JD Power Releases Results Of Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Survey

Motorcycle helmets are increasingly being sold to owners online, according to the recent 2011 J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Survey.

To keep things in perspective, one needs to look at previous years of the study. In 2002, the number of owners who opted to purchase their motorcycle helmet online was just four percent. The figure for 2011 was up to 23 percent, which was in turn an improvement over 2010 at 20 percent.

"While the dealership is still the main source for a majority of helmets purchased, it's clear that customers are continuing to shift to the online channel to purchase their motorcycle helmets," said Brent Gruber, senior manager of the powersports practice at J.D. Power and Associates.

The survey, based on nearly 5,000 responses, also looked at overall satisfaction with the main motorcycle helmet brands. Asking riders to rate brands across eleven different categories, the scores are averaged into a composite total that represents their overall happiness with the product.

For the 13th consecutive year, Arai topped the list, although this year the brand was tied with Icon for the lead. The Japanese manufacturer Shoei was in third overall.