Cheap Motorcycle Helmets vs. Expensive: What's The Difference? | Sportbike Track Gear

[@eastonhalleman1092]

I’ll bring a case of corona... watched during covid-19

[@sportbiketrackgear]

I am game, come on by. - Van

[@jasdkfjhaskjh69432]

Same.

[@moealfaleh5606]

The way I look at helmets. If it is not snell certified, it doesnt go on my head.

[@ignacio2763]

why not ece?

[@garrettsmith8286]

I've seen ece save lives. But I agree buy the most expensive helmet you can afford. Like I used to tell my customers.....You only get one head.

[@arieagung]

@@garrettsmith8286 the problem is how to determine how much is "I can afford" ?

[@garrettsmith8286]

@@arieagung How much is your insurance deductible? For me I'd like to keep the price of a helmet around $400 yet I have many helmets ($150-$800) & by far my favorite is my $800 Schuberth. You typically get what you pay for. It beats my Shoei RF1200 in every way. Personally you can't put a price on my head, while other people say theirs is only worth $100.

[@reup4023]

@@arieagung I'm usually on the look for any deals on legit sites and dealers. On a FB group one posted of a sale at their dealership and when I showed up looking for the HJC RPHA11 it was sold, but was shown a Shoei X-14 that was also on sale(wasn't advertised on their post) for under $500 I instantly bought that, and it fit me better than the RPHA10 I was using.

[@1EVILZ06]

I think the biggest travesty is the half shell helmets. I see all the Harley guys wearing. They offer zero protection in a get off....none.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Agree totally, you may as well have a DOT certified maxi pad stuck to your head. Half helmets are not worth the time it takes to strap them on. - Van

[@ricsim78]

Considering the majority of Harley riders I see ( including ones I passed with my Ninja 400 today) rarely wear gear at all, at least they are wearing something with a half shell. Even my father, when he had his Harley, never wore any protective gear besides sunglasses. Not even riding gloves, which would really hurt with a low/high side skid. At the bare minimum I wear a street bike full-face or modular helmet, armored jacket, riding boots, and riding reinforced gloves. I would like to get some armored jeans or pants next. All gear all the time, even if test riding after I install a mod. The half helmets look dumb IMO and are likely pretty useless, but LOL about the DOT approved maxi pad on their head.

[@ferhadkhan4978]

The reason I love this man is that he brings in his own personal experiences and takes on things. As a rider himself that says alot about him. He clearly cares about other riders out there. Plus he is a no bullshit kinda guy which makes him awesome. Keep up the awesome work man.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Really appreciate the kind words my brother! - Van

[@daverae7544]

I still meet people that brag about how cheap they bought a helmet for. $15,000 sportbike, $90 helmet.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Blows my mind as well, the gear should be as good or better than the bike. - Van

[@tristar3005]

Even better is the 'oh I'm gonna get a helmet eventually' and they're on a liter bike. I've showed up to rides and turned right around when I saw those people. If you go down and I help you I'd like you to at least have a chance at surviving. I'd rather not walk up on your head split clean open thank you very much.

[@jv-ib5rc]

You can buy a Scorpion for $90. I bought a Nolan for $60. Are you telling me that once the helmet gets discounted below $90, they loose their value?

[@daverae7544]

@@jv-ib5rc pretty much.

[@jv-ib5rc]

How very snobby of you!

[@thanksmark]

To be honest, this wasn't worth 14 mins of talking.

[@djl608]

Agree. Incredibly Type A, cerebral narcissist.

[@tarequrrahman3111]

Talks too much bullshit and not the topic

[@gwcrispi]

Did he ever discuss the differences between high end and mid-range helmets or did he just list a bunch that he's used?

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Yeah this guy is a total ass wipe...

[@thanksmark]

😂😂😂😂

[@lephan975]

3:02 dude the Corona joke is gonna be lit if this video was released like 1 year later than it originally was lol

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Looks like I was the fist to call it! - Van

[@jawara6263]

LoL

[@mylesbarnett4202]

3:00 funny how a year changes the meaning of bringing over a case of Corona

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Hard to believe this shit is really happening right now. - Van

[@nycscribe538]

@@sportbiketrackgear hard to believe this shit is still happening one year later.

[@cerebral_rotting_Ahole]

@@nycscribe538 and still happening

[@nycscribe538]

@@cerebral_rotting_Ahole 😔

[@mnmmercury1094]

I appreciate that you are angry in this video about making the wrong choices. Thats what it is to buy a super cheap non-reputable non-tested helmet: A wrong choice. Also appreciate that you are not this angry in other videos and calmly present the good information as quick as possible. The good information is not just pointing out the things the manufacturer already says but riding in them and comparing them to other gear. Great stuff!

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thanks for watching. Our goal is 100% to help you all choose the gear or parts that make the most sense for you by sharing what we have learned. - Van

[@grahambillions]

For the price the HJC CL-17 is hard to beat. Both Snell and DOT approved

[@jaronvenable4241]

It's what I have and I love it.

[@bva4677]

That's my choice too

[@sowen1274]

I used to own an HJC and I really like it. I just banged up my Nexx XG100 Garage when I wiped out on an oil slick and the helmet performed amazingly well! I didn’t even feel anything. It protected me and I give it my seal of approval.

[@Jumacado]

One thing that has always surprised me in the United States when I've been, is that many riders with expensive bikes and a lot of preparation, and on the other hand the cheap helmets they wear, in Europe is the opposite, they can take a bike more cheap but the security material is almost always first class, good helmets, kevlar jeans, jackets, gloves, boots etc ... I think in my opinion that it is something that you have to change. If there is money for a panigale there is also money to wear a good helmet and more equipment. greetings to all.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

If you can't afford good gear you can't afford the bike IMO. Best practice is to have gear that is as good or better than your bike. Thanks for watching! - Van

[@TurtleGP]

Yea I agree, that's a good point. I hate to see that, especially when you have a young parent out there riding like a crazy squid. I use to try and convince them to smarten up, I'd say "hey I get that you don't have any care in the world what happens to you apparently but how about you think about that young kid you have at home that depends on you. You can't remove all risk but atleast be smart enough to reduce alot of it by simply wearing quality safety gear and not riding wheelies through intersections in the middle of rush hour traffic" the idiot's respond with dumb shit like "not everyone can afford snobby gear, and I work hard to feed my kids which is none of your damn business how I ride or what I wear." Of course back then I was dumb enough to respond with "it is my buisness when put me at risk as you nearly hit me while you rode that scketchy, out of control wheelie by me at double the speed limit and crossing into the on comming lane. I'm glad you work to take care of your own kids but you had enough money to buy that crotch rocket you haven't learned to control yet and when you ride a wheelie into the side of a families minivan with no gear, you aren't going to be around anymore to provide for young kids that now have only government programs funded by tax payers to be able to survive, since your squid ass didn't care enough to wear gear, ride intelligently or even get life insurance as a precaution for your decisions." It always ends up a waste of effort though because people like them are never able to learn the easy way, they always have to find out the hard way before they ever change, unfortunately too often they don't even make it far enough to. I wonder why so many of those type of riders with that thick headed, squid mentality also choose to wear that same one piece of gear only?... you know, the iconic squid vest, that black Icon vest. It does have a thin plastic back guard but nothing else and the guard folds back on itself so it doesn't even work half as well as any basic real back protector. They aren't that cheap either, for the 160 bucks or so of those flimsy icon squid vests, you can easily get a nicer, better rated back protector. I get that it's the only piece of gear they invested in but I feel like what's the point if they are just wearing it over a tshirt with jeans and some "fresh jordans" lol. I see so many on fairly new bikes too, not expensive bikes but not real cheap ones either, atleast the bike didn't start off cheap before they beat the piss out of it. If you just dropped 8 grand or more on a crotch rocket then you definitely should have budgeted in a few hundred for a decent helmet and a few hundred more for some basic protection and armor. Hell even if your bike only costed 4 or 5 grand, how much do you value your life.... or atleast being around for your kids if you have them, hopefully enough to atleast buy a quality helmet instead of some bargain bin junk. Your "fresh Jordans" probably cost near the same as decent motorcycle boots too. I just don't get these types of kids, I mean sad part is alot aren't even kids, they are grown men still doing this ignorant shit.

[@reimop9595]

@@TurtleGP Totally agree.

[@Ducati_Dude]

@@TurtleGP 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@pbrooksp]

3 minutes in and i'm a fan because of you calling out amazon/ and whoever was the shipper. grazie!

[@matthewinsydneyful]

I had a high end Bell carbon with an amazing photo chromatic visor ( automatically changes from clear to dark tint). I had a traumatic head on with a drunk driver on my side of the road at around 70km/h,he drove off too left me on the road,my bike had both it's wheels ripped off,I've never seen a bike destroyed like that ( can’t remember the accident,I’m blank), all I can say is I received no brain injury. Double compound fractured pelvis with internal artery bleeding, double compounded left arm,ACL tear both knees,broken scapular, broken L5 spine break which still I have numbness all down my right butt,leg and heel. I had $3,000 worth of protection on, 9 weeks in hospital, 23 months ago now I’ve got most of my life back = my gear and abit of luck saved my life, invest in good quality gear mates and girls.💪👊✊️

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Glad to hear you survived that crash and thanks for taking the time to share your story. - Brian Van

[@beefymcshazmoo]

Glad you're still with us brother, karma will hopefully take care of whomever did that to you.

[@martinfoster5163]

I wouldn’t trust a helmet that only had a DOT sticker. I’d look for Snell or ECE. I trust Bell and have owned a few, luckily I’ve never had to test them in a serious crash. So your advice to buy a trusted brand is spot on but I’d just add that Shell or ECE is a must. Never trust DOT only. I’m in Asia now, but I still bought a Bell from overseas and had it shipped here to Mongolia. I’m an adventure rider and Bell makes great ECE tested adventure helmets (poly shell) for just under $200 with MIPS which I think is great for dirt riding. No need for a $1000 Kevlar/carbon fiber helmet which, while lighter and quieter, will crack and need replacing (by design) in minor dirt falls which we do a lot as adventure riders.

[@_Suzuka_Joe]

now we can look for FIM approval

[@johnwright3832]

I also recommend scorpion It saved my life and face in a motorcycle accident I slid down the highway at 45 mph to avoid a car from side swiping me. Also very comfortable and good ventilation.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Love the Scorpion helmets as well, our whole family rides in them when we snowmobile here in MI. - Van

[@johnjacob688]

At the moment I ride with a Shoei RF-1200 but I have worn a bunch of different helmets. I still think the $150 Exo-410 Scorpion I had was the most comfortable interior.

[@jacobhendrickson8935]

Always had used Hjc until a couple years ago I picked up a scorpion and I totally agree they are great helmets that I find myself wearing over my arai helmet.

[@domschwarz502]

I hate these kind of customers: "hey, look at my new (insert crazy supersport bike here), I've already done this and that to it, cost me 25k.. BTW, what's your cheapest helmet, I don't have any money left".

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Happens all the time LOL. - Van

[@andrehunt103]

We are working on our "SIOC" packages. These packages are the ones we aren't boxing. If you feel you want a little more privacy over you packages being shipped and not allowing the world to know what it is? Please call customer service and share that with them. Ask them to have that item review. Warning, if it does not fit in some of our smaller boxes, you will get a lot of plastic padding and in a box you can fit a microwave in! Additionally, not all items sold on Amazon, are shipped by Amazon. Third party sellers can print and send packages too. We don't carry US Postal envelope. We don't open packages sealed or packaged by manufacturers or suppliers. If there are issues with a package, it is supposed to be removed from inventory and listed as damaged.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

This package was shipped by the seller and not Amazon directly. - Van

[@andrehunt103]

Sportbike Track Gear Sadly, if the supplier does not want to pay the dollars for the box, we send it SIOC or without a box. I like my packages boxed and would pay the extra for the privacy and added protection. Thanks for the video!

[@op3l]

Yea, always buy brands for helmets. There are entry level helmets from reputable brands that have the same safety features just not as comfortable. Don't go riding wearing some shit no name brand, not worth your life.

[@Addy29plus5]

You cannot be held responsible as long as all helmets meet the DOT standard. I understand that ppl have gone litigation crazy. At the end of the day you are a store that sell a variety of helmets of varying price range. It’s a Shame that you have to put a disclaimer in there, but I understand why you feel the need. Great channel Van. 👍

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Appreciate the kind words and thank you for watching! - Van

[@jamesmelton5245]

My aria was 900 and my shoei's were 800 because my head cant be replaced. Think a lot of it is styling and comfort.

[@stevehotshotsantini9777]

Some helmets at below £100 have better sharp ratings then those costing £400-500....end of.. Research counts, both the testers and yours..

[@Furrylicorice]

I have always gotten Arai helmets. They are really nice. Yeah don’t go cheap on a helmet spend the extra money get a good one .

[@flinch622]

Same here. Anyone ever whine about spending an extra hundred bucks or so after laying it down?

[@denbeere4277]

I have an rx7 gp helmet

[@czierwo]

Same here. Only $5 heads wear $5 helmets.

[@randyschmidt19]

Just move to Arkansas or Florida then you don't need a helmet...

[@azff]

@@randyschmidt19 People don't crash in Arkansas or Florida? 🤔

[@protectork9831]

You can often have quality helmet under 150 on sale at motorcycle retail websites. I recently bought AGV for 200. Original price was 700

[@f4i_campbell455]

You put out great Information man. I'm glad you didn't gravitate towards a certain brand, or price range. You gave the information needed for riders, and then followed with your personal opinion.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Appreciate that and thanks for watching! - Van

[@cdubbleyoo]

3:09: worth the price of admission.

[@flapdraghun7902]

I just bought a Bell Star helmet and I think it's worth the money for it. Safety is priority number one when it comes to riding motorcycles. The highest snell rating gives peace of mind that it's tested to withstand impacts and thresholds. People should invest in quality gesr and it will pay off.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

That is an excellent helmet, worth every penny IMO. Thank you for watching! - Van

[@hanszimmer4679]

If you value your head like a 50 bucks lit - well, go for it. If you don´t put a price tag on your head go for well known brands. I usually ride in Simpson, Arai and HJC (and my vid´s are proof of that). My only exeption is my broken head helmet i use for camera mounting experiments.

[@617PORTUGAL]

Just bout an arai quantum x at my local dealer for $318 after taxes. Retail price is $700. Never cheap out on gear.

[@fearnobeer9077]

I bought a dohan replica Arai, worst helmet ive ever owned ...wind noise was insane .

[@BobbyDully__P]

I have to admit my first motorcycle helmet was from amazon. Until I started watching youtubers about helemets and ece standards etc then I realized what a piece of crap the helmet was and returned it lol. Those dot stickers are self proclaimed no test. They slap it on there and dot means nothing. Nothing less than an ece should be worn dot by well known brands is what i would trust

[@sportbiketrackgear]

ECE or Snell are my preference for sure. That said I will also wear a DOT only from any of the major brands we sell here at STG. None of them would take the risk of slapping a DOT sticker on a helmet that would not 100% pass the test. - Van

[@2Wheel4Fun]

I went from Arai to Scorpion as well. Less expensive not cheap and scorpion helmets have saved my life more than once.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thanks for taking the time to leave the feedback! - Van

[@tennohafizh2519]

Because its locale arai are cheaper here

[@jamieweirdworld]

My scorpion EXO1100 took the full impact of a minivan A pillar on the chin guard back in April. I'm fully confident it saved my old bacon. I got the new EXO ST1400 carbon fiber to replace it. Sticking with those guys.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Scorpion makes a good helmet, have always liked them. - Van

[@ajv802]

Good to hear you still appreciate the quality of music CD’s!

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Would love to do a vinyl set up, just to much effort for the slight difference in sound quality IMO. This has been a hobby of mine for over 20 years. - Van

[@ajv802]

@@sportbiketrackgear Have to agree, I added a Rega RP6 turntable to my setup a few years back and the difference between the formats is minor, tones are a little warmer with vinyl but thats about it. Though it is cool stumbling across some old classics in second hand shops and some of the jumbo album art you get with records is pretty cool. ...luckily track bikes and playing with high end audio aren't expensive hobbies I keep telling my wife.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

The good news is it's a lot harder to crash your stereo. I have had most of my gear for a long time now. Almost 20 years ago I invested in a set of B&W Nautilus 802 mains with a HTM1 center. Over the years I have had to replace a few drivers (damn kids would push the tweeter domes in) but they still sound amazing. Do your research, invest in quality and enjoy! - Van

[@ajv802]

@@sportbiketrackgear Very nice. The 802's are an outstanding speaker, I have a set of B&W 804's powered by a NAD 375BEE with a Vega sub. Ive had mine for about 12 years now, it was expensive at the time but given how much they get used its was money well spent. Ive taken care of it, they've lasted and still sound fantastic. It would be awesome if you had distribution setup for Australia. Its quite difficult down under to get brands like Driven, Vortex, Woodcraft etc. Everything I order has to come from overseas which makes the process quite slow. Keep enjoying those 802's.

[@blue03r6]

@@sportbiketrackgear I've always wanted that technics SL-1200GAE. I almost bought a set of Focal grande utopia em evo speakers. lol kidding. I don't have $230k for a set of speakers.

[@AF-O6]

I find this channel to be exceptionally informative and knowledgeable...and no one forced me to watch the entire thing.

[@prjgrudge]

IMO, the biggest determinant for a good helmet is fit and airflow. You won't find any cheap helmets that gives you a great fit and great airflow with minimal buffeting at 150mph. If you can't see what's ahead because your head bobbles in the tuck position you need a better helmet.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

It takes real research and development to produce helmets that perform at speeds of 150mph or more and you don't get that with more affordable helmets. - Van

[@sportbiketrackgear]

@Dan Gleeballs I am talking about track use, that said there are riders who will hit those speeds on the street. - Van

[@prjgrudge]

@Dan Gleeballs It doesn't matter really. You hit a hard target on the street at 60mph you're dead anyway. The head bobble can be an issue at 60mph with a crappy helmet.

[@blue03r6]

i used to be the same guy that argues that a shoei, arai etc can't be all that much better. I started out with a $100 bieffe. the first thing I discovered in it's cheapness was the visor would open if I turned my head. after I got a few more $ I bought a Icon. It looked ok and fit ok...or so I thought. when I crashed in it, i moved up to a suomy. now I understood why this helmet is $300. it didn't actually weigh less than the icon. but on my head it felt like it was 1/4 of the weight of the icon. how, why? well it comes down to research and development. they know where to place the weight to make it feel light. not to mention the visor, vents, airflow, fit and finish were also much better. after a crash in that helmet I tried on an arai. doesn't really fit me. so i tried on a shoei. these fit me very well and are built with the same greatness as a suomy. the shoei was also a few grams lighter and I could really tell. it feels like I'm only wearing a baseball cap it's so light. fast forward from 2006 to 2016 when I bought a new shoei RF-1200 only because 10 years is the limit of a good helmets lifespan. shoei warranties their helmets for 7 years. what's a warranty on a $100 helmet?

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Nothing is more convincing than experiencing it yourself. Thanks for taking the time to share this. - Van

[@bikeryder757]

Just found your channel. I like the no BS content. I personally buy the best gear I can afford. If I go down I want to get back up in good condition!

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave the comment! - Van

[@salahad-din4114]

One piece of advice my father gave me I've always stuck to is "ALWAYS spend as much as you can on a helmet, if you don't have the money spend less on your bike. A bike can in most crashes be fixed. Your head can't. Buy cheap get cheap". Always questioned it until my head hit the road at 68mph. Since then I've never bought a cheap helmet, gloves or other clothing. Spend that money save your life or avoid severe injury

[@Jubular]

Your attitude and presentation is brilliant. Well done, yet again.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thanks for watching and the kind words. - Van

[@sathishrao7926]

I expected a lot more ‘substance’ in 13+ minutes of video..

[@SmokeRingsPipeDreams]

Great video! I enjoyed how you put crashing, ... how you "managed to crash in them", it made it sound like you were trying to test the helmet. 😊

[@jakeizlove]

Kind of wish I'd kept the helmet from my accident but the wife was too freaked out over the idea of bringing it home.

[@mixerguru]

Great video I too love Scorpion helmets the one thing that Snell doesn't elaborate on is the "impact vs the grind" going down at 80 plus and your melon has contact with pavement in less than a second its possible to grind through the shell. (I'm speaking from experience) Once you penetrate the shell or at least 80% of it the structural integrity and ability to protect against a shock or impact event changes dramatically the plastic is not going to handle the impact like it would when it was whole where as the glass fiber will maintain its integrity both in strength and flexibility and give way beyond a plastic helmet.The laminate fiberglass helmets also protect exponentially better against brain injury / concussion by diffusing shock waves produced from hard impacts especially dead stop impacts where diffusion/deceleration is the life saver not brute strength. That being said i have a few plastic Scorpion buckets I love them and I will buy more ! and their fiber composite laminate tech is really fucking good .That situation may not be all that common especially on the street because on the street you're going to hit something before you slide too much. I merely wanted to point out a point that Snell doesn't get into that "mid crash" slide, egg-beater, then splat scenario which on a track is not too uncommon . One final point the plastic buckets performance will vary significantly from brand to brand and helmet to helmet even with in the same model and the plastics chemical bond is changing over time altering the material's tension factor and compromising the resistance to fracture . And FYI I like Amazon for CDs too and records ! rock on STG best bike gear site/ store on the planet ! WFO !

[@timsmotorcyclediary]

First of all, there are cheap good (i.e. Scorpion) and cheap bad (i.e. WOW) helmets. Cheap motorcycle helmets are heavier, will have fit & finish issues over time, have little or no features, usually only 1 year warranty, and usually don't have Snell certification. My advice is buy at least cheap good and most importantly buy a helmet that fits you best. For me, the Shoei RF series has fit me best over the past 25 years.

[@ridehead8771]

I do believe that a 500 dollar helmet is better than a 100 dollar one, but the reality is not every one was born rich. I'm not poor by any means but there's no way I'm spending more than 200 dollars in helmet. Just can't justify these ridiculous prices on some of these things, just drop dead rip off

[@sportbiketrackgear]

To be fair I do not feel the high end helmets are a rip off. With that said I know for a fact there are a ton of great helmets available around $200. Over the years I have ridden in more helmet models than I could count now. There are a ton of $200 helmets that I really enjoyed. - Van

[@ShineBright__]

Totally right i personally use Bell helmet and i m fine with those but HJC fits better for my head shape !

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thanks for watching! - Van

[@christopherhuggins3212]

If you are a first time buyer of a helmet remember that DOT certified helmet are based on 60s and 70s tech so if you really wanna protect your noggin get ECE approved helmets for street riding they are usually around 120 bucks for LS2 helmets

[@sportbiketrackgear]

The DOT cert requirements are not the issue, the issue is the helmet manufacturers do not have to submit the helmets for testing in order to run the sticker on the helmet, it is done of the honor system. If you are shopping for an entry level helmet there are good options from reputable brands with history in the industry that offer excellent DOT only helmets. These are not based on old tech, the good brands improve the entire product line and not just the upper end lids. - Van

[@FranBunnyFFXII]

I have that helmet you showed at 6ish minutes. Except I got the Dream White one. I love it. (It's the EXO R320 if anyone is wanting to get it.) It's good to know you approve of it. My only gripe is that it does fog up real bad so you have to get a weepro or pinlock visor insert.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

At $100 they can not throw in the Pinlock insert with the helmet, it is sold separately. This is a solid helmet, IMO you won't find a better one at this price point. - Van

[@1010marley]

"Dude why the xtra small shirts?" is the question im asking myself halfway through the video before i changed channels.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

I wear it because I like it, no concern for how you feel about it.

[@TidalWaveDan]

DOT mandates that the helmet protects the rider in the event of a crash. That’s the minimum. $100 or $1000 all you’re paying for after the minimum is comfortability and bragging rights.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

DOT is on the honor system, for this reason off brand DOT only helmets should be avoided. If you purchase a helmet form a proper brand with a good reputation it is fair to say it has the capability of protecting you in a manner very similar to models costing much more. The biggest difference between the top shelf and more affordable stuff is performance while riding, comfort and as you stated bragging rights. - Van

[@roywilkie9577]

Great video, but honestly it'd be a lot better if you described the differences between DOT and SNELL, they're pretty huge. SNELL greatly surpasses the DOT standards. They include tests the DOT doesn't, like downward forces, chin impact, & projectiles. Like, I have a SNELL approved cheap HJC helmet that'll perform better than any Shoei or Bell with an internal visor. No internal visor equipped helmet will pass SNELL, because it can't protect your _frontal_ _lobes_ well. The DOT test doesn't really cover that.

[@jboozey1]

Tell em how it is brother. You're hilarious dude. I hope you come to MotoGP in Austin in a few weeks. I would love to get a picture and meet you

[@sportbiketrackgear]

We will be there all weekend my man, look forward to meeting you. - Van

[@waynekieft4952]

@@sportbiketrackgear looks like the wife keeps shrinking your shirt man,I'd have a word with her lol

[@CrisCudi98]

I bought TWO scorpion helmets and they BOTH came in cracked... never buying scorpion again 🤧

[@Camps2630]

Just buy a good helmet. Simple as that. I understand people wanna save, but if anything your HEAD should be most protected. Jackets. Whatever. Road rash hurts but can be fixed/scar. Not the head.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Well said. - Van

[@lotfikerzabi1880]

How can people repeatedly say that motorcycle helmets are all basically the same when in fact 6D helmets actually make an effort to go far beyond the safety of these? Yes, these have name recognition, but what have they done to innovate safety, nothing. All they do is collect your money every year for the last who knows how many years. There also isn't any mention of airbag helmets here, or the fact that a lighter helmet transfers less energy to your head. Come on Brian, you've been in this industry long enough, you should be able to talk about these.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

I rode in a 6D helmet at the track last year and was less than impressed with the performance. I love the technology behind it but it doesn't mean much if the helmet is unpleasant to ride in. At this time the Bell Flex Liner System is the most cutting edge energy management system out there in a helmet that performs well while riding. I chose not to offer 6D after riding in it because I believe most would be disappointed with it's performance while riding. - Brian Van

[@lotfikerzabi1880]

@@sportbiketrackgear Thanks for the honest reply, I see what you mean about comfort. I have one of those, and it isn't quite as comfortable as I would like. But they do post crash test data on their site, and I am not sure I see that on other manufacturer's site's, nor they I see them making big moves to save a motorcyclist's life by innovating in the space. They just seem to rake in the money. Bell Flex Liner system, I will have to check it out and see. Although are you talking above managing single hits to the helmet, or reducing rotational acceleration to the head like 6D helmets? I feel that there are different metrics for this question, and perhaps I am wrong, but I would be surprised if one helmet exceeded all others in all metrics.

[@beefymcshazmoo]

I had a crash (person on cell phone changed lanes right into me) wearing a $80 cyclegear special....Someone was looking after me big time that day, because it was cracked right down the side wear my temple hit the pavement....The worst part is my dumbass had a $600 arai that I use on trackdays, but I didn't wear it because I didn't want it to get stolen......luckily I'm still riding and will never make that mistake again..I pretty much wont even get on a bike without a back protector, boots, gauntlet gloves, and my arai....and dear god never buy a cyclegear helmet, EVER!

[@ericfaucher5580]

love the "truth about" videos. Keep up the good work!!

[@roberthinkel1403]

I've owned a Scorpion for a couple years now. It feels better than my $600 Shoei. Better vis., and air flow.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Scorpion makes great products, tons of value for every dollar spent IMO. - Van

[@getoffmygrass6974]

...same here

[@mikecunningham2826]

ARIE ...SHOEI... they aint cheap but theyr the real deal..

[@mattpecevich3749]

This is such a great video, thank you for taking the time to make it! It’s so important for the sport that people can find something safe that they can also afford. Bravo sir, you’ve won my business when I buy my next one.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

You are welcome and thank you for watching! We look forward to working with you when you are ready. - Brian Van

[@aminebenafla]

bro thanks for the informations ! really appreciate it for a new rider looking into this jungle of brands and safety helmets and most likely pricing wise ! you got a subscriber !

[@sportbiketrackgear]

You are welcome and thank you for watching! - Van

[@roywilkie9577]

You say it's illegal to sell a helmet with a tinted visor (yes, bad idea), but I looked through the US DOT's law on helmet manufacture specs (CFR 49, 571.218) and can't find any mention of visor clarity/tinting. Where did you get that from? Also FYI; USPS is a for-profit commercial entity, not the government, so we do not pay for their envelopes unless you count subsidies - which doesn't make sense, really, because they aren't for things like supplies.

[@TuSn_Espinzo]

Thank you for the upload, I appreciate that you take time out of your day to inform people.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

You are welcome and thank you for watching! - Van

[@bwxmoto]

I like my Nolan N87

[@ront9395]

Good video. Thanks. Appreciate the straight shooting.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

You are welcome and thank you for watching! - Van

[@carltonhobbs]

I think by focusing on general motorcycle usage, you miss a legitimate use case of cheap helmets such as on mopeds or scooters where you aren't ever going over 45 mph. Well, maybe fair given that the focus of your channel is not mopeds.

[@karlo134652]

Exo 420 is always my go to. DOT and SNELL approved.

[@Tech-ot4iy]

I prefer Arai, they’re not cheap but they are worth saving for a while to get one.

[@blazzing4321]

I prefer WOW

[@strongbow549]

I had heard about Arai shell stiffness. I tested it after I crashed my Arai helmet and it was no longer any use. On it's side I stood on it and I am 300 pounds and it didn't move at all. These things are strong and I don't think $300 is a big price for my own head.

[@steveo4141]

Hit by a car at 40km/hr while on a bike...flew over the handlebars landed 25ft away..head first on the asphalt...my Arai helmet still intact....no head injury..helmet had serious road rash but intact... impressive.

[@roadtoad3484]

I think it says something when the owner of a motorcycle gear distributer wears an Arai.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Arai is the only helmet my Son Max has ridden in since his first lap. - Van

[@ShooterMedic1818]

Does a helmet ever go bad with just time rather than use? Can you lightly use a helmet for 10 years ?

[@sethbutera3777]

Time, the material that is used for impact protection hardens up over time. I think they recommend replacing every 5 years, but could be more then it used to be now.

[@mcchicken7000]

They recommend 5 years. EPS liners deteriorate over enough time. I typically crash and wreck them before that time is up though, lol.

[@STho205]

If you were to rip out your fixed liners, you'll find that many helmets, especially the China buckets like Scorpion, HJC, etc... Are taped together with fabric gaffers tape in places an older Japanese, US or European helmet would have been sewn. Tape adhesive lasts about 4-5 years in a helmet. The shell is probably good for ten in the sun during riding The EPS (styrofoam) gets hard at about six years The padding foam starts to break down at three. It is powder after ten or 15. Figure these helmets good for 5 years, despite the name or price. Thus I buy Scorpions or HJC for $100. They get 5 and 4 star SHARP testing ratings which is your most precise rating of tested helmets. They tell you the strong points and weaker points. SNELL and EU standards just tell you overall pass/fail. DOT is just a we promise to follow guidelines sticker. They don't test unless they got numerous complaints. DOT only covers crown and sides to the ears. Cop helmets. That was what it was for in the 50s.

[@shimric20]

@@STho205 Scorpion helmets have removable and washable liners.

[@STho205]

simshim not all parts in a scorpion and some mfg still don't at all. My exo410 there are still upholstered parts you can't remove, but the crown liner and the cheek pads come out and are molded and somewhat sewn. I took apart an older scorpion. The jaw (whole assembly) just came out easily as the glue line was thin and hadn't quite touched when drying. It was never good. Friction and stress only held it in place. The upholstery was just cloth and vinyl over open cell thin pad sprayglued down to the inner surface and gaffers tape to hold the raw edges in the part you don't see. Probably to speed assembly before glue dried. That was a $220 retail helmet. I have peeked behind the current one around the bottom edges for the parts that don't come out. Yep tape and spray adhesive. Thus the 5 year rule. They are disposable. They're not as well built as you think. Any brand really. They have to stay on the head and pass the drop from two meter tests, and the crown and face shield anvil impact test. That's all I care about. However comparing build quality to 1977 helmets I still have (on shelf), they seem chincy, yet they are probably more protective. Thus the same snell helmet with a jet pilot sunshade won't pass the SNELL just due to the cavity and hole in the crown. Those cost more but only have a DOT sticker. Note one name brand he showed here with just the DOT, then he quickly started talking about Scorpion and SNELL.

[@alexpearson7693]

Scorpion, hjc, bell, icon all offer helmets under 200$ and most hjc offers snell rating at that price. Can’t afford a real helmet don’t buy a bike. Not worth your brain

[@sportbiketrackgear]

For sure better to save until you are ready to do it right. - Van

[@alexpearson7693]

taxation is theft memes news & more I had a high side in a icon alliance and i had a concussion but the helmet held up. Probably won’t buy another icon again. I’m running agv now

[@TsRide83]

Yeah I like my hjc cl-max2 helmet

[@kawilifezx10r23]

Bubble wrap works great and its clear so you can see thru it. Just saying.

[@Jay482]

3:02 did you just predicted the corona a year ago?...Illuminati confirmed.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

LOL I am not even close to being part of that group. - Van

[@michaelj.kastner5165]

I wear whatever a Moto-GP rider wears!! AGV-Pista-GPR Carbon- 0 wind fatigue, 3lbs, feels like nothing on my head- worth every penny

[@AoP893]

I do trackdays so I buy 5 star sharp impact tested helmets for £200 or less. Lot of arai and shoei helmets twice the price offer less stars in this test. Means if I crash I'm not forking out mega bucks for new lid but still have maximum protection. HJC and shark are good for this in the uk

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Sharp is a good resource for riders in Europe for sure. Being smart with your money is very important, I like your approach. - Van

[@tatuksa]

i don't understand some people. they bought a bike for 17k. then they search for a cheap helmet?

[@sportbiketrackgear]

No reason not to have a kick ass helmet is you have a kick ass bike! - Van

[@simonfussell7040]

your reviews brighten up a dull day ! keep up the good work dude !!

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thank you for watching! - Van

[@thewillofd1683]

I dont know why some helmets is so expensive, I mean what makes them so expensive, maybe the can stop bullets like .50 BMG or can survive continuous impacts or just a brand or more than that, Im curious.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Country of manufacture, materials used, amount of time spent of R&D are all factors in helmet cost. Rider sponsorship and product liability insurance are a couple more. When you compare a high end helmet to a less expensive one you can see and feel the differences between them. That said there are a lot of great helmets on the market for around the $200 mark. - Van

[@thewillofd1683]

I see

[@oneway4667]

I have been riding with scorpion for a decade and I have no plans on getting anything else

[@justinrussell7605]

Ehat about the AGV K1 for a first helmet? The price is $189. Just looking for your opinion sir. Thank you.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

I like the AGV K1, a solid helmet that sells at a fair price IMO. - Van

[@justinrussell7605]

@@sportbiketrackgear thank you so much for your opionion.

[@haroldreynoldsii9857]

Had a Scorpion Exo 1100 Kranium save my life in a High side , I actually just sold my Arai Union Jack to buy it. I absolutely love all the features the drop down shades the old school sneaker pump to fit your face just that little bit more snug. Great helmets, they have a full Carbon one I'm going to be getting when it comes out for the new Triumph TFC RIII or TFC Thruxton I'll be sporting.

[@haroldreynoldsii9857]

@@buknoychiifiocchii8058 Yes, I high-sided and went over the front bars, broke half my body back in 2012 if it wasn't for the helmet I wouldn't be here right now, my body landed 1 foot away from a barbed wire fence. God and that helmet and saved my life. I Broke: L wrist ,L index + Thumb R index + thumb R collar bone snapped R Scapula shattered (Right arm hanging by the meat) T8-T12 Transverse processes "wingtips on your spine" snapped off T9 Compression fracture 11 out of 13 ribs on R side Punctured Right lung had Hemo-Pneumo Thorax aswell

[@haroldreynoldsii9857]

@@buknoychiifiocchii8058 That's where I messed up I tried to "save the bike" I should have just laid it down and low sided it, there's about $1000 worth of damage it's in my garage I'm going to make it a track day bike, 2007 Triumph Daytona 675

[@haroldreynoldsii9857]

@@buknoychiifiocchii8058 All healed I'm 99%, had surgery on the wrist and lost about 30% of my movement but have full strength. Looking forward to the new Triumph TFC's

[@haroldreynoldsii9857]

@@buknoychiifiocchii8058 yes a 2007 Triumph Daytona 675

[@TranslateToEnglish]

If scorpion isn't paying you, they should.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

I am the owner here and I do not accept any money for the reviews or installs we put out. My goal is to help fellow riders by the right gear or parts the first time by sharing what I have learned over the years. - Van

[@K-carbon]

Shoei X14 is the best helmet I've owns so far

[@sportbiketrackgear]

You won't find many Shoei X-14 owners that are not happy with it, great helmet! - Van

[@Qwert76911]

Shoei x14 are great helmets. I have 2 of them...

[@joshhuoabski3278]

ok,Did impsct that scorpion this is how i picked my brand - FOR LIFE. ive been down 4 times and like you no science but i do know the speed and impact type. 1st helmet as a "gift for my first bike" from the dealer. SCORPION EXO 700 i beleive. went down in Tucson 55mph. frrom a lean in soft corner to the ground >3 feet. it blew a chunk of the shell off. granted i still had an ear but the shell can crack at most. NOT LOSE A PIECE. date of accident 05/??/2005. proper fit and only months old. $250 value. shit helmet if i skip to 2014 and bypass the other 2 times ICON saved my life, i used head as a torpedo and tried to enter the back of a mini van at (last glance, 5? mph. So the 3' fall that destroyed the scorpion exo vs the 55 mph headbut. i naturally destroyed icons air intake system. and it got scratched, very little to the point of non comparable to the EXO damage and completely removed visor from a low side slide out. i ride my bike in ways that make other riders hate me for proving the sportbike stereo type. on ramps are 150 mph starting points.ICON models crashed : 1 x mainframe in 2006. $400, wish i could wear it everywhere. bought a second ad still have it, this includes EVERY icon i put to the asphalt. EG some plastic broke, and i felt nothing. LITERALLY. except hyper compression of my back, no formula one neckbrace. EXO = extra ordinary obtuse head ache for 2, no, a day and a half. thank god i was i 1st time rider and had was shoulder to ankels in road rash.. afer 2rs of you need a doctor i dropped the EXO and went, so now I personally recommment the Icon brand $50-$700. shoei iis too lose on my facial area, Arai never put out any info or specs of there helmets+price piint+ tired desigsiggns.As brian says, put it on. it should feel too tight stroll the strore for fifteen mins to feriN, grab the chin and wiggle it around. if your skin doest move with the helmet walk awah. i am 6'2" 185 lbs. extra long orangatang aarms and thin. I C\ON MOTO if yuo have vitals to protecct, .....hell someone go put one on and remember quality hemets need to bresk . into your face so buy new tight but no pain or irritabiity . now lets discuss weight my underarmour sneekers are heavier han any icon. i compare scorpion to rughly half a brick.. my personal experiencees with the mainframie, the airframe carbon, the airmada, and the airframe pro is this. BUY IT. $400 average for the best looking non airbrushed helmets that will keep you alive, even if you dont want to me. Lets drop a cinder block from 6 ft' on each of our helmet recomendations and compare notes. To moto GP helmet guy: thats just stupid, (if they jumped off a bridge....kinda stuff. some of those say arai, thanks to a sticker. please figure out what works for you head. not Rossi's head. do you match underwear to? and 14 min guy, someday you Will remember all 14 mins when you concusion fades. unless you boutght your bike to pick up girls (i wont even start in on you types) these are all more than 90% of humans can fully control. one day your ticket will be drawn so try and be READY ALL THE TIME. my baseball fitted that fits great rigtt now. doesnt make it worthy, annd walmart bell???really, see above. brand isnt important. Icon 27 way fully customizeable liner size combos. THAT IS QUALITY ENGINEERING. size SM MD LG ect are just new designs on standard size and shapes. amen? amen? l

[@jasperd3705]

You talk like promoting than reviews. Wasting my time.

[@Dario31d]

Sounds like you didnt understand the video...

[@JRodzTv]

I know it’s a CG/RZ but those BiLT go for $80 on sale and are ece certified and a way better than that POS “wow” lol but nothing compares to a fit of a Arai :)

[@sportbiketrackgear]

While I am not a big fan of the CG house brands I will agree they are much better than this WOW garbage. - Van

[@justinmorgan9406]

Cheap helmet, Cheap head.

[@Gwiedert]

Scorpion is crap. Owned a exo 920 for half a year and it broke twice. Went to a Shoei now. Might be twice the price, but it's so worth it!

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with the Scorpion. I have ridden in several over the years and always liked them. To be fair the 920 is not one of the models on that list. As for Shoei you can never go wrong with a Shoei. - Van

[@Gwiedert]

@@sportbiketrackgear Well I guess it was a matter of bad luck then, but once I loose thrust in a brand I am not going back. Yup indeed, can't go wrong with Shoei, fits like a glove as well👍

[@usmcmsgt5487]

I got myself the Quin ghost umbra carbon edition helmet. Lots of safety features.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

I had to Google that, never heard of this brand before. - Van

[@neurozero]

Scorpion shield scratches too easily. Funny u had wow helmet, I was going to buy one for my daughter to ride bicycle . Decided to go to cycle gear and check out what they had . Bilt was crap and ended with oneal which she loved. Again it was for bicycle riding

[@cdubbleyoo]

Why didn't you get her a bicycle helmet?

[@neurozero]

@@cdubbleyoo I didnt they would be as protective

[@zachp7603]

this guy has hands on personal experience and is keeping it real. I like that. thumbs up

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Appreciate the kind words and thank you for watching! - Van

[@Epillon]

Setting aside my AGV Pista, Arai's and Suomy... I have to say, I really like what Icon have been doing. Their new Airflite is very unique and cool looking, it takes experimentation to birth innovation. Me personally, my lower end faves are the Icon Airframe, Bell Qualifier and HJC RPH 10.

[@ACHay]

Fwiw: www.roadracingworld.com/news/asma-expands-icon-helmet-ban/

[@azff]

@@ACHay Interesting article. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@KevinStefferDk]

I think you missed covering the shell shape of a helmet. Helmets vary in head shape and it’s very important both for safety and comfort to choose a helmet that matches the shape of your head. Which is why I wouldn’t recommend buying a helmet online if you haven’t tried to wear it.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

The internal shape is much closer between brands now than it was in the past. At this point the difference between brands and models is not very big. I am an intermediate oval and measure 58cm and I get an excellent fit from most brands in a medium. Sure they differ a bit, just not as radical as it once was. For riders with round oval or long oval Arai has the best options available at this time. - Van

[@gz4789]

Love your videos...always spot on with factual and relevant info. Problem with new riders and helmets, and all other safety gear, is that new riders lean toward “cheap” gear because they don’t research gear that they buy and rely on to protect their ass in the unfortunate event of a crash. Sometimes that ends up being a life/death decision...IMHO if you are going to ride and expose yourself to the risk, spend the money to protect yourself with proven quality gear. Charles Darwin had a theory about evolution and he was also spot on...intelligent humans will evolve and the ignorant ones will expire.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Well said and thank you for watching! - Brian Van

[@Deedo2609]

"stick with the helmet that have brand histories.." I cant agree more with u Mr. Van, I had a crash 3 months ago, got hit from the back while riding my scooter. Hit the back of my head first, and the visor is detached from the rachet. My helmet is LS2 Rookie, it's the helmet that I can buy with my budget. If I bought a cheap helmet I probably gonna have a squashed head or if I live I probably gonna have a brain damage. Speaking of helmet, when will we have another helmet reviews. Been waiting for loooong time mr. Van..God Bless, Go STG

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Always buy a helmet that fits both your head and your budget from a reputable brand. It doesn't have to cost $1000 to protect a rider in a crash IMO. - Van

[@floridaman2504]

you lost me at scooter

[@Deedo2609]

@@floridaman2504 i can only buy a scooter LOL, bikes are expensive

[@floridaman2504]

Zendeedo Setiawan I was just messing around man haha

[@Deedo2609]

@@floridaman2504 i know man, relax hahahha

[@fireblade1k952]

You forgot to mention HJC CL-17, most affordable Snell rated helmet on the market.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

The HJC CL-17 is a solid helmet, great value for sure. - Van

[@DmanGuitar327]

Paid 340 360 cdn for my hjc fg 17. I love it, great quality for price and SNELL 2015

[@sportbiketrackgear]

That is another excellent helmet! - Van

[@somethingscantbefixed5933]

The difference is about $1000 , my helmet is DOT approved ,so doesn't that mean it's safe, it cost me $150, of course they are going to tell you that you need the $1000 helmet, that's how they make their money

[@sportbiketrackgear]

The DOT cert is done on the honor system, most of the helmets are never tested. IMO if you have a DOT only helmet from a brand with a good reputation (Bell, Shoei, AGV, Scorpion, etc...) the helmet can be trusted. Personally I do not see any of these brands selling helmets that will not pass the DOT test. - Van

[@somethingscantbefixed5933]

@@sportbiketrackgear , DOT is a safety standard that the helmet must meet, it doesn't matter what brand it is, if it's not DOT approved, it's not legal here in canada

[@sportbiketrackgear]

In the US and Canada all helmets must be capable of passing the DOT standard and have the DOT sticker on the helmet to be used. The DOT standard does not require all of the helmets to be tested, it is done on the honor system. The problem with DOT is not the standard itself, it is the fact most of the helmets will never be tested and manufacturers know this is the case. IMO this is not a concern if you are looking at helmets from one of the major brands. Totally different story with the cheap off brand lids all over Amazon and Ebay. - Van

[@somethingscantbefixed5933]

@@sportbiketrackgear , well with that logic, that means not all of the major brands are tested either, so your taking a gamble with any helmet, which I don't beleive, your basically saying safety standard equals the honor system, making it sound like a bigger gamble than it is, but they have quality control for a reason, no matter what brand

[@cdubbleyoo]

Resources: (don't just search for your lid, read around and understand what each list really is) helmetcheck.org/ www.smf.org/cert sharp.dft.gov.uk/ ultimatemotorcycling.com/2013/04/08/motorcycle-helmet-standards-explained-dot-ece-22-05-snell/ So, here's the problem - the DOT sticker is on the honor system (if I understand/remember correctly). I think there are DOT guidelines, but there is no governmental/non-profit body that tests helmets to see if they fit that guideline. So, how does one know how one DOT helmet compares in impact resistance compared to DOT guidelines. The differences between cheap and expensive tend to be weight (shell composition), features (vents, visors, paint/stickers, electronics) and comfort (how much time did engineers spend trying to tune out noise and how much foam/polyester was used to make it fit your melon).

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Helmetcheck.org is not even close to being up to date. Far too many of the models from major brands currently available are not on the site. Smf.org (Snell Site) the site is not amazing but they do seem to be up to date with the spot check I did. Sharp testing is not super relevant if you are in the US. Snell and ECE helmets of the same model are going to be different as they are built to pass very different standards. ECE / DOT lids for the US may also be different from the ECE only model. (That said I do feel the Sharp test is more relevant if you are shopping for an ECE / DOT helmet) Ultimate motorcycling link is not a bad article with the exception for Snell this article references Snell 2010, not the current Snell 2015 cert. It would be much more relevant if it included Snell 2015 IMO.

[@stevejpm1]

Nolans X-lite Carbon is the most lightest and comfrtable helmet i have ever owned.

[@shanebaker439]

Love how u just speak ur mind and tell it how it is.. Very respectable.

[@sportbiketrackgear]

Thanks for watching! - Van

[@davidd1289]

Actually it’s not. It’s gimmicky

[@azff]

@ShaneBaker That's how it should be. No Bullshit. No sugar coating. Just truth. 👍