Best Cheap Motorcycle Helmet

When you ride a motorcycle, you should never be without your helmet, especially on the open road and on longer trips. Not only can it save your life in the event of an impact, but it can also protect your eyes.

Some riders, however, need more cost-efficient products than others do, as any rider knows just how pricey helmets can get. Whether you’re new to the motorcycle world, or you’re just trying to save some money, we can’t all afford a $500 helmet.

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Best Cheap Helmets List March 2021

With that in mind, when looking for the best cheap motorcycle helmet, there are some things you won’t want to be without.

You always need a good fit that doesn’t compromise your range of motion or line of sight, and, if your budget helmet has a visor, you want to make sure its user friendly and has some of the basic features you’ll want in a full face helmet. Special features can include anti-glare and anti-fog abilities, good ventilation, and any other features pertinent to your own use.

All five of these are good inexpensive motorcycle helmets that are at least DOT rated.

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Top 5 Best Budget Motorcycle Helmets

1. Bell Qualifier Helmet
2. HJC CL-Max 3 Helmet
3. Scorpion EXO-R420 Helmet
4. Bell Custom 500 Helmet
5. Bell Pit Boss Helmet

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Bell Qualifier Helmet Review – Best Value Motorcycle Helmet

You’re likely to get your money’s worth with the Bell Qualifier, which comes with excellent features and a great price range. An aerodynamic shell offers decreased drag while the QuickRelease shield lets you swap out face shields in no time flat.

This lightweight helmet comes in three different shell sizes (different from helmet sizes), which is pretty good for such an inexpensive helmet. The interior can be removed for washing and resists bacteria. You can adjust the ventilation system, making the interior of this helmet cooler and more comfortable, and a wind collar reduces road noise.

Some of the more premium features of this helmet for the price point is the ability to add helmet speakers to your ride. If you enjoy adding speakers to your helmet, you’ll find the integrated speaker pockets a great addition. Cheek pads are contoured and the chin strap is padded, for extra comfort. Overall, features are distributed, as are comfort measures, for an excellent fit and performance for any rider.

Pros Include:

• Aerodynamics for stability
• Excellent ventilation system
• UV protected anti-fog, anti-scratch shield
• Five-year warranty

Cons Include:

• Loud at highway speeds
• Sizes run small
• Does not ship with a chin curtain
• Not eyeglass friendly

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HJC CL-Max 3 Helmet Review – Budget Modular Helmet

This entry-level modular helmet replaces the CL-Max 2 and is a great helmet for anyone who needs to stick to this particular price range. You only get one shell size, but the good news is, the liners come in 4 sizes for a better fit.

With an actuated internal sun visor, you can expect a little more weight, but the new vent design is cleaner and can be opened with just one hand.

This helmet breathes well, offering extra comfort, and stays cool even in warmer weather, as hot air is pushed out through the back vents. Any universal COM system can be used in the CL-Max 3, which replaces the Bluetooth compatibility, opening up your option range in this area. This helmet meets or exceeds the standards set out by the DOT.

Pros Include:

• Polycarbonate Composite Shell
• SuperCool interior with moisture-wicking fabric
• Glasses friendly
• Pinlock face shield with 95% UV protection

Cons Include:

• Can be very loud at highway speeds
• Buffeting at high speeds
• Gets foggy in colder weather without the pinlock addition
• Pads are initially stiff

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Scorpion EXO-R420 Helmet – Cheap Aerodynamic Motorcycle Helmet

The Scorpion EXO-R420 is a light, polycarbonate that offers updated vents and fits the common intermediate oval head shape. This is an upgrade from the round shape of the 410 predecessors and will likely fit far more riders.

The visor offers a strong center lock update that can be opened by either hand, and it offers a better seal against the weather with the spring loaded action. The back vent is integrated into the aerodynamic profile and pulls in no water. It does, however, pull the air over your head on its way out, offering cooler comfort.

A huge plus of this helmet is its SNELL rating, so you can take it to the track. It’s probably the cheapest motorcycle helmet you will find with a SNELL rating.

Pros Include:

• Face shield with complete UV protection
• Anti-microbial, washable fabric insert
• Two shell sizes
• Speaker pockets
• SNELL rated

Cons Include:

• Loud at high speeds
• Bugs get caught in the front vent
• Ventilation is lacking if you stop moving, hot
• Snug going on but fits well once in place

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Bell Custom 500 Helmet Review – Budget 3/4 Motorcycle Helmet

The legendary Custom 500 is now new and improved featuring a new head form with a better fit. It actually looks even smaller than before while you’re wearing it, which improves aerodynamics even in this price range category.

With five shell sizes and five EPS liner sizes, you’ll get the lowest profile look of all. A rustic five-snap pattern works for integrating aftermarket visors and shields and everything is protected by a five-year warranty.

Pros Include:

• Five shell and EPS sizes
• Padded chin strap
• Stainless steel D-ring closure
• Improved lower profile

Cons Include:

• Overheats due to no ventilation
• Not glasses friendly
• Too much lift at high speeds on an open bike
• Loud at highway speeds

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Bell Pit Boss Helmet Review – Cheap 1/2 Motorcycle Helmet

The Bell Pit Boss helmet offers an excellent design that is DOT compliant while still looking and feeling good when worn. With specialized dial technology, you can actually hone in on the specific circumference size you need to avoid lift. A zippered cold weather neck liner is fleece lined and easy to remove and replace.

A lot of DOT compliant half-helmets often get accused of giving you “mushroom head” but that isn’t the case with this low-profile setup. Since you can remove the neck curtain in addition to having two different shell sizes, you get a lower profile that helps alleviate the bobble-head aspect of the half helmet.

Pros Include:

• Lightweight composite shell (A combination of Kevlar, Carbon, and Fiberglass)
• Two shell sizes
• Internal sun shade system
• Speaker pockets

Cons Include:

• Heavy for a half helmet
• No ventilation
• Liner is not removable
• Low-quality pull-down visor

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My Vote for Best Budget Motorcycle Helmet

What is the best budget motorcycle helmet? Here, the Bell Qualifier Helmet is definitely coming away with a win. If you’re looking for the best cheap full face motorcycle helmet, the Bell Qualifier is it.

The aerodynamics offers great stability, less lift, and buffeting, and just feels better on the open road. Also, it is might cheap for a name-brand full face motorcycle helmet.

The ventilation is more than adequate, and so is the visor, which can be upgraded later to a Bell Transitions screen. Featuring 95% UV protection with anti-fog and anti-scratch qualities, it’s definitely what it might get put through over the course of an entire season. The inner lining is removable and offers moisture-wicking, antibacterial specs that keep it fresher longer, especially since you can just toss in the washing machine.

While it is a little louder than most riders prefer at highway speeds, you’re kind of guaranteed that at any helmet in this price point. For the money, the features, and the good looks, the Bell Qualifier gets dibs for the best lid.

If you want the extra protection rating, you can’t go wrong with the Scorpion EXO. That Snell rating will get you out on the track for a very cheap price.