Are Expensive Motorcycle Helmets Worth It?

August 3, 2022 Benjamin Strusnik

The price of a motorcycle helmet can range from under $100 to as much as $1,000 or more. There’s a notable difference between the price of cheaper helmets versus the more expensive ones on the market. One can’t help but wonder what the extra expenses are for, and whether or not they’re worth the added expense.

To answer these questions, we take a look at what makes up a motorcycle helmet so that we can understand the difference between cheap and expensive models. This will help us determine whether or not that difference is worth it.

What This Article Covers:

What Determines the Price of a Motorcycle Helmet?

Various factors influence the final selling price of a motorcycle helmet. These factors can be something as important as the material used for the outer shell or even things as simple as the helmet's design, which is something that doesn't exactly matter in the event of a crash.

Helmet Design/Type

There are different types of motorcycle helmets, and each of them is made with slightly different features to cater to different preferences or needs riders have.

The simplest example is the difference between a full-face and a half-shell helmet. Full-face helmets are designed to cover your entire head to provide you maximum protection, though it can feel somewhat constricting for some. This is where the appeal of a half helmet lies.

A full-face motorcycle helmet comes with features that a half helmet doesn't have, such as a visor, cheek pads, and chin bar, as well as a ventilation system to keep you cool. All those features wind up adding to the cost of production for full-face helmets and the selling price is often a reflection of that.

Since standard half-shell helmets aren't fitted with nearly as many features as a full-face helmet, they are much cheaper to manufacture and end up with a lower selling price.

There are other factors that don’t affect the selling price of the helmet that you should always keep in mind, such as the best helmet colour for visibility. Keeping these kinds of factors in mind increase your safety without costing anything extra.

Materials

The material used to create the outer shell is one of the most important factors that influence motorcycle helmet prices, and for good reason. The outer shell is arguably the most important part of your helmet.

Motorcycle helmet shells are made using one of three materials: polycarbonate, fibreglass, and carbon fibre. The selling price of these helmets varies, but as long as they meet the required safety certifications they can be trusted to offer more or less the same level of protection.

are cheap motorcycle helmets safe

So why the difference in pricing regarding the outer shell? The simplest explanation for this is the cost and quality of the materials being used.

Motorcycle helmets made from carbon fibre, for example, are more sought after and expensive to manufacture than their polycarbonate counterparts, which is the cheapest helmet shell to manufacture. For obvious reasons, this directly affects the price of the final product.

As for whether or not the pricier option is worth it is up to you to decide. Just keep in mind that although the level of protection they offer is more or less the same, there are some differences between the cheaper and pricier helmet shells.

For example, how long a motorcycle helmet lasts depends on the materials used.

Special Features

Some motorcycle helmets come with added features that increase their marketing value. These features can come in many different forms.

One added feature that I've seen is the special visors some companies provide. These special visors, tinted, reflective, and photochromic, are handy for keeping harsh sunlight out, which makes for a much safer and more enjoyable ride.

A specialised visor that uses photochromic technology, allowing it to go from light to dark, costs a lot more than a plain see-through one, and understandably so. Some of them come as an extra feature with certain helmets, but they can also be bought separately.

Similarly, a Pinlock anti-fog visor that comes with the helmet also influences the final selling price.

Bluetooth communication systems are popular features that have become quite common. They used to be something you could add to your helmet after purchasing it, but these days most motorcycle helmets are made to accommodate them.

Safety Certification

Motorcycle helmets need to go through a series of tests and receive certain safety ratings in order to be legally used on the road.

There are various certifications and some of the tests are more thorough than others. Stricter testing increases the helmet's overall safety rating and influences the final selling price as well.

When it comes to the price of a helmet in relation to its safety certification, while pricier helmets generally have a higher safety rating, it’s not unheard of for even mid-range helmets such as the HJC C70 to have a SHARP rating, one of the highest motorcycle helmet standards.

What Is the Price Range for Motorcycle helmets?

How much you should pay for a motorcycle helmet is entirely up to you and how much you're willing to pay for quality.

Helmets priced under $100 are considered cheap, offering moderate head protection, usually without much else to offer when it comes to comfort and other quality-of-life features. Helmets from $150 to $250 are considered mid-range. From this point and up, helmets generally have a bit more thought put into the smaller features and mechanisms.

From $300 and over, you can assume that the helmet is of higher quality in regards to things such as durability and comfort.

Why Choose an Expensive Motorcycle Helmet?

is expensive motorcycle helmet worth it

Often, pricier motorcycle helmets serve as an improvement to a previous model or as a continuation to a series of helmets. These improvements are usually made according to customer feedback, reviews, and the company's sense of innovation.

This process paves the way for better and more thought-out helmets, and these improvements always come at a cost.

All motorcycle helmets serve the same basic purpose, but that doesn't mean they provide you with the same riding experience. With price comes quality, and depending on which qualities you look for in a helmet, you may end up having to go with something on the pricier end of the spectrum.

Here are some sought-after features that pricier models are likely to have. For a motorcycle helmet buying guide, check out what to look for in a motorcycle helmet.

Light-Weight

The best and safest motorcycle helmets are noticeably lighter in weight than their cheaper counterparts. This is mostly due to the material used to construct the outer shell, as the best quality materials for helmets tend to weigh less.

The lightest motorcycle helmets are made using carbon fibre or a mix of resin and fibre. A standard full-face motorcycle helmet weighs from about 1.4 to 1.8 kg on average.

Your neck needs to support this weight with every shift and movement your bike makes throughout your journey. Some might find no issue with it and wouldn't even notice the weight, but others may find it uncomfortable to deal with, especially when travelling for long periods at a time.

Riding with a motorcycle helmet that's too heavy for you could bring safety risks as well, which is why choosing a helmet with a manageable weight is crucial to your riding experience.

Comfort

If you compare a cheap motorcycle helmet with an expensive one, you are likely able to tell the difference between the level of comfort each helmet provides.

Expensive motorcycle helmets are usually more thought out and manufacturers are constantly making various improvements in many fields, which includes how comfortable the helmet is.

The level of comfort a helmet provides can be attributed to the quality of the linings and padding used for the interior. There are many kinds of fabric used to pad helmets. While they all share the same purpose, there are some helmet manufacturers that make use of special fabrics made with anti-bacterial technology that provides further comfort as well as hygiene.

An example of this would be AGV’s SuperCool lining. AGV’s special padding is made to prevent the buildup of bacteria as well as wick away any moisture to keep your head nice and cool, which makes for a much more comfortable ride.

Linings that are removable for washing used to be a feature only seen in pricier helmets but these days it's something you see in the majority of helmets on the market, both cheap and expensive.

Helmet Noise and Aerodynamics

Helmet noise reduction and improved aerodynamics are also features that become more prevalent on motorcycle helmets as their selling price increases.

There are ways to reduce wind noise if you already own a noisy helmet, such as using ear plugs or a wind blocker, so this feature alone might not be worth the extra expense when in comparison to those I’ve mentioned previously.

While a quiet motorcycle helmet is preferable, I wouldn't choose a pricier helmet based on that quality alone.

The aerodynamic capabilities of a motorcycle helmet are determined by its shape and how well it can cut through the wind to prevent turbulence. When working on a helmet's aerodynamics, manufacturers typically run multiple simulations using computer software in order to find a design that offers the least amount of wind resistance at high speeds.

is expensive motorcycle helmet worth to buy

Note that standard motorcycle helmets don't normally require as much attention to aerodynamics as a racing helmet does, since you’re not going to be going as fast. This isn’t something worth breaking your budget for if you aren't planning on putting the advanced aerodynamics to good use.

While aerodynamics isn’t usually a massive concern for motorcyclists, it’s still a feature that could affect your riding experience, but mostly if you're planning on taking your motorcycle out on the track.

Ventilation

If you compare a cheap motorcycle helmet with an expensive one, the ventilation system on the expensive one is more likely of better quality.

A quality ventilation system effectively keeps your head cool during warmer days, as well as prevents your visor from fogging up when it is cold. This can only be achieved if the intake and exhaust vents are placed thoughtfully and are constructed in a manner that promotes good air circulation inside the helmet.

Although chances of getting a good ventilation system are higher with an expensive helmet, it’s not a guarantee. There are cheaper helmets with better ventilation than a few of their pricier counterparts, so it’s wise to be mindful of that fact if you're helmet shopping on a budget.

Another thing to look out for is the placement of the vents. Pricier helmets usually have more thought put into the placement and accessibility of the vents, making them easy to reach even while riding.

Intake vents located at the chin bar are an indication that some thought was put into the prevention of fog build-up on the visor. They’re a good thing to look out for if good ventilation is essential to you.