It is a wonderful step to get a motorcycle helmet for protection. But it’s also good to get the right size. A motorcycle helmet that is too small will give the highest discomfort, which is not good for a cyclist. The comfort of cyclists when riding their motorcycles is very important too. So, avoid wearing a small helmet.
The question now is, how do I know when my motorcycle helmet is too small? You can test it with your head. A helmet is small when it’s too tight, overly pressing your cheeks or forehead. Also, if it doesn’t go through your head, it is too small for you.
In stores where they won’t let you test the helmet, you can get it according to your head measurement. We have made this article to show you how to measure your head for the right size helmet. Also, the article has how a motorcycle helmet should fit, and it is important to choose the right fitting helmet. Continue reading to learn more.
How Do I Know When My Motorcycle Helmet Is Too Small?
Since helmets are a must-have gear for motorcyclists, it is important to get the size right. So, the question “How do I know when my motorcycle helmet is too small?” is not out of place. There are a few ways to tell when your motorcycle helmet is too small.
The helmet won’t fit neatly
When your head cannot go into your motorcycle helmet, it is obvious that it is too small for you. When you notice this, there is no need to force your head into the helmet. What you should do is change it. Forcing your head in the helmet might put you in a compromising position of breaking the helmet to take it off.
Although your helmet should be somewhat tight with the pads touching your cheeks, it still needs to be slightly loose. This is for you to put it on without force and for it not to fall off at high speed or in a crash.
The helmet will discomfort you.
If you are feeling a certain discomfort in your motorcycle helmet when you put it on, it means it is too small. Most time, the feeling doesn’t come when you first wear the helmet. The helmet gets discomforting after a long time on your head. Some spots will hurt, and that is discomforting to anyone.
When you experience any discomfort, it is time to change the helmet to a slightly bigger one. A well-fitted helmet should let you use it for a long time without hurting.
Your forehead will get red after long use.
Sometimes, you might not feel the hurt, but when you take off your helmet, you notice a red spot on your forehead or feel pain. This is because the motorcycle helmet is too small for you. The red spot is common for light skin people. For dark people, their forehead will hurt when they take their helmet off after a long ride.
Some people have a helmet that rightly sizes their heads, but they still experience a red forehead. This is because the helmet doesn’t suit their head shape. Someone with a long face wearing a round-shaped helmet will get the red spot. So, when searching for a helmet that is your size, search for the one with your head shape.
How to Measure Your Head for the Right Size Helmet
A small helmet is not good for anyone. Their disadvantages are quite many, and they overshadow the advantages if there are any. So, here is how to measure your head for the right size helmet.
1. Note the shape of your head
That different people have different head shapes might make the measurement test complicated for you. There is the Round-oval head shape, which means the head of the person is round from the plan view. Also, there is the intermediate oval head shape. Here, the person’s head is sphere-shaped.
Then, the long oval head shape is where the person’s head takes a sphere shape, but this time it is longer than the intermediate oval. So, determine the one your head is first before even taking the measurement. To do this, you need help from a friend or a picture of your head from the top.
Take the plan view picture of your head while sitting erect, so you can be sure of what shape it is. Then compare the head picture to the round-oval, intermediate ova, or the long oval head shape.
2. Measure the broadest part of your head
Locate the widest part of your head. For most people, it is about a quarter to half inches over their eyebrow. For others, it could be above that or below. The widest part of the head through the back is mostly significant just by looking at it.
When you have figured this out, run a measuring tape around the widest part of your head. Make sure the tape holds tight on your head. Then, write out the measured figure in any measurement style, but preferably in inches.
3. Match the measurement to the product sizing chart and choose the right shape
Every helmet has a sizing chart on the label attached to it. If the product comes with a manual, the sizing chat will be in the manual. However, you might not see the label or manual if you buy from an online store. Here, you can check on the product description page for the chart.
When you see the chart, compare your head shape and measurement to the product description. When you find the helmet with a matching head shape and measurement, that’s the one to choose.
4. Test on the helmet
This step might not work for an online store, except they have a returning policy. But for a helmet store nearby, you have enough time to try the helmet on. When trying on the helmet, make sure your cheeks and forehead fit smoothly. The brow pads should touch your forehead and should not be too tight on it. The same goes for your cheeks. The side pads should touch and not press your cheeks. There shouldn’t be space between your forehead and the pad, and your cheeks and the pad, either.
You can conduct a simple test for space around the crown of your head in the helmet. Wear the helmet and try to touch its top through the inside. If the helmet falls off, it is too big, and if it doesn’t, it is okay. Also, if two of your fingers can fit into the helmet while still putting it on, it is too big.
More than you don’t want the helmet to be too big; the helmet shouldn’t be too small too. The discomfort a small helmet has is difficult to endure. So, wear the helmet for about one hour and monitor its effect on you. We advise you get a motorcycle helmet for small heads if you have a small head and the one for enormous heads if your head is big.
How Should a Motorcycle Helmet Fit?
A motorcycle helmet should fit smoothly. It shouldn’t be a struggle when you are wearing it, or it will cause some harm to your face. Discomfort is the last thing you want to feel when riding your motorcycle, and your helmet can deliver that if it doesn’t fit.
A helmet bigger than your head is not ideal too. You do not want your helmet falling off at high speed. Also, you do not want it falling off when you have an accident, leaving your head to crash without protection. So, your helmet should match your head shape and size to fit you perfectly.
Why Choose a Right Fitting Motorcycle Helmet Is So Important?
People new to motorcycling might not know how important it is to get the right-fitting helmet. To them, anything can go, and that is a wrong approach. The importance of getting the right fitting motorcycle helmet is as follows.
- The helmet will not fall off at high speed
- Enhance a more comfortable riding experience
- It makes the helmet not shaky when you are riding
- The helmet will not fall off when an accident happens
- The ventilation and breathing space will be enough
- Reduces the tendency of visor fogging
Conclusion
For motorcycle racers, the headgear you use can be your winning or losing determinant. When your helmet is comfortable and fitting, it leaves you focusing on the race. But when the reverse becomes the case, you can’t channel your focus on the road, which might bring about losing.
So, “how do I know when my motorcycle helmet is too small?” is a must-ask question for motorcyclists. Your helmet is too small when it doesn’t fit in your head effortlessly. The importance of getting the right-fitting helmet cannot be over-emphasized.
