The importance of having a good helmet while riding bikes cannot be over-emphasized. It’s a matter of life and death. However, there’s another point to note, especially for amateur riders. Sometimes we tend to ignore the fact that the helmet might not be the right fit for your size, especially those with big heads.
And this can be tough on you when riding as it can severely affect your breathing. In this article, I’ll briefly discuss some of the best motorcycle helmets for big heads.
Sure, there are lots of helmets with splendid features in terms of design, ventilation, and safety. But here’s the catch; not all helmets have size variations to accommodate riders with big heads. So what do you do? Your research and try them out. Here, I did exactly that.
Advantages of Wearing the Perfect Fit Bike Helmet
Wearing a helmet that fits perfectly isn’t just an advantage. It’s more about allowing yourself a good riding experience.
A tightly fit helmet, as well as a loose fit helmet, will make your ride hell. One will create a suffocating feeling, and the other will be so unstable that you may end up constantly thinking about keeping it stable.
Both of these issues are detrimental to driving a bike. I know because I experienced it firsthand. So, the only solution is to find a suitable helmet that’s a perfect fit for you. Whether you have a big head or round head structure, there are options available on the market.
There are around ten different shell sizes for helmets to accommodate whichever size you fall into. So there is no reason why you should buy something that doesn’t suit you.
6 Best Motorcycle Helmets for Big Heads
In this section, I’ve selected 6 of the best helmets available on the market and examined their features. Below are the short overviews with their pros and cons.
| Image | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
 |
GLX Scooter Motorcycle Half Helmet | Check Price |
 |
TORC Mako Full Face Helmet Shield | Check Price |
 |
Daytona Open Face Motorcycle Helmet | Check Price |
1. GLX Scooter Motorcycle Half Helmet
The GLX unisex half-face helmet got my attention, and it deserves to be on here. It’s not because it’s the best, but due to its value-oriented design and quality. GLX Helmets, since 2002, has been one of the few manufacturers that focus on the mid-tier demands rather than the premium section.
Size
This well-made GLX helmet comes in an Extra Large size, the 2nd largest variety of this model. It should be big enough for most bike riders. But be sure to match the dimensions (61-62 cm) with yours. There’s also the element of head shape that you need to take into account.
Build Quality
The material on this GLX helmet is reinforced fiberglass. And fiberglass competes with carbon fiber and steel in terms of strength. It also performs better under stress as it has higher ductility. So, you should be quite protected in the event of an accident.
Then, you have the artificial leather on the inner section to increase overall durability and style.
Comfort
This M14 helmet has a dynamic design that delivers comfort inside and outside. Its innovative layout provides enough space inside for you to breathe freely while tackling the wind on the road.
The sun shield on it will protect your face from the damaging UV rays from the sun as well as dust particles. Of course, it can’t compete with a full-face helmet in terms of noise cancellation and protection.
Ease of Use
You can remove the inner synthetic leather and plush liner to wash them or replace them if need be. And the sun shield, too, can be retracted and removed with a few moves, making it a top big-head motorcycle helmet.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Extra Large size
- Comfortable plush liner
- Two Sun shields
- Fiberglass construction
- Removable and washable parts
Cons
- No noise cancellation properties
- No Bluetooth
2. TORC Mako Full Face Helmet Shield
Next, I introduce you to the aesthetic T14B Mako Nuke full-face helmet from TORC. I must tell you that this helmet isn’t for everyone. It will cater to a certain genre of bike riders, and that’s street sports bikes. The overall design and dynamics of this bike scream the rough and tough riding style.
Size
This particular variant of the model T14B is XX-Large, which means it has a dimension of 63-64 cm. And this is the largest of the sizes. Fortunately, there are smaller sizes to accommodate people with smaller heads.
The design inside is tailored for an oval head shape, but the soft liner can fit round heads as well.
Build Quality
If you pick up the helmet with your hand, you can feel the weight. With a whopping 5 pounds of mass, it’s not light. And that’s because of the strong advanced thermal polymer alloy as well as solid joints in its construction.
This shell will last longer than the rest of the components. Users are full of praise for their tough nature. With a full-face design, it will save you from serious head injuries at the moment of a crash. And that’s what it’s supposed to do.
Comfort
It’s ridiculously comfortable, thanks to the double EPS liner inside. The soft liner is sufficiently padded and laser contoured. It doesn’t press against your sides and keeps you free from stress. Experiencing discomfort is never a good thing.
Ease of Use
With a clear and protective sun visor, you will have a good field of view as long as it’s clean. And for that, you’re getting extra sun visors with the package.
Moreover, you can remove the liner and wash it. Having that constant smell around 24/7 is irritating. Then you have the sweet ventilation system to keep good airflow.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable Thermo polymer alloy shell
- Soft padded liner
- Bluetooth
- Easy maintenance
- XXL size
- Good ventilation
Cons
- Pricey
- The street sports bike theme isn’t for everyone
3. Daytona Open Face Motorcycle Helmet
If you’re looking for a nice, open-face helmet, let me introduce you to this helmet from Daytona. It has the well-known classic design often seen on cruiser bike riders. Before going into the details, you should know that this helmet is all about style and relaxation with minimal safety.
Size
You don’t ride around with your cruiser at high speeds. So there is less emphasis on the safety part and more on cruising around. This open-face helmet comes in various sizes, starting at XS and going up to 3XL. So there is an option for all head sizes.
Consequently, the open face allows different head shapes to fit in without feeling any pressure. While getting the best motorcycle helmet for large head, this model makes it easier.
Build Quality
The overall construction of the helmet meets and exceeds the standards set by the D.O.T.; this has more importance than you think. It means it has a higher protection guarantee than you need. Of course, it’s not the same as a full-face helmet. But it will save you from mild crashes and accidents.
Comfort
Experiencing pain and discomfort is never a good sign of a helmet. And it can mess up your driving big time.
This helmet has expanded polystyrene as its inner material, and it’s soft and firm at the same time. It doesn’t let the helmet go out of its place while being soft on your head. But to ensure comfort, you need to buy the right size.
Ease of Use
This Daytona helmet has a chin strap design that makes it easy to put on and take off. Those who have beards know that it’s painful to see the strap making a mess of their beard. You can place the chin strap on this helmet so it doesn’t harm your beard shape.
However, this is an open-face helmet, so there is no sun shield, which makes it inappropriate to use under heat.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Classic design
- Expanded polystyrene
- D.O.T safety standards passed
- All sizes available
Cons
- Road noise is not reduced
- No sun shield
4. Bell Pit Boss Half Helmet, Matte Black
If the Dayton helmet seems to be weaker than you need, you can spend a few more dollars and get this Bell Pit Boss half helmet. Designed for the same purpose of cruising around town, it’s built stronger and has a better protection guarantee, even though it’s a half-face variety.
Size
In terms of head size, this particular model comes in all sizes, including Extra small up to XXX large. So, there is no way you will miss out on a perfect-fit helmet. It seems that the XL and XXL versions are the same product, which means the fitting depends on the chin strap. Make sure to test it out.
Build Quality
The shell on this Bell helmet boasts a carbon composite material that is known to be stronger than most alternatives. Carbon composite material is not as strong as carbon fiber, but it is stronger than most plastic or polymer variants. It absorbs impact well enough to prevent any severe head injury.
Comfort
The manufacturer used fabric as the liner inside the helmet. Fabric can be one of the coziest materials if placed properly. From the looks of it, this helmet will deliver a snuggly and soft experience.
Even though the helmet is an open-face helmet with a half-sun shield, it gives enough protection from the sun’s rays.
Ease of Use
It has a quite clever way to make sure that your helmet is fitted to your head. The speed dial-adjustable fit system makes it easy to tighten the strap.
To make things even better, it has a neck curtain when you’re driving on a hot day. And you can remove the curtain to feel the breeze when it’s a cold day out there.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fabric liner inside
- Carbon composite for durability
- Easy strap adjustability
- D.O.T. approved
- Sunshade shield
Cons
- No noise cancellation
- Not as safe as the full-face helmets
5. Shoei Neotec II Helmet, White
It’s time for the giants to take the podium. I’ve waiting to write about this favorite helmet of mine. Yes, I know it’s expensive as hell, but who can deny the premium quality it delivers? Shoei’s Neotec II Helmet functions as great as it looks. If you have the means, then this is the best motorcycle helmet for a big head.
Size
There is no shortage of sizes in this model when it comes to considering the best 3xl motorcycle helmet for a large head. You will see sizes from extra short to XX-large of this exact model. And the prices are the same for everyone.
Open or half-face helmets can be worked with when you get a helmet from smaller or larger sizes. You must try it out before sealing the deal because, with a full-face helmet, you can’t make it work if it doesn’t work.
Build Quality
At 5 pounds, it’s certainly not a light helmet if you compare it to a half or full-face helmet for a big head. But if you consider the overall construction and robust design, the weight seems to fade away.
The shell is made with ABS plastic, aka polycarbonate. It’s known for its impact absorption ability. You can rest easy, leaving your head protected by the Neotec helmet.
Comfort
To ensure a great comfort level and a tight fit, they used EPS (expanded polystyrene) to build the liner inside. It’s soft but firm. And that is great for keeping the helmet in place when riding.
Ease of Use
It’s a modular helmet! Everything about it is made for ease of use. You can use it as either an open-face helmet or a full-face one. But you’ll lose its noise cancellation properties with open-face use. Although modular helmets are heavier than most, this one, fortunately, is on the lighter side.
However, for this price, it should have had its own Bluetooth system, which sadly isn’t the case.
Pros
- Modular helmet
- It can be used as full face or open face helmet
- Aerodynamic shell
- EPS inner material
- Lots of sizes are available
- Noise cancellation
Cons
- Expensive
- No Bluetooth
6. ScorpionEXO EXO-R710 Helmet
The last product on this list is for people who want a feel of the premium without spending too much. This EXO helmet from ScorpionEXO is a highly sought-after model, thanks to its design, build quality, and comfort.
Size
If you’re a person who needs an extra large motorcycle helmet, this helmet has four different large sizes for you; L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL. Your head will certainly fit into one of these. The size dimensions are the standard ones for all helmets.
Build Quality
They call the helmet shell on this model a “TriMatrix Shell”. It’s a brilliant blend of fiberglass and aramid fibers interlaced together. Aramid fiber is a type of heat-resistant fiber mostly used in aerospace and military projects. So you can imagine the length they went to provide safety.
The aerodynamic design of the helmet is another point to note as it reduces noise and also makes it easy to ride at high speeds.
Comfort
Most high-quality helmet brands seem to prefer EPS material over foam or fabric. That’s because expanded polystyrene feels soft without losing its shape under pressure. It’s also a better option if you want to keep it stable on the road. An unstable helmet that wants to go off is never a good product.
Ease of Use
This is a helmet for all types of bike riding. From street motorcycles to cruiser bikes, it can serve all.
It’s a full-face helmet with a good no-fog face shield and enough room to breathe properly. The sun shield is easily retractable. This one is the best motorcycle helmet for big heads if you’re on a limited budget.
Pros
- Affordable, considering its quality
- TriMatrix shell
- EPS material
- 4 different large sizes are available
- Aero-tuned ventilation
- Fog-free sun shield
Cons
- No Bluetooth system
- It’s not modular
What to Look for Before You Buy a bike helmet for a large head?
There are always some criteria to follow when choosing something. What is the standard that makes a product worth spending money on? This is the topic of discussion here. To get your money’s worth from the helmet, it needs to have certain properties.
Helmet Type
In the market, you’ll find verities of helmets with several designs. The most common types are Full face, Half face, and Open face helmets. You can’t name one type as the best as all three have their specific use cases and scenarios. It comes down to your driving style, your taste, and the level of safety you need.
Unsurprisingly, the full-face helmets are the safest out of the three due to better structural design. It receives shock better and withholds a higher amount of pressure. But it’s mostly for speedy rides for a short duration. It can feel pretty suffocating when you’re driving out there, even with good ventilation.
For cruiser bike riders, the half-face and open-face helmets are a better choice as cruising doesn’t require high-level safety. You can feel the air on your face and relax.
Size
You’ll find lots of sizes for helmets while buying bike helmets for big heads, starting from extra small up to triple extra large. Make sure to read the chart for dimensions. This is important since you need the helmet to fit properly without being loose or tight. These are the main reasons behind experiencing discomfort or pain.
Shell Strength
A strong shell is important as it is related to maintaining safety. You need a helmet that won’t crack in the first event of an accident.
There are various materials in use, such as ABS plastic, Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber, and Carbon composite. Each of them is quite competent at providing durability and absorbing impact, although at varying degrees.
Sun Visor
This is vital for half-face and full-face helmets only. Sun visors or shields are necessary to protect your eyes from bright sunlight as well as UV rays. They also come in handy to protect dust and debris from hitting your face.
Fog can create a really troublesome situation, but no more. The new No-fog face shields are another great addition to look forward to. However, they are mostly seen in higher-priced helmets.
Liner
The soft material inside the helmet is the liner. It’s to ensure a comfortable fitting and also to maintain stability during the ride.
If the liner isn’t made of good quality material, it can hurt your head at the worst. And it will wear out quickly. Different manufacturers use materials such as Expanded Polystyrene, aka Styrofoam, and Fabric. Both are great options found in most motorcycle helmets.
Ventilation
I can’t emphasize this point enough. It can make or break the deal. Make sure that the helmet of your choosing doesn’t suffocate your head from the air.
It can get really hot sometimes, and good ventilation will save you. Although most modern helmets take this point into account, you should actively search for helmets with good airflow.
Head Shape
What is your head shape? Is it round or more of an oval shape? Most people have an oval head shape. This is an important part if you want to have a fitting helmet. As most helmets are made for oval shapes, people with round heads might struggle to find suitable models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of helmet is the best?
Among the three mainstream variations, the full-face helmet is the best in terms of overall features. It’s the safest, without a doubt. And it can also block noise as well as debris and bugs from becoming a nuisance on the road. Then again, it can solely depend on the rider’s preference.
Are Shoei helmets worth it?
Shoei helmets are top-notch. There is no doubt about it. But it has to be suitable for your needs if it is to be worth the money you pay. If we’re talking quality and comfort, there are very few brands that come close.
Which is the best helmet for big heads?
The ScorpionEXO model seems to be the best in overall terms, considering its price and features.
How long do these last?
These do have a limited life. It will start to deteriorate at about five years of use and become prone to cracking under slight pressure. That’s why most manufacturers give a 5-year limited warranty for their helmets.
Do I have to replace an old helmet if it’s not broken?
Yes, it is better to replace your old worn helmet if it has been five years since your purchase. Although it may last longer, you don’t want to take any chances on the road. Safety is your priority.
If my helmet drops on the ground, is it still safe to use?
Most probably, yes, it is safe to use. But you should check the inside and outside of the helmet properly to see whether the structural integrity is still intact or not. There might be some broken pieces that you may overlook without close observation.
Why does my head hurt when wearing a helmet?
The most apparent reason for your head hurting from wearing a helmet is that the helmet is too tight for your head. You need a bigger helmet to have free space. It can also happen if the helmet is too big and you tightened your chin strap too much, resulting in discomfort.
If that’s not the case, it might be because of previous head injuries that haven’t healed up yet.
Final Words
Those were the best motorcycle helmets for big heads in terms of keeping your head comfortable. If you want a particular suggestion for overall features from safety to comfort, we’d say, go for the Shoei Neotec II Helmet.
With DOT certification, this helmet will be your safeguard while riding and the inner padding will keep it comfortable for you. It also has good aeration vents, and a protective visor to keep your big head cool as well.
Jason, a helmet enthusiast, is the owner of HelmetsAdvisor.com shares his innovative idea that helps people get the proper knowledge of helmets and their accessories to go ahead!
Helmets are usually life-saving elements to run! That's why, an expert on helmets, Jason built this site to express his gathering knowledge and first-hand user experience over decades.
