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As potentially the most important piece of motorcycle safety apparel and the only item required to be worn by law, buying a helmet can be a daunting task.

A huge variety of helmets exist in the market, ranging from open face scooter helmets, to feature packed full face racing helmets.

All helmets sold in Australia are compliant with the Australian Standard and are marked with a sticker to indicate this. No matter how fancy or pretty the helmet, the one crucial factor is how it fits your head.

Here are some quick pointers to keep in mind when looking for a helmet:

How big is your head?

The first step in determining the correct fit is to measure the circumference of your head. Use a tape to measure around the largest part of your head (just above your ears). This measurement will give you an approximate idea of which size should suit you in a particular model range.

Snug!

Once you have obtained the correct size as a starting point, put the helmet on your head and do up the chin strap firmly. The helmet should make contact with all parts of your head and should feel nice and snug (it will also push firmly on your cheeks).

Slide test

The next step is to try and move the helmet around on your head, firstly side to side and then back and forth. The helmet should not slide in any of these tests. If it does, it is likely that this is the incorrect fit and you may need to choose a different brand/model (after trying on a few helmets, you will notice each brand fits your head differently and often each model may have a different fit too).

Crash test – without the crashing!

To test that the helmet won’t come off in the event of a crash, you should have a friend try and roll it off your head by pulling from the base at the rear of the helmet. The helmet should not come loose from your head.

Pressure points

Finally, keep the helmet on for a period of time to ensure it is firm yet comfortable, with no pressure points on any part of your head.

That ain’t cool

If you keep the above in mind when buying a helmet, you will surely find the right fit for you. Don’t be tempted to buy a helmet just because it has a cool graphic or design; remember the most important feature is CORRECT FIT! After all, it’s much cooler to keep your head safe in the event of an accident!

You can browse helmets on Parts Market