Helmet Care

  • HELMET USAGE
  • HELMET CLEANING
  • SHIELD CARE
    • Helmet Replacement (All Models)

      Warning!!! Although your HJC Helmet is constructed with the best materials available to offer a long-lasting product, it will eventually need to be replaced. Immediately replace your helmet if:

      • It has suffered an impact. Your helmet is only designed for ONE impact. An impact may fracture the outer shell or compress the impact absorbing liner. You may not be able to detect this damage. Any impact in a crash or a drop from as low as 4 feet is enough to damage your helmet.
      • The shell, lining, or retention system is damaged. The helmet shell, the impact absorbing lining, and the retention system must be in good condition to provide you with the most protection.

      Even if your helmet has not been damaged, it needs to be replaced every 3 to 5 years depending on how much you use it. Over time, UV rays and adhesive and component aging will damage your helmet. Wearing a damaged helmet may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident.


      If you are unsure if you need to replace your helmet, contact HJC America before using your helmet again.

      Using Your Helmet Correctly

      Warning!!! To reduce the risk of serious injury or death and to help prevent damage to your helmet:

      • Never adjust your helmet accessories while riding – Only make helmet adjustments when stopped.
      • Never drop your helmet – Dropping your helmet may crack the shell or damage the protective foam. The damage may not be visible. Your helmet is only designed for ONE impact. Refer to “Helmet Replacement for more information on what to do after helmet has been dropped.
      • Never wear anything between your head and your helmet – This may reduce the effectiveness of your helmet.
      • Never hang or hook your helmet on anything including mirror stalks, handle bar, or sissy bars – Doing so may cause damage to the helmet protective foam or liner.
      • Never use insect repellent on or around your helmet – Insect repellant may damage your helmet’s visor, shell, protective foam, or other components.
      • Never expose helmet to gasoline or gasoline fumes – Gasoline may damage your helmet’s visor, shell, protective foam, or other components.

      Warning!!! To reduce the risk of serious injury or death and to help prevent damage to your helmet:

      • Always wear eye protection – If you are not using a helmet with a face shield, always wear eye protection when riding. Always lock your face shield in place when you are riding.
      • Always be alert for sounds – Your helmet may impair your hearing. However, your helmet is not a form of hearing protection.
      • Always store your helmet in its helmet bag when not in use to help reduce accidental surface damage.
      Inspect Your Helmet

      Warning!!! To reduce the risk of serious injury or death, always use your helmet correctly.

      • Off-Road Helmet: Check the visor screws – retighten if necessary. Be sure not to over-tighten any screws. Plastic base plate screws can break and aluminum visor screws can strip the screw sleeves if over-tightened.
      • Full-Face Helmet: Check the shield and shield ratchet – retighten shield ratchet screws if necessary. Be sure not to over-tighten any screws. Plastic base plate screws can break and aluminum screws can strip the screw sleeves if over-tightened.
      • Check for helmet damage. If your helmet is damaged or cracked, stop using it immediately. See “Helmet Replacement” section for further information. If your helmet has been dropped, you may not be able to see the damage.
      • Check for worn or damaged parts. Plastic components may wear out over time. If you find worn or damaged parts, replace them or purchase a new helmet. See “Replacement Parts” for information on parts replacement.
      Helmet Disposal

      Warning!!! If you buy a new helmet, destroy the old one to ensure it cannot be reused. Do not sell or give away your old helmet, even if it has not been damaged. Over time the protective foam in the helmet will adjust to the contours of your head. If someone else uses this helmet it will not provide them with as much protection.

    • Shell Cleaning

      Warning!!! Only use approved methods to clean the helmet. Using other unapproved chemicals or methods may damage the helmet shell or lining. A damaged helmet may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident.


      Glossy Finish: HJC recommends cleaning your helmet with products designed for automotive cleaning and polishing. All HJC helmets are finished with an automotive type base coat/clear coat finish. Rubbing compounds can be used for deep cleaning to remove many scratches and scuffs. Follow the product’s instructions diligently. Over polishing with rubbing compounds can cause light abrasions which may dull the finish of your helmet. Stickers and decals will leave adhesive residue when removed. To remove the adhesive residue, use alcohol swabs. Be certain to immediately wipe away the excess liquid and clean the area with soap and water once the adhesive residue is removed. Do not use excessive pressure while rubbing when attempting to remove the adhesive residue, instead use multiple light treatments.


      Non-Glossy Finish: For our flat finish (non-glossy) helmets, we recommend using warm water and mild soap. Use multiple treatments for heavier dirt. Do not use excessive pressure or rubbing compounds while cleaning the surface as a “glossy” effect could be created, ruining the flat finish appearance.

      Interior Cleaning

      Although we recommend changing a helmet every 3 to 5 years, the accumulation of sweat, humidity, and dirt can deteriorate the fabric and stitching and this may cause odor. To wash HJC removable pads, HJC recommends regular machine washing and air drying. (Removable interiors are available in models: AC-10, AC-11, AC-12, AC-2M, AC-3, CL-SP, CL-14, CL-15, Sy-Max, CL-Max, AC-X1, AC-X2, AC-X3, CL-X4, CL-X5, CS-X4, and CS-X2). For non-removable interiors, HJC recommends using bacteria and mildew eliminating products such as “Helmet Fresh”.

      Vent Cleaning

      Warning!!! Use of replacement parts not manufactured by HJC may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident. Only use HJC parts that are specifically designed to work with this helmet.

      Do Not Modify Your Helmet

      Your HJC helmet is designed to meet SNELL and DOT standards. Contact HJC America for more information about SNELL and DOT standards. Modifying your helmet may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident. Do not modify your HJC helmet. Modifications include the following:

      • drilling holes;
      • cutting shell, liner, or strap;
      • modifying the retention system, including adding a chin cup;
      • removing parts;
      • painting;
      • attaching accessories that are not manufactured by HJC for this helmet.
      Storing Your Helmet Correctly

      Warning!!! An improperly stored helmet can become damaged and may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident. You should:

      • Store helmet in a cool and dry place,
      • Keep helmet away from pets and other animals,
      • Keep helmet away from heat in excess of 122ºF and do not set on or near hot surfaces.

    • Cleaning: HJC does not recommend cleaning any shield with spray on type chemical cleaners. A reaction between a shield and cleaning chemical is possible, resulting in haze build-up and distortion. HJC recommends washing the shield with warm water and a soft cloth only. We also recommend cleaning the shield as soon as possible after dirt and debris have accumulated. Do not let debris sit on the shield for any extended period of time. If debris has accumulated over time, it is recommended to clean the shield in several applications. This allows the debris to break down with every application. Excessive rubbing can lead to scratching as the hard debris can act as a scuffing agent. The same can occur if low-grade rigid paper towels are used.

      Anti-Fog Inserts:Aftermarket anti-fog inserts such as Fog City and HJTech Anti-Fog can work very well with HJC flat (2D) shields. These inserts are not recommended for use with standard HJC 3 dimensional (3D) shields due to their double curvature shape which could cause a distortion of vision. Follow the installation instructions diligently.

      Rain-X & Other Products: Applying Rain-X or other water dispersing type chemicals work well on HJC shields (except RST mirrored shields) if applied on new shields and if the chemical companies directions are followed diligently. Always use extremely soft and clean clothes for applications.

      HJC Anti-fog Treated Shields (HJ-09): HJC’s anti-fog treated shields are anti-fog coated both on the inside and hard coated outside. When first using the anti-fog HJ-09, you must activate the anti-fog by breathing directly on to the shields interior surface. The shield will partially fog, once the fog clears it is activated. You will notice if you breathe on the shields again, it remains fog free. All anti-fog coatings are a chemical treatment and will wear off in time.

      RST Mirrored Shields: HJC does not recommend using any chemical products on our RST mirrored shields as they will degrade the mirror finish. For cleaning, we recommend washing the shield with warm water and the soft cloth only. We also recommend cleaning the shield as soon as possible after dirt and debris have accumulated. Do not let debris sit on the shield for any extended period of time. If debris has accumulated over time, it is recommended to clean the shield in several applications. This allows the debris to weaken and break up with every application. Excessive rubbing can lead to scratching as the hard debris will act as a scuffing agent.

      2D / 3D Shields (What’s the Difference): 2D shields are primarily used for racing purposes as they only have a single horizontal curvature, allowing tear-off films to be stretched across the main surface without warping. The more standard 3D shield has both horizontal and vertical curvatures.

      Tear-Off “Racing” Films: HJC recommends Paulson TA-1, Racing Optics 7201, or Rose Racing 1018’s. Using more than 3 tear-offs might cause visual distortion.