Owwww, my head hurts. Do I need a new helmet?

StrumminRonin · 05-23-2009, 7:35 PM

Was out on the bike today & was out there longer than normal. All was well but about half an our into the ride, my head REALLY started to hurt, right on the top of the head.

The helmet was great when it was new, but now that the cheek pads have settled down, this pain starts...

In terms of helmet shape and all that, the hat fits when new. I had the same problem on an over sized hat supplied by the motorcycling school, so what do I do now? Try a smaller hat?

vex918 · 05-23-2009, 8:08 PM

Usually its the pressure along forehead that gives you the pain....all you have to do is press the foam in to make it a better fit........ can't say ihave never experianced the top of the helmet causing probs

Westers · 05-23-2009, 8:45 PM

Even when the cheekpads settle down they should still push your cheeks up - if your cheek pads are only gripping your face and not making your cheeks bulge upwards slightly then the helmet is too big. And that's probably why your head hurts - you're doing the lid up more tightly to make it feel snug on your head, but all you're doing is pulling it down harder onto the top of your head.

Helmets should be tight to get on and off - kinda like a struggle to get them off, but not so tight that it hurts your head.

macca9540 · 05-24-2009, 8:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Was out on the bike today & was out there longer than normal. All was well but about half an our into the ride, my head REALLY started to hurt, right on the top of the head.

The helmet was great when it was new, but now that the cheek pads have settled down, this pain starts...

In terms of helmet shape and all that, the hat fits when new. I had the same problem on an over sized hat supplied by the motorcycling school, so what do I do now? Try a smaller hat?

I had the same problem with a helmet I won on Ebay.

Even though it was the same size and make as my other helmet, it was slightly bigger.

Me being a carpet layer, I have access to a number of different thickness underlay's, so I repacked the lining with different pieces to get the right fit.

I now do this to all my helmets, maybe I have a weird shaped head.

StrumminRonin · 05-24-2009, 9:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westers

Even when the cheekpads settle down they should still push your cheeks up ... you're doing the lid up more tightly to make it feel snug on your head, but all you're doing is pulling it down harder onto the top of your head.

Helmets should be tight to get on and off - kinda like a struggle to get them off, but not so tight that it hurts your head.

It's less of a struggle to get in and out of it now, than when I first got it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macca9540

...different thickness underlay's, so I repacked the lining with different pieces to get the right fit.

I now do this to all my helmets, maybe I have a weird shaped head.

Not impossible, but I might start getting myself some foam sponge & carving out pieces to pad up my lid!

Westers · 05-24-2009, 2:37 PM

Sounds like the helemt is slightly too big for you if it's now less of a struggle. I've learnt over the years that a helmet, when new, is a right struggle to get on, but once on should feel very snug, but not painfull. As it gets worn then it should ease a little to get on, but not by much.

macca9540 · 05-24-2009, 4:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

It's less of a struggle to get in and out of it now, than when I first got it.

I'm not going to say the first thing that popped into my dirty little mind.

StrumminRonin · 05-24-2009, 6:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macca9540

I'm not going to say the first thing that popped into my dirty little mind.

Thanks for sharing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westers

Sounds like the helemt is slightly too big for you if it's now less of a struggle. I've learnt over the years that a helmet, when new, is a right struggle to get on, but once on should feel very snug, but not painfull. As it gets worn then it should ease a little to get on, but not by much.

Thanks for the tip.

Westers · 05-24-2009, 8:36 PM

@ Macca9540.

Yep, my Arai is still tight to get on and off, to the extent that you don't want to keep taking it on and off all day 'cos your ears will start hurting. And it's 3 years old.

But, it's good when it's on - fits everywhere, but is very snug, and pushes my cheeks up towards my eyes. Not in a painful way.

HTH - I know what you're going through though - it took me 3-4 helemets to work out what was good and what wasn't. Trouble is my 3-4 helmets started cheap and then ended at Arai.

StrumminRonin · 05-25-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westers

HTH - I know what you're going through though - it took me 3-4 helemets to work out what was good and what wasn't. Trouble is my 3-4 helmets started cheap and then ended at Arai.

LOL. Guess I should open a bike shop near you!!