Where have the 'affordable' full face helmets gone?

[mechwira]

It seems to me that 6 to 8 years ago when I was new to biking and early years of class 2 biking, it was relatively easy to find cheap but effective full face helmets for under $200. i wouldn say there was a lot of variety, but u could easily pick up a GPR or MHR full face for under $200 in any number of shops.

 

But these low-end models have all but disappeared. in fact, now that i give myself a budget of $300 for a full-face, and even that price range is not easy to find.

 

typically the shops have begun selling only high-end models like shoei and arai, and occasionally suomy or x-lite. i walked into chong aik wondering if they still sold their GPR ff, and i see shelves stocked with shoei and suomy starting from $600. i walked into chiap lee wondering about their MHR ff, and i onli see old models which they obviously want to clear stock, and when i asked about other brands, i was referred to a shelf stocked with arai starting from $700.

 

what happened to FF's in the 'affordable' range? maybe today's bikers who go for FF are typically class 2 bikers with more money and appreciate the value of spending large cash on quality lids, unlike last time. but is there really no market anymore for lower-end FF's?

 

dont get me wrong; i dont doubt the quality of shoei and arai, and i'm not going to argue about whether they're worth their price. i personally cant part with in excess of 500 bucks for an FF for daily use knowing i'll wear it out in a little under a year, especially since i know that not all FF costing less necessarily mean less safe. globally, there are FF helmets in the S$300 range which are also dot and snell certified.

 

i currently find only HJC continues being sold locally in the affordable range for quality lids.

 

but if the current trend continues, are we going to see only high end FF models? that would be a shame, especially for young/new bikers who are realli on a budget who do see the safety value of an FF but are priced out by shoei and arai. surely even GPR and MHR ff are safer than the $50 to $80 open face that they'd end up buying.

 

i'm interested to know ppl's reviews of FF helmets bought within the 'affordable' price range and where they got them. i was hunting for FF this past week and got frustrated to see only shoei and arai on shelves. i'm not so keen about flip-ups but reviews are welcome too i guess.

 

 

__________________***UPDATE***__________________________________________

 

I will be listing 'affordable' helmets as shared by forumers here.

 

Disclaimers:

 

1. All prices stated are as claimed by forumers. Please refer to the shops for actual prices.

 

2. I have taken care to ensure that safety ratings are as certified by DOT, ECE, SNELL or other such organizations, and not merely claims by the manufacturer to 'meet or exceed' such certification without actually being certified. However, I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy as it is based only on internet research.

 

3. Any reviews included are based on personal use. Please remember that a helmet's fit differs among different head shapes. Do yourself a favour and read up on how to choose a correct fitting helmet for yourself.

 

And the list goes (in no particular order):

 

HJC FG-15

http://www.hjc-europe.eu/fileadmin/images/helmets/small/INT_FG15_RACINCT_MC5_sma.pnghttp://www.hjc-europe.eu/fileadmin/images/helmets/small/INT_FG15_RACEMOS_MC1_sma.pnghttp://www.hjc-europe.eu/fileadmin/images/helmets/small/INT_FG15_LUMIX_MC10_sma.png

Safety ratings: Snell M2005, ECE

Where to buy: Motorworld

Price:

Reviews: All buyers happy.

 

 

HJC CL-ST

http://www.hjc-europe.eu/fileadmin/images/helmets/small/INT_CLST_KRAVE_MC5_sma.pnghttp://www.hjc-europe.eu/fileadmin/images/helmets/small/INT_CLST_SOONI_MC10_sma.pnghttp://www.hjc-europe.eu/fileadmin/images/helmets/small/INT_CLST_VENECIA_MC1_sma.png

Safety ratings: ECE, PSB

Where to buy: Motorworld

Price: $150 or $100 with helmet trade-in promo

Reviews: Great value for money at $100

 

 

KBC TK-8

http://www.extremesupply.com/images/extremedeals/kbc/tk8-swirl-black.jpg

Safety ratings: DOT, Snell M2005

Where to buy: Adventure on Wheels, A.S Phoon, HME Motorsports, Choong Kok Agency

Price: $150

Reviews: None

 

AGV K3

http://www.agv.com/dimg/thm/t150_88574c6848c5d3a83a0ffb8f7ad2641d.jpg

Safety Ratings: DOT, ECE

Where to buy: Regina

Price: $350

Reviews: None

 

OGK FF5

http://www.nagoya-nankai.co.jp/helmet/ogk/ff5.gif

Safety ratings: Snell M2010

Where to buy: Regina (and others that i'm not sure of)

Price: $350

Reviews: None

 

GDR G830-FF

http://www.chongaik.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/G830-FF-DVisor-sm-e1288857766685.jpg

Safety ratings: ECE (claimed)

Where to buy: Chong Aik

Price: $100-$110

Reviews: None

Edited December 3, 2010 by mechwira

[vyruz]

I'm pretty sure I saw some FF GPR/MHR/Mfizz at R*g*na yesterday. They're mostly in the shelves in the back areas of the shop (and around the outside). Unfortunately I didn't look at the prices, but I'm sure they'll be less than S$300. One reason for the high prices at shops is that they expect prices to be negotiated down - so naturally the sticker price will be inflated. I ALWAYS negotiate down the display price. Every bit of gear I've bought to date has been lower (minimum 10% lower) than the display price.

[mechwira]

i want to share the FF helmets i've worn over the years, all of which are lower end price range.

 

my first ever was the HJC CL-15 for $180 at motorworld. no longer sold. worth the price but nothing more can be said. fits well but chin bar much too wide. plenty of better helmets but none at the same price range. the only reason i chose the CL-15 over similarly priced GPR and MHR was because it was the only FF under $200 that was snell certified.

 

my next was the Rjays GP1. i think $180 at regina's, no longer sold. great fit, reasonable ventilation and noise reduction. dot certified but unfortunately not snell. like the CL-15, i felt it worth the price altho again you can buy more expensive helmets which are better, but not at its price range.

 

my next was Rjays Striker which i loved so much that when the first wore out i bought it again. $250 the first time and $200 second time at regina's, also no longer sold. good fit, reasonable ventilation and noise reduction. plus dot and snell certified. some ppl say it felt a little heavy but only coz they're wearing lighter more expensive helmets. like i said, at that price range.....

 

last month was when i decided my second Rjays Striker was worn out and time to buy a new one. thats when i found that regina no longer sold Rjays. i bought M2R GP1 elsewhere for $250. TERRIBLE. at speed, the ventilation was very good.... too good because dust actually found its way inside! and you could hear a whistling wind noise with the ventilation ports open. after 2 weeks i stopped wearing it and hunted for another FF.

 

now i settled for HJC FG-15. only bought last friday haven had the chance to try on bike. can already feel how light it is, its dot and snell certified, and i know hjc makes quality lids.

 

do share your own reviews about your own affordable FF.

[mechwira]

I'm pretty sure I saw some FF GPR/MHR/Mfizz at R*g*na yesterday. They're mostly in the shelves in the back areas of the shop (and around the outside). Unfortunately I didn't look at the prices, but I'm sure they'll be less than S$300. One reason for the high prices at shops is that they expect prices to be negotiated down - so naturally the sticker price will be inflated. I ALWAYS negotiate down the display price. Every bit of gear I've bought to date has been lower (minimum 10% lower) than the display price.

 

if in the back shelf, i may have missed them. i was there bout 3 weeks ago and vaguely remember seeing only 1 M-fizz FF under $300 on display. the more prominent shelves didn show any other FF under $300.

[Wizard]

there is still carberg, OGK.. also available from regina..

not sure if you have tried looking for some lower end FF helmets there.

[mechwira]

;6689493']there is still carberg, OGK.. also available from regina..

not sure if you have tried looking for some lower end FF helmets there.

 

actually i did. OGK FF5 solid color quoted $350, claimed no stock for graphic designs. and they were pushing me to buy an AGV (cant remember the model) for $350 too, but the fit wasn very good on my head. i also saw a caberg but it was a flip-up and i wasn looking for a flip-up.

[Wizard]

i see.. if agv prob is k3 or what i guess.. coz thats their lower end ones..

otherwise maybe you have to try LAB for those mfizz/yohe FF..

but seriously i feel a good FF should last you many good years and you might save more than getting those cheaper FF that offers lesser protection.

 

i used to have a hjc, ogk, hjc and now shoei.. still using my ogk ff4 as spare i could tell the difference in terms of padding, comfort and stuff..

 

good luck for your helmet hunting.

[mechwira]

;6689527']i see.. if agv prob is k3 or what i guess.. coz thats their lower end ones..

otherwise maybe you have to try LAB for those mfizz/yohe FF..

but seriously i feel a good FF should last you many good years and you might save more than getting those cheaper FF that offers lesser protection.

 

i used to have a hjc, ogk, hjc and now shoei.. still using my ogk ff4 as spare i could tell the difference in terms of padding, comfort and stuff..

 

good luck for your helmet hunting.

 

yeah i think its the k3, i remember the letter 'k'.

 

i would have bought the FF5 but since they said only solid color in stock, i decided to look around first. i finally settled for an FG-15 last fri, and imho the HJC CL-ST and FG-15 are currently the only good and logical choice to go for if one is looking for under $300. maybe LAB would sell MFizz and yohe and under $200, but the CL-ST and FG-15 would have been the same price range so obviously the HJC being an established brand plus dot and snell certification wld be an obvious choice over LAB's yohe or MFizz.

 

but one thing i do wonder is, do shoei and arai really last longer than say HJC? like 3 years with minimal wear and tear? coz typically my helmets used daily, after approx 1 and a half years heavy use, they dont wear off at critical parts but the cushion would feel flatter, the visors scratched, the surface turns dull and scratched , the non-critical rubber parts of strap break off, rust at metal components, etc etc. shoei and arai dont? assuming same care taken.

 

and i have to say that i dont believe cheaper FF offer less protection than shoei or arai, provided the cheaper one is dot and/or snell certified. thats why i will feel second thoughts putting on a $100+ mfizz or yohe, but full confidence when wearing a HJC. that the more expensive one is more comfortable i perfectly accept.

[ahcaibiker]

yeah i think its the k3, i remember the letter 'k'.

 

i would have bought the FF5 but since they said only solid color in stock, i decided to look around first. i finally settled for an FG-15 last fri, and imho the HJC CL-ST and FG-15 are currently the only good and logical choice to go for if one is looking for under $300. maybe LAB would sell MFizz and yohe and under $200, but the CL-ST and FG-15 would have been the same price range so obviously the HJC being an established brand plus dot and snell certification wld be an obvious choice over LAB's yohe or MFizz.

 

but one thing i do wonder is, do shoei and arai really last longer than say HJC? like 3 years with minimal wear and tear? coz typically my helmets used daily, after approx 1 and a half years heavy use, they dont wear off at critical parts but the cushion would feel flatter, the visors scratched, the surface turns dull and scratched , the non-critical rubber parts of strap break off, rust at metal components, etc etc. shoei and arai dont? assuming same care taken.

 

and i have to say that i dont believe cheaper FF offer less protection than shoei or arai, provided the cheaper one is dot and/or snell certified. thats why i will feel second thoughts putting on a $100+ mfizz or yohe, but full confidence when wearing a HJC. that the more expensive one is more comfortable i perfectly accept.

 

 

1stly congrats on getting the HJC FG-15, personally, i've been using this helmet for everyday usage for a year plus and counting... so far, nothing is coming off, spare some few scratches on visor and shell surface. inner liner still smelling nice not ewww... i wear a balaclava, liner not washed before. shock absorbing Styrofoam still looking great, rubbers and metal d rings in great condition.

 

some not so good things i observed though, with ageing of the helmet, a whistling noise inside the helmet can be heard above 80kmh. the chin ventilation mechanism tends to loosen. like if you ride thru a pot hole, the chain ventilation flap from closed position will become open position. the helmet tends to fog up in cold weather, not a big problem, just don fully close the visor and by leaving a small gap, the visor wont fog up. visor does not wick off rain drops easily, i have to go above 80kmh before the rain drops will be driven to the sides of the visor by head on wind draft.

 

all these only happen after the helmet has went thru some decent usage...

with the price i paid, i have no complaints.

 

now planning to invest in the new HJC R-PHA 10 Ben Spies replica helmet.

cost less than half of shoei and arai top end models but i think it will give them a serious run of the money...

[mechwira]

 

now planning to invest in the new HJC R-PHA 10 Ben Spies replica helmet.

cost less than half of shoei and arai top end models but i think it will give them a serious run of the money...

 

i tried on the R-PHA 10 just out of curiosity. unbelievably light and snug. so light and thin it feels like a cheap helmet that will crack at the slightest drop, but hey dot and snell dont lie. dam tempted to buy it with year-end bonus.

[ahcaibiker]

i tried on the R-PHA 10 just out of curiosity. unbelievably light and snug. so light and thin it feels like a cheap helmet that will crack at the slightest drop, but hey dot and snell dont lie. dam tempted to buy it with year-end bonus.

 

plus the fact Ben Spies currently wears this helmet in moto gp... :thumb:

[haoKR]

looks lyk e hjc FG-15

is reasonable n good,ya ?

[jtjm39]

any reviews for the zues ff filp-up? planning to get one flip-up under $200

[ahcaibiker]

i tried on the R-PHA 10 just out of curiosity. unbelievably light and snug. so light and thin it feels like a cheap helmet that will crack at the slightest drop, but hey dot and snell dont lie. dam tempted to buy it with year-end bonus.

 

i've been doing some research online about the R-PHA 10.

 

In the American market it is known as RPS-10, having the latest and most stringent destructive testing certification, 2010 snell certified.

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/hjc-rps-10-helmet-ben-spies-replica

 

In the UK and Singapore, which MW i believe imports the R-PHA 10 from UK/Europe. It is ECE R 22-05 certified. apparently this batch of helmet is not 2010 snell certified...

 

i came across this website on snell certification.

http://www.smf.org/rst.html

 

batch test, meaning testing by batch. in this case, the American version RPS-10 has undergone 2010 snell destructive testing, passed the test and received certification.

 

The UK version R-PHA 10 which apparently MW imports them from is not send for 2010 snell destructive testing therfore not having the 2010 snell certification. The R-PHA 10 at MW only has the ECE R 22-05 and not 2010 snell certification.

 

If the helmets were made in Korea and came out from the same manufacturing plant, am i correct to say the R-PHA 10 batch that did not undergo 2010 snell destructive test can be considered as 2010 snell certified like the RPS-10 batch that did undergo 2010 snell certification?

 

like to hear views from people who knows something about helmet destructive testing and their procedures. Pls discuss positively and courteously.

[KeraKing]

what about nolan? I believe they have under 300.

[mechwira]

what about nolan? I believe they have under 300.

 

i know that there used to be, but i couldn find any of these nolan during my hunting.

[swiftee]

shoei is not that expensive la

500 for z6

350 for their cheapest model (but liner not removable)

[CSV]

the hjc range is pretty good value for money.

 

imo, HJC more reputable than mfizz or zeus leh.

 

when it comes to safety gear, best not to compromise due to budget, its your head we're talking about.

 

i own the hjc cl-st. the 100 bucks trade in. its average weight, but fits and quality is pretty good. defintely worth the 100 bucks.

 

but the rpha 10 is really pretty close to my choice, simply because it has all the good features of ARAI and SHOEI helmets but at a much much lower price. Ben Spies wears it, he trusts it, so i defintely trust it in everyday riding, pity i dont have the budget.

[haoKR]

yeah truth,mfizz n zuez not that famous.

[SK I]

Nolan N62 cost me about $240 just 5 months ago at Jalan Besar. Can go take a look.

[ahcaibiker]

Nolan N62 cost me about $240 just 5 months ago at Jalan Besar. Can go take a look.

 

while the term 'affordable' might be subjective among different groups of people...

 

to some, below $200 is affordable, to some $1000 is affordable.

 

for me, i set a bench mark of below $400 as affordable.

 

for that price range, i think HJC is the best choice, good quality with affordable prices.

 

HJC range of helmets is very large from the cheaper, lower end models to the expensive higher end models...

 

i doubt you can get a arai or shoei (even their lowest end model) at less than $300 brand new.

 

for myself, i would not trust unestablished brands like mfizz, mhr, rjays, etc.

 

simple benchmark, any brand represented in motogp is worthwhile to invest in.

Edited September 25, 2010 by ahcaibiker

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

what happened to FF's in the 'affordable' range? maybe today's bikers who go for FF are typically class 2 bikers with more money and appreciate the value of spending large cash on quality lids, unlike last time. but is there really no market anymore for lower-end FF's?

 

I recommend all my friends to go for the $100 FF at Motoworld because no matter what size of bike these days there can be never enough protection. You just need to read some of (example) @ahcaibiker 's posts to see the logic that even low speed cruiser riders benefit from investment in personal protective gear. :3

[crazydj]

I recommend all my friends to go for the $100 FF at Motoworld

 

Agreed. I wear a FF and i don't think i look funnie on my YBR. At first, it feels like something is constricting my head and i feel like a fish. A few days later, the damn thing molds to your head comfortably.

[mechwira]

i also agree about the hjc CL-ST. at a retail price of $150 with a further $50 off with their helmet trade-in promo, there really is nothing better for someone with a budget of under $150. top up a bit more and can get the FG-15. we cant all afford shoei and arai, but if u've got $100 to spend on some biking paraphernalia like pipes or racing pedals or wateva, do urself a favour and get the CL-ST first if ur still wearing an open face, no matter wat bike u ride.

 

i just wish there were more options.

 

for myself, i would not trust unestablished brands like mfizz, mhr, rjays, etc.

 

just a point to note, rjays is not 'unestablished'. they make quality and affordable helmets and jackets; they're just not well known outside of australia. they have at least one model of helmet thats dot/snell, and thats quality enough.

 

and mhr also surprised me by having snell helmets. if only local shops would sell their latest dot/snell helmets at budget prices.

[ahcaibiker]

 

just a point to note, rjays is not 'unestablished'. they make quality and affordable helmets and jackets; they're just not well known outside of australia. they have at least one model of helmet thats dot/snell, and thats quality enough.

 

and mhr also surprised me by having snell helmets. if only local shops would sell their latest dot/snell helmets at budget prices.

 

Rjays are not known to have invested heavily in RnD for their helmets...

 

Their spectrum of riding gear is so big, from jacket, one piece track suit, pants to riding boots and to helmet.

 

look at Shoei, Arai, AGV, HJC...

 

they are into pure strictly just helmets. all the money invested in RnD, manufacturing, quality control and sponsorships for professional riders.

 

we don see that happening for Rjays.

 

it's just my own guideline for myself, i only invest in helmet brands that are represented and used by professional riders at the highest competitive level.

 

 

sure, others might have their own opinions.

 

just my 2cents and humble sharing.