To select a dirt bike helmet for yourself, you first must measuring your head circumference. To measure the circumference of your head, use a flexible measuring tape. Place the tape around the widest part of your head, which is approximately one finger’s width above your eyebrows and your ears.
Make sure the tape remains level around your head as you perform this measurement. Take the measurement several time and use the largest measurement for selecting your dirt bike helmet size. Many people use their baseball cap size to determine their dirt bike helmet size.
How to Choose a Dirt Bike Helmet
However, baseball cap are not an accurate tool to use for determining dirt bike helmet size, as dirt bike helmets is designed for the high speeds at which people ride dirt bikes. Helmet size charts allow you to map your head measurements to a helmet size, such as youth extra small, small, medium, large, and double extra large. Helmet size charts include measurements in inches and centimeters as well as US hat size equivalents.
Because human heads come in different shapes, helmet size charts also include the various shapes of helmets, such as narrow oval, intermediate oval, and round oval. Most adults has intermediate oval heads, and helmet sizes in the medium and large ranges are common for individuals with intermediate oval head shapes. If you have a measurement that falls between two size, you should opt for the larger helmet size.
A dirt bike helmet that is too loose may shift on the head when riding on rough terrain; a helmet that is too tight may compress the blood flows that circulates through the head. Always test the chin strap when you are evaluating dirt bike helmets. The chin strap should feel secure and not cause you to choking on your helmet.
Dirt bike helmets are designed for different type of riding styles. Determine your type of riding to determine the best dirt bike helmet for your need. Motocross dirt bikes require helmets with large eye ports for goggles and large openings in the helmets to allow for the dissipation of heat.
Enduro bikes require helmets with visors to provide shade from the sun and deflect branch. Trail bikes use helmets that are more lighter in weight than other types of dirt bikes, as they are ridden for more casual events. Finally, kids’ dirt bikes come with helmets that are scaled to the head circumferences of children.
If you select a helmet that does not match the type of dirt biking that you will perform, you will experience discomfort while riding on dirt bike trail. Helmet shells may be made of different material. Dirt bike helmets with polycarbonate shells are budget-friendly but tend to be heavier than other helmet shell materials.
Dirt bike helmets with fiberglass composite shell materials are lighter in weight than helmets with polycarbonate shells and are designed to shatter during large impacts. Dirt bike helmets with carbon fiber shells are of the premium category but are significantly lighter in weight than helmets with fiberglass or polycarbonate shells. Dirt bikes require helmets that do not place strain on the riders neck.
A dirt bike helmet that is lighter in weight is less likely to strain the rider’s neck during long periods of riding. Thus, the weight of a dirt bike helmet is a consideration when purchasing one. Helmet safety certifications ensure that helmets have passed specific tests to determine their safety.
Dirt bike helmets have a DOT certification to ensure that they pass basic safety tests for street legality in the United States. However, more rigorous tests is performed for the ECE certification and the FIM certification. In addition to passing tests for basic safety standards, helmets with ECE and FIM certifications can withstand multiple impacts.
Dirt bike helmet manufacturer self-checks do not require helmets to withstand multiple impact. Dirt bike helmets should have a safety certification so that the helmet meets the basic requirement of safety. Inside the helmet is an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam liner.
This EPS liner is designed to crush or compact to absorb the energy of a dropped dirt bike helmet. Because the EPS liner only does this once, after a dropped dirt bike helmet, the helmet must be replaced. Dirt bike helmets may have cheek pads inside to allow the helmet to be more customized to the head.
These pads may become dirty from the rider’s head sweat so they should be replaceable with clean pad. Dirt bike helmet goggles must fit tight against the helmets foam lip. Dirt bike helmet goggles should have straps that route through slots on the helmet to ensure that the goggles do not shift while the rider is performing biker activity.
Some dirt bike helmet goggles have roll-offs or tear-offs to allow the rider to remove mud from the lenses of the helmet. Additionally, dirt bike helmet goggles have dual-pane lenses to prevent the lenses from fogging up during cold weather. Dirt bike helmets also have ventilation channels to allow air to circulate from the front of the helmet to the back of the helmet so that the rider’s head does not overheat while performing dirt biking activity.
Dirt bike helmets should be fitted to the individual rider so that the helmet does not create pressure point on the head. Thus, head shape is important when purchasing a dirt bike helmet. Dirt bike helmets should be replaced every five years.
Additionally, whenever a rider crashes with their dirt bike or the helmet shell becomes brittle and yellow from exposure to sunlight, the dirt bike helmet should be immediately replaced. Finally, if a dirt bike helmet is dropped from the height of a dirt bike, the helmet is compromise and should be replaced.
