Safe, comfy and stylish motorcycle helmets don't have to cost a fortune | Budget options from under £100

It may seem like a daft place to try and save money, but there are plenty of budget motorcycle helmets on the market. The truth is that while price can act as a rough guide to the safety and quality of a new helmet, it isn’t infallible.

Best bargains at a glance

• HJC C10 – £89.98 (was £99.99)
• AGV K1 S – £209.99 (plain colours from £159.99)
• HJC i71 – £199.99

All motorcycle helmets sold in the UK should meet the minimum required safety testing standard. The latest is called ECE 22.06, but there are still ECE 22.05 helmets available until stocks run out. And because the safety standard is a minimum – rather than a graded system – some of the helmets that far surpassed the old standard could still be safer than those that barely passed the new one.

You can also often save yourself a few quid by opting for a plain colour instead of a colourful race replica. As alluring as the more colourful options are, you might be able to get the next helmet up in white for just a few pounds more than the one you’re considering with exciting decals.

The UK Government also has an independent testing procedure that rates helmets out of five for safety called the Sharp score. Participation is voluntary, but you’ll see if you look through the included models on the Sharp website, you’ll that price is far from a determining factor for safety.

So, which helmets can you trust? Here is a list of quality helmets that will keep your head protected without breaking the bank. Each is accompanied by a review from a different member of the MCN team.

Best budget motorbike helmets

ECE 22.05 helmets

The move from ECE 22.05 to the latest 22.06 has created some bargains on perfectly good helmets that meet the old regulation. Be quick though, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Things to consider before you buy a budget helmet

Is it road legal?

To conform to UK law a helmet must either:

Reach British Standard BS 6658:1985 and also carry the BSI Kitemark.

Meet UNECE Regulation 22.06

Meet a European Economic Area member standard equivalent of BS 6658:1985 and also carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark.

Most lids will have ECE 22.06 printed on them, usually at the back of the lid.

Helmets stamped ECE 22.05 are still legal to be sold until retailer stocks run out but these are disappearing fast.

Is it Sharp rated?

SHARP’s five-star safety rating is an independent helmet testing scheme ran by the Department of Transport. You can see which lids have been tested at SHARP’s website.

Is it ACU gold-approved?

An ‘ACU Gold or Silver’ sticker means that the lid is approved for use in motorcycle sport by the Auto Cycle Union in the UK. Some trackday organisers insist on you wearing an ACU Gold-approved helmet.

Does it have a Pinlock insert?

One of the best anti-fog inserts on the market, many lids come with a Pinlock included in the box while others simply have its fixings and you need to purchase the Pinlock itself separately. If you need to buy it, factor this extra expense into your buying decision.

How much does it weigh?

A heavy lid can put extra strain on your neck, leading to fatigue when worn for a long period of time, so a lightweight lid can be an advantage when it comes to touring.

Is the lining removable?

Helmets get sweaty and removing the lining and cleaning it thoroughly is the best way of reducing smells and keeping it nice to wear. If you cover a lot of miles in all weather conditions it is a good idea to get a lid with a removable lining.

Is the visor easy to remove?

A fiddly visor removal system can be very annoying when it comes to removing the visor to give it a good clean and remove and stuck on flies. Look for a well-designed system that will allow you to quickly remove the visor with minimal effort or use of tools. Some overly-complicated visor release systems result in broken side-pods or a damaged mechanism and that could mean a lengthy delay while you await spare parts.

Does it have an integrated sun visor?

A ‘flip-down’ sun visor is a really handy addition for when the sun is out as it means you can simply flip it down while on the go rather than stopping to fit a pair of sunglases.

What is its ventilation like?

A hot head is an uncomfortable head, so see if the helmet has vents and if they are easily operated by a gloved hand. The more vents, the cooler your head will be, however they can create extra wind noise.

Is it ready for a communications system?

Many helmets are ‘communications ready,’ which means they are designed with extra recesses around the ear areas so that you can insert headphones for a communications system. Without these recesses, the headphones can press irritatingly on your ears.

Is it designed for glasses?

If you wear glasses, a lot of helmets have special areas in them to allow the glasses’ arms to sit comfortably between the lining and your face, stopping them pressing on you or getting deformed and also making them easy to remove and put on.

What kind of strap fastener does it have?

There are two general types of helmet strap fastener – a D-Ring and a ratchet-style. The D-Ring requires manually threading and then tightening the strap where a ratchet-style system is a simple push-fit. It is a matter of choice with some riders preferring the ease of the ratchet-style and other opting for the secure feeling offered by a D-Ring.

Can I buy a dark visor?

Legally a visor must allow a light transmission of 50%, which means most dark visors are ‘for non-road use only.’ This doesn’t stop riders wearing them and if you want to have a dark visor, always check that one is readily available for the helmet you are looking at.

How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.
Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one. If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.
To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products

About the author: Justin Hayzelden is MCN’s resident products guru and keeps a finger on the pulse of all that’s new and important in bike kit and accessories.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.