Although the number of Spaniards who use public transport has increased, the autonomy provided by the private vehicle prevails when it comes to travel. After the car, the motorcycle is the second most used means of transportation by those who prefer to drive rather than be carried as passengers.
According to RTVE, last year, the DGT recorded 4.7 million trips at the beginning of summer, and this 2026, in the first exit operationthe same is expected to happen. Almost all of Spain is eager to pack your bags and disconnect from the routine. As the Cetelem Observatory comments, 75% of citizens plan to travel and also spend an average of 1,481 euros. Now, with the excitement of traveling there is also the risk.
In 2025, in the middle of the high season (July 1 to August 31), there were 207 fatal road accidentswith 228 deaths and 949 people injured. Although motorcycles have their advantages over cars: they are cheaper, easier to park and consume less fuel, the driver must protect himself even more. As Review of Traffic and Road Safety, supported by the Ministry of the Interior, maintains, “the helmet prevents 44% of head injuries.” Choosing the right one is, therefore, no nonsense. In fact, the WHO indicates that, when a serious accident occurs, 20% of helmets are thrown off because they are not fastened correctly or because the size has not been chosen correctly.
It goes without saying that we must still be more demanding when motorcycle trips They are long haul. Apart from the recommendations that we give below, it is essential to make sure that the chosen model has, like the BMW Motorrad helmets, the ECE labelwhich certifies that the helmet meets the safety measures required in Europe. It is an even stricter certification than the DOT label issued by the United States.
Comfortable helmets for a safe summer on a motorcycle
As we mentioned before, it is important to choose a helmet with an ECE label. Helmets that obtain this certification have passed tests that measure the energy that the helmet absorbs in the event of an impact, how the helmet behaves when hit from different angles, the range of visibility it allows (they must guarantee a 105º viewing angle left and right), etc.
Also, to avoid accidents while traveling, motorcyclists should choose helmets that meet the World Health Organization guidelines, according to which the helmet must do the following:
- Cover the forehead above the eyebrows. Here we can add that the most recommended distance to place the helmet is about 2 cm from the eyebrows at most.
- Protect the skull completely. At no time should the helmet dance; It is important that it does not move, to prevent it from falling, for example, on the eyes.
Likewise, the WHO advises that, under no circumstances, should motorcyclists use helmets that have previously suffered significant impacts.
As we have already talked about the importance of homologation in helmets, we will now discuss the other aspects that should be addressed.
Ventilation
If we pay attention to the AEMET, the warmest summer—at least since the 1990s—was 2025. We’ll see if we don’t break the record again this year. Meanwhile, temperatures promise to be high, as can be expected at this time. Therefore, it is crucial that the helmet has a good ventilationfor driver comfort and safety.
Generally, modular helmets offer the best ventilation. Unlike full-face helmets, these have a folding front part, which opens and closes easily. A priori, full-face helmets offer more protection, but they are also more airtight and warmer, two characteristics that are not very advantageous on a road trip under the hot summer sun.
We could say that the modular helmets They are a midpoint between full face helmets and jet helmets, which do not have protection on the chin and which, for that reason, are recommended for use only when driving around the town or city. That said, for traveling long distances in summer with the motorcycleThe best are the modular ones at the ventilation level, which protect more than the jet ones and give less heat than the integral ones.
Weight
He helmet weight It is determined, mainly, by the material with which it has been manufactured. Currently, there are fiberglass hullscarbon fiber, plastic (polycarbonate)… The DGT recommends fiberglass ones because they are more resistant than the rest. However, they weigh a little more than the other options, which can partially compromise the driver’s comfort on long trips. Therefore, we recommend the carbon fiber helmetswhich have excellent impact resistance, but without overloading the cervical spine.
In addition, these cases last longer than polycarbonate cases, which must be renewed every two years because, otherwise, the material loses its properties and the helmet is no longer safe. As for the size, to calculate it, simply take a measuring tape and wrap it around your head, above your eyebrows and ears. The final result, the measurement we obtain in centimeters, is the helmet size number that we will need. The DGT advises that, if in doubt between two sizes, the motorcyclist choose the one that fits the tightest, since it is possible that the passage of time, the wear and tear of use and the sweat itself (which is not lacking in summer) will cause the inside of the helmet to give way.
Visibility
The ideal summer helmet must have been approved with an ECE label, must allow ventilation without removing the helmet completely every time one needs some fresh air (modular helmets), must be light but impact resistant at the same time (carbon fiber helmets) and must allow quick identification of the motorcyclist on the road.
For the latter, it is advisable to choose a bright colored helmet and do not attach any stickers to it which, although decorative, could damage the material from which it is made and block its high luminescence at some point. Likewise, as with motorcycles and vehicles in general, dark colored helmets tend to overheat more than light colored helmets. Furthermore, they are not as conspicuous and, consequently, can make the motorcyclist go quite unnoticed on the road, both day and night.
Conclusion
The best helmets for traveling by motorcycle this summer They are modular carbon fiber helmets and bright, bright colors in the right size. Some examples that we can cite that have all these characteristics are the helmet System 8 Carbon Lynxwhich has certified interior padding with OEKO-TEX 100 (indicates that it is free of harmful substances that could compromise the rider’s health); the helmet BMW System 7 Evoin neon orange, and the modular helmet System 7 EVOalso available in the online motorcycle helmet and clothing store BMW Motorrad.
