Headache from helmet

[BajaRon]

Different brands fit different. Arai does not fit me. I like Shoei

It is true that different brands fit differently. Even different models within a brand, listed as the same head shape, can fit slightly different. However, to say that an Arai helmet does not fit you, Did you know that Arai is the only helmet manufacturer to make more than 1 head shape. As a matter of fact. Arai makes models in all 3 major head shapes. Long Oval, Intermediate Oval, and Round Oval. This is why you will hear people say; 'I have a Shoei (or a KBC, an HJC etc.) head'. Because all other manufactures make their helmets in only 1 head shape. They either fit, or they don't.

People will try on an Arai helmet, and when it doesn't fit their head shape, assume that Arai helmets do not fit their head. It is poor customer service to let a person leave with that idea.

Generally speaking, about 80% fit into an Intermediate Oval Head Shape. Then 10% in each of the other 2. I think 80% is too high a number for the Intermediate. But they do a lot of research and that's what they say.

Bottom line, it is a rare head that will not fit well into one of the 3 different head shapes Arai Offers. Add to this that both the head liner and cheek pads come in several different thicknesses, and you have an extremely adaptable helmet, and probably no need for a spoon. I am not saying that Arai is the helmet for every person. Because there is more to a helmet than fit. But fit is where you need to start. Because if the helmet does not fit (as is the case, they tell us, with 70% of the non-professional riders out there). Then it cannot protect you in an accident. Proper fit is essential.

Web Bike World is an independent, neutral, honest and knowledgeable company that offers excellent information on just about every aspect of many very popular helmets. You will find extensive data from head shape to weight to features to quality construction, noise, comfort and more on their web site. I never buy a helmet without checking their site. I send people there all the time. You just can't know too much about your helmet. The information can save you a lot of time and efffort.

Here is a link to so very interesting information that every rider who is serious about protecting their head should know.
https://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmet-head-shapes/

 

[Pooch]

I second Webbikeworld.com! That is where I learned SO much about helmets.

Long before I found webbikeworld I originally had a Shoei full face that was HEAVY. Then I was given an Arai that a friend won at a rally but would not fit him. No idea what model it was. Was open face with a shield on front. Fit well…lots of air flow.
Now many years later I was going to try the Arai again over the HJC but they refuse to make a modular helmet and I prefer that style for winter.
I think HJC is one of the lighter-weight helmets and also has a nice wide field of view, plus a tract for glasses, but fit can be a problem.

I still have the HJC I90 (for winter) and am still wrestling with the too large cheek pads.. smaller not available anywhere except Dennis Kirk and they want shipping on it of $7.99. I needed a summer helmet and was at Cyclegear to buy the dual SENA 50S system and tried on a Sedici open face. Fit really well right off the bat, was the right color, and the salesman installed the SENA in it for me. Put on a long, dark face shield (it came with a clear) and am really appreciating this helmet for summer in Texas. It also has the drop down internal visor.

Hope you find a helmet that suits you soon. Keep us informed as to your progress.

 

[Jcummins]

The saga continues. For anyone interested following this thread I made out of cardboard the sculptures caliper as described in the video Pirate posted here. After taking two sets of measurements and getting inconsistent results I ended up running a ring of masking tape around my head and had my wife mark the hours on the clock on the tape around my head. This helped placement of a caliber to where I was getting more accurate results. Not sure as to the accuracy but it was more consistent and the thing that glared at me was my head is not a perfect oval. I've got a little bulge on my left forhead and a little recession on my right forehead.

Sooooo changing brand of helmet or the size of a helmet isn't going to address the problem of my unevenly shaped head which is probably characteristic of a lot of us. The unevenness was no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch but pretty sure it cause the headache. Using the back side of an ice cream scoop I mash down on the forehead area on the left side of my helmet but I found that the padding was pretty tough. I did get it mashed just a bit. Then under the right side helmet pads I added a thin sheet of foam. Tried it on and my first blush at the feel of it.... It felt better. Won't get a chance to really test it out until probably Monday of next week but I'll report back how this worked out I have high hopes.

 

[Pirate]

The saga continues. For anyone interested following this thread I made out of cardboard the sculptures caliper as described in the video Pirate posted here. After taking two sets of measurements and getting inconsistent results I ended up running a ring of masking tape around my head and had my wife mark the hours on the clock on the tape around my head. This helped placement of a caliber to where I was getting more accurate results. Not sure as to the accuracy but it was more consistent and the thing that glared at me was my head is not a perfect oval. I've got a little bulge on my left forhead and a little recession on my right forehead.

Sooooo changing brand of helmet or the size of a helmet isn't going to address the problem of my unevenly shaped head which is probably characteristic of a lot of us. The unevenness was no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch but pretty sure it cause the headache. Using the back side of an ice cream scoop I mash down on the forehead area on the left side of my helmet but I found that the padding was pretty tough. I did get it mashed just a bit. Then under the right side helmet pads I added a thin sheet of foam. Tried it on and my first blush at the feel of it.... It felt better. Won't get a chance to really test it out until probably Monday of next week but I'll report back how this worked out I have high hopes.

Thanks for the update. I used the door method mentioned in the thread I posted, not the caliper one (caliper is prob more accurate). Put my head in the closet door and closed it then slowly remove my head and measure the space, both front and back. That at least gave me my head shape.

 

[GoldenSpyder]

Something else that I have done to a helmet that put pressure on my forehead and caused a headache is pulling back the liner in that area and taking a razor knife and actually shaving out some of the styrofoam and then pulling the liner back over it and trying it. May take several tries to get it just right, but it will work! Good luck! Nothing any more uncomfortable than an ill-fitting helmet to me!

 

[Jcummins]

The saga continues. For anyone interested following this thread I made out of cardboard the sculptures caliper as described in the video Pirate posted here. After taking two sets of measurements and getting inconsistent results I ended up running a ring of masking tape around my head and had my wife mark the hours on the clock on the tape around my head. This helped placement of a caliber to where I was getting more accurate results. Not sure as to the accuracy but it was more consistent and the thing that glared at me was my head is not a perfect oval. I've got a little bulge on my left forhead and a little recession on my right forehead.

Sooooo changing brand of helmet or the size of a helmet isn't going to address the problem of my unevenly shaped head which is probably characteristic of a lot of us. The unevenness was no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch but pretty sure it cause the headache. Using the back side of an ice cream scoop I mash down on the forehead area on the left side of my helmet but I found that the padding was pretty tough. I did get it mashed just a bit. Then under the right side helmet pads I added a thin sheet of foam. Tried it on and my first blush at the feel of it.... It felt better. Won't get a chance to really test it out until probably Monday of next week but I'll report back how this worked out I have high hopes.

For anyone interested I went on a 3-hour ride today with the helmet modifications I mentioned above. The first hour I noticed that I was starting to get a little bit of a headache, not bad on the right forehead not the left. The right side is where I stuck a very thin piece a foam under the helmet liner. I mean it was a very thin piece. After about an hour I pulled that foam out and discarded it and the headaches stopped. I rode the next couple of hours with not much of a problem of the helmet giving me a headache.

I'm really astonished that the little bit I pushed in the helmet padding with the back of the ice cream scoop, it was extremely minimal, goes to show that an extremely small adjustment can make all the difference in the world. I may make some additional minor adjustments but for now, I have improved the fit... A lot.

 

[Mikey]

I am going to put the Dremel tool to mine soon!! Going to shave it a little and open the air tunnels a little!!!

 

[BajaRon]

For anyone interested I went on a 3-hour ride today with the helmet modifications I mentioned above. The first hour I noticed that I was starting to get a little bit of a headache, not bad on the right forehead not the left. The right side is where I stuck a very thin piece a foam under the helmet liner. I mean it was a very thin piece. After about an hour I pulled that foam out and discarded it and the headaches stopped. I rode the next couple of hours with not much of a problem of the helmet giving me a headache.

I'm really astonished that the little bit I pushed in the helmet padding with the back of the ice cream scoop, it was extremely minimal, goes to show that an extremely small adjustment can make all the difference in the world. I may make some additional minor adjustments but for now, I have improved the fit... A lot.

This is why, done correctly on helmets that need very little modification, it can make a world of difference, and, in my opinion, be done safely. Usually the compression needs to be less than 1/8", and only in a small, targeted area of the forehead. Again, not ideal. But it can be done without sacrificing any measurable safety. Getting a helmet a size too large, which is the usual alternative, will give you more exposure to head injury than will a judicious and reasonable mod. like this. Glad it worked for you.

 

[Poasttown]

Not trying to redirect the discussion but I have wondered what looking through multiple layers of polycarbonate (or whatever the shields are made of) might play on vision and thus possible eye strain (headache). If you wear glasses, use the flip down sun shield and then the helmet shield this is three layers of material to look through. The reason I mention this is somewhere in the discussion it was mentioned that this problem gets worse when the helmet is closed.

Poasttown

 

[BajaRon]

Not trying to redirect the discussion but I have wondered what looking through multiple layers of polycarbonate (or whatever the shields are made of) might play on vision and thus possible eye strain (headache). If you wear glasses, use the flip down sun shield and then the helmet shield this is three layers of material to look through. The reason I mention this is somewhere in the discussion it was mentioned that this problem gets worse when the helmet is closed.

Poasttown

Good question. With a quality shield, there is virtually zero distortion and there should be no negative effects. A cheap shield can give you a great deal of vision related pain. Some more sensitive people will have issue with a bug splotch or deep scratch on a prominent vision point on the shield. So, be aware of that. I don't like goggles because they tend to restrict peripheral vision.

 

[Deaconmike]

Before buying the HJC I-90 that I ordered online I tried for almost a year to find a place that had helmets that I could try on. Covid disrupted the supplies everywhere I tried had zero inventories and I finally give in and ordered the HJC helmet online. When I got it I was pleasantly surprised that it seemed to fit very well I didn't have any trouble taking it on and off I wear glasses and hearing aids they wasn't a problem. However last couple rides I've been noticing a slight headache in the front of my forehead above my eyes. I had discovered that if I left the chin lid open that it didn't really mess with the airflow over the helmet and it seemed to lessen the problem of the slight headache.

Today I went on a longer ride and it lasted for probably about 3 and 1/2 hours. Almost the whole time I had to leave the chin bar on the modular helmet up to avoid the headache being too severe. Towards the end of the ride it was starting to really bother me. I know that many of you will say will the helmet just doesn't fit me but if you can't even try them on and even if you did try them on you really don't see the problem until you've worn a helmet for several hours while riding, filing a correct fit seems almost impossible.

So how can I fix this if I even can. Honestly the helmet feels it's the right fit and I'm at the low in of a extra large so we'll within the specs of the sizing of my head. I really like everything about the helmet except that headache that progressively gets worse above my eyes.

I also experienced the same thing, same helmet, hearing aides as well. I took a Dremel tool and very carefully took a a little off the front styrofoam where it was pressing on the front of my head. Take very small amounts and try wearing the helmet for a couple of hours. The best option would be to return it if possible. I’m wearing a Bell and that seems to fit my head better.