Are expensive helmets worth it

[Twisted]

Are expensive helmets worth it?

Ask yourself this question as your skidding down the road using your noggin as a brake. 

I do prefer a quality helmet to be on my head. And quality helmets don't need to be expensive.

[Janx101]

.... that is a great point!  ... quality does not always equal pricey!

[SpaceMonkey]

My first helmet was an A$70 full face off eBay. Met Australian safety standards but was noisy wobbled around on my head a little. Upgraded to a Shark Vision-R which normally retail around A$440 here but I managed to pick up for $270 on sale as it was the previous years model. Whether or not it protects my head better its a superior product in every other way, better looks, better fit, comfort, less noise, lighter, better venting and the integrated sun visor is awesome. So yeah, going from a cheap helmet to a mid-range one is well worth the extra $$. No idea about the top-end stuff, but I suspect it's like most other things and the law of diminishing returns probably applies. I also have a $65 RXT open-face that I wear for short rides around town in the summer heat, ended up buying that one over more expensive alternatives because it was the only open-fact that fit my head just right.

[Janx101]

Always wanted a Stig helmet. .  But track legal only over here so far... and only in cars at that!

[Rallyfan]

Is it a Nexx or?

[Janx101]

Stig helmet? .. is a Simpson - Diamondback. .. not cheap tho!

[J_Walker]

I need to get a new helmet. and I was actually wanting a dual sport helmet... but I was curious as to the noise they might make at higher speeds. anyone have any experience?

[Suzuki Stevo]

I need to get a new helmet. and I was actually wanting a dual sport helmet... but I was curious as to the noise they might make at higher speeds. anyone have any experience?

I wear ear plugs with all my helmets, DS type helmets offer (for me anyway) the best visability, I rate that higher than looks or noise.

[Big Rich]

Walker, look over on ADVRider. I'd be surprised if there was a DS helmet on the marker that wasn't reviewed over there.

[electrode1]

I usually buy the cheaper helmets..HJC, Vega, etc. I just bought a LS2 ff386 modular that is highly rated. It has a few things the high end helmets have.It has a quick release strap, pinlock ready, ECE.
Very nice!

[Rallyfan]

Howard Wolowitz wears an AFX open face. Bazza wore AGV I think, and Joey Dunlop an Arai.

I think Wolowitz changes helmets after the first season but am unsure -- not a huge fan of the show.

[evilorion]

When I bought my bike I looked at a few brands and settled on my full face Shoei. I really appreciate the extra testing Snell does to the helmet and I feel more confident in my ride because of it. I am sure I will look into other brands but right now I plan to get much use out of my Shoei. It's comfortable, has great air flow, and keeps the noise down.


Besides, you can't put a price on your head

[Leadberry]

I bought my Bell RS1 for $220 shipped on clearance from STG. I love this helmet. Snell approved, looks sweet, plenty of vents, contoured cheekpads, chin curtain, breath guard, the liner is made of the softest most amazing fabric I've felt in a helmet, it uses a magnet to hold the strap in place rather than an obnoxious button, and the visor release mechanism is fantastic. You can even add one of their photochromic visors.

When I wore out my old generic no-name modular helmet, I bought a Bell Qualifier because it was cheap. The helmet looked cool, but the fit was off and the interior lining was rough and scratchy. It just felt cheap, so I returned it. It might have protected my head just fine, but it wasn't comfortable at all.

In any case, with most helmets the cost-benefit analysis is really going to boil down to how much you value certain luxuries. Lighter weight, lower noise, more comfortable liner, etc etc.

[Toogoofy317]

Sooooo....


The answer to the original question:  "Are expensive helmets worth it?"


No

Yes
Maybe
It depends

(choose the answer you like)

Cookie

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

Seeing that I'm a defensive rider, ride mostly alone, and at speed limits (occasionally faster, but most of the time I behave), and in fl it's too hot to wear a helmet outside of winter; adding to the fact that I can enjoy giving up minor quality (eg wind noise, seating comfort, fogging) for some $$$, I would say they (expensive helmets) are not worth it.

If you are living in colder regions, where screen fogging is an issue, or ride with 2 and need intercom; or you're the type of person who rides his bike once a year, and have one of those humongous bagger bikes, and want top quality, top dollar, you may want to go with the more expensive helmets.

I enjoy my ride, I use it as weekly/weekend commuter and on my days off.
My bike has no less than 1 month stand still, most of the time 3-4 rides per week.
I don't care about how it looks like, I care about the enjoyment of my ride.
Ironically, I use my helmet more than people keeping their bike in the stable all year, save for 2 weeks in the summer, and I don't even want a fancy helmet.
$100 helmets are super! $35 helmets are good enough (save for the tracks or the 70+mph highways).

As a rider in Florida also Orlando to be exact I won't go 2 miles without my helmet! These tourons are the worst drivers I've ever witnessed.
This is where a quality helmet is important because of our high temperatures. I started with a Shoie RF-1000 I loved it and didn't notice the price too much since it was financed with Flick. After a few years it was time to update. I went to Cycle Gear and tried almost every helmet on. I ended up with a seven zero seven Vandeta 2. It was much lighter than my Shoie and breathed so much better not to mention I could actually afford a tinted visor! Think it was about $125.
On another forum a sweet lady sent me her worn once gear since she could no longer ride. The package included a new Scorpion women's helmet. Pink and white with butterflies along with a hot pink visor. Many that know me know I'm not quite that kind of girl but holy krap that helmet was the most comfortable of the 3! 60% of the time I wear it with the awesome white jacket she gave me. Only do I wear the Vandetta when I'm rocking the Suzuki jacket.
I'm getting close to needing another helmet I'll probably try Scorpion first but I will stick with Cycle Gear because I can try it for 7 days with option to return! But, my advice never forgo a helmet because it's too hot a shower will take care of that or a camel back to keep you hydrated!
Mary

[g2420hd]

Don't get too hung up on getting an "expensive" brand.

My head can't comfortably fit the Shoei or Arai helmets, so I got a Shark instead. A better fit helmet I think is better than expensive brands for the sake of it.

Note shark itself is pretty good, but the shark I got is like 1/5 the price of the Arais and Shoeis where I am from.

[G.Rossman]

I just ordered a Bell RS-1 normally a 400 helmet but I got it on closeout for 190.  I'll have to see how I like it but all the reviews have been good.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[rscottlow]

I've got an HJC CL-17. It's my first helmet, and the only one that I tried on after reading quite a few reviews. Since I was getting ready to purchase my first bike, and had already spend a significant amount of cash on the rest of my gear, I only looked at helmets under $150. It fits my head well, and all of the reviews I read were excellent. Hopefully I never have to test it out the hard way...

The only thing I have to compare it to is my brother's Arai. It fits similarly to my CL-17, but I have not ridden with it so I cannot compare noise levels, etc. He recently went down at around 40 MPH, and slid head first into a curb. He walked away from it, with obvious damage to the helmet (as well as to the bike and the rest of his gear), but the important part is that he walked away unharmed. Long story short, he has tried on my HJC and plans to buy one to replace his Arai.

[smokestack]

I bought a Shoei GT Air and paid several hundred more than I needed to protect my brain. It sits on a chair protecting it from falling debris and random shrapnel. The XL size looks like an Apollo-era helmet and people laugh at me in public. I hope this helps answer your question.

[jdoorn14]

The XL size looks like an Apollo-era helmet and people laugh at me in public. I hope this helps answer your question.

Seriously? You let what other people say determine what helmet you wear? My own wife tells me I look like "a moon man" when I gear up to ride. I wear what's comfortable, within my budget, and what I feel gives the best level of protection based on the level of risk I am willing to accept.

[smokestack]

The only reason it sits on the chair is because I like to pretend to be a motorcycle mechanic  (<-- actual helmet size)