ECE stands for Economic Community of Europe. The current ECE standard is 22.05 and applies to helmets sold in Europe, but has come into wide use and many helmets sold in the U.S. have ECE approval.
Two more things you might not think about can help protect your helmet investment. A carrying bag or carrying case is a good finishing touch for any helmet purchase and it can keep your new lid looking like new for a long time. The warranty can really help if something fails. Warranties can be as short as 90 days or as long as five years. Whichever one applies, keep your receipt and warranty information because you may not be able to get warranty service without them.
Helmet designs have evolved over the years into specialized gear for different purposes. Motocross, trail riding and ATV uses are the target of a range of full-face motocross helmets that are characterized by a chin bar that extends out further than full face models targeted for road use, and tend to have sun visors, but not flip up face shields, allowing easier use of goggles. This design is popular for snowmobile use as well.
Depending on the manufacturer, model and design, there may be a range of options to consider, such as various tinted shields, including some that are photochromatic, which change tint in response to light levels. If you opt for a dark tint shield, for a day-long ride, consider getting clear lens high impact riding glasses to wear in the helmet, so if the ride goes into the hours of darkness, you’ll be able to see and protect your eyes with the shield up.
After sorting through all the options and settling on the type, look and options, then size it up so it fits snugly, but not so tight as to be uncomfortable. In general, if the helmet can move when your head doesn’t, when the chin strap is adjusted and secured, it’s too loose. If you can barely get the thing on, or the top of your head doesn’t fit all the way to the top of the helmet’s interior, it’s too small. Trying some motocross or motorcycle helmets on and noting the size can help assure you’ll get a good fit if you order a helmet, but sizing charts put out by each manufacturer can wor
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