[BWB75]

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.

 

[hogcowboy]

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.

 

[Rollin']

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.

 

[hogcowboy]

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.

 

[CTX]

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.

 

[mike721]

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.

 

[Retired Guy]

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.

 

[Offcenter]

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.

 

[FlipFlop]

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.

 

[navy8ret]

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:

 

[aTahmission]

A good helmet is absolutely worth the cost. My AGV is not the Pista, but the Corsa R was still $900, but in my mind it's totally worth it. The lens is thick (5 mm, I believe) and the closing mechanism is two-staged and positive. The field of vision is amazing; I can see so much more from this helmet than even the Arai Corsair V it replaced, and it's stable as can be under track speeds (no involuntary head wiggles). The flow of air is actually cooling, and my neck isn't rubber at the end of the day. When I close and lock the shield, no air comes through, and the locking mechanism is as satisfying as closing the door on a high-end German car. I think that with gear, you really do get what you pay for, but never more so than with a helmet.

 

[BWB75]

Going to have to look into the Corsa R for the next helment!

My Shoei RF-1200 is great and super comfy, but the shape is designed for sportier riding than what I do. As a result, it doesn't move as much air as a helmet engineered for people who ride wit htheir head straight up. It also intrudes slightly on my field of view, visible all the way around in peripheral vision. It gives me great confidence and, like I said, it is light and comfy. But, there is still a small bit of room to improve when the time comes.

 

[dcstrng]

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...

 

[headshrink]

100% worth it. Although it may true that there is little or no difference in protection between cheap and expensive helmets, you have to ask yourself how much comfort is worth to you. My $700 Arai is the ONLY helmet I've found that fits my head-shape. I can wear it all day without the slightest bit of discomfort. Not to mention features, higher quality materials against your face, hardware, etc. (Ever sleep in really nice sheets vs really cheap sheets?) The savings wouldn't be worth it to me if it compromised my comfort and enjoyment of the riding experience in any way. If you're lucky enough to find the perfect fitting helmet for cheap, great, but not everyone can.

 

[RonK]

100% worth it. Although it may true that there is little or no difference in protection between cheap and expensive helmets, you have to ask yourself how much comfort is worth to you. My $700 Arai is the ONLY helmet I've found that fits my head-shape. I can wear it all day without the slightest bit of discomfort. Not to mention features, higher quality materials against your face, hardware, etc. (Ever sleep in really nice sheets vs really cheap sheets?) The savings wouldn't be worth it to me if it compromised my comfort and enjoyment of the riding experience in any way. If you're lucky enough to find the perfect fitting helmet for cheap, great, but not everyone can.

--

There's the rub. I might be interested in a more expensive helmet than what I have, but how do I know? If the dealers anywhere I've been, when I've been in the market, don't have the brand and size in stock, I just won't get it. You can't just order willy-nilly on line and hope for the best.

--

 

[Offcenter]

I wear a HJH police style helmet. It fits me perfectly, no pressure points.
And, it has a pull-down face shield that retracts up inside the helmet.
And finally, it has a liner that is removable for cleaning.
All for a little more than $100.

Can't beat it with a stick.

 

[headshrink]

--

There's the rub. I might be interested in a more expensive helmet than what I have, but how do I know? If the dealers anywhere I've been, when I've been in the market, don't have the brand and size in stock, I just won't get it. You can't just order willy-nilly on line and hope for the best.

--

Revzilla is super good with returns. I'd just verify before you buy that you can return it if it doesn't fit right. You can call them to talk about your dilemma and they may be able to give you an idea of just how far you can reasonably take it. I know you can't actually use it though, but you should be able to wear it around the house.

 

[hogcowboy]

Revzilla is super good with returns. I'd just verify before you buy that you can return it if it doesn't fit right. You can call them to talk about your dilemma and they may be able to give you an idea of just how far you can reasonably take it. I know you can't actually use it though, but you should be able to wear it around the house.

Unless Revzilla has changed, you only get one free return. You can return ll you want, but after the first free one, all others you'll have to pay shipping on. I've never found a helmet that fits will without trying on several, at least 5. And that's the same brand, same model. So unless Revzilla has changed their return policy, it could cost quite a bit to find that perfect helmet. It would be different if sizes ran true and consistent, but they don't.

 

[aTahmission]

Going to have to look into the Corsa R for the next helment!

My Shoei RF-1200 is great and super comfy, but the shape is designed for sportier riding than what I do. As a result, it doesn't move as much air as a helmet engineered for people who ride wit htheir head straight up. It also intrudes slightly on my field of view, visible all the way around in peripheral vision. It gives me great confidence and, like I said, it is light and comfy. But, there is still a small bit of room to improve when the time comes.

I certainly do recommenced the Corsa R, but if I'm honest, the Corsa R is considered a "track helmet" by a lot of people (it's the non-carbon fiber version of the Pista), so if it's comfort you want, you might check out the Arai Corsair X. I'd say that's a more comfy helmet than my AGV, and it also has a very good field of vision. It's also quieter; my AGV is a pretty loud helmet, which is okay for me because I always wear earplugs, but it can be awfully noisy. I'm really drawn to the Corsa R's shape (field of view / stability at track speed / that drop in the chin for vision) and it's lens system because of how it closes / the two position latch / how well the anti-fog system works, and the supple quality of the liner. That said, if I was buying purely for comfort, I would probably go with the Arai.

 

[rhorst]

If you do some research into what is actually required to get certified for DOT, ECE and Snell, you'll find that a DOT sticker alone doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot. One DOT helmet might be much safer than another, because the maker did more than DOT requires. ECE requirements are a little more specific and demanding. Snell has very rigorous requirements for design, construction and testing, and a Snell rating does mean a very high level of protection. When I started riding, I was on a budget and went with a Bilt (Cycle Gear's store brand) that was a good fit and had DOT and ECE. After I learned more, I decided my brain was worth the Snell level of protection and I saved up and got a Snell-rated Shoei. Or I put it on a credit card, I don't remember.

Bottom line, a really cheap helmet is probably not going to protect you very much. A 100 or 200 dollar DOT or ECE helmet will probably do a pretty good job. But the best, verified protection means Snell, and that means several hundred dollars. Is it 3 times safer than a quality DOT or ECE helmet? Nobody can really answer that, I don't think. If it's, just for argument's sake, 50% better and that 50% means you get to ride again tomorrow, how can you put a price on that? You have to make your own decision on what you can afford, and how much a higher level of protection is worth to you. Hopefully this information helps you make that decision.