BUYING CHECKLIST
Is it right for you?
Before you start shoving your head into dozens of lids in a shop, have a good look at the vast range of styles and features available to work out what’s right for your use, your riding, your bike and your style. Owning an adventure bike doesn’t force you into wearing an adventure lid – if you do lots of high-speed motorway miles, you could find a lighter, more stable, peakless sports lid is a better bet. Conversely, if you ride a superbike but spend most of your time commuting across town then a flip-up chinbar might prove to be far more useful day-to-day than a race-developed venting system.
Drop-down or dark visor?
Internal drop-down sun visors are increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. They’re quick, convenient, effective, always with you and can be raised or lowered without having to stop. But they have downsides too: adding weight; not always offering the same complete coverage as a dark visor; and giving a certain Airwolf-esque look that’s not to all riders’ tastes. If you prefer an old-school dark visor, checking that you’re happy with the visor-change system’s speed, ease and technique should be a top priority.
When was it made?
All helmets have a finite shelf life. Typically manufacturers recommend changing a helmet after five years of use, or seven years after the production date, whichever comes first. If you think you’ve found a bargain on a discontinued model or paintscheme, check when the helmet was made — some have a date sticker hiding under the lining or padding, others use a code on the chinstrap. If it’s two years old, walk away no matter how good a deal it might appear to be. Most firm’s websites tell you how to check the date — it could be worth checking yours now…