Motorcycle Helmets

RaceLeathers stocks motorcycle helmets for commuting, touring, sports riding, track use, scooters, cruisers, classic bikes and off-road riding. Our range includes full face, flip front, open face, adventure, motocross and children's helmets from leading manufacturers including Shoei, HJC, Shark, Scorpion, Nolan, Bell, MT, Airoh, Schuberth, SMK and VCan.

Choosing the right motorcycle helmet is not simply a matter of picking a size, a colour and the badge you like most. It must meet an accepted safety standard, fit your head securely and suit the type of riding you actually do. A size label is only a starting point because different brands and models use different internal shapes, shell sizes, liners and cheek pads.

Browse by helmet type:

• Full face motorcycle helmets
• Flip front motorcycle helmets
• Open face motorcycle helmets
• Off-road motorcycle helmets
• Children's motorcycle helmets

Full Face, Flip Front, Open Face or Off-Road?

Full face motorcycle helmets have a fixed chin bar and provide coverage around the head, face and chin. They are widely used for everyday road riding, commuting, touring, sports bikes and track riding. Designs range from affordable road helmets to lightweight sports and racing helmets with advanced ventilation, aerodynamic spoilers and removable interiors.

Flip front motorcycle helmets, sometimes called modular helmets, have a hinged chin section that can be raised. They are particularly popular with touring riders, commuters, instructors and anyone who likes being able to speak at a petrol station without removing half their kit.

Some flip front helmets allow the chin bar to rotate all the way around towards the back, while others hold it above the forehead. If you intend to ride with the chin bar open, check that the helmet has the appropriate P/J approval and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Not every flip front helmet is approved for riding in both the open and closed positions.

Open face motorcycle helmets cover the top, back and sides of the head but leave the face and chin exposed. They are commonly chosen for scooters, cruisers, custom bikes and classic motorcycles. Some include a full-length visor, some use a shorter visor and others are designed to be worn with suitable motorcycle goggles.

Off-road motorcycle helmets are designed mainly for motocross, enduro and trail riding. They normally have an extended chin section, a peak and a wide eye opening intended for use with motocross goggles. Some adventure helmets combine off-road styling with a fitted road visor, making them better suited to riders who regularly use both tarmac and trails.

We also stock children's motorcycle helmets. A child's helmet must fit securely now. Buying an oversized helmet in the hope that they will grow into it may save buying another helmet for a while, but it rather defeats the point of wearing one.

How Should a Motorcycle Helmet Fit?

The best motorcycle helmet is one that meets the required standard, suits your riding and fits your actual head. A Medium from one manufacturer can feel completely different from a Medium made by another, so measuring your head should be treated as the starting point rather than the final answer.

Measure around the fullest part of the head, normally just above the eyebrows and ears. Once you have a starting size, try several suitable helmets and compare how they feel.

A correctly fitted motorcycle helmet should:

• Feel evenly snug around the whole head.
• Hold the cheeks firmly without causing pain.
• Move your cheeks and scalp when the helmet is turned.
• Stay in position when moved forwards, backwards and from side to side.
• Have no obvious gaps or areas where it rotates freely.
• Have no sharp pressure points that worsen after several minutes.
• Allow the chin strap to be fastened securely and correctly.

A new helmet may feel firm because the comfort lining will settle slightly with use. That does not mean you should accept painful pressure across the forehead, temples or top of the head. Equally, there should not be enough spare room to keep your sandwiches in there.

Keep the helmet on for several minutes before deciding. A five-second try-on while staring in a mirror tells you very little, especially when an uncomfortable pressure point may take a few minutes to make itself known. If you wear glasses, try them with the helmet and check that the arms sit comfortably without being forced against your head.

Motorcycle Helmet Safety Standards

A motorcycle helmet used on roads in Great Britain must meet an accepted safety standard. Most new motorcycle helmets now entering the market are approved to UNECE Regulation 22.06. Properly approved ECE 22.05 helmets also remain legal to wear.

ECE 22.06 introduced a broader range of testing requirements than the previous standard, including additional impact locations and assessments intended to examine helmet performance in a wider range of conditions. The approval information can normally be found on a label attached to the helmet or chin strap.

Do not confuse the road-legal approval label with an ACU Gold sticker. ACU approval is not a legal requirement for ordinary road riding. It is relevant to certain motorcycle sport, racing and track activities operating under ACU rules. Always check the requirements set by the track, organiser or governing body before arriving.

What Does a SHARP Rating Mean?

SHARP is the UK Government's motorcycle helmet safety assessment scheme. It carries out additional testing on approved helmets and awards a rating from one to five stars, allowing riders to compare the relative protection offered by tested models.

Not every helmet on the market has been tested by SHARP, so the absence of a rating does not automatically mean that a helmet is poor. Every road helmet must first meet the relevant legal approval requirements, while SHARP provides extra information for the models it has assessed.

A higher price does not guarantee a higher SHARP rating. More expensive helmets may offer a lighter shell, additional shell sizes, improved ventilation, a softer lining, quieter aerodynamics, easier visor changes and better access to replacement parts. Those things can make a helmet considerably nicer to live with, particularly on longer rides, but the price tag itself is not a safety rating.

Fit still comes first. A highly rated helmet that is loose, painful or the wrong shape for your head is not the right helmet for you. Once you have found the helmets that fit securely and feel comfortable, the SHARP rating can help you make a more informed choice between them.

Read our full guide: Are Expensive Motorcycle Helmets Actually Safer? What SHARP Found in 2026.

Motorcycle Helmet Features Worth Considering

Once you have found helmets that fit correctly and meet the required approval standard, you can compare the features that are genuinely useful for your riding.

• Internal sun visor: Useful when riding through changing light without having to stop and replace the main visor.
• Pinlock® compatibility: Worth considering if you regularly ride in cold or wet weather and want better resistance to visor misting.
• Ventilation: Check where the vents are positioned and whether they can be operated while wearing motorcycle gloves.
• Intercom preparation: Speaker recesses can make fitting a Bluetooth intercom easier, but check that there is enough space for the speakers used by your chosen system.
• Removable lining: Makes the interior easier to clean and may allow worn cheek pads or liners to be replaced.
• Fastening system: Depending on the model, the helmet may use a micrometric buckle or a double-D ring.
• Replacement parts: Check the availability of visors, Pinlock® inserts, cheek pads and liners if you plan to keep the helmet for several years.
• Glasses compatibility: Some helmet interiors include channels intended to provide more room for spectacle arms.

Do not assume every helmet includes every listed feature. A visor can be described as Pinlock® ready without the insert being supplied. Likewise, an intercom-ready helmet may contain speaker recesses but still need checking against the diameter, thickness and position of your particular speakers.

Motorcycle Helmet Shell Materials

Motorcycle helmet shells are made using several materials and construction methods, including thermoplastic, polycarbonate, fibreglass composites, multi-composite materials and carbon fibre.

The shell material can affect the weight, thickness, finish, production cost and general feel of a helmet. It does not create a simple league table where every carbon helmet is automatically safer than every polycarbonate helmet.

The complete helmet design matters, including the outer shell, energy-absorbing liner, retention system and the way all the components work together. Check the legal approval, consider the SHARP result where one is available and concentrate on finding a helmet that stays securely in place.

Motorcycle Helmet Brands at RaceLeathers

Our motorcycle helmet range covers affordable everyday helmets through to premium touring, sports and race models. Depending on current availability, you will find helmets from Shoei, HJC, Shark, Scorpion, Nolan, Bell, MT, Airoh, Schuberth, SMK, VCan and other recognised manufacturers.

There is nothing wrong with having a favourite brand, but do not let the badge persuade you to accept the wrong fit. Start with a sensible budget, try several suitable helmets and then compare comfort, approval, SHARP information and useful features.

Helmet Visors, Liners and Replacement Parts

Looking after a motorcycle helmet becomes considerably easier when replacement parts are readily available. We stock a large range of motorcycle helmet parts and accessories, including replacement visors, Pinlock® inserts, cheek pads, liners, vent parts and visor mechanisms for many popular models.

Always check that a replacement visor, liner or fitting part is made for the exact helmet model and generation you own. A visor designed for an earlier version may look almost identical but still use a completely different mounting system.

Expert Motorcycle Helmet Fitting in Darwen

If you are unsure which helmet suits your head, visit RaceLeathers at Britannia Mill in Darwen, Lancashire. We stock motorcycle helmets across a wide range of styles, prices and manufacturers, giving you the chance to compare different internal shapes, sizes and features properly.

We would rather spend the time helping you find the right helmet than simply measure your head, hand you the most expensive box in the room and hope for the best. We will help you check for unwanted movement, painful pressure points and an insecure fit before you make your decision.

Browse our motorcycle helmets online with free UK delivery on orders over £30, visit us in Darwen for expert fitting, or call us on 01254 704000 if you need advice before ordering.

Found the same helmet cheaper from a genuine UK retailer? Our Price Promise applies to current, in-stock, like-for-like products. Send us the details and, subject to the terms, we will beat the price.