ECE 22.06 Explained: What Helmet Certification Actually Means

Getting helmet sizing right starts with a proper head measurement, taken with a soft tape around the largest part of the head, just above the eyebrows and ears. That figure points to a starting size, but it is only a starting point, since head shape varies as much as head size.

An open face helmet leaves the face exposed, which some riders prefer for shorter journeys, city riding, or a more classic look on a café racer or scrambler. It offers less coverage than a full face design, and riders who choose one should weigh that trade off honestly rather than assume it based on style.

From there, the build follows the same certified construction as the standard range. Made to order does not mean a shortcut around testing, it means the standard process is carried out around one person's measurements and preferences instead of a general size run.

ECE 22.06 is the current European standard that motorcycle helmets are tested against, and it replaced the older ECE 22.05 standard with a wider and hedon.com more demanding set of tests. Helmets are checked for impact absorption at multiple points on the shell, not just the crown, and the standard also tests rotational forces, which earlier standards largely ignored.

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.

Neither format is a universal answer. Weather, speed, journey length and personal comfort all play a part, and many riders end up owning one of each for different trips.