Basic Helmet Safety

I started riding when I was 6 years old on a 1976 Kawasaki KM100 that my uncle was selling in a garage sale for $100. Went to Canadian Tire and bought a motorcycle helmet that was a size or two too big and there began my journey into the world of dirt bikes. After 33 years of riding and 27 years racing, I have learned a whole lot about the benefits of safety equipment. Some of those learning experiences good and some of those I learned the hard way. However at the end to the day this sport is a high risk sport. The bikes continually get faster, the riders get faster, and the tracks acclimate to the bikes and riders meaning we are jumping bigger gaps, navigating deeper ruts and dealing with rougher tracks. All of this brings me to my main focus... helmet safety.

Like I stated before my first helmet was a Ranger from Canadian Tire two sizes too big because I (my family) didn't know any better. A helmet was a helmet and as long as I wore one no one thought any different. Fast forward a few years later when I started hitting the tracks, I began learning about the different ratings on helmets.

DOT (Department of Transportation) certifications are you basic certifications that a motorcycle helmets must adhere to. The standard mandates that the helmet must meet testing for impact absorption, penetration resistance, and retention system effectiveness (helmet buckles/straps).

SNELL - SNELL ratings go beyond the basic DOT certifications. The Snell Memorial Foundation generally has more stringent standards than the typical government-mandated standards for helmets thus offering riders more protections for higher risk type riding like motocross, road racing, freestyle, etc. SNELL certification is often required by most racing organizations and tracks.

ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) - The ECE regulations are similar to the previous mentioned certifications. These helmets undergo extensive testing that goes beyond the basic DOT testing to ensure riders have an enhanced level of protection for higher risk sports such as road racing, and motocross. ECE ratings are used more widely in Europe but are often accepted in Canada and the USA by race organizations and tracks.

The other big difference between SNELL, ECE and DOT is the fact that SNELL and ECE also are testing todays helmets for rotational impact to the brain.

So now that you are a little more equipped with some basic knowledge of the certifications we can move into selecting a helmet. First off I always suggest you buy the best helmet you can afford. You spent a few thousand on a bike, now don't be cheap on your head. Brain injuries are on the rise and a good quality helmet can literally be the difference between a traumatic brain injury and walking away with minor injury if any. There are a LOT of great high quality helmets on the market now days that one can purchase without having to remortgage the house. I also highly suggest "you try before you buy". We all have different head shapes and each helmet manufacturer seems to fit different for each individual. Make sure that the helmet is not putting excess pressure on any part of your head.

The next thing is sizing, no matter what (and this especially goes for kids) buy a helmet that fits properly. A few years ago my wife and I visited a local motorcycle shop to purchase a helmet for my youngest daughter. I was sizing her up and the asked the sales person for a smaller size to which they told us that the one we had was a really good helmet and that she "would grow into it". As soon as those words came out, we left. You should NOT ever grow into a helmet. When sizing your helmet, it should be snug on your head, have no movement and give you chipmunk cheeks. It will fit fairly tight at first but know that after about 4 hours or so the helmet pads will start to pack out giving you a more relax fit. The main reason we should be choosing a helmet that has a snug fit is to eliminate any rotational impact to the brain in the event of a crash. Next and although it is not imperative to all, it is a necessity for me and my wife is the "Emergency Pull Tabs". Last race season our youngest daughter was wearing a Bell Moto 9 Youth with MIPS and had a gnarly crash at a race, (For the record I have been wearing a Bell Moto 9 & Moto 9 Flex for past 5 years and they have been outstanding). It wasn't until the paramedics and I were trying to take her helmet off that I realized the youth helmet we had purchased her did NOT have the Emergency pull tabs. Her having back and neck pain at the time made this scenario even more stress full than it had to be as I had to try and disassemble her helmet pads with her head in the helmet without moving her head or neck. That being said we took her helmet to the hospital with us (always bring helmet to hospital for doctors) to examine with the doctor for compressions and/or cracks. There were a couple indentations in the foam but my daughter walked away from that crash with some severe bruising on her back and one on her leg. Her head... completely fine. That helmet 100% saved her, it did its job and now it sits in our trailer as a demonstration of how a helmet is good for one crash and then gets discarded.

Helmet expiration: As a rule of thumb most helmets expire 3-5 years after purchase even if never crashed in or dropped, as the materials of the helmet degrade due to UV, elements (ie mud/rain) and the EPS liner breaks down over time from sweat and moisture.

There are multitudes of options now a days for riders in various price levels, just be sure to get the best one you can afford from a reputable dealer. Do your research and find the one that best suits your head, and budget. I have compiled a list of my recommendations below for brands and models have a look and should anyone have any questions, know that we are always here to help the best we can.

My Helmet Recommendations:

6D ATR-1 / ATR-2 / ATR-3 (Youth Sizes Available)

Arai VX-Pro 4 *My helmet of choice

Airoh Aviator II / Aviator III

Alpinestar SM3 / SM5 / SM7 / SM10 (Youth Sizes Available)

Bell Moto 9 / Moto 9 Flex / Moto 10 / Moto 10 Spherical (Youth Sizes Available)

Fox V3 / V3RS (Youth Sizes Available)

Fly Formula CC/ Formula S

Shoei VFX-EVO

Suomy X-Wing

Troy Lee Designs SE4 / SE5 (Youth Sizes Available) *Our girls both run the SE5