I've been looking at helmets myself. I was looking primarily at the Shoei/Schuberth price range about £500 but when I looked at what came top on the "Sharp" ratings it was the £150 Cabergs. Makes you think.
I bought the Bell Star, MIPS for $260 on sale. Carbon fiber in critical areas, aramid fiber next most critical, fiberglass least critical area of the shell. Awesome aerodynamics.
There is a UK helmet rating site https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/ that I have used. My Nitro N2100 NZ$80 helmet had 4stars so was pleased with that when my budget was tight (1.45kg). I found I got sore shoulders and ears after 3-4hour rides, so eventually invested in a plain SHOEI GT AIR2 that set me back NZ$800. It has been night and day better (1.3kg) and includes pin lock anti fog. I even regularly wash the liner.
Nice helmet, but it's the unseen deteriation of the inner materials that are of real concern. I would buy a new helmet. You only have one head, look after it
Yes ! I came upon that site while researching helmets online, Which further back my point that there is no justifiable reason to spend over $500. I’ve narrowed it down to a Bell Qualifier and Scorpion 420 that is $150 and has an above average Sharp score.
The problem/benefit of the internet is that there's always an opposing view! So, it's not so much "who's right and who's wrong" but more a case of "who do you agree with"? Interesting.... https://www.motolegends.com/reviews/Why-we-don-t-really-rate-the-Sharp-helmet-test
I also think the "5 year rule" is OTT and much depends on helmet quality and how they are stored but 20 years is pushing it a bit so I'd say change it. Paying top £/$ is no guarantee of getting a top quality helmet. I've had a high end Schuberth for the last 8 years or so but I wouldn't buy another one. I intend shopping for a new Shoei when the current lockdown eases. Also why, why, why, why, WHY do manufacturers perservere with the prehistoric double ring type chin strap buckle? (I don't like them by the way). They're a right PITA even when your fingers aren't numb with cold. The ratchet buckle on the Schuberth (and others) is one major plus IMO and more than up to the job.
@Dartplayer has posted the link. I came across it on one of the websites I was looking at, maybe sportsbikeshop.
Joseph, I’ve had two each of both the the Bell Qualifier and the Shoei RF-SR. Both are great but the Shoei is definitely a step up. It fits better on my noggin, it is quieter, and the overall build quality and fit and finish is better. I prefer the Shoei to the Bell for anything other than an around town short rides. I typically amortize the cost over time of ownership in my head and then make a choice whether or not it’s worth it to me. Both are protective and we all choose how we spend our money.
I agree with you, @Pegscraper, about the Schuberth. I have one that is a modular design for women and I’m not a fan. It’s never one of my helmets I reach for. And I’ve ridden with it around town plus on long trips. The one saving grace is that I bought it through revzilla.com on sale because a newer model was coming out. I’d be rather annoyed with it if I’d paid full price.
thanks for the input. Like I said I use my bike for around town. Not long distance riding. I’ve had Shoeis and Sharks in the past but I don’t really want to spend $500 plus on a helmet. The Bell and Scorpion look like good helmets for under $200 so that’s where I’m leaning.
@Joseph Limnios You're welcome, Joseph. I've not had a Scorpion helmet (had a Scorpion jacket that was awesome, though). But I know that the Bell Qualifier is definitely a "bang for the buck" helmet if it fits your head. So one more recommendation from me. Check out this Qualifier version. Although at $279 it's $79 over your $200 price point, it comes stock with a Transitions face shield. If you just buy the Bell Transitions shield as a stand alone, it's $140. And this version has the MIPS technology. I got a Transitions shield on a Qualifier that I bought a few years ago and I love it. It works great--even better than my more expensive Shoei transition shield that I have on my RF-SR. I've ridden with the Bell Transitions shield at night and found it to be like riding with a clear shield in that I didn't even think about it. And I've ridden with it in the blazingly bright Arizona sun. It's slightly less dark than my darkest shield but more than sufficient. I used it riding to Sturgis in 2019--a round trip of about 3,000 miles and it worked like a champ in all conditions. Here's a link to it on Revzilla.com and another on motorcyclecloseouts.com https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/bell-qualifier-dlx-mips-helmet?sku_id=1296722 https://motorcyclecloseouts.com/bell-qualifier-dlx-mips-helmet/
I bought a Shark Skwal 2 a few months ago at a discount sale, new for 125 euros (around 135$) just because they had no box. and no transport bag for it. I even discovered once home the helmet has built in leds. Very good for the price. pin lock, good aeration, etc. Will never put 500+ in an helmet Just look on the sharp site rating, it's 4 stars.
So....out of interest...should I change my 4yr old HJC fg st £200 helmet, or spend £60 replacing the visor and pinlock? No drops or dinks. An hour's commute daily in the vagaries of the British UV daylight.
Joseph Limnios Welcome to the family. I know nothing about helmets but i still would not trust a twenty year old helmet to save my teeny weeny Brain. Joe.
