Why the big price difference?

[Steve B]

Can anyone explain to me why there is such a price difference in helmets? I realise you get what you pay for nowadays but having seen some priced at 50 quid on up to 350+ what is it you are actually getting? How much more protection is there between the budget helmet and the fancy, I want to look like Schumacher jobs.There is obviously a British Safety Standard that all lids must comply with. I also appreciate that there are variations in their ability to reduce noise and rain but someone help me out here before I spend my rare finances.



Steve B (no the other one)

 

[Commuter]

Honestly

Not alot.

There have been many "tests" conducted and arai and shoei seem to be consistent. Ride and MCN do one every year.

Buy what you can afford, do your research on noise and performance and make sure that the lid fits. I personally am limited to Shoei lids, when in Milan earlier this year I tried 15 helmets and could get one to fit as well as my Shoei RAID XXL.

It's all about image, paint, maufacturing processes, reputation, quality and style. Make sure it is Gold stamped and British recommended to the highest spec.

After my spill recently I now value helmets even more, if I hadn't of been wearing a full face lid, the front, side and back of my head would be left on the M1.

Of course image and style are big price considerations, me personally don't care as long as it does what it says on the packet. Save your skull.

 

[Bob Jeffries]

I'll just get up on this soapbox ...........

I'm with Commuter, and nowadays often on a soapbox on this issue.

There’s possibly not a lot of difference but are you prepared to take the chance?

You only really appreciate your helmet when you see the mess it's in after you've had an accident.

In my accident last year my head, enclosed in my Schuberth Concept, hit the kerb at about 40mph. The helmet was destroyed; I had a "full scalp bruise" and can't remember anything of the accident and the following 8 days. The consultant told my wife that I was very lucky not to have had any long lasting brain damage (she of course disputes this and claims it was she that was the lucky one!). The Schuberth saved my life.

I’ll be getting a new helmet shortly and will be sticking with one of the “names”, Arai, Shoei or Schuberth for no better reason than I’m not prepared to take a chance. They’re not always too expensive, look for deals; I got the Schuberth for £175 direct from Germany rather than the £270 that they were then selling for in the UK.

Although the price is always going to be a consideration take the time to find a helmet that fits you well and then look at the price, style, colour etc.

Remember that you may only get one chance to see if you made the right choice!

 

[Gecko]

...and one other bit of info that your local salesman may not tell you , and this is a quote form 'Motorcycle Voyager' Issue 6 P54

"Until July 2000 all new helmets had to conform to BSI standard 6658-85 and carry either a blue Type A or green Type B kite mark.
From 1st July 2000 it is perfectly legal to wear a lid purchased anywhere in the EU providing it conforms to a similar European Standard, meaning it has a CE mark (EC22/05)"

So shop around - get on the net and save yourself some readies because just about everything is cheaper over this side of the channel.....but you all know that anyway

 

[wessie]

Cheaper helmets are made of polycarbonate. They are heavier and do not last as long as fibreglass ones (degrades in UV light so you should change them more frequently).

From my experience, paying more for a helmet gets you one that is lighter and therefore more comfortable on a long journey.

Although, I am very happy with the cheapest Arai helmet, the Rapide at £200 in Hein Gericke.

I can't see why anyone would need to spend more than this on a helmet apart from reasons of fashion.

 

[Davey B]

Steve, if you're not in a rush i would wait until the shows of next spring/summer. At the BMF at Kelso you could buy a brand new Arai Quantum F for the princely sum of £100. Thats a £400 lid at a quarter of the price. They had loads of lids of varying price/quality for knockdown prices simply because they were old models I.E Not the current fashion vogue. I echo the points above of comfort/fit first and foremost. If you're riding along inwardly moaning about a headache or pressure point somewhere you won't have 100% concentration on what you're doing and whilst a £400 helmet may ultimately save you from death, it won't stop broken bones etc etc. Just my two penneth.
Oh and if you have a small head, have a look at the Schuberth flip front for sale at Colin Appleyards (For Sale section)
This is the lid i use and whilst being a little noisy, it is superbly made flip frnt with very useful (all year round) integral dark half visor. I got mine mail order after trying one on belonging to another member (cheers gazza...more expense) Paid £180.

 

[Steve B]

Helmet prices

Thanks for all the valuable input. I appreciate the points regarding polycarbinate v fibreglass, weight, safety issues including post fall looks after tarmac face plants. I also meant no offence if you wear a Schumacher helmet. Just thought having a GS made you want to be individual.
Anyway, I'll be following the advice here and try a few, no, a lot of big named helmets on my little head.
Cheers

Steve B (no the other one)

 

[Wreford Miles]

The girlfriend brought a Nitro N599-V 50Quid It's got a British Motorecycle sport gold tag and ECER22-05 weighs 1550 grams and is made3 of Fibreglass.

It's also the only other helmet I've found that fits like a Quantum F

Oh and it's got D rings...

 

[Jon]

"Until July 2000 all new helmets had to conform to BSI standard 6658-85 and carry either a blue Type A or green Type B kite mark.

From the info I've read I'm sure that the EU tests aren't as stringent as the "British Standard" ones.

Personally I always look for the ACU Gold mark if I'm not sure.

As to fits, me (Arai head) and my chum (also Arai head) says Suomi have the same style fit.

 

[Rob Farmer]

A mate of mine designs helmets for a living. Apparently the American standards require a far better quality helmet than the EU and BSI. Under the european standards the manufacturers produce a small batch of helmets for testing - these are generally reinforced at the test points - once the standard has been given these reinforcing points are omitted from the full production helmets.

My next helmet will be a KBC, they have a flip front coming out early next year and since they are designed in Derbyshire they will fit a 'European Head'.

 

[Possu]

If cost is a concern & you still wany a quality "brand", then this is the time of year to buy. I stick to Arai & Shoei but buy new when each model is superseded by a new model.

In March 2002 I paid £200 for a plain black Shoei Interceptor with removable lining etc. Six months previously, the RRP was nearer £300 & £350 for a colour model with graphics. Just because a new model is coming out, that does not mean the "old" model is no longer any good.

You should be able to get a deal towards the end of the show at the NEC, especially if paying cash.

Steve

 

[jackwabbit]

I can remember this argument raging many years a go, when the cheap polycarbonate helmets started filling the shelves in the UK.
After destroying a couple of fibreglass helmets I decided to give the new plastic lids a try.
5 years later people were saying the Polycarbonate lids were degrading due to sunlight & the glue used on the stickers. So to be safe I decided to go back to fibreglass, but rather than just throw the old poly lid away I would conduct my own tests on it.

Test 1. I placed the lid on a concrete base & hit it as hard as I could on the top with a 10lb sledgehammer.
Result. The hammer disappeared almost into orbit, and the lid had a small mark.

Test 2. I placed the lid on its side & after finding the sledgehammer in a neighbour’s garden I tried again.
Result. Another small mark on the lid & more searching for the hammer.

Test 3. Run over the lid with a car.
Result. Plenty of scratch marks but still the outer shell was in one piece.

Test 4. Hit helmet with pickaxe.
Result. Pickaxe skidded off helmet & cracked the concrete, while the helmet was sent skidding across the car park. But still no penetration of the outer shell.

After telling a friend of my basic heath Robinson test results, he asked me if I could do the same with his old fibreglass helmet, this was only 3 years old.

Test 1. Lid placed on concrete base & hit with sledgehammer.
Result. Large hole in top of helmet, the fibreglass shattered where the hammer made contact & the lining absorbed the rest of the impact.

Unable to conduct any more tests due to only having one fibreglass helmet.

Now I know these tests are not very scientific & I’m sure helmet manufactures have far more stringent testing, but this put my mind at rest over the plastic lid row.

Another thing to bare in mind is, these helmets are designed to work in different ways. The fibreglass helmet uses the outer shell to absorb most of the impact, and in an accident will show a lot more battle scars. Where as the polycarbonate helmets absorbs the impact in their lining, and may show no signs of the battle. (Don’t be fooled by the lack of external damage, as with all helmets if they are involved in an accident they have to be changed)

The most important thing with helmets has been stated already they MUST fit you properly, & not just look good.

In the end you pay's your money & take's your choice.

Me i'm back with the Poly lids now without any worries.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

so lets say you dropped you helmet or had a minor crash resulting in outer shell abrasion only.

provided the inner was ok - could you buy an outer shell as a spare part ??

is it possible ?
anyone done this or is it not cost effective ?

i'd have thought it was feasible seeing as the lining has got to be 50% of the raw materials / costs..

Phil

 

[plasins]

I used to buy the best helmet that I could afford. Now the helmets have be so good to pass the tests, a cheap one is as good/safe as an expensive one. There has been an increase in bike fatalities in my area this year and I am unaware of helmet failure being the cause of death in any these. While the helmets have saved the head, its seems that the rest of the body gets turned to mush.

Now I buy a helmet that fits and feels good. I do not worry about the brand............or is that a sign of getting old!

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

EU STANDARDS

From the info I've read I'm sure that the EU tests aren't as stringent as the "British Standard" ones.

BALLS
HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS???

 

[Invicta Moto]

Re: EU STANDARDS

BALLS
HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS???

This was widely reported last year when the ECE standard took over across the EU, and superceded the BSI test on July 1st.

I also read that only the ECE with 5 at the end is valid in the UK.

When the new standard was introduced in the UK, we were the only country requiring a separate standard for anti-scratch visors. This was superceded for new helmets but the status of older helmets is a grey area as they required the visor to be BSI approved as well and continued to do so!

All the old blokes like me will remember the introduction of that when it was a retrospective law that included any helmet... and not just to new helmets sold... It also had an effect of inceasing the price of a visor! I was an Arai owner at the time and my £15 anti scratch visor suddenly became £30 overnight. Some bastards always around to rip you off huh?

 

[Pat Creagh]

The BSI and ECE tests are different. I wounldn't imagine one is better or worse than the other. A particular helmet or type of helmet may offer more or less protection in differing circumstances.
A well fitting and comfortable helmet which passes either BS of EC regs is better than a woolen cap!!!
Bobs' accident is a case in point and anyone surviving a crash will feel justified in supporting the brand of helmet involved. I have a Schuberth Concept flowerpot after my accident last year and would buy on again if only I wasn't such a fashion victim.
it's got to be a Tour X for the GS...
Paul Blez also swear by the Concept following a get-off in Italy last year.
Plus the user friendly flip front and flip down visor are excellent.
Arai also suit my head shape, Ive had 2 and would recommend them highly but when it came to buying my better half a helmet our local bike shop wouldn't sell her one as they were not happy with the fit and she ended up with a fine Shoei, which also turned out to be a bargain as it was last years colours.
The fit is the most important thing to consider as an ill-fitting £500 lid will not protect you as well as a £50 helmet which grips in all the right places.
Pat.