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29 Posts
After noticing that my current helmet's foam lining is turning to dust, I've been shopping for a new helmet.
In a pinch, I went and dug out a few of my older helmets and those aren't in any better shape.
I bought my last helmet about 20 years ago.
A trip to the nearest dealer with a decent helmet selection got me nowhere. I've always worn a size large with no issues. I've always just grabbed what caught my eye off the shelf with no fit issues but things have changed. Like my last four helmets, I'm looking for a full face helmet. I tried on helmets from 7 or 8 different brands and helmets priced anywhere from $120 to $600 but every one had a major fit issue. I find myself trying on size 3XL helmets and not being able to stand having them on my head for more than a few seconds.
Its either they're too tight around the lower jaw, or they're pressed against my mouth real hard. I've tried round oval and long oval sizes but none seem to work. The best so far was and HJC CL16, but its tight on the sides digging into my jaw.
What I noticed is that the new helmets ride higher on my head than did my old helmets, I find that my chin is below the helmet on most or just barely covered.
My head measurement is 62 cm at the widest. By those measurements I should be looking at an XL helmet but I've yet to be able to even get a size XL on my head, let alone see how it feels.
About 35 years ago I bought my first full face helmet, made by Bieffe, the dealer had it on clearance. I remember trying it on and it being a bit tight in the sides, he took a measurement, then took the new helmet and stuck it on a metal head form back in the shop. It heated up the helmet a bit and 'sized' the helmet to fit. The head form had various inflatable areas that would 'size' the helmet. It got the helmet hot but not so hot you couldn't touch it. Maybe 120 degrees tops. It heated the shell up via hot air from the outside. He pulled the helmet off the stand after giving it a long blast of air to cool it and it fit like a glove ever since. It didn't stretch the helmet, it just tweaked it a bit on the sides ever so slightly I've still got it, although its liner is nothing but a rag these days with lots of rotted foam dust falling out of it.
I've not seen any such thing since, and that dealer is long gone. Those old helmets were likely plain fiberglass but it worked. It was the only time I ever saw that done, all of my other helmets were off the shelf and fit fine.
Did something change in how they mark or size helmets these days?
I certainly don't remember having the choice of 'round oval or long oval' 20 years ago.
In a pinch, I went and dug out a few of my older helmets and those aren't in any better shape.
I bought my last helmet about 20 years ago.
A trip to the nearest dealer with a decent helmet selection got me nowhere. I've always worn a size large with no issues. I've always just grabbed what caught my eye off the shelf with no fit issues but things have changed. Like my last four helmets, I'm looking for a full face helmet. I tried on helmets from 7 or 8 different brands and helmets priced anywhere from $120 to $600 but every one had a major fit issue. I find myself trying on size 3XL helmets and not being able to stand having them on my head for more than a few seconds.
Its either they're too tight around the lower jaw, or they're pressed against my mouth real hard. I've tried round oval and long oval sizes but none seem to work. The best so far was and HJC CL16, but its tight on the sides digging into my jaw.
What I noticed is that the new helmets ride higher on my head than did my old helmets, I find that my chin is below the helmet on most or just barely covered.
My head measurement is 62 cm at the widest. By those measurements I should be looking at an XL helmet but I've yet to be able to even get a size XL on my head, let alone see how it feels.
About 35 years ago I bought my first full face helmet, made by Bieffe, the dealer had it on clearance. I remember trying it on and it being a bit tight in the sides, he took a measurement, then took the new helmet and stuck it on a metal head form back in the shop. It heated up the helmet a bit and 'sized' the helmet to fit. The head form had various inflatable areas that would 'size' the helmet. It got the helmet hot but not so hot you couldn't touch it. Maybe 120 degrees tops. It heated the shell up via hot air from the outside. He pulled the helmet off the stand after giving it a long blast of air to cool it and it fit like a glove ever since. It didn't stretch the helmet, it just tweaked it a bit on the sides ever so slightly I've still got it, although its liner is nothing but a rag these days with lots of rotted foam dust falling out of it.
I've not seen any such thing since, and that dealer is long gone. Those old helmets were likely plain fiberglass but it worked. It was the only time I ever saw that done, all of my other helmets were off the shelf and fit fine.
Did something change in how they mark or size helmets these days?
I certainly don't remember having the choice of 'round oval or long oval' 20 years ago.