Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guide for Australian Riders

Buying a helmet is the most important purchasing decision you will make as a rider. This guide walks through Australian legal requirements, how to read safety ratings, which helmet type suits your riding style, how to get the fit right, and how to look after your helmet once you own it.

Australian Legal Standards

To be road-legal in Australia, a helmet must comply with at least one of the following approved standards:

AS 1698:1988 — the original Australian standard
AS/NZS 1698:2006 — the updated joint Australian/New Zealand standard
ECE 22.05 — the European standard that was current until mid-2022
ECE 22.06 — the current European standard, in force since 1 July 2022

Following harmonisation of road traffic legislation, ECE 22.05 and ECE 22.06 are now accepted in all Australian states and territories. US DOT certification alone is not an approved standard in Australia. Snell-certified helmets are only road-legal here if they also carry an ECE or AS/NZS marking.

How to Spot an ECE-Certified Helmet

ECE compliance is shown on a label sewn onto the chin strap (retention system). Look for:

A circle containing the letter E
A country code number (e.g. 3 = Italy, 2 = France)
The standard designation: 05 for ECE 22.05 or 06 for ECE 22.06
A helmet-type code: P for protective (full-face, modular) or J for jet/open-face style

If that label is absent, the helmet is not ECE-certified regardless of what the packaging says.

ECE 22.06 vs ECE 22.05 — What Changed

Both standards remain road-legal in Australia, but ECE 22.06 is meaningfully more rigorous:

Feature	ECE 22.05	ECE 22.06
Impact test points on shell	6	18
Impact test speeds	7.5 m/s only	6, 7.5, and 8.2 m/s
Oblique (angled) impact testing	Not required	Mandatory

The oblique impact test is significant because rotational acceleration from angled impacts is considered a leading cause of severe traumatic brain injury. A helmet certified to ECE 22.06 has been specifically tested for this. Production of new ECE 22.05 helmets ceased in Europe in July 2023, though existing stock can still be sold.

MotoCAP: An Independent Safety Rating

MotoCAP's CRASH program is supported by Australian and New Zealand road-safety agencies and independently tests roughly 30 helmet models per year. It awards a star rating out of five covering:

Safety: impact absorption on flat, hemispherical, and kerb-shaped anvils
Comfort factors: noise, ventilation, field of view, and anti-fog performance

MotoCAP is not a legal certification — it is a supplementary consumer tool. In 2025 testing, only 5 of the 30 helmets tested achieved a four-star safety rating, and no helmet achieved five stars. Notably, price does not reliably predict star rating; a cheaper helmet can outperform a more expensive one. Checking the MotoCAP website before you buy is worth a few minutes of your time.

Helmet Types

Full-Face

A one-piece shell that encloses the chin and jaw, with an integrated face shield and no hinges or openings. Full-face helmets offer the highest level of protection and are the recommended choice for road and track riding. We stock a range in our Helmets - Full Face category.

Modular (Flip-Up)

The chin bar and visor pivot up as a single unit, combining the convenience of an open face with the protection of a full-face when closed. They suit touring, commuting, and adventure riders. The hinge mechanism means modular helmets are generally less structurally rigid than a one-piece full-face at an equivalent price point — they should always be ridden with the chin bar locked closed.

Open-Face (Three-Quarter)

Covers the top, sides, and back of the head but leaves the face exposed. They offer less chin and facial protection than full-face or modular helmets and are popular with scooter, cruiser, and café racer riders. See our Helmets - Open Face range.

Motocross (MX)

Designed specifically for off-road riding: extended chin guard, prominent peak/visor, maximised ventilation, and no integrated face shield. MX helmets must be worn with separate goggles. An MX helmet is not road-legal on public roads unless it also carries an ECE or AS/NZS compliance marking. Browse our Helmets - MX category for off-road options.

Shell Materials

The outer shell controls the shape of a helmet and distributes impact force across a wider area before the EPS liner absorbs it. The three main materials are:

Material	Typical Full-Face Weight	Notes
Polycarbonate	1,600–1,800 g	Most affordable; performs well in lower-speed impacts; more susceptible to abrasion
Fibreglass / composite	~1,300–1,500 g	Lighter and distributes impact energy more effectively than polycarbonate
Carbon fibre	1,100–1,350 g	Best strength-to-weight ratio; significant price premium

Shell material does not determine whether a helmet meets a certification standard. A polycarbonate helmet certified to ECE 22.06 is just as road-legal as a carbon fibre one. However, composite and carbon fibre shells tend to achieve higher independent consumer safety ratings due to their superior energy distribution.

MIPS — What It Is and What It Isn't

MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is a low-friction slip-plane layer inside the helmet shell. In an angled impact, it allows roughly 10–15 mm of relative movement between the shell and the rider's head, reducing the rotational energy transferred to the brain.

MIPS is an additional safety technology, not a certification standard. A MIPS-equipped helmet still needs to carry ECE or AS/NZS certification to be road-legal. It is available across helmets already certified to those standards and at a range of price points.

Getting the Fit Right

Measure Your Head

Wrap a soft tape measure approximately 2–3 cm above your eyebrows around the widest circumference of your head. Keep the tape level, measure twice, and use the larger figure. That measurement in centimetres corresponds to helmet sizing charts.

Head Shape Matters

Circumference alone does not determine fit. Heads broadly fall into three shape categories:

Round oval — front-to-back and side-to-side dimensions are similar
Intermediate oval — slightly longer front-to-back; the most common shape and the shape most helmets are designed around
Long oval — noticeably longer front-to-back

Two riders with identical circumference measurements may need different helmets because of head shape. If a helmet creates pressure points at the forehead or temples, try a different brand or model — the internal geometry varies between manufacturers.

What a Correct Fit Feels Like

Firm and snug, with no more than about one finger's clearance between the forehead and the liner
The EPS comfort liner compresses 15–20% over the first several hours of wear — a helmet that feels slightly tight when new is likely the right fit
With the retention strap fastened, the helmet should not roll forward off your head when pushed from the rear. If it can, it is too large

Replacement helmet liners and cheek pads are available separately if you need to fine-tune fit over time.

When to Replace Your Helmet

Helmet manufacturers generally recommend replacing a helmet:

5 years from the date of first use, or
7 years from the manufacture date (stamped inside the helmet), whichever comes first

This accounts for gradual degradation of the EPS liner, outer shell resins, and adhesives from UV exposure, sweat, body oils, and heat cycling.

Replace your helmet immediately after any crash, even if no visible damage is apparent. The EPS liner compresses permanently to absorb energy; its protective capability is compromised after a single significant impact. The same applies to a helmet that has been dropped from a height.

Care and Cleaning

Interior

Clean with mild soap (such as baby shampoo) and warm water
Remove and wash cheek pads and liners separately if the helmet allows; air-dry completely before refitting
Never use aerosol spray cans inside a helmet — the propellant can degrade the EPS liner

Visor

Use a specialist helmet/visor cleaner and a clean microfibre cloth; work gently to avoid scratching
Do not use petroleum-based solvents or general-purpose glass cleaners on visors or the outer shell
If fogging is an issue, a Pinlock insert — a secondary anti-fog lens that clips inside the main visor — is the most effective solution. Many visors come Pinlock-ready with moulded receiver pins, but the insert itself is usually purchased separately. Check our Helmet Visors and Helmet Accessories categories.

Tinted and Photochromic Visors

Tinted, iridium-coated, and photochromic visors may not be road-legal in all Australian states. Dark-tinted visors are generally not permitted for night riding. Verify visor legality with your state or territory road transport authority before use.

Quick Checklist Before You Buy

Does the helmet carry an ECE (22.05 or 22.06), AS/NZS 1698:2006, or AS 1698 marking?
Have you checked the MotoCAP star rating for that model?
Have you measured your head circumference?
Does it feel snug with no pressure points after a few minutes on your head?
Does it pass the roll-forward test with the strap done up?
Is the shell material appropriate for your riding and budget?

A helmet that ticks all six boxes — and that you will actually wear every ride — is the right helmet for you.