Motorcycle Helmets

The right helmet style depends on your coverage and convenience preferences, along with proper fit. Full-face helmets provide enclosed head, face and chin coverage with a fixed chin bar. Modular helmets can cover those same areas when fully closed, with a chin bar that opens for convenience at stops. Open-face helmets cover the top, back and sides of the head without a chin bar. Half helmets cover the upper portion of the head with less side and rear coverage. Shield and eye-protection options vary by model. Compare each helmet’s fit, certification and features before choosing.

Both modular and full-face helmets can meet recognized safety standards, but certification does not mean that every helmet provides identical protection. A full-face helmet has a fixed chin bar, while a modular helmet uses a hinged chin bar that opens for convenience when stopped. Construction, certification, fit, and features vary by model, so compare the specifications of each helmet rather than judging by helmet style alone.

Unless the helmet’s manufacturer specifically approves riding with the chin bar open, keep it fully closed and securely latched while riding. The right choice depends on your preferred balance of coverage, convenience, fit, weight, and features.

Choose a youth helmet according to the child’s current head measurement and shape—not age or anticipated growth. Measure around the widest part of the head, approximately one inch above the eyebrows, and compare the measurement with the sizing chart for the specific helmet.

The helmet should feel evenly snug without painful pressure points. When you gently move it from side to side, the child’s skin should move with the liner instead of the helmet rotating independently. Fasten the chin strap and follow the manufacturer’s fit and retention checks to confirm that the helmet stays securely in place and cannot be rolled off the child’s head.

Do not purchase an oversized helmet to leave room for growth. A loose helmet can move out of position and may not provide its intended protection. Because fit varies between brands and models, we recommend bringing your child to Eagle Leather’s Lakewood store for an in-person fitting.

Many motorcycle helmets have replaceable face shields, but shields are not universally interchangeable, even within the same brand. Check the manufacturer’s compatibility information for your helmet’s exact model, generation and size, where applicable.

Replace a shield that is cracked, scratched or otherwise damaged, or has cloudiness or distortion that affects clear vision. If the shield or its mounting system does not attach and operate securely, stop using it until the problem has been corrected according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Clear, tinted, mirrored and Pinlock-compatible options vary by helmet. Follow the manufacturer’s restrictions for the specific shield. Use clear eye protection at night or in poor visibility. Washington’s eye-protection rules prohibit tinted devices during the nighttime and low-visibility conditions specified in WAC 204-10-026(11).

If you are unsure which shield fits, bring your helmet to Eagle Leather’s Lakewood store. We can help check compatibility and explain the manufacturer’s removal and installation instructions.

A DOT label means the helmet’s manufacturer certifies that the helmet complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, the U.S. standard covering requirements such as impact attenuation, penetration resistance, retention-system performance and labeling.

NHTSA does not test and approve each helmet before it is sold. Manufacturers certify their own helmets, while NHTSA tests selected helmets for compliance and can require corrective action or a recall when a helmet fails.

Some helmets also carry ECE or Snell certification. These standards use different testing and certification programs and can provide additional information when comparing helmets, but they do not replace the DOT certification required for motorcycle helmets sold for on-road use in the United States. Always check the certifications listed for the specific helmet, and remember that certification does not replace proper fit.

Yes. Washington generally requires motorcycle, motor-driven-cycle and moped operators and passengers to wear a motorcycle helmet on public roads. The helmet must carry the manufacturer’s certification that it complies with U.S. Department of Transportation requirements, and its neck or chin strap must be securely fastened while the vehicle is moving.

When operating one of these vehicles without a windshield, the operator must also wear qualifying glasses, goggles or a face shield. Washington law also prohibits transporting a child under five years old on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.

The helmet-use requirement has limited exceptions for certain enclosed vehicles and antique motor-driven cycles, as specified in the statute. Requirements can change, so consult RCW 46.37.530 for the current law. Helmet and eye-protection laws may differ when riding outside Washington.