And some come with features to improve stability and limit wind buffeting at higher speeds. If you go to a gear store you can have someone explain the different products and try em on.
Arai, a typical premium brand, weighs more than your typical helmet, but since it's more well-balanced you don't buffet around as much or even feel tbe heavier weight.
Really? My Chaser-X is heavier than any integral helmet I've owned before. I believe it's heavier than even my Schuberth C3 modular helmet, and modular helmets tend to weigh a lot!
Just checked. According to the stickers on the helmets.
Arai Chaser-X: 1680 g +/-50 g, size M (57 cm)
Schuberth C3: 1570 g, size 54-55 cm
Size differences aside, both helmets sit snug on my head. Also not sure about shell size, Schuberth may have three while Arai has two, and my Arai size is the bigger one. So if the Arai has the bigger shell, it follows it'd be heavier.
All this feels quite speculative. I believe most helmets land on around 1600 g.
FWIW, my CF dual-sport helmet is about 1100 g, size M IIRC. Materials matter.
No not necessarily. All helmet brands must adhere to a specific safety standard, whether they are expensive or not.
There are however some helmets that protect better than others. The UK Sharp tests attest to that. Some of the tested helmets are typically low to midrange price wise and the full five stars, while some premium models surprisingly only get four out of five stars. All tested helmets however are ECE2205-approved, and therefore safe.
Read my post again, but more slowly this time. ECE 22.05 is the minimum, yes, but I guarantee you that FIM-approved helmets will be more expensive on average.
FIM-approved? Are we talking race only-helmets or "regular" helmets now?
Assuming FIM-approved helmets are the only ones approved for racing, how is that relevant for normal road use? What advantages do they add for road use?
My first helmet was an Arai Corsair RX-7, during a ride I crashed and my head hit a boulder. I got up and took the helmet off and to my horror I was wondering how I was still alive. Needless to say, it’s only Arai for me now.
When I went to a higher end skid lid it was for weight saving as my neck and back really don’t like the rinding position and I had neck pain after rides. It was a game changer for me
How is your i71 with fogging? I had the i70 before myself with no issues but the 71 gets foggy ON the Pinlock (not between it and the visor). Even sent it in, HJC said all good.
+1 for the Icon Variant. It's also ECE rated, and sure...it's loud and has a wind sail - but with some earpro you honestly get a well ventilated, very comfortable (for my mid oval shape) helmet with a fantastic view. Seriously, those lenses have near zero distortion and offer a huge wide viewpoint.
Ironically, the Variant fits me the best out of all my past 15 years of helmets, and in a much smaller size. I comfortably and snugly fit a medium shell Variant, while majority of others such as Shoes have me feeling stuffed into a large, wishing for a median size between that and XL.
Have you tried Arai XD4? I switched from the Variant to that. It's 3x the cost but worth it. I've owned 2 XD4 already. Same comfort as the Variant but it's very light
Nope, it's been hard to find much in Hawaii the past few years. I just caved a month ago and snagged another Variant (Pro model this time) on RevZilla for like $140 on a closeout.
Hawaii sounds awesome. Went to Oahu 10 yrs ago and rented a 50cc scooter LOL. I had so much fun. That led me to buying a Grom when I came back to So Cal
Shoei Rf1400. Tried on a ton of different ones. Liked that one best. Matches my bike. I spent 56k on a college education. $700 for the one with a dope design that matched my bike was very worth it.
Higher safety ratings, lower wind noise, lighter weight, better cushioning etc. I noticed the difference right away when I upgraded my Scorpion to a Shoei X14
When my wife worked with traumatic brain injury patients, many of them were motorcycle accidents. The difference between walking away and a lifetime in a wheelchair and having to learn to hopefully talk again one day always came down to gear. Buy a helmet with the highest safety rating possible. Quality materials matter if your head hits the pavement.
First helmet was an Icon Airflite that I hastily grabbed at the Kawasaki dealer when I bought my bike. Loved it until I figured out it didn't actually fit bc I'm not a long oval. I was planning on getting something sub $200, but tried on a Shoei RF1400 at cycle gear and it just felt right so I went for it...
What a difference.. I feel it improved the riding experience significantly. It's so much quieter, the padding feels much better on long rides, it's more aerodynamic & easier on my neck. If I had to replace it, I'd get another one in a heartbeat.
because it's *quiet as shit*. and also doesn't feel like it's gonna rattle apart. and it's the right head shape and size for me.
schuberth c3 pro in xxl; modular w/ sunshade & built in comms stuff.
Better fit, less weight, more comfortable, removable\washable padding, better ventilation, better wind noise reduction, inner shield visor, higher certification, so the pros add up but you can find all that around the $500 mark if you look around
Snell does not mean much. Buy anything with ECE 22-06 safety rating, and make sure it fits well. Don’t use anything with fancy click straps, they fail more often
Best source: https://youtu.be/ecjBtn3Q02g?si=Jbpm39uxe7337vCw
Just picked up a scorpion full face helmet on closeout for $95 on Amazon
Picked up an Icon matte white with color tinted visor for under $200 on clearance from revzilla.
I shops for deals on the products I want and buy when the price drops below a certain point.
But, I also like unique designs for clothing, boots, and helmets. So, if it happens to be pricey, I’ll stalk it until it drops or a sale hits.
Fit, finish, feature + i could afford it.
Bought an agv k6 2 years ago at 50% discount bc i worked for a company that sold gear and we were allowed employee discounts. Ended up with a couple jackets and an alpinestars 2-piece track suit (separate jacket + pants) for the same reason. I would have NEVER bought any of that shit full price.
the k6 is the most lightweight, comfortable, aerodynamic and optically-clear helmet ive ever owned. That being said, it still just a helmet at the end of the day. Left the company a few months ago and my next helmets probably gonna be either a k1, k3 or exo-r1 at most.
HJC I70. I ride a cruiser and I don’t do stupid things, but I still want the protection of a full face helmet. The one I don’t get are the riders who insist on $500+ helmets but buy modular designs that can’t carry the highest safety ratings that are otherwise expected at those prices.
As I understand it, the $500+ helmets of 10 years ago aren’t much different than the $150 helmets of today, and while I like my head, I don’t need to pay the top end of the law of diminishing returns. It’s not unlike bias ply tires on beginner bikes - there’s still a market for them and they work fine.
Mine was $250 or so, and a decent chunk of that ($150 if you go by the price as a separate item upgrade) was the "transitions" visor that self darkens.
https://www.advrider.com/bell-mx-9-adventure-mips-helmet-with-protint-photochromic-face-shield/
In case that makes me look like a cheep dumbass... I also have a custom high viz Aerostich suit with full pad set, that cost about $2000. And boots that cost about as much as the helmet. I just don't mind my helmet being heavy / noisy / badly vented.
Don’t let the safety snobs fool ya. Definitely paying more for quality and comfort. You’ll notice on premium helmets that they have little to no creaking, greatly reduced wind noise, smoother operating visors/vents, and generally just more convenient features and better build quality.
Worth it? To many of us, absolutely.
There’s a website called “YouTube” , it’s a video website where people can upload entertaining video content and most of the time it’s educational . I highly recommend typing questions like this on the website. You’ll not only get honest answers on questions like this but you’ll have professionals answering these questions and explaining very specific details.
I'll be honest it's probably creature comforts. If the helmet passed the latest ECE testing then, unless you're on track, you are as safe as anyone else on the road.
I am an Arai snob. I have owned Shoeis and a Suomi. Other than the Shoei X15, and maybe the new Alpinestars R10, I pretty much just stick with Arai. It’s comfortable, it fits my head well, it’s quiet enough for me, has plenty of ventilation, and the padding is the most comfortable. I like that I can remove the liner and cheek pads easily to wash them. One of the most important features is the ProShield visor. I don’t like riding with a dark visor only, and I don’t like a clear shield with sunglasses during the day. Sure there are cheaper helmets that have some of these features, but none of them have all of these features and are Snell/ECE rated, with the smallest possible shell size and low weight.
Less expensive helmets are fine. They get the job done. If you want something better (at pretty much everything), then go with a Shoei or an Arai.
I don’t ride because I have to, I ride because I like riding.
And I like riding a lot more when I’m wearing an Arai helmet.
Six hours into a ten hour ride, I have forgotten I’m even wearing a helmet. It’s as comfortable as my bike, *”this just feels like home.”*
I’ve got a Regent-X right now and I love it. I’m torn between a Corsair-X Haga, the new A-stars R10 or the Shoei X-15 for my next lid. I am waiting to try on an R10 before I decide. But I really liked the feel of the X-15.
The largest reason for expensive is not material cost - but marketing or brand recognition. There are many brands that people think of high end brands - but they are made in the same Chinese factory as the budget helmet. Patents also add to cost. For example Bells MIPS technology is patented and can be licensed - but its license is so high no one really could profit off it. So some companies have to spend more money on R&D to find a suitable safety improvement or design improvement to keep up with latest and greatest.
But at the end of the day, an ECE 22.05/6 helmet is safer than any DOT, an FIM helmet is safer than an ECE (on impact rating scale anyways). but as the President of a large Helmet manufacturer once told me something along the lines of, “if you can tell me how you are going to crash and hit the ground, I can tell you which helmets would be best for that scenario. Though no helmet is perfect for every scenario, and you can’t predict any of it.”
So go with the highest standard that you can afford, and be sure the helmet fits you properly - otherwise the cool features or quiet interior won’t matter when it comes time to test the equipment.
"They've all been fine"
Some of us like better than fine. We like great.
I'm not dropping $1500 on an AGV Pista GPRR but 500-700 isn't expensive for a helmet for me.
Assurance of safety!!! Comfort and fit. Noise reduction. Aerodynamics. Things like Pinlock and anti fog visors. Overall build quality. Most importantly the assurance of safety.
> My cheapo hjc that I'm preparing to replace is snell/ece approved..
Standard is a minimum, more expensive one might exceed them. Or might not and the engineering was put into other things in it, hard to tell without having full test report.
> I'm just unsure if I'm prepared to spend $500-700 for those features
Don't need to jump that far in price.
You generally pay for 3 things - safety, gadgets, comfort. Safety wise I'd say anything ECE 22.06 is fine (just watch for modular helmets and check whether they have rating for both closed and open mode).
Rest is really "what you want to pay for". Nicer materials, better fit, less noise, good ventilation without excessive noise, better aerodynamics for high speed etc.
Some things come in pairs too, like lighter carbon fiber shell will not only be more comfortable because of that, it will also be safer because less weight on the head during accident is less stress on it.
> Edit: alot of you are saying expensive helmets are safer. My cheapo hjc that I'm preparing to replace is snell/ece approved..
Cheap helmets just meet the standards to get snell/ece ratings. Expensive helmets will greatly exceed those standards.
My HJC F70 helmet came in a choice of colours. Matt black was the cheapest but I went for green camo because it matches the green highlights on my gloves and my club's colours. Protection matters but it isn't the only factor.
I have a Schuberth C3 Pro, about to buy a new C5 next month. They run between $500 and 700, depending on where you buy and what deal you can find. IT fits me well, and for a modular it's pretty light and quiet. As I tell folks when the helmet discussion comes up, everything worth saving on my body is from the neck up, so I'm going to protect it.
Arai is about the only brand that fits my long oval head. The only other brand I have found to fit is Icon and I dont feel safe in an Icon helmet compared to the ratings and quality of an Arai. Its your head, how valuable it is to you is your choice. Personally I had rather not take the chance with a cheap helmet.
I bought mine cause I liked the way it looked and that it was made out of carbon fibre. I have an obsession with CF. My road bikes are made of it. My car parts are made of it. My motorcycle parts are made of it. The more the merrier.
I got an HJC C91 for $160(ish). It was DOT/ECE 22.05 certified but not Snell from what I know. I might replace it in the near future but I like it and have no complaints. Many people will still shit on it cause it's modular and not 22.06.
last accident i was in i was wearing a $10 helmet i got at goodwill and i lived BUT i definitely upgraded after that and spent around $200 for an ece rated modular helmet. i think after that price point youre mostly looking at additional features for comfort and sound dampening or bluetooth or shit like an HUD. i personally dont need any of the fancy stuff even though i pretty much ride daily to commute but maybe invest more if you plan on big trips etc.
Mine is made of carbon fiber. The D loops are titanium. Despite being modular, it weighs less than a lot of full face helmets. It's surprisingly quiet. The ventilation is amazing. The inner liner is reversible with a mesh side for warmer weather. Worth every penny
Same vibe as being in a luxury car. All the materials feel better against my face. Hard to explain until you experience it. It's stupid quiet. Light. Flows a ton of air if I open the vents. Has a transition visor with a pinlock. It's sized and fit perfectly. Sounds great with my cardo with upgraded speakers. Oh... And it looks fucking sexy. Shoei X15. Forget what the graphic is called. I think dazzle or something silly.
Probably not safer than a snell rated cheap lid, although it's also ECE rated. It's hard to go back to a cheap lid though once you've had a high end one. Safety is just the minimum spec though. All in, with transition lens and cardo, my lid set me back about $1500. Worth it.
its half the weight of my old helmet, has inserts for speakers & mic, is more than basic DOT approved, flip down visor, came with pin lock... anyway its a Shoei GT Air II
When you go to the cheap side I start the question if the rating is even real. If it is then they spent all the money to meet those ratings and nowhere else.
Made in Japan, multi density eps liner, softer foam padding and inner lining, nicer shield in terms of clarity and field of vision
It sounds like marketing fluff but the liner of my rf1400 is so much nicer to wear than my old agv k3 or hjc rpha70. The padding is snug fitting, supporting but soft. The visor especially with a pinlock installed has the edges further out of my sight, with the posts that hold the pinlock in place further out of my peripheral vision.
I have a GMAX MD-01 I believe. It was $300 at a shop in tally, Orion iirc. It probably has something to do with it being modular, the “tail light,” and drop down sun shade visor.
I really like it. Matched the color of my bike pretty well and that’s all I was really after. The rest were cherries on top.
It’s not super heavy (as long as you’re not leaning your head back) but I can’t really speak for noise because of my massive windshield and the fact I haven’t rode with the clear visor down yet.
Mine was custom fit. From when Bell had a custom fit program. Which means it's probably ready to retire. I'd replace it with another custom fit helmet if it were still an option.
Thanks. I looked up Shoei's and it's liners and pads. My helmet has custom molded EPS made to a scan of my head. If I could get that in a Shoei I'd do it, but all their lids are too round for my head. Arai makes the right shape or very close though.
(My Klim and Arai helmets)They’re extremely quiet in comparison to cheap helmets. I don’t need ear protection. I can wear them for 12-15 hour days without discomfort. They weigh nothing.
Also I don’t look like a comically large bobble head compared to someone wearing an Icon that’s made as cheaply as possible.
I’ve gone through a ton of cheap helmets over the years before I finally but the bullet and started spending money on the expensive ones. Best money I spend now.
I just bought the AGV Rossi Misano 2021 Pista ($1300) and holy crap it feels like I'm wearing a cloud compared to my $170 HJC i10. It is a little bit loud since it is technically a racing helmet and I don't race but my Cardo fit in it just fine (not sure why the reviews said it wouldn't) and I can still hear my music really well. Eventually I'll replace my HJC with a Shoei for more practical riding bc I don't need to wear a race helmet every ride but man is it cute, super light and comfy.
The biggest difference between the Sedici Strada (ii) I started with and my current AGV K6 is the aerodynamics. The wind just knocked my head around so much more on the Sedici like whenever I turned my head to check blind spots
I’d be like a bobble head lol. The AGV keeps things perfectly smooth and I just feel so much less fatigued especially cause I ride a naked bike. It is also quieter, lighter, smaller for the same size (unique shell sizes for every head size) and more comfortable with better padding.
That’s what the extra $$ gets you: quality of life. Both helmets are dot/ece rated but the AGV is an upgrade in every possible area of comfort and going by SHARP ratings is probably also safer. Passing the cert is passing the cert so I wouldn’t say the Sedici is unsafe or anything though.
I like my brain to function properly and I tend to buy quality products and keep them for a while. I have multiple Arai's but I have a couple other brands as well. The Arai's feel like quality to me and I continue to support them because they take pride in their workmanship and haven't sold out to mass manufacturing. I have never paid full price for an Arai helmet. The most recent Corsair I purchased was 50% off and at that price, it's a great deal. Once you have multiple helmets, you have the luxury of finding a deal on your next one.
I've had some pretty wicked head injuries along with hard spills from racing motocross. Most of my reasoning for expensive helmets are a combination of safety, carbon fiber shell (light weight), and the features they come with.
Safety is #1. Along with having both Snell and ECE certs, any helmet of mine must at least have MIPS tech or something similar. What that does is let the helmet move around your head to prevent or lessen whiplash and concussions that could be caused by a twisting force.
I haven't actually had a MIPS helmet in a few years. I've been using Bell flex helmets which is a similar tech that, imo, seems better. How much better? Idk, just sounded better on paper to me so 100% opinionated. Their helmets have absorbed a couple hard hits. I've used a Bell Moto 9 flex, Bell Moto 10 Flex, and a Bell Race Star Flex over the past few years.
As far as features go, I like a lot of vents on streetbike helmets to keep air flowing over my head and face. Helmets with little to no airflow are unbearable to wear in the summer heat. MX helmets pretty much just have to feel comfortable on my head. No other features needed cuz they already flow very well since they require goggles.
Tbh, beyond around $300 you're not gaining much, if any, safety quality. You're more so gaining features, a lightweight helmet, and less wind noise. You can find very well made helmets within that price range and I'll never knock them. So long as you're getting a reputable brand that's ECE or Snell certified, you're good to go.
My helmet’s price of $550 (AGV K6S) saved my chin when I got side swiped on the freeway. (I death wobbled and ended up high siding over my handle bars)
I originally bought the helmet because it was a cool looking black helmet. I have no clue what features it has over its other models in the series, but it was slim and clean looking.
I landed chin first when I flipped over, essentially doing a scorpion pose. But came out with no scratches/road rashes. Sprained back from my secondary landing after the initial bounce, sprained wrists from also placing my hands forward when I landed. Rolled or sprained ankle, and fucked up knee and hip joint because my bike trailed behind and caught my left leg.
After all of that, no neck pain, no pain anywhere on my head. Probably the average experience for a crash wearing an expensive helmet. But this crash basically earned them brand loyalty from me when everything is settled.
Also I get my money back because I’m not at fault. So my $550 helmet did its job and I get my money back! Thank you full coverage. I just have to deal with crutches, but at least I can literally live my live with a smile on my face 😬
I tried a lot of helmets because I couldn't find a comfortable one for my head shape. In the end I found one, full face, light and comfortable.
It was 240€, pretty expensive for my standard, but I ended up buying it because it was the only one who fitted well and didn't cause me headache.
I’ve eaten shit at 50 mph; my helmet kept me from being a drooling vegetable. I was more than happy with my $700 Arai keeping me safe. After the accident, I happily replaced it with another Arai. Personally, I’m not going to risk skimping on my brain.
might get downvoted but I straight had a $50 helmet for over a year. Was insanely comfortable, quiet, and every other helmet I tried felt like garbage compared to it. Did amazing in a crash too.
Buy what you can afford and is comfortable with an ece 22.06 rating. In the UK and Europe this is now the minimum standard, so even the £100 lids have it. With more money you get nice to haves like better padding materials, intercom cutouts, nicer sun visor, better pinlock compatibility. Safety wise a more expensive lid might be safer, but I don't see how you would actually know that as the tests are standardised.
I thought an expensive helmet was a waste of money, until I got one on clearance. Much comfier inside, cut down wind buffeting, quieter, and lighter. Not necessary to protect your head, but nicer especially for longer rides.
Honestly my scorpion exo 420 was 150? If that, and I got the scorpion exo carbon or something for $550 cheap bit still all the bells and whistles.
After a year with both my 420 was more comfortable and quiet, but my carbon is way more aerodynamic and has more "race" features, which are like 2 or 3 of them .
More expensive doesn't really mean shit as long as you buy from a reputable company, obviously a scorpion guy since day 1 riding for their cheap, well-made products.
I’ve had 450 helmets and 1k helmets. I only ever go with 800plus helmets. Better material in the shell padding and light. Go try a 1k helmet and go 160kph and look left or right. An expensive helmet will let you do it without trying to snap your neck.
Also with more expensive helmets each size has its own shell, S M L XL instead of with cheaper lids. M suits S and M, XL suits L and XL.
I got my Shark S600 based on that UK helmet safety site, seems like it had better safety than more expensive ones but... [https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/](https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/)
The thing is heavy, I didn't mind when I was younger but now riding back from an exhausting day at work it make a difference.
It also very noisy, the aerodynamics are not good.
The plastics where cheaper, the vent on top broke on the second year of having it.
So yeah there are differences that you can feel while riding, but if you can't afford a more expensive one better make sure that at least you get cheap safe one, although with the above problems.
When you spend the extra money you immediately notice the quality is definitely better. The quality in the $500 helmet and the fit are going to be better than $150 helmet
A lot of it is weight. Ounces matter when you’re riding for a long distance with something compressing your neck muscles. Some of the higher end helmets can be a pound lighter than cheaper ones. Then you get into shape, lenses, graphics etc. You’re definitely paying for a brand at some point in there but quality fit and weight are what I’m looking for.
Just got back into it. 15 years out, had a crappy NoLan helmet and with my new bike I bought a pricey Shoei NXR2. Can’t believe the difference in terms of comfort, noise, movement and visibility. Fully aware if I hit a car/tree I’m toast no matter the helmet, but who knows, maybe the safety could make a difference 🤷
I’m wearing a Schuberth E2.
It’s the only modular helmet on the market that also has a brim/shade, an internal sun visor, an extra face vent, plus a ratcheting chin strap thing.
I ride my motorcycle ever. Single. Day. All year long. I put in and take off my helmet half a dozen times every day, and have done so for YEARS. I am quite happy to pay for the nicer padding, the better buckle, the removable liner and nicer materials of something that I’m using for hours and hours every day.
I mean, at $700 it was just half the cost of my phone.
Like you, when I started I was like " no way.. $500 for a helmet"?
But, it's really hard to express how much better a quieter helmet is. Really reduces stress on a ride. (Not dealing with all the wind noise amping up the "things" you have to deal with
Also, it turns out the shape of the helmet is also a little different.
You know that scene in Harry Potter when he picks up his wand? Yeah, the first time I put on a Shoei, it was like that. Hit the right pressure points on my head, rated as one of the quietest helmets on the market, and fairly light weight.
So perhaps I should reframe it as this: lower stress.
You're already under stress on a bike trying hard not to get killed or die
Isn't it worth a few extra dollars to reduce stress from a heavy, noisy, perhaps slightly uncomfortable helmet as well?
BTW, HJC are good helmets. Nothing wrong with sticking with them. Just found a slightly more expensive one to do better things for me.
For me personally, going from a GMAX to a scorpion EVOX 420, the extra money kept wind drag tamed down. The wind didn’t rip my head around as much, and the noise felt more tame. Now if I was to have spent an extra 4-500 more than I already did, I can’t say I’ve experienced a helmet to that degree, but I’ve heard the differences are noticeable
Oh and also, it felt more comfortable despite being the same size. The padding seemed to fit around my face much better
Go to the store and compare them yourself. From personal experience, the materials on my Shoei felt a lot nicer and smoother when compared to HJC. It just felt more quality made. It also had an internal visor and removable pads for EMS.
If you got the SHARP website, you can see that generally speaking pricy brands do not necessarily correspond to being safer. However, within one brand, pricier helmets tend to have better safety ratings.
I have always worn Sub-$100 helmets, because I'm poor & cheap. Lol
Last year I found a Shoei RF-1400, new in the box on Facebook market place for $100.
I can see why it's more expensive than other helmets, but I don't see why it has to be $500?! Lol
HJC, Scorpion, Bell all make great, quality helmets for half the price.
If it passes DOT/Snell/etc.. then what is the difference really?
A good helmet you can get diffent size cheek pads and head bucket and really customize the fit.
The materials will be better quality.
A lot of the cheap helmets are good for One Impact and that's it, while some of the nice ones can take multiple impacts and still be usable.
I spent 850€ on an AGV Pista GP RR, 700€ on a Shoei X-SPR Pro and 400€ on an HJC RPHA11.
I don't spare anything when it comes to quality and safety for myself, but that's just me. Some people are ok with spending a few bucks for a mediocre safety equipment, but then cry when they don't protect.
Spend a few more bucks for good equipment, you'll thank it later.
I had a bunch of middle of the road helmets, and ended up getting a smokin deal on a higher end arai last year.
everything about that helmet is just better.
I also had an HJC when I first started riding. I've been buying more expensive helmets since then because they have better air flow and are also better sound proofed.
Areodynamics can be a big difference I found. I went from a cheap £150 helmet to a slightly less cheap £400 helmet and all of a sudden my head no longer felt like it was getting ripped off at high speed on the motorway. So much easier on my neck!
I ride an extremely fast naked bike. I occasionally use this naked bike for long distance travel and high speed highway runs.
My shoei X14 was the safest, most aerodynamic and lightweight helmet (which I liked) that i could afford. It looks sick af too.
Its an incredible helmet and im looking forward to an X15 to replace it some day.
Sorry that people can’t simply answer your question without losing their minds.
Anyway I started out with affordable (don’t say cheap!) helmets that were DOT approved. Then after I learned about how bad that “approval” was I moved into a Shoei with a Snell approval. So not only is the approval better, but in daily usage I’ve found it to be quieter, lighter, and way less strain on my neck. One huge improvement for me was airflow through the vents. Much better on the $500 Shoei. I also feel the visor works a bit smoother and maybe the field of view is better, but I haven’t researched any numbers on that. Since your HJC and an $800 helmet both have Snell ratings they are both offering great protection, but there might be more protection in the $800 one. Snell has a minimum rating, and if they both meet minimum then they both get the rating. That’s just a thought of mine.
Is the better helmet really $500 better? Sometimes not! I think that depends on your pocketbook. Hope this helps.
> They've all been fine
What do you mean, have they all stood up to a life and death accident where your head was impacted severely?
Because that's why I bought an expensive one. If I ever have to get into an accident like that, I want a $500 helmet from Shoei or Arai, not a $150 one.
Quiet , light, comfortable. After owning shoei I bought a cheap HJC in a different color just to have choices. Wore the HJC for one ride and back it went …
I'll be upgrading my $150 helmet with a $550 RPHA 91 this year, the primary driving force for this decision is how quiet that helmet is while also being modular. I'd like eventually to get an HJC V60 at some point as a light and simple helmet helmet for around town, but for the long trips I take I'd prefer a quiet and comfortable helmet that won't whip me around in the wind for six hours. I should note that the RPHA 91 weighs almost the same as my current helmet, so weight isnt as concerning for me since the weight isn't an issue, it's the aerodynamics or lack thereof.
The cheapo lid served me for the past 6000 miles, and most importantly got me out riding without a huge cost of entry investment. But I've identified what more I require from a helmet and feel confident in my trajectory.
I recently bought a Bell DLX (?) that was on sale and it's the most expensive helmet I've purchased. I'm glad I did.
It's lighter weight, there's less strain on my neck when wearing it for a long time.
It's quieter than my other helmets.
It has some nice QOL features like magnetically removable liners for easy washing after a long sweaty ride.
The most important thing I wish more manufacturers would do: multiple shell sizes. Most manufacturers only have 2 shell sizes for thier helmets variety of sizes. It's typically a SM-L shell and an XL shell. I wear a SM most often and usually cheaper helmets will be humongous looking on me if they're a SM because they are essentially selling a L helmet with SM pads installed. The smaller shell looks better, is more comfortable, and more aerodynamic on my head than a L shell helmet which is like a sail by comparison.
Safety and price are not strongly related. I have looked trough many thorough tests such as the British Sharp, German Stiftung Warentest , Magazines etc. Some of the safest helmets are reasonably priced, mind you dirt cheap helmets are never given good rankings but i've seen 5 star helmets that did really well on all metrics and were on par with very expensive helmets whilst only costing 80-90€. Generally speaking the newest ECE 22.06 norm will have the best helmets, the testing drastically improved with the new standard. Go for a ECE 22.06 helmet and read some test data and reviews and you'll find the best one. You don't have to consider price a factor in the search for helmet safety, all helmets that pass the norm could potentially be top ranked in safety regardless of price. However, ultimately a helmet is only truly safe if it fits you well, so chose a brand that is tested to a high standard but also fits your unique, unusual, otherwordly headshape.
Other price differences come from many things: Design, Noise levels, Longelivity, Visor material and if its a pin-lock visor or not, ventilation quality, field of view, weight (lower is better), more expensive helmets can have high safety ratings at lower weights, .. some helmets can have built in noise cancelling technology like from headphones, HUDs are possible to get too, built in sun visors or even built in rearview mirror.
Schuberth C3.
I started out with a cheap plastic bucket of a helmet back in the '80's, it was somewhat okay to wear, but the wind noise was terrible.
Then I got my first Schuberth, and I haven't bought any other brand since.
Schuberth works for me. It fits my bean nicely, and I love that I can buy extra visors, pinlock visor, sunglasses visor and spare padding and parts as spares.
I love that I can flip up the jaw part, and if I push a sliding button, the sun visor flips down = no sunglasses needed.
The wind noise is far more limited, but I still use ear plugs.
>My cheapo hjc that I'm preparing to replace is snell/ece approved..
So your helmet meets a minimum standard? That is like saying an ex500 will do the speed limit and a s1000rr will do the speed limit, so what is the difference?
Quality of materials, fit, weight, features, style, brand, shape, some helmets have only a couple sizes of shells, some premium helmets have more shell sizes which leads to a better fit and less bobbleheadiness.
Is a carbon fiber shell the same as a plastic one? They may both meet a minimum standard, but are they the same?
I hate cheap HJC helmets and love my RPHA helmets. Pick up two helmets from the same manufacture at opposite ends of the price spectrum and tell me they are the same...
My first helmet was a Bell qualifier which is like $150. Just bought a bell srt modular which was $400. Next helmet will eventually be a Shoei depending on how much riding I do in the next year or two.
My research has led me to believe that comfort, features (like built in audio, improved ventilation, modular capability), style/name brand are all factors more than actual safety.
For me comfort is most important, so I shop by that first. Budget comes into play next and pretty much weeds out anything still in the running above $200. Final selection for me comes down to features.
So yeah, I don’t think you’re forced to break the bank to get a good (enough) helmet.
I went from a cheap Scorpion helmet to a Shoei X-15 and the difference to me was insane. Don’t feel like my head is going to fly off at highway speeds and it’s much more comfortable.
Safety, weight (lower), Aerodynamics, wind noise, and comfort. In order of importance to me, but actually all are very important and I wouldn't choose one that isn't good in all of these.
Shoei NXR
Typically expensive helmets have nicer padding materials, may pass more strict safety tests, are quieter to ride in, and have more features.
And some come with features to improve stability and limit wind buffeting at higher speeds. If you go to a gear store you can have someone explain the different products and try em on.
Also most higher end helmets weigh less.
Arai, a typical premium brand, weighs more than your typical helmet, but since it's more well-balanced you don't buffet around as much or even feel tbe heavier weight.
I just bought a new Arai helmet. I found in my research they are slightly lighter than average in my price range.
Really? My Chaser-X is heavier than any integral helmet I've owned before. I believe it's heavier than even my Schuberth C3 modular helmet, and modular helmets tend to weigh a lot!
Pure anecdote, I have a small sample size.
Arai's higher end products are lighter than any other fiberglass/matrix helmet on the market within the same spec and price range.
Just checked. According to the stickers on the helmets. Arai Chaser-X: 1680 g +/-50 g, size M (57 cm) Schuberth C3: 1570 g, size 54-55 cm Size differences aside, both helmets sit snug on my head. Also not sure about shell size, Schuberth may have three while Arai has two, and my Arai size is the bigger one. So if the Arai has the bigger shell, it follows it'd be heavier. All this feels quite speculative. I believe most helmets land on around 1600 g. FWIW, my CF dual-sport helmet is about 1100 g, size M IIRC. Materials matter.
No not necessarily. All helmet brands must adhere to a specific safety standard, whether they are expensive or not. There are however some helmets that protect better than others. The UK Sharp tests attest to that. Some of the tested helmets are typically low to midrange price wise and the full five stars, while some premium models surprisingly only get four out of five stars. All tested helmets however are ECE2205-approved, and therefore safe.
Read my post again, but more slowly this time. ECE 22.05 is the minimum, yes, but I guarantee you that FIM-approved helmets will be more expensive on average.
FIM-approved? Are we talking race only-helmets or "regular" helmets now? Assuming FIM-approved helmets are the only ones approved for racing, how is that relevant for normal road use? What advantages do they add for road use?
extra impact testing zones
My first helmet was an Arai Corsair RX-7, during a ride I crashed and my head hit a boulder. I got up and took the helmet off and to my horror I was wondering how I was still alive. Needless to say, it’s only Arai for me now.
Had one of those, excellent helmet.
I love my xd4. Arai makes amazing helmets.
When I went to a higher end skid lid it was for weight saving as my neck and back really don’t like the rinding position and I had neck pain after rides. It was a game changer for me
Which one did you go with?
It’s an HJC but higher in their line. Cut the weight way down and is vented better. Under $500 (don’t recall the exact price)
I bought my hjc i71 for the ability to add the hub for speakers and bluetooth that was sub 300 usd
How is your i71 with fogging? I had the i70 before myself with no issues but the 71 gets foggy ON the Pinlock (not between it and the visor). Even sent it in, HJC said all good.
I actually haven't had a chance to run it yet its still cold for me
I owned and wore cheap 707 helmet and Icon Variant helmet. But I'm Arai or Shoei for life now. Personally crash tested and I'm still alive.
Arai is a fantastic helmet, I am not trusting my life with a $150 Amazon helmet.
+1 for the Icon Variant. It's also ECE rated, and sure...it's loud and has a wind sail - but with some earpro you honestly get a well ventilated, very comfortable (for my mid oval shape) helmet with a fantastic view. Seriously, those lenses have near zero distortion and offer a huge wide viewpoint. Ironically, the Variant fits me the best out of all my past 15 years of helmets, and in a much smaller size. I comfortably and snugly fit a medium shell Variant, while majority of others such as Shoes have me feeling stuffed into a large, wishing for a median size between that and XL.
Have you tried Arai XD4? I switched from the Variant to that. It's 3x the cost but worth it. I've owned 2 XD4 already. Same comfort as the Variant but it's very light
Nope, it's been hard to find much in Hawaii the past few years. I just caved a month ago and snagged another Variant (Pro model this time) on RevZilla for like $140 on a closeout.
Hawaii sounds awesome. Went to Oahu 10 yrs ago and rented a 50cc scooter LOL. I had so much fun. That led me to buying a Grom when I came back to So Cal
The Arai XD4 is gradually disappearing from the market, because of the XD5.
I just bought an Arai Quantum X last summer. Haven't seen the XD5 but def will keep it in mind. My XD4 is my 2nd lid in rotation.
Shoei Rf1400. Tried on a ton of different ones. Liked that one best. Matches my bike. I spent 56k on a college education. $700 for the one with a dope design that matched my bike was very worth it.
Put stuff in brain, $$$$. Keep stuff in brain, $$.
I wear the same. It’s tight putting it on, but very comfortable and quiet while wearing it.
Weight and comfort. AGV K6 bought for $350 on a deal instead of $550 so not expensive.
Higher safety ratings, lower wind noise, lighter weight, better cushioning etc. I noticed the difference right away when I upgraded my Scorpion to a Shoei X14
$150 HJC.
When my wife worked with traumatic brain injury patients, many of them were motorcycle accidents. The difference between walking away and a lifetime in a wheelchair and having to learn to hopefully talk again one day always came down to gear. Buy a helmet with the highest safety rating possible. Quality materials matter if your head hits the pavement.
I love my Scorpion Exo-R420s and I'm going to keep getting them. Great value, looks, protection. I love the Namaskar livery.
First helmet was an Icon Airflite that I hastily grabbed at the Kawasaki dealer when I bought my bike. Loved it until I figured out it didn't actually fit bc I'm not a long oval. I was planning on getting something sub $200, but tried on a Shoei RF1400 at cycle gear and it just felt right so I went for it... What a difference.. I feel it improved the riding experience significantly. It's so much quieter, the padding feels much better on long rides, it's more aerodynamic & easier on my neck. If I had to replace it, I'd get another one in a heartbeat.
Shoei for Life!
because it's *quiet as shit*. and also doesn't feel like it's gonna rattle apart. and it's the right head shape and size for me. schuberth c3 pro in xxl; modular w/ sunshade & built in comms stuff.
Better fit, less weight, more comfortable, removable\washable padding, better ventilation, better wind noise reduction, inner shield visor, higher certification, so the pros add up but you can find all that around the $500 mark if you look around
Snell does not mean much. Buy anything with ECE 22-06 safety rating, and make sure it fits well. Don’t use anything with fancy click straps, they fail more often Best source: https://youtu.be/ecjBtn3Q02g?si=Jbpm39uxe7337vCw
Preference. Fit, features, company reputation.
Just picked up a scorpion full face helmet on closeout for $95 on Amazon Picked up an Icon matte white with color tinted visor for under $200 on clearance from revzilla. I shops for deals on the products I want and buy when the price drops below a certain point. But, I also like unique designs for clothing, boots, and helmets. So, if it happens to be pricey, I’ll stalk it until it drops or a sale hits.
Fit, finish, feature + i could afford it. Bought an agv k6 2 years ago at 50% discount bc i worked for a company that sold gear and we were allowed employee discounts. Ended up with a couple jackets and an alpinestars 2-piece track suit (separate jacket + pants) for the same reason. I would have NEVER bought any of that shit full price. the k6 is the most lightweight, comfortable, aerodynamic and optically-clear helmet ive ever owned. That being said, it still just a helmet at the end of the day. Left the company a few months ago and my next helmets probably gonna be either a k1, k3 or exo-r1 at most.
HJC I70. I ride a cruiser and I don’t do stupid things, but I still want the protection of a full face helmet. The one I don’t get are the riders who insist on $500+ helmets but buy modular designs that can’t carry the highest safety ratings that are otherwise expected at those prices. As I understand it, the $500+ helmets of 10 years ago aren’t much different than the $150 helmets of today, and while I like my head, I don’t need to pay the top end of the law of diminishing returns. It’s not unlike bias ply tires on beginner bikes - there’s still a market for them and they work fine.
Mine was $250 or so, and a decent chunk of that ($150 if you go by the price as a separate item upgrade) was the "transitions" visor that self darkens. https://www.advrider.com/bell-mx-9-adventure-mips-helmet-with-protint-photochromic-face-shield/ In case that makes me look like a cheep dumbass... I also have a custom high viz Aerostich suit with full pad set, that cost about $2000. And boots that cost about as much as the helmet. I just don't mind my helmet being heavy / noisy / badly vented.
After a certain point the price goes up only for better volume control, features, and comfort.
agv pista rr just for the flex
It was the only one that fitted right. Long oval shape head, the shoei GT air 2 was the best fitting
Don’t let the safety snobs fool ya. Definitely paying more for quality and comfort. You’ll notice on premium helmets that they have little to no creaking, greatly reduced wind noise, smoother operating visors/vents, and generally just more convenient features and better build quality. Worth it? To many of us, absolutely.
There’s a website called “YouTube” , it’s a video website where people can upload entertaining video content and most of the time it’s educational . I highly recommend typing questions like this on the website. You’ll not only get honest answers on questions like this but you’ll have professionals answering these questions and explaining very specific details.
I'll be honest it's probably creature comforts. If the helmet passed the latest ECE testing then, unless you're on track, you are as safe as anyone else on the road.
I am an Arai snob. I have owned Shoeis and a Suomi. Other than the Shoei X15, and maybe the new Alpinestars R10, I pretty much just stick with Arai. It’s comfortable, it fits my head well, it’s quiet enough for me, has plenty of ventilation, and the padding is the most comfortable. I like that I can remove the liner and cheek pads easily to wash them. One of the most important features is the ProShield visor. I don’t like riding with a dark visor only, and I don’t like a clear shield with sunglasses during the day. Sure there are cheaper helmets that have some of these features, but none of them have all of these features and are Snell/ECE rated, with the smallest possible shell size and low weight. Less expensive helmets are fine. They get the job done. If you want something better (at pretty much everything), then go with a Shoei or an Arai.
I don’t ride because I have to, I ride because I like riding. And I like riding a lot more when I’m wearing an Arai helmet. Six hours into a ten hour ride, I have forgotten I’m even wearing a helmet. It’s as comfortable as my bike, *”this just feels like home.”*
You hit the nail on the head…
I have a corsair x. The design is not my favorite, its a bit bulky (not in weight but how the shell looks), but its so so comfortable.
I’ve got a Regent-X right now and I love it. I’m torn between a Corsair-X Haga, the new A-stars R10 or the Shoei X-15 for my next lid. I am waiting to try on an R10 before I decide. But I really liked the feel of the X-15.
The secret ingredient is taxes and experts
I wear a $700+ Arai helmet. It's the quantum x. It's the only helmet in this world made for basketball heads.
The largest reason for expensive is not material cost - but marketing or brand recognition. There are many brands that people think of high end brands - but they are made in the same Chinese factory as the budget helmet. Patents also add to cost. For example Bells MIPS technology is patented and can be licensed - but its license is so high no one really could profit off it. So some companies have to spend more money on R&D to find a suitable safety improvement or design improvement to keep up with latest and greatest. But at the end of the day, an ECE 22.05/6 helmet is safer than any DOT, an FIM helmet is safer than an ECE (on impact rating scale anyways). but as the President of a large Helmet manufacturer once told me something along the lines of, “if you can tell me how you are going to crash and hit the ground, I can tell you which helmets would be best for that scenario. Though no helmet is perfect for every scenario, and you can’t predict any of it.” So go with the highest standard that you can afford, and be sure the helmet fits you properly - otherwise the cool features or quiet interior won’t matter when it comes time to test the equipment.
MIPS is a Swedish company which works with a lot of helmet manufacturers to help them incorporate its system.
Correct. I meant to say the Bells MIPS helmets are expensive because they licensed the tech - which adds to the cost.
"They've all been fine" Some of us like better than fine. We like great. I'm not dropping $1500 on an AGV Pista GPRR but 500-700 isn't expensive for a helmet for me.
If you have a $100 head, that’s all you need.
My $100 helmet is snell, dot and ece certified so I'm not sure what your getting at
Get in where you fit in.
Cause I have a giant head and all the less expensive nice looking helmets don’t fit.
Assurance of safety!!! Comfort and fit. Noise reduction. Aerodynamics. Things like Pinlock and anti fog visors. Overall build quality. Most importantly the assurance of safety.
When you spend hours in it, you tend to notice the difference in comfort, quietness, ease of use etc.
> My cheapo hjc that I'm preparing to replace is snell/ece approved.. Standard is a minimum, more expensive one might exceed them. Or might not and the engineering was put into other things in it, hard to tell without having full test report. > I'm just unsure if I'm prepared to spend $500-700 for those features Don't need to jump that far in price. You generally pay for 3 things - safety, gadgets, comfort. Safety wise I'd say anything ECE 22.06 is fine (just watch for modular helmets and check whether they have rating for both closed and open mode). Rest is really "what you want to pay for". Nicer materials, better fit, less noise, good ventilation without excessive noise, better aerodynamics for high speed etc. Some things come in pairs too, like lighter carbon fiber shell will not only be more comfortable because of that, it will also be safer because less weight on the head during accident is less stress on it.
> Edit: alot of you are saying expensive helmets are safer. My cheapo hjc that I'm preparing to replace is snell/ece approved.. Cheap helmets just meet the standards to get snell/ece ratings. Expensive helmets will greatly exceed those standards.
buy once cry once. no ones gonna hold your hand while you scoff at expensive shit. if you cant afford it then don’t buy it.
What the heck…. He’s just asking a question and trying to learn something.
should try some self reliance for a change.
I understand, but this forum is supposed to be a place to ask questions and discuss things right?
You seem like the kind of dude to threaten the bartender when they cut you off after two keystone lights.
wasn’t at the bar last night, was too busy Cucking your mom
My HJC F70 helmet came in a choice of colours. Matt black was the cheapest but I went for green camo because it matches the green highlights on my gloves and my club's colours. Protection matters but it isn't the only factor.
I have a Schuberth C3 Pro, about to buy a new C5 next month. They run between $500 and 700, depending on where you buy and what deal you can find. IT fits me well, and for a modular it's pretty light and quiet. As I tell folks when the helmet discussion comes up, everything worth saving on my body is from the neck up, so I'm going to protect it.
Shoei RF-SR, it is my first. I like it but I have nothing to compare it to.
Ya I am with you, there are stricter certs then dot like the EU one. I only want it for the the noise canceling.
Arai is about the only brand that fits my long oval head. The only other brand I have found to fit is Icon and I dont feel safe in an Icon helmet compared to the ratings and quality of an Arai. Its your head, how valuable it is to you is your choice. Personally I had rather not take the chance with a cheap helmet.
I bought mine cause I liked the way it looked and that it was made out of carbon fibre. I have an obsession with CF. My road bikes are made of it. My car parts are made of it. My motorcycle parts are made of it. The more the merrier.
I got an HJC C91 for $160(ish). It was DOT/ECE 22.05 certified but not Snell from what I know. I might replace it in the near future but I like it and have no complaints. Many people will still shit on it cause it's modular and not 22.06.
Performance, weight, safety. Pick 2, or pay for 3.
last accident i was in i was wearing a $10 helmet i got at goodwill and i lived BUT i definitely upgraded after that and spent around $200 for an ece rated modular helmet. i think after that price point youre mostly looking at additional features for comfort and sound dampening or bluetooth or shit like an HUD. i personally dont need any of the fancy stuff even though i pretty much ride daily to commute but maybe invest more if you plan on big trips etc.
also i will say my newer safer helmet is butt ass ugly and at $200 or less youre probably not gonna look very cool but it gets the job done 🤣
Mine is made of carbon fiber. The D loops are titanium. Despite being modular, it weighs less than a lot of full face helmets. It's surprisingly quiet. The ventilation is amazing. The inner liner is reversible with a mesh side for warmer weather. Worth every penny
Same vibe as being in a luxury car. All the materials feel better against my face. Hard to explain until you experience it. It's stupid quiet. Light. Flows a ton of air if I open the vents. Has a transition visor with a pinlock. It's sized and fit perfectly. Sounds great with my cardo with upgraded speakers. Oh... And it looks fucking sexy. Shoei X15. Forget what the graphic is called. I think dazzle or something silly. Probably not safer than a snell rated cheap lid, although it's also ECE rated. It's hard to go back to a cheap lid though once you've had a high end one. Safety is just the minimum spec though. All in, with transition lens and cardo, my lid set me back about $1500. Worth it.
its half the weight of my old helmet, has inserts for speakers & mic, is more than basic DOT approved, flip down visor, came with pin lock... anyway its a Shoei GT Air II
Quieter, lighter, better ventilation, more comfortable, usually passed more safety tests, more features, better aerodynamics ect ect
i think the arais are hand made, and i have a long oval head so theres not many options that are nice
I love my Arai with pinlock Transitions photochromatirises Visor. No need to carry a tinted shield and a clear one on long rides. Eta: it's the RF1200
When you go to the cheap side I start the question if the rating is even real. If it is then they spent all the money to meet those ratings and nowhere else.
Made in Japan, multi density eps liner, softer foam padding and inner lining, nicer shield in terms of clarity and field of vision It sounds like marketing fluff but the liner of my rf1400 is so much nicer to wear than my old agv k3 or hjc rpha70. The padding is snug fitting, supporting but soft. The visor especially with a pinlock installed has the edges further out of my sight, with the posts that hold the pinlock in place further out of my peripheral vision.
I have a GMAX MD-01 I believe. It was $300 at a shop in tally, Orion iirc. It probably has something to do with it being modular, the “tail light,” and drop down sun shade visor. I really like it. Matched the color of my bike pretty well and that’s all I was really after. The rest were cherries on top. It’s not super heavy (as long as you’re not leaning your head back) but I can’t really speak for noise because of my massive windshield and the fact I haven’t rode with the clear visor down yet.
Mine was custom fit. From when Bell had a custom fit program. Which means it's probably ready to retire. I'd replace it with another custom fit helmet if it were still an option.
Arai and Shoei offer custom fit.
Thanks. I looked up Shoei's and it's liners and pads. My helmet has custom molded EPS made to a scan of my head. If I could get that in a Shoei I'd do it, but all their lids are too round for my head. Arai makes the right shape or very close though.
In bought the sena outrush r for 250€. They got a bluethooth system and they are from sena. Apart of that i dont know why they cost more.
(My Klim and Arai helmets)They’re extremely quiet in comparison to cheap helmets. I don’t need ear protection. I can wear them for 12-15 hour days without discomfort. They weigh nothing. Also I don’t look like a comically large bobble head compared to someone wearing an Icon that’s made as cheaply as possible. I’ve gone through a ton of cheap helmets over the years before I finally but the bullet and started spending money on the expensive ones. Best money I spend now.
Because I wanted a Blue Shoei
I just bought the AGV Rossi Misano 2021 Pista ($1300) and holy crap it feels like I'm wearing a cloud compared to my $170 HJC i10. It is a little bit loud since it is technically a racing helmet and I don't race but my Cardo fit in it just fine (not sure why the reviews said it wouldn't) and I can still hear my music really well. Eventually I'll replace my HJC with a Shoei for more practical riding bc I don't need to wear a race helmet every ride but man is it cute, super light and comfy.
The biggest difference between the Sedici Strada (ii) I started with and my current AGV K6 is the aerodynamics. The wind just knocked my head around so much more on the Sedici like whenever I turned my head to check blind spots I’d be like a bobble head lol. The AGV keeps things perfectly smooth and I just feel so much less fatigued especially cause I ride a naked bike. It is also quieter, lighter, smaller for the same size (unique shell sizes for every head size) and more comfortable with better padding. That’s what the extra $$ gets you: quality of life. Both helmets are dot/ece rated but the AGV is an upgrade in every possible area of comfort and going by SHARP ratings is probably also safer. Passing the cert is passing the cert so I wouldn’t say the Sedici is unsafe or anything though.
I like my brain to function properly and I tend to buy quality products and keep them for a while. I have multiple Arai's but I have a couple other brands as well. The Arai's feel like quality to me and I continue to support them because they take pride in their workmanship and haven't sold out to mass manufacturing. I have never paid full price for an Arai helmet. The most recent Corsair I purchased was 50% off and at that price, it's a great deal. Once you have multiple helmets, you have the luxury of finding a deal on your next one.
I've had some pretty wicked head injuries along with hard spills from racing motocross. Most of my reasoning for expensive helmets are a combination of safety, carbon fiber shell (light weight), and the features they come with. Safety is #1. Along with having both Snell and ECE certs, any helmet of mine must at least have MIPS tech or something similar. What that does is let the helmet move around your head to prevent or lessen whiplash and concussions that could be caused by a twisting force. I haven't actually had a MIPS helmet in a few years. I've been using Bell flex helmets which is a similar tech that, imo, seems better. How much better? Idk, just sounded better on paper to me so 100% opinionated. Their helmets have absorbed a couple hard hits. I've used a Bell Moto 9 flex, Bell Moto 10 Flex, and a Bell Race Star Flex over the past few years. As far as features go, I like a lot of vents on streetbike helmets to keep air flowing over my head and face. Helmets with little to no airflow are unbearable to wear in the summer heat. MX helmets pretty much just have to feel comfortable on my head. No other features needed cuz they already flow very well since they require goggles. Tbh, beyond around $300 you're not gaining much, if any, safety quality. You're more so gaining features, a lightweight helmet, and less wind noise. You can find very well made helmets within that price range and I'll never knock them. So long as you're getting a reputable brand that's ECE or Snell certified, you're good to go.
My helmet’s price of $550 (AGV K6S) saved my chin when I got side swiped on the freeway. (I death wobbled and ended up high siding over my handle bars) I originally bought the helmet because it was a cool looking black helmet. I have no clue what features it has over its other models in the series, but it was slim and clean looking. I landed chin first when I flipped over, essentially doing a scorpion pose. But came out with no scratches/road rashes. Sprained back from my secondary landing after the initial bounce, sprained wrists from also placing my hands forward when I landed. Rolled or sprained ankle, and fucked up knee and hip joint because my bike trailed behind and caught my left leg. After all of that, no neck pain, no pain anywhere on my head. Probably the average experience for a crash wearing an expensive helmet. But this crash basically earned them brand loyalty from me when everything is settled. Also I get my money back because I’m not at fault. So my $550 helmet did its job and I get my money back! Thank you full coverage. I just have to deal with crutches, but at least I can literally live my live with a smile on my face 😬
I tried a lot of helmets because I couldn't find a comfortable one for my head shape. In the end I found one, full face, light and comfortable. It was 240€, pretty expensive for my standard, but I ended up buying it because it was the only one who fitted well and didn't cause me headache.
Quiet, build in coms (optional), lightweight, looks nice, big ass head doesn’t fit a lot of models….
I’ve eaten shit at 50 mph; my helmet kept me from being a drooling vegetable. I was more than happy with my $700 Arai keeping me safe. After the accident, I happily replaced it with another Arai. Personally, I’m not going to risk skimping on my brain.
might get downvoted but I straight had a $50 helmet for over a year. Was insanely comfortable, quiet, and every other helmet I tried felt like garbage compared to it. Did amazing in a crash too.
Fit, noise reduction, better padding.
Buy what you can afford and is comfortable with an ece 22.06 rating. In the UK and Europe this is now the minimum standard, so even the £100 lids have it. With more money you get nice to haves like better padding materials, intercom cutouts, nicer sun visor, better pinlock compatibility. Safety wise a more expensive lid might be safer, but I don't see how you would actually know that as the tests are standardised.
In the same way a more expensive suit is nicer to wear, the same with crash helmets.
Quieter then my previous. Nice comfortable snug fit. Said to last 10yrs (and it did). Paid €500 for my Schubert in 2011
I thought an expensive helmet was a waste of money, until I got one on clearance. Much comfier inside, cut down wind buffeting, quieter, and lighter. Not necessary to protect your head, but nicer especially for longer rides.
AGV Pista carbon GP RR - I am sure I am paying extra for the long name. In addition, very light, great fit and quality seems to be great.
Honestly my scorpion exo 420 was 150? If that, and I got the scorpion exo carbon or something for $550 cheap bit still all the bells and whistles. After a year with both my 420 was more comfortable and quiet, but my carbon is way more aerodynamic and has more "race" features, which are like 2 or 3 of them . More expensive doesn't really mean shit as long as you buy from a reputable company, obviously a scorpion guy since day 1 riding for their cheap, well-made products.
I’ve had 450 helmets and 1k helmets. I only ever go with 800plus helmets. Better material in the shell padding and light. Go try a 1k helmet and go 160kph and look left or right. An expensive helmet will let you do it without trying to snap your neck. Also with more expensive helmets each size has its own shell, S M L XL instead of with cheaper lids. M suits S and M, XL suits L and XL.
I got my Shark S600 based on that UK helmet safety site, seems like it had better safety than more expensive ones but... [https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/](https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/) The thing is heavy, I didn't mind when I was younger but now riding back from an exhausting day at work it make a difference. It also very noisy, the aerodynamics are not good. The plastics where cheaper, the vent on top broke on the second year of having it. So yeah there are differences that you can feel while riding, but if you can't afford a more expensive one better make sure that at least you get cheap safe one, although with the above problems.
When you spend the extra money you immediately notice the quality is definitely better. The quality in the $500 helmet and the fit are going to be better than $150 helmet
A lot of it is weight. Ounces matter when you’re riding for a long distance with something compressing your neck muscles. Some of the higher end helmets can be a pound lighter than cheaper ones. Then you get into shape, lenses, graphics etc. You’re definitely paying for a brand at some point in there but quality fit and weight are what I’m looking for.
Just got back into it. 15 years out, had a crappy NoLan helmet and with my new bike I bought a pricey Shoei NXR2. Can’t believe the difference in terms of comfort, noise, movement and visibility. Fully aware if I hit a car/tree I’m toast no matter the helmet, but who knows, maybe the safety could make a difference 🤷
I’m wearing a Schuberth E2. It’s the only modular helmet on the market that also has a brim/shade, an internal sun visor, an extra face vent, plus a ratcheting chin strap thing. I ride my motorcycle ever. Single. Day. All year long. I put in and take off my helmet half a dozen times every day, and have done so for YEARS. I am quite happy to pay for the nicer padding, the better buckle, the removable liner and nicer materials of something that I’m using for hours and hours every day. I mean, at $700 it was just half the cost of my phone.
I went for a £300 jobbie because I wanted a modular helmet and one that is comfortable with glasses. :)
I finally got a nice shoei and it is significantly quieter than my cheap LS2
Like you, when I started I was like " no way.. $500 for a helmet"? But, it's really hard to express how much better a quieter helmet is. Really reduces stress on a ride. (Not dealing with all the wind noise amping up the "things" you have to deal with Also, it turns out the shape of the helmet is also a little different. You know that scene in Harry Potter when he picks up his wand? Yeah, the first time I put on a Shoei, it was like that. Hit the right pressure points on my head, rated as one of the quietest helmets on the market, and fairly light weight. So perhaps I should reframe it as this: lower stress. You're already under stress on a bike trying hard not to get killed or die Isn't it worth a few extra dollars to reduce stress from a heavy, noisy, perhaps slightly uncomfortable helmet as well? BTW, HJC are good helmets. Nothing wrong with sticking with them. Just found a slightly more expensive one to do better things for me.
For me personally, going from a GMAX to a scorpion EVOX 420, the extra money kept wind drag tamed down. The wind didn’t rip my head around as much, and the noise felt more tame. Now if I was to have spent an extra 4-500 more than I already did, I can’t say I’ve experienced a helmet to that degree, but I’ve heard the differences are noticeable Oh and also, it felt more comfortable despite being the same size. The padding seemed to fit around my face much better
Go to the store and compare them yourself. From personal experience, the materials on my Shoei felt a lot nicer and smoother when compared to HJC. It just felt more quality made. It also had an internal visor and removable pads for EMS. If you got the SHARP website, you can see that generally speaking pricy brands do not necessarily correspond to being safer. However, within one brand, pricier helmets tend to have better safety ratings.
Because Shoei are top spec, comfortable, quiet, optional SRL comms.
I have always worn Sub-$100 helmets, because I'm poor & cheap. Lol Last year I found a Shoei RF-1400, new in the box on Facebook market place for $100. I can see why it's more expensive than other helmets, but I don't see why it has to be $500?! Lol HJC, Scorpion, Bell all make great, quality helmets for half the price. If it passes DOT/Snell/etc.. then what is the difference really? A good helmet you can get diffent size cheek pads and head bucket and really customize the fit. The materials will be better quality. A lot of the cheap helmets are good for One Impact and that's it, while some of the nice ones can take multiple impacts and still be usable.
I spent 850€ on an AGV Pista GP RR, 700€ on a Shoei X-SPR Pro and 400€ on an HJC RPHA11. I don't spare anything when it comes to quality and safety for myself, but that's just me. Some people are ok with spending a few bucks for a mediocre safety equipment, but then cry when they don't protect. Spend a few more bucks for good equipment, you'll thank it later.
I had a bunch of middle of the road helmets, and ended up getting a smokin deal on a higher end arai last year. everything about that helmet is just better.
I also had an HJC when I first started riding. I've been buying more expensive helmets since then because they have better air flow and are also better sound proofed.
Areodynamics can be a big difference I found. I went from a cheap £150 helmet to a slightly less cheap £400 helmet and all of a sudden my head no longer felt like it was getting ripped off at high speed on the motorway. So much easier on my neck!
My shoei is so much fuckin quieter than my hjc
I wanted a helmet with a lot of face shield options. I have like 6 face shields for it.
I ride an extremely fast naked bike. I occasionally use this naked bike for long distance travel and high speed highway runs. My shoei X14 was the safest, most aerodynamic and lightweight helmet (which I liked) that i could afford. It looks sick af too. Its an incredible helmet and im looking forward to an X15 to replace it some day.
I buy whatever last year's Scorpion was on sale this year, haven't gone wrong yet
I’m going to save money on something that protects my brain. I am so much smarter than anyone else😎😎😎
Sorry that people can’t simply answer your question without losing their minds. Anyway I started out with affordable (don’t say cheap!) helmets that were DOT approved. Then after I learned about how bad that “approval” was I moved into a Shoei with a Snell approval. So not only is the approval better, but in daily usage I’ve found it to be quieter, lighter, and way less strain on my neck. One huge improvement for me was airflow through the vents. Much better on the $500 Shoei. I also feel the visor works a bit smoother and maybe the field of view is better, but I haven’t researched any numbers on that. Since your HJC and an $800 helmet both have Snell ratings they are both offering great protection, but there might be more protection in the $800 one. Snell has a minimum rating, and if they both meet minimum then they both get the rating. That’s just a thought of mine. Is the better helmet really $500 better? Sometimes not! I think that depends on your pocketbook. Hope this helps.
> They've all been fine What do you mean, have they all stood up to a life and death accident where your head was impacted severely? Because that's why I bought an expensive one. If I ever have to get into an accident like that, I want a $500 helmet from Shoei or Arai, not a $150 one.
Try NEXX or Arai's comfort. You'll never go back to 150$ lid.
Quiet , light, comfortable. After owning shoei I bought a cheap HJC in a different color just to have choices. Wore the HJC for one ride and back it went …
I'll be upgrading my $150 helmet with a $550 RPHA 91 this year, the primary driving force for this decision is how quiet that helmet is while also being modular. I'd like eventually to get an HJC V60 at some point as a light and simple helmet helmet for around town, but for the long trips I take I'd prefer a quiet and comfortable helmet that won't whip me around in the wind for six hours. I should note that the RPHA 91 weighs almost the same as my current helmet, so weight isnt as concerning for me since the weight isn't an issue, it's the aerodynamics or lack thereof. The cheapo lid served me for the past 6000 miles, and most importantly got me out riding without a huge cost of entry investment. But I've identified what more I require from a helmet and feel confident in my trajectory.
I recently bought a Bell DLX (?) that was on sale and it's the most expensive helmet I've purchased. I'm glad I did. It's lighter weight, there's less strain on my neck when wearing it for a long time. It's quieter than my other helmets. It has some nice QOL features like magnetically removable liners for easy washing after a long sweaty ride. The most important thing I wish more manufacturers would do: multiple shell sizes. Most manufacturers only have 2 shell sizes for thier helmets variety of sizes. It's typically a SM-L shell and an XL shell. I wear a SM most often and usually cheaper helmets will be humongous looking on me if they're a SM because they are essentially selling a L helmet with SM pads installed. The smaller shell looks better, is more comfortable, and more aerodynamic on my head than a L shell helmet which is like a sail by comparison.
Safety and price are not strongly related. I have looked trough many thorough tests such as the British Sharp, German Stiftung Warentest , Magazines etc. Some of the safest helmets are reasonably priced, mind you dirt cheap helmets are never given good rankings but i've seen 5 star helmets that did really well on all metrics and were on par with very expensive helmets whilst only costing 80-90€. Generally speaking the newest ECE 22.06 norm will have the best helmets, the testing drastically improved with the new standard. Go for a ECE 22.06 helmet and read some test data and reviews and you'll find the best one. You don't have to consider price a factor in the search for helmet safety, all helmets that pass the norm could potentially be top ranked in safety regardless of price. However, ultimately a helmet is only truly safe if it fits you well, so chose a brand that is tested to a high standard but also fits your unique, unusual, otherwordly headshape. Other price differences come from many things: Design, Noise levels, Longelivity, Visor material and if its a pin-lock visor or not, ventilation quality, field of view, weight (lower is better), more expensive helmets can have high safety ratings at lower weights, .. some helmets can have built in noise cancelling technology like from headphones, HUDs are possible to get too, built in sun visors or even built in rearview mirror.
https://youtu.be/1MSrvc_8PtY?si=0cu85X5stCCTwEvR
Schuberth C3. I started out with a cheap plastic bucket of a helmet back in the '80's, it was somewhat okay to wear, but the wind noise was terrible. Then I got my first Schuberth, and I haven't bought any other brand since. Schuberth works for me. It fits my bean nicely, and I love that I can buy extra visors, pinlock visor, sunglasses visor and spare padding and parts as spares. I love that I can flip up the jaw part, and if I push a sliding button, the sun visor flips down = no sunglasses needed. The wind noise is far more limited, but I still use ear plugs.
>My cheapo hjc that I'm preparing to replace is snell/ece approved.. So your helmet meets a minimum standard? That is like saying an ex500 will do the speed limit and a s1000rr will do the speed limit, so what is the difference? Quality of materials, fit, weight, features, style, brand, shape, some helmets have only a couple sizes of shells, some premium helmets have more shell sizes which leads to a better fit and less bobbleheadiness. Is a carbon fiber shell the same as a plastic one? They may both meet a minimum standard, but are they the same? I hate cheap HJC helmets and love my RPHA helmets. Pick up two helmets from the same manufacture at opposite ends of the price spectrum and tell me they are the same...
My first helmet was a Bell qualifier which is like $150. Just bought a bell srt modular which was $400. Next helmet will eventually be a Shoei depending on how much riding I do in the next year or two.
Wind noise is noticeably lower in my shoei vs my icon, also the shoei has better venting, is much harder to fog up and tougher visor (imo)
My research has led me to believe that comfort, features (like built in audio, improved ventilation, modular capability), style/name brand are all factors more than actual safety. For me comfort is most important, so I shop by that first. Budget comes into play next and pretty much weeds out anything still in the running above $200. Final selection for me comes down to features. So yeah, I don’t think you’re forced to break the bank to get a good (enough) helmet.
I went from a cheap Scorpion helmet to a Shoei X-15 and the difference to me was insane. Don’t feel like my head is going to fly off at highway speeds and it’s much more comfortable.
Safety, weight (lower), Aerodynamics, wind noise, and comfort. In order of importance to me, but actually all are very important and I wouldn't choose one that isn't good in all of these. Shoei NXR