I'm a firm believer that many of the cheaper makes of helmet on the market today are just as good as some of the more expensive helmets. I'm looking for a genuine alternative to the BIG 2 (both start with the letter S). I keep hearing good things about the NITRO make of helmets, is anyone able to impart some first hand experience in this respect? I don't want to spend any more than about £100 ($240) on a plain colour helmet and it MUST be a type A giving maximum protection. The big 2 must obviously pass on their marketing costs to the customer which must increase costs massively. Years ago the BIG 2 were AGV and Bell but they seem to have gone out of fashion for some reason (in the UK at least). Finally, where is the best place to get one from?

I read yesterday that the UK government is passing new legislation which will result in helmets going through a much more rigorous testing process. Rather than just advising the customer that the helmet meets a required minimum standard the helmet manufacturer will have to give detailed data about the type of tests and the result of these tests in fine detail. This will enable customers like me to make an informed judgment when looking for reasonably priced alternatives. I imagine that the BIG 2 might be worried by this development because their share of the industry might come under threat from helmets manufactured to the same standards but much less expensive.

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

I advise that you try to do some 80mph crashes on the freeway with cheap helmets and see how it goes...

The thing is that as far as I know there is no central database with helmet safety statistis.

I have a 300 quid (600$) Shoei helmet cause I feel that my head is worth at least that amount.

If you dont feel the same way, I wish you luck...

Until someone make a EURO NCAP for helmets I buy the best I can get my hands on.

Sorry if that doenst answer you question, but I wanted to give my opinion since I spent alot of time thinking about the same before buying my first helmet (which I still have and use, so the investment has been quite low looking over a period of time)

Also when you buy a good helmet, you get better aerodynamics which for me first of all means less noise. Secondly it is lighter and more plesant to wear all day. Thirdly the windshield doesnt wobble/make noise when driving with it open, even at 150Kph (yes I tried) Fourthly you can take the padding out and wash it.

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Peter Kongsbak
South East Asia, USA, Central and South America and Scandinavia.

I wouldn't wear anything but an Arai anymore.... but i did really rate the Airoh Firefox.

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Bonis Se Aliovorsum Avertentibus Hic Crescit Pravitas

That is one of the points I raised above - the UK government are due to implement a brand new system of helmet testing which will enable users to make a better informed judgement. At the present time the helmets are certified to meet a minimum standard after undergoing crash/dropping/penetration tests. The data from these tests is NOT made public at all. The new system will ensure this data is available to all and sundry which is a massive leap forward for bikers health & safety.

I wish I could agree with you about buying the most expensive headgear. I don't because I genuinely believe that some of the "designer" manufacturers inflate their prices to allow them to undertake expensive marketing programs. The Big 2 (S+A) have only really come to prominence in the UK in the last 20 years before that I think I'm right in saying that the big 2 were Bell and AGV.

What is very clear is that there must be many Executives of helmet manufacturers who are waiting with baited breath what exactly these new tests will prove to their customers. Time will tell but I will not be at all surprised if a few of the BIG boys find their portion of the market under threat from cheaper manufacturers who sell their helmets at a much reduced profit level.

There are plenty of tests in M/C magazines that rate cheaper lids highly. "The Rider" magazine last month had a £78 ($140) NITRO N800V helmet in it's top 10 and it beat some helmets costing 5 times as much! That's a FACT.

I value my own life very highly and I can assure you that if I honestly thought I could obtain premium protection by spending more money I would gladly do so. Surely it is better to try and obtain the same level of protection for minimum cost? You insinuate that I'm somehow defective just because I refuse to spend maximum money on a skid lid! I refuse to be one of the "sheep" led to believe that the most expensive is always the best.

Time will tell but don't be surprised if you all find out you have been spending big bucks to pay for flashy marketing drives...

I understand it is not always just about protection either - comfort, noise and looks do come into it as well.

Is anyone going to agree with me or do you all possess these expensive helmets and do not feel inclined to admit you have been DONE good and proper?

NO MORE ONE LINERS PLEASE...

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Well I would not disagree with you kentfallen (excuse the double negative!).

I have read many of the reports about helmets over the years that have been in the printed press; apart from your latest information about new testing standards, another factor that I recall is that most, if not all, helmets in the world are manufactured in either Italy or Japan - not significant in itself, but this leads to the deduction that many of the factories are producing the premium priced products right alongside the cheaper ones, using similar shells & other materials. It is little wonder that some brands of cheap helmets perform as well as the "quality" premium versions. The opposite is also true IMO, because of "badge branding" (Try on a Ducati branded helmet for instance).

Having said that, I use an Arai because it fits my head better than some others!

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Dave

Dave, I agree totally with what you say... Well that's 2-2 so far...
(better make sure my reply runs to more than 1 line!). I currently wear a NITRO helmet (£80)

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

I'm sorry but that theory doesn't hold true. MY head is worth a lot more to me than £300 . So, by your theory I should buy a more expensive helmet than you? Helmets don't cost as much as your head is worth. A helmet should be bought on the fact that it has the proper safety marks and that it fits you properly and is comfortable in use. If an expensive helmet isn't comfortable in use you will hate it after a while it will also distract you while riding. If it doesn't fit properly then no matter how expensive it is it won't be protecting you. Buy what is best for your use and not what is most expensive. Mind you, buy what you like it is after all our own choices in life.
Jim


[QUOTE=peter-denmark;168625]I advise that you try to do some 80mph crashes on the freeway with cheap helmets and see how it goes...

The thing is that as far as I know there is no central database with helmet safety statistis.

I have a 300 quid (600$) Shoei helmet cause I feel that my head is worth at least that amount.

If you dont feel the same way, I wish you luck...

I agree that fit is important, but I will still gladly pay some more for a "brand" helmet than a "non brand" one.

I hope that someone will make an independent testing group one day, then I wont mind buying cheaper.

Buying cheap because of a good fit seems wrong to me, unless the manufacturer has some quality history behind the product.

But it is damn difficult to determine. I am just of the opinion that if I buy a cheap helmet and it kills me beause it is too cheap I am an ass. I cant speak for anyone else, but I wont take that risk...

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Peter Kongsbak
South East Asia, USA, Central and South America and Scandinavia.

That's the point of this thread, there is soon going to be a UK independent organisation which carries out these kinds of tests and the results data will be available for everyone to see. This new organisation will have the status of a quasi-government "quango" and will operate hand-in-hand with the existing British Standard Testing Authorities. It's damn good news for all of us because helmet manufacturers will no longer be able to keep us all in the dark the way they all do now. It will be most interesting to see how the smaller cheaper manufacturers fare... Will I be proven correct in my own assumptions? I wonder...

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

That testing body is the only was you can take the guess work out of things.

Coming from an outdoor retail background i can assure you lots of fudgy things go on in the background when it comes to branding and costs.

i can name several instances where "mid-range" products are re-labeled, re-styled or simply sold in another market/country under a different "top-end" brand. (now i didn't mention "low range"!) Often the styling, finish of the product that will make the difference between "mid-range" and "top-end". Also it comes down to "market value" -what you or I are "willing" to pay for things. Sometimes vanity will play apart - brand envy. "shiney kit syndrome". But also in the case of safety i.e. helmets "i want the best money can buy" sound idea. But there must be a point in that price range that the safety of the helmet doesn't really increase, and we are only paying for marketing.....
When i was a teenager i came off my mountain bike flying down a hill at 45 km/h, went over the handlebars and landed on my face full impact. ( mum always said "use your head for once!") 65 stitches and a grade 31/2 out of 5 head injury (as bad as it gets without perment brain damage).
Right in line with my temple is was a large chunk missing out of the helmet (Bell top $$$) For sure i'd be dead with "A" helmet but did the fact that it was top end helmet have anything to do with??? I don't have a crystal ball so I'll never know............

I saw a Airoh S4 in the shop the other day, Seems not a bad deal in the Arai tour-X type of helmet. I immediately tryed on the Shoei version and would be happy with ether fit for my dome. I saw a praising review of this helmet here; Airoh Helmets - webBikeWorld
Seamed to think it was very good, with very low noise, less than a tour-X. Also light weight. I saw this in NL for 190 euros. removable visor and peak washable liner etc.

Also Uvex Enduro. same design etc. and IMHO a nice looking helmet too! I've seen it advertised on the net for 169 - 199 euro range. And Uvex being a saftey equipment company!!!!??? how bad can it be? I noticed this helmet didn't show on the english uvex web site but it did on the german site.

To quote stuxtttr; "my current one cost me £37" That's being a bit keen for me!!! But maybe this new independent organisation may see us all buying this one if it gets good results! it could be the bargin of the century or a death trap.........

But it comes down to... it's your head going into that helmet......

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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black

It's not that life is so short, It's just that we're dead for so long....
"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin

I've been down hard and fast twice. Both times the helmet was trashed but my head didn't suffer even a bump. The first time in 1964 wearing a Bell helmet. The second time was in 2002 wearing an HJC. Broken arm, knee, ribs she ran over my foot, I bounced and rolled about 70 feet before she caught up to me and nailed the left foot. Leathers were not in good shape, helmet was sorely used. Other than the slight injuries to me, no problem. Scoot was in pieces all over the highway. She was talking on a cell phone and didn't see the red light. Today, after trying out a bunch of helmets, we have Nolan flip-fronts. white. $200 each. reasonably quiet, darned comfortable, slot for the Starcom earpiece and easy to change screens. The flip fronts don't have the protection of the fullface but are sure a lot easier for us since we both wear glasses and it's easy to put the helmets on, drink a cup of coffee, etc with the flipfront.

I've just been reading this blog:

There and Back Again

which covers a short trip by Tim C into Africa.
(Great pics BTW).

In there, he remakes an important point about open face/flip front helmets.
When dealing with local people, including the local police, he can interact with them far better when they can see his mouth moving and his big smile. This helps him to get through the police checkpoints with minimal recourse to bribery.

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Dave

I reckon that, in the 40 plus years I've been riding road and racing bikes, this must be the most discussed topic!

Until the governing bodies of the sport; ACU, RAC, ect, get to grips with proper testing and publish the results we'll never really know which is best for safety. That'll not happen though, as the smaller companies will fall behind and leave the big three to rule the roost and prices will soar.

Comfortwise I reckon that only one person can be the judge of that, and that's the wearer.
As for being 'fit for purpose', I reckon that riders need what riders need; some like a full face, some an open face, some a flip front, and every rider is different but not all manufacturers cater for all riders, hence riders wearing what they perhaps judge to be a less 'safe' helmet of 'cheaper' make.

Every rider has different requirements of a helmet, apart from it's efficiency when we really need it; in an accident, but safety also means having the 'right' helmet for you to start with.
For instance I wear glasses and I'm a bit claustrophobic. Not a problem? Well, ride facing into the low winter sun here in the North, especially after a rain shower, and with a visor (or goggles) and glasses any imperfection or smudge on the visor or lens makes it impossible to see.
Flip the visor up (or take the goggles off) and the wind swirling behind my glasses makes my eyes water badly, and I end up pulling in to clear my vision.
I have tried lots of full face helmets over the years, but the only one I've been happy to wear for any longer than a few minutes was a Griffin, which tells you how long ago that was. If I could buy one now I'd happily pay what 'A' charge for their top model.
That helmet had a good distance between my mouth and the front chinbar, and I could ride for days with no problems at all, but 'P' and 'A', not to mention both 'S' makes, have been tried and all make me feel too constricted. It's not just 'discomfort', it verges on real distress, and is a failing I know, but we all have our fears, don't we?
Motocross helmets are fine, with lots of room and a huge area of vision, so I feel fine with them, and the peak can be tilted to keep out the sun from my glasses. But, at cruising speeds on the BMW wind can be a problem with such a big peak.
So, I bought an open face B*ll Tourlite, a pair of O*kl*y L frame goggles and a leather face mask cover the gap between chin and jacket collar and I'm fine! OK, in a crash the lack of frontal protection may result in some facial damage, but if I'm comfortable and concentrating I'm less likely to suffer an accident than if I'm worried all the time and can't see properly!
One company (A) makes what is almost ideal for me; but the peak is still too big to be comfy at speed, while yet another (who also make bikes, German ones) has a good sized peak, but too constrictive a chinguard.

So, my open face Be** is not as expensive as a full face from the latest big manufacturer currently in the public image with WSB riders wearing their latest design, nor as safe as it offers less facial protection, but it's right for me.

Are you talking about the Arai Tour-X helmet - MX style with a visor? They're a decent helmet with plenty of space around the chin area. If your doing a lot of motorway miles then you can remove the peak completely to cut down the wind deflection and noise.
Shoei have just released a similar helmet as well, so it may be worth taking a look at that.

Haven't read all the posts and I don't think I will because the first pages suggests to me that you don't really need advice on a helmet choice.

Seems to me you have already made up your mind by buying a Nitro lid.

If its simply a debate on cheaper v dearer, then its a differnt story

I believe, if its of interest, that you do get what you pay for to a greater or lesser degree. Wasting money, in my opinion, is buying a race rep helmet at £80 more than the same model in plain colours. I have owned a Shoei, and then have moved to Arai as they are most comfortable for me. I also own an HJC moto-cross lid, so its not a question of blind brand loyalty. What do you get? The R&D such a "BIG" one can invest in, removable liners, interchangeable pad sizes, decent venting systems to keep your head cooler, or in my case, lessen the steaming of my glasses, does not come cheaply. In certain cases, improvements in less wind noise, and better seals on the visor are also apparent. Its not all about crash protection; its useability and longevity. When you have to replace a lid, unless you've binned it, its because the liners have decayed, not that the shell is suddenly weakened.

A friend works in Accessory sales and he once showed me a cross section of an Arai lid and another popular brand (courtesy of some race sponsorship). Crash, friction, penetration tests are done on a standardised area of the helmet, the same way emissions are tested at set revs, and not through out the rev range often giving modern bikes nice little flat spots. In this case, the Arai was a consistent 3-4mm shell thickness throughout and the other lid was down to about 1 mm in parts of the shell that, conveniently where not in the zone that is used for tests: not fun if that is where you land.

Not saying all cheaper lids are like this, but saying that pricier lids are no better is also not necessarily the case. All that this article you refer to says is that the Nitro lid, when tested in these set ways performed, as well, and was cheaper, thus good value. Would it survive closer, more thorough scrutiny? Perhaps, or perhaps not.

I do not see that this industry will be so different from others. Generic Drug companies wait for patents to expire on existing medications so they can sell them at a cheaper rate than the Pharma companies sell them, eg Ibuprofen. They did not do the R&D so the costs are cheaper and so is the price. However, this also means that the technology is (in the case of medications) 15 years out of date. How out of date is the technology of these cheaper lid companies? Which is the better bike, the Honda CG125, or the Chinese made equivalent, after they bought rights from Honda to copy the design. Me? I think the Honda. Although the design is the same, the Quality Control is not. Same with lids: Do we really know how much cross batch variation there is. Where di they get their manufacturing specs from? Is it just a Shoei design that was scrapped from the development line as another design had more promise?

If the safety test requirements were upped by another 50% would the cheaper lids still do as well?

I hope this SHARP initiative yeilds positive things, but as specified, bikers are only a V. small percentage of road users. Will the government really divert enough funds to create a programme based on good science, or will it simply fill a gap with psuedo-science and look proactive to the casual observer. That is to say, will the tests really mimic the actual traumas a lid must overcome in order to protect a cranium in the event of a real-life impact, not just a bit wet-and-dry on a treadmill.

To give a parallel example: kids now do exams at 11 yrs, to show the government is so proactive about education, whilst teachers typically say its an utter waste of time...
PR stunt? Lets hope not for our heads' sakes.

All that said, I hear X-lites aren't bad!! Right... where's my Takei?

PS: The fact I plan to shortly to post asking for advice on open face lids is pure coincidence and ALL input is welcome there!! Ta muchly...

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)