Shoei vs Arai vs AGV vs HJC Which Motorcycle Helmet Brand is the Best? - ChampionHelmets.com

[@theonlyredspecial]

I have collected around 40 helmets over the years. Shoei and arai are great. Also like bell and Simpson carbon models. But overall I’d say agv are the best if the most expensive. Their visor optics alone are also class leading.

[@rohandante]

@theonlyredspecial - What about MT ???

[@freebehindbars8654]

Love my HJC RPHA 11 Pro. Comfortable, really light, excellent vision, only improvement would be noise level, which is a sacrifice with so many port of ventilation.

[@4dmusic875]

I feel the same way

[@manbiteslife3110]

Has subpar material quality than the other brands but offers decent VFM. I've worn it and it's really really light. I don't mean that it has bad quality, just that the rest of the brands are very premium and will last better against time.

[@evgenyfisher1009]

for 23 years of every day riding i never used a helmet other than shoei

[@saddle8bag]

Now do a test after they're 3 yrs old with 60k miles under their belt. I've always been a Shoei fan, but the last couple I've bought have problems with the padding coming undone. I didn't used to like Arai as much as their plastic vents would break and their visors were a nightmare to get on/off. They fixed that stuff and now they're making really reliable lids.

[@Championhelmets]

Longevity of a helmet would definitely be a nice addition to helmet testing, though it would also depend on the intensity of use. We've also noticed Arai have been upping their game as of late, including their new visor system. What Arai are you thinking of going for?

[@saddle8bag]

@@Championhelmets Just bought a Defiant. Very nice lid, though my Shoeis are easier to get on and off. I have a Quantum that's 5 yrs old or so too. It's seen a ton of action and has held up like a champ. I've bounced off my head in both brands with no issue. I know they work.

[@Championhelmets]

@@saddle8bag We've recently road tested the Defiant and also found the same; it was a solid helmet that brought a lot of classic Arai design. Good to hear the helmets are doing their job!

[@Damitsall]

My Arai Corsair V is 7 years old and is still in great shape. I know I shouldn't wear it being that old, so I dont, I just use it for a back up/experiment. My Corsair X that I use everyday is 4 years old and looks brand new. Don't get me wrong I love a lot of other helmets, but when it comes to overall quality and protection, I don't think Arai can be beat.

[@chakrapanid6089]

I would like to thank you for your consistent high quality tests that you do on most helmets. They are really a benchmark in a market where there are no absolute data points available except weight. My query is this....Which is the most well ventilated road/ track helmet....I am not too bothered about noise insulation but top notch ventilation is a must...Brands being Arai and Shoei....Thanks for the great reviews.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the feedback, we appreciate it! Though you will find that they will ventilate better than on our road test, both the Arai RX-7V and the Shoei X-Spirit 3 had impressive ventilation systems that managed to keep the interior at the same temperature as the exterior. Besides the ventilation, you can also check out how the two helmets compare here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpjZgX2Qa7h6kMk What are your thoughts on the two helmet companies?

[@matrixdean]

Thx for the great video and would definitely like to see communicator reviews. Easy to use and clarity.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the feedback and the suggestion! We'll look into adding these devices to our list. Did any of the results surprise you?

[@WhyteBoyy]

I go for AGV as they look the coolest plus the safty ratings are great also!

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the comment! AGV do great job managing both their safety and their looks, not to mention adding some clever features in their helmets. What AGV do you ride with?

[@WhyteBoyy]

@@Championhelmets i have a k1 mate! It said online its safety rating is 4-5 so i thought id get it, cant complain its a decent lid for the price

[@Championhelmets]

The K1 has done very nicely for itself, when we took the helmet on our road test it received one of the best value for money scores we've found so far

[@manbiteslife3110]

Arai doesn't spend a single cent on Marketing. AGV spends the most. But they are premium helmets, with great quality and feel.

[@utoobia6872]

HJC is the only choice for me because they are the only ones I find that make helmets in 5XL for my big head. :) Their quality seems to be great, but I can't compare them to anything else since I can't wear anything else lol.

[@jayjo2707]

where are you from?, what is the size of your head cm?

[@krispy503]

This was very helpful! Going to start my riding lessons soon and I need to get gear. Thank you!

[@Championhelmets]

Our pleasure! What brand did you find stood out to you?

[@krispy503]

@@Championhelmets the Shoei SR one! It feels great and looks great :) came along with a goody bag and anti-fog. I like how light and comfortable it is. The lady who helped me, was actually purchasing the same one haha she originally had a Bell brand. Thanks so much for your help :)

[@Championhelmets]

Our pleasure! The RF-SR / RYD is a great starter helmet, not to mention it scored 5/5 stars for safety from SHARP. Hope the lessons go great, and if you have any further questions later on, we're happy to help!

[@cai11tube]

Will be nice if you can review OGK Kabuto, another Japanese brand but not as well known as Shoei or Arai.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately, we don't currently sell OGK Kabuto helmets and so haven't had a chance to road test them. How do you think their helmets would compare to the two?

[@nikkoataylar6486]

Which is better overall and why SHOE X14 or HJC RPHA 11?

[@Championhelmets]

In this case, it would depend on what you're looking for in your helmet. While the Shoei ranks better than the RPHA 11 in almost every category when we took it out on our road test (including weight, visor, aerodynamics, and comfort), the RPHA 11 ranks well and comes in at a lower value for money than the X14 / X-Spirit 3. The Shoei also did better in SHARP testing with 5/5 stars compared to the RPHA 11's 3/5. So, the Shoei performs better and scored better for safety while the RPHA 11 still performs well and is good if you're on a budget

[@dontknow1684]

Hi i wanted to get an opinion on a first helmet scince i am a beginner going for a ninja 400. I love the looks of the rpha carbob helmet, but i am hesitant scince shoei and arai are better. What do you think. I want a grear well ventilated carbon helmet that is safe and looks good.

[@Championhelmets]

Though we're currently finishing the road test of the RPHA 11 Carbon (and the results will be out very soon), it does offer excellent ventilation since it stayed equal to the exterior temperature throughout our test. HJC always produce excellent helmets for great prices. Shoei and Arai, though they rarely produce carbon fiber helmets, are also well known for their quality and safety. As far as a middle ground between the HJC, Shoei, and Arai, you may want to check out either the Shark Spartan GT Carbon or the Race-R Pro Carbon. We found they ventilated very well, Shark manufacture quality helmets, and it also had a strong score from SHARP with at least 4/5 stars. You can also see how all these helmets (except for the RPHA 11 Carbon) compare here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6bOkKBvpNGCmqc How did you find our test of these helmets?

[@cheromory0724]

I agreed with you! Shoei is the best coz i have also tested it! Really high quality..

[@Championhelmets]

Even though the race was close, we were impressed with Shoei too! But we'll have to see how things go this year, since the competition between Arai and Shoei already seems to be heating up. What Shoei helmet do you ride with?

[@cheromory0724]

J force 4 open face

[@Championhelmets]

From the sound of it, another great open face helmet from Shoei, thanks for letting us know!

[@kelvinchao6222]

Next time please do a review on LS2 and Zeus. They're both very great and competitive helmet brands compared with those in the vid. What's more, they're all cheaper.

[@FR-ty5vn]

Great 👍🏼 analysis

[@sasakasalovic6336]

I m about to buy new helmet, I m considering in between HJC RPHA 70 and SHOEI GT Air 2. I really couldn't find any direct comparison in between those two, Champion Helmets ore somebody who have some experience please help , tnx..

[@Championhelmets]

Hello, you should check our website Championhelmets.com where we have a variety of these helmets with a full description below the product.

[@augvizxie3833]

Which one is more ventilation Shoei x sprite or bell race star?

[@Championhelmets]

Unfortunately, we don't currently stock Bell helmets so we have not been able to take the Race Star out on our road test. Nonetheless, since the Bell is a top tier race helmet, we would expect it to have strong ventilation. When we took the X-Spirit 3 out on the road, we found the airflow system was effective, since it was able to keep the same temperature as the outside. You can also see how the helmet performed here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5CpdXWofbVnbtU It's also important to note that both helmets will ventilate best when in a tucked position. Thanks for the question! What are your thoughts on the two helmets?

[@arvy9254]

Just about to upgrade my helmet, this comparison was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much sir 👍👌

[@Championhelmets]

Our pleasure! What did you think of the companies we featured?

[@arvy9254]

@@Championhelmets I can't speak for everyone but I think you guys nailed it. It was a good overall to the more popular brands out there. Keep doing what you're doing ;) Aus.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the reply! If you have any questions later on, we're always happy to help!

[@jeweetzelftoch]

great review. Makes a lot of sense. But still really cool to see the measurements.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the feedback! We figured it'd be an interesting experiment given all the helmets we've tested, and look forward to seeing if there are further differences over time

[@achr6522]

Great tests! Shoei is my favorite because i like paying for quality

[@mrmementofinis]

In that case ... Arai :)

[@usynnstradler]

@@mrmementofinis arai isn't as safe. check the sharp ratings sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/?manufacturer=Arai&model=All&type=2

[@ٱللَّٰهُأَكْبَرُ-ش9ظ]

My Shoei x14 is best for material and comfort

[@Championhelmets]

Great to hear you're enjoying your X14 / X-Spirit 3! In the individual road test we also found the helmet did exceptionally well for material and comfort. In that case, would you rank Shoei at the top as well?

[@ٱللَّٰهُأَكْبَرُ-ش9ظ]

@@Championhelmets Definitely!

[@mohamadbisri7792]

I always loved SHOEI helmet, but my head had ARAI shape🤣

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the comment! That's a tough spot and definitely shows each company's strength. Though both make great helmets, Arai does cater to a large range of head shapes. What Shoei helmet would you go for, given the chance?

[@mohamadbisri7792]

@@Championhelmets I would definitely go for X14😁

[@Championhelmets]

Can't argue with that, it's a great helmet!

[@Fee.1]

@@Championhelmets how do you determine the head shape ? and how do you properly measure size? does it vary by brand ?

[@Championhelmets]

​@@Fee.1 Head shape is best determined by having a friend look at the shape of your head from above. The three main shapes are round, intermediate oval, and long oval. Most helmets are intermediate oval, though since this can vary from brand to brand and even helmet to helmet, the best course of action is always to see if you can try the helmet on in person. You can also check out our guide for how to measure helmet sizes here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/inSYpneqaMp9nZo Thanks for the question!

[@steve940]

My first lid was shark skwal..3/5 for me,then shoei gt air which was super comfy but vision seemed limited,especially compared to my new x spirit 3 which is light,comfy and has superb vision,not to mention seems much more stable at high speeds..early days but so far 5/5

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for telling us how you found the helmets! The X-Spirit 3 is still one of the best helmets available, so it's good to hear it's living up to its name. How have you found the X-Spirit for ventilation?

[@steve940]

@@Championhelmets ventilation is better than the gt air which I thought was a good 4/5

[@f99o46]

In order for me, Arai, AGV, Shoei.. probably cause my head is massive lol

[@Championhelmets]

Fitment is definitely the most important, whether for a large or a small head! Which Arai would you go for?

[@nikhilbhatia2688]

Why dont you consider scorpion?

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the question! We hadn't had a chance to road test Scorpion helmets by that point so to keep it fair we decided to leave them out. While we did include Schuberth, it was mainly an honorary mention due to the small sample size compared to the other companies shown. Where would you have placed Scorpion?

[@nikhilbhatia2688]

@@Championhelmets above hjc On 4th rank

[@MrIdasam]

Because they sting.

[@tonybutt5932]

Fantastic video, why did you leave out Bell?

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the feedback! We don't currently sell Bell helmets, unfortunately, so we haven't been able to road test them or include them. Where would you say Bell would sit among these brands?

[@or0678]

I believe absolutely that they are safe. But are they also certified for the use in Australia? Greetings🌏

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the question! Yes, these helmets are legal in Australia, though you may find some of them are known under different names in Australia. We also do ship worldwide, so if you've been eyeing any of our bundle deals, there's no need to worry

[@pabloleon2822]

Why don't you consider LS2 !?

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the question! Unfortunately, we don't currently sell LS2 helmets so we haven't had a chance to road test their helmets yet. Where would you say LS2 would fit in this comparison?

[@pabloleon2822]

​@@Championhelmets I would incluide LS2 becauses is gaining it space between motorcycle helmet market, also we can see more profesional riders (superbike and moto2) using that brand, I can say LS2 is not than famous as Agv, Shoei or Arai but they are doing their best between quality and price.

[@Championhelmets]

@@pabloleon2822 It sounds like LS2 would definitely be somewhere up there among the quality brands like HJC, and they even have a 180 degree modular helmet like Shark. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@pabloleon2822]

​@@Championhelmets Exactly! Yes I have owned Agv, Shoei, Hjc and THH (was a gift that I would never recommend), right now I have a LS2 Stream Evo for the day to day and it´s like a agv k3 sv. If you have more question I would glad to help you guys! BTW excellent videos

[@Championhelmets]

@@pabloleon2822 Great to hear you've found a helmet and brand that works well, and thanks for the feedback!

[@ktmmecanica996]

What about suomy?

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the question! Unfortunately, since we don't currently sell Suomy helmets so we haven't been able to road test them. Did any results from the test surprise you?

[@pencilcase6990]

AGV is on the 2nd because of the price overall, but for me AGV Pista RR is the best helmet for comfort and safety from all helmet, Except for the noise since its too loud.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the comment! Looking at it case by case, AGV produce some spectacular helmets, especially with the Pista GP RR. The noise is due to its race design focus, but it's good that its living up to its name in other areas. How have you found the helmet for weight?

[@pencilcase6990]

Champion Helmets the AGV Pista helmet is superb very light, i really love the design and safety features of the helmet. The aggressive looks of the helmet makes other rider turn their head lol.

[@Championhelmets]

@@pencilcase6990 Sounds like it really does tick all the boxes, thanks again!

[@TheKccorporation]

the noise is okay since we can hear the beautiful exhaust sound which is not a minus for me lol

[@luiscunha6342]

at minute 2.21 the shoei has 5 stars for ventilation at the end on table comparation get only 4. also like the total star of AGV. The values changed.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for bringing that to our attention! The final values are correct for Shoei, it only gets 4 stars for ventilation. AGV get 4 stars overall, which is unchanged. Which brand would you go for?

[@luiscunha6342]

​@@Championhelmets Thanks. I go to SHOEI, because the SHOEI usually has a small forehead, which brings a greater radius of view.

[@Championhelmets]

That's definitely a good feature, especially since that also helps with safety, which is what the focus is on

[@BugManRides]

Looks like the R1200/R1250 was the primary test bike.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the comment! We make sure to test every helmet out on the same bike in order to keep the results comparable. Which of these brands would you go for?

[@BugManRides]

Champion Helmets - I own a Shoei GT-Air, and a Schuberth S2, currently.

[@Championhelmets]

Great to hear! Both are pretty solid helmets especially, as we've found out on the road, the GT Air

[@victorfesto]

Nice review, you could also include how many stars in the sharp test each of them have, this is also a very interesting (and objective) feature.

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the feedback! For the safety ranking of each brand, we based our results on the SHARP performance of the helmets we tested. But we'll keep the individual SHARP scores in mind for next time. Did you find any of the road test results surprising?

[@victorfesto]

@Get it up you You have to base facts on data, not on opinions. ARAI helmets are good, but not all of them are the best at everything. Btw, what does it mean at everything? Check the Sharp test for different ARAI references and you will see that they are not the best at everything -->sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/?manufacturer=Arai&model=All&type=1

[@problemslayer3538]

By the way, have you guys done anything on the shoei NXR

[@Championhelmets]

@Problem Slayer sure! You can check out our road test of the helmet here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGa4doWuqaZ7i68. If you're still curious, we've also done additional tests in other videos comparing it to its competitors including the AGV K6 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/mF7HqotrmcZ1g6s ). Thanks for the question!

[@heyitsMiggy]

Felt sad for hjc's rating, just bought a rpha 70.

[@Championhelmets]

Good news for you: you picked on of the strongest helmets that HJC hasd to offer. Even compared with all the other top brands it does really well. Check out the best Sport touring Helmets to find oput how well your helmet ranked amongst its direct competitors: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fISne2OJh6msitU

[@heyitsMiggy]

@@Championhelmets will watch the video later. I like you videos on reviewing helmets. More power to you guys! Another question if you don't mind. I had an agv k3sv before and my size is large then I bought the rpha 70 and suddenly ended up with a 2XL size. The XL is very snug too, there's a pressure in my head. Is that normal or I should just go with XL? Thanks!

[@erniepanes4079]

Yes shoei ... my RYD shoei

[@Ridehighfxdb]

Arai helmet saved my life

[@galleryfestival575]

Helmya tidak begitu kelihatan karna tertutup tulisan translete yang dibawah

[@aditya.ishan27]

AGV or HJC worth the value for money.

[@Championhelmets]

In general, we often find that HJC comes out as one of the best brands as far as value for money. HJC helmets often perform surprisingly well for their price in addition to coming with a great complement of features such as the Pinlock insert lens and, depending on the helmet, sometimes an extra dark smoke visor. Nonetheless, it is still best to check out our individual road tests for the AGV or HJC helmet in question, since it is possible that this may be different for individual helmets. Thanks for the comment! What are your thoughts on the two companies?

[@veniamincatalin7789]

at 4:46 You can see that he didnt lock the helmet with the double D straps!

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for letting us know! Which brand did you think was the best?

[@migflc778]

tested k1 and k3 and totally ignored k5.. smh

[@adibakhshi]

the k1 and k5 are identical either than small design tweeks which wouldn’t affect those results.

[@migflc778]

Adi Bakhshi I own both and they’re not identical. At all. I would just look to see their opinion

[@Championhelmets]

Hey there! We've been focusing on the K6 a bit more since it came as AGV's new line, so we unfortunately haven't had a chance to road test the K5 S. Though we'd definitely expect the K5 to perform stronger than the K1. The K5 is targeted at a higher end of the market than the K1, so it should be more comfortable, offers more in terms of the visor, and it has an internal sun visor. Though we have heard that some people found the K5 to be on the average to loud side of noise. How have you found the two compare?

[@migflc778]

Champion Helmets in my opinion the k5s is a very strong and appealing helmet. But the padding is a bit to the older days. The k1 is quieter. A lot of air flows from under into the back of the ears and although that’s very refreshing in summer it also means a lot of wind noise. It’s definitely more comfortable than the k1 tho. I’d like to see you guys compare the k5s to the bell star. Theyre very familiar but have obvious differences

[@Championhelmets]

Interesting that you found the K1 quieter, but the reasoning makes sense, and hopefully AGV will be able to update that at some point. Unfortunately, we don't currently sell Bell helmets, so we haven't had a chance to take it out on our road test. But we're still curious to see how the K5S would do and compare!

[@vahilaza1845]

Where is KYT HELMET..🙏😆

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately, we don't currently stock KYT helmets so we have not had a chance to get our hands on one for testing. What did you think of the brands we tested out?

[@ARAIGAMING777]

@@Championhelmets kyt nz race please

[@SfouGz]

Hey ,there! first of all , i want to menntion that u guuys are great and ur reviews are extremly cool and helpfull! Now, i am new biker myself and i want to invest in a mediuum price range helmet(full face) i've been attracted by the results and reviews on shoei/agv/Arai i am driving small distances in city multiple times a day , 4-5 times a week i use the highway aswell for kinda bigger distance and faster ofc , During the summertime i will be driving like 100km to my vacation house aswell. In my city at winter time its rly rly COLD and in summertime its Very Very HOT :P i know mediterranean climate can be a ^@*&* so i am searching for the best option for me and i have tested some of those in a store and they all fit very very good to my head (shoei NXR/GT AIR II) , (AGV k5,k6) Throw some of ur knowledge to a knewbeee driver like myself , whats the best cruising helmet for these temperatures and in town , lightweight cause of often usage and be able to take some bigger trips from time to time!?!?!?

[@Championhelmets]

Thanks for the feedback, it's our pleasure! For mostly commuting with a bit of a touring focus, the best option would be the Shoei GT Air 2. The Shoei helmet showed strong ventilation out on our road test, being only one degree hotter, it has an internal sun visor to cut out glare, and it was one of the quietest helmets we've road tested to date. While the K6 is also an excellent sport-touring helmet, it does not have the convenience of a sun visor, but it is still very lightweight. Depending on what you're looking for in your helmet as far as noise, weight, or sun visors, the NXR would also be a strong choice since it is incredibly light, and though it is on the noisier side and does not have an internal sun visor, Shoei do offer a photochromic self-tinting visor, which you can find at a discount in our helmet bundle deals. Though you're starting out, you may also want to consider your communication system options, since these can come in really handy for listening to music or taking telephone calls out on the road. With the GT Air 2, the helmet uses the Sena SRL 2, which makes installation very easy and improves safety, but you can't use the system in any non-SRL 2 prepared helmets later on down the road. With the rest of the helmets you've listed, they are prepared for communication systems but you can mount any type that you prefer. You can see how the GT Air 2 compares to the NXR here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH6xhZx5hKp6pbc And you can also see how the K6 compares to the NXR here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mF7HqotrmcZ1g6s If you have any further questions, we're always happy to help

[@SfouGz]

@@Championhelmets thanks a lot ! i think i will be running with NXR , it's kinda more slim in my eyes than the GTAIR II and i value the weight a lot!!! i wore my sunglasses when i tested it and they did fit perfectly on these little edges they got for glasses. Now i am just searchin for colour and the looks! cheers guys!

[@Championhelmets]

@@SfouGz No problem! The NXR certainly does fit glasses well, and the 4 shell sizes of the NXR do help with reducing weight as well. Cheers!

[@abyedrikn]

@@SfouGz Im 56cm in head, most brand smalls fit me but yesterday I tried the NXR and small size NXR just feels a little loose(it wont move, cant chew gum but cheeks feel it feels a little too comfortable). I'll try XS tomorrow just to see how it feels but I wanted to ask; did NXR felt that way for you too or was it perfect?

[@SfouGz]

@@abyedrikn no it was rly good fit on me as far as i remember. I will buy it in few days and i will come back at you again. By the way i am 57 i used the medium and it was rly rly good and comfortable as far as i remember

[@ryzzen5168]

The question is always shoei or arai. All the others are just real trash. Ls2 are a company that if people wont buy cheap things like there life is on the line in a crash they will never be existed. Another topic on AGV in one word? They are trash beside the looks which is the best in terms of protection they are useless in a crash with all the 5 star test approvals. Worked with them in my country and i can just almost crash every helmet with my bare hands lol In a crash everyone wants arai on the head for maximum protection. The only reason not to buy arai it’s because it doesn’t fit your head. Then go buy second best option shoei.

[@xsir_smokzx]

BS they hated on HJC the best hands down 😤

[@GrimYak]

HJC says they are number 1 but in reality in any metric they are third or fourth. Just behind AGV shoei and Arai. Just because you believed their slogan doesn't mean it is true. I also use HJC because of my headshape but i dont believe the #1 in the world BS.

[@johanzh2550]

weird