How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet Fit Better: 5 Easy Techniques
A helmet is the foremost safety gear for motorcycle riding. It protects you from different impacts only when it fits perfectly on your head. So, how to make a motorcycle helmet fit better?
Most people usually overlook the importance of a helmet during motorcycle riding. We always need the safest helmet for motorcycle riding to protect our brain and head. But, many people are confused about how to better fit a motorcycle helmet, and you might be one of them.
Don’t worry. In this guide, I am going to present some useful techniques that will surely help you make your motorcycle helmet fit tighter.
Understanding Basic Shapes
Before diving into the exact strategies for better fitting of a helmet, it is very important to under the shape of your head along with the different shapes of helmets in the market.
Different Shapes of Head
You may also know that we all have different-shaped heads. How the shape of a head is formed is a completely different topic, but it largely depends on the child’s sleep position. Your head maybe.
- Perfectly round
- Intermediate oval
- Long oval (Egg shape)
Different Shapes of Helmets
Just like our heads, helmets also come in different shapes and sizes. To properly fit a motorcycle helmet, you need to know different shapes of motorcycle helmets.
Round Oval Shape
A round-oval helmet is almost perfectly round and some old helmets feature this shape. This shape is longer side to side with a bit of space at the sides of the head and shorter front to back.
Intermediate Oval Shape
This is the most common shape of helmets. The majority of modern helmets have an intermediate oval shape. This shape is slightly longer front to back and somewhat narrow side to side as compared to round-oval shape.
Long Oval Shape
Long oval shape helmets have a large room at the front. This shape is large from front to back and narrow side to side as compared to an intermediate oval shape.
Also Read: Best Bike Helmets for Big Heads
How to make a motorcycle helmet fit better?
Hopefully, now you have an idea about the shapes of human heads and motorcycle helmets. Let’s have a look at the techniques to better fit a motorcycle helmet.
1. Choose the Proper Size of a Helmet
Either if the helmet is small or large, selecting the wrong size helmet will not protect you effectively. You also remain uncomfortable wearing the wrong size helmet.
The helmet will only fit on your head when you choose the proper size. Different helmets have different sizes and different manufacturers have different sizing charts. To choose the right size, I always recommend you measure the size of your head.
How to Measure the Size of Your Head for a Helmet?
To measure the size of your head for a helmet, you need a measuring tape. Wrap it around your head’s crown just above the eyes. Taking the measurement alone might be a hard task. You may ask your friend to measure it for accurate readings. Try to measure two or three times to minimize the errors.
After measuring the size of your head, it’s time to match it with the manufacturer’s size chart. You may also use the sizing pads for a much better fit.
2. Check the Cheek Pads of a Helmet
Cheek pads also play a role in the comfortable fitting of a helmet. Most helmets have soft cheek pads to keep the rider comfortable.
After wearing the helmets for a long time, the cheek pads may become progressively worse. So, I always suggest you check the cheek pads before buying a helmet. In this way, you remain comfortable and a helmet will remain fit on your head.
3. Helmet Positioning
You can get a better fitting of a helmet by choosing the right size and checking the cheek pads. Still, a helmet may not remain firmly on your head. So what to do now?
My next technique to get a better fit is the proper positioning of a helmet. Check the position of a helmet on your head. It might be wrongly positioned on the head. Sometimes the pressure of winds changes the position of a helmet, making it fall sideways. You may also check these motorcycle helmets to reduce wind noise.
Try not to put all your head in the helmet at once, but first insert the forehead in the helmet. Make sure that you see the road with no obstacle. In this way, the helmet will remain well-positioned at the top of the head.
4. Adjust Side Straps
The next way to get a better fit for a motorcycle helmet is by adjusting the side straps. Almost every helmet comes with adjustable side straps.
Put the helmet on your head and then adjust the side straps in such a way that they form a Y-shape. The straps should meet just below the ears without irritating them. You have to tighten them till that point where you remain comfortable.
By doing so, your helmet will fit in a much better way while keeping you comfortable.
5. Buckle Chin Straps
You just can’t ignore the importance of chin straps in the snug-fitting of a motorcycle helmet. Similar to side straps, most of the helmets feature adjustable chin straps.
You have to tightly buckle the chin straps while remaining comfortable. You should tighten chin straps to that point where the helmet presses against your head’s top. Only one finger can pass through chin straps below the chin.
Since most chin straps are moisture-wicking, so no need to worry about sweat underneath the straps. In this way, you will remain comfortable while getting the perfect fit.
Also Read: Comfortable Motorcycle Boots
Final Checks
Now you have a helmet that perfectly matches the shape and size of your head. Try to move your helmet up and down, or rotate it from the back or front, and side by side. These steps make the helmet fit even better, and the helmet will remain steady on your head during riding.
At this point, the helmet might fit well on your head even if you have a large rounded head, but still you feel uncomfortable. What to do now?
After making the perfect fit of a helmet, I don’t recommend going for a ride. Instead, wear the helmet for some time in your house before going out for a ride, in this way you will quickly become used to your helmet.
Whenever you feel comfortable with your motorcycle helmet, it’s time to go for a ride. Hopefully, all the techniques mentioned above will help you make a motorcycle helmet fit better.
