Most motorcycle riders tend to think that you should avoid the cheapest motorcycle helmets altogether. While it takes a bit of time to filter out the really bad ones from the good ones, there is a fairly sizeable number of awesome sub-$200 motorcycle helmets. To prove this point, we have a list of the best motorcycle helmets under $200 for you right here!
If you are in a rush, here is a breakdown table of each helmet from this list, along with the reason why it was picked for this list!
| Image | Helmet | Picked For | Product Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Bell Qualifier DLX | Best Feature Package | Check Price |
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Scorpion EXO-R420 | Safest Motorcycle Helmet Under $200 | Check Price |
 |
AGV K1 | Best Race Motorcycle Helmet Under $200 | Check Price |
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HJC CL-17 | Most Balanced Motorcycle Helmet Under $200 | Check Price |
 |
LS2 Stream | Best For City Ride Experience | Check Price |
 |
LS2 Horizon | Best Modular Crash Helmet Under $200 | Check Price |
 |
Biltwell Bonanza | Best Open-Face Helmet Under $200 | Check Price |
 |
Icon Airform | Best Design Under $200 | Check Price |
 |
HJC i70 | Runner-Up For Best Feature Package Under $200 | Check Price |
Without further ado, let’s dive into each one of these five helmets under 200 bucks!
Table of Contents
1) Bell Qualifier DLX – Best Feature Package
Bell Qualifier DLX is certainly one of the best motorcycle helmets under $200 because it offers tons of value for such a price tag. It’s well-vented, has an amazing visor, is comfortable, albeit its safety levels are nothing to write home about. Let’s take a brief dive into this full-face motorcycle helmet under $200!
Shell, Weight & Safety
First things first – this is a full-face polycarbonate helmet that weighs 1,56 kg (3,44 pounds), which is slightly above average. As this is a polycarbonate helmet, don’t expect top results when it comes to safety – it has DOT and ECE ratings, along with a 3-star SHARP rating.
Vision
One of the main selling points of the Qualifier DLX is its photochromic reactive visor. Basically, this visor reacts to sunlight getting into your face, and adjusts the shading accordingly, which is extra cool!
Also, when the night falls, the visor will be clear enough for you to see in the dark! Sadly, this visor has no Pinlock support but has some anti-fog coatings.
Ventilation
The ventilation scheme on the Bell Qualifier DLX full-face helmet is very impressive. There is a pair of actuated chin vents, four actuated vents above the visor, two actuated top vents, and four passive exhaust vents.
While this vent scheme is pretty good at cooling you down in summer, the vents above the visor could use some work to prevent fogging. Due to a high number of vents, this helmet is noisier than average.
Here are some more Bell helmet reviews!
Comfort
The interior of the Qualifier DLX is nothing out of the ordinary. You have a removable and washable inner liner with adjustable cheek pads that feel quite comfortable. Still, the inner lining feels cheap and you can sometimes feel the plastic that is there to secure the inner liner in the helmet shell.
Summary
Overall, the Bell Qualifier DLX is an amazing helmet when you consider its price of $160/£116. It doesn’t come without its faults, but what did you expect for such a motorcycle helmet under $200?
PROS
- Awesome reactive visor
- Solid vent scheme
- Feels quite comfortable
- Awesome balance of cost and value
CONS
- Not the safest helmet
- Noisier than average
- Inner liner feels cheap
- No Pinlock support
2) Scorpion EXO-R420 – Safest Motorcycle Helmet Under $200
Next up on our list of best motorcycle helmets under $200 is the Scorpion EXO-R420, a budget all-rounder helmet clearly inspired by race helmet aesthetics. Let’s take a brief dive and see what it brings from the motorcycle race track world!
Shell, Weight & Safety
First up is the polycarbonate shell that weighs 1,7 kg (3,75 pounds), which is heavier than average. Thankfully, the helmet is quite safe due to the Snell and DOT ratings (no sight of ECE rating yet, though!).
Vision
EXO-R420 comes with a clear face shield that isn’t Pinlock-ready but comes with a proprietary, Ever Clear anti-fog coating. This fog coating works well until it gets too cold, so take heed of that.
Here are more Scorpion helmet reviews!
The visor comes with a nice sealing that protects against wind, water, and other elements. Also, the vertical vision of this helmet feels like on a race helmet, even though EXO-R420 isn’t a true race helmet.
Ventilation
The vent scheme of the Scorpion EXO-R420 is pretty straightforward:
- Actuated chin vent
- Toggleable top vent
- Passive rear exhaust vent
Now, the chin vent has a 3-way switch that toggles it between closed, visor vent, and face vent states. It works great compared to the top vent, which only ventilates well if you’re in a tuck position on your bike. At least this helmet isn’t so noisy as the Bell Qualifier DLX helmet.
Comfort
As with every Scorpion helmet, the EXO-R420 comes with the Kwikwick II inner liner, which is moisture-wicking, washable, and surprisingly very plush. Actually, it’s one of the most comfortable motorcycle helmets in the sub-$200 price range.
Summary
In summary, Scorpion EXO-R420 is a budget helmet for all those who want to look like the MotoGP track stars. Apart from looks, this $150/£108 motorcycle helmet is very comfortable, safe, and is a great all-rounder helmet for those on a restricted budget.
PROS
- One of the safest sub-$200 helmets
- Cool clear face shield
- Simple yet effective vent scheme
- Very comfortable to wear for extended rides
CONS
- Heavier than average
- No Pinlock support
- Top vent is useless if not in tuck riding position
3) AGV K1 – Best Race Motorcycle Helmet Under $200
AGV K1 is yet another one of the race track-inspired helmets on our best motorcycle helmets under the $200 list. It’s comfortable, has fairly nice ventilation, and is an overall solid helmet for such a low price tag. Let’s learn more about it in the next paragraphs!
Shell, Weight & Safety
This full-face motorcycle helmet has a thermoplastic shell that weighs 1,52 kg (3,3 pounds). When it comes to its safety, there is only the DOT safety certificate, so we are pretty uncertain how safe is this motorcycle helmet. We can say for sure that it isn’t safe as its siblings (AGV Pista GP-RR and Corsa).
Vision
From the visibility standpoint, the K1 is first and foremost a racing helmet – its visor is wide and tall to provide amazing peripheral vision. It also has a quick-release mechanism to simplify the visor replacement process. We also love that this visor is Pinlock-ready, and has different detents for various riding positions. Keep in mind that this visor will fog up easily if stopped, especially when it’s cold outside.
Ventilation
The AGV K1 budget motorcycle helmet has two actuated chin vents and three actuated forehead vents. This one also has the proprietary Integrated Ventilation System that produces the Venturi effect, making AGV K1 a very aerodynamic helmet. Due to the shape of the helmet and its vent scheme, this one is a fairly quiet helmet compared to others on this list.
Comfort
On the insides of the AGV K1, you can find the Dri-Lex fabric that is fully removable and washable. It’s a very comfortable interior that will make even the longest rides more comfortable!
Summary
Overall, AGV K1 carries its brand name proudly even though it costs only $200/£145. If looking for one of the quietest and cheapest race motorcycle helmets, this one might scratch that itch.
PROS
- Amazing peripheral vision
- Pinlock-ready visor
- Visor has different detents
- Very aerodynamic and quiet
- Comfortable for long rides
CONS
- Questionable safety levels
- Visor fogs up easily if stopped on cold days
4) HJC CL-17 – Most Balanced Motorcycle Helmet Under $200
HJC is well-known for making high-quality budget motorcycle helmets, so it’s no wonder one of their helmets made it onto our list! Their CL-17 might be old, but it’s still a bang for your buck nevertheless. Let’s dive into the nuances of this cheap full-face motorcycle helmet!
Shell, Weight & Safety
This is a full-face polycarbonate helmet that weighs 1,75 kg (3,9 pounds). Yes, it’s a bit heavy, but at least it makes up for that with its safety levels! HJC CL-17 comes with Snell M2015 and DOT ratings, meaning this is a very safe motorcycle helmet.
The face shield on the HJC CL-17 is pretty wide, offering plenty of peripheral vision. It has a quick-release system, is Pinlock-ready, and has several detents with an opening tab on the left to make it more convenient.
Check out more HJC helmet reviews!
Ventilation
HJC CL-17 does ventilation pretty well, with a chin vent, brow vents, two vents on the top, two passive jaw vents, and a passive rear vent. The top vents work pretty well in conjunction with the exhaust vents, while the chin vents aren’t the best when it comes to demisting. Keep in mind that this helmet is fairly loud due to all these exhaust vents.
Comfort
When it comes to the comfort factor, if you have a rounded head shape, you will feel very comfy wearing the CL-17. The inner lining is removable and washable, with pretty plush cheek pads.
Summary
Overall, the HJC CL-17 is a well-balanced helmet that is a great pick if you value safety combined with nice ventilation and visibility. It’s also the cheapest helmet on our list right now priced at $112/£81.
PROS
- Extra cheap
- Snell and DOT ratings
- Pinlock-ready
- Plenty of peripheral vision
- Nice ventilation
CONS
- Pretty heavy
- Chin vents could be better
- Very loud
- Comfortable for rounded head shapes
5) LS2 Stream – Best For City Ride Experience
We’ve had to include the LS2 Stream, a nice low-budget pick from the Chinese motorcycle helmet manufacturer on our list of the best motorcycle helmets under $200. You might think if it’s made in China that it might be low-quality, but that’s not the case here!
Shell, Weight & Safety
The LS2 Stream is a polycarbonate full-face helmet that weighs 1,5 kg (3,4 pounds). It has DOT and ECE 22.05 safety ratings, along with a 3-star SHARP rating. When it comes to safety, it’s pretty average.
Check out more LS2 helmet reviews!
Vision
When it comes to the visibility aspect, the LS2 Stream has a clear face shield and a drop-down sun visor. The clear face shield is optically correct and Pinlock-ready. It practically has infinite detents but tends to close shut when in a mid-open position. So, it’s basically either fully open or closed. Also, the locking mechanism is pretty nice but can tamper with the chin vent.
The drop-down sun visor is operated with a lever on the left shield pivot. It provides great sun ray protection but doesn’t get low enough for many riders. Well, it’s hard to design a drop-down sun visor that will fit all the riders without touching their noses!
Ventilation
The vent scheme of the LS2 Stream motorcycle helmet is fairly simple:
- Actuated chin vent
- Two actuated top vents
These three vents are fairly easy to use but don’t pump out enough air to cool you during scorching days or to defog the visor during chilly days. But, for daily commutes, the vent scheme should serve you just fine.
Comfort
LS2 Stream fits riders with long oval heads the best, even though it will fit pretty tight when you first put it on. The inner liner is removable and washable and is pretty comfortable, with cutouts for glasses as a bonus. Also, there are speaker cutouts that are a bit small, to be honest.
Summary
Overall, LS2 Stream is a great value for money, especially if you mostly ride in a city environment. It will cost you only $130/£94.
PROS
- Comes with a Pinlock-ready clear face shield and drop-down sun visor
- Average safety
- Pretty comfortable
- Comes with speaker and glasses cutouts
CONS
- Face shield can practically stay fully open or closed
- Sun visor doesn’t drop down enough
- Vent scheme could be better
6) LS2 Horizon – Best Modular Crash Helmet Under $200
Here is yet another motorcycle helmet from LS2 – the Horizon. LS2 Horizon modular motorcycle helmet pleasantly surprises with its sheer range of features that tailor to sport and touring riders. What’s it all about?
Shell, Weight & Safety
LS2 Horizon has a thermoplastic shell that weighs 1,79 kg (3,95 pounds), which is above average, even for a modular helmet. Still, this is a pretty safe modular helmet, as it comes with DOT and ECE safety ratings.
Vision
The clear face shield of the LS2 Horizon is optically correct and is Pinlock-ready. Sadly, it has no detents, only fully open or fully closed positions, which is a bummer. A great thing here is that the Pinlock insert comes in the packaging of the helmet
Another nice addition here is the drop-down sun visor that works fairly well. You can actuate it with a mechanism on the lower left part of the helmet shell.
Ventilation
The vent scheme is probably the best feature of the LS2 Horizon modular motorcycle helmet. In the front is the active chin vent, on the top is a two-position active vent with some nice air intakes at the crown. On the back of the helmet are passive vents that coupled with other vents create the Venturi effect and promote nice aerodynamic features.
The chin skirt is included and removable and helps filter out the wind noise from the helmet.
Comfort
The interior of the LS2 Horizon is very comfortable, and the helmet has an intermediate oval shape, which will fit most US riders. Its cheek pads are plush, and the inner liner will break into your face with regular use. There are speaker cutouts too for Bluetooth speakers.
Summary
Considering its price tag of $170/£125, this is one of the best modular motorcycle helmets under $200. Yes, LS2 Horizon is not flawless, but the number of features you get for such a low price will make every touring rider on a budget at least consider this lid.
PROS
- Comes with a Pinlock insert
- Included drop-down sun visor
- Very aerodynamic
- Chin skirt blocks out annoying wind noise
- Pretty comfortable to wear
CONS
- Heavier than average
- Visor has no detents
7) Biltwell Bonanza – Best Open Face Helmet Under $200
Coming up next to our list of best motorcycle helmets under $200 is the Biltwell Bonanza – the best open-face helmet in this price range. It’s a very cool-looking 3/4 motorcycle helmet that combines retro styling and modern features.
Shell, Weight & Safety
Biltwell Bonanza has a polystyrene inner shell that weighs roughly 1 kg (2,2 pounds). Its shell is not the most protective out there, even though this open-face lid has a DOT safety rating.
Visibility
When it comes to the visibility aspect, it’s safe to say that Biltwell Bonanza is consciously made for city rides. You see, this helmet has no visor, so it may not be such a good idea to ride out of the city with this lid.
Ventilation
There are no intake vents in the Biltwell Bonanza. You will feel this during the scorching summer days when there is a lack of airflow to the crown of your head. Still, your facial area will get decent airflow to get you by in such conditions.
Comfort
The best segment of the Biltwell Bonanza has to be its cheek pads. These are Lycra panels, and they are pretty good at dissipating sweat and moisture. The inner liner is hand-stitched and promotes breathability and comfort thanks to the open-cell foam padding.
Summary
Overall, Biltwell Bonanza is quite an average motorcycle helmet, but when you consider its price of $100/£73, you suddenly realize that it’s a true bargain. Yes, this jet helmet is made for city rides, but if you are such a rider and on a low budget, Biltwell Bonanza is a great choice indeed!
PROS
- Extra cheap
- Cool retro styling
- Very light
- Comfortable and breathable
- Solid face venting
CONS
- Comes with no face shield
- No intake vents
- Is not the most safest helmet out there
8) Icon Airform – Best Design
This entry-level, all-rounder full-face motorcycle helmet from Icon boasts its aggressive streetfighter styling. It’s a helmet that will turn some heads for sure, but does it pack some serious punch behind an aggressive look?
Shell, Weight & Safety
Icon Airform has a polycarbonate shell and weighs 1,7 kg (3,7 pounds), which is heavier than your average full-face lid. It meets or exceeds DOT and ECE safety ratings, which is fairly good.
Vision
The quick-release face shield works on a ratchet has an anti-fog coating, and is Pinlock-ready. It has an opening tab on the left side only, and we would prefer it on both sides for more convenience. Also, this face shield is distortion-free.
Check out our Icon Airform review for an extensive look!
Icon Airform comes with a drop-down sun visor too. You can push it down with a mechanism on the left side of the lid. Its efficiency is variable, as it may not come down enough for some riders. Also, it has no anti-fog coating, which would come in handy on rainy and colder days.
Ventilation
Icon Airform has two passive chin vents that provide nice airflow to your face. Still, they can let in bugs, and you won’t feel particularly warm in the winter months. Also, there is an actuated top vent behind the Icon logo that works pretty well at connecting with deep EPS grooves and getting that airflow all over your head.
This full-face lid is a bit noisier than average due to the always-open chin vents.
Comfort
The Airform sits between a medium oval and round shape, which should suit most riders out there. Inside the helmet is an average comfort liner that is antimicrobial, is easily removable with velcro and poppers, but isn’t the softest material out there. No glasses grooves here though, even though the shape of this helmet should accommodate glasses.
Summary
Overall, if looking for the coolest motorcycle helmets under $200, Icon Airform has got you covered for the price of $139/£102. It has a high-quality face shield and a sun visor, and its streetfighter look is something that will turn heads for sure!
PROS
- Epic aggressive styling
- Distortion-free face shield
- Comes with a drop-down sun visor
- Okay ventilation
- Comfortable for most riders
CONS
- Heavier than average
- Only one opening tab for visor
- Sun visor has no anti-fog coating
- Noisier than average
9) HJC i70 – Runner-Up For Best Feature Package Under $200
Last but not least is yet another entry from HJC – the i70 full-face motorcycle helmet. The thing with this one is that it’s a lovely all-rounder helmet with all the touring and street ride capabilities, just at the right price tag.
Shell, Weight & Safety
HJC i70 is a polycarbonate full-face helmet that weighs 1,59 kg (3,5 pounds). Don’t be fooled by its shell material, it has a 4-star SHARP rating along with the DOT and ECE safety ratings. Hence, it’s a pretty safe lid.
Vision
The face shield is pretty wide, has a quick-release mechanism, and is Pinlock-ready. It has 6 detents and a central locking mechanism to prevent air from getting in.
Along with the clear face shield, HJC has included a drop-down sun visor too! You can actuate it with a mechanism on the bottom left, and the sun visor drops down reasonably low – without touching your nose.
Ventilation
When it comes to ventilation, HJC i70 has the following:
- Actuated twin chin vent
- Two actuated crown vents
- Top twin exhaust vent on the rear
- Exhaust on the back of the helmet
Now, the venting is pretty average for all the vents instead of the chin vent. It could definitely use some work, as it doesn’t work well at defogging the visor without Pinlock. Regarding noise, the HJC i70 is pretty good at blocking the noise, but make sure to invest in a decent pair of earplugs to protect your hearing!
Comfort
HJC i70 comes with a fully removable and comfortable inner liner that is quite comfortable. It does come with speaker pockets too. Keep in mind that the speaker cutouts are not too deep, so not all Bluetooth speakers will fit in. Also, the glasses grooves are inside for more convenience.
HJC i70 has a medium oval shape, so if you have such a head shape, you will feel quite comfortable with this lid on.
Summary
In summary, we think that the HJC i70 is a true bargain, starting right at $200/£147 price tag. It has a wide clear face shield, a solid sun visor, is not too noisy, and is pretty comfortable. Yes, this one is a bang for your buck, and a worthy addition to our list of best crash helmets under 200 bucks.
PROS
- Pretty safe helmet
- Nice peripheral vision
- Sun visor works flawlessly
- Great noise suppression
- Quite comfortable
CONS
- Chin vent could use some work
- Speaker cutouts are not deep enough
Best Motorcycle Helmets Under $200 In Photos!
Here are some killer photos of the best motorcycle helmets under 200 bucks from our list!
AGV K1 
Bell Qualifier DLX 
HJC CL-17 
LS2 Stream 
Scorpion EXO-R420 
Biltwell Bonanza 
HJC i70 
Icon Airform 
LS2 Horizon
Closing Words
As we finish up with our list of best motorcycle helmets under $200, what would be the best pick from the bunch?
We would bet on the Scorpion EXO-R420 if you had to ask us. Most of that decision is based on just how safe that helmet is for such a low price. Also, it has a few very nice features that make it even more valuable than what Scorpion is asking you for. But, every helmet on this list is best for some reason, so make sure to take that into consideration too!
If you are interested in more helmet reviews, check out our motorcycle helmet reviews section to find the best fit for your needs!
