A helmet is one of the best safety gear that motorcycle riders should possess to protect their head from impact when they are in an accident. Which hard hat is suitable for you may not always be easy to determine – one can be choosy in picking out which brand and style they prefer based on personal preferences. And, if you are a Harley rider, things may be a bit more challenging to pick a helmet that suits all around with your bike’s design. But, here we’ve got a shortlist of the best Harley Davidson motorcycle helmets for your Harley vehicle.
Best Overall (Carbon) – Shoei GT-Air II or Bell Bullitt
Best Modular – ScorpionEXO Covert
Premium Cruiser – Bell Eliminator or Arai Ram-X
Best Bluetooth (Suits Boom) – Sena SPH10H-FM-01 or Sena Outrush R
Best Full Face (Unisex) – Bell Qualifier
Best Open Face – Bell Custom 500
Best Half – Sena CAVALRY or Daytona Skull Cap
Best Budget – Daytona Leading The Way
Best Low-Profile (Skull) – Low Profile Novelty
Best for Women – Vega Worrier
What Helmets Look Good on a Harley?
Harley bikes always come up with designs distinctive from other motorcycles. They are heavy, powerful, attractive, and in some cases very aggressive-looking. Naturally, not all helmets worn by riders on Harley will look good, despite being safe enough.
Shortly we would love to say that the helmet for a Harley rider should be symphonious to the bike’s overall design, structure and color. Additionally, make sure that it matches the rider’s body perfectly while confirming the safety features.
Regarding the helmet’s design itself, we tell you to prefer the modular ones, especially for touring purposes, as they’re made with an upright riding position in mind. And, you can enjoy both – the full face and open face helmet facility – where necessary, from a modular helmet.
Best Helmets for Harley Davidson Riders / Cruisers
![Daytona Helmets Half Skull Cap Motorcycle Helmet – DOT Approved [Guns] [L]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51e528X06pL._SL160_.jpg)
Why Do Harley Riders Often Wear Half Helmets?
Most Harley riders (around 85% to 90%) used to ride half helmets (except for the winter) mainly because of the tradition, custom, and Harley’s vintage style. Moreover, these are cruiser bikes; some Harley riders think they do not require helmets with maximum safety like the motocross or racing bike riders need.
Also read: Best Motorcycle Half Helmets & Open Face Helmets Reviews
Just because of these, they often ignore using high-safety full face or modular helmets. They sometimes disapprove of using open face helmets, and the half helmet is only what the most Harley riders prefer, especially the older riders.
How Many Harley Riders Wear Full Face Helmets?
Only around 10% to 15% Harley riders wear full face helmets during summer and spring. Almost every young H-D rider uses a half helmet throughout these seasons. But, things turn around in winter, when almost 75% to 80% of them start using a full face, especially the younger riders. We like this switching.
Although H-D riders, including other cruiser bikers, love to wear a half helmet most of the time, they can’t deny the benefits of a full face helmet. It acts as rain gear and keeps inside warmer in winter, while safeguarding in many ways from more adverse weather conditions. Even in summer, it gives some additional benefits, including keeping the helmet inside cooler.
Are Harley Made Helmets Safety Rated?
Harley Davidson is a company that specializes in manufacturing motorcycles. They have one of the biggest markets for motorcycle helmets which are considered safety equipment. However, “Harley does not manufacture helmets on its own facility since they collaborate with other companies and license their logo on the helmet. You have to buy them from a different manufacturer or dealer.”
But they always meet the best safety measures, as Harley tells the producers to follow DOT (Department of Transportation) standards while manufacturing these helmets. It ensures that the helmet has passed impact tests by government regulations and is approved as safety equipment. However, this does not mean that helmets made by different companies are dangerous for you to use on your Harley Davidson motorcycle.
What to Look for When Choosing Helmets for Harley Riders?
Helmet style
There are three types of helmets; Full face, open face, and half helmets. Full face helmets protect your full head along with your jawline and chin. An open-face helmet covers most of your head as a cap would. Half helmets only watch part of your head.
Your head size
If you plan on wearing any motorcycle helmet for long periods, comfort becomes essential for finding the correct head size.
If you need a customized helmet, ask them to measure your head from any point on the forehead and around the most expanded area of your head. Instructional diagrams online show how to size ahead properly because helmets should sit flat on top of your head and shouldn’t feel like they’re squeezing anything.
Practical try
Before purchasing any helmet online, make sure you give it a practical trial. This means checking if there’s enough space in between the helmet and chin guard when closing it over your face or if there’s enough space for you to be able to tighten it up comfortably around the head. Otherwise, you could end up with a helmet that doesn’t fit properly.
Proper fit
Motorcycle helmets should feel comfortable on your head without being too tight or loose. Try wearing sunglasses with it if that helps because they’re generally more prominent than usual glasses. Remember; if all else fails for size, choose cheaper ones that are easily replaced instead of sacrificing safety because you can’t find one that fits properly.
Harley Davidson Helmets vs. Other Brands
Every rider must take the utmost care when deciding to invest in a helmet for safe-riding purposes. There are various options to choose from; however, not all brands make quality helmets for riders who love to ride their Harley Davidson bikes. While the price of a helmet is essential to consider when looking at your options, you should also look at comfort features and safety ratings.
Sorting through all of the products available only gets more complicated when considering Harley Davidson riders because their helmets must be personalized to reflect their style.
Does Harley Davidson make good helmets for its riders? Actually, it does not make helmets directly, but collaborates with other brands to make helmets for them with the Harley logo. Those helmets are good ones and should be taken into consideration when looking for a new one. Harley Davidson helmets come with a black visor and are designed with an American flag decal on the back.
Are All Cruiser Helmets Suitable to Harley Riders?
Cruiser helmets are specifically designed to make sure all riders are comfortable, safe, and stylish. Since the riding position is upright with your arms extended forward, the helmet must not cause any discomfort or move around when making sharp turns. Although cruiser helmets are suitable for H-D motorcycles, they have some benefits and drawbacks.
Pros:
- Good field of vision to see controls and monitor surroundings.
- Eliminates blind spots such as those caused by windshields or fairings.
- Head-turning style with a broad range of colors and graphics available to express your unique personality.
Cons:
- May appear oversized to riders not accustomed to wearing one.
- Neckroll can feel bulky for smaller builds, but you can easily remove the foam padding if this is an issue for you.
- No modular design to raise the shield for increased visibility while stopped on your bike, which you will need on the freeway or in traffic if you choose not to wear sunglasses.
Helmet’s Compatibility with Harley’s Audio System
With a fair number of motorcycles out there, one can easily overlook a choice or two. One such choice is helmet compatibility with Harley’s audio system.
Excessive wind noise, as well as exposure to the sun, may cause hearing damage. The loud sound combined with exposure to sunlight could lead to being disoriented and losing control over the motorcycle. The good news is that 70% of America’s significant helmet manufacturers certify their products to be compatible with most after-market headsets available in the market today.
Different types of Harley headsets are available in the market. They include Plug & Play Systems, Radio Systems, Helmet Intercom Systems, and Sound-Augmenting Systems.
When to Replace Harley Davidson Motorcycle Helmets?
It would help if you considered replacing a helmet for H-D when:
- Helmet has been dropped;
- Helmet has been in a crash;
- Visor is hard to open or close, affecting vision;
- Interior foam shows visible wear;
- Face shield gets foggy when riding in the rain for an extended period;
- Texture of interior padding or exterior shell feels different from previous use;
- No longer fits properly;
- Helmet has exceeded its expiration date (generally ten years);
- Helmet has visible damage;
- Face inside helmet shows noticeable wear and tear; and
- Stickers on exterior covering are peeling off the helmet exterior shell, which weakens the protective capabilities of the helmet.
Concluding Remarks
If you want to be safe on your bike, you should invest in a good quality helmet that will efficiently protect your head upon impact during an accident. The above article considers various factors such as style, comfortability, the material used, etc., of different types of Harley Davidson motorcycle helmets so you can choose accordingly.
Also, don’t forget to read more guides for Harley riders:
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