I am saying is you generally don't get decent helmets under $150 unless there is some crazy markdown...
DOT is the minimum standard and some think that is just fine.... but it is up to you what you wear...
also consider which brands fail testing more often than others and use that when making a choice too...
it's not just safety though... cheap helmets feel cheap on the head and are usually not too comfortable... parts break off easier... paint quality is not as good.. etc... other things like noise and quality of function are also to be considered... sure you can get a HJC for under $150.. but everyone I know finds them uncomfortable, the paint wears poorly, they are noisy and not the best for aerodynamics meaning they yank on the head a lot...
as long as it has a good rating and you fit it correctly then you should be OK... but... you decide what you like to wear.... I like high ratings, good safety, comfortable, not too noisy and very aerodynamic so it doesn't want to rip off my head when I shouldercheck or am riding into a heavy headwind....
Try some on to get the fit right... the search the closeouts etc... you can get some good deals...
New enough has a teknic jacket for $79 right now which seems to be not too bad....
do a review and you get a discount on your next purchase.... so they are a decent site for gear if you try it on at a shop first
check this...
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/...knic/freestyle_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html
I love my Tourmaster Jett-2... and my Draft air...
The Jett is about $125 though
http://www.newenough.com/protective.../jett_series_2_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html
Draft is a summer mesh for about $100 (I got it for 89 on sale)
http://www.newenough.com/protective..._master/draft_air_mesh_motorcycle_jacket.html
the Jett is a better all around jacket as you can open the vents, take out the liner and it is decent in the warm.... close the vents and it is waterproof... and with the liner I wear it in 20-30f weather as well as 100f weather...
generally in the summer I wear the mesh though unless it looks like rain or I'll be riding at night or early morning
I disagree about the helmets, if you do research into standards and practices you'll find that the best helmets and the safest - are not the most expensive. When it comes to safety, you currently can't bea the BSI british standards - but you can't get a helmet in the US that conforms to it. The ECE2205 is next, which was significantly harder crashes than the SNELL M2005 standard, but lacks the double hit in the same spot requirement which the SNELL has and makes their helmets alot less safe as they are harder.
Supposedly the new SNELL M2010 standards (yet to be released) will be more in line with the ECE 2205 but they are currently not. Also ECE helmets must be tested for conformity in every batch while SNELL is a once in a lifetime test (any changes could render a helmet less protective but SNELL would nto know). There are few common ECE conforming helmets still in the US -> HJC Carbons conform @ 350+ a pop, SparX conforms at 60-70 a pop, Shark Conforms ONLY to ECE not SNELL by choice (they are a safety obsessed company- which says alot about SNELL) and finally only ONE KBC helmet conforms - the VR1x. All the euro helmets like AGV etc are considered the best helmets, yet they conform exclusively to ECE. Of the common helmets I mentioned, two are available for under 100. If you insist on getting a Shoei or an Arai, import one. For 700 bucks, buy one that isn't tampered with to get it to conform with SNELL.