Let's be honest, buying a helmet is one of the most personal decisions you'll make as a rider, well after you buy a bike that is. It sits on your head for hours at a time, it's the last line of defence between you and the bitumen, and it says something about who you are on the bike. Get it wrong and you'll either be miserable on every ride, or worse, underprepared when it counts.
Let's be honest, buying a helmet is one of the most personal decisions you'll make as a rider, well after you buy a bike that is. It sits on your head for hours at a time, it's the last line of defence between you and the bitumen, and it says something about who you are on the bike. Get it wrong and you'll either be miserable on every ride, or worse, underprepared when it counts.
So let's break down the main helmet styles, what they're actually good for, and how to figure out which one belongs on your head.
Full Face: The Gold Standard of Protection
If protection is your number one priority, full face helmets are hard to argue with. They cover everything, skull, chin, jaw and when you look at crash statistics, the chin bar does a serious amount of work in an impact. For sports riders, commuters threading through heavy traffic, and anyone who's had a close call, a full face is the obvious choice.
The trade-off? Ventilation and that slightly claustrophobic feeling some riders get, especially in stop-start city riding. Modern full face helmets have come a long way with ventilation systems, but if you're the type who likes to feel the air on your face, you might find yourself reaching for something else on the weekend.
A great example of a full face done properly is the Shark Spartan RS which is my go to full face helmet at the moment. Multiaxial fibreglass construction, Optical Class 1 visor, an internal tinted visor so you're not fumbling with visor swaps when the light changes, and a Pinlock 120 Max Vision insert included in the box. It's a proper road helmet that doesn't ask you to compromise on anything and that blue, white and chrome colourway looks modern.
Open Face: Freedom with a Trade-Off
There's a reason open face helmets have been part of motorcycle culture since the beginning. They look the part, they feel incredible on a warm day, and there's something about the unobstructed view and fresh air that just fits certain bikes and certain riders.
Cruiser riders, café racers, scooter commuters, open face helmets are practically part of the uniform. The skull protection is equivalent to a full face, but you're leaving your chin and face exposed. Pair one with a good pair of goggles or a quality visor and you've got a setup that's hard to beat for style and comfort on the right kind of ride.
If you want something with serious street presence, the Bell Rogue is worth a look. It has the look of a half-helmet but gives you the added protection and comfort of a three-quarter, and that adjustable removable muzzle connected via FidLock magnetic closure, it protects your face from road debris and weather when you need it. Lightweight composite shell, speaker-compatible liner, premium stainless steel D-rings. It's an open face that doesn't apologise for itself.
For riders after something lower profile, the Eldorado EXR is the lowest profile legal open face helmet available in Australia, two years in development and ADR approved with a specially designed interior to reduce road noise and a hand-sewn soft touch lining. It's built for riders who want the freedom of an open face without looking like they've strapped a fishbowl to their head.
The key with open face is being honest with yourself about how and where you ride. Open face on a Sunday coastal cruise? Perfect. Open face filtering through peak hour traffic every day? Maybe think twice.
Modular / Flip-Up: The Compromise That Actually Works
Modular helmets used to get a bad rap, heavier than full face, not as cool as open face, and with early designs that weren't always confidence-inspiring when it came to chin bar integrity. That reputation is largely outdated now.
A quality modular helmet gives you genuine full-face protection when you need it, and the ability to flip the chin bar up when you're stopped, filling up, or just want a breath of fresh air. For touring riders and commuters especially, the convenience factor is real. No more taking the helmet off every time you stop to refuel.
The caveat: not all modular helmets are created equal. Check the certification, you want one rated for both open and closed configurations, not just closed.
The Hybrid: When You Can't (and Shouldn't Have To) Choose
Here's where things get interesting for a lot of riders, particularly those on cruisers and nakeds who want the look and feel of an open face but aren't willing to completely sacrifice chin protection.
Some helmets are built specifically to blur the line between categories, featuring a removable chin bar that gives you genuine full-face certification when it's on, and a clean open-face experience when it's off. It's not a compromise, it's a genuine best-of-both-worlds solution for riders who do a bit of everything.
Bell's Broozer family does this better than almost anyone, and there are two versions worth knowing about:
The Bell Broozer Arc and Freeride are the road-focused options. They carries ECE 22.05 certification in both full-face and open-face configurations, meaning it's not just a marketing claim, it's independently verified protection in either setup. The chin bar comes off cleanly, the drop-down shield handles sun and debris, and at 1350 grams it's light enough that you won't feel it on a long day in the saddle. The Matte colourways are clean and understated. The kind of lid that looks right on a cruiser, a naked, or anything in between. It's the helmet for riders who want options without carrying two lids.
Both Broozers sit in that sweet spot between open face freedom and full face protection. If you've ever found yourself wishing you could have both on the same ride, this is the answer.
Colour: It's Not Just About Looking Good
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough when people are choosing a helmet, colour matters for safety, not just style.
Research consistently shows that lighter, brighter coloured helmets improve your visibility to other road users, both during the day and at night. In a world where "sorry mate, I didn't see you" is still one of the most common things said after a motorcycle accident, anything you can do to make yourself more visible is worth considering. A white, silver, yellow or bright coloured helmet isn't a compromise, it's a smart choice dressed up as a style choice.
If you're set on matte black and look, we get it, it looks incredible at least consider adding some high-visibility gear elsewhere to compensate. But if you're on the fence between two helmets and one is lighter coloured, the data is pretty clear on which one to choose.
What Actually Matters When You're Buying
Beyond the style, here are the things that should drive your decision:
Certification. In Australia, look for AS/NZS 1698 or ECE 22.05 (or the newer ECE 22.06). Don't buy a helmet that doesn't carry one of these.
Weight. Especially relevant for touring and long-distance riders. Even a few hundred grams makes a difference over a full day of riding.
Visor and visibility. Anti-fog, anti-scratch, UV protection. These aren't luxury features, they're safety features.
Liner quality. Removable and washable liners matter more than people think. Fresh gear is comfortable gear, and comfortable gear gets worn consistently.
The Bottom Line
There's no universally "best" helmet, there's only the best helmet for you, your riding style, and the roads you ride. A track day regular and a weekend cruiser have completely different needs, and the helmet industry has evolved to serve both.
What hasn't changed is this: the helmet is the one piece of gear you should never cut corners on. Buy the best you can afford, make sure it fits, and wear it every single time.
Your head will thank you.
Browse the Biker Torque helmet range at bikertorque.com.au/collections/helmets