What premium helmet would you buy now ?

I've been using 6D for years now and love them. I'm getting the new ATR 3 as soon as they are available in Italy: September hopefully.

Troy Lee Designs SE5 for $329 is an awesome value. I've had a bunch of TLD helmets but they really took a step forward with the SE4, and the SE5 I really think might be the best helmet you can buy. For the longest time I swore by Shoei, the fit is incredible and they're hand made in Japan, but the SE5 fits just as good (I love a super snug, all encompassing helmet), and I'm pretty sold on MIPS. Safest I've ever felt in a moto helmet for sure.

I’ve had a TLD SE5 carbon for a year now and this is by far the best helmet I’ve ever worn. Unbelievably lightweight, fits great without being too snug, and the venting is really really good. 

Try them on, I was all about 6d until I tried to wear one and then found that they do not fit me well. I have not tried the ATR-3 yet though.  I've been wearing the older generation SM8 and SM10. The new generation 2024+ , fits a little tighter in most sizes than the generation I've been wearing.

Leatt has a 3 year replacement policy that offers a discount  on replacing a helmet damaged in a crash.   They discount a replacement 40% off retail. You have to get the same model , unless they stopped making it and then You can get the new version.  Some other rules , but pretty simple and quick.  

6d like others have said can be rebuilt. As long as the Shell itself has not been damaged. If it has been then they will cut the strap and return the unusable helmet.   But they are often rebuildable ,and not expensive to do. Any dealer of 6d can help you get the process started. 

I've hear Arai is coming out with a new MX helmet soon too. But I just saw some new 2025 colors for the current helmets. 

I've heard a lot of good stuff about the Fly helmets too.  If possible go try on any of helmets You are thinking of getting and make sure they fit well. It might make it easier to decide after You try them on.

I like my Shoei, it fits me the best out of any of the top end helmets. 

Shoei fits my coconut the best so i stick with that, I really liked my 6D ATR2 but it was really tight on my forehead and was uncomfortable so i went back to Shoei. 

I love my SM8 but need a new lid cus I’ve taken some hard slams with it.

I  posted my story several months ago.  I inadvertently 3.5’d the triple uphill rollers in Delta, UT.  Took a brutal hit that severely sprained both my ankles and cartwheeled both bike and myself about 50 yards.  Ankles hit so hard I thought they we both broken.  At the ER the nurse kept asking how hard it hit my head, which really pissed me off as I thought I didn’t hit my head at all and my ankles were killing me.  Got angry at her eventually…

Went home after ER visit.  Had a distinct helmet liner imprint in my forehead and right cheek.  Didn’t even know I hit my head.

Helmet was Fly Formula Carbon.  My understanding is that Fly Formulas all offer the same protection, but just different in shells, which slightly  impact weight.

Our family has all three versions of the Formula and I can’t tell the difference in weight when holding them.

SM8 saved my life two weeks ago when I had a hard crash that resulted in a broken collarbone, broken sholderblade, numerous broken ribs and a punctured lung. Hit my head so hard it broke the helmet.. never lost consciousness or felt "bell rung".

I will absolutely be buying another one once I'm healthy!

My experience with a few brands:

Arai- this has been my helmet since I started riding but I recently switched. Safe, can fit most goggles, the paint on mine started chipping almost immediately which was a bummer because I absolutely loved this helmet, didn’t realize how heavy it was until I finally started shopping for a new brand

6D- light, very comfy, the field of view is a lot smaller than others and I unfortunately couldn’t get goggles to fit correctly/comfortably so I returned it (I feel like this is more of personal issue as my nose is pretty big so take it with a grain of salt).

Fly Formula Carbon- what I ended up with and it’s actually alarming how light this helmet is, room for goggles even with roll-offs, honestly if you can try this helmet on you definitely should, my only complaint (and it’s very stupid and I 100% blame Keefer for this dumb stuff) but I feel like I have to wear Fly gear wearing this thing 😂 

Side note: Is anyone else super particular about goggle fitment? I felt like a damn lunatic bringing two sets of goggles into the shop when I went to try them on lol

I have a new atr-3. Such a nice helmet. Also much smaller than my atr-2. Super comfy and feels really premium, unlike my A star helmets 

Fox V3 RS. I'm on my 2ND one because I faceplanted in my first one in 3rd gear. I didn't get knocked out and I am super happy with it.   

Thats called a concussion.

I hate how fly has really good helmets. Now mimic a tech 10 and I would almost buy the gear 

Easy choice. The new 6D ATR-3 or the new Alpinestars SM10. Currently waiting on the 6D stock so i can try one out. If it fits well, that will be my next lid.

Airoh Aviator 3

Bell, fly formula, alpinestars sm10, and 6d  

I prefer a TLD SE5 or Arai. The Bell is ok. Quality isn’t the best in my experience. Never had a 6D and probably never will so can’t comment on those. 

The SE5 really is an awesome helmet, scored a deal on a carbon one last year and it fits very well and the fit and finish of the TLD helmets has always been really good. Watch those visor screws, they do break easily as they are suppose to so keep the extras included with you, ive broke mine on tree branches. 

I have the SM10, and it kinda sucks that 6D and Astars are both still using factories in China for their helmets. However, I still love my SM10. 

WPS should consider spinning the Formula line off into its own helmet-only brand. I suspect they are losing a good amount of sales with riders who are fussy about wearing mix-matched gear brands. They could still market the helmet with the Fly gear sets, but do it as a "collab" like FXR does with 6D or Fasthouse does with Bell.

I cannot say I have any pedigree relative to helmet design; however, my buddy was Bill Simpson, probably the godfather of racing safety engineered concepts. Before he died I showed him the 6D concept - he was quite impressed! Respectfully, I do think he is/was the godfather of racing safety equipment - he ended up with a net worth of 9 figures based on his designs (for what that is worth). Anyway, he had more credentials than anyone else I knew... an ATR3 on order!

The one that fits the best 

For me that’s 6D it’s also a perk that they happen to make the best helmets even though all top level helmets are great choices 

I bought all white and plan on getting it painted so it won’t look too out of place with my fasthouse gear 😂. 

It really should be it’s own thing. Just call it “Formula Helmets”. I know JT$ has mentioned it’s been discussed but I’m assuming coming up with the funds for a marketing budget for a “new” brand on top of all of the other stuff they work on and invest in would be a lot. They’d probably have to hire a few people as well. 

I think I hv that 1 , I bought aprox 2010.  This Maxon ram air helmet from 1990.  After a wild house party then A Triumph concert back to house parties. I split at 5am borrowed a jacket from someone. And took off I was running stop signs going 90 mph in town . Haha I decided to get on the brakes for the next 1. I hit a manhole that was built up 14 inches into a mound. And went flying 4 house lengths then hit the st my cb360 went flying past me with sparks flying. My safety glasses flew off & landed on a friends porch across the st. I layed in the st a couple min ko d. Then I hear people yelling . I jumped up & saw a granny & grandpa they where asking you alright. I jumped up and down and said yeah. My cloths where shredded. I took off running for my bike that laid in a intersection. Kicked started it a few times then took off. I made it home & crashed out. My mom screemed the next morning. I crashed in my cloths my body was bleeding from rd rash. 150 of us dropped acid at the party b4 the killer lazer show that triumph had.  I took a 1/2 a hit becuz it was double power. Haha I  got stuck with Jill for a while at the concert had her top off French kissing. B4 the concert she’s peeing behind a bush that everyone could see her. She was wasted drunk saying ah Tony help me, etc. wanting me to babysit her , she freaking me out. Opening band mtn I couldn’t stop laughing a massive echo in the arena. I couldn’t or no body could understand what he was saying. Even drunk Jill perfect body by the way. After concert more crazy all star wrestling a friend had a seizure in the yard. Mono knew what to do and we do want the cops showing up . So we left him ther. Everyone was laughing at him, oh got loaded here, got a roll 

All very useful and important pieces of information, thanks 👍🏼

I always ask customers that are trying on a helmet what brand and model of goggle they wear. And have them try the helmet on with them if we have some of the same brand/model  in stock. And suggest that they bring their own with them either way.   

100% are so popular, but I've found that Scott Prospects fit my face better. They are tight in the SM8/SM10 shell.  So something that could for sure turn a well fitting helmet into a problem if the brand and model goggle that You like was not a good fit with the helmet. The Prospects are tight when using a nose peice on them. But not a problem for me.

 I am looking forward to trying out some of the Supertech model Alpinestars goggles  . The little info I have been able to find on them , sounds like they really should fit amazing. As well as being designed to work with the helmet I wear.  The frame itself is a soft plastic/foam and the outriggers are the more conventional plastic material.  So it looks like it should be a super flexible frame. It has an injection molded lens so that will add some stiffness back into them.  They look unlike any other goggles I am familiar with. So I am excited to try them. When I say unlike any other goggle, I mean they are not a rebranded goggle like earlier Alpinestars goggles have been.    No idea when they will be available , they disappeared from the distributor site shortly after I posted some images and info about them on my business Facebook page. 

6D ATR 3. If you want a premium helmet, but a little bit cheaper, I would go with the Leatt Moto 8.5 (which is what I wear now). ECE 22.05 certified, and weighs around 2.8 pounds.... no other helmet this light is as safe as the Leatt.

Edit: I meant to say ECE 22.06

That is the same weight as the Fly Formula Carbon S with ECE 22.06.

Yes, it is also a great option, however the Formula retails for $799, vs $549 for the Leatt (which includes the 5.5 velocity goggles).

Every ECE 22.06 approved helmet is great.

If money is no concern, I would go with the ATR 3