Once the shell is formed and cured, it moves through finishing: sanding, painting or leather trimming, and fitting the internal padding and retention system. Every stage is checked before mouse click the next page next begins, since a fault caught early is far cheaper to fix than one found at the end.

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

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 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.

To see the certification behind our own range, visit luxury motorcycle helmets.

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.

Daily wear also plays a part. Sweat, sunscreen and regular use all shorten a helmet’s working life, so riders who use a helmet every day should expect to replace it sooner than someone who rides occasionally.