The J&S Accessories Guide to buying a Motorcycle Helmet : eBay Guides

Here at J&S we have put together a brief guide to help you when it comes to choosing the right helmet for you.

First of all the sizing. The most common question we get asked it - how so I know what size I should get? All you need to do is:

1)Wrap flexible tape measure (or string and measure later) approximately one inch above eyebrows and ears all around your head. Measure in Centimetres.

2) Use this measurement to find your helmet size. Follow the Table below. Sizes go up and down in 2 cm increments.

XS - 53-54 cms

S   - 55-56 cms

M  - 57-58 cms

L   - 59-60 cms

XL - 61-62 cms

2XL-63-64 cms

I would always say to someone that is inbetween sizes that 9 times out of 10 the smaller size would be best as helmets always give a little bit inside and get bigger with time and wear. Ideally you should be looking for something that feels nice and solid with no uneven pressure and a good grip. The last think you want when a helmet is new is something that flops about and is loose on you as this will only get worse and should you be unfortunate enough to test this out it will not do its job aswell as a helmet that fits well.

The million dollar question I always get asked is how much should be spend on a helmet? I know with the credit crunch that everyone is feeling the pinch and in my opinion the most important thing is the fit and if a cheaper helmet fits the best then that will be the best for you! I have noticed recently since the Government introduced the Sharp ratings an alarming ride in people buying helmets just because of how they faired in these tests regardless of the fit - this could put your safety at risk.

I have been selling helmets for nearly ten years at our busiest store - J&S Accessories Northwich. I have sold thousands over the years and I personally think you should try on as many helmets as you can as you will find the best fitting one by doing this instead of going for something that has been recommended by a friend etc By all means listen to recommendations but remember that the fit needs to suit you first and foremost.
The key is to make up your mind from what feels good, price and features. Look for anti-fog visors (Pinlocks are the best as you can change these for tints as well) decent ventilation systems, is the visor easy to change? Can you remove any of the interior to wash it? What sort of fastener does it have? What is it made out of and does it fit well? If the answer to most of these is yes then you are on the right track. I personally wear a Shoei as they fit me well and have the features that I need and I think its the best helmet I have ever worn but thats just my opinion.

Finally all the helmets we sell are European ECE 2205 Standard which means they are fully legal to use on the road here in the UK and throughout Europe. This superceded the British Standard sticker some years ago. The ACU Gold sticker which is commonly seen on helmets entitles you to use your helmet on the track so this is neccessary for track days but this has absolutely nothing to do with road use and is only needed for track days.

This is just a guide to help buying a helmet a little bit easier. I hope it has helped!