Modular Motorcycle Helmets

Full face motorcycle helmets, with their one-piece construction, built-in chin bars and integrated face shields, provide the highest level of protection, but they do have their downside. If you want to eat, drink, or smoke a full face helmet has to come off. With a full face helmet on it can be difficult to put on eyeglasses or carry on a conversation. And even though most full face helmets have ventilation systems, you must be moving for them to work and they can be a bit stifling when you’re at a light, or even worse stuck in traffic, on a hot day. Of course, you wouldn’t have any of these issues wearing an open face helmet, but then you’d have to give up the protection and quiet ride afforded by a full face helmet, or…you could wear a modular helmet and enjoy the best of both helmet types.

The entire chin bar is hinged and flips up on modular helmets, which is why they’re also known as flip up helmets. Although the hinge and latch mechanism make a modular helmet not quite as structurally strong as a one-piece full face helmet, with the chin bar closed and latched, you get the same degree of protection against wind, bugs, and debris as a full face, and much greater impact protection and noise reduction than you would have with an open face helmet. And when you want to enjoy a liquid refreshment, grab a quick bite, or just get some fresh air when stuck in traffic or at a stoplight, with the push of a button you can flip up the chin bar and face shield. With a modular helmet in the open position it’s easier to make yourself heard and understood when having a conversation and you’ll have much less difficulty putting on eyeglasses; in fact, you can put some modular helmets on while wearing glasses.

Our modular helmets come in men’s and women’s sizes from X-small to 5X-Large, in round oval and intermediate oval helmet shapes. All are DOT (Department of Transportation) certified and completely legal for use on U.S. highways, and some have ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) certification. A modular helmet is constructed with a thermoplastic, fiberglass, or composite shell designed to spread an impact over a broad area, an energy absorbing EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam liner, and interior padding. Less expensive helmets are made of thermoplastics like ABS or polycarbonate. These helmets are strong and perfectly safe, but with this construction they must be made heavier with thicker EPS to achieve the proper level of safety. Fiberglass and fiberglass composite are stronger and very good at distributing force upon impact and therefore fiberglass helmets can be made lighter. Top of the line Kevlar and carbon fiber composite helmets are extremely strong and can be made even lighter in weight, but they’re generally the most expensive. Helmets constructed with any of these materials will provide protection in the unfortunate event of a crash, but a lighter helmet will put much less strain on your neck and be more comfortable to wear than a heavier one, especially on long rides.

In our modular helmet collection, we’ve got many attractive shell shapes to choose from, and they come in a rainbow of gloss and matte solid colors, distinctive multi-color and stripe patterns, and unique graphic displays. An enclosed modular helmet will help keep your head warm so you can be comfortable in colder weather, but when the temperature drops, shield fogging and the dangerous impaired vision that ensues becomes a problem. Some modular helmets have face shields with an anti-fog coating while others come with shields that are set-up for an anti-fog Pinlock® shield. The Pinlock absorbs moisture and forms an insulating layer of air inside the shield, which prevents fogging. Many helmets also have chin vents to help prevent fogging as well as provisions that allow the shield to be opened just a crack for defogging from outside air, and some come with breath guards to deflect hot breath away from the shield.

At the other temperature extreme, on a hot summer day in bright sunlight an enclosed helmet could be like an oven. In addition to being able to expose your face to cooling fresh air while stopped, via the flip up mechanism, modular helmets have built-in intake and exhaust vents to provide cooling flow-through ventilation when you’re on the move. These vents can be opened and closed on most modular helmets for temperature control. The helmet’s comfort liner, the padded layer that contacts your head, is made of open cell foam covered with fabric. Some modular helmet liner fabrics are moisture wicking to increase your comfort level and some liners are antimicrobial to keep odors at bay. However, any fabric that’s continually exposed to perspiration and the oils from your hair and skin is going to get funky after a while, but with the removable and washable liners that are a feature in many of our modular helmets, it’s easy to make the inside of the helmet clean and fresh again. Some helmet makers also offer cheek pads in different sizes so you can customize fit and comfort.

The pivoting clear face shields that come with modular helmets are usually scratch resistant and provide UV protection. Face shields are generally easy to remove and swap and accessory shields are available for most modular helmets in tints to suit riding conditions, including dark shields that protect your eyes from glare in bright sun and amber that will enhance contrast and definition on overcast days. However, you’ll find that many of our modular helmets feature a convenient lever-operated internal sun visor that can be dropped down to cover your eyes when needed, eliminating the need to carry another face shield.

Talk with other riders in your group and your passenger instead of using hand signals, make calls, rock out with your favorite tunes, and get directions; Bluetooth communicators make it happen and many of our modular helmets make it easy for you to get connected. Several of our modular helmet brands have worked with well-known communications systems providers and configured their helmets to make installation of their systems simple and straightforward. There are provisions for the installation of the speakers and microphone, and even a recess for the controller. Other brands have taken a more universal approach and provided features like integrated speaker and microphone pockets so you can install your choice of communications device.