... based on the latest testing from the NSW Road and Maritime Service's Crashlab. The Crashlab has started evaluating helmets beyond the AS/NZS1698 standard required to be sold in Australia and the results so far have the $550 Shark Evoline and $330 RJays SP2 heading the list.

More expensive and/or well-known brands - from Arai to Shoei and AGV - earn "above average" scores but can't match the above duo's "good" protection rating. The Crashlab research is being supported by Victoria's Transport Accident Commission and the NRMA insurance group.

And the value of a good helemt is the ability to save your life, swears Carsguide journalist Mark Hinchliffe, who crashed during a motorcycle test ride last year.

"Try riding a 250kg motorcycle, plus 80kg rider over your helmet," Hinchliffe says. "That’s a real-world test you won't replicate in any lab. Unfortunately, I was the crash-test dummy. I’d fallen off my bike on a dirt trail in the Victorian Alps and the following rider chewing my dust ran into me.

"My helmet was a Shoei Hornet DS which has the highest safety rating in the dual-sport category and I can vouch for that. Despite copping the front tyre and full weight of the bike and rider over the top of my helmet after hitting the deck at about 70km/h, the helmet is largely in tact. Although the peak and visor were torn off, there is no crack in the shell and, more importantly, no cracks in my head.

"You should never wear a helmet that has been crashed and despite the absence of a shell fracture, it now permanently lives in my office as a reminder to always wear top-quality protective gear when riding. The helmet costs $799.95, which is money well spent," he says.

Until now there has been no objective way of choosing the "best" helmet. All motorbike helmets sold in Australia must meet the AS/NZS 1698 standard, which is acknowledged as one of the most stringent in the world.

The TAC's road safety manager Samantha Cockfield says the research is about giving motorcyclists a chance to evaluate what is true value for money. "Every helmet on the shelves is going to meet the Australian standard, but we're saying you can do better than that," she says.

And it's not just protection. Cockfield says the strongest helmet is still useless if it doesn't fit properly, which is why the Crashlab testing also assesses how well the helmets hang on to your head and how comfortable they are to wear.

"The idea is riders should be able to find a helmet that fits and is within their price range, based on the Crashlab results," she notes. Helmet makers build models specifically to satisfy the standard of the country they are sold in, which is one of the reasons why the Australian testing results from those overseas.

It also means the cheaper (but DOT or Snell-approved) helmets available online aren't legal here. Riders who buy one and crash will have no recourse against the relevant local importer if they are hurt in a collision. To date the Crashlab has tested 31 helmets, based on sales popularity. The aim is to test the top 25 to 30 helmets each year. For more information go to www.crash.org.au or www.spokes.com.au.