LS2 Challenger: a versatile sportsbike and road helmet

Page Contents

LS2 Challenger FF327 motorcycle helmet.

The LS2 Challenger FF327 is a sportsbike full face helmet from Chinese helmet maker LS2.

It comes with a choice of either a full carbon fibre or fibreglass shell (or HPCF as LS2 like to call it) and offers some useful features like an integral sun visor and Pinlock ready main visor, all for a relatively low price.

And because it’s a sportsbike helmet, that means it should offer great aero stability as well as a nice deep visor to give you unimpeded forward vision in a tuck position.

So if that’s the sort of helmet you’re after, read on to find out pretty well everything there is to know about the LS2 Challenger.

Full face sports bike helmet
Fibreglass or carbon fibre shells
3 shell sizes
Drop down sun visor
EQRS
Micrometric fastener
1.35-1.5Kg (3-3.3Lbs)
Longer oval fitment
Tear off visor ready
MCN 3.5/5 stars rated
Sizes XXS-XXXL
Expect to pay:
- £210-£299 fibreglass
- £300-£350 carbon fibre

Best places to buy an LS2 Challenger?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Challenger helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

LS2 Challenger motorcycle helmet matt black side view — Matt black LS2 Challenger

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

OK, starting with safety and protection. You can buy an LS2 Challenger with either a high performance fibreglass composite shell (HPFC) or full carbon fibre.

Typically, carbon fibre helmets score slightly higher for safety than fibreglass, plus they’re a bit lighter too.

Either way, they both come in three shell sizes which means the shell should be just about spot on for the size of your head/body and will have a more optimised amount of shock absorbing multidensity EPS liner inside to improve impact protection.

It’ll also mean it looks better when you’re wearing it as it won’t be over- or under-sized.

Whatever Challenger shell you opt for, it’ll have passed the same ECE 22.05 test (Europe) which means it’ll be pretty durable and give at least a good minimum level of protection.

And there’s a few other safety features in there that are worth having in the Challenger, such as the drop down sun visor. Not only will it make riding in the sun more comfortable, but they’re important for safety too, stopping you getting caught out when the sun’s low and shining directly in your eyes.

LS2 Challenger squadron flue orange helmet side view — Fluo orange Challenger squadron

That main clear visor is Pinlock ready and if you fit a Pinlock Max Vision antifog insert, it’ll keep your vision clear under 99% of everyday conditions.

The Challenger uses a micrometric fastener which are easy to use and safe as houses – plus LS2 has added reinforcement to the strap and anchors the strap onto the helmet using a metal plate.

And it also has EQRS or emergency quick release system on there which is there to help medics safely remove your helmet if you do have an accident.

It’s difficult to say how well the LS2 Challenger will perform in comparison to other helmets because it hasn’t been independently safety tested by SHARP yet.

To date there have been around a dozen LS2s tested by SHARP and none has scored a maximum score and their average rating is 3.2/5. Their composite fibre or fibreglass helmets usually score around four stars though – which is very good – though there hasn’t been a full carbon fibre helmet tested to date.

LS2 Challenger gt fusion helmet side view — This one’s the Challenger Fusion

Overall, we’d expect the Challenger to get around the 4/5 mark, though of course that’s a guesstimate until SHARP gets their hands on the Challenger.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a ton of vents set in the shell of the LS2 Challenger.

There are two independently operated crown vents plus a brow vent just above the visor – all directing air through the helmet shell and into channels in the internal shock absorbing liner to circulate it around the head.

They can all be closed off if required and are mated with a pair of variable exhaust vents to the rear to help create a stream of air through the helmet.

There’s also a single central chin vent which directs air up onto the back of the visor to help with demisting.

Visor

(more about visors)

The main visor port is both wide and tall so it’ll give great all round visibility which is good for safety, as well as working well if you ride a sports bike where you’ll need that tall visor to get a good uninterrupted forward view without the top of the eye port getting in the way.

LS2 Challenger carbon fibre helmet front view — Full carbon Challenger with main visor fully up and sun visor fully lowered

It’s a quick change visor too which is well handy for quickly taking your visor off to clean or when swapping out for a tinted visor.

And it has a central visor lock – close the visor and it’ll click locked, push up on the lock and it’ll unlock it and open the visor. Nice and simple to use.

There’s also a quality anti fog solution available on the Challenger. The main visor is ready to accept a Pinlock Max Vision antifog insert – and from some retailers (but not all), it’ll come with an insert in the box which.

At the time of writing, our recommended retailers (see links below) all sell the Challenger with Pinlock included.

A couple of useful links…

– Safest Motorbike Helmet Reviews –
– Every LS2 Helmet we’ve looked at –

All LS2 Challengers come supplied with a clear Class A optically correct visor which means it’ll be distortion free. And because they’re designed with a nod towards the track, there’s a tear-off visor available if you’re super serious about your racing.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The sun visor on the Challenger is operated from the left hand bottom rim which is just about the ideal position.

LS2-Challenger-motorcycle-helmet-gloss-black-side-view-2a — Side view of the gloss black Challenger showing sun visor slider on the bottom edge and sun visor fully down

Sun visors can’t, by law, be too highly tinted so don’t expect it to be as dark as your favourite pair of Ray Bans. However, early impressions are that the sun visor on the LS2 Challenger is slightly darker than most plus it drops down nice and low to cover most of your vision.

If you’ve never had a helmet with a drop down sun visor before, they’re highly recommended. They save you having to carry a pair of shades or replacement visor with you and they do stop you getting caught out by a strong, low sun which can be dangerous.

Plus, because they’re made of polycarbonate, they add an extra layer of 95%+ UV protection.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The interior of the Challenger is fully removable and washable – as you’d expect from a helmet in this price bracket.

It’s also made from a breathable and hypoallergenic materials and comes with a chin curtain to reduce draft and noise into the helmet as well as a padded chin strap to reduce chafing.

Unusually, it’s been created as a longer oval fitment which will be music to the ears of riders with narrower and longer heads, though if you’ve a more common medium oval headshape and really want a Challenger, it’s worth trying before buying.

LS2 Challenger carbon fibre motorcycle helmet side view — Side view of the carbon fibre LS2 Challenger

Having said that, our recommended stores will accept no-quibble returns and will give a full refund as long as you keep all the tags intact and don’t go riding in it – so you can try it and send it back if it doesn’t fit.

Also, be sure to check out our helmet fitting guide before you order one though.

Looks & Graphics

There’s no doubt that the LS2 Challenger is a modern looking helmet, with its complex shell casting and multitude of vent covers. The full carbon fibre Challenger is only available in a plain matt lacquer at the time of writing – though do click through to our recommended retailers using the links below to see if there have been new versions launched since (the links will take you through to their LS2 pages).

Other than the carbon, the fibreglass versions are available in a few different designs with a ton of different colour options in most. For a high viz you might want to check out the Squadron graphics, but there’s also the Magic, GP, Fusion, Randy, Jeans and Flex designs – as well as a couple of Foggy replicas in the UK.

For a plain version, there’s a titanium as well as black and white versions.

Best places to buy an LS2 Challenger helmet?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Challenger helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

LS2 Challenger Video

Here’s a 9m look around the LS2 Challenger (called Challenger GT in the US. Note: in the US the carbon fibre Challenger comes with a double-d ring fastener).

Other stuff – warranty

The LS2 challenger comes with 2 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

While the LS2 Challenger is designed as a sportsbike helmet that’ll work on the track too, it comes with some great features that also mean it should perform on the roads too.

LS2 Challenger motorcycle helmet gloss white side view — Challenger in solid gloss white

That quick release visor system is wide and tall, giving excellent all-round vision, and it comes with a Pinlock Max Vision antifog included in the box. That’s backed up with drop down sun visor which is always great to see and is unusual in a more track focused lid.

And while it hasn’t yet been independently safety tested so we don’t know quite how much protection it’ll offer, the LS2 Challenger is a highly tempting package that offers a massive amount of features for not much money.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the LS2 Challenger?

If you’re after a sportsbike helmet like the LS2 Challenger, here’s a few we suggest you check out.

AGV’s GT Veloce S is a SHARP 5 star safety rated (maximum) sportsbike helmet that comes with a Pinlock, optically correct visor and is nice and light at around 1.4Kg. It costs a smidge more than the LS2 but it’s a really high performing helmet.

HJCs FG17 on the other hand is a bit cheaper but you’re still getting a SHARP 4 star rated helmet that’s great for the track or road and offers great all-round performance.

LS2 Challenger squadron flue yellow helmet side view — Fluo yellow version of the Challenger

Or how about this for something a bit more unusual? The AGV SportModular is a modular helmet designed for sportsbikes. It’s not cheap but it’s SHARP 4 star safety rated, very light (for a modular) and gives you the best of both worlds.

Check out our Sportsbike or track helmets sections for more previews and reviews of helmets suitable for your sportsbike.

Best places to buy an LS2 Challenger?

Please click below to visit the LS2 Challenger helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

More Sports Touring Helmets?

We've looked at heaps of helmets that are more suitable for touring and naked bikes. You'll find them on our Sports Touring helmets pages. Or, if you're looking for the safest tested helmets on the market, you might want to take a look at our safest motorcycle helmets pages where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection around.

Star Ratings

MCN Challenger C GT: Quality 4/5, Value 4/5

Bell Eliminator: car racing inspired retro full face helmet

Page Contents

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet.

Because Bell helmets began making car racing helmets, it’s no surprise they’ve raided their automotive heritage when looking to design their latest retro-inspired motorcycle helmet, the Bell Eliminator.

From a biker’s perspective, the Eliminator does look pretty unusual and is definitely very retro. But it also looks very cool, and along with the usual plain blacks and whites, there’s an increasing range of graphics and finishes that will suit a reasonable range of heritage gear and bikes.

That includes the full matt carbon fibre 6K weave helmets all the way through to the 70’s inspired Outlaws that you’ll see dotted up and down the page.

Retro helmets are usually retro in their construction and utility too. So they’re oftern a compromise: you look cool but you also forego some of the useful stuff you find in most modern helmets.

So, here’s the score with Bell’s Eliminator; what owners and riders both love or tolerate when riding in theirs.

Bell eliminator helmet matt carbon front view — Super cool matt carbon fibre Eliminator

Retro full face helmet
Full carbon and fibreglass versions
SHARP 5 Star safety rated (maximum)
Class 1 optically correct visor
Tons of vent holes (permanently open)
Bell ProVision antifog insert as standard
1.35Kg (3lbs) – Lightweight
Double-d ring fastener
Sizes XS-XXXL
Expect to pay:
- £200-£300 fibreglass
- £500-£550 carbon fibre

Best places to buy a Bell Eliminator?

Please click below to visit the Bell Eliminator helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Bell Eliminator Forced Air

Before I go on, you may have noticed there’s a forced air version of the Bell Eliminator.

The forced air is simply a kit that can fit onto any Eliminator (or you can buy it with the kit already fitted) that allows you to connect the Eliminator up to a fresh air unit and push clean air into the helmet.

It’s not really something us bikers would ever need but if you’re a serious car racer or off roader where there’s a ton of dust and muck in the air that’s interfering with your breathing, then it might come in useful.

Adding the kit allows you to pipe clean air into the top vents and chin vents and the kit comes with a small peak that fits to the top of the helmet too.

In fact, some folks reckon adding the peak and removing the main visor and adding goggles turns the Eliminator into a decent adventure helmet.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Bell Eliminators have been both ECE 22-05 tested/certified in Europe and are DOT in the US.

Bell eliminator rally crash helmet orange black front view — This one’s the Eliminator in Rally graphics

Overall, Bell has a solid reputation for making some great performing helmets.

In fact, since we’ve been reviewing helmets, they’ve never been out of the top 10 of our safest helmet brands list, with many of their tested helmets scoring maximum marks from SHARP.

And in the US, several of their helmets have been Snell tested and approved too.

And if you’re in the market for a retro helmet that’ll give excellent protection, the great news is that the helmet testing bods at SHARP have now got their hands on the Bell Eliminator and awarded it with a maximum 5 star safety rating.

Not only is that a fantastic score meaning that it will give you about as good protection as it’s possible to get in a full face helmet. But along with the Biltwell Lane Splitter, it’s also the highest scoring retro helmet we’ve come across. Excellent work Bell Helmets!

In addition to how well the Eliminator might protect you in a crash, it’s also got a wide and optically correct class A visor to give you good, clear all-round vision that’ll help keep you out of trouble in the first place.

And it’s secured using a double-d ring fastener which are relatively easy to use (arguably not as easy as micrometric fasteners tho) and mean you have to tighten the strap each time you wear the helmet. As long as you’re diligent when you do it, double-d rings are about as safe as helmet fasteners come.

The Eliminator is made in 3 helmet shell sizes which means the shell size and amount of polystyrene shock EPS absorbing liner should be right for your head/body size. Again, this is great for optimising safety.

And it’s a light weight helmet too with most sizes/versions weighing less than 1.4Kg. Not only does that mean it’ll be easier to live with, but a lighter helmet is only going to help during an accident too, reducing inertia and likelihood of neck injuries.

Bell eliminator motorbike helmet matt black rear view — Rear view of the full carbon fibre Bell Eliminator

If you’re wanting the maximum amount of safety features in your next helmet, then you might want to buy a helmet with a drop down sun visor and probably EQRS.

The Eliminator doesn’t have either – but other than those, it seems to be pretty good and we’d expect it to offer good levels of rider protection.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

There’s some decent padding inside the Eliminator and the helmet shell’s pretty round without too many bits and bobs protruding into the airflow – all of which is usually a good sign for making a pretty quiet helmet.

But unfortunately, the Eliminator’s got a load of always-open air vents in the helmet shell. And while they’re great for letting in air, they’re also good for letting in noise too.

Most owners of the Bell Eliminator seem to agree that noise levels are fine if you’re cruising, but at motorway speeds, it turns into a bit of a noisy bugger.

Which is kinda what you’d probably guess by looking at it. But stick in some decent ear plugs and you should be fine for all but the most bonkers speeds.

Bell eliminator helmet gloss white font view — 9 top vents and four chin vents are always open

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a stack of vents on the Bell Eliminator.

The most obvious vents are probably those 9 circular vents drilled through the forehead. They take air straight through the shell and EPS liner and through to the head.

There aren’t any channels inside the helmet to circulate air around the head, but because the venting’s unimpeded, they’re pretty effective.

In the chin bar, there’s four small vents covered in a metal grid. Again, they take air straight through the helmet shell and directly into the helmet.

That’s fine if you want the air just where the vents are – and you want it all the time. But as the helmet comes out the box, there’s no way to close off the vents. At all.

So if you live somewhere that’s mostly breezy or cold or rainy, you’re gonna spend quite a bit of your time with either a cold or wet head or both. So be warned.

Having said that, Bell does offer a clip-on external vent cover to block up the top holes if you need it. It doesn’t look too shabby either, making the helmet look more like a conventional full face with plastic vent cover.

There is a clip on rain cover available to cover the top vents

So, the bottom line as far as the vents are concerned, are if you live somewhere that’s mostly warm and dry or you’re just going to use your Eliminator when the forecast’s good as a warm day cruising helmet, then it’s going to work for you.

But if you live somewhere cold and rainy for much of the year, you might be hard pressed to use the Eliminator as your daily helmet unless you buy the optional rain cover for the top vents.

Incidentally, at the time of writing, that rain cover is included if you buy the helmet from our recommended retailer below.

Visor

(more about visors)

Like the helmet, the visor on the Bell Eliminator is very old school – but with a new school twist.

It looks very much like visors on helmets from the 70’s. It’s a flat visor so it’s not particularly shaped in any way like many modern helmets. And it’s not quick release nor does it work on a ratchet to give you lots of different opening positions.

Bell eliminator helmet matt carbon side view — Lovely matt carbon Eliminator with 6K fibre weave.

Nope, if you want to remove the visor, you’ll need a 6mm allen/hex key. And if you want to adjust how easily or tightly the visor opens/closes, you can do that but you’ll need another hex key – a 2.5mm – to tighten/loosen the other allen bolt.

All very fiddly and all authentically retro.

And if you want to lock it closed – and you probably will because, according to some owners it does have a tendency to catch the wind and fly open when you’re riding along – then there is a pin & hole lock at the bottom which will lock the visor closed.

Only, lots of owners reckon it’s less than easy to open the visor again once it’s locked. It’s definitely something that needs practice (and a strong left thumb!).

Sheesh, the things we do for style, eh?

A couple of links you might find useful…

– The coolest helmets we’ve looked at –
– Heaps of other retro motorbike helmets –

OK, I mentioned some new school stuff, right?

Because that visor’s very flat, that means Bell’s managed to make it class 1 optically correct so you should have any distorted vision.

And if you look closely, you’ll also see there’s a slight groove around the inside of the visor. That’s Bell’s ProVision antifog system which is basically like a Pinlock antifog without the Pins.

Bell eliminator outlaw motorbike helmet black white side view — Eliminator Outlaw helmet

So the visor on the Bell Eliminator comes pre-fitted with this ProVision double glazing which gives you an antifog visor straight out of the box.

And Eliminator owners say it works incredibly well. One rider said he rode in the snow and couldn’t fog it up and another said they’ve ridden in all weathers and it’s never fogged up once.

That’s great news for European riders who pretty well always need an antifog visor solution on their helmets.

The visor on the Eliminator is also nice and wide too so you’ve got great peripheral vision in there to spot cars/bikes/pedestrians etc. though it’s not very deep because that chin bar’s fairly hefty.

But all in all, the visor system on the eliminator seems to strike a decent balance between retro look and modern convenience.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Bell Eliminator is a medium oval head shaped helmet (that’s most of us – but look here if you need a longer oval helmet).

Bell eliminator spectrum black chrome motorcycle helmet front view — The Bell Eliminator Spectrum black chrome is a classy act

Check our fitting guide if you’re not sure how to measure yourself for a helmet – but if you do go to order an Eliminator, note that they can size a bit small. Which means if you’re looking to order one and you’re at the upper end of a size, you probably should order a size up.

Other than that and you buy the correct size, owners reckon it’s a very comfortable helmet.

The internal comfort lining is antimicrobial and fully removable and washable.

Bell offers the helmet in a couple of interiors – a Virus Cool Jade version where the interior has a bit of jade in it which apparently has a slight cooling effect on the head. Or there’s their X-Static XT2 liner which uses micro strands of silver to kill off microbes and keep your lid odour free.

Apparently this works well because a couple of owners commented how they used their helmets for full sweaty days of riding and found their helmets smelt box fresh after it.

Looks & Graphics

As you’d expect from a mean and moody retro helmet, there’s a few cool retro graphics along with the usual blacks and white versions.

Bell eliminator outlaw motorbike helmet red black front view — Bell Eliminator in red/black Outlaw design

Of the retros, there’s a really funky Outlaw graphic that mirrors some of the custom tank airbrushed graphics you’d see in the 70’s. And there’s a nod to the automotive with the Rally version.

There are a couple of specials too. That full carbon fibre version comes with a clear matt lacquer which looks mega, plus there’s a mirrored chrome version that’s unusual and super cool (with the right bike).

To see all these designs up close, we’d love you to click through to our recommended stores below where you’ll get better views and find any helmet deals that are around (from only properly great retailers who work hard not to mess you around).

Best places to buy a Bell Eliminator helmet?

Please click below to visit the Bell Eliminator helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Bell Eliminator Video

3m video looking round the Eliminator.

Other stuff – audio, weight, glasses, aero, buffeting, warranty

Audio/communicators

The Bell Eliminator has a couple of speaker pockets inside so it should be able to accommodate most bluetooth intercom sets. The bottom edge might be a bit thick for a clamp mount because there’s a thick rubber rim around it, but there’s plenty of surface for a sticky mount.

Bell eliminator motorbike helmet matt black side view — Matt black Eliminator. Note all helmets come with a clear visor, not dark

Glasses wearers

There’s a glasses groove inside the Eliminator so once you’ve got your helmet on, you should be fine for wearing your glasses without the arms pressing into your head.

Find other helmets that are great for glasses wearers here.

Aero/buffeting

The shell of the Eliminator is pretty round and smooth which is usually a good sign that a helmet has great aero properties. There’s also a small chin spoiler moulded into that bottom rubber gasket which is designed to help reduce lifting.

However there’s mixed reviews how well it all works – possibly as a result of the speed and type of bikes owners are riding.

Some find it buffets badly at motorway speeds while another reckoned the aero is fine with very little lift or buffeting even when doing shoulder checks – and better than other retro helmets they’ve owned.

Bell Eliminator warranty

All Bell helmets come with a 5 year warranty – that’s about as long as you’ll find from any helmet maker.

Overall/Summary

Like many retro helmets, you’re buying a cool looking helmet that doesn’t perform quite as well, in some respects, as a modern helmet. But then if you’re thinking of buying such a cool helmet as the Eliminator, do you really give a damn, because you’re probably buying it for that retro style, right?

Bell eliminator motorbike helmet gloss white no visor side view — There is a peak available if you want to turn it into an offroad or adventure helmet

Having said that, the Eliminator’s been tested by SHARP and been awarded their maximum 5 star rating. That’s just an amazing score and means it should give you just about the best protection you can buy – retro or not!

So protection’s taken care of – but it’s just the other stuff that makes a helmet easier to live with that’s gonna be a bit of a compromise with the Eliminator. Like needing hex keys to tighten your visor and getting wet inside your helmet if it rains.

Then again, you probably ride a retro Triumph or Duke in retro leathers in which case it’s all part of the fun. And having that Bell sticker on there is very fitting since they’ve been making helmets since not long after the war and are very much a part of that retro scene.

I mean, it probably wouldn’t be the same with an HJC, right?

So, as long as you know it’ll be a bit quirky and not quite as easy to live with as a modern helmet, then absolutely go for a Bell Eliminator – it’s sure to be a fab helmet for cruising and looking cool.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Bell Eliminator?

If you want a retro style helmet, then there’s some great alternatives out there.

First up, the Simpson Venom is another automotive retro styled helmet that’s actually not much of a compromise to style. It’s SHARP 4 star safety rated, has a drop down sun visor, has a Pinlock ready visor, is light weight and is a smidge cheaper than the Bell Eliminator (depending on whether you go for carbon or composite version.

The Shoei Ex-Zero looks cool as… and while it’s not been safety tested, it’s a Shoei AIM helmet so should be pretty good. It’s really really light too and comes with EQRS.

Or how about the Nexx X.G100 (or the X.G100R which is the same helmet with a proper visor) which are mega light helmets that are comfortable and relatively noise free.

And of course you can find lots more retro helmets on our retro helmets pages.

Best places to buy a Bell Eliminator?

Please click below to visit the Bell Eliminator helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

AGV K3 SV and K3 SV-S motorcycle helmet review

The AGV K3 SV is the successor to the popular K3, with the SV denoting an integral sun visor and the SV-S having a rear spoiler.

It’s a polycarbonate-shelled crash helmet that takes its design from the latest line of AGVs that includes the Corsa, GT Veloce and Pista GP – meaning it has a sharp, aerodynamcially-shaped chinguard and rear spoiler designed to cuts through the air and reduce buffeting. The K3 SV is priced to be a more entry level helmet though, and one that works on a range of road bikes and for a variety of riding styles.

Weight – 1.49Kg
Integral sun visor
Comfortable but noisy
Great ventilation
Comes with a Pinlock antifog insert
SHARP 4 Star safety rating (out of 5)
Micrometric fastener
Typical pricing – £170-£190

Page Contents

Differences between the AGV K3 SV and SV-S?

First there was the K3, then there was the K3 SV which was a redesign of the K3 and a Sun Visor was added. Now, there’s the SV-S which is a UK-only model. It’s essentially the same as the SV but with a new rear spoiler to make it look sportier and give added stability and improved aero at speed.

Best places to buy an AGV K3 SV or SV-S?

Please click below to drop straight onto the AGV K3 SV and SV-S helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Safety and shell

The AGV K3 SV and SV-S share the overall design with the latest range of AGVs, meaning it has a pointier look to the front and shares an integral spoiler to the rear that’s found on the GT Veloce. Unlike the GT Veloce, the K3 SV is constructed of polycarbonate; a cheaper and heavier material. However, it’s still ECE 22.05 approved in Europe and scored 4/5 stars when tested by SHARP, meaning it’s right up there in terms of safety. It’s also around the same weight as the pricier helmet. All in all, the AGV K3 SV should provide the protection you need and outperforms many much pricier helmets in terms of safety.

AGV have put a great deal of focus on producing an aerodynamic helmet and owners are widely happy with the result. They find there’s very little buffeting and it’s stable at speed.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-gloss-white — Lots of vents equals (in this case) lots of noise

Helmet Noise

Unfortunately, owners of the K3 SV say it’s a pretty noisy lid. The K3 has great ventilation which often means there are more openings in the shell of the helmet to catch the air and make turbulence; and turbulence equals noise. It also means there’s an easy route for noise to enter the helmet and in the K3’s case, that makes for a noisy lid. It’s especially noticeable above 50 mph, so if you’re after a quiet crash helmet, then this probably ain’t the one for you.

Poor noise suppression seems to be a common problem with most helmets in this line, so AGV must be counting on folks preferring good ventilation and light weight over a quiet helmet. That said, most owners point to the fact that they wear ear plugs when riding any distance so it doesn’t bother most owners too much. If having a quiet helmet is particularly important to you, click ‘quietest’ to the right to see only helmets people find particularly quiet.

Size

The AGV K3 SV comes in two shell sizes and XS – XXL fitment sizes, with four different EPS (shock absorbing expanded polystyrene) liners. Like the other helmets in the range, AGV also offer a MS and ML fitment which gives buyers a bit more assurance they can get a size that’s just right.

Ventilation

In common with the latest range of AGVs, the K3 SV has really decent ventilation. It has a pair of chin vents operated by the usual (for AGV) slider inside the chin bar; a pair of forehead vents that open/close with sliders covering the vents; and a vent on the top of the head that’s unique to the K3 SV (presumably as the retractable sun visor gets in the way of the venting from the other vents).

Once you get used to how the different vents open, they’re reasonably simple to operate, even with gloves, and are an improvement on the GT Veloce and Corsa’s fiddly sliders. The top vent pulls in stacks of air and, because the K3 SV has lots of channels through out the polystyrene liner, it keeps your head nice and cool and removes the warm air via the rear vents. One or two riders have complained that the front venting is a little too aggressive with too much air coming up across the visor and into their eyes. But overall, ventilation on the K3 SV is good.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-guy-martin — Guy Martin K3 SV showing visor release and sun visor mechanisms

Visor

The K3 SV has both a clear main visor and a tinted drop-down internal sun visor. The main visor has a quick-release system that is very simple to use – release the visor by pulling down on a tab on each side and the visor pops out. It clicks back into place with a bit of firm pressure on each side and is an excellent system that owners love.

The aperture for the visor is, like the other AGVs in the range, nice and wide and the visor is Pinlock-ready with a Pinlock anti-fog insert included in the box.

In the centre-bottom of the visor is a small slider that you can push upwards to open the visor just a crack and keep it there. It’s called ‘city mode’ and is designed to help with demisting when you’re riding slowly.

The sun visor opens using a lever behind the left hand side visor pivot. It’s easier to close than open, but it works pretty well by all accounts – the only grumbles being that it’s a bit too lightly tinted; but then I guess it’s probably just meeting legal requirements that don’t allow tinted visors to cut out more than 50% of available light (law in the UK at least). Also, a couple of owners have reported that it’s not particularly good quality because it distorts the vision a bit.

As usual, the sun visor is anti scratch but it’s not anti-fog, so unlike the main visor, it can steam up. It’s easy to remove to clean and replacements are available from AGV – including a high-vis yellow version for improved vision in low light.

Comfort

No problems reported with the comfort of the K3 SV. Once you’ve got the right size – helped by the intermediate MS and ML fitments, owners reckon it’s a comfortable helmet. The interior is the usual removable/washable liner that’s anti-microbial and moisture-wicking. There’s also glasses grooves cut into the liner to help glasses wearers slot their glasses into the helmet and prevent the stems of the glasses from digging in. All good here.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-imola-98 — Rossi AGV K3 SV Imola 98 – one of four Rossi paint schemes

Looks & Graphics

Because the AGV K3 SV sits towards the foot of the range at an attractive price point, it’ll probably be one of AGVs biggest sellers – so there are heaps of graphics available. That includes the usual plain whites/blacks/ but also several Rossi reps and a Guy Martin/Simoncelli replica or two. You can see the current range and prices by clicking one of the links below.

Best places to buy an AGV K3 SV or SV-S helmet?

Please click below to drop straight onto the AGV K3 SV and SV-S helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Video

Here’s some dude at AGV UK fondling his K3 SV Simoncelli rep.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-vulcan-white-blue — The K3 SV Vulcan – comes in a range of colours

Other stuff

The K3 SV comes with a micrometric chin strap fastener (easy to use and as safe as they come). It has internal cut-aways for AGVs own Share communicator speakers – but they’re not that big so either you might want to check that yours fit before buying – or be prepared to do a bit of trimming yourself (not too much mind as you don’t want to compromise side-impact resistance).

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Overall

The AGV is a great performing helmet – it scores well in SHARP safety tests, is comfortable and has some great features including fantastic ventilation and a drop down visor, not to mention its streamlined shape that reduces buffeting and lifting (especially with the sportier SV-S version). It’s a looker too. It’s only the noise that lets it down. If you can live with that (and/or wear some quality ear plugs) it’s a great helmet at a good price.

AGV-K3-SV-motorcycle-crash-helmet-Rookie — AGV K3 SV Rookie

Best places to buy an AGV K3 SV or SV-S?

Please click below to drop straight onto the AGV K3 SV and SV-S helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Definitely want an AGV?

Here you'll find all our AGV crash helmet reviews and previews including full face, flip-up and open face helmets.

Star Ratings

MCN K3 SV-S: Quality 3/5, Value 4/5

Simpson Outlaw Bandit: comfortable, safe… and mean as ****!

Page Contents

Simpson Outlaw motorcycle helmet review.

It seems like Texas based Simpson has been making helmets forever – but they only started off making auto helmets at the end of the 70’s before later moving on to motorcycle helmets. And yup, they all look very similar, with that hyper aggressive Predator-style in your face look that’s ideal for nakeds, muscle bikes and cruisers alike.

The Outlaw is the same helmet as the Outlaw Bandit you’ll find for sale around the place. It’s just Simpson doesn’t have the rights to the Bandit name in Europe. It’s not ECE rated in Europe either. You can buy one – using our links below. But if you’re caught riding it without an ECE sticker, you’ll be in trouble. So we recommend you check out the ECE rated – and better all-round helmet – Simpson Venom.

The Bandit isn’t visually that much different from most other Simpsons. But Simpson say they’ve slightly tweaked things on the Bandit to give it wider vision and better aero together with more generous chin vents to keep things cool.

A spot of practicality is always welcome. But let’s face it, you’re looking at a Simpson because it looks soo damn cool and aggressive. You buy one because you just have to have one.

The Simpson Outlaw has been out there, in one form or another, for a few years now. So here’s the lowdown on what owners reckon it’s like to live with…

Fibreglass full face
Snell 2015 certified
Not ECE Certified for Europe
Single density EPS liner
3 shell sizes
D-ring fastener
Wide visor
Medium oval fitment
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay around £450

Best places to buy a Simpson Outlaw?

The Outlaw has now been more or less discontinued, but you can still find the occasional helmet on Amazon. Please click below to visit the Simpson Outlaw helmets search page there, and if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Simpson’s been making helmets for a long time and is a name that’s trusted by lots of folks to keep them protected.

simpson-outlaw-bandit-helmet-gunmetal-front-view — Gunmetal Outlaw

And in the case of the Simpson Outlaw, that’s backed up by its US DOT rating and the fact it’s been Snell 2015 certified.

Which all means it’s going to give you excellent protection on the road.

So it’s surprising that the internal shock-absorbing lining inside the Outlaw is only single density polystyrene. I guess that means that the helmet shell is really doing a good job, because most high-performing lids use multi-density EPS liners.

Safety’s also helped by the fact it’s made in 3 different shell sizes which is great for safety (giving a more optimal fit and less weight than an over/under sized shell).

Simpson have also made that eye port wider than before to give great peripheral vision – and that’s always gonna be a good thing for safety on the road. The same goes for the fact that the visor is optically correct too, meaning distortion free forward vision – and it’s coated with a Supercoat antifog treatment.

Even though Supercoat is a recognised quality antifog treatment (that’s washable), word is it’s not as effective as a dedicated Pinlock insert. But it should at least slow the rate of fogging on cold mornings.

But it’s that Snell M2015 rating that shows the Simpson Outlaw isn’t just a mean and moody face, but a serious piece of protection too.

simpson-outlaw-bandit-helmet-red-front-view — Outlaw in shy & retiring solid gloss red

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

If you’re used to riding in an open face helmet, then you’ll probably find the Outlaw Bandit the last word in silent riding.

Pretty much everyone else who’s used to a full face helmet seems to think it’s properly noisy.

Even though there aren’t any vents in the main helmet – which are usually one of the main culprits when it comes letting noise into a helmet – most Outlaw owners seem to think it’s a really noisy helmet.

But stick to urban cruising and stay away from the motorways and you should be fine. Oh, and always wear ear plugs to keep your hearing in good shape.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Simpson added some chin vents into the Outlaw to try and keep things cool and help with demisting the visor.

And those six chin vents you can see are always-open too… but that’s your lot. No crown or head vents here and no fancy routing the air through internal air channels. What you see is what you get.

And according to owners, you can feel air getting in. A bit. In fact, that’s a common complaint among some owners. They reckon ventilation could definitely be improved and is moderate at best.

So if you’re after a great venting helmet, you should probably move away from the Outlaw and check out our best venting helmets pages.

A couple of useful links…

– Click to see all our Simpson Helmet Reviews –
– After a cool-looking helmet? No problem – here’s our coolest helmets pages –

Visor

(more about visors)

OK, that visor might be nice and wide to give great peripheral vision, but it’s a Simpson, right? So expect it to be a bit basic compared to the competition.

simpson-outlaw-bandit-helmet-solid-gloss-black-side-view — The one most of us will go for – Outlaw in gloss black (matt available too)

That means it’s not quick-release, you’ll need a flathead screwdriver to swap it over when you’re fitting your iridium replacement (it comes with a clear visor in the box).

It’s not Pinlock anti-fog either. And while it does lock down, it’s and old-style peg lock, meaning it’ll lock in place when you close the visor, but you’ll need to snap it out to open it.

A couple of owners said it’s a bit of a pain to use and one reckoned his visor won’t stay open at anything other than cruising speeds.

It’s a basic ratchet visor, and you’ll not find any fancy spring-loading or anything else you’ll find on other premium helmets.

Having said that, it’s a wide visor and gives great peripheral vision – something Simpsons have been criticised for in the past. And it’s optically very clear too. Plus it’s an unusually thick 3mm visor, so that will give improved penetration protection.

I guess the bottom line for many buyers tho – it’ll stay in place and give protection against wind/dirt/rain like most other full face helmets. So if that’s where you set the bar, you’re good to go.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the Outlaw Bandit, you’ll find a removable and washable moisture-wicking and antimicrobial liner.

It’s easy to pull out too because Simpson uses velcro tabs in there to save fiddling around with poppers and studs like most makers.

It’s a decent quality interior and by far the vast majority of riders/owners say it’s a massively comfortable helmet to ride in.

Of course, you’ve gotta get the right shape helmet for your head in the first place. The Outlaw Bandit is a medium oval fitment so should suit most of us (but look here if you’ve a longer head shape, you might wanna look here).

simpson-outlaw-bandit-helmet-solid-white-side-view — Note all Outlaw come with clear visor only

And the sizing of the Outlaw seems to be true, so check our fitting guide and order the correct size. If you get one and it’s a bit tight, Simpson include a set of replacement cheekpads that are 5mm thinner in the box. So if it’s a bit tight, shove in the replacements and it should be spot on.

But don’t forget, if you’re wanting a helmet to go cross-continent in and where you’ll spend long hot days in the saddle, there’s no head vents in the Outlaw so you might want to look elsewhere.

Looks & Graphics

It’s the mean and aggressive looks that you’re buying into with the Outlaw. So the only question is… which moody colour to go for.

Most of us will go for the black – and there’s a choice of solid matt or gloss. But you might want to consider the gunmetal too, plus the shiny red version’s kinda cool too in an old-school custom candy red sort of way. And of course there’s a classic white.

And that’s your lot – apart from the visors. That includes lots of smokes and tints, an iridium and an amber.

Best places to buy a Simpson Outlaw?

The Outlaw has now been more or less discontinued, but you can still find the occasional helmet on Amazon. Please click below to visit the Simpson Outlaw helmets search page there, and if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Simpson Outlaw Video

Here’s a 2m video showing the matt black Outlaw from Get Lowered Cycles…

Other stuff – weight, glasses, aero, warranty

The Outlaw weighs around 1.55Kg (3.4lbs) which is OK, but far from what we’d consider one of the lightest helmets around. Having said that, we didn’t find any owners complaining about weight and a few said it feels nice and light when you’re wearing it.

A couple of riders also said there’s enough space inside for their glasses too.

There weren’t any complaints about aero. Simpson reckon that the grooves on the Outlaw are there to reduce helmet lift and certainly no one complained about lift. I still reckon they’re there to look cool though!

If you buy an Outlaw Bandit, it’ll come with Simpson’s poor 1 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

The Simpson Outlaw Bandit, like most Simpsons, is one cool looking lid. And that’s probably why you want to buy one, right?

simpson-outlaw-bandit-helmet-matt-black-side-view — Solid Matt Black Outlaw Bandit

But it’s more than that. OK, it’s basic compared to much of the competition – but that back-to-basics is as much appealing as it is a drawback. Plus, it’s got that Snell rating that tells you it’ll do the business if things get out of shape.

Great features are that wide visor and it’s a really comfortable helmet too. Less great are the basic nature of the visor plus it’s noisy and the vents could do with improvement.

But the bottom line is it’s an awesome helmet if you want to look cool, ride safe and scare every kid in the neighborhood while out cruising.

Though if you’re outside the US DOT zone, then we recommend you buy the Simpson Venom. It’s a better performing helmet and legal for the road in Europe, unlike the Outlaw.

Best places to buy a Simpson Outlaw?

The Bandit has now been more or less discontinued, but you can still find the occasional helmet on Amazon. Please click below to visit the Simpson Outlaw helmets search page there, and if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Good Alternatives to the Simpson Outlaw?

OK, cool and kinda retro helmets. What’s out there?

Well, the first helmet you should definitely check out is the Simpson Venom (called the Ghost Bandit in the US). While the Outlaw’s not legal for road use in Europe, the ECE certified Venom is. It looks really similar to the Outlaw too, but it’s got a few head vents plus it’s got a drop down sun visor. It’s been SHARP 4 star safety rated in Europe so it’s well worth a look.

How about something a bit left-field; the Nexx X.G100 or the Nexx X.G100R. They’re more or less the same helmet: that means they’re both composite fibre, really light weight & DOT. You’ll need a pair of goggles to go with the 100 whereas the 100R has a regular visor.

If you want to go bang up to date with a super cool helmet that’s modern styled, how about the French Shark Spartan. It’s light weight – esp if you buy the carbon version – comes with a Pinlock anti fog and has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern helmet.

Want to check out the best looking helmets?

You'll find the coolest, meanest and most retro helmets available on our Coolest helmets pages.

Star Ratings

Shoei GT Air II: long-awaited successor to one of the best rated touring helmets.

Page Contents

A look over the Shoei GT Air II touring helmet.

The GT Air II is Shoei’s replacement for the original GT Air helmet that was launched around 2012.

That was a highly rated sports touring helmet that owners seemed to like for more or less everything – everything that is except its rather average score when SHARP tested in in their helmet testing labs.

shoei GT Air II lucky charm helmet front top view — Top view of the Shoei GT Air 2 Lucky Charm

Like the original, the 2nd gen GT AIR II is designed for more upright riding – so if you’re thinking of buying one for your new ZX10RR, maybe think again (and check out our track helmets pages). But if you’re riding something more adventure/touring/naked it should be just about right.

Shoei says they’ve uprated just about everything on the GT AIR II – it’s been wind tunnel designed to be more slippery, reduce noise and improve airflow. So it’s got a few more aero grooves in the shell and is a bit pointier-shaped than the old helmet. But other than that, it looks very similar to the first gen GT Air.

They’ve also increased the drop on the sun visor too and thrown in EQRS for good measure.

So, here’s the lowdown on whether Shoei has managed to improve what was already a very good helmet like they say they have – or whether it’s all a load of marketing hot air.

- Sports touring helmet
- Composite fibre shell
- Pinlock ready visor (Pinlock in the box)
- EQRS
- Micrometric fastener
- Sun Visor
- SENA SRL2 bluetooth integration
- Weight 1.5Kg (3.3lbs)
- Sizes XS-XXL

- Ride Magazine Best Buy (2021)

Expect to pay £450-£550

Best places to buy a Shoei GT Air II?

Please click below to visit the Shoei GT Air II helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Overall/Summary

Shoei has built-on and improved what was already a great sports/touring helmet.

The changes don’t look massive – you can see the similarities between the helmets if you check out our review of the original GT Air – but the slightly improved aerodynamics, deeper drop down sun visor that gives more cover, and the venting system that brings more air into an already well-ventilated helmet, all manage to take the GT Air II up a notch.

shoei GT Air II helmet Reminisce graphics side view — Reminisce Graphic GT Air 2

Because the GT Air II hasn’t been tested by SHARP we can’t be 100% on how protective it is (we’ve scored it 4/5 because the similar AIM-shelled Neotec II and RYD scored 4 & 5 stars respectively).

But what we do know for sure is that it’s well rated for comfort, visor system (with Pinlock anti-fog included) and noise suppression by owners who pretty much universally rate the GT Air II highly. And not just by owners – because it’s Ride magazine’s Best Buy high end sports touring helmet (2021) too.

Overall then, the Shoei GT Air II is an excellent all-rounder helmet that could well be one of the best performing sports touring full face helmets on the market.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Like the old GT Air, the GT Air II uses Shoei’s AIM (advanced integrated matrix) composite fibre construction shell that works in conjunction with a multi density polystyrene shock absorbing liner to absorb impacts and protect your bonce.

Shoei GT Air II 2 redux black crash helmet rear view — Red EQRS tabs visible underneath this GT Air II in Redux graphics

AIM is where Shoei lays down a couple of layers of fibreglass together with proprietary organic fibre layers to produce a strong yet flexible helmet shell. They keep the precise construction of AIM shells close to their chest, but it’s a slight step down from their top of the range AIM+ shells which incorporates another layer of what Shoei calls ‘special fibres’.

I guess they’ll soon do an even better version called AIM++ where they include ‘extra super special fibres’, right Shoei?

For the GT Air II they’ve made three different shell sizes to cover fitment sizes XS-XXL.

Shoei matches that AIM shell to a multi density polystyrene lining. That’s designed to absorb shocks at different rates and is just about state of the art for crash helmet design at the moment (OK there’s sliding plane helmets out there like the Bell MIPS helmets and 6Ds ATS-1 with EID tech but they’ve not been independently safety tested yet).

The European GT Air II is also ECE tested/approved and of course if you buy in other territories, it’ll be covered by your local testing regime (DOT for the US etc.).

Shoei isn’t saying much about helmet safety improvement over the old GT Air which is a shame really as that didn’t score massively well when tested by SHARP in the UK.

Here, it scored just 3 stars which was Shoei’s worst performance in many years.

Having said that, there are two other Shoei helmets that have come out since the original GT Air and that use the same AIM (or advanced integrated matrix) helmet tech as the Air 2 – that’s the NXR and the RYD which scored 4 stars and maximum 5 stars respectively, so it’s not necessarily relevant to compare the old GT Air with the new and we’ll have to wait until some independent testing houses get their hands on the new model until we can draw conclusions.

Shoei GT Air II 2 conjure motorcycle helmet side view — Shoei GT Air 2 in Conjure design

Inside the GT Air 2 you’ll find a welcome EQRS or emergency quick release system and this time there’s a metal micrometric fastener to keep everything secure.

There’s also a welcome Pinlock ready visor with a Pinlock thrown into the box to keep your vision fog-free. And to help with that, there’s a new ‘cracked open’ visor position to assist with defogging duties should you need it.

Of course, to maximize your protection from any helmet, your number one objective is to get your helmet fit spot on (it’s not just me saying that, every reputable helmet authority agrees it should be your number one priority).

So always follow a helmet fitting guide, order the correct size and then wear it around the house for a while until you’re sure the fit’s right before committing to buy. And if it’s wrong, do swap it. It’s a pain in the arse having to return a helmet, but buying a helmet’s a longer term investment for most of us, so it’s worth the aggro.

Leave the tags on until you’re sure you’re keeping it and buy from a retailer who’ll accept returns/replacements without question (like all our recommended stores).

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

The old GT Air was well regarded for noise attenuation and when Shoei launched the GT Air II they said they’d improved it even more.

Shoei GT Air II 2 Cross bar red black crash helmet rear view — Rear view of the GT Air 2 Cross. Rear spoiler and locating slot for battery pack of the communicator visible at the back of the collar

But they also say they’ve improved ventilation over the old helmet and that can mean – simply – that there’s more pathways for noise to get into the helmet.

However, they’ve also made the new helmet more aerodynamic and have incorporated ‘noise cancelling ear pads’ into the GT Air II.

The great news is that the vast majority of GT Air 2 owners reckon that it’s somewhere around quiet to very quiet. Sure, one or two owners do reckon it’s noisy – though from what I can gather it’s mostly with early helmets where the visor seal didn’t seat too well or where a fairing channeled air aggressively at the helmet.

Still, it’s worth mentioning that noise perception can be very subjective, so one person’s quiet helmet might sound like riding with your head in a kettle drum to another!

And no matter how quiet a helmet feels, it’s always advisable to push in some decent ear plugs every time you ride to protect your hearing. However, given the overall positive feedback, we’ve marked GT Air II as a quiet helmet.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Ventilation on the GT Air II is pretty straight forward. There’s a single chin vent operated by a large glove-friendly slider. And there’s a large crown vent, ditto.

Shoei GT Air II 2 light silver helmet top down view — You can see all the vents on this solid silver GT Air – twin exhausts, single top and single chin vent

According to owners, they’re both nice and easy to use and easy to locate – even in thick gloves – and Shoei reckons they’ve enlarged both vents slightly to ‘dramatically increase’ venting compared to the last helmet – which was highly rated for ventilation anyway.

All the air exits the helmet by a couple of always-open exhaust vents to the rear.

And if the helmet shell venting isn’t enough, Shoei’s introduced a ‘cracked open’ visor position which helps with venting and demisting around the visor and with keeping you cool in mega hot weather.

That cracked visor position is particularly useful in helping riders in glasses keep them demisted while riding slowly too.

Overall, the ventilation on the GT Air II is excellent, with plenty of owners saying that it flows heaps of air through the helmet to keep your head cool with enough controllable venting in the chin bar to keep your face cool and help the Pinlock keep the visor mist free.

Visor

(more about visors)

The visor on the GT Air II has been designed to be nice and wide to aid peripheral vision and it has their CNS-1 spring-loaded baseplate to pull it back tightly to the weather seal and keep air and wind out when it’s closed.

Both of these features are well liked by GT Air 2 owners who reckon there’s a wide field of view and decent seal from the face shield.

It’s also a quick release visor and, as mentioned, features a new, smaller ‘cracked open’ position to let you open your visor for venting and demisting but still protecting you from air and rain.

A couple of owners reckon the quick release system on the old visor was a bit easier to use than the revised system on the new helmet, which can be a bit fiddlier. But the cracked open visor position is definitely an improvement over the older helmet.

Shoei GT Air II 2 gloss black touring helmet side view — Moody plain black GT Air with Pinlock slot visible and sun visor down

However, you shouldn’t really need to use it that much if you fit the supplied Pinlock anti-fog insert onto your visor as they’re pretty much essential fitment these days if you do any riding when it’s cold/rainy or humid.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Shoei has improved the sun visor slightly by making it around 5mm deeper, so it covers more vision and reduces the size of the line of sunlight at the bottom that some riders find distracting.

The sun visor is operated by a slider just below the left hand visor pivot. That’s where we reckon is just about the most convenient placement. It’s an ‘analogue’ slider too so you can drop it fully down or position it anywhere in between. Again, that’s good and the operation of the sun visor is said to be nice and smooth.

Shoei has also included a pair of small switches inside the helmet. These allow you to lock the sun visor in place to make it easier to remove it for cleaning. Nice and thoughtful touch that.

All in all, the sun visor’s said to work well and be an improvement on the old helmet.

A couple of links you might find useful...

Click to view our top 10 flip-up and modular helmets
Here's our top 10 safest helmets as tested by SHARP

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The GT Air II uses Shoei’s Max Dry internals. That’s a moisture wicking material designed to pull sweat away from your head along with being very comfortable to the touch.

Shoei GT Air II 2 deviation motorbike helmet side view — This one’s the Deviation graphics

The Old GT Air was highly thought of as being a really comfortable helmet and, whereas the older helmet sized a tiny bit on the small size, the GT Air II sizes about right.

A few owners commented that it can be snug when you first get it, though it does break in quite quickly to give a decent and firm fit – which is what you should be looking for.

If it doesn’t quite fit right, Shoei does make their helmet internals fully customisable so you can buy new cheek pads to tighten or loosen things slightly if you’re just looking to tweak the fitment rather than going a full size up or down.

As you’d expect, the lining’s also fully removable and washable and there’s some generous glasses grooves in there so you can ride with your double glazing intact and not pushing into your head.

There’s also some good sized speaker pockets inside the helmet. The GT Air 2 is designed to integrate with Sena SRL2 bluetooth kit (see below for more details) but the speaker pockets are big enough to work with many speakers that aren’t too deep.

Shoei GT Air II 2 Cross bar neo yellow motorbike helmet side view — Another Shoei GT Air II in Cross graphics, this time with hi viz yellow highlights

Looks & Graphics

Shoei’s are usually known for their pretty reserved colour schemes. And, as expected, you can buy your GT Air II in a range of plan/solid colours – this time including blacks, whites, a couple of silvers, a metallic blue and a mega bright brilliant yellow version (see further down).

But they’ve also released a couple of very in your face designs too in the form of the Conjure and Deviation graphics.

If those are a bit too mad for you, you can return to more familiar Shoei territory with the Affair (available in red, yellow or white versions) and the reserved Crossbar graphics.

Feel free to get better views of these helmets on the Shoei helmets pages of our recommended retailers. You’ll find their links below. They’re recommended because they offer excellent service and cracking value so if you buy from them you should be well looked after. And if you need to return it, they’ll sort you out without fuss too (again, provided you don’t remove the tags).

Best places to buy a Shoei GT Air II helmet?

Please click below to visit the Shoei GT Air II helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shoei GT Air II Video

Here you go: an 11m video taking you around the GT Air 2. This one’s the Conjure TC-9 graphics and we start a bit into the video just so you don’t have to endure all their ramblings before they get to the meat of the vid 🙂

Other stuff – audio, glasses, build quality, aero, warranty

OK audio. Shoei has partnered with Sena to integrate their Sena SRL-2 bluetooth into the shell of the GT Air 2.

Shoei GT Air II 2 brilliant yellow touring helmet side view — You can see the cutaway for the comms unit on the bottom rim of this Hi Viz Brilliant yellow GT Air 2

That means you can remove a side panel on either side of the helmet and slot the controller unit inside so it’s nice and flush with the helmet shell. There’s also another panel at the back of the helmet to take a battery pack, and there’s a couple of speaker pockets that’re just the right size for the Sena, plus an indent on the back of the chin guard for the mic.

Which is all very good if you’re wanting to buy a new communicator (at about £250) but potentially a bit of a pain if you have a different set that you’d like to use. Those pull-away panels look like they might be right where you’d want to stick or grip on your existing kit too.

Just something to bear in mind…

Having said that, if you don’t yet have a bluetooth headset and/or you like the idea of having a headset that’s properly integrated, then several owners commented how good the integration and SRL-2 headset is.

If you wear glasses, there are glasses grooves inside the GT Air 2 and that city riding visor position is handy to keep them fog free. The sun visor can also be very handy too, saving you the need to wear prescription sunglasses.

Build quality is widely rated as very high on the GT Air 2; with quality parts, construction and finish being highly praised as well as a big factor in people investing their money into a more expensive Shoei helmet.

The shell’s well designed too, with several owners commenting that the aerodynamics are particularly good, with little buffeting and good stability reported.

All Shoei helmets come with a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty covering build and defects.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Shoei GT Air 2?

At the time of writing, the old GT Air is still on the market, so there are good deals to be had there. But if you’re looking after a great performing sports touring helmet that has been proven to give great protection, you should also check out these lids…

https://billyscrashhelmets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/shoei-RF-SR-or-Ryd-blue-side-view.jpg — Shoei RYD

First up, there’s Shoei’s own RYD helmet. That scored 5 stars for safety (plus it’s Snell certified in the US too) and it’s got EQRS, Pinlock antifog in the box, has great ventilation and it’s comfy. All that and it’s a chunk cheaper than the GT Air 2!

arai-qv-pro-full-face-crash-helmet-black-frost-black — Frost black Arai QV-Pro

You can find an Arai QV Pro for around the same money as the GT Air 2 – and for that you get a SHARP 5 star rated fibreglass street helmet with Arai’s Pro Shield and a Pinlock included. Note, this helmet’s more suited to folks with longer heads than the Shoei.

hjc-fg-st-besty-motorcycle-crash-helmet-top-view — HJC FG-ST Besty

At the more budget end of the market is HJCs FG-ST. That’s a SHARP 5 star rated fibreglass helmet too plus it comes with a sun visor and Pinlock included.

x-lite-X-702GT-Scorey-N-com-crash-helmet — X-Lite X-702 GT

Finally, a bit more left-field is X-Lite’s X-702GT. Again, 5 star safety rated as well as being highly rated for comfort, venting and noise – it’s around half the price of the Shoei too.

Best places to buy a Shoei GT Air II?

Please click below to visit the Shoei GT Air II helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

More Sports Touring Helmets?

We've looked at heaps of helmets that are more suitable for touring and naked bikes. You'll find them on our Sports Touring helmets pages. Or, if you're looking for the safest tested helmets on the market, you might want to take a look at our safest motorcycle helmets pages where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection around.

Star Ratings

MCN Rating: Quality 5/5, Value 4/5

Scorpion’s do everything adventure/road modular helmet: the Scorpion ADX-1.

Page Contents

Review of the Scorpion EXO ADX1 AT950 modular adventure helmet.

The Scorpion Exo ADX-1 (same as the AT950 if you’re in the US) is Scorpion’s take on making a hyper-flexible adventure/dual sports helmet.

Which means it’s designed to pretty much suit your riding whatever type of bike you’re on and wherever you’re going.

On a road bike? Pull off the sun peak, shove on the side pods (if you want) and you look like you’re wearing a regular full face lid with a bit of a streetfighter look about it.

Going off-road? Pull off the visor, push on the peak and slap on the goggles. Off you go.

Oh, and did we mention it’s a modular helmet too? With integral drop down sun visor?

And it’s a bit of a bargain too. Nudge down the page a bit and you’ll see you can have all this for really not very much money at all. Interested..?

Modular dual-sports helmet
Polycarbonate Shell
Integral sun visor
Removable sun peak
Pinlock visor and insert included
Tall, wide visor
Micrometric fastener
Sizes XS-XXXL
5 year warranty
Prices around £180-£240

Best places to buy a Scorpion ADX-1?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion ADX-1 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

scorpion exo at950 neocon dual sport helmet front view — Front view of the US version of the ADX-1 (called the AT950 over there)

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

It’s quite tricky to say how much protection the Scorpion ADX-1 will give.

Yup, it’s ECE certified in Europe (and the AT950 is DOT in the US) which is great – but then every helmet on sale is too because it’s mandatory.

Looking at recent SHARP independent test data for Scorpion helmets might give us a bit of a clearer picture.

Taking Scorpion helmets tested in the last few years only, they’re a very mixed bag of results.

The ADX1 is a polycarb helmet – and of the last four polycarbonate Scorpion helmets tested, they’ve scored one four star, two threes and a two (out of five).

In the last three years, only two flip-front helmets have been tested with one having its chin bar staying locked and closed 97% of the time, which is actually a well above average score (!), and the other – the Scorpion Exo 3000Air – scoring 90%. Which is less good.

Personally, I doubt I’d settle for a modular with a score of less than 100%, but it depends on how many other boxes a helmet ticks I guess. If I really want it, I’d possibly overlook it… a little.

scorpion-exo-adx-1-at950-configurations — Four helmets for the (very low) price of one

Of course, it’s not possible to say from this past test data how well the Scorpion ADX-1 would do.

But, if pushed, we’d expect a middling 3 star SHARP rating and, hopefully, a 90%+ chin bar score. Hopefully they’ll prove us (pleasantly!) wrong if SHARP gets around to testing it.

Onto other safety features: there’s a nice wide/tall visor for great peripheral vision, a simple to use (and safe) micrometric fastener, plus that visor comes with a Pinlock antifog in the box (Europe only) to keep your vision clear.

And of course there’s a drop down sun visor to help visibility when the sun’s in your eyes.

The helmet’s only made in two shell sizes which isn’t totally ideal, but it does feature EPS on the inside of the chin guard which is pretty rare but a good feature for safety.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

If you’re used to riding in modular helmets, you’ll know they’re noisier than most full face helmets.

That’s usually because there’s plenty of space around the chin bar mechanism for air to get in as well as the more complex helmet shapes of modular helmets which can create wind noise.

scorpion exo at950 hypersilver modular adventure helmet open — This one’s called the Hypersilver – showing the full extent of the chin bar when raised.

Surprisingly, the ADX-1 with all its peaks, grooves and external sliders turns out to be a pretty quiet modular. At least, that’s what lots of owners reckon.

However, don’t buy one expecting it to be mega quiet because there’s so many factors involved in perceiving a helmet to be quiet (read here).

But if you stick in a decent pair of ear plugs, hopefully you’ll find it a reasonably quiet helmet too.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Despite the ADX-1 only having a single chin vent and single crown vent, ADX owners reckon the ventilation is very good. Not amazing – especially if you live somewhere mega hot or you’re doing lots of strenuous off-roading – but fine for most of us who’ll be mostly road riding with a little sojourn off road from time to time.

That single chin vent has a large three-way slider. Fully up is closed; one down vents the back of the visor, and fully down directs air to the face.

The top slider is open or closed and that’ll take air through the helmet shell and into the generous airways cut into the inner polystyrene lining.

As I said, most owners reckon the venting’s great. They also reckon the chin curtain that comes in the box is great at stopping a draft coming up from below – or you can keep it off if you want the extra venting.

scorpion exo adx 1 horizon modular adventure bike helmet — Horizon graphics ADX1. That sun peak cleverly tilts backwards out of the way when the chin guard’s raised

And of course, if you’re still too hot when riding, you’ve always got the option of pushing the visor up and riding with the sun visor down. Or sticking goggles in.

Don’t be tempted to ride with the chin bar up though. It’s not P/J dual homologated in Europe and Scorpion don’t recommend it either.

Visor

(more about visors)

The visor system on the ADX-1 is a great piece of work.

It’s wide for excellent peripheral vision and it’s deep for when you’re stood on the pegs and need a good view down.

It works on a ratchet and has a ‘cracked open’ position for riding and getting more air at the same time – which most riders like.

A couple of owners have said that you tend to ride with the visor either closed, cracked or fully open because with the visor anywhere in between, the bottom of the visor gets in your line of sight. But then that goes for quite a few helmets…

Word is that the visor is optically very true and, in the Europe at least, it’s Pinlock ready and there’s a Pinlock anti-fog insert included in the box. That’s a great addition and, for riding in Norther Europe especially, it’s a must to keep things clear.

scorpion exo adx 1 dual modular dual sport helmet rear — Rear view of the Dual graphics ADX-1

Outside of Europe, chances are you’ve got Scorpion’s Everclear antifog treatment on the visor as well as both sides of the sun visor (you’ll find Everclear on both sides of the sun visor in Europe too).

The visor isn’t quick-release because it’s shares its pivot with the peak – which is no biggie really because you’ve got a drop down sun visor in there so no need to keep swapping visors out if it gets sunny.

Oh, and note, despite all the pictures showing a dark tinted visor, buy one and it’ll come with a clear visor.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

That sun visor is actuated by a small slider behind the left hand visor pivot. A quick short-travel slide and down it drops.

Don’t expect it to be massively tinted because by law they’re not allowed to cut out too much light. But they’re enough to stop you getting dazzled and head-butting something. In fact lots of ADX-1 riders said how useful they find it.

scorpion exo at950 neocon pink adventure helmet rear view — This one’s the Neocon in pink.

Another thing to note though – if you’ve a generously proportioned nose (like me!) you might find the sun visor drops onto it as it’s quite close to the face. A couple of owners moaned about that.

One good thing about the sun visor is that it’s double-coated (front and back) with Everclear, which is an antifog technology, so that should help with demisting. It also gives you a double helping of UV protection – polycarbonate visors give 95%+ UV protection anyway (can be much more depending on type of polycarb) but doubling that with the sun visor can’t hurt, right?

Goggles and Peak

The ADX-1 is designed to take a pair of goggles. Whip off the visor – you’ll have to take off the peak first – and put on some goggles. Or you can put them on with the main visor still in place though you can’t close the visor if you do – unlike some adventure helmets.

The rear shape of the shell incorporates a moulding that’s designed to accommodate your goggle strap so it should stay nicely in place too. All good on the goggles.

scorpion exo at950 neocon hi viz adventure helmet side view — The hi viz yellow version of the Neocon ADX-1

That sun peak is fixed in place so it’s not adjustable. It can be quickly removed with just a few turns on the screws on either side, though you will need a screwdriver (or key/coin will do) to undo it.

If you do whip it off to convert the helmet into a street helmet, there are a couple of Arai-style side pods in the box to cover up the visor’s ratchet mechanism.

Loads of owners said they find the peak really useful for adding extra protection against the sun. And its aero qualities are pretty good, though a few said it can catch the wind and/or vibrate a bit at times, although it’s nothing too bad and very much speed/bike/fairing dependent.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The main concern with a modular helmet’s chin guard is whether it’ll stay put and protect you in an accident or not. Some maker’s modulars have a history of doing exactly not that.

The only real data we’ve got to go on is SHARP test data where they record the percentage of times a helmet’s chin guard stays locked during their testing; so that can give us a guide.

scorpion exo adx 1 battleflage modular dualsport no peak — the ADX-1 without its peak in Battleflage graphics

Scorpion has an decent reputation for making safe chin guards. Of their 3 most recently tested modulars, the old Scorpion 900 Air scored 83%, but the more recently tested Scorpion Exo 3000 Air scored 97% and the Exo 920 90% – though this helmet only scored 2 stars overall.

The chin guard on the ADX-1 has an EPS lining, which is rare to find and great for safety/protection – and hopefully its locking mechanism will prove a good one.

The Scorpion ADX1 hasn’t been dual homologated so it’s not been designed to be used while the chin bar is raised. Plus Scorpion advises against it so definitely best not to ride with the guard up.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the Scorpion ADX1 you’ll find their KwikWick2 comfort liner.

That’s a fully removable and washable interior that’s antimicrobial as well as designed to wick sweat away from the head. It’s also nice and soft – aaah.

And word is it seems to do the job nicely. Sorta…

The ADX-1 suits a medium oval head shape. That’s the shape of most of our heads in the West – though you might want to click this link to find more suitable helmets if your head’s a longer oval shape.

However, many owners found the sizing a bit small, so if you’re usually a size large, you might want to try an XL with the ADX.

scorpion exo at950 tucson white neon adventure helmet front — ADX1 Tucson with sun visor fully down and chin guard fully raised

And if you do end up getting the wrong size, don’t return it straight away because Scorpion does offer different size cheek pads to allow you to tailor the fit – and that might do the trick.

Because there were quite a few folks saying they initially found their ADX’s gave them pressure points, it’s definitely worth giving it a thorough try in the house before you venture out.

Remember, you’ve gotta do that without removing the stickers/tags and before you decide to keep or return it otherwise retailers won’t accept it as a return.

Just as a note, all our recommended retailers accept your returns/exchanges without a quibble (just sayin!) but still, you’ve gotta keep on those tags.

Looks & Graphics

Scorpion has managed to pull off a neat trick with the ADX-1. Not only does it look like… well pretty much every other dual sports helmet. But pull off the peak and it does a decent impression of an aggressive full face with a nod towards a streetfighter helmet.

Most of them are available in suitably dark and moody graphics too – plain gloss and matt blacks supplemented by the classy Duals and the urban Battleflage if you fancy looking like someone out of Halo.

scorpion exo at950 tucson titanium adventure helmet rear — Rear view of Scorpion Exo ADX-1 in Tucson graphics

There’s also black and white versions of the horizon, a couple of Neocons and Anima’s with their Hi Viz stripes.

For the latest designs that’ve been rolled out since we wrote this review, please click the links below to our recommended stores. They’ll all look after you because we only recommend retailers with great online reviews and good, customer-friendly trading terms. Read here for more details.

Best places to buy a Scorpion ADX-1 helmet?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion ADX-1 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Scorpion ADX-1 Video

Here’s a mega 19m ride-along vlog review from some dude called Dean on his Yamaha XVS (thanks Dean!).

Other stuff – audio, weight, glasses, build quality, warranty

The Scorpion ADX-1 has been designed to work well with bluetooth communicators. There’s some large speaker pockets in there and plenty of space to hold the bluetooth unit on the side. Because it’s a modular, you’ll probably need a boom mic of course, but Scala G9 and Packtalk owners said their sets fitted without a problem.

The ADX is a polycarbonate adventure helmet which means it’s going to be heavier than normal plus it’s got all the extra bits and pieces you need to make a modular dual sport helmet like that peak and chin guard mechanism.

Having said that, it weighs around 1.8Kg (4lbs) which is actually not too bad for a polycarb adventure helmet. In fact several owners said it feels pretty light on the move.

Handily, there’s a glasses groove inside the ADX – what Scorpion calls KwikFit. And a couple of owners said they can even put their ADXs on without removing their glasses, no problem.

scorpion adx-1 battleflage black silver helmet front — Here’s a silver & black Battleflage this time -minus peak

Onto build quality. OK, the ADX1 is a lower priced helmet so you’ve gotta take that into consideration. But owners say the build quality is really good with fit and finish being of high quality and things like air seals working really well.

There were problems with the helmet shell colours fading on some helmets, but happily those we found who reported that problem (not too many) also said Scorpion replaced the helmets quickly under warranty so you can’t say fairer than that.

That warranty is actually a class-leading 5 year warranty, and with Scorpion honouring such a long warranty, you should be able to buy with confidence.

Overall/Summary

The Scorpion ADX-1 is a properly versatile helmet. OK, most owners are going to use it on the road rather than true adventuring off road. But that’s fine because it’ll work just as well as a cool looking street helmet as it will splashing up green lanes.

If you’re after the best, proven, protection out there, then you might want to look elsewhere such as the 5 star rated Caberg Tourmax or the Snell certified Arai Tour X4 mentioned below. That’s simply because the ADX1 hasn’t been independently tested over and above ECE testing – which isn’t Scorpion’s fault.

scorpion exo adx 1 solid white modular dual sport helmet — Gloss white ADX. Note black sun visor slider behind the visor pivot

But if you’re after a flexible helmet that offers great value for money, is all day comfortable, comes with a Pinlock visor (and insert) and has most of the bells and whistles you could possibly want from an adventure helmet, then the Scorpion ADX-1 is well worth a look.

Just make sure you can return/swap it in case the internal shape doesn’t fit (see comfort section above).

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Scorpion ADX-1?

If you’re after a proper ‘do everything’ helmet you might be surprised to find out there’s a few other helmets that do a similar job to the ADX1.

There’s one of our perma-favourites, the Caberg Tourmax. That’s a modular dual-sport and it’s been tested by SHARP and awarded a maximum 5 star rating – though its chin bar scored 87%. It costs about the same as the Scorpion, has a sun visor and Pinlock too.

You should probably check out the Schuberth E1 too because that’s a modular adventure lid as well – though this one’s fibreglass and a ton more expensive. It’s pretty quiet and has an adjustable peak which is useful.

Back down towards lower budgets, there’s the Bell MX9 Adventure. It’s polycarbonate, really comfortable, comes with a 5 year warranty and you can add goggles and close the visor on this one. It’s not a modular though.

Finally, another more expensive option – this time from Arai. The Arai Tour X4 isn’t a modular either but it is a well rated and versatile adventure helmet. Snell certified in the US, it’s another helmet you can remove the (adjustable) peak from to transform it into a road helmet. Plus you’ll get that legendary Arai build quality.

Best places to buy a Scorpion ADX-1?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion ADX-1 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Other Adventure/Dual-Sports helmets?

There are lots of other Adventure/Dual Sports crash helmets out there, so please check out our Adventure motorcycle helmets page to see all our other reviews and previews. Or, if you're looking for the safest tested helmets on the market, you might want to take a look at our safest motorcycle helmets pages where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there.

Star Ratings

SHARP 5 star sportsbike helmet on a budget anyone?

Page Contents

Airoh Valor full face sportsbike crash helmet review.

The Valor is a very entry-level sportsbike helmet made by Italian helmet company Airoh.

But don’t let the phrase ‘entry level’ put you off, because that just means it’s cheap, making it accessible to all sorts of riders on all sorts of budgets.

And it doesn’t necessarily mean not very good because not only does the Valor have lots of features that should make it both a decent road helmet as well as sportsbike helmet, but it’s also been tested by those helmet testing bods at SHARP where it scored maximum marks for safety!

Bet that’s got you taking the Valor a bit more seriously now eh?

There’s not a vast amount of intel on the Valor out there – but we’ve hunted high and low and here’s what the Airoh Valor offers and what riders and owners think about theirs….

Sportsbike full face helmet
Thermoplastic shell
SHARP 5 star safety rated (maximum)
Wide visor
2 Shell sizes
ACU gold stickered
Micrometric fastener
Pinlock ready visor
Sizes XS-XXL
1.45Kg (3.2lbs)
Expect to pay £70-£125

Best places to buy an Airoh Valor?

Please click below to drop straight onto the Airoh Valor helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

OK, it’s been given a SHARP 5 star safety rating. That’s it. Job done. Next!

Yep, it might be a budget helmet, but Airoh has definitely done something very right with the Valor to score maximum marks by SHARP.

airoh-valor-SHARP-high-speed-test-result 1 — Airoh Valor SHARP high speed test results. Image/test copyright sharp.dft.gov.uk – Airoh Valor @ 8.5m/s

That means the Airoh Valor is both ECE tested/certified – which is a pretty arduous test to pass in its own right – and has maxed out the SHARP safety test.

Meaning that if safety’s your number one priority and you’re on a tight budget, the Airoh Valor has probably shot to the top of your ‘must check out’ list.

It might only have a thermoplastic shell, but as we’ve said many times before, thermoplastics can make for very tough helmet shells that work well alongside multi-density EPS liners to absorb energy. And Airoh’s designers have obviously done an excellent job in combining the two in a great, low priced package.

The helmet also weighs around 1.45Kg (3.2lbs) which is actually light weight compared to most thermoplastic helmets – and that lighter weight will help with reducing inertial forces during any impact. Which – for the avoidance of doubt – is a very good thing.

airoh-valor-raptor-yellow-black-helmet-side-view — Side view of the Airoh Valor Raptor in hi viz yellow/black

Making a helmet with a nice large visor aperture can sometimes lower overall helmet safety performance during testing, so for Airoh to make a large visor and score five stars is particularly excellent (though read our notes on this in the visor section).

And of course having a wide visor means improved peripheral vision which will help with riding and safety on the road and track too.

That visor is also Pinlock ready as well, so if you find you suffer from a fogging visor (which you will if it’s cold or wet and you insist on breathing while wearing your helmet!) then you can shell out a bit more for a Pinlock antifog to keep things clear near enough 100% of the time.

In the UK, the helmet’s been awarded an ACU Gold sticker – which is what you need to take a helmet on the track in the UK, so that’s all good.

It’s secured to your head with a micrometric fastener – they’re nice and easy to use and are safe as long as you take the time to adjust the strap occasionally to ensure it’s tight when fastened.

But that headline figure of a SHARP five star rating is going to be most folks’ reason for buying an Aiorh Valor. That and the price tag. And why not? Looking at those two numbers, you probably can’t go far wrong, right?

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

There’s not a mass of info out there about helmet noise on the Airoh Valor.

airoh-valor-shell-helmet-side-view — Valor Shell in profile. It looks like a sportsbike lid, it’s just that visor that might be a bit shallow

One MCN tester said it was nice and quiet at motorway speeds wearing earplugs. And another tester seemed to find it about average but quieter than their last two helmets.

So I guess that means it’s overall a smidge above average for noise suppression. But that’s with the usual large caveat that most noise levels are massively subjective depending on your bike, speed, riding style, weather, what you had for breakfast etc. etc. so your opinion and circumstances (and therefore perception of noise) will probably be different.

But the bottom line is always stick in some good ear plugs and you’ll probably find the Valor is fine.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Airoh makes a big thing about the ventilation of the Valor being ace. And with 8 ventilation holes in the shell, you can see why.

In fact two of those vents they mention are exhaust vents on the back and a couple of them are really just one intake on the brow. But still, there’s a decent number of air vents in there.

airoh-valor-white-gloss-crash-helmet-rear-view — Rear view of the Valor gloss white – note two exhausts and twin crown vents

Note, those two scoops on either side of the chin bar are, bizarrely, fake. But there is a single chin vent panel that can be opened/closed plus there’s that dual closeable brow vent and a couple of independently opened crown vents to let air in.

Apparently it all works well and though it can take a while to get used to the different panels, switches and sliders used to operate the various vent closing mechanisms – it’s all pretty airy in there.

Visor

(more about visors)

The Visor on the Airoh Valor is nice and wide and designed by Airoh to work in a sportsbike tuck too.

Having said that, word is that it’s not a massively tall visor aperture so if you’re head down on the tank on your track bike, your forward view might be limited unless you really crane your neck.

So maybe it’s more a sporty riding than out-and-out sportsbike helmet?

It’s got a pair of Pinlock posts on the visor, meaning you can buy a Pinlock antifog insert and the visor will accept it (though it’ll be about £30 extra). But they’re highly recommended if you’re riding in cold/wet or even humid places.

airoh-valor-matt-solid-black-motorbike-helmet-front-view — Moody matt black version

The visor works on a ratchet, has a ‘cracked open’ or city riding position – which is very handy – and there’s a single opening tab on the left. That’s OK, though maybe a double opening tab would’ve made things even easier.

There’s also a visor lock just under the opening tab. Close the visor and it auto-locks but it’s a simple, single operation to push up on the tab to unlock it and open the visor.

It’s a quick release visor as well and the system is easy to use, meaning it’s very easy to remove the visor for cleaning or to swap it out for a tinted visor (there isn’t an integral sun visor in the Valor).

All in all, the visor system ticks many boxes and doesn’t really lack any thing the discerning sportsbike rider will be looking for. But just note that it’s not as tall as some sportsbike visors.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Word is that it’s a comfy helmet – as long as you buy the right size in the first place of course (follow our fitting guide here).

There’s a removable and washable lining in there and while it’s not the most fancy helmet lining ever, Airoh does use some comfy materials that are also moisture wicking and hypoallergenic.

airoh-valor-impact-red-black-motorbike-helmet-side-view — This one’s the Valor in Impact graphics

And because it’s a pretty light helmet (for a thermoplastic shelled helmet) a couple of owners said it feels light weight and nicely balanced when you’re riding.

And if you wear glasses, it should be OK because there’s enough padding in there to stop them digging into the side of your head.

All in all, follow our guide and buy the right helmet size and you should be good to go. Though, as always when buying online, make sure you buy from only stores who’ll accept returns with no quibbles (like all our recommended retailers) and always leave on all the labels and stickers until you’re happy you want to keep the helmet because it’ll get rejected as a return if you don’t.

Looks & Graphics

The Airoh Valor is a very modern and slick-looking helmet and mimics the aerodynamic style of many of the latest track helmets. All of which is pretty cool – especially when you consider the level of performance you’re getting and the small cost.

airoh-valor-rockstar-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — Rockstar graphics

There’s a whole range of designs to accompany it too – from the plain blacks and whites all the way up to some very in-your-face graphics and colourways.

We’ve included examples of the Impact, Azure, Jackpot, Sam, Rocks and Raptor graphics on these pages but you’ll probably find more on the links below to our recommended partner stores – along with the latest deals.

Best places to buy an Airoh Valor helmet?

Please click below to drop straight onto the Airoh Valor helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Airoh Valor Video

Here’s a 1 minute spin around the Valor…

Other stuff – build quality, chin curtain, warranty

For the price, the Valor is a well put together helmet with decent paint and materials used.

airoh-valor-jackpot-motorbike-helmet-rear-view — Rear of the Airoh Valor Jackpot

It comes with a removable chin curtain (one reviewer said it works the best of any they’ve tried!) and a non-removable breath guard.

Finally, all Airoh helmets come with a 2 year warranty from date of purchase.

Overall/Summary

If you’re looking for a safety-proven sportsbike helmet that’s going to leave you change from £200 (or even £100 depending on the version you choose), then there’s not masses of choice – though we suggest some quality options below.

Opinions online are thin on the ground, but from the opinions we’ve found, it’s a decent helmet that owners really like, with a quality feel and good comfort that works well on the road.

But note – a couple of owners suggested it’s a bit limited in vertical/forward vision, so if you’re gonna be in an extreme sportsbike tuck lots of the time, then it sounds like it might not be the best choice.

But with its SHARP 5 star rating and ACU sticker, if you’re looking for a track or sportsbike helmet and don’t want to spend the money demanded by the Arais or Shoeis of this world, then the budget Airoh Valor is one heck of an alternative that’ll give you the same levels of protection but for pocket money.

airoh-valor-sam-helmet-side-view — Cool aero on the Airoh Valor Sam

It’s well worth a look – and if you buy from an online store who’ll refund you if that limited vertical vision turns out to be a problem (like our recommended retailer does), then you’ve nothing to lose.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Airoh Valor?

OK, you’ve probably come here to read about the Valor because of its SHARP 5 star rating coupled with the fact it’s cheap and it’s a sportsbike lid.

So here’s some recommended alternatives to the Valor that are definitely worth considering if you’re after a lower-priced helmet to work on your sportsbike.

First up, there’s the LS2 Arrow – that’s a SHARP 4 star rated sportsbike helmet that’s available in both fibreglass or carbon versions and is a real bargain. It’s got an optically correct visor, Pinlock in the box, it’s light weight – and it’ll work well on any sportsbike.

Or there’s the HJC FG-17. That’s a lower priced sportsbike helmet like the Airoh – it’s a SHARP 4 star fibreglass helmet that’s a solid scorer all round.

Or if you can push the boat out a bit further, the Bell Star range are tried and tested 5 star rated track helmets – and the entry level composite fibre Bell Star is a really great sportsbike helmet.

Check out our Sportsbike or track helmets sections for more previews and reviews of helmets suitable for your sportsbike.

Best places to buy an Airoh Valor?

Please click below to drop straight onto the Airoh Valor helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

Off road, on road and anywhere in between: AGV’s AX-9 adventure helmet.

Page Contents

AGV AX-9 adventure helmet review.

AGV’s been making AX off-road helmets for over a decade now. The old AX8 was a great – if slightly flawed – helmet (you can read the AX8 review here).

But one of the cool things about AX helmets is their ability to morph from road helmets into full on dirt helmets and back again with just a tiny bit of fiddling to remove the peak, visor and shove on some goggles. And the new AX9 is no different.

It really doesn’t take long to convert, so you can ride to your green lane, then switch to adventure mode and get wet and dirty in no time.

Only, the last model was a smidge of a compromise. The visor system was slightly below-par (it could scratch through a design flaw and the bottom could get in your line of sight) and there wasn’t anywhere to fit your comms unit – all of which was enough to put quite a few buyers off.

The AGV AX-9 promised to improve all these areas and more. Read on for our full review.

Full face and adventure helmet
Composite fibre and carbon versions
3 Shell sizes
Double D-ring fastener
Wide Pinlock-ready visor
Pinlock included (Eu only)
Removable/adjustable peak
Composite version – 1.55Kg (3.4lbs)
Full carbon version – 1.45Kg (3.2lbs)
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay around:
- £300 composite version
- £400 full carbon version

Best places to buy an AGV AX-9?

Please click below to visit the AGV AX-9 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

AGV’s no stranger to throwing every safety trick in the book at their helmets.

AGV AX9 antarctica motocross helmet front — AGV AX-9 Antarctica front on

So you’ll probably not be surprised to discover that the ‘standard’ composite version of the AX9 is constructed from some pretty fancy materials.

Namely, a composite of carbon, aramid (i.e. Kevlar) and fibreglass, that’s moulded into three different shell sizes to ensure all fitment sizes are optimally formed.

These three shell sizes correspond to fitment sizes XS-MS, ML-XL and 2XL (note there’s a smaller and a larger medium fitment available) and should mean you get the right helmet form/size/weight and shock absorbing padding to suit your body size. So all good there (read more about shell sizes here if you don’t know what I’m banging on about).

Something else that’s all good is AGV’s reputation for building high quality, safe helmets. At the time of writing, they’re our 3rd safest helmet brand based on their SHARP test scores; and their last 8 tested helmets have scored a staggering 4 or 5 (maximum) stars out of 5!

Obviously, we can’t second guess what the AGV AX-9’s going to score if SHARP were to test it. But AGV has a track record of producing some excellent and safe lids, so we’d expect it to score highly.

AGV AX9 pacific road fluo grey yellow crash helmet rear — From the rear – AX9 Pacific Road in grey/fluo yellow

Of course, all helmets on sale in Europe have to be ECE certified and the AX-9 is no exception (in the US it’s DOT certified) and that should give you some confidence in the protection offered by the AX9 too as it’s a pretty stringent standard for any helmet to pass.

The AX-9 also has a quad density polystyrene shock absorbing inner. Multi-density liners cushion shocks of different speeds and are what all the big brand helmets offer. So again, that’s a good thing to see inside the AX9.

OK, so AGV looks to have got the basic safety spec spot on – as far as we can tell without headbutting things in anger!

And other safety features looks useful too.

They claim a super wide visor to help give great peripheral vision – and say it’s taller than most to to help with forward vision if you’re tucked in a bit.

It’s also a Pinlock ready visor and a Pinlock anti-fog insert is included in the box if you’re buying in Europe too (sorry US but most helmet distributors over there don’t think you need one!). All meaning you’ve no need to ride round with a foggy visor if you buy an AX-9.

AGV AX9 solid white crash helmet side view — Solid gloss white AX-9

It uses a double-d ring fastener to keep it securely fastened to your head. They’re great – just make sure you tighten it up enough each time you go for a ride. If it’s not tight, helmets can come off under impact so tighten it up well.

All in all, things on the safety front look pretty sorted for the AX9. We’ll not know for sure until some testing labs get their hands on them. But looking at the evidence so far, we expect the AGV AX-9 to give you excellent protection.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Looking at the layout of the AX-9, you’d be forgiven for expecting it to be a really noisy lid. I mean, with that large air scoop up top, a wide visor and plenty of air vents, I’d have put money on it letting tons of noise inside.

The great news is that AX9 owners seem to rate it as a particularly quiet helmet. Maybe it’s all that super soft and plush interior that muffles the sound – or the fact that AGV got the aero just right so the air slips by and doesn’t create much noise.

Whatever it is, several owners said that not only is it a particularly quiet adventure helmet – but in road mode it’s quieter than their street helmet too. Great job AGV.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a single central chin vent plus a couple of forehead vents in the AX-9.

It sounds like a fairly conventional layout. But AGV did bandy around figures of up to 3x better airflow than the old helmet so, on paper at least, it sounded like AGV wanted to make a real effort to make the AX9 a mega airy helmet.

Looking at the chin vent alone, we can see that it’s really configurable, allowing you to adjust it several ways to maximise ventilation if there’s not enough.

Out of the box, there’s a slider to open/close the chin vent. That’s all standard fayre. But behind that front panel is a removable/washable filter which will come in handy if you do lots of off-roading.

To access the filter, you can push in the bottom snapper and that front panel comes off so you can get to it for cleaning – or you can remove it completely if you want to get more air through.

And if you want to get even more air, you can also leave the whole filter assembly off entirely.

If you decide to ride like that, there’s an internal closing mechanism that you can access behind the chin bar so you can still block it off if things get too breezy (or rainy). Nice touch.

AGV’s routed the chin ventilation so it diverts up behind the visor to help with demisting as well as routing onto the face to help with cooling.

AGV AX9 solid gloss black crash helmet rear — Rear view of the solid gloss black AX9

Onto the top vents… they’re closable via a couple of sliders and they route air through the helmet shell and into the helmet as you’d expect.

There weren’t any problems with the head vents on the old helmet but looking at rider feedback, it seems AGV has really delivered with the AX9.

There’s plenty of owners around waxing lyrical about how great the ventilation is. Not only do the vents let plenty of air through, but there’s lots of space in the padding to let air through to your head too.

And if it’s a particularly hot day and things are getting warm, remove that front vent cover and the air floods in.

And of course, if you ever find things get too hot despite these loads of venting options, you can always pull off the visor and shove on some goggles. That should cool things down even more.

As always, if having a helmet that vents really well is important to you – you might want to check out our Best Venting Helmets pages.

Visor

(more about visors)

I’ll not bang on about some of the problems with the old AX8 because most of you won’t have experience of the old helmet (and you can read about it in our old AGV AX8 review if you’re interested).

Suffice to say it looks like AGV’s moved things on a notch with the AX9.

AGV AX9 pacific road yellow crash helmet front — Front view of the AX-9 Pacific Road showing that massive visor aperture

The visor is Pinlock ready and comes with a Pinlock anti-fog insert in the box (hurrah).

It’s not a quick change visor either, I guess because most quick release systems need you to fully open the visor first before pulling it off; and if you do that on the AX9 there’s a massive sun peak in the way, so it just won’t work.

But it is a wide and tall visor for good all round vision. AGV claims 190º horizontal and 110° vertical which sounds decent to me.

And we found loads of owners saying how huge the visor is and that it gives excellent all-round vision.

Usefully, it’s also got two opening tabs left/right too which just makes things that bit easier – left hand opening when you’re on the move, right hand opening when you’re stopped and pulling in the clutch for example.

Obviously, the AX9 can be configured several different ways so you can do some serious off roading in it should the mood take you.

AGV expects most riders to use their AX9s predominantly on the road, but if you do decide to whip off the visor and stick some goggles in, just don’t expect it to take as many types of goggles as a true motocross lid because, even though it’s a large visor, it can be a bit too small for some of the larger goggles out there.

AGV AX9 full carbon motorcycle helmet side view — Full Carbon fibre AX9 showing new larger sun peak

There are a couple of other areas where there’s a bit of a compromise going on too.

Some owners say the visor doesn’t open quite far enough because the peak gets in the way, and it can be a fiddle to remove the visor because it’s not toolless.

But on the other hand it seals well and has a ‘cracked open’ or city position which many riders look for to let a bit of extra ventilation in while keeping the visor down.

Overall then, it’s perhaps not surprising that with such a versatile helmet with multiple uses that things aren’t going to be perfect. But the visor on the AX9 has been well thought out, is pretty well implemented and, crucially, is seen as a great system by the vast majority of owners.

Peak

Compared to the old AX-8 peak, the AX-9’s is a bit bigger to give better shading, plus it’s been slightly redesigned because the old one was prone to a bit of vibrating and catching the wind on the move.

AGV reckons the new peak has better aerodynamic performance and it’s a bit more polished to hide bolts and screws. It’s also adjustable so you can tailor the angle to maximise protection for your preferred riding position.

And most AX-9 owners are loving AGV’s work. Sure, it can catch some wind when you’re barrelling along (though it’s actually pretty good in most circumstances) but the length of the peak is really handy for offering lots of shade.

And if you do find it’s too long for your needs, AGV does sell a smaller replacement peak.

It can be a bit fiddly when you want to take it off – and you need to keep the bolts and rubber inserts safe as they could get lost.

But that’s about it for complaints. Other than that, owners are finding the peak does its job really well.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

AGV’s never really had any problems with making very comfortable helmets. And AX-9 owners overwhelmingly find theirs to be a really comfortable helmet too, saying the materials used and level of padding is second to none, making all day riding a doddle.

It’s been designed to cater for the most common head shape – which means it’s a medium oval internal shape.

Inside, you’ll find a removable/washable comfort lining using materials with fancy names like Ritmo, Nabuk and Shalimar.

You’ll find more info on these fabrics here – but in essence they’re hyper comfy materials that’ll suck sweat away from your head, kill germs and keep you cool and comfortable.

You’ll also find a glasses groove in the cheek pads to stop the stems of glasses or shades digging in.

AGV AX9 antarctica motocross helmet side — Profile view of the AX-9 Antarctica

And AGV’s moved this new AX into the 21st century by including generous speaker pockets too. Unlike the old AX8 which had no space inside, you now can slap a bluetooth kit onto the AX9, drop your headphones into the speaker pockets and ride in connected-comfort without speaker-induced ear ache.

Finally, you shouldn’t have a problem with weight on the AX-9 either. The composite fibre version weighs around 1.55Kg (3.4lbs) and the full carbon a reasonably light weight 1.45Kg (3.2lbs).

Looks & Graphics

AGV must think that adventure bike riders are a conservative bunch because, while the AX9 is a massively versatile helmet, the form of the helmet is pretty traditional and all the graphics are fairly muted.

At the time of writing, we’ve put examples of all the available designs on this page – but to see any newly released designs and good deals, please click through to our recommended retailers below (all recommended for amazing service and online ratings).

Best places to buy an AGV AX-9 helmet?

Please click below to visit the AGV AX-9 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

AGV AX-9 Helmet Video

Here’s a good 10m look around the AX-9 (and comparison to the old AX-8) from Revzilla in the US.

Other stuff – comms, warranty

As mentioned, there’s space inside the AGV AX-9 for a bluetooth headset with generously sized speaker pockets and plenty of space for a microphone. And according to several owners, headsets work particularly well in the AX9 – probably because it’s a nice quiet helmet. We heard of riders fitting Sena SMH10 and Cardo Packtalk slim units without any problem.

All AGVs come with a fairly stingy 2 year warranty, though make sure you register it on AGV’s website and you’ll get an extra year (or an extra 2 or 3 for sports helmets).

Overall/Summary

The AGV AX range of helmets have always been very versatile helmets, meaning you don’t have to buy more than one helmet if you’re after both a road and dirt helmet.

The AX-9 has built on what was great about the old AX8 and been further developed to sort the few problems owners reported on the outgoing helmet.

AGV-AX9-pacific-road-crash-helmet-side-view — Pacific Road graphics, this time in black and white with red piping

Which means the AX-9 is a superb all rounder helmet, capable of giving all day comfort on the road as well as decent performance when you take it onto a trail or green lane.

We’ve marked protection down simply because it hasn’t been independently tested by any one (though we’d expect it to score higher than 3 stars if it is).

But it’s a helmet that’s universally loved by owners. With it’s versatility, wide/tall Pinlock visor, excellent build quality and comfort – not to mention outstanding ventilation and lightness – the AGV AX-9 is a corker of a helmet and well worth considering (along with our recommended alternatives below) if you’re looking to buy a road or adventure bike helmet.

Good Alternatives to the AGV AX-9?

If you’re after a new adventure bike helmet, we recommend you check out these tried and tested helmets.

Arai’s Tour X4 is another premium adventure helmet that’s multi-configurable for on or off road riding. It’s a fibreglass shelled, Snell certified (in the US) helmet with excellent ventilation and comfort, EQRS and a fab 5 year warranty.

Shoei’s Hornet ADV is another Snell tested/approved adventure helmet. It’s a quality fibreglass helmet, also with a 5 year warranty, and comes with an optically correct visor.

If you’re looking for something cheaper, the Caberg Tourmax is a low cost modular dual sport helmet that’s SHARP 5 star rated and costs about half of the others.

Best places to buy an AGV AX-9?

Please click below to visit the AGV AX-9 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Other Adventure/Dual-Sports helmets?

There are lots of other Adventure/Dual Sports crash helmets out there, so please check out our Adventure motorcycle helmets page to see all our other reviews and previews. Or, if you're looking for the safest tested helmets on the market, you might want to take a look at our safest motorcycle helmets pages where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there.

Caberg XTrace: a massively versatile, great value dual sport helmet

Page Contents

Review of the Caberg X-Trace dual sport motorbike helmet.

The XTrace is Caberg’s ultra-flexible dual sports helmet. I say ultra flexible because, like the Bell MX-9 Adventure or the Shoei Hornet ADV, it’s been designed to work well whether you’re riding on or off road, touring or trail riding.

Which in practice means that Caberg’s designed an adventure style helmet with sun peak/roost guard, which you can easily pull off to convert it into a street helmet when you need to put in some serious road miles.

All of which sounds very interesting – especially when it looks this nice and is available for not very much money.

So, if you’re interested in this sort of helmet, read on to find out what owners and reviewers alike think of the Caberg XTrace – and maybe check out a few more reviews in our Adventure helmets section – or find some recommended alternatives to look at towards the bottom of the review.

Dual sports adventure/road helmet
ABS plastic shell
ECE certified (but not DOT for the US)
Removable peak
Wide visor
Pinlock ready visor
Medium oval fitment
Drop down sun visor
micrometric fastener
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay £160-£200

Best places to buy a Caberg X-Trace?

Please click below to visit the Caberg X-Trace helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

caberg x-trace dual sport helmet white side view — Sun peak, clear visor, drop down sun visor. All present and correct…

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The shell of the Caberg X-Trace is made from ABS plastic. That’s a thermoplastic shell to you and me and while they’re at the cheaper end of the market, they can make for really tough shells with excellent impact resistance.

The XTrace hasn’t been independently safety tested yet, but what we can tell you is that a stack of Caberg helmets have been in the past.

Most of those tested by SHARP are actually polycarbonate helmets (slightly different from ABS but still thermoplastics) and Caberg has built a fantastic reputation for making mega safe helmets.

In fact, over the years, the average score of their plastic helmets has been 4.3 stars out of a maximum 5 when SHARP tested them. And while, their average has dropped a little recently, that’s still a massive score and puts them into the top ten in our safest helmets brand list.

The XTrace is of course ECE tested/approved too so there’s no reason to suspect it’ll offer anything other than great protection.

It’s made in 2 shell sizes, which is OK for a helmet in this price range, and it’s been noted by a couple of owners that it looks particularly compact.

And like quite a few other dual sports helmets, there’s a nice wide visor to give excellent all-round vision and with a Pinlock ready visor (insert not included) and drop down sun visor, you’ve every tool available to ensure your vision’s never impared.

It’s all kept on your head with a super easy to use micrometric fastener.

3 Configurations

One of the great selling points about a helmet like the X-Trace is how it can be used for both on or off road riding.

Take off the peak and you’ve got a regular full face helmet. Take off the main visor and refit the peak and you’ve got an off road helmet. You can also drop down the anti-scratch sun visor or, I guess, stick in some goggles.

On that, there’s no word about which goggles will fit either from owners or from Caberg themselves.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

There’s some decent padding inside the Caberg X-Trace plus the helmet comes with a chin curtain to help cut out a bit of road noise and unwanted draft from below.

But all in all the XTrace seems to be about average for noise suppression. A couple of owners said it’s quite quiet and another said it was too noisy; while the testing guys at WebBikeWorld reckoned it was a smidge better than average. And from the reviews we’ve seen from owners, that seems to be about right.

So don’t expect it to be particularly quiet – and stick in a decent set of ear plugs when you’re riding any sort of distance and you should be OK.

white caberg x-trace dual sport helmet front view — Narrow aerodynamic profile from the front

It’s tricky to find a really quiet helmet, but if that’s your goal, you should check out some of the lids on our quietest helmets pages.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a single large slider on the chin bar and two separate 3 position sliders on the crown.

That single central vent has both half and fully open positions and directs air towards the back of the visor to help with de-fogging as well as towards the chin area.

The top vents are sliders and have to be operated separately. They pull air through the helmet shell and around the internal air channels cut into the internal shock absorbing lining and through to your scalp.

Most folks seem to find the sliders reasonably easy to find and use. And while the chin vent is especially good, top vents are only seen as about average. So if you’re planning to use the X-Trace for a load of dirt riding, you’re either going to get pretty sweaty or you’ll have to open the visor for some extra cooling.

caberg-x-trace-Lux-black-yellow-motorbike-helmet-front-view — Hi Viz XTrace Lux (see video below for a closer look)

While a decent amount of air gets to the rear of the visor, it’s not enough to keep things fog free. So if you do find things misting up, you should invest in a Pinlock antifog insert.

Visor

(more about visors)

Caberg advertises the XTrace as having double-visor tech. That just means it’s got a main clear visor and an internal sun visor.

The main clear visor on the X-Trace is nice and wide and because there’s a huge visor aperture, it gives excellent all-round vision.

It’s Pinlock-ready too – meaning it’s prepared to take an antifog insert if you decide to buy one (they’re about £30ish) and has an opening tab on both sides, which is great for maximum flexibility.

caberg-x-trace-Lux-motorbike-helmet-side-view — This one’s the Lux in red/white/blue

Note – the Xtrace doesn’t come with a Pinlock in the box, but many helmets do these days. Check our Pinlock helmets pages to find helmets that are either Pinlock ready or come with a Pinlock in the box (we’ll put it in the bullets at the top of each page if they do).

The visor works on a ratchet and has four opening positions. But note, it’s not a quick release visor because if you need to remove the visor, there’s a sun peak in the way that needs taking off first.

There’s no reported problems with the visor system on the XTrace; all works great according to owners.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The same goes for that drop down sun visor mechanism.

It operates using a slider just below the left hand visor pivot. That’s a convenient place for the sun visor controls and most owners reckon it quickly becomes second nature to find it.

It also means there’s space on the left side of the helmet if you intend fitting a bluetooth intercom.

The sun visor itself works on friction; so slide it one way and it’s fully down and you can set it at various points in between if you like to have just some coverage.

caberg x-trace matt black helmet side view — Matt black XTrace

Word is that it’s nice and dark and it’s large so it covers all the space you need it to cover (some sun visors leave a bit of space at the bottom that can be annoying).

Peak

Of course, because it’s a dual sport helmet, there’s a large sun peak/roost guard on top of the helmet.

With the Caberg X-Trace it’s removable so you can turn the helmet into a full face if you want.

There’s a couple of thumb screws – one on each side – so you don’t need tools either. Just remove the screws, pull off the peak, shove the screws and washer back in and there you go – full face helmet.

But if you do like to ride with the peak in place, owners reckon it feels solid and sturdy (like the rest of the helmet does) and it doesn’t vibrate when riding.

In fact we only came across one person who had a problem with the peak on the road who said the turbulent air off the top of his fairing catches on the peak a bit. Most other owners said it doesn’t cause them problems.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The X-Trace is a medium oval fitment and owners are pretty universal in their praise, saying it’s a really comfortable lid.

It’s got a fully removable/washable lining that’s designed to be moisture/sweat wicking and owners say is made of nice comfortable material.

If you’re unsure of your helmet size, make sure you follow our helmet fitting guide. The XTrace is supposed to be true to size, so work out your head size then just order the correct size.

Note, one owner did say he felt the chin guard isn’t the longest so if you’re particularly big of chin, you might want to make sure you order from a store who’ll replace/return without a quibble.

Actually, you’ll want to be able to do that anyway, just in case the size (or anything else isn’t quite right) – which is why all our recommended stores do just that – and some will even pay return postage!

Looks & Graphics

The Caberg X-Trace is a good looking helmet – both as a dual sports or in its full face config.

At the time of writing there’s not a whole load of different designs/graphics available. There’s a gloss white and matt black plus a couple of different colours in Spark and Lux graphics.

To find out if any more are available, you might want to drop through to the Caberg helmets pages at our recommended online retailers using the links below (note. except for Amazon, we only provide links to places that get amazing online reviews).

Best places to buy a Caberg X-Trace helmet?

Please click below to visit the Caberg X-Trace helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Caberg X-Trace Video

Here’s a mega-quick 3m look around the Caberg XTrace Lux.

Other stuff – fastener, weight, aero, build quality, chin curtain, warranty

The X-trace comes with a quick-release micrometric fastener. They’re really simple to use and should be safe as long as you tighten the adjuster on the strap from time to time.

caberg x-trace dual sport helmet spark black grey rear view — Rear of the XTrace Spark in black/grey

The XTrace weighs around 1.6Kg (3.5lbs). That’s actually pretty light for a plastic shelled dual sport helmet and a couple of owners did say that it feels relatively light while riding, which is the most important factor I guess.

Several folks said that build quality is very good; the helmet feels sturdy and the materials feel decent quality, especially for a helmet at this price.

There’s both a removable chin curtain (what Caberg calls a wind stop) and removable breath guard (nose shield) in the box.

And finally, one downside is that you’ll only get a stingy one year warranty with Cabergs (find helmets that come with a 5 year warranty here).

Overall/Summary

The Caberg XTrace is a well loved helmet by the many satisfied owners out there.

Words like comfortable, fantastic value, and great build quality are widely used. And it’s no wonder when such a flexible and fully featured helmet can be had for not very much money.

caberg x-trace spark dual sport helmet yellow grey side view — XTrace Spark in black/hi vix yellow

Ok, you can see where Caberg has cut costs – the Xtrace doesn’t use some of the fancier materials you might get from a Shoei or Schuberth. But if you’re after a mega flexible helmet – one that’ll works well as a full face, off-roader or anywhere in between; and if you’re looking for great value helmet to go with your adventure bike, then the Caberg X-Trace is well worth looking at.

Best places to buy a Caberg X-Trace?

Please click below to visit the Caberg X-Trace helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Caberg X-Trace?

So you’re looking for a dual-sport/adventure bike helmet? You can always check out all our adventure helmet reviews here, but here’s our recommendations to take a look at first.

OK, there’s the Shoei Hornet ADV which is a fantastic dual sport or the Arai Tour X4 – though they’re both much more expensive and neither has actually been SHARP tested yet (though the Arai is Snell certified in the US).

You should check out the Caberg Tourmax which has been awarded maximum 5 stars for safety by SHARP – that’s actually one of the few flip-front dual sports helmets out there and is only a smidge more expensive than the XTrace.

There’s the X-Lite X-551 which is a tiny bit pricier still, but apart from being a bit noisy is a solid helmet and comes with a Pinlock anti-fog in the box.

Finally, you should take a look at this pair of Nexx helmets – there’s a whole lot of composite fibre adventure helmet for not much money.

Other Adventure/Dual-Sports helmets?

There are lots of other Adventure/Dual Sports crash helmets out there, so please check out our Adventure motorcycle helmets page to see all our other reviews and previews. Or, if you're looking for the safest tested helmets on the market, you might want to take a look at our safest motorcycle helmets pages where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there.

Star Ratings

Simpson Venom: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Page Contents

Simpson Venom (Ghost Bandit – US) motorcycle helmet review.

OK, so if you’re reading this and confused, that makes two of us!

The Simpson Venom is the same helmet as the Ghost Bandit, only Simpson doesn’t have the rights to the Bandit name in Europe, so it’s called the Venom in the UK and Europe.

Which also means that while the US Ghost Bandit is both ECE and DOT certified (so it’s legal in Europe as well as the US), the Venom is only ECE.

There, glad that’s cleared up. And if you weren’t confused, you are now.

Anyhow, we’ll call it the Simpson Venom now since we’re on our UK website (you can find our US website here).

So what is the Venom all about? Well, it’s a full face helmet that comes in both composite fibre (cheaper) and carbon fibre (expensiver) variants. It looks cool as… well, as cool as we’ve come to expect a Simpson helmet to look. But this one has proper bike helmet features like a drop down sun visor and real, effective, venting. So now, you can look like Stig but still be wearing a proper bikers helmet. Happy days.

Full face helmet
Composite & full carbon versions
Sharp 4 Star Safety Rated
Drop down sun visor
Quick change visor with lock
Double D ring fastener
Pinlock ready visor
Weighs around 1.4Kg (light)
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay £280-£450 (depending on version)

Best places to buy a Simpson Venom?

Please click below to visit the Simpson Venom helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

simpson venom subdued crash helmet front view — Front view of the Simpson Venom Subdued

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

There’s not much independent data out there on how safe Simpson helmets are.

Sure they’ve a loooong pedigree of producing well rated helmets (particularly for car and Nascar racers) and their Outlaw Bandit has recently been Snell M2015 certified in the US.

But the independent helmet testing folks at SHARP in the UK hadn’t tested any Simpson helmets. Until now.

The tri-composite version of the Venom was tested and passed with flying colours – being awarded 4/5 stars for safety. That’s a fab score and from the looks of their 8.5m/s test graphics (below), it just dropped that star for a slight weakness on the sides (if a helmet’s gonna lose points, it’s often on the side impact testing).

Simpson venom 8.5ms SHARP test results — Image/test copyright sharp.dft.gov.uk – Simpson Venom @ 8.5m/s

So that’s a great score. Remember, the Venom’s available in shells made from either carbon fibre (the expensive and slightly lighter version) or a Tricomposite of carbon, aramid and fibreglass that Simpson calls Maxx-3C.

And it was that composite version that was tested by SHARP – though from past tests, we’d expect the carbon version to score at least as well as the composite helmet.

So the stats say it’ll offer great protection.

And with a nice wide visor aperture to give great vision, double d-ring fastener to keep it tightly in place, drop down sun visor for when the sun promises to dazzle and with a Pinlock ready visor (some stores include the Pinlock in the box too) there’s a number of other ways the Venom tries to keep you out of trouble too.

simpson ghost bandit solid matt black crash helmet side view — Side view of the matt black Venom – traditional Simpson badassery!

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

There’s a massive range of opinions out there on how noisy the Venom is – with about as many saying it’s loud as there are saying how quiet it is!

Those who reckon it’s noisy say it’s probably because of all the vent holes letting air in around the shell as well as from beneath. They reckon fitting the chin curtain and closing the front vents helps a bit.

But then lots of people coming from open face or very noisy helmets say it’s really quiet.

Of course, if you do buy one, make sure you always wear decent ear plugs and it should be just fine.

Sorry I can’t be more helpful – seems like it’s just one of those helmets where how you perceive the noise is is gonna be so dependent on your riding style and helmet history.

If having a quiet helmet’s your thing, you should check out our quietest motorcycle helmets page where you’ll find helmets where most owners say it’s a quiet helmet.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Ventilation on the Venom is kinda dictated by the style of the helmet because Simpson has tried to keep the front clutter free.

But apart from the obvious ones to each side of the chin guard, there’s also four small crown vents up top and a few exhaust vents to each side at the rear.

All the vents look very similar from the outside – like always-open vents – and have meshes covering them to stop flies and dirt getting in.

But those vents on the chin guard can actually be closed using sliders inside the chin bar.

They’re a bit fiddly to open and close when the helmet’s on – mega fiddly when you’re on the move – and impossible when the chin curtain’s installed! But on the up side they do keep the external look of the helmet fuss free and cool-looking.

All the other vents and exhausts (four of each) are always open and matched to a pretty comprehensive network of venting channels inside the helmet.

simpson venom gloss white motorcycle crash helmet top down view — Top view of the gloss white Venom – those ridges are great for aero (see below)

Owners generally say the venom pulls in a good quantity of air to keep your head cool in warm weather… and the same in cold weather!

Visor

(more about visors)

The Venom has a really large visor that offers great peripheral vision and a reasonable amount of vertical vision too.

It works on a ratchet for those of you who prefer ratchet visors, and it’s quick release so it’s easy to pull off and change/clean.

There’s also a visor lock on the left hand side and it comes with Pinlock pins on there so you can fit a Pinlock Max Vision insert if fogging becomes a problem – which it probably will…

Word is that the Venom’s slightly more prone to fogging than most helmets. And given most helmets fog up very easily, if you tend to ride in a season that’s not got an ‘ummer’ in it, or where it’s rainy or humid, you’re gonna want to get a Pinlock to stop the Venom fogging.

Most sellers should include the Pinlock Max Vision in the box when you buy (the max vision is the biggest and best of the Pinlocks) but not all do so read the small print before you buy. If you buy one without the Pinlock, it’s going to cost you about £30 to buy one, so it’s worth checking.

simpson ghost bandit solid matt black rear view — Always open venting is great when it’s hot – less great when it’s icy

One thing that’s a bit more style over function (but then, that’s why you’re thinking of buying a Venom, isn’t it?!?) is that there isn’t an opening tab on the visor. Instead, there’s a small indent in the chin bar to allow just enough space to get the end of your glove in to open the visor.

If you’re in summer gloves, owners say it’s OK and you get used to finding it. But things can get a bit fiddly in thick winter gloves by all accounts.

Other than that, the visor system on the Venom works well.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The sun visor drops down inside the helmet and stops you hitting walls/cars/kerbs when the sun’s low and you’re not wearing shades. Sun visors in helmets = a very good idea.

The sun visor on the Venom is operated by a slider on the bottom left hand side of the helmet. The visor itself is medium tint but gives a decent amount of protection as well as additional UV protection to the main visor (all polycarbonate visors give 95%+ UV protection, and some quite a bit more).

The only slight flaw is that a few riders said it doesn’t come down low enough, leaving a bright stripe across the bottom of your vision.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Simpson Venom has a fully removable and washable lining, and although there’s no word on any fancy fabrics or tech being used inside, owners universally say that it’s a really comfortable helmet.

simpson venom carbon fibre full face helmet front view — Full carbon fibre Simpson Venom is probably the baddest of the bunch

Like all helmets though, you need buy a helmet that caters for your head shape to get it fitting just right.

The Simpson Venom is designed with most head shapes in mind – that’s medium oval heads that are slightly longer than they are wide. If that’s you, then you should be good with a Venom.

If you’re thinking about ordering one, then the fitment sizes are mostly about right with just one or two people saying they needed a size smaller because Venoms are a bit on the large side.

So we’d say maybe drop down a size if you’re inbetween sizes and not sure which size to order.

And if you need to wear glasses while you ride, there’s no specific features in there to accommodate glasses but we’ve heard from a couple of owners who do saying there’s plenty of room inside for glasses.

So, like most helmets, provided you’ve the right head shape for the Venom and provided you follow a decent fitting guide, then you should find the Venom a really comfortable helmet.

simpson-venom-carbon-fibre-full-face-helmet-rear-view — Rear view of the carbon venom – showing rear exhausts and d-ring fastener

Oh, and if you buy online, make sure you buy from a retailer who’ll exchange sizes without any quibbling (like all our named recommended sellers do!). See links below.

Looks & Graphics

If you’re thinking of buying a Simpson Venom (like I am!) you’re probably going to buy it because it looks so damn mean.

Of course, to max out the meanness you’re gonna want to remove those Simpson logos, and according to one video I saw, the Simpson graphics are just stickers so with a bit of picking and elbow grease, they should come off. Happy days.

OK, the black versions are probably the ones you’re going to go for. And there’s a bunch of plain matt/gloss blacks to choose from – as well as the plain black carbon fibre Venom.

There’s also a starry black/silver Venom Subdued, as well as a plain gloss white stig-style helmet. In the US there’s a proper ‘out there’ stars and stripes Ghost Bandit Glory helmet, maybe to suit your Captain America style Panhead?

As always, we’ve put a good range of the graphics available up and down the page, but to see more and find the latest deals, please use the links below to drop onto the Simpson Helmets pages at our recommended shops.

Best places to buy a Simpson Venom?

Please click below to visit the Simpson Venom helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Simpson Venom Video

A quick 2m video showing you around the US version of the Venom (called the Ghost Bandit over there).

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, aero, warranty

The Simpson Venom comes with a double-d ring fastener – old school but effective and have the benefit that you have to re-tighten them every time you put the helmet on.

Inside the Venom are some generous speaker pockets so you should be sorted to install a bluetooth system. I’ve heard people happily fitting a Sena 20s or SMH5 in there with no problems.

simpson ghost bandit glory crash helmet front view — This one’s the Venom Glory (or rather Ghost Bandit Glory as it’s sold in the US)

One thing that lots of owners say is that it feels a really light helmet – especially the full carbon version. The composite weighs about 1.4Kg (3.1lbs) which is far from the lightest helmet out there but it just about scrapes onto our lightest helmets pages.

Another thing that owners like is that it’s an aerodynamic helmet with several riders saying they find it cuts through the air well and gives minimal buffeting, even when you’re looking over your shoulder.

Finally, people reckon it’s a well built helmet. Unfortunately, Simpson helmets only come with a basic one year warranty in the UK, which is very poor (many offer 5 years!)

Overall/Summary

Many of us want a cool or mean looking helmet but they can be a massive compromise. But with the Simpson Venom, that’s no longer the case.

simpson venom gloss white motorcycle crash helmet front view — Reminds you of someone? The gloss white Venom.

It’s got that classic Simpson Bandit look but now with decent ventilation, a quality visor system, light weight… all backed up with that excellent SHARP 4 star safety rating that means it’s gonna perform when you need it to. It’s even got a Pinlock and drop down sun visor for goodness sake!

Owners tend to buy one because it looks sooo damn cool – but they also say it performs excellently. What we say is… if you love the look and you’ve got the cash, there’s really no reason not to buy one. The Simpson Venom is a great helmet.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Simpson Venom?

So, you’re after something a bit different? A helmet that looks cool but works well too? Well how about these beauties..?

First up, there’s the Shoei Ex-Zero. Word is that it’s a great helmet to live with, as well as a great looking retro helmet. And of course it’s got that Shoei build quality backed by a 5 year warranty.

Or how about the fibreglass Icon Airframe. Like most Icons, there’s some pretty ‘out there’ graphics but it’s a seriously practical helmet too and it’s about the same price as the Simpson.

So too is the Shark Spartan – though like the other helmets, there’s a full carbon version that’s a bit more expensive. The carbon version is SHARP 4 star rated too and weighs under 1.3Kg.

You can find other alternatives on our Coolest Crash Helmets pages or try using our smartish filters to zoom in on the main features you want in your next helmet.

Best places to buy a Simpson Venom?

Please click below to visit the Simpson Venom helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).