Best Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmets – 2021 Guide

You can’t tag a price on your head, right? But some of us do because we do not know what the best options for head safety are!

The head is where the brain is embedded, making it a vital body part that deserves the maximum protection you can offer. As a motorcycle enthusiast, you’re conscious of the fact that a well-designed helmet will keep your head safe by up to 69% when a crash occurs. 

Carbon fiber helmets are among the most common and trusted helmet types when it comes to head safety. The material is rigid and extremely lightweight making it very safe and comfortable on your head.

Read on to find out what sets carbon fiber helmets apart from the competition.

Comparison of the Best Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmets

How to Choose a Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet

The helmet industry is diverse, with immeasurable options making it challenging to find the right fit. However, the problem is half-solved once you know what to look out for in a good helmet.

Below are top factors to keep in mind when shopping for a carbon fiber helmet.

Safety

When you think of a helmet as a bike rider, safety is the first thing that strikes your mind. Of course, the basis of putting on a helmet is to protect your head in case of a crash. To figure out a helmet that'll keep your head safe, you may look at the material used on the fabric.

A suitable material should be impact-resistant and durable.

Authenticity

Not all helmets that claim their manufacture from carbon fiber construction are genuine. Some of them feature carbon fiber colors or are created from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

Amateurs may confuse these materials; it's crucial to know how to differentiate fake carbon fiber from a genuine one.

Depending on your preference and how often you sweat, a good helmet should have proper air vents to keep your head cool in any climate. Most full-face helmet manufacturers are today paying attention to helmet ventilation systems.

Consider a helmet with more ports if you sweat a lot. Most suitable helmets should have inlet vents around the chin guard and exhaust of the hot air at the rear. But, since riders are different, their air vents may be located anywhere on the helmet shell. 

Weight

A comfortable ride is free from distractions such as a heavy helmet on your head. Such helmets will cause you both neck and back pain, especially if you ride for long hours.

Fortunately, materials such as carbon fiber are the lightest and will feel comfortable on your head without causing much fatigue. However, you need to pay attention to some added features, such as communication systems, which might add some weight to the helmet.

Check on the helmet's specifications to confirm if the indicated weight will feel comfortable on your head or not.

Review of the Best Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmets

You now know the top features that make a good motorcycle helmet. This section reviews some of the best carbon fiber motorcycle helmets you can choose from depending on your unique requirements.

What is Carbon Fiber? How are Carbon Fiber Helmets Made?

Carbon fiber is a fiber thread between two and ten micrometers in diameter and is mainly made of carbon atoms.

Carbon fibers are very stiff, have high resistance to chemicals, offer high tensile strength, reduce thermal expansion, have high hot climate tolerance, and have a low weight/strength ratio.

Carbon fiber helmets are made by weaving a carbon thread into a substance. Doing this offers the material more strength. It is then put in a binder as a thermoplastic resin, which adds further three-dimensional strength.

The more layers used, the more enhanced the strength levels.

Types of Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmets

Carbon fiber helmets come in various designs suited to individual requirements.

Here are the different types of these helmets you're going to encounter in your pursuit of an ideal Carbon fiber helmet.

Full-face Helmet

A full-face helmet covers the entire head for maximum protection in case of a crash. Both the face and chin enjoy complete safety.

The helmet also protects you from sunburn, noise, windburn, and other forms of detritus.

Riders concerned about their privacy while on the road, Full-face helmets will offer you the needed anonymity.

A full-face helmet with a clear visor will not require you to use goggles to protect your eyes.

These helmets can be stifling; therefore, they include moisture-wicking interior linings, which you can remove.

Long trips can be tiring for any rider; modern-day full-face helmets are designed with advanced ventilation systems to offer the needed comfort.

Open-face Helmet

Also referred to as ¾ helmets, open-face helmets do not cover the whole face, making them less safe than full-face helmets. However, they offer adequate ventilation to your head when riding in hot climates.

Open-face helmets also offer you an expansive vision and less restriction on hearing. You don't need to worry about missing out on vital road signs and warnings, including horns and sirens.

These helmets are also more comfortable on the head due to their light nature compared to full-face helmets.

Half-helmet

Half-helmets have a wider part of your head and face exposed than open-face helmets. They offer more airflow but are less safe than both full-face and open face-helmets. You risk breaking your chin with this type of helmet when a wreck occurs.

Although some brands come with in-built visors to protect your eyes, most half-helmets will require you to use goggles or sunglasses.

When opting for this type of helmet, make sure it's DOT-approved since most helmets in this category lack safety standard approval.

Modular Helmet

The modular helmet, also referred to as a flip-up helmet, borrows its design from both full-face and open-face helmets. They include visors for protecting both your face and eyes. You can always flip up the visor.

Some high-end models come with a double visor for added protection against UV light. The additional hinge weight makes these helmets a little heavier than the full-face helmets.

Top Brands in the Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet Space

There are so many players in the helmet manufacturing industry. However, some of these companies are more famous for their quality and user-friendly products than the others.

Bell

Founded in the 1950s by Roy Ritcher, Bell is a US-based company that produces some high-end carbon fiber helmets trusted by many riders. The company is based in California and serves the global market with its high-value motorcycle accessories.

One of the best carbon fiber helmets from Bell company is Bullitt Carbon Full-face Helmet.

Daytona Helmets

Daytona Helmets has made a name for itself in a relatively short time as one of the lead manufactures of Carbon fiber helmets. Founded in 1992, Daytona Helmets is located in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The company produces quality headgears and Carbon fiber helmets of varied sizes suitable for specific situations and needs.

Price Points of Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmets

Carbon fiber helmets fall into different categories, including helmet type, construction design, and other additional features such as communication systems.

While the price of a helmet might not define its performance level, some of the best helmets are a little costly and with advanced protection features. Below are two price ranges that carbon fiber helmets fall.

Below $100

Genuine carbon fiber material is a little more expensive than other materials used in creating helmets. Pay close attention to determine the authenticity of racing helmets that fall within this price range.

In most cases, such helmets only use carbon fiber colors but are not genuine. More often, these helmets are made from fiberglass, ABS, and EPS linings. Here you find helmets such as Hot Rides Classic Chopper Biker ATV Scooter Skull Cap Helmet.

$100 - $1,700

Genuine Carbon helmets are some of the most expensive yet effective brain covers.

They are very light yet so robust. So, if you're looking for a quality carbon helmet, be ready to spend any amount within this price range. However, you'll certainly not regret the investment.

Such carbon fiber helmets within this price range include Bell Moto-9 Carbon Flex Syndrome Helmet and Alpinestars Supertech M10 Carbon Helmet.

Pros and Cons of a Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet 

Carbon fiber is one of the superior materials used in helmet construction. It comes with both its' strengths and limitations that will make you decide to go for it or consider other options.

Below we discuss the make it or break it features of carbon fiber when used on a helmet.

Pros

Here are some pros:

Stronger

Carbon is not a material that will break easily even on intense impact. This material diverts more force into the helmets' inner soft lining, significantly reducing chances of breakage.

Lighter

Carbon fiber helmets are some of the lightest and most comfortable helmets suited for any riding. Lightweight is a prominent factor that sets it apart from the competition.

Durable

Carbon fiber can resist scratches and cracks better than other materials such as fiberglass. The UK Helmet Safety Program reports that carbon fiber helmets are safer than fiberglass by about eight percent.

Cons

Keep these cons in mind as well;

Price

The safety and comfort you enjoy on carbon fiber helmets come at a cost. Carbon helmets are among the most expensive compared to other options such as fiberglass and polycarbonate.

Noisy

Carbon shells are thinner, making them attract and transmit a lot of noise. However, high-end models are designed with noise-reducing features to make them comfortable.

Feel Cheap

A lighter helmet on the head creates an impression that it may not live up to its' purpose in case of a wreck.  You may have the same feeling with a carbon fiber helmet before you adjust.

How Does Carbon Fiber Compare For Helmets?

Below we review how carbon fiber helmets compare with materials also used in helmets.

Carbon Fiber vs Polycarbonate Motorcycle Helmets

Let's find out how they differ.

Similarities

• Both materials enjoy an excellent safety rating from SHARP ( four stars and above)

Differences

• Polycarbonate helmets are a little heavier than carbon fiber helmets
  
  
• Polycarbonate helmets have thicker shells, which makes them less noisy than carbon fiber helmets
  
  
• Polycarbonate helmets are cheaper than carbon fiber helmets 

Carbon Fiber Helmet vs Fiberglass

Let's read on to find out the similarities and differences:

Similarities

• Both have a higher safety rating of 4-5 from SHARP

Differences

• Carbon is lighter than fiberglass. For this reason, sports cars, aircraft, and military equipment use it more.
  
  
• Production of carbon fiber helmets is costly, making them more expensive than fiberglass helmets.
  
  
• Carbon fiber is more resilient to external impacts than fiberglass. 

Who Should Not Buy a Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet?

As much as carbon fiber helmets carry the day in terms of performance more than other materials, they might not be the appropriate choice for all riders.

For riders that don't use motorcycles daily as their primary means of transport, you may not need a carbon fiber helmet. Other slightly cheaper options but still effective performance-wise, such as fiberglass, will serve you just right.

Additionally, if you don't ride long distances, a carbon fiber helmet may not be necessary. Although not as light as carbon fiber, other options may just be as comfortable when used over short-distance riding.

Also, if you intend to ride in a group where you'll need to communicate with other riders more often, carbon fiber helmets may not be the best for you due to their noisy nature. 

Although there are carbon fiber helmet options with noise-dampening features, they tend to be more expensive.

Carbon fiber helmets are some of the most expensive helmets on the market today. If you're working with a strict budget, these helmets may not be the ones for you. There are better options that will offer the same excellent protection at a slightly lower price.

Conclusion 

You now understand why carbon fiber helmets are the most preferred by professional riders and other motorcycle enthusiasts. These helmets can guarantee you more safety on the road than any other available option.

One important note to take home is authenticity. Some manufacturers reportedly use carbon fiber colors to confuse unsuspecting buyers into acquiring their low-quality helmets. Learn to differentiate a fake carbon fiber material from a genuine one.