The biggest confusion that motorcyclists have when it comes to buying equipment is whether to buy an expensive or cheap helmet. This is because most people believe that an expensive helmet is much safer in case of a fall or an accident than a cheap helmet, so they make it a must to spend most of the equipment budget on an expensive helmet.
To clarify this, deciding whether to buy a cheap or expensive motorcycle helmet depends on you and your budget. In general, both cheap and expensive helmet offers the same level of safety, but in most cases, an expensive helmet will still offer better performance from comfort, design, noise reduction, and more. So, if you want more features and you have a high budget, an expensive helmet is great for you. But if you have a limited budget, a cheap helmet is the great option for you and will provide just the same level of protection as an expensive helmet.
You also have to understand all helmets manufacturers such as ECE or Snell approval offers the same level of safety in both cheap and expensive helmet. The main difference is usually in the features that expensive helmets offer and not that expensive helmets offer more protection than cheap helmets.
In this guide, I will show you all the differences between cheap and expensive helmets and what will be more suitable for you.
So, let’s get started.
Cheap motorcycle helmet
Cheap helmets are usually sold for a price between $50 to $150. A cheap helmet will provide just the same level of protection as an expensive helmet that costs even more than $1,000, but the significant difference is that a cheap helmet will be heavier, less beautiful and less comfortable which is probably a drawback. So, if your budget limited, it would be better for you to buy a cheap helmet.
In my opinion, cheap helmets are definitely excellent from a safety point of view, but it is quite pitiful that they are less comfortable and provide less ventilation, which can be very annoying when riding for hours. So, I would recommend you buy a cheap helmet only if you have a limited budget for equipment.
In addition, I strongly recommend that you do not buy cheap helmets from brands that do not have a good history. Therefore, if you decide to buy cheap helmets, only buy them from reliable brands and not other counterfeit brands, because you will really hit bad helmets that can even be illegal.
Expensive motorcycle helmet
Expensive motorcycle helmets, as the name implies, are sold very expensive and cost between $150 to $1,000. They differ from cheap helmets in that they are comfortable, have a nicer design, have a lighter weight, have a much better ventilation system, and possess more vision range, which are all definitely very significant benefits over cheap helmets.
It is, however, important to take into account its price because not everyone can pay a high price on helmets, especially the average people.
In my opinion, an expensive helmet will be great for you if you have the budget and if you do want to get a better helmet. While in most cases, I would recommend you buy very expensive helmets if you are a racer because it will definitely be an advantage for you.
Do expensive motorcycle helmets provide more safety than cheap helmets?
The short answer is NO. Expensive helmets are not safe than cheap helmets, and as long as the helmet has certifications, it doesn’t matter, it will be safe to ride.
In fact, a study in the United States that looked at the differences in safety levels between cheap and expensive helmets tested 6 helmets where 3 of the helmets are over $20 and the other 3 are above $150. After crushing the helmets over 2 meters, the study found out that there was no difference in the level of safety that the helmets provide which proves the fact that there is no difference between a cheap and expensive helmet from the point of view of safety.
What are the main differences between a cheap helmet and an expensive helmet?
An expensive helmet is more comfortable than a cheap helmet
Expensive helmets are much more comfortable than cheap helmets, and this is especially true because in most cases, the pads and insides of the expensive helmet are much more made of high-quality material than cheap helmets, while even expensive helmets are able to adapt much better.
In addition, you won’t feel heat while riding with an expensive helmet which also provides comfort while riding, and this is because of the more advanced ventilation system that causes an air exchange and relieves heat.
An expensive helmet is lighter than a cheap helmet
Expensive helmets have a very significant difference in weight than cheap helmets, which is mainly because of the high-quality material. Expensive helmets are made of very lightweight carbon fiber, while cheap helmets are made of hard plastic.
The disadvantage of a heavy helmet is that it will have more pressure on the neck during riding, and usually, the heavy weight of the helmet will start to become significantly noticeable as you ride long distances, which is very annoying. So, the heavy weight is something you will have to take note if you decide to buy a cheap helmet.
An expensive helmet is more beautiful and well-designed than a cheap helmet
In most cases, expensive helmets have more beauty from a design standpoint, which I am sure is important for a lot of riders.
I’m not saying cheap helmets are not beautiful, but they are definitely less beautiful than expensive helmets. Also, an expensive helmet looks much more impressive and aggressive from a construction viewpoint and its overall design. In my opinion, expensive helmets look beautiful overall while cheap helmets look boring.
An expensive helmet offers more protection against the wind than a cheap helmet
An expensive helmet provides better protection against the wind which is mainly due to its material structure and design that helps to stop the wind. So, you won’t feel the wind in your head when riding with it. However, in some cases, you will feel the wind when riding with it at a speed of 80 mph and this compared to riding an inexpensive helmet where you will feel the wind already at 60 or even 50 mph which is very uncomfortable.
An expensive helmet is much more durable than a cheap helmet
It is quite clear that expensive helmets are durable than cheap helmets because, in most cases, expensive helmets are made of much higher quality materials which would allow them to last much longer than cheap helmets. You will also notice that even if you buy a cheap and expensive helmet from the same company, the expensive helmet will surely be much more durable and high quality than the cheap helmet.
Accessories for an expensive helmet cost more than accessories for a cheap helmet
So, yes, an expensive helmet cost more just as well as its accessories. Its accessories cost more in price and not just even the accessories, but also its replacement parts, so it’s important to take this into consideration.
For example, a screen replacement for an expensive helmet can cost you about $70 to $100, while for a cheap helmet, it can cost between $20 and $50. So, as you can see, the price difference is very significant.
An expensive helmet prevents noise much better than a cheap helmet
In my opinion, the biggest advantage that expensive helmets have over cheap helmets is that they simply block the noise in an amazing way, mainly because of the shape of the design and its materials. What a cheap helmet does is a lot less good which is very annoying, and usually, earplugs will not help as a good helmet. So, this is another thing you need to take into account, especially if you are someone who likes to ride at high speeds and get a lot of winds while riding.
An expensive motorcycle helmet will protect your hearing in a better way while riding than a cheap helmet
Expensive helmets come with better protection against noise that the motorcycle engine makes which can damage your ears and hearing impairment and can even eventually block your ear.
Because of that, if you are the type that rides on a Harley model, you have to be careful because, in most cases, they bring out the most powerful engine noise. It is, therefore, better to buy a high-quality helmet if you love to ride at fast speed on a loud motorcycle.
So, which should I buy — a cheap or an expensive helmet?
After showing you all the differences, pros, and cons of a cheap and an expensive helmet, it is left for you to decide which is better for you. In general, any helmet can be good for you, and protect your head only by having it approved from DOT, ECE, SNELL, etc. which proves that the helmet will protect your head.
Overall, I would recommend an expensive helmet for racers or very advanced riders who have the budget to afford to buy an expensive helmet and are unwilling to compromise on all the benefits that an expensive helmet will give them.
However, a cheap helmet would be much better and highly recommended for beginner riders because they do not ride at high speeds. A cheap helmet is also recommended and would fit those willing to compromise and have a limited budget.
Summary
For any questions, you may have or opinion on the article, feel free to write us a comment, and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
Thanks for reading, until the next post.
