Can You Reline a Motorcycle Helmet? [Step by Step Tutorial]

If you are an avid motorcyclist who rides regularly, you have probably noticed the inside of your helmet becoming worn and loose-fitting. This may leave you wondering if a helmet can be relined. We did the research to get you the answer to this vital question.

Most modern motorcycle helmets have replaceable liners that you can easily remove to clean or reline with a new one. From full-face helmets to open-faced, each helmet type can be relined with ease in only a few minutes. 

Don't toss out that old motorcycle helmet just yet, follow these steps to have your helmet's lining and padding back in tip-top shape. Keep reading for all the details.

How Do You Replace a Helmet Liner?

 To reline and clean your motorcycle helmet, you will need:

•  The New Liner
• Adhesive Remover
• Baby Shampoo
• Cloth Rag

Replacing a helmet liner is surprisingly simple. Just follow the easy steps listed below.

Purchase a New Helmet Liner

The first step of the process is buying the brand new liner for your helmet. You can quickly find the liner for your helmet's model on websites such as Revzilla. Type in the name of your helmet's model into the website's search engine. You can also find some helmet replacement liners on Amazon. Make sure you get the right kit for your helmet, and that the size is the right one.

See this Vega Summit 3.0 Full Face Modular Helmet on Amazon

You may also buy new cheek pads or neck pads for your helmet if they seem to be worn and not offering sufficient support. Once the cheek pads no longer feel snug on your face, it is time to toss them out.

Remove the Padding 

Now that you have the new helmet liner, it is time to replace the old one. Before you can reach the internal helmet liner, you will need to remove the helmet's interior padding. Remove the cheek pads first. In modern motorcycle helmets, these pads are typically connected with straps or snap fasteners and Velcro. 

To remove the cheek pads with a snap fastener, reach your hand in the inside of the helmet, and grab the bottom of the cheek pad. Then pull upwards and snap the cheek pad off the side of the helmet. If your helmet's cheek pads are held on by a strap, remove the strap that passes through the cheek pad. 

Remove the Internal Helmet Liner

After the padding is removed, the internal helmet liner can be easily removed by prying under the edge of the liner. Velcro typically attaches inner liners, so do not be alarmed if you hear a tearing noise when taking it out. The edge should turn upwards, allowing you to reach down and lift the whole liner out of the helmet. 

If you are relining a vintage or older motorcycle helmet, remove the liner with adhesive remover. Use a cloth rag and dab some adhesive remover onto the rag. Slowly wipe around the edges of the helmet liner until it starts to lift off.

See the Goo Gone adhesive remover on Amazon

Putting in the New Liner

The final part is putting in your brand new helmet liner. This process is pretty simple, as you have already seen how the helmet liner is placed in the helmet after removing the old one. Make sure that the padding and liner fit snugly inside of the helmet with no movement. 

Any excessive movement in your padding can lead to safety concerns. The cheek pads should be snug enough that you feel as if you will bite down on the inside of your cheeks when wearing the helmet. 

How Do You Get Rid of the Smell of a Helmet?

Anybody who has worn a motorcycle helmet repeatedly knows how quickly the inside starts to smell after a few rides in warm weather. Hand-washing is the safest way to clean your helmet's liner without damaging it. 

Start by filling up a sink or bathtub with lukewarm water, and mixing in a small amount of baby shampoo. Baby shampoo is the perfect cleaning agent for your helmet's liner as it safely removes your hair's oils from the liner, is unscented, and doesn't cause any excess irritation if mixed with sweat while you are wearing it. Soak and scrub the liner in the lukewarm water to clean it. 

Can You Machine Wash a Helmet Liner?

Along with hand washing your helmet's liner, you can use a washing machine for a hands-free cleaning method. Clean the helmet's liner very carefully, as the liner can quickly become stretched when soaked with water. To avoid damaging your helmet liner with a washing machine, follow these steps:

1. Set your washing machine to the gentle or hand-washing settings
2. Place your motorcycle helmet liner in a washing bag that is used to protect delicate clothing items.
3. Use a small amount of mild unscented detergent, or an antimicrobial detergent if you are looking to remove the smell. 
4. Set your washing machine's settings to a low temperature to avoid damaging the liner's fabric.

Drying your Motorcycle Helmet Liner

Please do not put your motorcycle helmet liner in a dryer after taking it out of the washing machine. The high temperatures in a dryer will ruin the fabric. It is best to air-dry your helmet liner by hanging it on a clothespin or laid-out on a towel. 

While it might be tempting to try and speed up the drying process, do not shake the helmet liner to get rid of the water. Shaking the liner can stretch the fabric, causing it to hang down and affect your vision inside the helmet once dry. 

Your Helmet is Good as New!

Now that you have cleaned or relined your helmet, you are ready to hit the road again. Your helmet should fit nicely and not smell anymore. To avoid the unpleasant smells from returning, routinely clean your helmet's liner.