Helmet Brands Tie at Top of Satisfaction Study

| June 1, 2011

by: Powersports Business

Two helmet companies, Arai and Icon, have tied for the top spot on J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study.

Arai has topped the list since the study’s inception in 1999, but this is Icon’s first time at the top. Both earned a score of 852 out of 1,000. The industry average was 788, its highest since the study began.

Helmet brands are judged on 11 attributes in the survey: quietness, ventilation/air flow, de-fogging performance, face shield effectiveness of keeping wind out, face shield resistance to scratching, ease of replacing face shield, scratch resistance of shell, color/graphic design, weight, ease of fastening the strap and fit and comfort.

Arai performed well in all 11 attributes, but excelled in fit and comfort and face shield effectiveness. Icon ranked well in color/graphic design. Shoei, which followed Arai and Icon in the rankings with a score of 831, performed well in ease of replacing the face shield.

The study was based on a survey of 4,820 buyers of new 2009-10 model-year motorcycles. It was completed in August through October 2010.

Other findings include:
• Buyers reported the number of helmet purchases online have increased to 23 percent, compared to 20 percent in 2010 and 4 percent in 2002.
• The average helmet price was $209, just over the $206 average price of last year.
• The highest median age to date of helmet buyers was 48 years old.

Read more about this study in the June 13 edition of Powersports Business.


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