Safety standards, fit and comfort should be your primary considerations when buying any motorcycle helmet, retro or otherwise.
With that in mind, we’ve outlined seven things to keep in mind when purchasing a motorcycle helmet.
Retro Motorcycle Helmets Buyer’s Guide: 7 Things to Consider
Key Takeaways
Safety Certifications: Look for DOT, ECE, or SNELL certifications, as they adhere to rigorous safety standards, ensuring optimum protection.
Perfect Fit: This is crucial for effective protection. Measure your head’s circumference and try various models to find a snug fit.
Comfort Features: Look for adequate padding, ventilation and noise isolation for a comfortable riding experience, especially during long journeys.
Vintage Style and Finish: Explore various vintage styles and finishes that resonate with your aesthetic preferences and complement your riding gear.
Price and Quality Balance: Analyse the cost-quality balance, ensuring your chosen helmet doesn’t compromise on safety for a lower price point.
Additional Features: While old-school lids lean towards minimalist design, some offer modern conveniences like speaker cutouts and anti-fogging visors.
Exploration and Comparison: Explore various brands, read user reviews, and compare models within your budget to make an informed decision.
Read on to delve into each of the seven aspects to consider before buying a helmet.
1. Safety Standards: DOT, ECE and SNELL Certifications
The protection a helmet offers should be a top priority. A key indicator of this is safety certifications like mandated ECE (Economic Commission for Europe), voluntary SNELL or DOT (Department of Transportation).
Each of these certifications sets minimum requirements for construction. They also stipulate how they should perform in a crash.
Crash test performance includes impact absorption, penetration resistance and strap strength, among others.
The SNELL and ECE certifications offer assurance that the helmet will perform to the minimum standards they each set under crash conditions, potentially saving lives and reducing the severity of injuries.
The ECE updated its certification to ECE 22.06 in 2023, which now incorporates rotational impact testing along with other advanced testing methodologies. The upgrade from the previous ECE 22.05 standard represents a significant leap in safety and means a higher level of protection for riders.
SNELL also updated its standard in 2018 to align more closely with the ECE 22.05 and DOT standards.
The latest standards for SNELL and DOT are M2020 and FMVSS 218, respectively. SNELL is generally considered the more stringent of the two, particularly when it comes to impact attenuation.
SNELL and ECE certifications with visible labels and stickers on the helmet signify that it has passed rigorous safety tests and meets or even exceeds them. DOT, on the other hand, relies on a self-certification system with random tests undertaken by the NHTSA yearly.
2. Fit: Maximise Protection
Ensuring a perfect fit is vital when choosing a lid. The size and shape of your head play a significant role here. Most manufacturers create the bulk of their products to fit intermediate oval head shapes, as that is the closest thing to a one-size-fits-all.
That said, you should be able to find something that fits your head if it’s more of a round oval or long oval shape — manufacturers also offer different lining and shell sizes.
To find the best fit, measure your head’s circumference at its widest point above your eyebrows and ears. Try on various models to see which one fits best. A well-fitted helmet should feel snug but not too tight. Also, it shouldn’t move around when you shake your head. Besides comfort, a correctly fitted lid offers optimal protection if you go down with your bike.
3. Comfort: Weight, Padding, Ventilation & Noise
While safety is paramount, comfort features should also be considered. Padding inside the helmet ensures comfort during long rides. It should neither be too hard nor too soft and must mould to your head’s contours over time. Ventilation, another key aspect, is crucial for keeping your head cool during warm-weather rides. Proper vents in the forehead and chin areas can drastically improve airflow.
Noise isolation plays a significant role in the overall riding experience. A helmet designed to reduce wind and road noise can make for a much quieter, enjoyable ride. Ventilation and noise should be evaluated within the context of retro helmets. If you’re after one that’s quiet, you’re probably in the wrong place.
With weight in mind, many retro lids use high-grade lightweight materials, so you can expect lighter carbon fibre models that contribute less to fatigue. However, you should also anticipate paying a premium for this.
4. Vintage Style: Full-Face but Which Era?
While full-face helmets offer the best protection, they also provide a canvas for many style expressions. Full-face retros vary significantly in style – from those emulating low-profile classic racing lids of the ’60s and ’70s to minimalist neo-retro designs from motorsport of the ’80s.
There is enough variety now within the vintage-style segment that you can find one that suits your specific tastes and complements your bike and riding gear. So, take the time to explore the different designs and brands. That’s if you don’t find anything on this particular list that tickles your fancy.
5. Price: Balancing Cost & Quality
When shopping for a retro motorcycle helmet (as with most things), there’s a balance between cost and quality. While it’s true that high-end crash lids often come with top-of-the-line materials and features, not all budget models skimp on quality or safety.
Take time to compare different models within your budget range, checking for necessary safety certifications, user reviews and manufacturer reputation.
While a helmet is a significant investment, remember, it’s also an investment in your safety and well-being. So, choose wisely and don’t compromise for the sake of saving a few dollars, pounds or spondulicks. Always buy the best you can afford.
6. Finish: Colour & Graphics
Retro brain buckets are offered in a variety of finishes. Manufacturers are in tune with the aesthetic aspirations of retro, custom and classic riders. As such, you’ll find solid colour and graphic finishes to suit your tastes.
Limited edition designs are frequently released by manufacturers. Furthermore, some brands, like Hedon, offer customisation services, which means you can create a unique design.
7. Additional Features: What Extras?
Contemporary crash buckets come equipped with an array of features and accessories designed for convenience and an enhanced riding experience. These may include built-in sun shields and anti-fogging/scratch visors, etc.
Some also offer integrated speakers, camera mounts or even built-in cameras if you want to record your ride.
Vintage-style lids tend to steer clear of most of these features in exchange for a minimalist classic aesthetic. You can nonetheless expect speaker cutouts in the lining of some.
Good Luck!
