Helmet Safety & Fit Guide

A helmet is the one piece of gear you hope never gets tested. Here's how to pick one that's legal, certified, and actually fits.

DOT, ECE 22.06 — what the labels mean

Label	What it is	What it tells you
DOT	US Department of Transportation standard FMVSS 218	The legal minimum for road use in the US. Look for the DOT sticker on the back of the shell.
ECE 22.06	The current European (UN ECE) standard	Tested at more impact points and speeds than older standards, including angled impacts and visor tests.
DOT + ECE 22.06	Dual certified	Passed both sets of tests — the strongest combination in our range.
Novelty	No certification	Not built or tested to protect you in a crash. Not legal as a road helmet in helmet-law states.

The most protection — the chin bar covers your jaw, the most commonly hit area in a crash. Quietest at highway speed.

Full-face protection with a chin bar that flips up. Great for touring, glasses wearers, and fuel stops.

Covers the top, back and sides of your head with an open face. Classic cruiser look, more airflow, less chin protection.

Minimal coverage and maximum freedom. Only buy one that's DOT certified.

Wrap a soft tape around your head about an inch above your eyebrows, across the widest part at the back.
Measure two or three times and use the largest number.
Match it to the size chart on the product page — each brand and model has its own.
Try it on: it should feel snug everywhere, cheek pads pressing lightly, no hot spots on the forehead. With the strap done up, you shouldn't be able to roll it off forward.

After any crash or hard drop — even if you can't see damage, the impact foam may be crushed.
When the liner is packed out and the fit has loosened.
Many manufacturers recommend replacement around five years of use. Check your helmet's manual.

Questions? Call (609) 840-2563 — we'll help you pick.