EQRS is a system designed to help remove a motorcycle helmet without damaging a rider’s neck and spine.
When a rider has an accident, at some stage it’s going to be necessary to remove their crash helmet. Whether that’s at the scene to assess head injuries or at A&E to get the rider comfortable and do further investigation into any injuries – they’re going to have to get that helmet off.
As we all know, that’s sometimes easier said than done; even when we’re fully fit and doing it ourselves there can be a fair bit of tugging and wrestling involved!
So, for emergency staff removing an unfamiliar helmet from someone else, possibly in an awkward position at a highly-charged accident scene – that can mean there’s masses of potential for causing further complications to neck and spine.
Which led some helmet makers to add something called EQRS or emergency quick removal system into their helmets – to help making removing helmets easier and putting less strain on the neck.
How does EQRS work?
Essentially, it’s a system to make pulling-out some of the pads inside the helmet easier – and to do it while the helmet’s still being worn. Usually, that means pulling the cheek pads out of the bottom of the helmet without removing the helmet first.
Removing the cheek pads means there’s more space available to carefully remove the helmet, minimising the need to move the head around too much and cause injuries.
You can see if a helmet has EQRS by looking at the bottom of the helmet. There’s usually a couple of red tabs at the bottom of the lining which can be grabbed to pull the cheek pads out of the helmet. There’s also usually small notices stickered on the outside of the helmet to notify ambulance staff and paramedics, pointing out that EQRS is fitted.
Here’s a video from Shoei showing how EQRS works.
Which helmets have EQRS?
There’s an increasing number of helmets with EQRS – especially sportsbike and motocross helmets where injuries are most likely.
Some makers don’t call it EQRS and have their own name for it. But here you can find all the helmets that feature EQRS or their equivalents that we’ve looked at so far.
It means a modular crash helmet that’s been tested and approved to offer protection with both the chin guard down as well as up.
Some Caberg dual-homologated helmets have a slider to lock the chin guard up in J mode
P/J helmets
Most flip-front helmets are designed to offer protection with their chin guards down, so they act as a full face helmet.
If it does, it’s given type P certification for protective face covering.
But some are also tested and approved to be worn with the chin guard up, worn like an open face or jet style helmet. That’s J certification.
If they have both, it’s called P/J approved or dual homologated.
It’s legally relevant for EU and ECE 22-05 countries only
Non-protective chin guards
Note, the very occasional modular is approved without P certification – in which case they should be clearly marked that the chin guard doesn’t offer protection and labelled NP (for non protective). But they’re rare. Much more common are modulars that are designed and approved to give protection only when used in full face mode, with the chin guard lowered.
The Roof Boxer V8, dual homologated with a chin guard that flips round to the rear of the helmet
So if you’re buying a motorcycle crash helmet outside of the EU or ECE 22-05 zone, you don’t legally have to concern yourself about dual homologation.
However, we’d say if you do buy a modular, you might as well go for one that the manufacturer is happy will work in both configurations – and are willing to put to the test.
There’s plenty to choose from but at the time of writing, we’d say the ones to watch are the AGV Compact, the Caberg Duke and Shark Evoline 3. They all score well for safety and are great, usable helmets from trusted manufacturers.
HJCs PIM or Premium Integrated Matrix shows the complexity of some modern day composite helmets
What’s a composite motorcycle helmet?
Motorcycle crash helmets are made in a wide variety of materials – but often they’re created using a mixture of different materials laid down in layers to form what’s called a composite helmet shell.
This one shows the layers that go to make up the Nexx X.B 100
Technically, when you get more than one material involved, it becomes a composite fibre helmet: the helmet is made from a composite, or mix, of materials to create a new material that has the best characteristics from all its component parts.
As an aside, that does of course mean that fibreglass, carbon fibre and lots of other materials are technically composites. In these cases either glass fibres or woven carbon fibres are mixed with a resin (usually epoxy or polyester) to produce a new material.
Don’t worry, that’s as deep as I’m going to go!
Usually, though, if it’s not plastic (thermoplastic or polycarbonate), fibreglass or carbon fibre, and includes more than one of these materials, helmet makers will sell it as a composite helmet.
Are composite crash helmets any good?
Short answer – yep, they’re great.
Longer answer – composite fibre helmets are some of the best motorbike helmets on the market. They’re usually constructed from a combination of fibreglass, carbon fibre sheets or aramid (Kevlar).
Helmet Shell
Avg SHARP safety score
(Max 5)
Avg weight (Kg)
Carbon
4.26
1.37
Composite
3.89
1.47
Fibreglass
3.31
1.49
Polycarb/thermoplastic
3.59
1.57
Full Face
3.59
1.47
Modular/flip
3.36
1.67
As you can see from the table, carbon fibre helmets are generally the best – the lightest and safest around if you look at SHARP testing stats. But composite fibre helmets are close behind, ranking next highest in terms of both weight and impact resistance.
Across all the helmets tested by SHARP, composite fibre helmets score 3.76 out of 5 for safety with an average weight of 1.46Kg. That makes composite helmets the second best for safety and weight, but they’re also the second most expensive type of helmet.
Should I buy a composite crash helmet?
Yes – composite fibre crash helmets can be great and some manufacturers like Arai, Nexx and X-Lite specialise in making helmets from composite materials.
But like any helmet, there’s good ones and bad ones. So use the following links to find the best composite fibre helmets on the market today:
A visor that fogs up is at worse incredibly dangerous – and at best a massive pain in the arse.
The problem is that most helmets – out of the box – don’t handle fogging very well. They fog when it’s cold. They fog when it’s wet. And they fog when you’re sweaty after a day’s track riding or breathing heavily.
Which, when you think about it, is pretty crazy. There’s not many products that are on the market today with such a fundamental flaw in their design!
What’s the best way to a fog free visor?
Having said that, helmet makers do take fogging seriously these days and technology has recently come to our rescue meaning there’s now a number of solutions available.
Gone are the days of spitting on the inside of your visor or coating it with washing up liquid in the vain hope that you’ll be able to see when it drops cold (for most of us anyway).
So if you’re looking to buy a new crash helmet, what should you do to make sure you can ride fog-free?
Anti-Fog Inserts
We reckon anti-fog inserts are your best option for fog-free riding.
There’s various versions available from different manufacturers, but they all work in a similar way.
They’re thin, transparent plastic sheets that attach to the inside of the visor in one way or another (some stick to the inside, others locate between posts on the visor).
They work by stopping the condensation forming on the inside of the visor. Mostly they do this because they have a hydrophillic layer which bonds with the small amount of water that forms on the back of the visor, effectively absorbing the moisture and keeping things clear.
Pinlock
Close up of a Pinlock Max Vision locating pin. This one is removable and replaceable using a screw
The best known of these treatments is the Pinlock antifog insert. Pinlocks locate between two posts set into the main visor and silicon beading forms a tight bond with the visor around the insert, stopping moisture getting trapped between the two surfaces. Here’s more information about Pinlock and the types of Pinlocks available.
Pinlocks are becoming increasingly common supplied in the box with the helmet. If you’re after a helmet that comes with a Pinlock (or has a Pinlock-ready visor) click this Pinlock Helmets link.
Need an anti-fog insert?
We recommend you buy an anti-fog from either Sportsbikeshop or GetGeared. They both offer a good range of anti-fog inserts – including Pinlocks – and are both based in the UK with decent prices and excellent service.
Click to visit the visor inserts page at SportsbikeshopClick to visit the visor page at Get Geared
LS2 Fog Fighter & Bell ProVision
While lots of helmet makers have done a deal with Pinlock to include them with the helmet, other makers are taking their own route.
You can see the Pinlock Max Vision on the inside of this visor, with the locating pin holding the insert in place
LS2 for example have produced their own version of Pinlock, called Fog Fighter. Just like Pinlocks, these have locating pins set into the main visor that hold the insert in place (just watch out because they look like Pinlocks but the pins are set slightly lower on the visor).
Bell’s ProVision is supplied already fitted to the visors of some new helmets – like the Bell Eliminator – so you don’t have to fit it yourself and there aren’t any locating pins.
Fog City and Bob Heath
There are other manufacturers who make anti-fog inserts. Oxford produce Fog City’s and Ultra Clear inserts and Bob Heath produces Fog Demons.
Bob Heath is an old, long-established British company based in Walsall in the West Midlands. Unlike Pinlock and Fog Fighter, Bob Heath anti-fog Fog Demons – adhere to the inside of the visor. But they work in a similar way to the others and often work just as well. In fact, the first anti-fog film I ever used was a Bob Heath Fog Demon and worked fantastically well for years when stuck to the inside of my old Shoei.
Anti-fog sprays and treatments
There’s a ton of other anti-fog sprays, treatments, unctions and ointments on the market that all try and stop your visor fogging up.
Most aren’t that cheap and aim to coat the inside of the visor with a chemical surfactant that breaks the surface tension of the droplet, thereby dissipating the blob of water and giving clear vision.
Bob Heath visor spray. It’s been on the market for years but, in our experience, sprays don’t work very well
In my experience, they all work reasonably badly and in the worst cases can be downright dangerous. I recently tested a Bob Heath spray on the inside of my IS17 HJC and my vision was so badly affected I had to wash it off as soon as I could. Any moisture forming on the inside of the visor was indeed dealt with by the spray; but instead formed a waxy, oily gunge that blurred the world and could’ve been catastrophic if it was at night.
Having said that, I’ve a feeling the visor contributed a bit to the problem; but it wasn’t good.
In summary – the best anti-fog treatments?
We’ll be testing some other anti-fog treatments on a variety of helmets – and adding information here as we do.
However, at the moment, a quality anti-fog insert such as Pinlock or Bob Heath seems to be the way to go. And if you can get one included with your new helmet, then happy days.
If you’re looking to buy a new crash helmet that’s either Pinlock-ready or comes with a Pinlock anti-fog in the box, then visit our Pinlock crash helmets page.
D-ring or Double-D ring fasteners are one of the main – and best – types of helmet fasteners you’ll find on modern motorcycle helmets.
They’re pretty low-tech but by using solid components that won’t break and masses of friction between them, they make for great helmet fasteners.
Step 1. Push the end of the strap through both D-rings
They consist of two metal D-rings on one side of the fastener and a simple strap on the other. Pass the strap through both D-rings, then round and through the centre of the first D ring and pull it tight to fasten. This forms a tight slip-knot around the D rings which is infinitely adjustable and very resistant to pulling: pull the helmet away from the head and the strap tightens against the D rings.
If you’ve not come across a D-ring fastener before, here’s a step-by-step guide of how to fasten them.
Double-D rings are a simple but effective way to secure a helmet and because they use few movable parts, they’re cheap to make and reliable in use.
Step 2. Open up the D-rings, loop the strap end round and push back through the first D-ring
They’re also easy to open too. Older D rings are opened by pushing the D rings away from the neck which loosens the mechanism and allows the strap to slide free.
Most modern Double-D rings also come with an attached red removal tab. Pull down on the strap and it’ll release the D ring.
Many also come with either a stud or magnetic strap end to secure the loose end of the strap and stop it flapping about.
Pros of D Ring fasteners
Strong & reliable components
Infinitely and easily adjustable
Encourage correct tightening with every use
Step 3. Now pull the strap. This causes the D-rings to pull together and the strap’s fastened
Cons of D Ring fasteners
Fiddly to tie in the first place
Fiddly to loosen (until you’ve got the hang of it)
Need user to ensure correct adjustment – with every trip
Not as easy to use as a micrometric fastener
Double-D rings and Micrometric fasteners (sometimes called ratchet fasteners) are the most popular fasteners on crash helmets today. Whichever you opt for, they’ve both passed either ECE (European) or DOT (US) testing and offer good levels of safety. So, it’s really down to personal preference.
Step 4. All that’s left to do is secure the end of the strap (optional)
However, if you’re new to buying a crash helmet, we’d suggest that a micrometric fastener is probably easier to get the hang of. But make sure you read our micrometric fastener page to check out all pros and cons.
For all our motorcycle helmet reviews and previews featuring helmets with double-D ring fasteners, visit our D-Ring fastener page.
Bell Moto-9 and Moto-9 Flex Motocross helmet review
Along with the cheaper Bell MX-9, the Bell Moto-9 range of helmets has been the mainstay of Bell‘s motocross crash helmet range for some time now.
But there’s a couple of different helmet technologies going on within the Bell Moto-9 range, because there’s both the ‘standard’ Moto-9 and then there’s the Moto-9 Flex.
The Flex is their top-of-the-range pro-level dirt bike helmet featuring their ‘Flex’ multi-density and flexible helmet liner that’s designed to mould slightly to the wearer’s head shape as well as give improved control of shock-absorption. The first layer of the liner is also designed to move slightly under impact to absorb some of the rotational forces which can cause brain injury (for more, see the Safety section below).
So there’s the Flex, but there’s also the more conventional range of standard Moto-9’s. These non-Flex Moto-9s are composite fibre helmets with a more standard polystyrene shock-absorbing liner without the rotational absorption. They’re still great helmets (read on to find out why), but it means they’re getting on for a couple of hundred less than the Flex version.
A great performing dirt bike helmet. This one’s the Bell Moto-9 Flex in Seven Yellow design
Please click below to visit the Bell Moto-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
First off, Bell have an excellent reputation for making helmets that give great protection. They’ve been either our top-rated or joint top-rated best brand for safety for a few years now. That’s based on how well the helmets have performed in the comparative SHARP helmet safety testing – so we’re pretty confident that most Bell helmets on the market today will give you at least a good level of protection.
Having said that, the Bell Moto-9 hasn’t been tested by SHARP. It is DOT certified – and because it’s on sale all over the EU we’re assuming it’s also ECE 22-05 certified (though none of their websites actually say it is!) and it’s also been Snell tested/approved in the US.
So, there’s lots of stickers and certifications that tell you the Moto-9 should be a safe helmet. But lets have a look at the features it offers.
First off, when comparing the standard Moto-9 over the Moto-9 flex, they use different helmet shell materials as well as shock-absorbing technologies.
The non-Flex Bell Moto-9 looks identical to the Flex version. Here’s a standard Moto-9 in Spark red design
Bell Moto-9 – standard version & MIPS
The Bell Moto-9 (non-Flex version) comes in two different helmet shell materials. The basic Moto-9 is a tri-composite shell but there’s also a carbon-composite version that incorporates a layer of carbon fibre. Carbon helmets are usually the lightest helmets, though Bell don’t make any claims that the carbon composite version is any lighter than the tri-composite. So we’re assuming here that the inclusion of carbon is probably there for cosmetic and marketing purposes – i.e. we love a bit of carbon.
The standard Moto-9 also has a more conventional type of shock-absorption technology. That’s the type of EPS or expanded polystyrene liner that’s used on most helmets today – and very effective it is too.
This standard version has mostly been replaced in store by the Moto-9 MIPS. MIPS is similar to the Flex system below – in that the shock absorbing liner inside the helmet allows a certain amount of movement of the helmet independently of your head to reduce rotational forces during an impact. Read more about MIPS in our Bell Star review.
Bell Moto-9 – Flex version
The Flex Moto-9 is a very different beast though because Bell have put a lot of R&D into developing an alternative type of shock absorbing here.
The Flex Moto-9s all have a carbon-composite shell. Carbon shells are tough and they’re typically lighter than other helmet shell materials although, again, Bell claim the same weight for both the Flex and standard helmets.
The Bell Moto-9 Flex has a trick lining designed to improve shock absorption and reduce rotation
Inside the helmet, Bell have used three layers of material to help absorb energy at different speeds. Usually, makers use different densities of polystyrene, but Bell use a layer of expanded polyolefin, another of expanded polypropylene alongside the more usual expanded polystyrene to try and target specific impact velocities.
Whether it’s an improvement on polystyrene or more of a marketing angle is hard to say, but using multiple densities is a tried-and-tested formula that has worked very well over the years.
The layers in the Moto-9s lining aren’t bonded together but are separate. That’s because the lining in the Flex is designed to rotate independently of the head during an impact to try and reduce the rotational forces passed to the rider.
Rotation is a massive issue during an accident as it can cause neck injuries and brain injuries.
Without getting too gruesome, during an impact where a helmet hits the road at speed, it starts rotating. The instant this happens, the head inside the helmet rotates, potentially causing neck damage. At the same time, the brain doesn’t rotate at the same speed as the rest of the head, causing potential damage as the irregular surface inside the skull moves against the surface of the brain.
So it’s great to see Bell and a few others making real attempt to minimise impact rotation.
In the case of the Moto-9 Flex, the inner lining that’s in contact with the head can rotate freely (to a point) against the second polyolefin layer. This means the helmet removes some of the rotational force from the impact. And that’s gotta be a good thing!
You can also get the Moto-9 (non Flex version) in carbon composite. This is the Tagger carbon
Other Safety Measures
Other than these differences between the models, there’s a range of other safety measures all Moto-9 helmets share.
They’ve all got EPS behind the chin guard – that’s unusual to find on a helmet but a welcome addition that we’d like to see on more helmets.
They all come with a double-d ring fastener – a bit fiddly but safe as houses if you tighten them up correctly each trip.
They’ve all got EQRS or emergency quick removal system cheek guards. That means emergency services can easily pull cheek pads out of the helmet to help removal of the helmet and avoid neck injuries while doing so.
Not only that, but all Moto-9’s are Eject Helmet Removal System ready. That’s an innovative little expandable plastic bag that’s fitted inside the helmet at the crown of the head linked to a rubber tube. A paramedic can then pump air into the tube, expanding the bag and thereby pushing the helmet off the head, again minimising the risk of neck injuries. A great inclusion that. If you’ve never seen it before, here’s a quick video showing how it works.
Flex version of the Moto-9 in Syndrome solid matt black
Helmet Noise
Bell don’t say they’ve tried anything special to reduce noise on the Moto-9s. And other than talk of thick, plush comfort linings, there’s nothing to suggest that it’ll be any good.
However, a couple of owners commented that it’s a really quiet helmet with one in particular saying he found it unnerving how much quieter he found it that his previous dirt helmets.
Which is pretty much what we always find: we tend to judge helmet noise in relation to how noisy our previous helmets have been. So I guess that guy was probably used to wearing really noisy helmets.
Also, it’s very much dependent on your riding style and type of bike you ride.
Having said that, no one we came across reckoned it was noisy either (which we usually find). So either motocross guys don’t give a hoot about helmet noise – I’m guessing that’s broadly about right – or the Bell Moto-9 seems to be quiet for a motocross helmet. So we’re opting for a bit of both in our review score below.
Ventilation
Rear of the Moto-9 Flex Vice showing rear exhaust vents
The Moto-9 has what Bell call their Velocity Flow Ventilation System. That’s essentially a load of vents in the front and a load of exhausts – and the faster you go, the more air is channeled into the lining of the helmet and out of the back.
Nothing new there then. It’s what most helmets do.
What is new is that the segmented shock absorbing lining of the Moto-9 Flex means there’s a lot more spaces to let air through onto your head.
There’s 9 vents on the front of the helmet, and the chin vent features a filter that’s removable and washable.
Overall, owners of all versions of the Moto-9 seem to think theirs is a great venting helmet. Obviously, like any helmet, the amount of air that’s going to get in and circulate is very dependent on how fast you ride. And of course most motocross riders are riding slower than road riders. But that said, owners agree that it gives good ventilation at track speeds and, while it’s not the best on the market, it’s well rated.
Visor & Goggles
Top down view of the peak on the Moto-9 Flex Vice in black
The Moto-9 has Bell’s Flying Bridge Visor – that’s an adjustable visor with air intakes. It’s been designed so you can adjust it without tools and in gloves and there’s quite a lot of up/down adjustment to be had.
In addition, the Moto-9 has a nice large face opening that’ll accommodate pretty well any google you throw at it. Reports are that owners with Dragon NFX, Oakley Air Brake, Pro Grip and Hustle goggles all found them to fit well inside the Moto-9.
Comfort & Sizing
Inside all Moto-9’s, there’s a moisture-wicking and removable/washable lining. With the Moto-9 Flex, you also get their X-Static XT2 silver liner – essentially that’s an anti-bacterial silver thread woven into the liner to keep the helmet fresher for longer.
The lining on all Moto-9s is particularly easy to remove. That’s largely down to the EQRS cheek pad removal system which in Bell’s case doesn’t use studs like most manufacturers, but uses super-strong magnets. That means pulling them out and replacing them is very easy and quick. That’s what Bell term their Magnetfusion system which is also used on the end of the chin strap to stop it flapping around – though a couple of owners we came across say it’s too weak for use here and doesn’t work very well.
Owners agree that it’s a very comfortable helmet though. It’s designed to fit the usual intermediate oval head because that’s the shape of head most North Americans and Europeans have. And as long as that’s your head shape, you should find the shaping and the lining of the Moto-9 a good place to put your head.
Standard Moto-9 in yellow camo design
Note however that some owners reckon Bell’s sizing runs about half a size small – so if you’re usually a medium, Bell’s version might be about a medium/small. We suggest if you’re between helmet sizes (learn how to measure your head here) then opt for the larger size. And if you’re unsure, maybe order a couple of sizes with a view to sending one back (our recommended retailers all offer no-quibble refunds with no restocking fee).
Looks & Graphics
Motocross helmets are all about form over function. Even so, the Moto-9 is a bit of a looker, helped by the wide range of funky graphics available.
To see the latest range of designs and their latest offers, please click the links through to our recommended retailers below. For more information on why you should buy from our recommended retailers and to see some of their key terms and conditions at-a-glance, click here.
Best places to buy a Bell Moto-9 helmet?
Please click below to visit the Bell Moto-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).
Bell Moto-9 Videos
Here’s a first a look over the Moto-9 Flex by MX Action magazine (skip to 30s to get to the meat).
Other stuff – weight, build quality, warranty
The Moto-9 is advertised as weighing in at 1.45Kg (3.2lbs) which is about average for a motocross helmet. Interestingly, Bell claim the same weight for their carbon-composite helmets as they do for their tri-composite standard helmets. Which possibly points to them swapping out a layer in the tri-composite to add in a carbon fibre layer mostly for the looks?
The Moto-9 flex Day in the Dirt helmet
Build quality on Bell helmets has always been excellent and the Moto-9 is similarly well built with several owners commenting that the fit and overall finish is great.
Finally, all Bell helmets come with a 5 year warranty. That’s a great warranty and lasts as long as most manufacturers say a helmet should last before replacement.
Overall/Summary
Bell Moto-9s are great motocross helmets. Developed alongside pro motocross riders, it’s well built and offers all the features you’d hope for in a modern motocross helmet. That includes good ventilation, noise suppression and comfort which are all rated highly by owners. Couple that with Bell’s reputation for making safe helmets – along with the Snell certification and the innovative Flex system on the Moto-9 Flex – and we’d expect it to offer as much safety as is possible with current helmet technology. And with the standard Moto-9 in the line-up alongside the Flex version, there’s a model to suit most pockets too. If you’re in the hunt for your next dirt bike helmet, then you really should check out the Bell Moto-9.
First off, if you’re getting the feeling the Moto-9 is a bit overkill for your motocross needs (it is a pro helmet after all!) we recommend you take a look at it’s baby bro the Bell MX-9. That’s tons cheaper and a bit heavier, but still comes with Bell’s five year warranty.
If you’re after a very light helmet, we’ve a couple of recommendations. First off, there’s Shoei’s VFX-W – that’s a really light fibreglass helmet with EQRS and nice a wide goggle hole! Or if you’re not wanting to spend much money and want a REALLY light helmet, check out the super light weight Airoh Twist.
Finally, we recommend you check out the AGV AX-8 – they’re lighter than the Moto-9s too with a nice wide view port and are available in the same sort of price range as the Bell.
Please click below to visit the Bell Moto-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).
A look at LS2’s polycarbonate modular crash helmet – the LS2 FF325 Strobe
The FF325 Strobe is Chinese helmet maker LS2‘s entry-level flip-up crash helmet. LS2 say it’s aimed at sports-touring riders, which really means more or less anyone and everyone, from commuters to sunday riders and long distance tourers.
As soon as you hear the words ‘entry level’, you start looking for the cost-cutting and money-saving because we know that’s how companies make their entry level helmets right? They usually develop a polycarbonate/thermoplastic shelled model (two names for effectively the same helmet material) with a view to releasing it without some of the bells and whistles we’re all increasingly taking for granted in a helmet.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the LS2 FF325 to see if we can find out where LS2 has cut corners, and find out what existing Strobe owners think of their helmet.
Please click below to visit the LS2 Strobe 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
The LS2 FF325 Strobe seems to do pretty well on the safety front.
It’s both ECE 22.05 and DOT certified, meaning it’s passed the mandatory safety testing required before it can go on sale in Europe (that’s the ECE bit) and LS2 confirms its helmets comply with the US DOT requirements. For more information on those, click the links.
FF325 Strobe in full-face mode. This one’s the plain matt black version
Crucially for a modular helmet, SHARP noted that the chin guard remained closed and locked in 100% of its impact tests. That’s a great result and surprisingly not that common in a flip-up helmet – and probably testament to the solid metal locking mechanism used by LS2.
Of course, you need a helmet to protect you when you hit the ground or skidding along the road, which is why we pay such close attention to SHARP helmet tests.
But there’s other stuff on a crash helmet that’ll help you avoid an accident in the first place.
The Strobe’s got most of the other features you’d hope for in this respect.
Civik graphics are about as way-out as the Strobe gets
There’s a drop down sun visor so you don’t get too caught out by the sun – though as usual, a few owners reckon the tinting is a bit too light for when the sun’s full in your face.
The FF325 also has a micrometric fastener on the strap. They’re widely regarded as safe as houses and really easy and convenient – though you do have to ensure the strap remains correctly adjusted as the strap stretches over time.
So, overall for safety, the LS2 FF325 Strobe has many of the features you’d look for in a helmet and there’s no obvious cost-cuttings gone on here. Just a slightly weaker SHARP performance compared to some of the best-tested modulars on the market lets the Strobe down a little.
To find the best safety-tested modulars we’ve found, jump to our Smart Filters page and click the boxes for ‘flip-up/modular’ and ‘SHARP 5 star’. Or click here!
Helmet Noise
Chin guard in max raised position. The strobe just has one release button
As usual – a word of warning on how noisy you’ll find the LS2 Strobe.
How noisy or quiet you’ll find the Strobe is very much dependent on things like how noisy your existing helmet is, your riding style, how fast you ride, type of motorbike you ride and so on.
That’s reflected in the feedback given by owners of the LS2 FF325 Strobe whose opinions vary quite a bit.
What’s for certain is it’s not the quietest helmet. But then again, modular helmets are usually on the noisier side (even those that claim to be whisper quiet!).
Most owners reckon it’s either noisy or quite noisy. The occasional one or two do say it’s quiet, but overall, we’d expect you to find it’s noisier than average.
A couple of owners said the noise seems to come in mostly from the vents and closing them quietens things down a bit. But that’s not very helpful if you’re riding along in the summer!
So, if you’re thinking of buying a LS2 FF325 Strobe, go into it expecting it to be quite noisy and buy some decent ear plugs to wear when you’re riding and you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Ventilation
Consensus seems to be that the ventilation on the Strobe is OK but could be better.
It has the conventional array of vents – from a dual chin vent and single crown vent – all venting through the internal shock absorbing liner to take air through to the scalp.
Owners seem to agree that the ventilation is about average – typical comments are that it keeps you reasonably cool but could be better.
There’s also a few comments about the visor vents not managing to keep the visor fog-free at low speeds. However, that’s common on most helmets and why anti-fog Pinlock inserts (or in this case LS2’s own version of a Pinlock) are becoming so popular.
The LS2 FF325 Strobe comes with what LS2 call their Twin Shield System – but what the rest of us call a clear main visor and drop down sun visor!
Having said that, it’s still great to have both in an entry-level modular helmet and from owners comments, they work very well.
LS2 Strobe Civik in blue and black
The main clear visor works on a ratchet and is a quick-release visor. Having a quick release visor on a flip-up helmet is still novel enough to be worth a mention, and in the Strobe’s case it’s LS2s very good ShortShift system.
You’ll notice there’s two round pins on the visor if you look closely at the pics. Usually, they’re locating pins for a Pinlock anti-fog insert, but if you’re used to seeing Pinlock pins, you’ll notice that these are a bit lower down the visor than normal.
That’s because they’re locating pins for LS2’s own version of the Pinlock, the FogFighter. So if you want an anti-fog insert to fit to the rear of your visor to keep it nice and clear, then don’t go looking for a Pinlock for the Strobe and search for a FogFighter instead. They usually sell for £20-£25.
Overall, folks say the main visor is a good un. There’s one or two comments about the cracked open position being too big and letting too much air in. And there were a similar number complaining their visors were too stiff to open (which sounds to me like there was a bad batch of Strobes around towards the beginning of the production run). It looks like it should be sorted now though.
One final note. The Strobe’s main visor is an optically correct visor. That means it should be distortion-free and, again, is something we rarely see in such an entry-level helmet.
Wineberry strobe with sun visor lowered (notice sun visor slider bottom right)
Sun Visor
The sun visor is operated by a slider on the bottom left of the helmet. Moving the slider operates the sun visor by a cable and it’s an analogue version – meaning you can part lower the sun visor as well as having it fully down (some are up or down and nothing in between).
As with most sun visors, a few folks say the on fitted to the FF325 Strobe is a bit too light; but that’s normally because there’s a legal limit to how dark a sun visor can be in most countries meaning LS2 have to comply with those regs.
If you live somewhere really sunny, then you’ll probably use the helmet’s sun visor in addition to some sunglasses. Which is fine because the Strobe has glasses grooves to make fitting and wearing glasses much more comfortable.
Again, even though the LS2 FF325 Strobe is an entry level, budget modular, we’ve not really found any short-cuts or cost cutting made by LS2 so far.
Chin Guard
There’s two main points to make about the chin guard on the LS2 Strobe.
First, it’s easy to use. To open it, there’s a single large button underneath the chin guard to press and that’s it. Raising the chin guard couldn’t be simpler.
Second, it should be as safe as they come. You see, when a modular helmet is tested by SHARP, they note how often the chin guard becomes unlocked. And if you read our articles on SHARP testing or our visit to the SHARP testing labs, you’ll know that many flip-front helmets fair badly on this test.
Top view of the black & white Civik FF325 Strobe with chin guard fully raised
If our records are correct, the lowest score by any modular helmet showed it stayed locked just 17% of the times it was tested (that was an old Marushin M401 btw – a helmet that’s no longer available thankfully!).
So for the LS2 Strobe to score 100% is an excellent performance and means you can be as sure as you can with any modular that the chin guard will stay locked in an accident.
Which is precisely what you expect with a modular right?!
Comfort & Sizing
Overall, owners say the FF325 is a comfortable helmet, though there’s mixed reports on the sizing, so read on.
Most buyers reckon the sizing’s way out. They say the Strobe is smaller than you’d expect – so order one size and in some cases two sizes larger than you’d expect.
But it’s mixed messages as others say the sizing is spot on.
From our research, there’s more people ordering a size above their usual helmet size (or their measured helmet size) and we’d go with that. But make sure you order from a retailer who’ll happily accept returns without quibbling – and preferably from one who’ll pay for the returns (some of our recommended retailers will do this).
The Strobe is designed for intermediate oval shaped heads (that’s most of us) though a few folks with very long heads said it fits them perfectly too.
Inside the LS2 Strobe, the lining is removable and washable and it’s made from breathable and hypo-allergenic fabrics. There’s also a glasses groove in there so fitting and wearing glasses with the Strobe should be comfortable.
Hi Vis yellow LS2 Strobe
There’s lots of comments by owners saying how comfortable their Strobe is so, as long as you get one that fits right with no pressure points, (and don’t forget, having a helmet that fits right should be your number one safety priority when buying a new helmet) then we don’t expect you to have any problems here either.
Looks & Graphics
The LS2 FF325 Strobe probably isn’t going to win any awards for innovative design. But then it wasn’t intended to. It’s designed to appeal to as many riders as possible so LS2 have made a pretty conventional helmet design with some reasonably ‘safe’ graphic options.
If you’re after a high-vis helmet, you’ll find the hi-viz Civik Strobe and there’s also the gloss black and white along with a cool titanium grey Strobe. Apart from these, the Civik comes in black/white and black/blue versions. Finally, there’s a classy solid coloured Strobe wineberry burgandy version around.
For any other design options and to check the latest deals (or just to buy one because they’re such a decent price) visit our recommended retailers by clicking one of the links below. To find out stuff like delivery costs and returns policies, make a note of the retailers mentioned below then click this recommended retailer link for at-a-glance information before buying.
Best places to buy an LS2 Strobe helmet?
Please click below to visit the LS2 Strobe 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 FF325 Strobe Video
Here’s a video giving you a look around the Strobe from the dude at Competition Accessories in the US.
Other stuff – audio, weight, build quality, chin curtain, warranty
There’s no specific bluetooth communicator designed to work with the Strobe, and it’s worth being aware that a few owners (not to mention the guy in the video above) reckons that the sun visor slider might get in the way of mounting your bluetooth. If you’re planning on mounting one, take a good close look at the pics of the helmet to make sure you think it’ll mount OK before buying.
Plain gloss White strobe
A medium size LS2 Strobe weighs in at about 1.55Kg (3.4lbs) that’s lighter than the average flip-up helmet so shouldn’t feel too heavy on the bike.
Most owners rate the materials and build quality as being very good. Having said that, I think most take into consideration that the Strobe is a lower-priced helmet so they’re not expecting Arai or Shoei levels of build quality in the first place. They say it feels sturdy and solidly built. There have been a few moans though and it does sound like there was a batch of helmets with quality issues around the comfort lining pulling away and the chin guard and visors becoming stiff and difficult to operate. However, that seems to be resolved now and most owners are surprised at how well built their Strobe feels.
Having said that, many owners report the chin curtain can come off very easily. It is designed to be removable and it does clip back in, but it’s obviously annoying several owners.
LS2 does give a full five years manufacturer’s warranty with the FF325 Strobe though, so if you do have any build-quality problems, you’ve always got that warranty for piece of mind.
Overall/Summary
Well, we set out to find out where LS2 have cut corners with the FF325 Strobe – and we came up empty-handed.
LS2 seem to have made a great helmet with some premium-level features (I’m talking about you, optically correct, quick release visor!) that would shame some helmets at twice the price.
But apart from these blemishes, it’s a great helmet. That chin guard is super easy to operate (and shouldn’t open in an accident). Fit LS2’s Fog Fighter and the visor should be fog-free. The sun visor is great and the slider makes it really easy to use. It’s also comfortable and has a quick release main visor which many modulars at a much higher price point still lack.
It’s a shame it drops a star or two for safety so we can’t add it to our recommended modular helmets list.
But that’s not to say it’s one to avoid. At this price, the LS2 FF325 Strobe is a great helmet and well worth checking out when you’re in the market for a new flip-up helmet.
It’s amazing what you can get for your money these days. The Strobe might be great value, but it’s not alone. So here’s some other modular/flip-up helmets that offer excellent value for money and performance (and of course check out our top 10 flip-up and modular helmets list).
First off, there’s MDS’ MD200. That’s a SHARP 4 star modular helmet with sun visor that’s made by AGV (who know a thing or two about helmets!). It retails for around the same price as the LS2 Strobe too.
We’d always say check out the Caberg Duke – as it’s one of the few SHARP 5 star rated modulars and it comes with a Pinlock anti-fog insert and has a sun visor too. It’s a little bit pricier than the base Strobe though.
In fact, most of the rest are more expensive. There’s the Lazer Paname and the HJC IS Max II – they’re both SHARP 4 star safety rated but their prices start at where the Strobe leaves off. They’re both great helmets though.
Best places to buy an LS2 Strobe?
Please click below to visit the LS2 Strobe 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).
If you’re new to buying a crash helmet – or just unsure what’s on the market these days – then look no further. Here’s our quick guide on what sort of helmet you should go for, together with handy suggestions of the best helmets on the market today so you end up with a safe and great performing helmet to go with your pride and joy.
If you’re unsure what to buy but want something that’ll look after your head and stop the wind and rain, then look no further than your trusty full face helmet.
And if you’re new to biking or buying a helmet, then we recommend you go for a full face.
You know what a full face helmet is like right? It fully encloses your head keeping it safe and has a large clear visor that pulls down to keep the wind, rain and road grit off your face.
But that’s not all their is to it of course. You don’t want that visor to steam up when it’s closed – and you want it to be comfortable and easy to use. Oh, and you don’t want to pay a fortune for it.
OK so if that sounds like you, here’s a small selection of helmets we’d recommend. Click any to read our reviews. Note that the list is good at the time of writing – towards the beginning of 2017.
But if you want to see our latest helmet reviews, jump to our homepage where you’ll find lots of ways to narrow down the selection.
Or if you’ve a bit more money to splash out on something that’s a bit better built, have a look through our safest helmet reviews (prices here vary – some are very expensive).
Modular or Flip-up helmets
Flip-up helmets have a chin guard and visor that can be pushed up out of the way so your face is showing. They’re sometimes called modular or system helmets too but that can be pretty confusing because modular and system helmets can refer to other types of helmets too – like the Nolan N44.
Being able to move the chin guard out of the way can be really useful. And if the helmet is dual-homologated (meaning you can wear it in full face mode and like an open face helmet) you’re actually legally allowed to ride around with the chin guard up.
Though if you do intend to ride around with the chin guard up, we’d recommend buying a dual-homologated helmet where the chin guard moves right the way around to the back of the helmet – like the Shark Evoline 3 – for safety reasons.
Having said that, the safest modulars to use in full face mode are Nolans since their chin guards remained locked in 100% of SHARP impact tests – so check out the Nolan N104 or N91 (being replaced by the N90-2) below.
Modulars are generally a little heavier and arguably little less safe than their full face counterparts – but they’re nevertheless really versatile and very popular.
So if you want a modular helmet, take a look at one of these beauties!
Flip-up gallery – all these beauts score 4 stars or more for safety…
Nolan N90-2 Hi Visibility version
HJC IS-Max in Matt Black
AGV Compact crash helmet
X-Lite X-1003 Elegance in silver
MDS MD200 in gloss white
Roof Boxer V8 in Devil Orange – full faced config.
Modern design and well featured – Nolan N104 Flip up crash helmet
Adventure helmets
Adventure helmets are on/off road helmets designed to go anywhere. Most are road-biased and work as great full face helmets – but take them off road and you can usually remove the visor, stick on some goggles and you’re good to go. Most also feature bits and bobs like sun peaks and washable filters too.
Many adventure helmets are based on motocross helmets to start with so you’re getting the best of both worlds to some extent, though if you tend to stay on the road, then you’re probably better going for a road helmet as adventure helmets can be a bit noisier and the design can cause a bit of helmet-lift or buffeting from the wind.
But if you’re after a helmet to match your adventure bike, then check out these…
Motocross helmets
Motocross helmets are pretty specialist lids designed for folks who take their bikes off-road.
Most don’t have visors but space for goggles instead. They also have sun peaks, roost guards (to stop dirt thrown up by other riders) and stuff like washable filters for the chin vent.
They’re not really suitable for on-road riding – unless you’re a massive dirt bike fan and really want people to know it! But if you are going off-road, you might want to take a look at these motocross helmets…
MT Synchrony in Native colour scheme
Open face and jet helmets
We don’t really recommend open face helmets these days – mostly because they’re inherently less safe than full face helmets. Plus folks with a vested interest in keeping their faces intact when riding a motorbike, but who like the occasional freedom that an open face gives, tend to opt for a flip-up helmet so they can have the best of both worlds.
Having said that, we do review some open face helmets from time to time so have a look among this lot…
Shoei JO Hawker TC1 design
And if you’ve not found the helmet you want from this bunch, then jump onto our homepage and scroll around. We’ve tried to set out some of the best helmets available in easy-to-use lists.
The Nolan N90-2 – Nolan’s entry-level flip-up crash helmet
The Nolan N90-2 is Nolan’s replacement for the old N91 and N91 Evo. That was a bit of a flawed gem – scored well for safety but was marked down a bit for comfort (and noise too but that’s normal for a modular).
It’s Nolan’s entry-level flip up helmet; a polycarbonate shelled helmet that’s made to a budget but with enough useful features to keep discerning buyers happy.
So here’s what you can expect the Nolan N90-2 to offer if you buy one.
We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, free delivery and outstanding service, and Motoin (Ger) for quality service and decent prices (even with the current £-€ exchange rate). Or you can click through to the Nolan helmets pages at Amazon UK if you prefer to buy from them. Please see here for more info on these stores or click the links to go straight to their Nolan helmet pages where you'll find the latest designs and deals.
Nolan N90-2 with chin bar fully raised
Safety
The Nolan N90 hasn’t been tested by SHARP yet, so we’re not entirely sure how well it’ll perform in terms of safety.
But looking at previous Nolan testing data, we reckon we can be reasonably confident that the N90-2 will perform well.
Its predecessor, the Nolan N91, scored a very solid 4/5 in the SHARP safety test. But it’s not just that that’s making us think the N90-2 will do well. So far, every single Nolan helmet that’s been tested by SHARP has scored exactly the same marks – that’s 4 stars a piece across 12 tested helmets! Wow!
Nolan’s flip-up helmets also do particularly well in the chin guard tests – with every one so far staying locked 100% of the time during impact testing. Which is incredible. Only Nolan have managed to date, and we really hope they continue the tradition with the N90-2.
In all, it’s probably not unreasonable to expect any new Nolan to do well in the safety tests. They always do!
Other than that, the N90-2 has got a full compliment of features to help you keep out of trouble in the first place.
Classic Silver N90-2
Pinlock-ready visor (and we hope it’ll come with a Pinlock included in the box) to keep your visor fog-free. Drop down sun visor to keep vision tolerable in the sunshine. Micrometric fastener that’s easy to use and safe as houses.
So we’d be surprised if the new Nolan N90-2 doesn’t have all the bases covered on the safety front when it’s released.
Ventilation
The N90-2 has a single forehead vent and single chin vent. These have been designed to be simple to operate and look large enough to be easy to use in gloves.
In the top vent, air is directed through the helmet shell and onto the scalp through channels in the polystyrene shock absorbing lining, exiting via the dual rear exhaust vents. So far, so standard.
Ventilation was only rated as average-poor on the N91 so let’s hope that Nolan have learned a lesson from this and improved it on the N90-2.
N90 Special – showing large chin and top vent sliders
Visor and Sun Visor
The main visor comes Pinlock anti-fog insert ready, though Nolan have yet to confirm whether a Pinlock will be included in the box. We’d expect it won’t simply because the N91 didn’t and with the N90-2 being Nolan’s entry-level modular, the pressure’s on to keep costs down.
The visor itself operates on a ratchet and has the opening tab bottom centre. All good there then.
The sun visor is anti-scratch and UV400 too and has an anti-fog coating on it – though don’t expect the anti fog coating here to be very effective – they usually aren’t (if they were, everything would be antifog coated and there’d be no need for a Pinlock!).
The sun visor is operated by a slider on the left hand side of the helmet, which is a much better position than many which are located on the top of the helmet.
Chin Guard
Nolan’s chin guards are the safest around.
If you’re buying a flip-up helmet, you’re likely expecting the chin guard to give as much protection as a full face when it’s in place.
But that’s not always the case because a surprising number can open under impact. We know this because SHARP checks the chin guard after each impact test and notes how often the lock becomes unlocked (thanks guys – very useful info that!).
I’m happy to say, that’s not the case with Nolans though (so far) because every tested Nolan helmet has remained fully locked.
N90 in gloss white
That’s partly testament to the quality of the locking mechanism and partly because Nolan use a two-button opening mechanism – squeeze the button underneath the guard with your thumb and push down the front slider and the chin guard opens up.
It sounds trickier than it is – owners say you get the hang of Nolan’s two button chin guard quickly and it’s not really any bother. And it might make all the difference between a having your chin guard unlock during an accident or staying firmly closed.
Not only that, but the Nolan N90-2 is dual homologated – meaning it’s designed and approved to be worn as an open face helmet as well as a full face helmet. Lots of modular helmets aren’t and can’t (legally).
With the N90, there’s a slider on the side of the helmet – if you want to ride in open face ‘Jet’ mode, open the helmet fully and push the lever up to the J position and you’re good to go. That’ll lock the chin guard up and open.
Looks & Graphics
At the time of writing, only a few graphics and designs have been released. But they do show, along with the usual plain colours, a couple of hi-vis variants (for those of us who like such things). To date, they’ve released the Classic N-com range (that’s the plan blacks/whites etc.) and the Special and Straton designs – along with the Hi-Visibility N-Com version.
Click the links below to see more designs and pricing once the N90-2’s been launched.
Best place to buy this Nolan crash helmet?
It's available at our two recommended retailers below (recommended for great customer service and competitive prices) - or you can also find it at Amazon if you prefer to buy there. Please click below to drop onto their Nolan helmets pages or *quick view retailer T&Cs here.
Click above to drop onto their Nolan helmets pages or *quick view retailer T&Cs here.
Other stuff – audio, warranty
The Nolan N90-2 has been designed to integrate with the Nolan N-Com bluetooth communicator. So if you’ve got one of those, there’s a removable door on the side of the helmet to accommodate it.
On paper at least, the Nolan N90-2 looks to be a decent package. It’s got plenty of useful features that make for a helmet that’s easy to live with – including sun visor, Pinlock-ready main visor and N-Com communicator integration. It’s not the cheapest modular around, but if it can carry on the Nolan tradition for making very safe flip-up helmets, then it may well be worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new Flip-up helmet.
Of course, once the N90-2 has been out for a while, we’ll fill you in here on what owners and riders think about it. Until then, why not check out one of our suggested alternatives below.
With flip-up helmets being more popular than ever, there’s tons of choice out there. But first up, you might want to have a look at the N90-2 predecessor, the Nolan N91. It’s discontinued now of course but it’s a decent helmet and it means you might find a real bargain (check our recommended retailer links above, they usually discount discontinued lids pretty quickly).
Side view of the Nolan N90-2 showing N-com panel, sun visor slider and chin-guard lock
We recommend having a look at the Lazer Paname – that’s a SHARP 4 star tested modular helmet that’s cheaper than the N90-2 and comes with a Pinlock in the box.
Or a couple more from the Nolan group are the Nolan N104 or the X-Lite X-1003. The N104 will retail for about the same as the N90-2 but has a 4 star SHARP safety rating, while the X-1003 is more expensive but it’s a composite helmet so should be quite a bit lighter. That’s SHARP 4 star rated too.
If you fancy something a bit different, then the Roof Boxer V8 is certainly that – but it’s also a decent helmet, scoring 4 stars in the SHARP test and costing around the same as the Nolan. It looks well cool too!
And finally, we’ve gotta mention the good ole Duke from Caberg. SHARP 5 star, dual homologated, Pinlock included, reasonably light weight and cheap as chips.
Looking to buy a Nolan?
We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, free delivery and outstanding service, and Motoin (Ger) for quality service and decent prices (even with the current £-€ exchange rate). Or you can click through to the Nolan helmets pages at Amazon UK if you prefer to buy from them. Please see here for more info on these stores or click the links to go straight to their Nolan helmet pages where you'll find the latest designs and deals.
Schuberth R2 – the all-rounder full-face glass fibre crash helmet
The Schuberth R2 is designed to be Schuberth’s all rounder helmet; meaning as long as you’re not spending hours in an extreme tuck position on your sportsbike, or laid waaaay back on a chop, it should work just fine.
Even though it’s not cheap, it is one of Schuberth’s lower priced helmets. And for the money, it does come with some interesting goodies – including integrated SC1 bluetooth antenna/mic/speakers. So if the price is about right for your pocket, then it may well be worth a look.
Please click below to visit the Schuberth R2 helmets page at our recommended store. 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).
Matt black Schuberth R2. Note all R2s will come with clear visor as standard.
Safety
Despite most Schuberths commanding a premium price, you might be surprised to know that Schuberths don’t have a great reputation for safety.
The old Schuberth R1 scored 2/5 stars in the SHARP test and their average score across seven tested helmets is a distinctly average 3 stars. Not amazing for a premium-priced helmet.
With the R2, they use a new production process to make the fibreglass shell called Direct Fibre Processing which they say leads to a more uniform layer of fibreglass and strengthened shell.
Though as we’ve seen, the best helmets don’t have a strong/hard shell but seem to hit that sweet spot between a strong but flexible helmet shell and quality shock absorbing liner.
Schuberth also say they use a multi-part EPS lining which helps with energy absorption during an accident.
When the UK testing bods at SHARP got their hands on a few R2’s in early ’19, they scored it 3 stars out of a maximum 5 for safety. Given Schuberth’s past history, that’s entirely expected.
It’s also a slightly lower score than the average across all helmet types tested by SHARP, which is around 3.5 stars out of 5. So given the price you pay for a typical Schuberth, that’s not a great safety score.
Schuberth are also adding an emergency quick-release system (EQRS) to the comfort lining – there to help medics remove a helmet with the minimum of complications after an accident. And they also use a Double-D ring fastener, sighting the fact that a double d ring has to be re-adjusted with every ride; which is definitely a benefit for safety – as long as the rider can be bothered to adjust it correctly.
R2 Nemesis comes in hi viz yellow, white or blue versions
Research suggests that around 8% of fatal accidents involve the helmet coming off. So fasten up carefully guys.
Ventilation
Schuberth say the R2 will have a single chin vent and crown vent and use channels in the EPS to take air through the helmet.
Most helmets these days have double-vents up top so it’ll be interesting to see if the R2 manages to catch enough air to push into the helmet to really drive that cooling and ventilation. Quality engineering is also needed to design effective cooling channels in the shock-absorbing liner and match that up with the external intakes. Not all manufacturers manage it.
Visor
Good ventilation helps immensely with keeping the visor fog-free too, but the Schuberth R2 will also come with a Pinlock ready visor (tbc if there’s a Pinlock insert in the box).
All R2s come with Pinlock-ready visors. This one’s the R2 Enforcer hi viz
If it does, it’ll have to be a Max Vision insert as Schuberth have made the visor opening as wide as possible to improve peripheral vision.
That’s a good thing in any helmet as long as they’ve managed to increase visor width and maintain structural integrity. We’ve seen some makers make massive visor openings but the side-impact test results show real weakness at the side of the helmet, arguably because the helmet’s been weakened because of the massive visor hole!
Early versions of the R2 show a non-ratchet visor but it does come with a lever-based quick release system for the visor. Pictures also show Schuberth looks to have ditched their turbulators along the top of the visor (Schuberth reckoned they reduced wind noise) though a few seem to have sprouted above the visor pivot and along the side of the helmet. We’ll find out if they work once owners have ridden with the R2 later on in 2017.
Comfort & Sizing
Schuberth’s website say they use ShinyTex, Oko-Tex 100 linings inside the R2.
Oko-Tex 100 is an international certification program that ensures a fabric isn’t harmful to the end user – so stipulates certain manufacturing processes and materials aren’t used. So if you’ve particularly sensitive skin, then that might be good for you.
As far as we can find, ShinyTex is a Chinese textile company so that’s not really a massive benefit to us!
Gloss white Schuberth R2. Note single chin and forehead vents
Other than that, the R2 interior is removable/washable, anti-bac and designed to be fast-drying. They also say they’ve designed it to be seamless so you don’t get any seams digging in (good plan).
Looks, Aero & Graphics
The Schuberth R2 is a clean-looking and minimalist helmet. Any aero features hasve been built-in to the actual helmet shell rather than stuck on in the form of spoilers or winglets. That should also help with reducing helmet noise too – something in keeping with the stated goals of Schuberth. They use wind-tunnels in the development of their helmets and sculpt their shells not only to be aerodynamic and stable, but to reduce noise as much as possible.
As for graphics, designs released so far are reasonably classy and understated – in line with most of the designs released by Schuberth on their existing helmets.
They produce a matt and gloss black version and a gloss white. There’s also a few hi-viz fluorescent versions in most of the designs – including the Renegade (helmet at the top of the page), Nemesis and Enforcer.
There’s bound to be some more graphics available after launch though, so click the links through to our recommended retailers after its launched in 2017 to see the latest designs and prices.
Best places to buy a Schuberth R2 helmet?
Please click below to visit the Schuberth R2 helmets page at our recommended store. 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).
Schuberth R2 Video
Here’s a 12m look around the R2 from fast talking bloke at Revzilla.
Other stuff – warranty
The Schuberth R2 will come with a five year manufacturer’s warranty – that’s up there with the best warranties in terms of length of time covered.
This one’s a grey version of the Enforcer graphic
Overall/Summary
We’d expect the R2 to be a good helmet to live with. Schuberth put a great deal of effort into making a really usable helmet, and they’re usually good quality too.
And with stuff like a nice wide visor and in-built Schubert SC1 communicator mic/speakers and antenna, Schuberth are continuing to make modern-looking helmets that have everyday usability in there as standard.
Just don’t expect it to offer the best protection on the market because when the UK SHARP safety testing crew tested the Schuberth R2, they scored it a below average 3/5 stars for safety.
There’s the 5 star rated AGV GT Veloce – that’s a composite fibre sports-oriented helmet with a big visor aperture. It retails for about the same price as the Schuberth R2 too.
Or how about an X-Lite X-702 GT – that’s another SHARP 5 star composite helmet that’s light and excels in pretty well everything (noise, comfort and ventilation). Again, it’s around the same price as the R2.
Best places to buy a Schuberth R2?
Please click below to visit the Schuberth R2 helmets page at our recommended store. 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).
