Full Face Or Open Face: Choosing The Right Motorcycle Helmet

Full face and open face helmets suit different kinds of riding, and the right choice usually comes down to where and how you ride rather than looks alone. A full face helmet covers the chin and jaw, giving more protection in a wider range of impacts, and tends to suit faster roads and longer distances.

The trade off is scale. A workshop like this will never produce helmets as fast as a large factory, and Heroine Racer that is treated as acceptable, since the aim is a considered, well finished helmet rather than the fastest one to market.

Anti fog inserts and coatings help in cold or wet conditions, but they are not a substitute for a visor in good condition. Once scratches build up to the point where they catch the light on every ride, it is time to replace rather than keep cleaning around the problem.

This kind of workshop sits closer to a design studio than a factory. Colourways, trims and finishes are developed the way a small run of any crafted object would be, with samples, adjustments and a final sign off before anything reaches a rider.

Trying a helmet on in person, and wearing it for a few minutes rather than a few seconds, catches problems a size chart alone cannot. Padding also settles slightly with use, so a helmet that feels snug when new is usually the right call.

Sun and heat are the two things to watch for. Leaving a helmet on a dashboard or in direct sun for long periods will dull and eventually crack leather trim, so a helmet bag or a shaded spot makes a real difference over the life of the helmet.