The best budget motorcycle helmets: tried and tested

There are plenty of budget motorcycle helmets out there these days, but which ones can you trust and which ones are just a dangerous scam?

Keeping your head well protected is critical on a motorbike, however it can also be a costly process, depending on your budget, with some manufacturers charging serious money for the best range-topping motorcycle helmets.

Wallet friendly alternatives such as the lids below are far from a compromise; many offer the same level of features as far pricier examples, they just may lack the famous racer’s graphics on them.

If you want a quality helmet from a recognised brand name you don’t need to spend the earth as there is a fantastic array of choices out there. MCN’s expert testers take the pick of the sub £300 crop to task, plus we’ve added some essential buying information and handy tips.

Our Black Friday and clearance deal top picks

50% off HJC F70 Carbon – was £399.99, now £199.99

35% off Shark S900 Dual Special Edition – was £199.99, now £129.99

33% off HJC CS-15 – was £89.99, now £59.99

Also consider these

The important questions

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 22.05

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 22-05 printed on them, usually at the back of the lid.

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.

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.