Motorbike Helmet Buying Guide: Check the CR Mark

Motorbike helmet buying guide: look for the CR mark first. In Vietnam, a helmet for motorbike riders is meant to meet the national technical regulation QCVN 2:2021/BKHCN, and the CR mark on the helmet shows it was assessed against that rule. If a helmet has no mark, put it back on the shelf. The price and the paint do not matter if the mark is missing.

This guide gives you a short list of checks. You can do all of them in a shop in a few minutes.

Why the right helmet matters

A helmet is the one piece of gear that stands between your head and the road. The World Health Organization says that correct helmet use can cut the risk of death in a crash by more than six times. It also says it can cut the risk of brain injury by up to 74 percent. Those figures only hold for a helmet that is worn properly and built to a real standard.

Vietnam requires riders to wear a helmet on a motorbike, so you will be buying one anyway. It makes sense to buy a good one. A cheap helmet that does not meet the standard may look fine and still fail when you need it.

Source: World Health Organization, Road traffic injuries fact sheet.

Step one: find the CR mark

The national regulation QCVN 2:2021/BKHCN was issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology through Circular 04/2021/TT-BKHCN. It replaced the older QCVN 2:2008/BKHCN. It covers helmets for people who ride motorcycles and mopeds, and since January 1, 2024, imported and locally made helmets must meet it before they are sold. Products that fall under it should carry the CR conformity mark.

Check the mark on the helmet itself, not only on the box or a shop sign. Look inside the shell or on the outer surface for a printed or stuck-on label. A real mark is clear and sits where the maker intended. A blurry copy, a loose sticker or a mark you can peel off in one piece is a warning sign.

Ask the seller to show you the maker name and the label details. A good shop will not mind. If the seller gets annoyed, that tells you something too.

Source: Circular 04/2021/TT-BKHCN promulgating QCVN 2:2021/BKHCN, Ministry of Science and Technology, 2021; it replaced QCVN 2:2008/BKHCN, issued under Decision 04/2008/QD-BKHCN. We read summaries of the circular and not the full text of the regulation, so please check the regulation itself for label details.

Step two: read the label

A good label gives you facts. It should show the maker or importer, the model, the size and the date of manufacture. Helmets are not made to last forever, so a recent date is better than an old one.

You may also see foreign marks such as ECE or DOT on imported helmets. These come from other countries. ECE labels carry a country code, an approval number and a serial number for the helmet. These marks are useful extra information. They do not replace the CR mark that applies in Vietnam.

Vietnam also had an older standard, TCVN 5756:2001, and some helmets were certified against it by the testing body QUATEST 3. You may still see that name on older stock. Prefer helmets that show the current CR mark.

Source: Wikipedia, Motorcycle helmet.

Step three: test the fit

Try the helmet on before you buy. Do not buy one online by size guess alone if you can avoid it.

• The helmet should feel snug all round, with no gaps at the sides.
• It should sit level on your head, with the front edge just above your eyebrows.
• Shake your head from side to side and nod. A good helmet moves with your head and does not slide.
• Try to push the helmet forward and back with your hands. Your skin should move with it.
• There should be no sharp pressure points. A helmet that hurts after a minute will hurt after an hour.

If you wear glasses, bring them. Check that they fit under the helmet without pain.

Step four: check the strap and buckle

The chin strap keeps the helmet on your head in a crash. Reference sources on helmet design note that if the strap is not fastened firmly enough to hold the helmet snug, the protection can be greatly reduced or lost.

Fasten the strap in the shop. It should sit under your chin without slack, and you should still be able to swallow and breathe easily. The buckle should click firmly and stay shut when you pull on it. Look at the stitching on the strap and the rivets that hold it. Loose threads or wobbly rivets mean poor build quality.

Source: Wikipedia, Motorcycle helmet.

Step five: look at the build

Pick up the helmet and look at it closely. The outer shell should be smooth, with no cracks, thin spots or rough edges. Inside, the foam liner should be even and firmly attached. The padding should not smell strongly of glue or chemicals.

Weight is not a sign of quality. A very light helmet is not always weak, and a heavy one is not always strong. Judge a helmet by its mark, its label and its fit, not by how it feels in the hand.

If a visor comes with the helmet, check that it is clear and free of scratches. Dark or scratched visors hurt your sight at night and in rain.

A short checklist before you pay

• CR mark on the helmet, clear and fixed in place.
• Maker, model, size and date on the label.
• Snug fit with no gaps and no sliding.
• Strap and buckle that hold firmly.
• Clean shell and even inner foam.
• A receipt from a shop that you can find again.

Replace a helmet if it has taken a hard hit, even if it looks fine on the outside. The foam inside may be damaged where you cannot see it. Keep the helmet away from heat and harsh chemicals, and clean it with mild soap and water.

This is general information about product safety, not medical advice.

Sources

• World Health Organization, Road traffic injuries fact sheet: who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
• Wikipedia, Motorcycle helmet: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_helmet
• Circular 04/2021/TT-BKHCN and QCVN 2:2021/BKHCN, Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, 2021