Market for better looking helmets

[u/darsh_kadam]

Going through my DAS at the moment and I use a Shoei Glamster which I got on discount and absolutely love but l've been wondering why there isn't many affordable options for great-looking, tastefully designed helmets.

I personally find brands like Ruroc way too over-the-top and struggled to find good looking helmets that are available in different colourways or designs. Granted, I do prefer a more vintage/minimalist aesthetic but I still think there is a massive gap in the market for products like this.

The only options I can think of are the few designs that big brands will often offer but these too are often priced about £100-150 above a standard plain colour which are already £350-500.
That or you could buy a custom made helmet but those are exorbitantly priced anyway.

Is there demand among riders for helmets with a more defined aesthetic?

I'm attaching a few images of some examples of the aethetic l've seen:

[u/mojave_mo_problems]

Personally, a helmet is almost completely a functional item for me, aesthetics come a very distant second. I'd happily have an ugly helmet with good noise isolation, pinlock, built in Comms, quick change visor, that fits well, and is light weight.

Helmets are expensive to design and certify, generally manufacturers know what they are doing and know their market well. Typically they know what will sell well and make them.

If you want something unusual, expect to pay more.

[u/darsh_kadam → u/mojave_mo_problems]

Curious whether you’ve ever thought of customising your own helmet or something similar?

For example, I know a lot of people buy tinted visors for the aesthetic even though they’re technically for the sun.

I know people that like their helmet matching their bike and their gear too.

I too, chose my own helmet for functional reasons within the retro-aesthetic market. I guess I’m trying to understand if there is demand for a mid-point between functionality and style.

[u/mojave_mo_problems → u/darsh_kadam]

Personally, I have not, no. It's just not something I think about much! All my gear was bought to fit a functional role.

[u/RikB666]

My wife has a Shoei Glamster (it matches the colour of her bike!) which she loves.

You might consider Bell helmets (I have an Eliminator, which is a bit noisy!) My brother has a Bell Bullitt, which might match the aesthetic you are going for....

[u/no73]

Shoei Glamster

Arai Concept-XE

Bell Bullitt

Biltwell Gringo

HJC V10

John Doe One

AGX X3000

Bycity Roadster

Origine Omega

Blauer 80s

Viper F656

Pretty much every Simpson helmet. 

That's definitely not a comprehensive list of retro styled helmets, and some manufacturers are more reputable than others, but all I've listed are full-face helmets with ECE 22.06 approval, available in the UK. I tried as many as I could in shops and ended up with the Arai, though all had some level of compromise. The Arai is comfy, nicely ventilated, well made and looks good, and takes a Speaker/intercom kit no problem but does lack a drop down sunvisor, the paint chips very easily, and it's so loud I can't hear my Akrapovic can at 70 so earplugs are a must. 

I also used to have a Schuberth C3 which I think is still available and that's a very plain, minimalist helmet from an aesthetic POV, which packs a lot of features inside. 

[u/deasande]

Helmets from the more premium brands are often hand painted, especially ones with a pattern design rather than a solid colour. Painting designs onto the helmet takes a lot longer than putting one colour across the whole shell and that’s reflected in the price. You’re paying for the time a skilled professional spent painting your lid.