Why are Aero Road Helmets so Expensive?

[Hacienda71]

I know they are a fairly new must have mamil accessory, but after a couple of years why aren't more aero helmets being made at sensible prices. Planet X seem to have had a discounted one recently and there are few dodgy Chinese ones about, but most of the mainstream brands are at least £100 and many £200 plus. Are they really that much harder to create than a standard helmet?

 

[derrick]

I think a normal helmet is exempt from taxes, Where as aero helmets are specialised equipment so you pay tax. But there should not be so much difference in price. Perhaps someone else can add to that,

 

[Fab Foodie]

Much smaller production runs ....

 

[zizou]

R+D costs will be higher if they have been tested in wind tunnels, plus some of them come with visors so that is an extra cost. They also tend to be priced comparably to high end non aero road helmets, the difference so far is that there isnt many low to mid range aero road helmets available whereas there is a lot of choice for normal helmets.

Then of course the are priced at what the market will bear. There are enough mugs (like myself) who are willing to pay a little extra thinking it will saves some watts.

 

[vickster]

Got to cover the marketing budget to sell to "mugs"?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'm with @vickster. A couple of % points maybe, to cover R&D and then they are priced at the price point the marketeers think the mamil will cough for.

 

[HLaB]

Simple economics, the market! I crashed my old non aero road helmet and managed to get aero one for half price through a crash replacement scheme otherwise I wouldn't have been in the market

 

[_aD]

Because it's all about the gear?

 

[screenman]

I am sure all you lot who own your own businesses do the same price wise. Or even those of you with jobs would surely not sell your skills for less than you can get for them.

Choices, I choose not to have an earo helmet, but I certainly enjoy the fact that I have a choice in the matter and would not consider somebody a mug for doing differently.

Bit like car really, a lot of people who call somebody a mug for buying a certain brand of car could never afford one, so who is the mug?

Name calling, I hate it. Rant over.

 

[fossyant]

Is this for TT's ? I'd melt with an aero helmet in normal use. I did have a pointy helmet when TT'ing though. That was sweaty.

Worth looking out for last year's model, usually massively reduced.

 

[ayceejay]

I wear mine back to front - not so aerodynamic but it dissuades the robbers from waving at me

 

[ayceejay]

sorry nobber that was meant to be

 

[screenman]

sorry nobber that was meant to be

What is a nobber? does it take one to recognise one?