Powersports Helmets

Safety should be one of your primary concerns whenever you ride a powersports vehicle such as an all-terrain or utility terrain vehicle (ATV or UTV). These vehicles are open to the air and ridden over rough ground littered with obstacles, so it’s important that you do everything you can to remain safe. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to wear a helmet. However, there aren’t helmets specifically designed for ATVs and UTVs, which means you’ll have to do a bit of footwork to find something suitably protective. 

Langston Motorsports, your local powersports dealer, is located in Perris, California. We’ve created this quick guide to help you shop for the right powersports helmet to keep yourself safe as you ride. 

Why Wear A Helmet?

You may be wondering why it’s so important that you wear a helmet while riding your powersports vehicle. Because you don’t have the protective glass and metal shell of a car or truck around you, you’re much more vulnerable on an ATV or UTV than you are in your passenger car. Not only are you at risk of flying debris, but if you hit an object or have an impact event, then you could be thrown from the vehicle and incur a concussion. Protecting your head is smart when riding on any extreme sports vehicle. 

Even in UTVs, which have seatbelts, operate more like cars and are slightly more secure than ATVs, it’s important that every passenger wears a helmet to protect themselves in the event of a crash or rollover event. The rollover cages on some models will serve to protect the vehicle itself more than you.

Helmet Types

So now you know how important it is to wear a helmet. What type of helmet should you then get? You have a few options. There aren’t really any companies currently making powersports-specific helmets, but a few other styles will work very well for the type of high-impact and extreme riding that you’ll do when off-roading or working with your powersports vehicle. These types are motorcycle and motocross helmets.

Motorcycle helmets protect your entire head and have a facemask that will help reduce wind fatigue and keep you from getting rain, bugs, dirt, dust and debris in your eyes. They’re somewhat hot and heavy to wear, though, particularly at the slower speeds of a UTV, so they may not always be your best option.

Motocross helmets are designed to be worn while racing, so they are much lighter while still providing the impact protection your cranium needs. Because motocross riding is an extreme sport, these helmets are designed to withstand a great deal of force, so they’re an excellent choice for an ATV or UTV. You’ll just need to wear some form of eye protection, which usually means a pair of well-fitting goggles to keep debris out of your eyes.

Avoid half-helmets and bicycle helmets. These are not designed for extreme riding or high speeds, so they won’t protect you very well in the event of a crash. 

Get The Right Fit

Make sure that you measure your head circumference an inch above your eyebrows before you go helmet shopping so you know what size you’ll be. But don’t be afraid to try on many helmets to get something that feels good. If your helmet is comfortable, you’re much more likely to wear it. Tighten the chin strap and make sure that the helmet doesn’t shift if you shake your head. You also don’t want it to slip around without you undoing the strap. A slightly snug fit is ideal, but don’t get something so tight it hurts or pinches you.

We hope this guide helps you to find the right helmet for your riding needs! In search of an ATV or UTV? Visit our Perris dealership to see our stock of powersports vehicles for sale. Langston Motorsports proudly serves the city of Temecula as well as the whole of Orange County, California.