What we stock: full face motorcycle helmets, tier by tier

Pick the lid for the riding you actually do. Not the riding you wish you did.

Entry commuter ($129 to $249). Polycarbonate shells, ECE 22.06 or AS/NZS 1698, roughly 1,550g to 1,700g, Pinlock-ready visor on most. Our value benchmarks: LS2 FF353 Rapid II Solid in matte black at $139.99 RRP, Nitro N501 Fuse at $179.95 RRP, RXT EVO Matt Black at $159.95 RRP, and the Airoh Connor Samurai Matt at $249.95 RRP. Trade-off: polycarbonate is 100g to 150g heavier than composite shells above this tier, and the cheek pads pack out faster past 20,000km.

Mid-range commuter and sport ($289 to $449). Still polycarbonate or entry-composite, ECE 22.06, lighter by about 100g, better ventilation, quieter at 110km/h. The LS2 FF800 Storm II Burst sits at $289.99 RRP, the LS2 FF811 Vector II at $419.99 RRP, and AGV K1 S Black at $329 RRP. Sport crossover: AGV K3 Decept at $449 RRP. Trade-off: most of these skip Pinlock inserts in the box, so factor $35 to $55 aftermarket if you ride cold starts.

Sport-tourer and composite ($399 to $899). Fibreglass or aramid composite shells, 1,350g to 1,500g, ECE 22.06, proper channel venting, intercom-ready speaker pockets. The Airoh Spark 2 at $399.95 RRP. Airoh Matryx Matt Black at $599.95 RRP. Airoh Matryx Sentinel at $649.95 RRP. The AGV K6 S at $799 RRP and the AGV K6 S Ultrasonic at $899 RRP are the quietest-in-class road lids in our range. Trade-off: top-vent whistle on some models past 120km/h and price creeps once you want the graphic editions.

Retro and cruiser full face ($239 to $799). Rounder shell, smaller eyeport, classic lines for Triumph Bonneville, Harley Sportster and cafe racer builds. RXT Stone Classic Stripe at $239.95 RRP is the cheapest entry. The Simpson Speed Bandit Matt Black at $599.99 RRP and the Simpson Ghost Bandit Matte Black at $799.99 RRP sit at the top. Trade-off: smaller eyeport cuts peripheral vision by a noticeable margin, which is fine on a cruiser and less fine in city traffic.

Race and track ($999 to $2,199). Full carbon shell, 1,250g to 1,380g, ECE 22.06 plus FIM Homologation on the top tier. Simpson Ghost Bandit Carbon Fiber at $999.99 RRP for the retro-race crossover. Kabuto F17 GP MIPS at $1,299.95 RRP (one of the few sub-$1,500 lids shipping MIPS rotational-impact tech in-box). AGV Pista GP RR Red Carbon at $1,999 RRP and the AGV Pista GP RR Guevara Motegi replica at $2,199 RRP. Trade-off: brutal above 30 degrees below 40km/h, and FIM homologation wears out at 5 years from manufacture (check the DOM sticker under the chin strap).

Safety, standards and why we care

Most riders do not know how to read a helmet certification sticker. Here is the short version, current as of 2026.

ECE 22.06 is the European standard that replaced ECE 22.05 in January 2024. The 22.06 test adds oblique rotational impact testing (simulating a real crash angle, not a straight drop onto an anvil) and multi-point impact on the same shell. It is notably tougher to certify than 22.05 thanks to those new oblique tests. The sticker lives under the chin strap, on the left side of the chin curtain on most lids. If a helmet has no UN mark or the date code is faded, you are looking at an expired 22.05 stock or a grey-market import.

AS/NZS 1698 is the legacy Australian Standard. Every Australian state and territory accepts either AS/NZS 1698 or UNECE 22.05 / 22.06 as legal for road use. All motorcycle helmets on this page meet one of those two. A US-only DOT FMVSS-218 sticker is not enough. A Simpson sold as US-spec, for example, is not road legal here even though the physical shell is identical to the AU-spec version.

Snell M2020 is the US private standard, stricter on peak impact than ECE. Some race lids carry both. Most road riders in Australia do not need Snell on top of ECE 22.06. It is a track-day-nice-to-have, not a requirement.

MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) is a low-friction liner that lets the shell rotate 10mm to 15mm on impact independent of the head, cutting rotational acceleration on glancing hits. Shark ships MIPS in the Kabuto F17 GP MIPS at $1,299.95 RRP. Most sub-$1,500 lids from other brands skip it.

CE Level 1 versus Level 2 is armour, not helmets. Different standard (EN 1621), different test. A Level 2 back protector cuts impact force to under 9kN. Full face motorcycle helmets are tested to their helmet standard, not a CE level. The ECE 22.06 drop test caps peak head acceleration at 275g under impact. Different number, different body part.

The store story. Our family started Shark Leathers after Matthew crashed in 2007, at 19, and was left a quadriplegic. Nearly twenty years on, every helmet we stock gets judged the same way. Would we put it on one of our own? Full story on our about page.

Helmet shape: intermediate oval vs long oval vs round

Brand matters less than shape. Two medium lids from two brands can fit completely differently because the internal EPS is cut to a different head profile. Buy the shape, not the badge.

Intermediate oval is the most common Western head shape: slightly longer front-to-back than side-to-side, roughly 70% of adult riders. AGV K6 S, LS2 FF800 Storm II, most Airoh road lids, Kabuto F17 GP, and Simpson Speed Bandit all cut to intermediate oval. If your last helmet fit without hot spots and you never thought about it, you are probably intermediate oval.

Long oval is longer front-to-back with narrower cheeks and temples. About 15% of riders, more common in European and Anglo-Australian head shapes. AGV Pista GP RR runs closer to long oval than K6 S. If you get hot spots at your temples after 30 minutes but the crown feels fine, try a long oval.

Round oval is closer to side-to-side width matching front-to-back: broader cheeks, rounder crown. More common in East and South Asian head shapes, about 15% of riders. If your helmet pinches at the temples within 10 minutes but the cheek pads feel loose, you are round oval and most road lids will fight you. Kabuto tends to run rounder than AGV.

How to check fit in five minutes: strap it on, wear it for ten minutes before you buy. Grab the chin bar and try to rotate the helmet left-right. The skin on your forehead should move with the lid, not slide under it. Nod yes, then shake no. Any looseness at the crown or cheeks means size down. Any sharp pressure at the temples at minute three means wrong shape. Hot spots at 30 minutes mean wrong shape for sure. A helmet one size too loose does nothing in a crash because it rolls off the head on impact, which is why Australian Standards testing includes a roll-off test. A cheap lid that fits beats an expensive one that does not.

Bring your current helmet in when you come into the Helensvale showroom. We size off the old one, factor a half-size up if the pads are packed out, and try three shells minimum.

Full face helmet comparison, tier by tier

Frequently asked questions

Is a full face motorbike helmet legal in Australia?

Yes. All Australian states and territories accept motorcycle helmets certified to AS/NZS 1698 or UNECE 22.05 / 22.06. Every full face motorcycle helmet on this page carries one of those. A US-only DOT FMVSS-218 sticker is not enough for Australian road use, even if the shell is physically identical. Look for the UN mark or the AS/NZS tick under the chin strap.

How long does a full face helmet last?

Most manufacturers rate the shell and EPS liner to 5 years from date of manufacture, or 7 years from date of first use, whichever is earlier. The DOM sticker lives under the chin strap. Liners and visors are consumables. If the helmet drops from head height or higher onto a hard surface, replace it. Foam crushed once does not crush the same way twice. A 7-year-old lid with perfect paint still fails on the inside.

Does a full face helmet run hot in Australian summer?

Yes, more than a modular or open face. Full face top vents drop in-shell temperature by 3 to 5 degrees at 60km/h and above. Under 40km/h in a Queensland summer they do almost nothing. If your commute is short and slow, look at a modular you can open at the lights, or keep an open face in rotation. Long highway days are where full face earns its keep: top speed plus rain plus bugs plus the occasional stone chip.

LS2, AGV or Simpson for a first full face?

LS2 for the budget. The FF353 Rapid II at $139.99 RRP or the FF800 Storm II at $289.99 RRP are both ECE 22.06 and punch above their price. AGV K1 S at $329 RRP if you want Italian fit and MotoGP pedigree at entry price. Simpson Speed Bandit at $599.99 RRP if you want retro aesthetic with modern safety. All three fit differently. AGV sits slightly long oval, LS2 and Simpson both run intermediate oval. Try them on before you commit.

What is Pinlock and do I need it?

Pinlock is a silicone-edged insert that clips to the back of the visor and creates a double-glazed air pocket. It stops the visor fogging in 3 to 10 degree conditions. Every sport-tourer and commuter lid in this collection is Pinlock-ready, and the premium models (AGV K6 S, Kabuto F17 GP) ship with a Pinlock 70 or 120 insert in the box. If you ride before sunrise or after dusk below 15 degrees, you need one. Around $35 to $55 aftermarket.

Can I use a helmet intercom with a full face?

Yes. Most full face motorcycle helmets on this page have recessed speaker pockets and a pre-cut mic channel. Cardo Packtalk Edge, Cardo Spirit HD and SCS S7 Evo / S11 / S13 fit the standard 40mm speaker cutout. The AGV Pista GP RR and some slim-profile race lids need the helmet-specific variant because shell thickness is tuned tighter. Check the product page for "intercom ready" or ask us before you buy. See our motorcycle intercoms range.