you’ve got, ask a friend to take a photo of your head from above. Flatten your hair down as much as possible, because it can obscure your head’s shape. Looking at the picture, is your head almost round (round oval), or is it long and thin (long oval)? Somewhere in between (intermediate oval)? Generally intermediate oval is the most common, but check to be sure before moving on to sizing.
Now, find your helmet size. Fortunately, it’s not hard to figure it out. Ask a friend to measure your head’s circumference with a soft tape measure (or a piece of string that you can then measure after). The tape should run above your eyebrows and around the back of your head, including the widest part. Just lay it against a ruler after measuring to figure out the length. (You can do this yourself, but we really recommend asking a friend to get the most accurate measurement possible.) Compare your result against a helmet’s size chart to determine which size you need to order.
Here’s also handy little video from Urban Rider for some tips on how to measure your noggin for a good fit!
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
A couple of great stores in London to go try on and buy are: URBAN RIDER in Fulham and THE BIKE SHED in Shoreditch. Alternatively in this post-Covid world we’re living in right now going into a store and trying on might not be your first option now so you might want to order a couple of helmets in a couple of sizes and try on at home. Yes, it’s a faff to send one back but this does come with its plus points. This way you can check the fit of the helmet you’ve chosen by wearing it for a prolonged amount of time (15 -30 mins is perfect as it’ll give you a really good idea of how it’s gonna make your head feel on those long journeys but remember you can’t ride in the helmet if you might send it back!). This way you’ll get to feel all those pressure points (if there are any) and find out if its the right size for you. Tightness is OK, but if you feel like you need to get the helmet off to stop the pain, that’s not the helmet for you. Discomfort is most common in two places: directly at the forehead, or just above the temples. If you have a big red line across your forehead after removing the helmet, try something else. If you feel the helmet squeezing your temples, it isn’t round enough for you.
If the helmet fits well, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort but remember you will and should feel the cushions against your cheeks (They should be pushed up a little, like a chipmunk -mmmmm sexy). Next, check the chin strap by moving it around. Your cheeks should move, not the helmet. If it’s sliding, go down at least a size. A new helmet will probably feel pretty snug in the right size at first but you’ll find it’ll loosen up over time as the foam inner will soften up and shape to your head a little. But if it’s squeezing your head or face so much after 15- 30 mins that it’s uncomfortable you probs need to get the next size up.
If it’s comfy then you’re good to go!
One final note…….You should aim to replace your helmet roughly every 5 years. That being said, if you drop your helmet or have been in any accidents that could have compromised the shell and therefore the safety you’ll need to replace it sooner.
OUR BELL FAVES!
THE BELL MOTO 3 -ECE & DOT - FROM £249
It’s safe to say as it’s a staple over at VC but the MOTO-3 has been our fave for years! Originally developed as an off road helmet and launched in the 70s the Bell Moto 3 is a pretty legendary lid. After being relaunched in recent years with all the updated safety but keeping all the classic MX retro features it’s kept its place as one of the most iconic lids out there and is a massive fave across lots of different corners of the bike world. The Moto 3 doesn’t come with a visor as standard but has a wide aspect opening so we usually wear with goggles. Also you can buy a replacement liner for the Moto-3 which is a godsend when your helmet gets all stinky (it happens, believe us!) after a while.
We love the simple neon orange gloss style but some of the limited editions like the Ace Cafe collaboration model in white, red and blue are really nice Annnnnd…..If you’re looking for something really special check out Bell’s collaboration with custom painters Helmade where you can buy the Moto3 and have it painted to your own custom spec: We’re talkin’ glitter, colour blocking, THE LOT!
The Bell Bullitt is another VC fave for long distances due to its flip down visor and full face safety. Great features are the removable flip down visor (you can also get interchangeable visors in black, bubble and mirror finish) and the great standard colour options, and now there is even a carbon fibre model …oooofffffffff! The shape of the helmet profile and the size of the narrow chin piece make this a really stand out helmet with great safety if you’re looking for a full face with a lot of character. It’s well priced too, offering retro styling and ECE rated protection. Finally, it has that all important replaceable liner to avoid stinksville inside your helmet after owning it for a while!
There are sooooo many colour and design options available in the Bullitt but we are a sucker for the gloss silver glitter and the golden lightning bolt jazz, but if you fancy something a little more sedate the black gloss with brown leather interior is beauts!
If you want something a bit more sport bike / custom style then we love the Eliminator. The inspiration for the Eliminator shell comes from slick auto design and car racing with modern looking air inlets and a nod to industrial design with those cool rivets up top. Again, you can interchange the visor for a clear or dark smoke option too and replace that lining when you need to… Also there is a nice peak option add on that’s available!
