Best helmet

The one that fits right.

The one that fits right and is ECE 22.06 certified. 

Downforce!

Have to agree. ECE is vastly superior to DOT. 

I have a 1989 Bieffe for sale and it fits real nice

There will be lots of opinions on this. But do yourself a favor and try on any brand/ model that you are considering. 
I wore Shoei helmets until 2014 and went to a Bell Moto 9 and then Moto 9 FLEX, because of the fit. The new Shoei didn’t fit me like the old one did ! When the Moto 10 came out, it didn’t fit my head. So I tried on a 6D ATR2 and it was a perfect fit for my head shape. I’ve been wearing them since and will be trying on the new 6D ATR3 that just came out. I can’t even ride, but I’m thinking about buying another helmet…. I got issues. 

Do yourself a favor and pick a good helmet and try it on to confirm it fits you ! A top end/big dollar helmet will not be as protective as a 2nd their helmet that fits your head. Keep the chin strap snug too, I see so many that don’t tighten up the strap enough. 

I didn’t really have a budget for my last helmet, the weight and fit were my only concern. I tried about every helmet brand in the AMX store and ended up with a ProGrip (Italian brand). I think it was the cheapest lid in the shop, but probably the best I have owned. 

Good chance the new 6D ATR-3 will be my next helmet.

I landed on my head and was knocked out with a stock Yamaline Helmet...10 years later I again caught a lip with my rear tire going down the backside and again landed on my head and broke a Bell Magnum knocking myself out...

Nothing against these manufacturers...

I now run SHOEI helmets because of there DOT & SNELL rating....

I don't  have another K.O. left in me....Lol

University studies I have read come to the conclusion that the lighter the helmet you can buy, that meets international standards are generally the best. Less weight means less force on your neck in whiplash type scenarios. The shape of helmets can have a factor, so smoother exterior is generally better as it is less likely to be caught up on anything. 

If you read magazines or websites, or speak to anyone with a financial interest, they will rate the manufacturer that pays them the most money to advertise as the best helmet. And the manufacturer will tell you their most expensive helmet is the safest....

6D has the new ATR3. 

HJC appears to have a new helmet coming out (next year?)

Any other new helmets coming out? Seems like it's time to see new ones from Arai and Shoei. 

x10 on the fit. It's why I wear an Arai - nothing else feels nearly as comfortable or form-fitted for me. 

I always joke that putting an Arai on your head is the second-best feeling you can get by sticking a body part into something. 

In this order:

6D

Alpinestars

Troy lee SE5

Bell moto 10 (check fitment on this one)

Bell Moto 9 Flex

I have been a Shoei guy for 20 years now.

But i would look at the ”big three” Shoei, Arai and Bell. Those are brands that have been in the game for ages and develop helmets for the top tier motorsports of F1 and Moto GP to so they have the knowlege in house.

I would not stare my self blind on the weight of the helmet, for me it’s more important that it have a good balance. When i rode 85cc in the early 2000’s i got a Fox helmet that AGV produced for Fox at the time. 
 

It was the regular 1250g that most of the helmets were those days but most of the weight were at the back of that helmet making my head snap backwards when i landed at jumps compared to another brand i had that had a better balance of weight.

And like some others have said that buy one that fit your head well, but those are the brands i would go to. When Airoh started to weigh in at around 960g i started to wounder where they shaved down 300g compared to the big three brands, and the only answer is thinner layers of carbon.

And when it comes down to what’s thick enough i choose to trust the other brands that make helmets for way faster sports than our own. 

I was Shoei for a long time until having a Leatt deal and getting the carbon 9.5. I loved my VFX-Evo but I don't think I could go back to riding in a helmet that heavy. 

Hey everyone, this post is from my homeboy known as…” Pretty Boy Hollywood Set Guy”…

He can talk “safety” all he wants; but, he has one primary concern and that’s all he REALLY cares about…

He makes sure all his stuff matches and looks really, really good. 

He’s only wearing that 6D because it matches his FXR gear!

I am kind of similar. I have really enjoyed my bell helmets, and loved my moto 9 flex. I was on the look out for, she found a really good deal on a brand new moto 10. Because i liked my moto 9's I bought it without trying one on.

First time trying I put it on, I felt the same as you. I got a really good deal on this helmet, so I wasn't about to return it. I decided to just try it out and hit the track. After the first ride, I noticed it fit almost the exact same as my moto-9 flex's. The only difference I felt was that it felt lighter. My wife also had a similar experience. 

Just something to add for anyone interested in the moto 10. 

Fly Formula- Best helmet available. 
light, safe and available at multiple price points with the same safety features. 

Go to a shop or shops with the brand or brands in stock that You are considering.   The answer may be very clear after trying them all on. I love my Alpinestars helmets. I tried a 6D atr-2 and it was not as comfortable. I am looking forward to trying an ATR-3 out. The changes they made to the new SM10 make it tighter and not as comfortable for me as the previous generation SM10 and SM8. Arai has a new helmet that is supposed to be on its way . I'm interested in seeing what they do. I had worn Shoei helmets forever. I was selling them at one point too.  But after trying on the Alpinestars helmet I stopped wearing mine. I grew up wearing Shoie I had a VX3  I got with a used YZ,  and every model they have made between now and then. But now I'm an Alpinestars guy. 

I like what I have seen about the new 6d Atr-3. It looks like it vents better and it is lighter. I would try one on. the Moto 10 , Leatt 9.5,  Fly Formula , 6d ATR-3  and Alpinestars SM10 and the new Arai when its available.   Those helmets are some of the ones I would feel safe wearing and recommending. The Shoei  is also a nice helmet it just feels dated compared to the others.

I do sell Aplinestars,6D,Leat and Arai helmets just so I am being transparent. I am not trying to get anybody to buy a helmet from me on here, and will not benefit from anybody buying one over the other. I sell the brands that I sell because I feel like they are some of the safest helmets. And I feel like I can sleep well at night knowing that I am not putting profits above safety .   

Try on every helmet. Don’t be cheap.

A current test would be a great idea.  Hopefully someone will pick up on it.  I remember one of the magazines did a test waaaaaay back in the day, like 30 years ago.

Looking at shoei’s regular window of updated helmets, they should have something new on the table soon to i would think.

Every time somebody posts asking about the best helmet, somebody will bring up the idea of an independent test.  I don't think that there has really been a test that ever  tested all the helmets in a way to test the protection each offers and published the info.  There are a lot of opinions posted. 

ML has posted that it would take a lot of money to run a proper test and do it right . I think he said around $500,000 . I would love to see even the data from the tests that are done to get certified. And see what helmets surpass what areas of the testing, and which helmets just meet the standards.  Even if I had to learn what all the data meant for me and how I might use the helmet. 

Go to chap in San berdo. Try all their helmets on for fit. After a week and a half of doing that, start over with the ones that stand out. Another week of trying those on and hopefully you will be closer to a decision.

6D, Bell Flex or 10, Alpinestar, Shoei, Arai, FLY and Leatt.   Try one and choose the one that fits you best.

I’m sure I read in Motocross Action years back to not buy the best helmet you can afford, but to buy the best helmet you can afford to replace 🤷🏼

The 6D ATR-2 and ATR-3 can be rebuilt  , some other brands also have a replacement policy that prorates the level of discount You get depending on how long You have had the helmet. So if You go out and crash a month  or 2 after buying the best helmet you can afford, You are not on the hook for the full replacement cost. Something to consider if the cost is a big factor in the decision. 

A damaged top of the line helmet  may not protect as well as a inexpensive ,well fitting undamaged model.  Leatt and Fly have some lower cost models that have the same/very similar tech in them as the higher cost models.

And closeout models can also get You a great deal on a good helmet. With the bigger brands often offering big discounts on last years colors. I have seen some really great prices on Leatt's year old models. If You are going after the best pricing on a good helmet.    

I'm still curious about helmets and saw this come back up so Im gonna ask:

Does the ECE ratings trump all things? In other words, do we really think a fox V1 is better than a VFX-Evo? I see alot of emphasis on the ECE rating but I'm not sure why some of the higher end helmets lack it..

I’m looking at helmets and I noticed that the brand 6D offers three models, each with a different level of safety tech. Their entry model is the ATR-1.
My question is: Does the ATR-1 (at around $300) offer the same level of protection as other brands in the $300 price-point, or is it less safe because it doesn’t meet newer standards like ECE 22.06?