I think in many cases, you pay a lot for the name stuck on it. Is it better? Probably a bit better materials, a longer lasting shine, but...

They pass the same tests for that D.O.T. sticker.

 

I wonder if there has ever been any comparisons in a study of price versus effectiveness. Who’s the googler that knows all the cool buzz words that can find such a study if it exists.

 

Well. Thats my point. Is it really offering 3 times more protection compared to a DOT approved $200 Bell helmet?

 

It's a big "depends". If you're comparing ECE helmets to other ECE helmets and SNELL helmets to other SNELL helmets, then higher price doesn't necessarily mean better safety. The best helmets all have similar safety ratings regardless of price. For example, you won't find a single one of these helmets with a one star rating. With a lot of these helmets it's going to be like buying an Apple or Samsung phone, you're paying a decent upcharge for that brand name on there.

But helmets that are only DOT rated? Now we're getting into troubled waters, even if you just compare two DOT helmets with one another. The cheapest DOT helmets (I'm talking the $15 Chinese specials on eBay) are trash, basically little better than wearing a colander on your head. Meanwhile, more expensive DOT helmets by known brands are often pretty good. Unfortunately the DOT certification is so loose it allows helmets that really won't do a whole lot to keep you safe.

So I'd say, do you need to spend nearly two grand on a helmet? No. But you should definitely spend more than $20.

 

I dunno. I've been wearing Bell Helmets for over 50 years. They have saved my A## more than once. In the dirt, on the street, and on the track. I just bought a new one a few months ago, KNOWING that it will do its' job if it has to. DOT and Snell are very important, so stay away from the 20 dollar helmets. Guess I'm not much into the fancy graphics, vents, bluetooth ready, flip up shields. 'Fancy' won't save your noggin any better than a good plain helmet. Not much into the full face helmets either. I've always used the Bell 500 3/4 open face helmets.

Check the history of the Bell Company, and decide.

 

Most helmets do a pretty good job of protection in a crash.
I pay up for comfort, quiet and an easy swap out shield.

 

"Do you think its worthwhile to spend $500+ on a helmet?"

Yes, but you can spend less and be as safe as you would be in a $500 helmet. IMO
There was a study (Hurt) that found that the rider "goes in face first" 70% of the time during a crash.
So I always recommend a quality full face helmet, and you can get one for a lot less than $500.

 

I've had both the cheap helmet, not the Chinese junk, but still cheap and the more expensive. I even crashed hard with the cheap one with it's DOT sticker. The extra accessories that some helmets have are worth the extra cost. But some isn't. Personal opinion but I don't think graphics that's the same on several thousand helmets sold is worth a nickel to me. It must be to others though. But like what I have now, a drop down inner sun shade and installed speakers, yeah, they are worth something to me. But I'm talking about a $150 versus a $350 helmet. So what's the other $150 in your $500 helmet for? You must decide if you are getting extra value to you. As others have said, both will save you noggin in a crash. And there is not a thing wrong with that Bell helmet. And they have helmets that cost much much more. Heads up display with rear view. That's going to be worth the extra cost to some. Not sure it is to me. But you have to go with what is worth to you.

One thing I'm noticing between my cheaper Fulmer helmet versus my more expensive Nolan helmet is the inner lining material. The Flumer was "broke-in" in about 500 miles of use. This Nolan still isn't "broke-in" after 5,000 miles. It still feels nice and snug where the Fulmer was on the sloppy side by that amount. So there are things you might not see that are definitely worth the extra bucks. You just can't see it until you own and wear one for awhile. Little things will begin to show up. It might be much quieter. That's worth more. There are many others too. Value is up to you.

 

Just peel the Harley sticker off and it will become a $150 helmet again.

 

$500 for a helmet?
I don't even pay that much for a bike!
LOL!!

 

SNELL only test 3/4 or full face helmets so there is that. If you are buying a 1/2 or modular you have to depend on the DOT standards.

 

When I did a lot of long distance touring I had a $600 carbon fiber modular helmet (still use it on occasion depending on what bike I'm on). It was the lightest modular helmet made and when spending 12 hours in the saddle at interstate speeds, it made a big difference as far as fatigue was concerned. I didn't pay $600 for it because I won it in a charity auction and won it at half that price. The helmet was donated to the auction by the vendor. But after using it and knowing how well it worked, I think I would have paid regular price for it knowing how well it performed for the specific use I wanted it for. All that being said, I've had and have some good less expensive helmets too.

 

I changed my mind on this topic, I was very happy with my $75 helmets, but my wife bought me a $600 Arai and it is so much more comfortable there is no comparison.
And now I'm spoiled
I recently took the liner out to wash it and went back to my old lid for 2 days while it dried, and I found it so uncomfortable and noisy it was almost unbearable. $600 is a lot of money to spend on a helmet but in my opinion it's worth it for the benefit I am getting in comfort. So far my new helmet is about 3 years old, about 120,000 miles and other than a few chips from stuff hitting it it works and fits like new, I can easily see it lasting 5-10 years, at that time I think it will be time to replace it.

 

An interesting read on the topic - draw your own conclusions: https://blm.io/blog/motorcycle-helmet-safety-price/

 

--

What is not mentioned is that if one finds out they have the 'perfect' head shape for a certain brand, then they know any model of them will fit fine. But if one's head is not the 'perfect' shape, then one must go into a dealer and try on the brands and sizes they have on display. Only once have I been in a shop with an Arai which was not the right size, so I couldn't really tell. I therefore usually just buy an HJC because I can try them on. Even so, I usually have to make some padding mods to get it right.

As to full face or modular (flip up) styles, I can't get the full face over my head without having the front flipped, so I have no choice there unless I want to go with an open face style. Practicality takes precedence over price.

--

 

In some case I think one may be paying for features -- flip-up this or that, included visors or even ability to hold electronics -- not to mention various artsy paint jobs... but for the basic brain-bucket, who really knows... I wore a DOT JCWhitney helmet for nearly three decades plus, but eventually concluded that the smudges and gouges that I thought gave it character might have some detrimental effects... so the oldie-goldie has been retired (lots of road-rash prevention in that -- one or two mild KOs), so for my new helmet I went over to where folks race and got a Snell -- plain, simple one color and well short of $500 although not free... It is nice, much quieter and I hope protective (one never knows) -- but I had to put on my own reflective tape...

So long as it protects yer head; and generally Snell's standards seem reliable -- the rest is just embroidery...

 

The 'industry standard' is that you need to buy a new helmet every 5 years: https://www.crampbuster.com/motorcycle-helmet-lifespan/
Why Do Motorcycle Helmets Expire? ? Motorcycle Central

 

Snell does some tests the others do not do. A good 3/4 or open face helmet with a Snell sticker, will lead you to a Shoei for about $350. Full face helmets with a DOT sticker start around $100 and go up. I would trust name brands first. I just bought a DOT only AGV for $250. It has some nice features and fits. Shoei fits me, Arai does not. So you need to check the fit. I would prefer Snell and DOT, but I do own two DOT only helmets.

My AGV has my BD number on it, which matches my back pack with my BD number on it. It is also the same number the oldest MOTO GP rider uses.

I should add. The early plastic helmets were not safe.

UK

 

I think $500 on a helmet is pretty normal. A lot of helmets cost that much. You are paying partly for crash protection and engineering, but also for a light weight fiberglass shell instead of plastic, smooth finishes that are comfortable to use, good aerodynamics and padding that reduce noise, good optics from the visor, and features. Around $500 seems to be a sweet spot in the market where you can find a lot of safety combined with a lot of comfort and quality. I ride with a plain white lid that has a high protection rating and cost $500. Jazzed it up a little with some fancy strips of orange tape (now I look like Rossi!). Works great. Very comfy.

The Marushins and other brands from the article posted by Wintrsol do seem to offer high levels of protection for a lot less money, though. Funny those weren't on display at Cycle Gear on helmet shopping day.

Also funny that the helmet most favored by the BMW crowd, the Schuberth R1, was rated among the worst by the SHARP program. (I only laugh at BMW people because I like them.) (Okay that's not the only reason.)

I think another oft forgotten safety feature is helmet color. On the road, especially in gray conditions, a white lid stands out. So does hi-viz yellow-green, if you can bear to wear that. Black helmets are harder to see in traffic.

 

I think $500 on a helmet is pretty normal. A lot of helmets cost that much. You are paying partly for crash protection and engineering, but also for a light weight fiberglass shell instead of plastic, smooth finishes that are comfortable to use, good aerodynamics and padding that reduce noise, good optics from the visor, and features. Around $500 seems to be a sweet spot in the market where you can find a lot of safety combined with a lot of comfort and quality. I ride with a plain white lid that has a high protection rating and cost $500. Jazzed it up a little with some fancy strips of orange tape (now I look like Rossi!). Works great. Very comfy.

The Marushins and other brands from the article posted by Wintrsol do seem to offer high levels of protection for a lot less money, though. Funny those weren't on display at Cycle Gear on helmet shopping day.

Also funny that the helmet most favored by the BMW crowd, the Schuberth R1, was rated among the worst by the SHARP program. (I only laugh at BMW people because I like them.) (Okay that's not the only reason.)

I think another oft forgotten safety feature is helmet color. On the road, especially in gray conditions, a white lid stands out. So does hi-viz yellow-green, if you can bear to wear that. Black helmets are harder to see in traffic.

Now be honest. The real reason is you like looking at the women in their tight leather gear that shows off everything. Yep, I've looked too.

 

Expensive helmets also have other features.
My new Shoei GT-Air ll has a large internal sun shield, large vents, very strong face shield detents and more of them. One detent opens the shield just enough to keep the shield clear in cold weather. It also has a micro ratchet chinstrap and has the Pinlock face shield system. And for those that want it it's intercom ready, uses the SENA SRL 2 communication system.

I like it.

 

My Nolan is as well but slight more bucks. Although I got mine during one of the sales that happen rather regularly.(Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, ect.) Just have to watch for it.

 

Its all a matter of perspective I guess. I know people that won't bat an eye at buying a $20,000 motorcycle, a $65,000 pickup truck, and they can justify $6000 for a weekend trip out to Vegas, but ask them why they won't spend a few hundred extra for something like a helmet that they wrap around their skull everyday and you're likely to get the deer in the headlight look.
My short answer is, a $500 helmet may or may not be safer then a less expensive one, but I never thought as I was putting on a helmet that I wished I had saved a few dollars when I bought it.

 

I know people that won't bat an eye at buying a $20,000 motorcycle, a $65,000 pickup truck, and they can justify $6000 for a weekend trip out to Vegas,

WHAT people?
This may come as a surprise to those that have the money for such things, but there
are people out here like me who don't. It all depends on your financial means.
For me, $500 is a staggering amount to pay for a helmet.
It always amazes me that some people think nothing of laying out that kind of money for one.
The most I ever paid for a bike or a pickup truck was about $3000, and a trip to Vegas????
LOL! Keep dreamin'!
You do the best with what you have.

 

I keep thinking about trying a modular, it would allow eating and drinking while riding easier on the long rides I like to take, but I have yet to find one that fits my head well.
I think I have an unusually shaped skull, long and squared off, if you think about a combination of Herman Munster and the Alien's head you get the right idea.. I was wearing a lid 2 sizes bigger so my head wasn't squashed until I found that some Arai helmets are shaped like my head, and I suddently went from a 3X to an XL and it fit perfectly.

 

I don't know if I'll be contradicting myself or not but, the most expensive helmet I've ever had was a not all that expensive HJC. So never having had a $500 helmet, I think I should have spent more time reading and less time posting.

But that HJC helmet did save my bacon the second year I had it.

 

Long as it is DOT and/or SNELL rated it should be good I would think, and have practiced (for normal day to day riding). The cheaper they are I have noticed the liner is a bit more difficult to remove and clean and replace after cleaning if not impossible.

 

I picked up another Shoei in Jan to replace the on I got in 2003. It's still in great shape but after having it for so long I thought it might be the time for replacement :grin:
The old one

And the new RF - 1200

$500 bucks out the door at Cycle Gear.
I'll spend the extra few bucks for peace of mind - my mind that is :smile:

 

I'll spend the extra few bucks for peace of mind - my mind that is...

I think that is the test -- whether the rider spends a little or a lot (and assuming they aren't just buying for legal compliance sake...), the piece of mind is the goal...

I try to shop near the bottom of the price scale, but that doesn't mean I haven't done enough research to be content with the purchase -- my recent helmet was listed on two auto racing catalogs for sanctioned track events that required Snell -- so I just looked to see if Amazon had the same... I don't know if Snell is markedly better than DOT, or worse for that matter, but I suspect those buying high or low are equally content once they've made an informed purchase... one thing I've never worried about is whether it had a washable liner tho' -- didn't know there was such a thing, but for those who desire such a thing, it is interesting to see there is such an option...