I know you need to try them on etc, but how do you work out what basic size to go for?

forehead to the base of the back of your head. Still best to try them on though

you can actually measure the circumference of you head as a starting point, measure around broadest part of head, usually across forhead & around head above the ears,
yes try on different helmets as the do vary from make to make even with same given size.
do up the chin strap & ensure you cannot lift helmet off your head at any angle, don,t buy it too tight as it,ll cause headache if too tight over forehead BUT they are tight when new but do "bed in" a little to your shape of head. buy the best you can afford as there are some very good ones & some not so good.
i like the seat belt buckle fastener style, quick & easy .
cheers
andy

a handy site to check your choosen helmet against to see if its rubbish

testing linky

go to the shop and try them on. I found that sizes seemed to vary from being quite loose to not even nearly getting it on.

You can measure to find roughly what size you are but its best just to use that measurement to ring ahead and see if they've got that size in stock. Otherwise Demon Tweeks do a return-if-wrong-size policy (or they used to)....

Just because you're an XL in one brand doesn't stop you from being a M in another!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy
a handy site to check your choosen helmet against to see if its rubbish

testing linky

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the truth
you try them on is the only way .

When I got mine at Christmas the guy would not give me it unless I tried it on. Otherwise he could not accept it back.

If it goes in easy it's not big enough :-D

Found my helmet on the testing site. 4 stars... not bad for the £50 I paid for it (Shark S500 Air)

please DON,T ask "how to polish your helmet".

just a thought... if you plan on doing trackdays, some officials won,t let you on track if the helmet hasn,t got an ACU gold sticker so if you buy a helmet with this sticker on don,t take it off.
cheers
andy