The dealer told me he could easily give me a deal on a helmet, and the sales manager was even giving away some of the less expensive Arais. Assuming that it's DOT an SNELL rated, does it still probably offer the same protection as the more expensive helmets, or am I just paying for extra comfort/aesthetic features?

This issue has been debated in this thread:

http://www.honda599.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=767&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=helmets&start=0

In my opinion, and according to an article that was linked in the thread, the safety of the helmets are all pretty much on par with each other. Most of the extra cost goes towards comfort and the name brand.

Yep... protection isnt the issue. Its going to come down to what fits better, more breathable, better sheilds, better designs... etc.

Remember to buy a helmet that is very snug, they break in quite a bit and will be loose if you buy one that fits comfortably when new.

Wait a minute. Let's be clear now. A helmet should always be "comfortable" even though it's snug. Tight does not mean uncomfortable. Let's not lead any new riders to think that a pressure spot, for example, is going to go away in time. It won't.

The rule of thumb is to put on a helmet and wear it for at least a half an hour around the store to ensure it does not hurt. If it starts to pinch or throb somewhere, it does not fit at that spot.

On the other hand, a helmet should have no slop at all, anywhere. If you can move it from side to side on your head, it's too loose.

Many helmets have changeable pads, particularly cheek pads, that can help adjust the fit a bit. I like a very snug fit myself and I changed out the stock Arai pads for tighter ones - I could barely close my mouth without biting myself at first, but they did break in a bit and now they are perfect. :) I feel very secure in that helmet.

So... get what's comfortable and fits snug... got it... I think I'm still going to be on the Shoei/Arai side of the fence, though... just makes me feel better, and I know wore at least one Arai that felt good...

If you feel good in an Arai you probably won't feel good in a Shoei. They tend to fit rather different heads. I wore a Shoei for a long while and it never quite fit -- and then I found out how well an Arai Quantum fit. Revelation! I'm on my second.

Also, keep in mind that different Arai and Shoei models have slightly different fits from other models within the same brands. So if one Arai fits almost perfectly, try another and see if it is even better. Same with Shoei.

By the way, Scorpion helmets are not expensive but everyone I know who has one says they are excellent. So do not just go for the expensive ones - try on all sorts of helmets and see for yourself. As long as it has the DOT label it is going to be ok.

On the other hand, a helmet should have no slop at all, anywhere. If you can move it from side to side on your head, it's too loose.

A-ha! So my helmet is too big! Thanks, Sachi. You just gave me the justification to go buy a new helmet! :o

I'm only half kidding here. Actually, I was sort of wondering if it was too big. If I turn my head at any decent speed, I can feel it shifting ever so slightly. Not a great feeling. :( And I did see another lid I'd like to have.

I just bought this Shoei yesterday morning. Woo-hoo! I've had my eye on it for over 6 months now. I haven't had a chance to try it out on the road yet, but I'm curious to see how it feels compared to my past cheapie helmets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/DarkTint/Random/Shoei1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/DarkTint/Random/Shoei3.jpg

Nice, man... I'm loving it...

Gorgeous lid! Is that an X-11?

I just bought this Shoei yesterday morning.
Nice! The colors kinda remind me of your avatar. :thumbsup

Gorgeous lid! Is that an X-11?

No, it's the RF-1000. At my local Cycle Gear shop it retails for $450 but I had a 20% off coupon, so I didn't think it was a bad deal at all. And FYI, the salesman told me that this week all RF-1000's are 15% off. Might be worth checking out if you've got a Cycle Gear in your area. http://www.cyclegear.com/

Gorgeous lid! Is that an X-11?

No, it's the RF-1000. At my local Cycle Gear shop it retails for $450 but I had a 20% off coupon, so I didn't think it was a bad deal at all. And FYI, the salesman told me that this week all RF-1000's are 15% off. Might be worth checking out if you've got a Cycle Gear in your area. http://www.cyclegear.com/
I just bought an RF-1000 2 weeks ago. My 2nd one. My favorite helmet. Light, comfortable, sharp looking, and great visor system. Good choice!

I finally got to try out the new Shoei today. I put on 70+ miles, and compared to my old $100 Vega, the differences are:

1. The seal around the visor is 100% better. If you close it while rolling, it kind of feels like a vacuum lock.
2. Weight. The Shoei is noticeably lighter, and after the ride I had zero neck fatigue, which I did get with my old helmets.
3. Stability. It seems like a better all-around aerodynamic design compared to cheaper helmets. I think the fin on the back of the helmet helps a lot with this.
4. Noise. It's still a helmet, and it's still not silent, but it's a lot less "chaotic" wind noise, for lack of a better word. It's more constant. I think the seal around the visor helps with this a lot.

All in all, I plan on having this helmet for a long, long time. I love it, and will be buying "quality" helmets from now on.

Also, this is my 4th motorcycle helmet, and my first one with a tinted visor. The visor kicks ass! No more scratching my face trying to squeeze sunglasses inside the helmet!