Are expensive helmets worth it

[Rallyfan]

I agree with that also, Steve; I ride at my pace only and never beyond. However I'm still in danger from others or acts of God.

In SoCal, several years ago, I witnessed the aftermath of an accident that claimed a biker's life. In the carpool lane northbound on FWY 55, near Tustin, a biker died in a collision with a yacht.

Neither of my helmets would have saved me vs. a boat loose in traffic. However that doesn't mean neither helmet would save me in a typical fender bender.

I don't know... The more we discuss the less I'm trusting my inexpensive helmet -- but not because it's inexpensive. It's because of how it's made (cost is related but not my primary criterion; one brings the other by only to an extent).

I think a $100 Bell or Scorpion is safer than a $35 eBay helmet. Just IMO.

[GatorTrae]

Well I am shocked at the great debate this thread has generated. Thanks for all the comments.
I'm much newer to riding than most of the commenters.  I have ONE helmet and I'm getting my second.  I didn't know any better when I bought the first one.  It's ok. but after trying on the Bell, even though its tight, I don't know I can go back to the original Vega.   
Great news though. I checked back at Revzilla and found they have the Large in stock and I bought it.  I called CS and got a return authorization and packing label for the Medium.  So it looks like I'll be back in business soon.
The Vega is DOT and ECE R... certified. The new Bell is DOT and Snell. 
Thanks again for the support with getting the new lid.
Trae

[Zithromax]

I totally agree about quality being part of safety. The clarity and quality of the visor IS important (I forgot to mention earlier) especially at night. The most dangerous riding situation I was in was compounded by a cheap scratched tinted visor on a cheap helmet at 2 AM at 40 degrees and foggy.

I would have gave $1000 to rent my own shoei that night! It has a breath box and a non tinted visor.

I started off it was 65 degrees and noon, I grabbed the old "toss it around the garage" hat with tinted visor and thought nothing of it. Met up with an old friend, we got to talking, it got colder and way late. It was so foggy and cold I couldn't SEE through the visor and it was too cold to leave it open, I was riding looking out a 1/4" slot with my eyes watering and I was mad at the hat... At first... It wasn't that HAT's fault. It was the dummy UNDER the hat that let his gear get into such bad shape! 

[ohgood]

There are plenty opinions out there. I want to hear yours.

1- What helmet do you wear - how much was it?  Do you like/hate it?
2- Have you tried the expensive brands: Shoei, AGV, Arai. Is it worth 3x or even 5x the price? 

The cop out answer of buy what fits best and what you like.. I get that.
I want to learn from your experience. That's what this community is about!

Thanks! 

Trae

are expensive helmets worth it - no. it's foam, with a plastic shell, so no, it's not worth $800.

1 a have a few, a joe rocket DS helmet, a fly racing DS helmet, a cheap flip-up chin bar (hjc), a fulmer street lid, a hjc street lid, a soumi, a open face trials lid, and a couple others somewhere.

2 yes, i've tried them. no, i was not impressed. the most impressive helmet i've tried on lately was a buddie's dirt bike helmet that weighed roughly half what my DS (fly racing) lid weighs.



in my experience, people buy what they can afford, until they realize just how much money is wasted on brand names. the guy with the bmw is going to have a $800 hornet for a lid, because, he spends more money on stuff. the guy on the trials bike will have on an open face with a visor, from 1972, because he knows better. the track god will have WHATEVER someone will sponsor him with.

i'll wear a DS helmet most of the time, on or off road. if i'm going for a >200 mile ride, it's a street helmet, like the flip face one. very comfy, very good for talking at intersections.

[Rallyfan]

The BMW guy and the trials guy would reasonably be expected to face the same potential impact forces, and the trials guy knows better, including the viability of a 40-year-old helmet during trials?

Does FIM allow cold-war-era helmets in any event, trial or not?

The BMW guy simply must spend more money on stuff? Would he be just as safe with the 40-year-old trial helmet as he would be in a Schuberth made last month?

Would he be just as safe in an inexpensive flip up as he would be in a Schuberth made last month?

Any part of this that is true is fantastic news! Where are the data from actual crashes though?

[Suzuki Stevo]

i'll wear a DS helmet most of the time, on or off road. if i'm going for a >200 mile ride, it's a street helmet, like the flip face one. very comfy, very good for talking at intersections.

I also wear DS type helmets a lot, mostly because I have yet to find a FF helmet (in the price range I am willing to pay) that has an opening large enough  for me to use my peripheral vision to its fullest, this Clearance Sale Snell Approved 2009 model HJC Matrix helmet in this photo is a prime example of $65 Blowout Pricing or whatever I paid..it was under $70 IIRC? Once I found out the sizing on the ones they had left fit me, I bought one in black also.

EDIT: Well I'll be dipped...5 years later, here ya go, it was $64.99 http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/16841/i/hjc-cl-x5n-matrix-helmet

Also in photo....
•  Previous years ventilated gloves $14.99
•  Previous years Team Yoshimura Jacket usually $279..I paid $79 (with Crash Pads)
•  Previous years GSX650F I paid $6300 OTD on a No Sales Tax weekend
•  $5.41 ANSI Z87 Safety Glasses, Home Depot (not Oakley's)
•  Not seen (under helmet) hair cut to 1/2 in via 1/2 spacer from Home Barber Kit
•  Yes I am a Cheap Bastard, riding a MC doesn't need to be expensive

[Rallyfan]

That does look good! Is there any lift generated by the visor? I love the idea of huge field of view.

[Suzuki Stevo]

That does look good! Is there any lift generated by the visor? I love the idea of huge field of view.

Once you adjust the visor angle it's tolerable, I do the speed limit and I don't remember it being an issue, you can always shorten it or just take it off if you want also.

EDIT: If I sound like I am speaking in the past tense here, I am..this time of the year I ride in my Honda not on it. I will pay attention for visor lift in March when I start riding street bikes again 

[MeeLee]

For me, the cheaper helmets also feel too light in fast traffic.
With wind gusts tugging on the helmet, I don't want a helmet that's too light.
Neither too heavy. And if it is heavy, it's better to have one that's a bit balanced backwards, and doesn't have a heavy front (so I don't get neckpain keeping my head up all the time).

[Suzuki Stevo]

For me, the cheaper helmets also feel too light in fast traffic.
With wind gusts tugging on the helmet, I don't want a helmet that's too light.
Neither too heavy. And if it is heavy, it's better to have one that's a bit balanced backwards, and doesn't have a heavy front (so I don't get neckpain keeping my head up all the time).

Ahhhh yes, the Goldilocks Helmet, you want one that's "just right"...

[Zithromax]

Sorry to keep popping back... The wing drag thing, it changes drastically if you're not riding the GS but a touring bike with a windshield. Just having a windjammer or full dresser will change my preference in hat for the day. I will wear a dome nugget if I'm on a full dresser. Those tend to be cheaper than most any other hat. Anyone else have a C.H.i.P's hat? 

[Suzuki Stevo]

Sorry to keep popping back... The wing drag thing, it changes drastically if you're not riding the GS but a touring bike with a windshield. Just having a windjammer or full dresser will change my preference in hat for the day. I will wear a dome nugget if I'm on a full dresser. Those tend to be cheaper than most any other hat. Anyone else have a C.H.i.P's hat? 

Check...C.H.I.P's hats, I have 2 $36 Clearance AFX helmets for the 95°+ temps in Eastern Washington.

[BockinBboy]

This is the helmet I have linked below (includes my review).  Its the Rearview Reevu modular helmet.  The review and some of the follow-up questions from other members covers what I like/dislike, why I purchased, and even covers some perceived benefits.  By the quality, construction, and features (w/o the rearview system) it is in the range of a $300 helmet, but the added feature of the rearview system adds about $100 to the final price, IMO.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=64696.msg771614#msg771614

As others have said, at a certain point on the scale, the cost of the helmet goes more toward comfortability and convenience features than does safety - although some of those features add amount of safety by allowing comfort in conditions that might affect your riding ability, physically or mentally (ventilation, visor features, weight, etc).  To what extent those features may add safety depends on how you ride, how much you ride, what conditions you ride in, etc...

- Bboy

[Rallyfan]

Thanks. I could use something like that. I can't see behind me on my F, only to the sides.

[ohgood]

1- The BMW guy and the trials guy would reasonably be expected to face the same potential impact forces, and the trials guy knows better, including the viability of a 40-year-old helmet during trials?

2- Does FIM allow cold-war-era helmets in any event, trial or not?

3a- The BMW guy simply must spend more money on stuff?
3b- Would he be just as safe with the 40-year-old trial helmet as he would be in a Schuberth made last month?

4- Would he be just as safe in an inexpensive flip up as he would be in a Schuberth made last month?

5- Any part of this that is true is fantastic news! Where are the data from actual crashes though?

1- that should have read "40 year old style of trials helmet". the trials guy still knows better than the bmw weener 9/10 times.

2- goodness gracious no! all that wonderful sponsorship money would dry up immediately !

3a- yes, the bmw guy simply must spend more money on stuff.
3b- he would have to ride more to find out. that ain't happenin. it's cold out. or hot. or windy. or the dealership hasn't installed his new pannier yet. or something.
(yes i'm ribbing the stereotype for fun)

4- he would have to ride to be unsafe. he's safe. he's not riding. not this time of year.
(stilllll milking it)

5- trials crashes, bmw crashes, or just motorcycle crashes in general ? i'm fairly certain you'll be just as happy to know (as i am) that wearing a full face helmet from -whoever-makes-it- is safer than wearing a clamshell, or no helmet at all. but it's fun to poke fun at the bmw guys, so i'll wait for your reply

[Rallyfan]

Happy New Year!

I'm in sunny Southern California and the temperature outside is... -7C. That's not a typo. It's 7 degrees below zero. I'm now a Honda guy (SUV, that is).

The more I look at my helmets and think about things the clearer it is to me that I'm putting the TMS in a closet and switching fully to the Arai.

However! TMS makes a $30 armoured vest, with elbow, shoulder, spine, chest, and kidney plates. It's on my short list. It's for MX but I'll wear it under my existing armoured jacket nonetheless.

With my Arai and my double armoured padding I will look like a fashion victim that's not gotten rid of the trophobelene (I have... Oh the memories..).

Health, wealth, fashion, and safety to all!

[Watcher]

Aside from certs, another thing that makes cheaper helmets cheaper comes down to manufacturing shortcuts.

For example, a more expensive brand that makes a helmet will make a different shell size for every helmet fit size.  S, M, L, and XL will all have different shells.
A cheap helmet will cut corners here with a liner.  So perhaps S and M will both use a M size shell, and the L and XL will both use an XL size shell and they size them down with a bulky liner.  They spend half as much money on equipment to manufacture, and if you happen to be a M or XL you won't be affected, but a S or L might have issues with fit.
The bonus is they can now charge a lot less for the helmets.

That's the case with my AFX.  I wanted a "better" helmet, but my price range was around $100.  The AFX had more features than some others in the same price range, and the shell issue was the reason.  I happened to be lucky with the fit.  It's comfortable, and the FOV is fine, but the graphics aren't exceptional, the ventilation is moderate, and the visor isn't really high quality.


I've noticed with a lot of things that you get what you pay for, but that being said the difference between a $100 helmet and a $500 helmet might be vast while the difference between a $500 helmet and an $800 one won't be as tangible.  I don't have experience with top of the line helmets, but I do have experience with a lot of other things.  In many cases, going "top tier" just means you get a better fit and finish, not necessarily a better product than the middle-road examples.
But a middle-road priced item will definitely be better than a budget friendly option in most ways.

[Joolstacho]

And you'll pay 4 grand for an American Strat, but you can get a Jap one for $1200 -Just as good.
And if you want, you'll get a Chinese copy for $400 - again, just as good.
What's going on here? People are buying their egos. And they need to justify their spend too.
IMHO same with helmets.

[Suzuki Stevo]

And you'll pay 4 grand for an American Strat, but you can get a Jap one for $1200 -Just as good.
And if you want, you'll get a Chinese copy for $400 - again, just as good.
What's going on here? People are buying their egos. And they need to justify their spend too.
IMHO same with helmets.

Pleeze....tell me more
J/K we are here to talk about helmets

[Joolstacho]

Sorry Stevo, it was just an illustration of our tendency to assume bigger price means better quality.
http://www.whittakerdesign.com.au/guitars