Measuring your head properly

Most people buy a helmet by trying one on briefly in a shop, deciding it "feels about right", and going home. A few months later it feels loose, turns when they look over their shoulder, or presses on one spot on the forehead until it aches.

The cause is nearly always the same: it was never measured.

What you need

A soft tape measure — the kind a tailor uses. If you do not have one, run a piece of string or a charging cable around your head, mark it with your finger, and measure the length against a ruler.

How to measure

1. Stand or sit upright in front of a mirror.
2. Run the tape around the widest part of your head: roughly 2 cm above the brow, passing just above the ears and across the most prominent point at the back.
3. Pull it snug — not loose, but not tight enough to press into the skin.
4. Read the number in centimetres.
5. Repeat two or three times. If the readings differ, take the one that comes up most often.

If your hair is thick or you normally tie it back when riding, measure in that state — not straight out of the shower with your hair down.

From number to size

Broadly: 55–56 cm is S, 57–58 cm is M, 59–60 cm is L, and 61–62 cm is XL. M and L are the two most common sizes in Indonesia.

But treat any table like this carefully. Every model has its own shell shape and lining thickness. An M in one model can feel tighter than an M in another. The table only tells you which size to try first.

Four signs of a genuine fit

• Even pressure. Snug all the way round, with no point that digs in.
• The skin moves with it. Shake your head — the skin of your forehead should move with the lining. If the helmet turns while your head stays still, it is too big.
• It does not roll off. With the strap fastened, push the helmet from the back towards the front. It should not come off.
• The cheeks are supported. The cheek pads should touch, not hang.

One thing people often get wrong

A new helmet does feel slightly tight, and the lining will give a little after a few uses. But only the lining gives — the shell shape does not change. If one spot hurts from the very first fitting, that is not something that will go away on its own.

And for children's helmets: do not buy a size up so it "lasts longer". A loose helmet does not work as it should, and a child who finds the helmet annoying will refuse to wear it.