Are the £500 helmets worth the extra?
Discussion
I'm looking for a new lid but the choice is huge. In one bike shop they spent ages telling me why a Shoei is worth three times the cost of a similar looking HJC (something to do with a hard outside layer and a soft inside layer, and visa versa), whereas another shop said they are barely different.
Any of you lot know the reason? Did you decide to go for a really expensive one? Thinking about a Shoei for peace of mind (and the brilliant inbuilt sun visor) as a main helmet and wouldn't mind a cheaper spare as two of them would cost as grand.
Any of you lot know the reason? Did you decide to go for a really expensive one? Thinking about a Shoei for peace of mind (and the brilliant inbuilt sun visor) as a main helmet and wouldn't mind a cheaper spare as two of them would cost as grand.
Rawwr said:
My Arai RX7 GP was £700. Shoei XR1100 was £420. Shoei NXR was £480. Nolan N94 was £240. Icon Variant was £320.
I like to think my head is worth more than those combined, several thousand times over.
I think it's just a loosely used figure of speech. Rather than a mathematical equation to calculate your helmet expenditure...I like to think my head is worth more than those combined, several thousand times over.
TheLordJohn said:
Rawwr said:
My Arai RX7 GP was £700. Shoei XR1100 was £420. Shoei NXR was £480. Nolan N94 was £240. Icon Variant was £320.
I like to think my head is worth more than those combined, several thousand times over.
I think it's just a loosely used figure of speech. Rather than a mathematical equation to calculate your helmet expenditure...I like to think my head is worth more than those combined, several thousand times over.
You're paying for comfort and relative quietness, all helmets have to meet the same safety standards. I'm sure some manufacturers claim to have sailed through the tests instead of scraped through, but the trouble is what makes you safer in one kind of accident can make you more vulnerable in another.
My view is find something that's a perfect fit. If you find you have a choice then whether it's worth the premium for the more expensive helmet really depends on how much you use it. 100 miles a day commute plus touring, who cares about an extra £200 every 5 years? 30 miles round the block on sunny Sundays, may as well go for the cheapest.
My view is find something that's a perfect fit. If you find you have a choice then whether it's worth the premium for the more expensive helmet really depends on how much you use it. 100 miles a day commute plus touring, who cares about an extra £200 every 5 years? 30 miles round the block on sunny Sundays, may as well go for the cheapest.
I've got an AGV K-3, it they sell for £130-£180 quid depending on the graphics on them. It's comfortable, not particularly quiet, and didn't come with a pinlock visor as standard. However, I tried on a top of the range X-Lite that was £400 and it was just better in every way. The materials, the neck seal, lighter and feel a lot more plush, you cold tell it was a premium product, I'd guess that with the improved neck seal it would be a lot quieter than my AGV, which can be pretty noisy.
After having a mid range AGV I wouldn't buy another one, horrendously loud but an ok helmet.
Arai, had two of these, don't think id buy an Arai again, felt so much better than the AGV when I bought them, lovely looking, and quiet. However the visor system is st, it fogs up too easy without a pinlock, and the middle range ones are a bit heavy.
Bell - top of the range m5 and its fantastic. Seriously best lid ive ever had, so light, well put together where it maters, there is aspects of it that look cheap but can fault its function. A fking bargain at £85. I barely use my Arai now.
Arai, had two of these, don't think id buy an Arai again, felt so much better than the AGV when I bought them, lovely looking, and quiet. However the visor system is st, it fogs up too easy without a pinlock, and the middle range ones are a bit heavy.
Bell - top of the range m5 and its fantastic. Seriously best lid ive ever had, so light, well put together where it maters, there is aspects of it that look cheap but can fault its function. A fking bargain at £85. I barely use my Arai now.
Since all helmets are tested to the same standard, there's no guarantee that a more expensive one is any safer than a bum basic one.
The biggest safety factor is the fit. A cheap lid that fits properly will always be better than an expensive one that doesn't.
I'm currently using an AGV. Tbh, it's a bit cheap and cheerful, but it fits me properly whereas the Shoeis/Arais etc for sale at the same time didn't.
The biggest safety factor is the fit. A cheap lid that fits properly will always be better than an expensive one that doesn't.
I'm currently using an AGV. Tbh, it's a bit cheap and cheerful, but it fits me properly whereas the Shoeis/Arais etc for sale at the same time didn't.
you have the law of diminishing returns like any consumer goods...and so long as a minority will pay £500-1000 for helmets, the manufacturers will make plenty of them
at the bottom end of the market you can notice the materials, liner, visor, features may not be as good/not present
in the mid range there are some excellent do everything well helmets, with all styles having their pros n cons
at the top end you have the very latest tech, most luxurious liners, best developed (vents, visors etc) helmets
the majority of people are more than happy in a £200-300 helmet ...if you can afford the most expensive, it fits well, you like the design...then get one....but its doubtful it will protect you anymore than a £150 helmet that passes all the same tests
oh, if I remember right its Arai who started the negative myths about helmets with built in sun visors ...strangely enough because they dont have one in their product range and say they have no intentions to....their patented shell shape is what they are known for so no point. Personally I prefer the convenience of a sun visor and the last Arai I bought was in 1991 so makes no odds to me
at the bottom end of the market you can notice the materials, liner, visor, features may not be as good/not present
in the mid range there are some excellent do everything well helmets, with all styles having their pros n cons
at the top end you have the very latest tech, most luxurious liners, best developed (vents, visors etc) helmets
the majority of people are more than happy in a £200-300 helmet ...if you can afford the most expensive, it fits well, you like the design...then get one....but its doubtful it will protect you anymore than a £150 helmet that passes all the same tests
oh, if I remember right its Arai who started the negative myths about helmets with built in sun visors ...strangely enough because they dont have one in their product range and say they have no intentions to....their patented shell shape is what they are known for so no point. Personally I prefer the convenience of a sun visor and the last Arai I bought was in 1991 so makes no odds to me
bogie said:
oh, if I remember right its Arai who started the negative myths about helmets with built in sun visors ...strangely enough because they dont have one in their product range and say they have no intentions to....their patented shell shape is what they are known for so no point. Personally I prefer the convenience of a sun visor and the last Arai I bought was in 1991 so makes no odds to me
What is the myth?moanthebairns said:
After having a mid range AGV I wouldn't buy another one, horrendously loud but an ok helmet.
Arai, had two of these, don't think id buy an Arai again, felt so much better than the AGV when I bought them, lovely looking, and quiet. However the visor system is st, it fogs up too easy without a pinlock, and the middle range ones are a bit heavy.
Bell - top of the range m5 and its fantastic. Seriously best lid ive ever had, so light, well put together where it maters, there is aspects of it that look cheap but can fault its function. A fking bargain at £85. I barely use my Arai now.
I am also really impressed with my M5X, the visor system is so solid and no rattles or clicks, as MTB says for £100 a bargain - but for £500 as advertised - i don't think soArai, had two of these, don't think id buy an Arai again, felt so much better than the AGV when I bought them, lovely looking, and quiet. However the visor system is st, it fogs up too easy without a pinlock, and the middle range ones are a bit heavy.
Bell - top of the range m5 and its fantastic. Seriously best lid ive ever had, so light, well put together where it maters, there is aspects of it that look cheap but can fault its function. A fking bargain at £85. I barely use my Arai now.
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