What are you really paying for? Cheap VS Expensive Motorcycle Helmets
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- Опубликовано: 22 фев 2024
- When you spend more, you expect more. What do you actually get when you spend more on a motorcycle helmet?
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My favorite brand of motorcycle helmets...
www.MCrider.com/Shoei
orbital fracture with optic nerve damage. Those orbital bones are like thin tissue paper. I would have noticed if I saw you in person only because I have been in ophthalmology for over 30 years. I loved your story thank you for sharing. As I sit here waiting for a patient so i can do their eye exam :) Great Great Guy you are.
Good points Kevin. I’ve also found higher end helmets have more comfortable and quality padding material that budget helmets.
One main problem with finding the best fit and best protection for the money in a helmet is understanding all the ratings and finding dealers that actually have the knowledge of the products available
I have a long oval-shaped head and the Arai makes a model that feels like it was made for me. Wearing an Arai full face helmet saved my life in 2019!
Really? I’ve heard that shoei is better for oval head people and aria is for round head?
I am so glad I was wearing a high end (Shoei) the only time I ever crashed..... And the fact that I was wearing a full face helmet saved at least my face and perhaps my life.
After spending years and 30+ thousand miles in an icon airmada, I switched to an arai Corsair x when I got my current literbike, and I will literally NEVER go back to a cheap helmet. There’s almost a $1,000 difference, and it’s 100% felt, after 15,000 miles in the arai. It doesn’t buffet. Cleaning and visor changes are super easy. Snell certified. Cheaper helmets definitely have their place, but having a top of the line helmet is absolutely worth the money.
Try to push your fingertip into the EPS liner of any helmet that will give you an idea of how well they protect your brain icon has some of the most hard liner of any brand
@@-JohnSmith- I had an airmada save my life once. Had a van turn from the left lane across my lane into a shopping center, pinning me against the car and curb. Hopped the curb, lost the front, and my head went under the van’s back tire, and popped out, without crushing the helmet too bad. I would not be here without it.
I went from a Bell Bullitt , which is very cool, to a Shoei RF 1400. The Shoei is soooo much quieter and wind smooth. The difference is unbelievable. I’ve been with the Shoei now for two years. Absolutely love it.
Only Arai 👌
I've been riding for over 50 years and have a bunch of different helmets, but my favorites are my Super Seer and Shoei RJ Platinum-R LE Police Helmets. I'm a retired Police Officer and I was a Motor Officer for 2 years in the early 80s. Back in the day we all wore Bell Motorcycle Helmets. Boy have things changed over the years.
I wear a Bell Helmet. It was inexpensive ($130ish). I wore a Bell when I raced midget race cars in the 90's and the Bell fits me perfectly. The racing helemt was a good bit more expensive, kevlar and nomex. Heavy.
A large portion of the higher cost of premium helmets is the cost of testing them to the higher standards. Since I have a big head the shell size thing isn't an issue for me. My shield is treated but will still fog a little at times, I just crack it open a little like I did when racing. My current Bell doesn't feel heavy to me at all. I am very happy with it. A 'real' motorcycle jacket is my next big 'safety' purchase. But it won't be black.
I splurged on a Shoei RF-1200. It's quiet, flows air reasonably well, and the shield is optically as good as anything I've seen. The best part is that the pad covers are antimicrobial. After two years, the helmet smells like new when I put it on. Worth every penny.
I went from a $250 HJC to a $750 Shoei, I liked both helmets, both were comfortable, Snell rated, equally quiet...I even preferred the opening/closing of the vents on the HJC. The difference for me was wind resistance: The HJC felt like it was being pulled off my head on the highway, and the Shoei cuts through the wind so well, it's like I was not wearing it.
I have an RPHA 90 and it's a lot slipperier than my old Bell. It's possible it's more comparable to your Shoei, but I haven't tried those. I think my next helmet is likely to be Shoei.
Which Shoei helmet did you buy?
RF 1400.
@@DOCFWH
@@defaultuser3410 Thanks!
Any helmet is better than no helmet
There are a few things I can’t do without now that I have them -
1) modular
2) sun visor
3) easy install of Cardo unit
I bought my Shoei RF1200 at a close out pricing. I spent a cool $360 or so and have an exceptional quality helmet. No need to spend crazy amounts of money. Just be on the lookout for those bargains.
Thanks for that valuable information mate.
Much appreciated 🎉
More expensive helmets tend to have more comfortable interior materials too, with more options for adjusting cheek pad thickness to fine-tune the fit
I own 2 Shoie, 1 Bell, and 4 different sizes of HJC I-10’s.
Years ago, I got my screen name from a drunk driver who t-boned me on my motorcycle, and I slid face down, 150 feet, with my street bike on top of me.
My full face Shoei saved me, because when my old man showed me my helmet, the entire chin piece was ground down to about 20 thousandths of an inch.
NEVER skimp on your gear, or your tires.
I guess the only thing I could add is for those who will spend a full day in the saddle. Not so much the amount of money you spend but the amount of time you put into researching what helmet provides those two important things. Quiet and ventilation. Spend a day with your gourd inside an uncomfortable bucket and I promise you will spend at least a day looking for something comfortable before you ride like that again. Good luck!
I bought a Neotech ll. It was a very noisy helmet, the shield didn't close tightly either. It was on eBay in a couple of days. I have had good helmets from Nolan. I just recently got an HJC modular. The quietest helmet I have owned so far and I have had through the 60 years I have been riding. And yes I do wear earplugs. I find that most of the noise comes from underneath. A good neckroll would fix a lot of this.
I've improvised with neck collars of different types and even the cheap $8 "cervical collar" ones from my local pharmacy does a reasonable job in reducing wind noise.
@@Jonathan-L The next couple of days are supposed to be crappy. I am going to drag out my sewing machine and make a few of different sizes. I also just got a new HJC helmet, it is very quiet. I figure if I get rid of the little bit of noise that comes up from underneath I may not even have to wear earplugs. It i that quiet and it isn't even the latest model. RPHA 90, the 91's are out now. I got the 90 for less than half price.
Great tips!
As a bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian safety specialist, I enjoyed this content. Maybe your message will urge these manufacturers help improve their quality and safety.
The most expensive helmet is cheaper by orders of magnitude than a TBI.
The absolute best value in motorcycling is an ECE2206 helmet in the $200-250 range. The gap between those and $600 lids is closer than the gap between them and $150 helmets. It’s just crazy how much that extra 50-100 bucks gets you in terms of comfort and features. It is pretty great that we have $100 helmets that meet ECE 2206 standards.
LS2 makes a nice helmet with good features, quietness, comfort and included pinlock on many models. They tend to fit the longer oval head shape better than most.
Have a ten dollar head? Buy a ten dollar helmet!
Your comments on ventilation and wind noise are very relevant to my experience. Totaly agree with your comments on helmet standards.
I started with an HJC i10 $150. For starting out I would recommend it but then I bought an Arai. Amazing difference!
I’m currently wearing a Schuberth C5 and it’s been the best fitting, most comfortable and quietest helmet I’ve ever worn!
I've heard good things about the Schuberth C5. Do you have a comm device in it?
@@DOCFWH I'm using the Schuberth SC2 comm system that the helmet is designed for. I don't believe you could use another system so that would be something to consider when purchasing this helmet.
@@Delzona OK. Thanks!
This is super important. By the grace of God I've always been able to purchase quality helmets. I have my Shoei, then I have two Nexx (all full face). The Shoei cost me about 669 euros and the Nexx models were about 300 each. Maybe Nexx costs more abroad but since they're made here in Portugal they're less expensive. Nexx is a great compromise between good quality build and affordability. That's my 2 cents.
Thanks Kevin. Always the greatest topics and high end videos.
My last four helmets have been Shoei: two full-face (not modular) helmets followed by two modular helmets Neotec 1 and 2. Needless to say, I’m a fan, even though they’re so expensive.
The first of the four saved my noggin when I came off the bike a decade ago.
The modular helmets are noisier (experience) and, I think, a little less safe (read it somewhere). I love how easy they are to put on and take off compared to a full-face helmet plus all the cool features.
The Neotec 2 houses a Sena SRL comm device internally which is hidden from view. It comes with a pin-lock and the shield. It has a drop-down visor and the normal visor is very easy to remove and replace for cleaning. The chin vent allows a ton of air but can be closed. The chin curtain helps reduce noise some. Ear plugs are best for that though.
Now that I’m ancient and retired, and have much less income, I probably won’t be able to afford another expensive helmet 😢 The Neotec 2 plus Sena SRL was $1,000. I’m sure they’re more expensive now.
The same price for the Neotec3....
@MCrider: I agree with some of your statements, such as the importance of fit and finish, not going with the cheapest of cheap helmets, or of diminishing returns the higher the price. Couple things you might want to look up, though: 1: The shell does not provide significant shock absorption. Tests have shown that the shell materials (carbon fiber, fiberglass, various plastics or a combination of materials) do not make a difference in protection. 2: There is no evidence that a multi-density EPS construction provides better protection. This is just a marketing gimmick which you apparently fell for yourself. A manufacturer's statement does not make it so. Some of the $300 helmets with single-density liners perform better at all impact speeds than some of the so-called "high-end" helmets. All you have to do is look up test results and research on the topic. 3: Snell is just about the worst standard in the world when it comes to protection. This is a fact that has been proven multiple times. Your opinion does not matter. According to multiple sources (Motorcyclist magazine, David R. Thom, DOT test results), the pecking order is DOT best, closely followed by ECE, and Snell always comes in last in all test scenarios. Snell is completely outdated and, with the advent of ECE 22.06 and FIM 2020, Snell is nothing but meaningless and obsolete. Additionally, SHARP is currently revamping their testing procedures, since their current method of only testing at high-energy impacts is not realistic. Same goes for Snell, completely unrealistic testing procedures. As correctly stated in the video, the BAD part of DOT is the self-certification process. This has nothing to do with FMVSS No. 218, which is still the best standard in the world. The only way to know if a helmet has been tested and how it performed is to look up the published test results on DOT's website. I have probably looked up a hundred test results and have found very few Snell approved helmets I would feel comfortable with. Too hard, not good for the brain. And DOT does catch some of the violators.
I know that some of you will feel temped to post a response based on hearsay or someone else's personal opinion. But before you do so, I encourage you to do some research and look up the facts.
I just purchased a Sena Impulse modular with a pin lock system and so far so good no complaints .
I also focused on the size and shape. For me if it is not an intermediate oval to begin with there is no point in me trying it on.
I have a Scorpion Exo Tech ,can wear it full face or deploy the chinguard to the rear of the helmet,also have a Roof Boxer .
Thank you, as always.
Great info
Thank u!
HJC makes really good helmets that were both DOT and Snell approved. Now I see the newer helmets are also approved by the latest European ECE R22 standards. So I’m able to visit Europe and use the newer HJC helmets. A lot of the more expensive helmets do not have the added ECE R22 stickers, so you can’t use them in Europe. The upper and outer layers of an HJC and Shoei are quite similar.
The higher end product is higher mark up product. There is also brand mark up that may or may not translate into better product. That goes from socks and underwear to helmets to trucks, to boats and everything else. Find what fits you and your budget. Choose the color too. White helmet in Texas makes big difference when riding in heat. The best helmet is the one never tested on the road though. God bless.
Thank you
My limit is $250 at the most. My AFX helmet I bought for $90 to take the MSF course I now display on my bedroom wall because I worry it won't protect my dome as well. Now I go for Bell, HJC or Scorpion. Those are supposed to be some solid brand names.
I just picked up a new HJC i90 which is loaded with all the bells and whistle’s mentioned here and more on close out in my size and color for $128.00. It’s worth every penny at its full price of $260.00.
Agree with what you say. Have 2000km om my new Shoei Neotec 3 TC-10. Although it’s a great helmet commuting highways on my RT1100. Its expensive gear but worth it.
Thanks for the video Tim. I think these kinds of videos are very much needed. Do you have a rule of thumb as to how long you will use a helmet before retiring it? Do you think the outer shell deteriorates like the inside padding can? Thanks again. Don Reed - Mt Pleasant Texas
It's the EPS liner that starts to deteriorate after a time, not the outer shell. Helmet manufacturers generally recommend replacing a helmet after five years of use, but of course they're the ones selling the things.
I went through 4 or 5 different helmets when I was shopping for a new one after I retired my old one, but I always came back to Shoei for fit and quality. It's expensive, but worth it to me.
Interesting about DOT certification, because the BRC requires you to have a DOT helmet, doesn't care if the helmet has the European approval or not, just the DOT. Now, I'm sure that if a manufacturer lies about meeting the DOT standards and gets caught, there would be some harsh penalties. Meanwhile, I agree that I have been happy with a helmet in the $300-$500 range, and glad to see that spending twice as much, or more on a helmet, really doesn't get that much more benefit. Sure, if you have the money for a $1,000 helmet and want one, you should get it. Meantime, I recently bought a replacement bicycle helmet. Now the bicycle helmets all come with this new MIP technology. Which apparently was developed for auto racing.
Question: I read a few years ago that you should replace your helmet every 5 years. I have 4 helmets that are 13 and 7 years old and have 13,000 miles split between them so my helmets haven’t really had any heavy use. Should I still look at replacing them?
One just needs to touch a SHOEI, ARAI or AGV to perceive the quality difference. Anyone in doubt just do that and then touch an ICON or HJC, for example... Any DOT approved helmet is better than nothing but if you can afford a good one you'll see it is totally worth it.
My wife and I sport Neotec 2s, but what do you think of airbag vests like Klim, Helite and Alpinestars? I wear mine hoping it will protect my neck and spine in a get-off, places wear a helmet obviously doesn’t reach.
GREETINGS FROM THE PPRC GREAT INFORMATION WEAR A SHOEI NEOTEC TWO, LOVE IT 🇺🇸🏍️
I have a Bell motorcycle helmet and Bell mountain biking helmet. Bell makes good helmets you can trust and they don't cost an arm and a leg.
I used a cheap AFX helmet for years and hated how wind went up my face into my eyes. I thought it was a result of it being cheap. I thought that problem would be solved when I upgraded to an Arai, especially with a chin curtain but I was wrong. I measured my head to make sure I was getting the correct size but the wind still rushes up my face so hard that I need to squint at highway speeds. Anyone know if there is any type of goggles or eye protection made for full face sport bike helmets that don't need to wrap around the exterior of the helmet?
Thanks Kevin.
I recently upgraded to a Modular Shoie Neotec 2 that has the PinLock installed. I love the helmet and probably the best fitting helmet I have ever owned. But, either I am not using the PinLock feature correctly or something. I still get fogging. We ride pretty much year around here in the Denver, Colorado area. I am also already concerned about it being to hot with the visor closed in the summer months. At this altitude the suns rays are pretty intense.
The little knobs that hold the Pinlock in place can usually be rotated to tension it against the face shield. That may be the cause of your fogging problem.
Helmets change. Years ago I found HJC felt as good for me as my more expensive Shoei helmet, but recently a supposedly high quality HJC which felt OK in the store, was killing me after about 45 minutes. I ended up giving that helmet away and going back to Shoei. That said, Arai seems better even that Shoei, but they do not make a modular, which for me is the best compromise in hot weather.
I spent $300+ on the harley sena helmet. It fits good and the speakers sounds awesome
Sena Outrush-R is a quality, turn key helmet. I've got over 25,000 miles in mine and plan to get another very soon, and that's because it smells like a locker room now 😄
Most helmets don't fit me quite right, but HJC always does. My last one was one of their top end models, and was still cheaper than a Shoei or Arai.
He HJC i90 is one of the best helmets I’ve ever used hands down. It offers just about everything mentioned in this video for $250.00. It’s duel rated and super comfortable.
@@thegreenman2030Excellent, I need a helmet for duelling! 😂😂
@@thegreenman2030I bought a second one for $160
The Self-Certification aspect of the DOT standard really bothers me, especially when ECE helmets are ‘not legal’ in the US. I would never trust a DOT only helmet, with the exception of Shoei.
…but I’ve never seen an ECE helmet that is not also DOT certified here in the U.S. I wear one.
Rocking a modular Schuberth C3 and it’s pretty comfortable, very light, and relatively quiet at speed. Pin lock ready. Works well after coming from an old Bell helmet.
Do you have a communication device on your Schuberth helmet?
@@DOCFWH No Comms unit on my helmet. Can’t seem to decide which unit I want.
@@macmac3770 There are lots of choices. Thanks for your response.
Bell has a new spherical MIPS that is the best out
I had a very difficult time finding a helmet that fit well. It turns out that I have a round oval head. All helmets I have worn in my years of riding and racing automobiles cause my ears to become very sore unless I use a helment that is too large. I found that Ari is the only manufacturer that makes a helmet that fits a round oval head. I bit the bullet and bought an Ari helmet. It fits very well and I can wear it for hours without any pain.
Yeah, I have a similarly odd head shape, and Shoei is the only brand that suits. But it fits sooo well... brilliant! I have a modular and will never look back. 👍🇦🇺
"Arai". And they're not the only ones making a round oval shaped helmet, by the way.
@@kingkrimson8771 I need to proof read bettter! Thanks.
Important information that every rider needs to know. Buy the very best you can afford.
Do you use earplus.?
My head is important enough to me that I prefer the best helmet I can afford. I have an AGV Tour Modular and a Sport Modular.
Something I heard a number of years ago when someone asked about an expensive vs. cheap helmet: "How much is your head worth?" That settled it for me. I bought the $300 Shoei. Keep the good stuff coming Kevin.
BS of Kardashians ,as long as you buy properly not DOT sticker only certified helmet ,the protection is the same...
Hay Man.. Couldn't afford an expensive helmet, they are more costly than my bike. My question is: they are all tested in a safety lab before going on sale? and have the kite mark etc, so they all do the job they are supposed to do.. don't they?. Have knocked my head a couple times years ago - never crashed my fazer in nearly six years of riding my RoadKillr - the helmet ~I had on always survived.. Its like the difference between a ducati monster and a yamaha fz6... If you can afford the ducati, you can afford an expensive helmet.. cheers from Subscriber Greg-withthe-Fazer in Zummerset sw uk
0:19
I would imagine that you get what you pay for
At a certain point you are paying for comfort instead of safety. My helmet was under 200 bucks but it is ece rated.
If you look at sharps ratings a lot of high end helmets have a worse safety rating than cheaper ones.
The Best helmet is the one you wear every-time you ride, for me Shoei, fit my head the best. Secondly I buy the best helmet I cannot afford to be without at the time of need! They are not cheap, yet they are not expensive for the protection you get!
Which Shoei helmet do you wear?
I haven't found a store willing to sell me a helmet. I wear a 7 5/8 hat no one makes a helmet that will fit me
HJC makes helmets in sizes up to 5XL
None of the stores stock anything larger than a XL.
The shoei weighs 6lbs! Is it not made of carbon?
comparison without examples between low and high ends doesn't explain a thing ... take for example HJC-C10 with 22.06 ECE certification... it's just 115$ ...
My feelings exactly. Too many helmets and too broad a brush. Fortnine did a helmet review several years ago that was far more informative on helmet design, certifications and value
The pretty art work is definitely worth the xtra $200+
The best advice I ever got from a friend was, “Buy a $15 helmet for a $15 head.” Advice I didn’t take at the time. Yes, when I started riding 60 years ago, you could literally buy a motorcycle helmet for $10-15! (Remember W T Grant?) A while later, on one of two times l’ve left my motorcycle at speed, I landed face first and the helmet split right down the middle! (I guess it did its job though, or I probably wouldn’t be writing this.) Next helmet was a Bell, best and most expensive at the time, and to this day I get the best I can afford. I currently have a Shoei modular, best helmet I’ve ever worn.
My first helmet was made by SAAPE. I have no clue where it came from but it was what the dealer had that fit my 12 year old head and was $20.
The only reason I remember it, was the logo - an ape running with it's butt on fire.
@@jc3745 Well, considering the state of motorcycle safety education back then, I guess the logo fits…
@@jimo7117We're talking 1969 - what motorcycle safety education? Other than, grab the handlebars and hang on.
HJC i90 offers just about everything mentioned in this video for a fantastic price coming in at around $250.00. What you will have is a bit more of noise, but nothing as compared to some helmets that cost $100.00 more. The HJC is also duel rated and comes with an excellent interior tinted sun shade.
Someone once told me, u can tell how much someone values there life by how much they spent on their helmet
Yep...I've heard that a time or two. Got a $10 head - put it in a $10 helmet.
Bullshit. Safety ratings matter more than the price. If it's not ECE 22.06 or FIM, it's not worth buying. SNELL is fine as well.
You can land a $150 Bell helmet rated 22.06 that provides infinitely more protection than a similarly-priced DOT. Anything above $300 is just nice-to-have features, like less wind noise or pinlock. You're not really getting a whole lot more safety for $600 vs $300 as long as the safety ratings are the same.
@h.d.h right, iv even bought slightly used helmets dirt cheap that were good... I think my favorite was used also
@@h.d.habsolutely right.
Or whether or not they ride a motorcycle at highway speeds in traffic
If you have a five dollar head?....get a five dollar helmet.
HJC is right up there with Arai and Shoei helmets! They are ECE, DOT and Snell rated. LS2 helmets are worn by quite a few MotoGP racers as well! 👍😊
Right eye 😂
^ No brain 🤣
Got a $5 head, get a $5 Helmet
Years ago, I spent the money for a high end helmet (AGV Pista) and I don't think I could go back to a cheap helmet again. It's very light, fits amazingly (with tunable padding) vents like an off-road helmet, and goes through the wind extremely well, which is important when you ride a naked bike. It's also equipped with a removable drinking system, which I have not used yet, but it's nice to have the option. I got a smokin' deal on it, ($1,100 VS the $1,900 retail) and I don't think I could go back to a sub $500 helmet again.
The size of my melon limits what brand and model I can buy. I'd spend $$$ on the best helmet, but I can't find my size in some of the better helmets.
1. A budget helmet is better than no helmet at all.
2. In many cases, a budget helmet is better than a damaged top of the line helmet.
3. Sometimes what you're paying for is the money spent on r&d and testing that doesn't always translate to a better helmet.
If you got a 2$ head get you a 2$helmet!
Got a $10 Dollar Head …Wear a $10 Dollar Helmet !!
If you can't afford the the best safety equipment Buy a cheaper motorcycle 😊
Most importantly you left out the fact that spending $1000 on a helmet is no guarantee you won't be killed or injured.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEFT EYE????
www.MCrider.com/eye
If you have a twenty dollar head , wear a 20 dollar helmet...