Motorcycle Helmet Safety Standards Explained: ECE 22.06, SIRIM, SHARP, MIPS & Beyond

There are two key types of impact your head will be exposed to in an accident, linear and rotational (oblique) acceleration. Traditionally helmet certification standards tested for linear acceleration, but newer standards take into account rotational acceleration as well. This matches the real world experience of rider impacts better.

Helmets are made up of three layers; the shell, EPS layer, and the padding. The shell works to spread force out evenly over your helmet and head, the EPS layer compresses and absorbs the impact, the padding keeps you comfortable and ensures the helmet fits well.

EPS has been the core of helmets for decades, but EPS liner technology is evolving, from a single density polystyrene foam, to a mix of different densities, with the incorporation of technologies such as MIPS to provide more protection against both linear and rotational impacts.

A motorcycle helmet is an engineered system of four layers, each performing a specific protective function:

Outer Shell: The hard exterior distributes impact energy over the largest possible surface area, preventing localised point loading (i.e. stopping all the impact hitting one specific point on your head). It also provides abrasion resistance when sliding across road surfaces and protects against penetration by sharp objects. Shell materials include polycarbonate, fibreglass composite, and carbon fibre.

EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) Liner: This is where the real protection happens. The EPS liner is the primary energy absorbing component of every motorcycle helmet (and bicycle helmets). Made from expanded polystyrene beads that are heated, expanded, and fused together into a closed-cell foam structure, EPS works by crushing and deforming in a controlled manner during impact, acting like a series of tiny crumple zones that slow the rate of head deceleration (Throttle and Roast). Because EPS is approximately 98% air, it is extremely lightweight yet highly effective at dispersing energy over time rather than transmitting it directly to the skull (Epsilyte).

Comfort Liner: This is the removable, washable interior padding that sits against the rider's head. As well as providing comfort and moisture management, the comfort liner contributes a small additional layer of energy absorption and importantly, helps determine how the helmet fits.

Retention System: The chin strap keeps your helmet on the head during a crash. Double D-ring closures remain the gold standard, used in all racing applications and required by FIM homologation.

Critically, EPS is a single use material. Once its cells have been compressed in a crash, they cannot re-expand or absorb energy again. This is why every major manufacturer, and the team at SwiftMoto, recommends replacing a helmet after any impact, even if no visible damage is present (RevZilla). This includes dropping your helmet on the road or another hard surface.

Not all EPS liners are created equal. While all certified helmets pass the required standards, this is where you can see better protection from more expensive helmets. Premium manufacturers engineer their liners with multiple foam densities strategically placed throughout the helmet to provide more protection at a variety of impact speeds.

Arai uses a one piece multi-density EPS system with 10 different densities available, and up to 4 densities in a single shell, hand-crafted to provide softer foam where the human head first contacts the liner and firmer foam in areas requiring higher impact resistance (Arai).

Shoei uses a dual layer, multi-density design. A softer inner layer for immediate impact absorption and a firmer outer layer for higher-speed impacts, alongside their M.E.D.S. system (Motion Energy Distribution System) they claim to reduce rotational energy by 15% (RevZilla).

Research is advancing rapidly beyond traditional EPS. Hybrid EPS/honeycomb structures have demonstrated energy absorption improvements of up to 20%, while experimental prismatic lattice liners have achieved a 48% reduction in peak linear acceleration compared to standard EPS in lab testing (PMC).

Koroyd, recently acquired by Swedish safety tech company MIPS, uses co-polymer tubes welded together that crumple on impact, absorbing energy while being roughly 95% air (Smith Optics). Currently we're only aware of a small number of Klim helmets using Koroyd.

Understanding motorcycle helmet shell materials matters because your helmet shell is your first line of defense, though its role is often misunderstood.

The shell does not absorb the majority of impact energy, that is the EPS liner's job. The shell's primary role is to distribute impact force over the widest possible area, prevent penetration by sharp objects, and provide abrasion resistance during a slide.

Data compiled from Champion Helmets and Revv Rider.

The insight most riders miss: A well-designed polycarbonate helmet can achieve the same ECE 22.06 certification, and the same SHARP and MotoCAP CRASH rating, as a carbon fibre helmet costing five times more. Shell material affects weight, comfort, and durability, but not necessarily protection level. As Phoenix Motorcycle Training puts it: "A £100 5-star SHARP rated helmet is safer than a £500 3-star helmet. Every time."

Motorcycle helmet weight matters in Malaysia's heat. At 30-35°C with high humidity, the 200-400g weight difference between a polycarbonate and carbon fibre helmet becomes noticeable after hours of riding. For some commuters covering significant distances, a lighter helmet can reduce neck fatigue significantly. I personally have had no issues with my 1.53kg Shoei even over 6 and 7 hours rides, but this is rider dependent. For some, fibreglass composites will be the value sweet spot, providing Malaysian riders with a balance of protection, weight, and cost.

Fibreglass composite lids are available from a wide range of brands including Nolan, LS2, AGV and others.

Shoei's AIM+ (Advanced Integrated Matrix Plus) shell uses six layers of proprietary fibres sandwiched between outer and inner fibreglass layers, creating a shell that is both elastic for impact absorption and resistant to penetration (RevZilla).

Arai's hand-built shell follows their "R75 shape" philosophy, maintaining a continuous curve radius of at least 75mm to minimise the helmet catching on rough surfaces, reducing unwanted rotational forces even before the impact reaches the liner (RevZilla).

Different helmet safety standards test impact slightly differently. This ECE 22.06 helmet standard explainer covers all the safety standards Malaysian riders may find when shopping for a helmet.

Sourced from ACT LAB, Billys Crash Helmets, SHARP, Shark Helmets, and the Snell M2025 standard.

ECE 22.06 is the European helmet standard. In force since 3 January 2021, it has been adopted as the UN standard and is applied across the UNECE 1958 Agreement framework, which has 64 contracting parties, including Malaysia (UN Regulation No. 22, Rev.5). ECE 22.05 was phased out of sale in ECE markets from January 2024.

Given the global impact, adoption of ECE 22.06 has arguably been the biggest improvement to helmet safety standards in decades. The differences between ECE 22.05 and 22.06 are substantial:

• Impact testing expanded from 5 points in ECE 22.05 to 18 possible impact locations, including areas around vent holes and helmet features. No single helmet receives all 18 impacts (UN Regulation No. 22, Rev.5).
• Multi-speed testing at 6.0, 7.5, and 8.2 m/s, simulating low-speed urban falls through to higher-speed highway impacts (ACT LAB).
• Oblique impact testing introduced for the first time. Helmets are dropped at 8.0 m/s onto a 45° anvil covered with abrasive paper to measure rotational acceleration (Koroyd, IRCOBI).
• High speed particle visor test, which fires debris at face shields at 60 m/s (UN Regulation No. 22, Rev.5, Annex 17).
• Chemical and UV resistance testing, critically important for tropical climates like Malaysia (Billys Crash Helmets).
• Enhanced retention system testing, including reverse direction pull tests, to ensure helmets stay on mid-accident (SMK Helmets).
• Modular helmet testing strengthened. Flip-up chin bars must now be tested in both open and closed positions (Koroyd).

DOT (US Department of Transportation) motorcycle helmet certification relies on manufacturer self-certification. The company declares compliance without mandatory pre-retail testing by an independent third party.

While the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) conducts occasional in-market spot checks, the lack of independent verification before sale means DOT is not the most reliable safety guarantee. DOT impacts four sites twice each, on flat and hemispherical anvils, at up to about 6.2 m/s, and includes no rotational test (NHTSA TP-218-07). This isn't a significant issue for Malaysian riders, but be careful if you see a helmet offered for retail with DOT certification but missing SIRIM or ECE 22.06.

Snell is a voluntary additional certification which manufacturers can submit their helmets to. The new M2025 assessment was introduced by the Snell Memorial Foundation on August 1st 2024, replacing M2020.

The most significant change: M2025 incorporates oblique impact testing and rotational energy limits, matching ECE 22.06's oblique (rotational) requirement while maintaining Snell's traditionally higher linear (direct) impact test requirements. Snell's continuous random sampling of production helmets remains one of the strongest quality assurance mechanisms in the industry.

FIM certification was made mandatory for all FIM World Championship events, including MotoGP and WorldSBK, from January 2026. A competition grade certification, it can be found on super premium helmets and is worth the investment for high speed sport and track riders.

FIM FRHPhe-02 represents the highest-performance helmet standard in existence (Shark Helmets). Compared with its predecessor, FRHPhe-02 requires helmets to withstand linear accelerations up to 18% higher and rotational accelerations approximately 4% higher (Dainese). Requirements include full-face construction, one-piece non-modular shell, double D-ring retention, and quick-release cheek pads.

While a competition standard, we expect FRHPhe-02 to drive innovations that will trickle down into consumer helmets.

Most real-world motorcycle crashes do not involve a perfectly perpendicular impact to the helmet shell. They are oblique (at an angle), with the rider's helmet hitting the ground or object at an angle, which introduces rotational forces to the head. These rotational forces can stretch and shear brain tissue, causing concussions, diffuse axonal injury, and other traumatic brain injuries that traditional linear-focused helmet testing did not address (Craniologie).

MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is the best-known technology addressing this. It adds a low-friction layer between the EPS liner and the comfort padding inside a helmet. During an oblique impact, this layer allows the helmet shell and liner to move 10-15mm independently of the head, redirecting some of the rotational energy away from the brain during the critical first milliseconds of impact (Bell Helmets, Craniologie). A peer-reviewed study published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering found MIPS reduced peak rotational acceleration by between 23% and 47% depending on impact axis (Bonin et al., Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2022).

MIPS complements but does not replace the helmet's main EPS layer. It's there to deal specifically with rotational forces, which traditional helmet impact testing didn't take into account, and other manufacturers such as Shoei and Arai, who don't use MIPS at all, rely on their own proprietary technology to achieve a similar result.

CE certification, and most helmet certifications (ECE 22.06) are a pass/fail test. Either a helmet is up to scratch or it isn't. If it passes, it doesn't tell you if it performed significantly above requirements, or just scraped by.

But there are two programs which provide additional rating information which helps to show the differences between ECE 22.06 helmets.

In the UK there is the UK government's SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme), and in Australia and New Zealand there is the MotoCAP CRASH programme (Consumer Rating & Assessment of Safety Helmets), which looks at helmets, plus jackets, pants, gloves and boots.

Both programs rate helmets on a star scale, of 1 to 5 stars. However neither program is compulsory. They provide a second opinion which adds additional information for buyers.

How SHARP Tests

SHARP tests a selection of helmets, which it purchases directly from retail stores. This eliminates any possibility of manufacturers submitting specially prepared test samples. Each helmet model undergoes 30 linear and 2 oblique impact tests across at least 7 individual samples of each helmet, in a range of sizes, at three speeds: 6.0, 7.5, and 8.5 m/s (SHARP). The highest speed, 8.5 m/s, is faster than ECE 22.06's maximum of 8.2 m/s, representing roughly 10% more impact energy (Phoenix Motorcycle Training).

How MotoCAP Tests

MotoCAP tests 30 helmets each year, purchasing directly from retail outlets (RACV), testing them against a range of criteria (Motorcycle Minds). They also include motocross helmets, which SHARP does not.

Helmet impact performance is tested by dropping helmets onto hard surfaces to simulate a road impact. MotoCAP uses modified tests comprising both high and low speed impacts: flat surface drops from 0.8 metres and 2.5 metres, and a higher-speed impact onto a simulated kerb surface that exceeds ECE 22.06 requirements.

MotoCAP also has a unique oblique impact test, dropping the helmet from 1.4 metres onto a platform moving horizontally at 35 km/h, testing near the centre of the forehead and on the temple.

The COST 327 Foundation

SHARP's methodology is built on findings from COST 327, the most comprehensive study of motorcycle crashes ever conducted in Europe, which analysed 253 real-world cases across Finland, Germany, and the United Kingdom (COST 327). Two landmark findings from this study shaped SHARP's approach:

The temple is particularly vulnerable to injury, and helmet design should provide more protection to this area.

An increase in helmet energy absorbing capabilities of just 30% would reduce 50% of critical/unsurvivable casualties (AIS 5/6) to moderate/severe (AIS 2-4), meaning better helmets could literally save hundreds of lives per year across Europe.

The study also found that helmet impacts are distributed roughly evenly around the helmet, which is why SHARP tests every region, not just the top.

Understanding the SHARP Rating

SHARP tested helmets are given a star rating, 1 to 5 stars, on tests more severe than the legal minimum. Each extra star indicates greater protection (SHARP).

SHARP also provide a Latch score for modular helmets, showing how often the chin bar stayed in its locked position during testing. A 100% latch score means the chin bar stayed locked through all 30 linear impact tests. A 70% score means it opened in 9 of them. SHARP does not set a pass mark, and the latch score sits outside the star rating, so check it separately if you are buying a flip-up (SHARP).

Understanding the MotoCAP Rating

Like SHARP, MotoCAP gives a star rating from 1 to 5 for each helmet, based on their testing. It's possible that a helmet could have a different score with SHARP and MotoCAP, as they use different test criteria.

The MotoCAP CRASH score is weighted across six criteria: energy reduction in a high speed crash on a flat surface (30%), energy reduction on a kerb surface (15%), energy reduction in a low speed crash on flat surface (15%), dynamic stability (15%), oblique impact energy management (15%), and helmet coverage (10%) (MotoCAP).

Using SHARP & MotoCAP in Malaysia

You can access the full SHARP database online at sharp.dft.gov.uk, and the MotoCAP database at motocap.com.au.

At SwiftMoto we only sell helmets which are ECE 22.06 certified, purchased from manufacturer approved distribution channels. We also include the MotoCAP and SHARP ratings on product pages where these helmets have been tested, so you can see which helmets exceed ECE 22.06 protection standards.

Helmets are associated with a 60% lower risk of head injury and a 56% lower risk of fatal injury across crash studies (Liu et al.). Motorcycle riders accounted for 66.4% of Malaysia's 6,537 road deaths in 2025, despite being involved in only 13.7% of accidents (The Star, 27 January 2026, reporting Transport Minister Anthony Loke). Wearing a certified helmet is Malaysia's only universally mandated piece of motorcycle safety gear, and the undang-undang helmet motosikal Malaysia (Malaysian helmet law) makes clear why.

What the Law Requires

SIRIM certification is mandatory for all motorcycle helmets worn on Malaysian public roads, required under the Motorcycles (Safety Helmets) Rules 1973, made under section 88(1)(s) of the Road Transport Act 1987. The current standard is MS 1:1996 (an updated MS 1:2011 exists but has not yet taken effect) which tests:

• Impact absorption: Helmets are dropped from height to measure energy transfer to the headform.
• Penetration resistance: A pointed striker dropped onto the helmet to test toughness.
• Chin strap strength: Tested for retention under crash-level forces.
• Shell deformation: Outer shell must remain intact under compression.
• Peripheral vision: Minimum side-view angle maintained for awareness.

SIRIM vs ECE. The Malaysian Framework

Locally manufactured helmets are required to have SIRIM certification to MS 1:1996. The framework is different for imported helmets, with the helmet requiring ECE R22.05 or ECE R22.06 certification (GIVI Malaysia).

DOT only helmets are not legal in Malaysia. As Pmax Motor states: "Even if a helmet meets DOT or Snell safety standards, it is not road legal in Malaysia unless it also has the SIRIM or ECE sticker." Similarly, Snell only certification is not road legal unless the helmet also carries ECE or SIRIM approval.

JPJ helmet enforcement happens mainly through roadblocks, including Ops Selamat and routine spot checks, where officers check for a valid SIRIM or ECE sticker, and increasingly through AES camera systems that can flag riders without a helmet at all.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Riding with a non-certified helmet can result in:

• Compound fine of RM300 for failing to wear a helmet or wearing a non-compliant one (The Sun Malaysia).
• Fines of up to RM2,000 on a first conviction under Section 119 of the Road Transport Act 1987.
• Imprisonment for up to six months on a first conviction
• Helmet seizure in extreme cases.
• Insurance claim complications, an accident while wearing a non-certified helmet may invalidate your insurance coverage.

Research on Malaysian motorcyclists found that more than 50% of adult riders do not fasten their helmet strap properly (Kulanthayan et al., 2000, cited in Journal of Road Safety).

An unbuckled or loose helmet is extremely likely to come off during a crash. Fastened properly, you should be able to get two fingers between the strap and your chin, no more.

Which is the safest motorcycle helmet standard?

There is no single "safest" standard, each standard tests protection differently. ECE 22.06 is the most rigorous mandatory standard for street-legal helmets, with the broadest range of tests including rotational impact.

Snell M2025 tests at higher linear impact energies and actively seeks weak points. SHARP 5-star provides the best independent performance indicator above minimum certification. For maximum protection, look for an ECE 22.06 certified helmet with a high SHARP or MotoCAP CRASH rating.

Is ECE 22.06 better than ECE 22.05?

Significantly. ECE 22.06 tests at 18 possible impact locations versus 5, tests for rotational impact, tests at three different speeds, adds high-speed visor penetration testing, and includes chemical and UV resistance evaluation.

Do I need MIPS in my motorcycle helmet?

MIPS provides an additional layer of rotational protection that goes beyond the ECE 22.06 certification minimum. 

Peer reviewed research shows it can reduce peak rotational acceleration by between 23% and 47% depending on impact axis (Bonin et al., Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2022). This is an added safety layer, and is increasingly available at mid-tier price points.

Is a more expensive helmet always safer?

No. A well-designed polycarbonate helmet can achieve the same certification and the same SHARP or MotoCAP rating as a carbon fibre model costing several times more. Price also takes into account weight savings, comfort features, ventilation complexity, production volumes and brand recognition.

Research by PMC found no association between price and protective performance, however this was done on a very small sample of 7 helmets from only 4 brands, so doesn't accurately represent the helmet market.

Can I use a SHARP-rated helmet in Malaysia?

SHARP is a performance rating system, not a legal certification. A helmet needs to carry SIRIM certification (for Malaysian-made helmets) or ECE R22.06 certification (for imports) to be legal on Malaysian roads.

Are DOT helmets legal in Malaysia? / Adakah helmet DOT sah di Malaysia?

Tidak. DOT-only helmets are NOT legal in Malaysia. The US DOT standard is not recognised by JPJ or SIRIM, and does not test to the same standards. A helmet must carry a valid SIRIM certification sticker or ECE R22.06 certification to be road-legal in Malaysia. Wearing a DOT only helmet risks a RM300 compound fine, a court fine of up to RM2,000 on a first conviction under Section 119 of the Road Transport Act 1987, helmet seizure, and insurance claim complications.

Apakah standard keselamatan helmet motosikal yang terbaik?

ECE 22.06 adalah standard wajib yang paling ketat dan komprehensif untuk helmet motosikal jalan raya, dengan ujian impak di 18 lokasi yang mungkin, ujian putaran, dan ujian visor. SHARP 5-bintang memberikan penilaian prestasi bebas terbaik.

When should I replace my motorcycle helmet?

Replace your helmet after any crash, or drop onto a hard surface. Most manufacturers recommend replacement every five years due to material degradation from UV exposure, sweat oils, and general wear. In Malaysia's tropical climate, the five year guideline is especially important (Throttle and Roast).

We only stock motorcycle safety gear that meets verified CE safety standards. Use this motorcycle protective gear guide alongside our product pages to find the right gear for your riding style and Malaysia's conditions.

Every ride home is a promise kept, to the people waiting for you as much as to yourself. That's the standard we hold every product we sell to.