IF THE CAP FITS

“One of the biggest mistakes people make is buying the wrong size helmet,” explained Stuart. “I’d strongly advise against buying a helmet online, certainly without trying one on somewhere first. The starting point is a head measurement (which should be taken around the temples) but this isn’t the whole story. Sizes and shapes of helmets vary between manufacturers and even within their own range. There’s no such thing as an ‘Arai medium head’ and sometimes the helmet that looks fantastic in photos simply doesn’t suit an individual’s head shape.

When trying on a new helmet, forget how the old one fits. That’s probably been used for years and moulded itself perfectly. It’s not unusual for a new helmet to hurt. A good sign is that the helmet’s aperture sits about a centimetre above the eyebrows and grips the forehead snugly. When tilted backwards and forwards the skin should move with it. Our dealers are trained to ensure a good fit and will encourage a customer to take their time. I’d suggest wearing it for at least 15 minutes; a good dealer will understand what’s going on. If they don’t, go elsewhere.”