Motorcycle helmets: full-face, modular and open-face

The Helmets page brings together full-face, modular, jet and open-face motorcycle helmets, as well as replacement visors and screens, from LS2, Nox, Arai and Scorpion. From city scooters to touring bikes, each type of helmet is suited to a specific use, speed and level of protection, with the current European approval.

The helmet suited to your motorcycle, your journeys and the shape of your head.

Full-face, modular or open-face: which protection

The full-face helmet is made in one piece, including the chin guard: it provides the best protection, as the chin absorbs a significant part of the impact during a fall. The LS2 Storm III is an example of this. The modular, like the LS2 Advant X, has a chin guard that fully flips back: approved P/J, it can be worn both closed on the road and open when stopped or in town. The open-face helmet, like the Nox Premium Heritage or Revenge, leaves the face exposed: light and airy, it's suitable for scooters and urban rides, but offers no chin protection. The half-open face, like the Arai SZ-R Evo, carries the signature of the Japanese brand founded in 1926 by a hat maker, Hirotake Arai.

The selection

Helmets are organised by type:

ECE 22.06 approval and head circumference

In Europe, a motorcycle helmet must carry the ECE 22.06 approval, which succeeded 22.05: it adds impacts at multiple speeds, selected impact points by the laboratory, and a rotation test, which measures the twists transmitted to the brain. The label, sewn onto the chin strap, bears the letter P for a protective chin guard, J for an open-face, and P/J for a modular approved in both positions. The size is chosen based on head circumference, measured with a tape measure one finger above the eyebrows: a new helmet should tighten the cheeks, not move when the head is shaken, and not create any painful spot on the forehead. After a fall, it should be replaced, even without visible damage.

Visors, shields, and helmet maintenance

The visor should be changed as soon as it is scratched, as any mark diffuses car headlights' light at night; each helmet comes with a visor suited to its mechanism, like the LS2. An iridium shield, tinted and reflective, like that offered for Nox open-face helmets, cuts glare but is reserved for daytime riding. The shell and visor are cleaned with a damp microfiber cloth and a solvent-free product, which would damage the polycarbonate.

The motorcycle world also includes biker gear, off-road, luggage, maintenance, on the motorcycle page.

Shell, weight, and ventilation: daily comfort

The shell, the outer casing of the helmet, is made from injected polycarbonate, which is economical and robust, or a composite of fiberglass, carbon, and aramid, which is lighter with equal protection. Under it, the expanded polystyrene absorbs the energy of the impact by compressing, without ever regaining its shape. The weight matters on long trips: a few hundred grams less can be felt in the neck after a day of riding. The ventilation, with air intakes at the chin and top and exhausts at the back, limits fogging and perspiration. The inner foams can be removed for hand washing in warm, soapy water and then air-dried.

Deals

Good deals can also be found in good plans, promotions, clearance, sales, Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and items shipped in 24h are prepared and dispatched within 24 hours. The highlights of the year follow a stable order: the Black Friday at the end of autumn, the end-of-year celebrations, the winter sales, the French Days of spring, then the summer sales and back to school.

Frequently asked questions

Which motorcycle helmet to choose when wearing glasses?

The modular helmet makes it easy to put on glasses, with the chin guard lifted, just like the open-face. With a full-face helmet, it’s best to choose a model with cutouts in the foam at the temples to allow the arms to pass without pressure.

How to know if a helmet is the right size?

Once buckled, it shouldn’t turn when shaking the head, nor tip forward if you push the back. The cheeks are initially compressed, as the foams settle over the first hours of riding.

Which helmet to wear for riding on a circuit?

Only the full-face helmet is suitable, and riding organisers require it. It should be lightweight, perfectly fitted, with a composite shell and a lockable visor that stays closed at high speed.

Which motorcycle helmet is the quietest?

The full-face remains the quietest, thanks to its fixed chin guard and visor seals; the modular comes next. A well-fitted neck roll cuts wind draughts, and ear plugs enhance protection on the motorway.

Modular or full-face helmet for grand touring?

The modular is appealing for touring: you lift the chin guard to talk, drink, or pay a toll without removing the whole helmet. The full-face, often lighter and quieter, remains preferable for long stretches on the motorway.