Why Are Motorcycle Helmets So Big?

Helmets protect people all over the world, but few of them can look and feel quite as big. Most motorcycle helmets are designed to cover your entire head, and because of all the layers of protection they come with, the helmets may seem a bit large.

There are reasons behind this, and there are also many ways to remedy and make your helmet fit better.

What this article covers:

Why Do Motorcycle Helmets Seem So Large?
Motorcycle Helmet Sizes
Motorcycle Helmet Shapes
Motorcycle Helmet Types

Why Do Motorcycle Helmets Seem So Large?

Motorcycle helmets are made up of multiple layers of padded material that are enclosed within the polycarbonate plastic/carbon fibre outer shell. These protective layers make up the interior of the helmet and come in the form of an impact-absorbing liner, a padded liner for comfort, as well as cheek pads.

All of these protective layers are vital to providing the wearer with the safety and comfort needed for their journey. With all these padded layers it's only natural for motorcycle helmets to be on the larger side and to carry a bit of weight.

Motorcycle Helmet Sizes

When shopping for a motorcycle helmet, you must choose a model that fits you properly. An ill-fitting helmet can be just as dangerous as no helmet if you were to ever get into an accident.

This is because having any open space/looseness in your helmet is detrimental to its shock-absorbing design, which could end with the helmet injuring you. For more info, check out how is a motorcycle helmet supposed to fit.

To avoid this, your motorcycle helmet needs to be sized according to your head. To measure the size of your helmet, wrap a tape measure around your ears and the back of your head.

You might need some assistance with this, so rope in a friend to help.

Once you have your measurements, you can use the helmet sizing chart on our site to find your perfect fit.

Another important aspect to consider when sizing your motorcycle helmet would be its particular shape relative to the shape of your head.

Motorcycle Helmet Shapes

Human heads come in different shapes and sizes. It may not seem like something that would make much of a difference, but the truth is that motorcycle helmets are made to fit their wearers as perfectly as possible.

This is to avoid any looseness or hot spots, which are specific points where the helmet fits too tightly against your head.

To account for their customer’s varying head shapes, and to avoid looseness or hot spots, manufacturers model their motorcycle helmets after 3 general head shapes; round oval, intermediate oval, and long oval.

Round Helmet Shape

This helmet shape is made for those with a spherical head shape, meaning their heads have a similar length from front to back and side to side.

Out of all of them, this head shape is the least common. If someone with this head shape were to wear a motorcycle helmet with a more elongated shape, they would likely experience some tightness (hot spots) at the temples as well as some looseness at the front or back of their heads.

Intermediate Oval Helmet Shape

Intermediate oval is the most common head shape, so the majority of motorcycle helmets will take on this shape. A helmet made for this head shape will be slightly longer from the front to the back of the head than it is from side to side. If someone with this head shape wore a round oval-shaped helmet, they would experience some tightness at the front and/or back of their heads.

Long Oval Helmet Shape

A long oval helmet is made for those who have heads that are longer from the front to the back than they are from side to side. Someone with a long oval head shape would feel tightness along the front or back of their heads, as well as some spaciousness along their temples.

Motorcycle Helmet Types

As I've stated previously, motorcycle helmets can take on different forms depending on the type of helmet you're dealing with. Motorcycle helmets come in the form of 3 primary types; full-face, open-face, and half helmets.

Each type of helmet will offer the wearer a unique experience, and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Now let's take a closer look at them and see what they have to offer to customers concerned with the size of their helmets.

Full Face Helmet

Full-face motorcycle helmets offer the wearer protection for the entirety of their head and face, making this the safest type of helmet on the market.

why does your motorcycle helmet look so big

While full-face helmets offer more protection than other helmets, they can limit breathability in warmer weather. These helmets can also be on the bulky and weighty side in some cases, and their largeness may be unsightly when paired with riders with a smaller frame.

Those with a smaller frame who'd prefer a helmet with less bulk should either look for a brand that offers smaller and lighter models or go with a different type of helmet.

Open Face Helmet

Open-face helmets are built similar to full-face helmets except for the missing chin bar. This takes away some of the helmet's bulkiness, but can also leave your face exposed to the elements.

Although, being exposed to the elements can be taken as an advantage if you're someone who relishes the feeling of freedom that comes with riding without a face shield.

An open-face helmet stands in the middle ground between the safe but suffocating protection of a full-face helmet, and the breathable but inefficient safety offered by a half-shell helmet.

Half Shell Helmet

This type of motorcycle helmet only covers the top of your head and offers the least protection of them all. That being said, they offer the wearer maximum breathability.

This is the smallest and lightest helmet type, so any concerns about helmets being too big can be quelled by purchasing a half-shell helmet. However, because they don't offer much safety, I recommend that only experienced riders go with this type of helmet.

why does a motorcycle helmet look so big

In Conclusion

The size of a motorcycle helmet goes hand in hand with the level of safety they provide, so in the end, it's up to the individual to determine which attribute matters the most.

For more information about everything bike, check out our blog section. We’ve got plenty of topics to keep you informed on matters like how to properly put on a bike helmet and how to adjust the chin straps so that you’re always safe on the road.

If you enjoyed this piece, consider checking out other blogs: