Shoei RF-1400 Motorcycle Helmet (Various Colors)

I was in an accident wearing an Arai Quantum that resulted in a burst fracture of my thoracic 10, 11, & 12. My spine was completely separated. Luckily, my nerves were still connected, so the surgeon was able to graph bone from my hip to place it where I was missing my vertebrae. My body created a new spinal column out of this bone and mended the spinal cord back together.
I displayed my helmet at ~20 motorcycle shows between 2006 - 2009. Several researchers and scientists from various helmet manufacturers (Arai, Shoei, Bell, AGV, Dainese, etc.) examined my helmet while it wasn't on display. The consensus was that the quality of my helmet saved my life. In fact, some manufacturers even tightened their quality control standards after examining my helmet.
So to answer your question... Yes, it's not worth a few hundred bucks to skimp on protection for your head. I still wear Arai and a similarly priced mountain biking helmet.
Safe riding, my friend!

*EDIT* Added "in" before an accident; albeit, according to my parents, I and my other two siblings were all accidents so the original statement did in fact have some truth to it :-)

I believe everyone should wear ear plugs, wind noise isn't good for you.

Thanks OP. I've been keeping an eye out for sales on premium helmets. The RF-1400 was on my shortlist - and for $479 (which is about $50 cheaper than the best price at Revzilla, Cyclegear, or my local Shoei authorized dealer) I pulled the trigger.

The RF-1400 is arguably the best road helmet on the market for under $700, and it is famously one of the most quiet. I've never actually tried one on. I've got a big XXL head, and I'm hoping it fits... but grateful for the free returns if it doesn't.

Good find! If anyone has any helmet related questions, please let me know. I've done a lot of research on them this year.

EDIT #1 Looks like the "big box" mc retailers I mentioned have adjusted their pricing to match this.

EDIT #2 My XXL RF-1400 in Basalt Grey arrived this morning (about 36 hours after I ordered it) and I have to admit - after the first ride I believe it was worth every penny!

Immediately took it down the highway on my 2014 Honda Valkyrie (with no windshield) and it is like night and day compared to my Bell Revolver.

Compared to the Bell:

Virtually no buffeting,

Unbelievably quiet (I installed the chin skirt that came included)
Zero distortion on the included clear shield without the Pinlock insert (this was not something I was expecting but was blown away by the difference)
Incredible Airflow. It is currently 90 and humid in the Northeast - so I opened every single vent and it moves through the helmet SO well it felt like I had air conditioning at any speed over 30mph.


The cheekpads are a little tight, but based on some of the product review videos I've watched on YouTube - this is by design. They are covered in a wicking material like Under Armour so after 10 or 15 mins I didn't even notice the fitment (but it does mess up my beard a little).

I plan on keeping this for a while, so I just ordered the $200 Transitions shield. Hopefully it will be here by mid June. Until then I'll just wear my American Optical aviators under the shield on sunny days.

Glad to see a product live up to the hype. Very happy with it and thanks again OP for putting the sale on my radar before my size sold out.