Types of Motorcycle Helmets

If you're looking for the most protection and that traditional motorcycle look, a full face helmet is a great choice. Full face helmets cover your entire head, from top to bottom, front to back. 

The only section of a full face helmet that isn't always covered is the eye section, which generally has a visor that flips up.

One of the biggest considerations when looking at full face helmets is the type of bike you have and your riding position. If you have a sport bike, your riding position is going to be more hunched over and the angle your head rests at differs than those riding in a more upright position.

For sport bikes, look for a full face helmet with the chin bar slightly higher, and the eye port angled more towards the top of the helmet. This gives you the most visibility when hunched over.

For bikes with a more upright position, look for a full face helmet where the chin area is lower, and an eye port that is more forward facing.

If you value versatility, a modular helmet may be something to look into. On a modular helmet, the chin area flips up, allowing you to switch between a full-face style helmet and an open-face style.

Modular helmets are most popular with motorcycle touring. They offer you the protection you need on a long ride, with the versatility to adjust your airflow on demand for more comfort on longer rides.

While modular helmets are still very safe, they are inherently less safe than a traditional full-face helmet. You're sacrificing protection for functionality, which is some cases makes sense.

Open face helmets are most popular among scooter riders and cruisers. They have a vintage feel, with medium-level protection. When you compare open face helmets to full-face, you'll notice that structurally, they are very similar. The overall build of the helmet isn't that different.

The biggest difference between open face helmets and full-face helmets is the absence of the eye protection and chin bar.

With an open face helmet, you can either wear sunglasses or buy a visor that clips onto the front.

When it comes to minimalism, half-helmets take the cake. They provide the least protection out of any style of helmet but are still extremely popular with cruiser riders. They are generally associated with Harley-Davidson-style riders.

While they offer less protection, the majority of half-helmets are DOT approved, making them a legal form of protection. With that being said, if you're going on long rides or commuting on a motorcycle, a half-helmet for your daily driver is a risky choice.

Half helmets only protect the top of your head, leaving your chin, face, and sides of your head open.

To the untrained eye, off-road helmets could be mistaken for full-face helmets. The most significant difference is their weight and streamlined design.

Dirt bike riding is demanding on the rider, and off-road helmets reflect those unique needs.

One way that off-road helmets cut weight is by minimizing sound isolation. Since dirt bikes don't normally get up to highway speeds, the need to minimize wind noise isn't there.

Motocross helmets are designed to be used with goggles. They do not have built-in eye protection. They are built this way to optimize airflow for the rider.

If you're going to be spending all of your time on a dirt bike, an off-road helmet is an obvious choice, but if you're using your motorcycle on the street, you're going to want something different.

Dual sport helmets are a half-way point between the traditional full-face helmet and an off-road helmet.

Just like the off-road helmets, dual sport helmets come with a sun visor and a more pointed chin section to optimize airflow. Unlike off-road helmets though, they provide more sound isolation and a little more warmth.

Personally, I love dual sport helmets. They combine the best features of full-face helmets and off-road helmets. They are all about versatility, protection, and airflow. You're not really compromising on much if you opt for a dual sport helmet.

One thing to note, however, is that while they do offer more sound-proofing than off-road helmets, they are noisy at highway speeds. This can be off-putting if you spend a lot of time going 70+ mph.