Whilst an open-face helmet is great fun when the sun is out and you’re pottering about, for any serious riding you will want a full-face helmet. First, of course, a full-face helmet, with its integrated chin-bar, is much safer. There are plenty of photographs on Google of motorcyclists who have had an accident whilst wearing an open-face helmet, and they’re not pretty! There are many kinds of full-face helmet. Race style helmets will have vents, spoilers and, frequently, laity graphics. Race helmets, though, were not designed for the road, and are often noisy. Arai is a famous brand in the race market. In common with many other race helmets, no Arai full-face lid has a drop-down sun visor, a very useful convenience for road riding. Some full-face helmets are designed specifically for touring and commuting. Others have more of an adventure riding feel. These helmets will often have a longer nose and larger visor area, and can sometimes be worn with goggles.

Do you need some advice on choosing a motorcycle helmet? Read this: How to choose a motorcycle helmet.