Why spend thousands of Zars on a helmet?

[Dicky DQ]

Original discussion split from this thread: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/162153-kask-crash-replacement-policy/

Question, and no one can answer me this: why spend thousands of Zars on a helmet?

 

A R 500.00 helmet will give you exactly the same crash protection ans a R 10,000.00 helmet they al have to conform to set standards. I think it is a 2 m drop on flat surface and 1.2m on corner like curbstone or rock. That is from standstill. So even the cheapest helmet that conforms is good enough.

 

So why pay more?

For Image?

Comfort (this will be head shape dependent not brand)?

 

I have an awesome helmet that costs about R 650.00 when the pads are miff I buy a new one as it is cheaper than trying to replace pads on normal helmets.

 

So what is the bitch here, I got a fancy pansy image lid and now I want them to replace it at 50% because I could not ride a bike. Bah humbug. Take your medicine.

[Butterbean]

Question, and no one can answer me this: why spend thousands of Zars on a helmet?

 

A R 500.00 helmet will give you exactly the same crash protection ans a R 10,000.00 helmet they al have to conform to set standards. I think it is a 2 m drop on flat surface and 1.2m on corner like curbstone or rock. That is from standstill. So even the cheapest helmet that conforms is good enough.

 

So why pay more?

For Image?

Comfort (this will be head shape dependent not brand)?

 

I have an awesome helmet that costs about R 650.00 when the pads are miff I buy a new one as it is cheaper than trying to replace pads on normal helmets.

 

So what is the bitch here, I got a fancy pansy image lid and now I want them to replace it at 50% because I could not ride a bike. Bah humbug. Take your medicine.

That's a super appropriate name.

 

But for reals, I have gone from cheap helmets from Scott and others, to my current kask mojito, and the difference is not in safety. I feel as sage in each one. However, comfort, cooling, sweat management, and longevity is the major difference. I don't care how I look, I'm worries about comfort. And there are few helmets, never mind cheap ones, that are as comfy as my kask.

[The expat cyclist]

Someone once told me: if you have a head worth R500, then a R500 helmet is fine.

[Danger Dassie]

Question, and no one can answer me this: why spend thousands of Zars on a helmet?

 

A R 500.00 helmet will give you exactly the same crash protection ans a R 10,000.00 helmet they al have to conform to set standards. I think it is a 2 m drop on flat surface and 1.2m on corner like curbstone or rock. That is from standstill. So even the cheapest helmet that conforms is good enough.

 

So why pay more?

For Image?

Comfort (this will be head shape dependent not brand)?

 

I have an awesome helmet that costs about R 650.00 when the pads are miff I buy a new one as it is cheaper than trying to replace pads on normal helmets.

 

So what is the bitch here, I got a fancy pansy image lid and now I want them to replace it at 50% because I could not ride a bike. Bah humbug. Take your medicine.

 

Well firstly haven't seen any helmets costing 10k, other than motorbike helmets. Even lower priced helmets are more around the R800 mark while some of the more expensive helmets come in around 4k tops.

 

Safety standards set are minimum standards to be met and there are technologies out there on more expensive helmets that offer more protective aspects. Like having a kevlar skeleton within the moulding of a helmet, or the MIPs inner for example. 

Then obviously this combined with ventilation, fit and weight etc. 

 

So yes, essentially they all do the same thing, but are not the same helmet. Judging people based on their purchasing decisions be it the low or high is actually a dick move. Most people would have a bitch with that.

[Dicky DQ]

That's a super appropriate name.

 

But for reals, I have gone from cheap helmets from Scott and others, to my current kask mojito, and the difference is not in safety. I feel as sage in each one. However, comfort, cooling, sweat management, and longevity is the major difference. I don't care how I look, I'm worries about comfort. And there are few helmets, never mind cheap ones, that are as comfy as my kask.

What I have seen is that, in general, most image conscious cyclists will never even consider an economical helmet at all. Even if you say the purchasing decision is based on fit, form, function comfort etc.

 

The "cheapies" never even get tested for the above. Well not the people I know, which is strange a the vast majority bitch about entry fees being too high. 

 

This is why bike components cost what they do; because people pay for the image/brand name. none more so than cyclists.

[tubed]

Question, and no one can answer me this: why spend thousands of Zars on a helmet?

 

A R 500.00 helmet will give you exactly the same crash protection ans a R 10,000.00 helmet they al have to conform to set standards. I think it is a 2 m drop on flat surface and 1.2m on corner like curbstone or rock. That is from standstill. So even the cheapest helmet that conforms is good enough.

 

So why pay more?

For Image?

Comfort (this will be head shape dependent not brand)?

 

I have an awesome helmet that costs about R 650.00 when the pads are miff I buy a new one as it is cheaper than trying to replace pads on normal helmets.

 

So what is the bitch here, I got a fancy pansy image lid and now I want them to replace it at 50% because I could not ride a bike. Bah humbug. Take your medicine.

truth

[Eugene]

What I have seen is that, in general, most image conscious cyclists will never even consider an economical helmet at all. Even if you say the purchasing decision is based on fit, form, function comfort etc.

 

The "cheapies" never even get tested for the above. Well not the people I know, which is strange a the vast majority bitch about entry fees being too high.

 

This is why bike components cost what they do; because people pay for the image/brand name. none more so than cyclists.

Isn't this the story of life. People buy expensive helmets for the same reason we buy expensive cars, the biggest house possible and yes, that carbon mountain bike.

 

Does a person's wife need a R30k wedding ring, when a R500 will do.

 

We, as humans like nice things. And be honest,a R4000 helmet looks and fits nicer than a R500 one.

 

Me personally, I am tight with my money, so I have the cheaper one.

[Goblin]

Question, and no one can answer me this: why spend thousands of Zars on a helmet?

 

A R 500.00 helmet will give you exactly the same crash protection ans a R 10,000.00 helmet they al have to conform to set standards. I think it is a 2 m drop on flat surface and 1.2m on corner like curbstone or rock. That is from standstill. So even the cheapest helmet that conforms is good enough.

 

So why pay more?

For Image?

Comfort (this will be head shape dependent not brand)?

 

I have an awesome helmet that costs about R 650.00 when the pads are miff I buy a new one as it is cheaper than trying to replace pads on normal helmets.

 

So what is the bitch here, I got a fancy pansy image lid and now I want them to replace it at 50% because I could not ride a bike. Bah humbug. Take your medicine.

Comfort, the looks of mtb helmets all make your head look like a mushroom.

There is a massive difference in comfort with a Helmet that weights 180g vs a Helmet that weighs 300 +.

Although now I'm riding a scott watu  (weight in low 200 and comfortable) because I trashed to many specialized prevails (weight 180),price was less than 500 vs the 3500+ that a prevail now goes for.

I don't know of any others in this price range that weigh a similar amount. (I think the watu is an anomaly).

[bertusras]

Someone once told me: if you have a head worth R500, then a R500 helmet is fine.

 

Which is a ridiculous argument if the helmet has been tested and conforms to safety standards. Just because it's 10 times more expensive doesn't mean it's 10 times better (in terms of safety).

[V12man]

Which is a ridiculous argument if the helmet has been tested and conforms to safety standards. Just because it's 10 times more expensive doesn't mean it's 10 times better (in terms of safety).

True - but it might be 25% better and that might be the difference between being a gibbering idiot and the ceo ...

 

It is your money and your life - do with both as you please...

 

And I do have a Mohito too - as well as 4 bell helmets... all good for me.

[Edge_Design]

True - but it might be 25% better and that might be the difference between being a gibbering idiot and the ceo ...

 

It is your money and your life - do with both as you please...

 

And I do have a Mohito too - as well as 4 bell helmets... all good for me.

 

But are ALL R4k helmets 25% better? How many buyers really care when making a decision? 

 

Let's be honest here - 99% of cyclists pick the one that looks the best on the shelf. I wouldn't be surprised if most helmets are bought when they go on sale online and the buyer just takes a guess at the size (i.e. comfort and fit aren't really a factor). 

 

It's the same story as bikes - 99.9% of bikes are probably bought without test riding them or any alternatives, but the buyer will then swear it's the best bike in the world (probably because it makes them feel good/proud when riding it).

 

 

You have 5 different helmets and yet you can only say they MIGHT be 25% better.

 

Nothing personal - I also have a nice helmet and I certainly didn't choose it because of it's fantastic extra safety features (I bought it from a sale and guessed the size!).

[V12man]

 

You have 5 different helmets and yet you can only say they MIGHT be 25% better.

 

Nothing personal - I also have a nice helmet and I certainly didn't choose it because of it's fantastic extra safety features (I bought it from a sale and guessed the size!).

Well - I only say they might be 25% better - but nobody publishes the over performance on the specified tests... (if any) - those I might indeed read... (ok - I probably see more traumatic head injuries in a month than most people do in a lifetime)

 

The only reason I have a Kask is because I destroyed a bell... and I needed to race the next day... but it is super comfortable and I am still using it... along with the others...

 

Mostly I just stick to bell helmets because they have served me well in the past - and the crash replacement discount is nice to have, but not conducive to brand loyalty - walking away from a helmet destroying crash or two does....

[Spoke101]

For me it comes down to fit and it must fit like a glove thus straps undone head upside down and shake vigorously, if it stays on its good if not it's out., Then comfort is assessed, if I have to have it so tight that I get a headache in order for it to pass test one then it's no good. Then overall fit and coverage is assessed (I have a narrow head), so if I can fit my fingers between the helmet and my head with it on, no good as it will just rotate on my head in a crash. Then comes ventilation and looks. So I will pay as much is needed to get what will do the best job.

 

This is from someone who knows a lot about hitting the deck hard, just this year: 1st. Major whiplash (45km/h road bunch, broken ribs, internal bleeding) 2nd. Straight over the bars onto my head/face (60km/h road sprint deep facial laceration, shattered clavicle, broken ribs, internal bleeding) 3rd. Slow OTB onto my head (3km/h MTB, broken back, compression fractures and anterior wedging)

 

Oh and I have yet to find a R600/cheap helmet with MIPS

[Halfdoesyn]

For me it comes down to fit and it must fit like a glove thus straps undone head upside down and shake vigorously, if it stays on its good if not it's out., Then comfort is assessed, if I have to have it so tight that I get a headache in order for it to pass test one then it's no good. Then overall fit and coverage is assessed (I have a narrow head), so if I can fit my fingers between the helmet and my head with it on, no good as it will just rotate on my head in a crash. Then comes ventilation and looks. So I will pay as much is needed to get what will do the best job.

 

This is from someone who knows a lot about hitting the deck hard, just this year: 1st. Major whiplash (45km/h road bunch, broken ribs, internal bleeding) 2nd. Straight over the bars onto my head/face (60km/h road sprint deep facial laceration, shattered clavicle, broken ribs, internal bleeding) 3rd. Slow OTB onto my head (3km/h MTB, broken back, compression fractures and anterior wedging)

 

Oh and I have yet to find a R600/cheap helmet with MIPS

Dude, get some lessons.

 

*kidding*

[urbanroyal]

I bought a spez lid on sale.....that thing is so light and the ventilation so good. ..I sometimes reach out just to make sure the lid is still there. .feels like I'm riding without one...????

[The expat cyclist]

Which is a ridiculous argument if the helmet has been tested and conforms to safety standards. Just because it's 10 times more expensive doesn't mean it's 10 times better (in terms of safety).

R500 = conforms to safety standards

R1500 = exceeds safety standards