The Best Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets Under $500 For Beginners
Updated November 6, 2023 by Jared Northcott
Budget Helmets That Don't Cheap Out On Safety
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These are the best full-face motorcycle helmets for under $500:
While we here at BestBeginnerMotorcycles are of the “All The Gear, All The Time” (ATGATT) school of thought, we also realize for the beginner motorcyclist, sometimes all the gear can be a little pricey. This is tripled when it comes to helmets, as not only are they the single most important piece of gear, they’re often also the most expensive piece of gear.
In terms of protection, a full-face helmet is by far the preferred option. When compared to half helmets or three-quarter helmets, the biggest area of additional protection is the jaw. As well, by having the chin bar across the front, it connects the lower sides of the helmet, adding in exponentially stronger helmet strength.
As such, for this 2023 list, we’ve done the research, asked the manufacturers and retailers, and even gone out and tried on a lot of helmets to find out which ones are the best you can get for under $500. Another great list: the best modular helmets under $500.
About Our Selections
When it comes to recommending gear, we consider everything from safety certifications to ease of changing out a visor, and everything in between. To make it on this list, a helmet has to provide the best protection for its price above all else, with considerations given to ventilation, head shape, weight, and the like.
However, there is no "magic formula" that definitively says "Buy this helmet and disregard the rest." These selections are made with educated opinions, sometimes even on-head time with a review, but the best way to find which helmet works for you is to head down to your local gear shop and try a few on.
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AGV K1 S
An updated rider favorite
Why We Picked It:
AGV helmets have long been a stalwart in the world of racing. The new K1 S is the lowest priced helmet from AGV built with the benefit of that racing technology.
Made from HIR-TH (High Resistance Thermoplastic Resin) shell construction, and weighing just 3.5lbs. It comes in 2 shell sizes to cover the full range, and you will notice a slick rear spoiler formed into the shell. It is very stable and quiet much like the other helmets in the K series.
Visors are easy to change, and the moisture wicking liner is also easy to remove and clean. Typical of AGV the liner material is top notch and feels great against the skin.
Adding a communication system is no issue thanks to well designed speaker pockets. Overall nothing about the K1 S feels like an entry level sporty full face lid.
Where To Buy:
RevZilla | Amazon | SoloMoto
Key Specs:
Price: $219.95
Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Sizing: XS to 2XL
Safety: DOT and ECE 22.06
Our Review:
Read our full AGV K1/K1 S review
Ideal For:
Riders looking for a sport helmet that is quiet, light, and wearable all day long
Highlights:
HIR-TH (High Resistance Thermoplastic Resin) shell construction
2 shell sizes, 4 EPS sizes
Five adjustable front vents, all moving air to the two exhaust at the back of the helmet
Removable and washable liner
Scorpion EXO-ST1400 Carbon
A feature packed carbon helmet from Scorpion at their usual astonishingly budget price
Why We Picked It:
Once again Scorpion delivers a helmet that packs a lot of features for the $$$.
First off the shell is a resin-infused TCT-U™ 3K carbon fiber construction, made in 3-Shell sizes for a precision fit. It is light as you would expect from carbon fiber, but still better than I expected with all the features.
Inside is the luxurious Kwikwick® III liner, plenty of room for speakers thanks to the deep cutouts, and the AirFit® inflation cheek pads. The EXO-ST1400 has a well-formed neck roll and combined with the chin curtain, helped to block out wind noise and keep drafts from creeping up. A lot of features are good, but only if they are well-executed, and in this case, Scorpion has done a good job. The ventilation is good, the internal visor is dark enough, and the helmet is comfortable for hours of riding. All of this adds up to a well-sorted helmet designed for sport and sport-touring riders.
Where To Buy:
RevZilla | Amazon | SoloMoto
Key Specs:
Price: $429.95
Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
Weight: 3.34 lbs
Sizing: XS to 2XL
Safety: DOT and ECE 22.05
Our Review:
Read our full Scorpion EXO-ST1400 Carbon Caffeine review
Ideal For:
Riders looking for a carbon fiber helmet packed with features at a mid-range price
Highlights:
3K carbon fiber is the same strong but elastic material used in aircraft wings
Scorpion AirFit for perfect fit around cheeks and jaw
Integrated sun visor
Removable and washable KwikWick III liner
Ventilation is via dual ram-air intakes and a Venturi-effect exhaust
ICON Airflite MIPS Jewel
Multi-directional Impact Protection System, on a helmet under $500? You bet!
Why We Picked It:
To say that the ICON AirFlite helmet, in all its variations, is one of the rugged standards of less-expensive helmets is not pushing it too far. No matter if you have a first version or the latest version with the MIPS Jewel, it is just a good helmet for a good number of riders with intermediate oval-shaped heads.
What makes it stand out as one of the best in 2021 is that after a long time with just EPS foam, this 2021 and later editions now come with MIPS, which stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. So what does it do? MIPS almost like a scaffolding inside the helmet, that allows the head to rotate a few millimeters before the helmet itself takes over. This small amount of motion is enough to act as a sort of shock absorber for the brain, giving it enough time to start to rotate before the full force of an impact is transferred through the helmet.
Combined with the injection-molded polycarbonate shell and multi-layer EPS foam, this helmet provides, for the price, excellent impact mitigation. On top of that, being part of the ICON Air-series of helmets, it has a lot of ventilation. Two top-mounted intakes feed a series of ventilation channels, while the chin air intake feeds both cooling air down the lower part of the helmet, while also feeding fresh air for the rider to breathe. All of that air is exhausted through two oversize exhausts below the rear mini-spoiler.
The visor is the only really controversial part of the helmet, as some like it, some hate it. The fact that you get a clear faceplate and a dark smoke faceplate in the box, as well as a fog-free drop-down sun visor inside the helmet, it just all adds up to make the $330 asking price seem a bargain. As well, the helmet is part of ICON’s “world certification program,” meaning it conforms to DOT 218 (US), ECE 22-05 (EU), and other certifications from around the world.
Where To Buy:
RevZilla | Amazon | SoloMoto
Key Specs:
Price: $330.00
Head Shape: Long Oval
Weight: 3.61 lbs
Sizing: XS to 3XL
Safety: DOT and ECE 22.05
Our Review:
Read our full ICON Airflite (non-MIPS) review
Ideal For:
Riders looking for a helmet that comes with MIPS without breaking its budget price point
Highlights:
Polycarbonate shell backed by multi-layer, multi-density EPS foam
Multi-directional Impact Protection System to help prevent brain injuries during a crash
Two crown vents and one permanently open chin vent, exhausting out of two rear vents
Removable and washable liner
Quick-change visors with multiple color and surface types, all treated on the interior with an anti-fog coating
Sedici Strada II Solid & Strada II Primo
Two helmet models that feature one major and one minor difference between the two
Why We Picked It:
For the beginner riders that will be looking more towards the sports side of things, maybe even graduating into supersports down the road, this is the first helmet you will want to have. Sedici has two versions of the Strada II, with two important differences. What is not different is the construction of both, with proprietary fiberglass weaved in with aramid fibers creating a super strong, yet lightweight, shell. This is backed with dual-density EPS, with multiple ventilation channels.
The differences between the helmets are important, although one is quite minor, the other major. The minor difference is that the Strada II Solid features a drop-down sun visor, controlled by a slider on the lower left of the chinbar. This sun visor does not appear on the Strada II Primo. The reason for that, and the difference of major importance, is that the Strada II Primo is positioned as a track-ready helmet. As such, it carries the coveted Snell M2020 certification that many track schools or amateur racing events require helmets to have.
No matter which helmet you eventually do go for, rest assured that both have excellent ventilation, with a two-position chin vent, two crown vents with 3 positions each, and two venturi exhausts sucking all the hot air out the back of the helmet. The quick release visor (a clear one comes in the box) is pinlock ready for anti-fogging, and the lining and padding is fully removable and partially adjustable at the forehead and temples. The padding is hydradry, wicking moisture away from your face, and machine washable.
The Strada II Solid is DOT certified, while the Strada II Primo is Snell Foundation M2020 certified (the highest rating a US helmet can have).
Where To Buy:
RevZilla (Solid) | RevZilla (Primo) | SoloMoto
Key Specs:
Price: $259.99
Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Sizing: XS to 3XL
Safety: DOT and ECE 22.05 (Solid); DOT, ECE 22.05, and Snell M2020 (Primo)
Ideal For:
Riders looking for either a sport touring (Solid) or supersport (Primo) oriented helmet in the budget price range
Highlights:
Fiberglass and Kevlar shell construction backed by dual-density, multi-layer EPS foam
Visor is PinLock compatible
Strada II Solid helmet comes with integrated sun visor
Strada II Primo helmet lacks sun visor, but gains Snell M2020 certification
Removable and washable liner
Padding at temples and forehead is adjustable by up to 5 mm
Ventilation is via two chin and two crown intakes, with three rear exhausts
Scorpion EXO-T520
An evolution of the older EXO-R520 to include new materials and technology in the budget helmet market
Why We Picked It:
Scorpion entered 2022 swinging, with the EXO-T520 helmet released in October 2021. Part of the company’s well-known “trickle down” effect, the T520 incorporates all the best parts of the top-tier EXO-R1 and EXO-ST1400 helmets, but at an affordable price for most riders.
The shell shape is an aggressive but smooth swoop, feeding the aerodynamically tuned top ventilation ram-air intakes. The visor includes the Ellip-Tec II ratchet pull system from the higher end helmets, which pulls the visor back into the visor port gasket when fully closed. The helmet also features the innovative AirFit system from the EXO-R1 Air models, which ensure a tight but comfortable fit for every ride.
The Scorpion EXO-T520 is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified.
Where To Buy:
RevZilla | SoloMoto
Key Specs:
Price: $199.95 to $204.95
Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Sizing: XS to 3XL
Safety: DOT and ECE 22.05
Our Review:
Read our full Scorpion EXO-T520 + EXO-COM review
Ideal For:
Riders looking for a budget helmet with features cherry-picked from higher-end models
Highlights:
Advanced polycarbonate shell backed by multi-density EPS foam
Ventilation via a crown intake with three ram-air channels and a chin intake, exhausting via a single outlet
Integrated sun visor
Scorpion's AirFit system for customizable cheek and jaw fit
Removable and washable liner
Designed to work with Scorpion's EXO-COM intercom unit, but compatible with most helmet intercoms available
HJC RPHA 70 ST
A sport touring helmet that is (quite literally) one of the "coolest" helmets under $500
Why We Picked It:
HJC is renowned for offering quality lids priced for excellent value. The RPHA 70 ST is exactly that helmet. This model has been available for a number of years now and continues to be a bestseller and recommended helmet on Revzilla.
The helmet uses P.I.M Plus (Premium Integrated Matrix Plus) technology which uses a blend of carbon fiber and carbon-glass hybrid fabric for the outer shell. On the inside, the RPHA features an anti-bacterial moisture-wicking liner with removable cheek and crown pads. The HJ-26 anti-fog shield can be swapped without tools, and a separate tinted sun-shield is also included. Airflow is certainly above average and overall noise levels at speed are below average, win-win.
Plenty of graphic choices can be found for just a small price bump, but overall this is a very solid choice if the budget must be less than $500.
Where To Buy:
RevZilla | Amazon | SoloMoto
Key Specs:
Price: $399.99 to $414.99
Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
Weight: 3.29 lbs
Sizing: XS to 2XL
Safety: DOT and ECE 22.05
Ideal For:
Riders looking for a sport touring helmet with superb ventilation and all the features you'd expect of an HJC
Highlights:
Premium Integrated Matrix shell backed by multi-layer, multi-density EPS foam
Ventilation via a massive crown intake combined with a chin intake, exhausting via two outlets with independent switches so you can customize how warm or cool the helmet gets
Integrated sun visor
HJ-26 visors can be switched out rapidly, all of them treated with and anti-fog coating
Removable and washable liner