Need new helmet...best bang for the (reasonable) buck...opinions?

Shred
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Shred
Edited Date/Time 3/5/2022 8:31pm
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for good protection at a reasonable price. Opinions??
Thanks
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OFalk280
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OFalk280 1/31/2022 10:02am
1/31/2022 10:02am
What’s a reasonable price to you? To someone that’s used to spending $600+ reasonable might be $400 but to someone that wants to spend less that’s still a high price. Sounds like you’re in the $200 ish price range?
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Spooner
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Spooner 1/31/2022 10:03am
1/31/2022 10:03am
The Thor Reflex is on sale for $299 and it's MIPS with Koroyd. It's a helluva lot of helmet for $300.
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kb228
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kb228 1/31/2022 10:05am
1/31/2022 10:05am
I got my bell moto 9 flex mc edition for $250 on sale on rocky mountain. If you can find a deal like that, thats the way to go for sure
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BrainKaTooMer
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BrainKaTooMer 1/31/2022 10:09am
1/31/2022 10:09am
You could check out the Fly Racing Formula CP helmet. It's got the same technology as the high-end Formula lids, but at a fraction of the price @ $250 buckaroos.
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sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 1/31/2022 10:28am
1/31/2022 10:28am
Fly Formula in the non-carbon-fiber.
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stone881
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stone881 1/31/2022 10:36am
1/31/2022 10:36am
Shred wrote:
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for...
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for good protection at a reasonable price. Opinions??
Thanks
Price frankly shouldn't be a consideration, you only have one head. Get the most protective helmet that fits the best for your physiology, period.
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Shred
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Shred 1/31/2022 10:39am
1/31/2022 10:39am
OFalk280 wrote:
What’s a reasonable price to you? To someone that’s used to spending $600+ reasonable might be $400 but to someone that wants to spend less that’s...
What’s a reasonable price to you? To someone that’s used to spending $600+ reasonable might be $400 but to someone that wants to spend less that’s still a high price. Sounds like you’re in the $200 ish price range?
If I can spend $200 and get pretty much the same protection as spending $600 minus some of the cool look then yes...I am in the $200 range. If I need to spend $300 to get that protection then I am in the $300 range.

Think Alpinestar boots. Tech 10 is totally awesome but Tech 7s pretty awesome too and great protection...and $200 less. Sort of like that but it’s my brain so I don’t want to be too cheap.
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Shred
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Shred 1/31/2022 10:39am
1/31/2022 10:39am Edited Date/Time 1/31/2022 10:43am
Shred wrote:
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for...
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for good protection at a reasonable price. Opinions??
Thanks
stone881 wrote:
Price frankly shouldn't be a consideration, you only have one head. Get the most protective helmet that fits the best for your physiology, period.
Yup. I agree...but....hence the above post^^

“If I can spend $200 and get pretty much the same protection as spending $600 minus some of the cool look then yes...I am in the $200 range. If I need to spend $300 to get that protection then I am in the $300 range.”
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Broseph
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Broseph 1/31/2022 10:40am
1/31/2022 10:40am
Shred wrote:
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for...
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for good protection at a reasonable price. Opinions??
Thanks
stone881 wrote:
Price frankly shouldn't be a consideration, you only have one head. Get the most protective helmet that fits the best for your physiology, period.
How can you tell which is the most protective?
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OFalk280
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OFalk280 1/31/2022 10:48am
1/31/2022 10:48am
OFalk280 wrote:
What’s a reasonable price to you? To someone that’s used to spending $600+ reasonable might be $400 but to someone that wants to spend less that’s...
What’s a reasonable price to you? To someone that’s used to spending $600+ reasonable might be $400 but to someone that wants to spend less that’s still a high price. Sounds like you’re in the $200 ish price range?
Shred wrote:
If I can spend $200 and get pretty much the same protection as spending $600 minus some of the cool look then yes...I am in the...
If I can spend $200 and get pretty much the same protection as spending $600 minus some of the cool look then yes...I am in the $200 range. If I need to spend $300 to get that protection then I am in the $300 range.

Think Alpinestar boots. Tech 10 is totally awesome but Tech 7s pretty awesome too and great protection...and $200 less. Sort of like that but it’s my brain so I don’t want to be too cheap.
As mentioned above by other posters the polycarbonate Fly Formula is a great choice to be extremely close to $600 protection without the price tag. Another great option would be the Leatt 7.5. Once you get the triple density protection along with rotational protection, the hugely increased price tag mainly gets you fiberglass or carbon shells. Those do offer more protection than plastic (polycarbonate is simply a fancier word for it), but you are pretty damn close with the Formula CP and Leatt 7.5
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40acres
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40acres 1/31/2022 10:51am
1/31/2022 10:51am
Broseph wrote:
How can you tell which is the most protective?
Marketing
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gt80rider
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gt80rider 1/31/2022 10:54am
1/31/2022 10:54am
I always wait and buy a high end leftover that is highly discounted... think I got my last tld carbon for around 300...
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brocsdad
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brocsdad 1/31/2022 11:01am
1/31/2022 11:01am
My son wears the LS2 Subverter.

They own the factory and so there's no middle man raising prices.

Several Pro's are wearing the helmet such as Kyle Chisholm, Bubba Pauli, Luke Neese, etc.

https://www.ls2usa.com/subverter-evo

Good Luck!
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McG194
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McG194 1/31/2022 11:07am
1/31/2022 11:07am
Personally, I wear a Fly Formula. If you don't want to spend that much money, I would say that if you are wearing any helmet that has at least MIPS technology you will be in a better helmet than the best helmets of 10 years ago. Just make sure it's comfortable and fits you well.
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Shred
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Shred 1/31/2022 11:49am
1/31/2022 11:49am
I don’t see any helmets comparison reviews that show which are more protective then others. ...and since I am talking costs one example is what makes a Troy Lee SE4 carbon better then composite with mips or better then just SE4 with MIPS. Big cost difference but is it for a difference in protection or just weight/cool factor?
DA498
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DA498 1/31/2022 11:58am
1/31/2022 11:58am
Shred wrote:
I don’t see any helmets comparison reviews that show which are more protective then others. ...and since I am talking costs one example is what makes...
I don’t see any helmets comparison reviews that show which are more protective then others. ...and since I am talking costs one example is what makes a Troy Lee SE4 carbon better then composite with mips or better then just SE4 with MIPS. Big cost difference but is it for a difference in protection or just weight/cool factor?
Same protection, just weight and cool factor as far as i know. I just bought the SE4 composite for low 200s from Rockymountain
OFalk280
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OFalk280 1/31/2022 12:00pm
1/31/2022 12:00pm
Shred wrote:
I don’t see any helmets comparison reviews that show which are more protective then others. ...and since I am talking costs one example is what makes...
I don’t see any helmets comparison reviews that show which are more protective then others. ...and since I am talking costs one example is what makes a Troy Lee SE4 carbon better then composite with mips or better then just SE4 with MIPS. Big cost difference but is it for a difference in protection or just weight/cool factor?
There is some reason to argue that a lighter helmet carries less momentum upon impact. The other supposed benefit to carbon or composites versus plastic is according to manufacturers composites “shatter” upon impact, absorbing more of the force before it hits the internal foam. Plastics just deflect, and don’t absorb as much force before it impacts the foam. Also some people argue because of the plastic deflecting it has more of a tendency to “bounce” back off the ground, and then create a second impact situation. How much of a difference is there? Who knows because the helmet testing system is so bad with just simple pass fail, rather than a rating system.
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Meister
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Meister 1/31/2022 12:02pm
1/31/2022 12:02pm
Fly. Great value.
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FWYT
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FWYT 1/31/2022 12:12pm
1/31/2022 12:12pm
gt80rider wrote:
I always wait and buy a high end leftover that is highly discounted... think I got my last tld carbon for around 300...
This is what I do, as well. Just picked up a close out TLD MIPS helmet for about $160.00. :D
FWYT
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FWYT 1/31/2022 1:44pm
1/31/2022 1:44pm
Shred, got your PM but I don't know if you got my reply because PMs here are so screwy.

But I scored mine on Motosport just about a month ago. It was a 2019 model and it helps that I wear a size small as
those seem to sit around longer. Good luck!
Brad460
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Brad460 1/31/2022 1:52pm
1/31/2022 1:52pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2022 1:54pm
I just recently added a JustOne helmet J12 carbon fiber helmet to my collection. Real nice helmet and on sale now for $249. Heck I might just buy another in a diff color.
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JoshyPoo312 1/31/2022 1:58pm
1/31/2022 1:58pm
Shred wrote:
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for...
I am thinking Bell MX-9 w/Mips. I know....it’s my brain so I want to protect it but it’s hard to spend $600. I am looking for good protection at a reasonable price. Opinions??
Thanks
Can't go wrong with the new Fly Formula CP. MSRP of $250 and you get the safety benefits only sacrificing weight. Still lighter than even the Bell Moto 10. I've rung my bell with the CC and am a huge advocate.
Wildeye511
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Wildeye511 1/31/2022 2:04pm
1/31/2022 2:04pm
I picked up a TLD SE4 Carbon for $375. You can find a good deal on them from time to time.
jdsmooth
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jdsmooth 1/31/2022 2:06pm
1/31/2022 2:06pm
What are people's experiences with the lower tier Alpinestars helmets? I think the sm-5 is the more budget-considerate version?

My impression on helmet price is that the most expensive helmets are probably marginally safer, but the selling point seems to be lower weight.

Also, when I'm considering new gear, I like to look at Kris Keefer's site. His helmet reviews are really good. I think he commented on Pulp recently that he and his son only wear the Fly Formula or 6d ATR2. I'm not sure he still wears the Fly since he's an FXR athlete now.
DaBaum44
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DaBaum44 1/31/2022 6:15pm
1/31/2022 6:15pm
For the money, the Fly Formula CP is very tough to beat at $249.

For me, I have worn 6D Helmets since they came out. I think it is worth the extra money. Not only for the technology, but keep in mind that they can be sent in for inspection and possibly a rebuild, depending on the severity of the crash.
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Moto520
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Moto520 1/31/2022 6:21pm
1/31/2022 6:21pm
Best bang for the buck imo is the Troy Lee SE4. Great price points and the helmet is imo one of the better helmets for protection.
AgileMike
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AgileMike 1/31/2022 6:43pm
1/31/2022 6:43pm
Another vote for Fly Formula CP. Rheon is substaially better than MIPS, IMHO
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Blue Groove 1/31/2022 7:24pm
1/31/2022 7:24pm
Agreed on the Fly Formula Cp, lighter then my Moto 9’s and $250.
bens152
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bens152 1/31/2022 8:44pm
1/31/2022 8:44pm
Leatt? Friese seemed to get good bang for his buck! And he’s still smiling.
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Yeti831
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Yeti831 1/31/2022 9:03pm
1/31/2022 9:03pm
I’ve been sticking with the TLD SE4 and I’ve always paid in the $250-$275 range.
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