Quick Q about cheap helmets.

[ninja_butler]

Does anyone know why some of these helmets are so cheap? Are they a real bargain or just cheap and nasty crap?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nitro-GMAC-Siege-Target-ACU-Gold-for-track-road-Motorbike-Motorcycle-helmet-/220888901299?_trksid=p4340.m1374&_trkparms=algo%3DPI.WATCH%26its%3DC%252BS%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6112670725817022897

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/$(KGrHqZHJBoE8f!SyycBBPLL!MlMCg~~60_12.JPG

[fatpies]

Its a 'generic helmet' i.e. they all come out of the same factory in China or Korea or wherever.

So they have one shell size, not so bad if you are XXL.

But bad if you are an XS as there is a ton of padding between the shell and your head.

This may or may not mean bad fitting.

Secondly they are heavier than other lids, the Shark RSR2 race thingie granted it cost me over £200 but it weighs just under a kilo, the Nitros/Gmacs (expecially with the flip mechanism) are close to 2 kilos. You ride for a longish time 30-50 miles and you notice that weight.

Thirdly, people are fashion whores. And think cheaper = worse and won't wear them out of snootiness.



However they all have the safety standard spec so road legal.
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"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"

[arry]

Decent quality lids generally weigh less, have better quality visor mechs, ventilation, more comfy/less itchy scratchy lining, have pinlock capability etc. Decide how much of that's important to you and then invest in what you're comfortable with.

Personally the difference between my £100 HJC that I bought when I was starting out, and the £200 Shoei I have now is marked, and certainly worth the extra dosh.

[pinkyfloyd]

Pretty much what Paddy says. You can buy a helmet for £40 or £400 and it will perform the same in an accident. Sometimes the Sharp ratings claim the cheaper ones can perform better than some more expensive ones.

All have to be compliant with the British Institute standards therefore all have passed the exact same tests.

So what do we get for our extra pennies? Again as Paddy says, weight loss, added comfort, better quality materials used, added noise reduction and most special of all, which seems to be a big factor, prettier colours.
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[Maruchino]

I used a nitro during my CBT/DAS a few years ago, it wasn't a bad helmet actually. Very comfortable from what I remember.

You have to remember that even £300+ helmets don't have all the bells and whistles, for example my Arai doesn't have removeable lining, but my £70 sixsixone mx helmet does. I guess the extra £ goes into little things like safety

[Maruchino]

One more thing, be careful with flip-front helmets. Sometimes they are considered 'open face' and the front chin bar does not get scrutinised to the same degree as the rest of the helmet. I.e. it will pass minimum safety standards for an open faced helmet, not a full faced one.

[Rogerborg]

£65 is actually quite a lot for a hollow polystyrene ball in a plastic shell. There's no particular reason that helmets should cost a lot.

Personally I wouldn't buy a flip unless I could confirm that it has a decent rating on SHARP, including the security of the chin bar in impacts. If it pops open more often than not then you may as well be wearing an open face.
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[Cheeseybeaner]