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Review of the MT Ventus open faced crash helmet

mt-ventus-discontinued-featured

The MT Ventus is a helmet that’s designed with one thing in mind – convenience. That’s because MT created it to be as lightweight and unobtrusive as possible when you’re wearing it and to be as small as possible so it’s easy to stow away – probably under the seat of your scooter. They also made it so they could sell it as cheaply as possible. So can it be any good too?

  • Polycarbonate shell
  • Small helmet shell size
  • Micrometric fastener
  • Anti scratch visor
  • Very low price
  • Great entry-level open face helmet
  • Price range – £30-£45

Safety

The Ventus is an open face helmet (technically it’s a jet-style helmet because it has a visor – but I digress) and so it’s never going to be massively safe. It has been ECE 22-05 safety tested/approved for sale in the EU but, as with all open-face helmets, if you’re in an accident, you risk face-planting the floor so it’s impossible to give the Ventus a particularly high score for safety. We usually like to refer you to the SHARP safety rating too, but again, because it’s an open face helmet, SHARP won’t test them because if you want safe, you buy a full-face helmet.

Having said all that, and you really need the convenience of an open helmet – and you manage to avoid hitting your face/chin during an accident – then we’d expect the MT to perform reasonably well. It’s a polycarbonate helmet and comes only in one helmet shell size, but MT helmets that have been SHARP safety tested score an average of 4/5 stars making MT our 9th safest crash helmet brand at the time of writing. So we’d expect the shell of the Ventus to stand up reasonably well to an impact. It’s secured to your head using a trusty micrometric strap – which are tried, tested and very easy to use.

Overall though, because the Ventus doesn’t protect the face and chin, you’ll see in our star rating at the bottom of the article, we’ve had to score it a single star for safety.

MT-Ventus-open-face-crash-helmet-gloss-white-side-view
The MT Ventus in gloss white

Helmet Size

The helmet shell of the Venus is produced in only one shell-size. MT’s reasoning for this is that their goal was to keep the Ventus as small as possible so it can be stowed away under the seat. And indeed they’ve succeeded in that because several owners have reported that the Ventus is practically the only helmet they’ve found that’s small enough to fit under the seat of their scooter (obviously, that’s dependent on the model of your bike).

While producing a helmet in a range of shell sizes (that’s different from a fitment size) is generally a good thing, it’s arguably less of an issue for an open or jet style helmet because the helmet doesn’t totally envelop the head. However, for those of you with very a small head, it may make the helmet look really big on you – the so called lollipop effect. The rest of us should be fine though.

Looking to buy this MT helmet?

We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, outstanding service and free UK delivery/returns. Or you can click through to the MT helmets pages at Amazon if you prefer to buy from them. Please see here for more info on our recommended stores or click the links to go straight to their MT helmets pages where you'll find the latest designs and deals.

Ventilation

Ventilation isn’t such an issue on an open faced helmet for obvious reasons. That’s not to say you can’t buy open faced helmets with ventilation because they do exist (such as the Scorpion Exo 100 Padova). And while the Ventus does have a couple of exhaust vents on either side of the helmet, there’s no integral ventilation to the skull. If you ride in hot places, this may be a drawback for you.

Visor

The Ventus has an anti-scratch pull down visor which users find very convenient. It’s very handy to have a visor there to stop rain or dust and because it’s anti-scratch, it should stay nice and clear even after repeated cleaning.

MT-Ventus-open-face-crash-helmet-matt-black-side-view
Gloss black version of the MT Ventus showing rear sculpting and side vent

Comfort

One thing that most owners of the MT Ventus praise is the helmet’s comfort. It is a cheap helmet so many owners didn’t expect much from it in the first place, but most are very happy with the comfort. The occasional owner mentioned that MT had skimped a little on the liner and that it was a bit thinner than they were used to. And of course, most users of the Ventus probbly won’t wear it for very long because it’ll appeal mostly to commuters. But if you buy a Ventus and get the initial fitting right, you should find it a comfortable helmet to live with.

Looks & Graphics

The Ventus isn’t available in may designs or colours. The main colours available are the gloss and matt black ones pictured, though on MTs website, they do show a white and a stripy version (various coloured stripes) though these don’t appear to be available in all countries.

Ventus video

There don’t seem to be many videos showing the Ventus – but here’s a non-English one we found that’ll give you a feel for the helmet – and features some of the most inappropriate music overdubbing a crash helmet video we’ve heard so far!

Other stuff – weight, glasses, noise

Some owners reported that it’s a great helmet for glasses-wearers; you can take the helmet on and off without removing your glasses and it’s fine for riding with them on. Most also think it’s light to wear and like the fact you can hear quite a bit around you – which can be a bonus provided you don’t go too fast.

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

If you’re after an open face helmet for your daily commute and that’s going to fit under your seat when you get there, the MT Ventus is a great bet. It’s not got the best build quality, but with such a low price, you can forgive the fact that MT have cut one or two corners. Overall, a very useful helmet with a nice and easy to use visor that’ll keep the worst of the road muck and rain off your face and that’s comfortable for your daily commute and more.

Best place to buy this MT crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the MT helmets pages at our recommended stores or Amazon UK. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

Buy MT from SportsbikeshopShop for MT helmets at Amazon

*Quick view retailer T&Cs here.

Alternatives

We’ve not looked at many open face helmets because, well, they’re not the safest helmets around. But you might want to check out the Scorpion EXO 100 Padova, a well-built helmet with an in-built sun visor as well as a clear visor too – that’s highly rated by owners.

Definitely want an MT?

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

Review of the AGV GT Veloce full face motorcycle crash helmet

The GT Veloce is AGVs full face SHARP five star rated sports-touring helmet. It’s based on the shell of Valentino Rossi’s top-of-the-range Pista-GP and the slightly cheaper AGV Corsa but has been re-worked to create a helmet that’s less extreme and more practical but keeps much of the race pedigree of the other lids.

NOTE: this helmet has now been replaced by the AGV Veloce S.

  • SHARP 5 Star Safety Rated (maximum)
  • 1450 g (light)
  • Wide and tall visor aperture
  • Pinlock and tear off ready
  • Not the quietest
  • Sizes XS – XXL
  • Typical price range – £245-£330 (depending on model)

Looking to buy this AGV?

It's no longer widely available, but the last time we checked there were some good deals at SportsBikeShop (UK). Please see here for more info on them or click the link above to go straight to their AGV helmets pages.

Safety & Shell

The AGV GT Veloce has a great pedigree. The shell is based on AGVs excellent Pista-GP and Corsa helmets. Both of these scored a maximum five stars by the SHARP crash helmet testing scheme, and so did the GT Veloce. If you compare the GT Veloce with the other two, you can see a few differences – the chin guard is less pointy and aerodynamic and there’s less of a spoiler on the back – but the overall look of the helmet is very similar.

AGV-GT-Veloce-gloss-white-crash-helmet
Veloce GT in gloss white

It’s also constructed of the same composite materials as the other lids too – a composite of fibreglass, aramid and carbon fibres. AGV call it their SSL system or Super Super Light (does that mean even lighter helmets will be called SSSL in future?!). It is a pretty light helmet, though it’s actually not any where near the lightest helmet around (for example AGVs own Pista GP weighs 1250g compared to the GT Veloce’s 1450g).

The GT Veloce’s helmet shell is manufactured in four shell sizes, and comes in fitting sizes XS-S-MS-ML-L-XL-XXL. Note, there’s two different medium ‘fitting’ sizes because a few manufacturers are now starting to split sizes to give an even better fit, especially in more popular sizes.

Producing a crash helmet shell in more sizes is a good thing – it means the shell is a better size/fit for your head and also means the amount of shock-absorbing expanded polystyrene lining will be nearer the optimum amount required to keep injury to a minimum. It’ll also mean the helmet will look better on you, avoiding the lollipop effect!

Other safety features include a thicker, 2mm visor, which is designed to be less easy to penetrate during an accident. It’s also wider too to give you better peripheral vision. The fastener is a double d-ring; they’re old style these days but work just fine, and are a must if you’re planning to take your helmet to the track.

Having said all this, the proof’s in the pudding and with a SHARP 5 star rating (and of course the obligatory ECE 22-05 approval in the EU), the AGV GT Veloce is about as safe as crash helmets come.

Helmet Noise

AGV-GT-Veloce-TXT-black-white-crash-helmet
The AGV Veloce GT in TXT colour scheme.

Because the AGV GT Veloce is based on race-bred technology, it will only be as quiet as these donor shells allow. Unfortunately, both the donor helmets are noisy buggers – and the GT Veloce is no exception. Race helmets need to focus on safety, aero, buffeting, vision. Arguably the last thing a racing helmet designer will consider is noise – let’s face it, if you want to make a helmet quiet at the track, you bung in better ear plugs! So at anything over moderate speeds, owners reckon you’ll find the GT Veloce noisy.

This might not be a deal-breaker because add a decent pair of ear plugs into the equation, and it’s perfectly manageable. But if buying a quiet crash helmet is your thing or you do quite a bit of riding without plugs, the GT Veloce is probably one to avoid.

Ventilation

Ventilation on the AGV GT Veloce is a mixed bag. It’s a similar story to the ventilation on the AGV Corsa. Overall ventilation is fine. If the front vents are open, they pull in lots of air, take it up over the back of the visor, over the head where it can reach the scalp via the cut-aways in the lining (see comfort section for more information) and grotty air is expelled through the rear exhausts, helped by the rear sculpting of the helmet that causes and active pull effect. All good there.

AGV-GT-Veloce-GTX-black-gunmetal-crash-helmet
AGV GT Veloce GTX showing rear exhaust vents and reduced spoiler.

The main problem is with AGVs fiddly ventilation opening tabs. The forehead ones are fiddly at best and a right ole pain at worst. They are small, so hard to find, and owners reckon you’re never quite sure if you’ve opened them until you get up to speed and can feel the effects. Similarly, the chin vent is opened/closed by a slider on the inside of the chin guard. Again, owners unused to AGVs find it a bit unusual and fiddly, especially wearing winter gloves.

As usual, whether this will be a problem for you is down to personal preference. If you’re the type who leaves the vents in one setting for months on end, then it’ll not be a problem. If you like to get the helmet ventilation just right, it might cause you a problem.

Visor

There’s lots of good things to say about the GT Veloce’s visor.

First off, because it inherits the Pista GP and the Corsa’s racing aperture that’s wider and taller than normal, the GT Veloce gives great peripheral vision as well as view of the road ahead if you’re in a tuck position. The visor’s what AGV call a Race 2 visor. It’s thicker than average, to give extra protection, and it’s optically-correct to remove distortion.

Then there’s AGVs excellent visor release system (called XQRS or Extra Quick Release System). Pull a tab down on the visor and out it comes. Owners love it. Oh, and the GT Veloce is Pinlock-ready (make sure you find a retailer who’ll include one in the box for you for free) and it’s actually tear-off visor ready too, with a couple of mounting pins on the outside of the visor.

And finally (we said there were lots of good things) the opening tab is at the bottom centre of the visor – probably the best place for the opening tab to be? So all fine there then?

Well not quite. There’s a couple of things buyers need to be aware of here. Firstly, there’s no ratchet mechanism on the visor. Owners report it’s reasonably firm and will stay open to moderate speeds, and of course that’s probably fine for the track. But many owners wished it had a ratchet to keep the visor at set openings. Secondly, the visor automatically closes and locks, needing you to press a switch to unlock and open it. Owners reckon this can be done with a single finger as the unlock button is right below the opening tab so can be achieved in one movement. However, unless you’re on the track, a lock is probably unnecessary and a spring-loaded auto-lock, doubly so. It is possible to lock the visor in a cracked slightly open position, which is useful, but many helmets manage the same without the need for an auto-lock.

AGV-GT-Veloce-matt-black-side-view-crash-helmet
Matt black version which shows the AGVisor LCD visor fitted and darkened (with Pinlock fitted too).

Again, if you do lots of track riding and want the security that your visor will stay closed throughout your session (or any crashing!) then the lock is a good thing. But for most riders, it’s probably unnecessary and some find it annoying.

One final note is that the larger visor has many benefits, but if you’re using the helmet for lots of touring or road-riding, then a higher visor aperture, without an inner sun-visor, means you can’t easily lower your head and use the top of the opening to cut out the sun – which can be a real pain, especially when the sun is lower in the sky.

Oh, and a final final note, the GT Veloce supports AGVs AGVisor (see what they did there?), their switchable LCD visor that darkens the visor at the touch of a button. Check the pic of the matt black version left to see what it looks like in it’s dark position. AGV reckons the battery will last for 12 hours in this fully darkened mode.

Comfort

It goes without saying that they key to a comfortable crash helmet is getting the right size and fit in the first place. But that said, AGV have a good reputation for making some of the most comfortable crash helmets around and the same goes for the GT Veloce.

It’s got a removable and washable liner composed of Lycra and a wicking fabric that owners say is high quality and comfortable. It’s also highly adjustable internally, with pockets in the liner to add padding at various points around the helmet including the cheeks, rear, and various other points around the skull using padding disks that come with the helmet.  It’s also got adjustable ‘rabbits ear’ strips across the head, which allow the helmet to sit higher or lower on the head and alter its angle. They also allow you to slightly adjust the helmet for head shape.

All in all it’s a good effort from AGV to allow riders to get the helmet fit just right. Having said that, it’s no substitute for getting the helmet fitment right in the first place and most owners reckon they haven’t played around with the padding too much. But it’s there if you need it and has helped some riders perfect their helmet’s fit and remove any pressure points.

Overall, owners say the GT Veloce is a comfortable helmet with a high quality, well thought out interior making for a helmet that can be happily worn all day.

Best place to buy this AGV crash helmet?

It's been discontinued for a while now, but the last time we checked you could still buy it from SportsBikeShop (UK) who also offer competitive prices, free delivery and 365 day returns backed by outstanding reviews.

Please click the picture/link to drop onto their AGV helmets pages. 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). Click here for more info on our recommended retailers.

Buy AGV from Sportsbikeshop

Click above to drop onto their AGV helmets pages or *quick view retailer T&Cs here.

AGV-GT-Veloce-GTX-black-grey-red-crash-helmet
Swoopy black, grey, red GT Veloce GTX. Nice.

Looks & Graphics

The GT Veloce is a toned-down version of the Corsa, with less extreme, sporty looks. The graphics reflect this, being mainly toned down compared to its sportier cousins (what no race-reps?). There’s the usual gloss white and matt/gloss black but, notably, no high vis versions which is surprising for a sports touring helmet.

The AGV GT Veloce TXTs come in two variants as shown on this page – the TXT in black/white and our favourite, the TXT in black/gunmetal/red as shown at the top of the page. There’s also the classy GTX paints, in red/grey, black/gunmetal (right) and blue/gunmetal. Most are shown on this page but for the full range, please click on the graphic/links directly below.

Video

Here’s some dude at AGV UK giving you a run through of the GT Veloce’s features.

Other stuff – communicators

All that’s left to say is that the AGV GT Veloce is probably fine if you’re looking for a helmet to use with a bluetooth or other comms system. There’s cutaways in the liner for speakers, although they may be a bit on the small side if your speakers are over-sized. Whether you can hear what’s being said is an entirely different matter!

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.

AGV-GT-Veloce-TXT-black-red-crash-helmet
Our fave – the GT Veloce TXT black/red.

Overall

The AGV GT Veloce has much going for it. It’s one of only a handful of crash helmets that have scored a massive 5/5 on the SHARP helmet safety test, and that’s gotta be worth a lot when you’re looking to buy a lid? It’s also comfortable, has a nice wide visor, has great build quality – it looks nice too – and it’s a good price for a composite shelled helmet. There are a few niggles though, in the form of noise, visor and ventilation opening. If you think you can live with these, then the GT Veloce will undoubtedly give you great service and be worth the money.

Alternatives

There are some great alternatives out there though. The Shark Race R Pro is another SHARP 5 star rated helmet that’s very track-orientated, lighter than the GT Veloce, and about the same price (slightly more in the carbon version). For something less track-focused, the Shoei NXR is a fantastic helmet, very much more road focused and slightly heavier (and scoring 4 stars not 5) it excels in everything else and is one of our top rated helmets. You should also check our reviews of the rest of the AGV crash helmet range.

Looking to buy this AGV?

It's no longer widely available, but the last time we checked there were some good deals at SportsBikeShop (UK). Please see here for more info on them or click the link above to go straight to their AGV helmets pages.

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.

Shoei X Spirit II crash helmet review (X-Twelve in the US)

shoei-x-spirit-II-helmet-disc-featured

Shoei’s top of the range composite helmet designed for racers and track-use

The Shoei X Spirit II (X-Twelve in the US) is Shoei’s top of the range racing helmet – as worn by Marc Marquez. It features a shell of what Shoei call AIM or Advanced Integrated Matrix which is a composite material of fibreglass and ‘organic fibres’ which produce a particularly hard shell. Being Shoei’s top of the range helmet, it commands a hefty price tag, and because the X Spirit II is designed for racing, it could be a difficult helmet to live with on the road? Let’s have a look…

  • Now updated to X-Spirit III 
  • Shoei’s top of the range racing helmet
  • Composite fibreglass shell
  • SHARP 5 star safety rated
  • 1500g weight in size large (about average)
  • Wide visor
  • 4 shell sizes
  • 5 Year Shoei warranty
  • Available in XS-XL
  • Typical price range: £350-£500

Safety and helmet size

X Spirit II shell sizes and fitment sizes together with a view of the removable lining.
X Spirit II shell sizes and fitment sizes together with a view of the removable lining.

Like all motorcycle crash helmets legally on sale in Europe, the Shoei X Spirit 2 has passed the ECE 22.05 approval test. But, unlike most, it has also been tested by the UK crash helmet safety testing scheme SHARP and scored a maximum 5 star rating. There’s only a few helmets which have scored that maximum mark (many are viewable here) so you can buy an X Spirit II and ride in the knowledge you’re wearing one of the most protective helmets around. Shoei do say that the shell is so hard it can only be cut with lazers. That’s not necessarily a good thing with a motorcycle helmet as there’s an argument that the shell should flex slightly to allow the EPS liner to do its job; but since it’s been tested by SHARP and given top marks, it obviously does its job well.

The X-Spirit II is produced in four helmet shell sizes for the European market, meaning the shell size will more closely marry to the fitment size, overall meaning that the correct thickness of EPS liner (the shock-absorbing polystyrene part that lines the helmet shell) will be used, which is good for safety.  It also means the helmet will look more in proportion to your head and body size (not too large or too small); again, a good thing.

Shoei X-Spirit 2 in Marquez Motegi colours. Click to enlarge.
Shoei X-Spirit 2 in Marquez Motegi colours. Like all photos on this page, click to enlarge.

Other safety related features include the wider/taller visor for improved peripheral vision. The X Spirit II also has a couple of quick-release red tabs at the bottom of the liner which can be pulled to remove the cheek pads and allow easier/quicker removal of the helmet by emergency services. We’ve not had any reports of how effective these are – or indeed if the emergency services know to use them – but it could well be a very important feature to prevent further aggravation of any injuries.

Looking to buy a Shoei?

We recommend either Sportsbikeshop (UK) or GetGeared (UK) for outstanding service and competitive prices, or FC-Moto (Ger) for the widest range. Please click any link to see their full range and latest prices.

Helmet Noise

The Shoei has been designed to be as slippery as possible and has been sculpted to reduce drag and lift at speed. And while owners widely report that it does indeed feel slippy and there’s not much buffeting, the design arguably doesn’t do much to help reduce helmet noise.

Of course, it’s quite probable that making the quietest helmet isn’t one of the main priorities for a racing lid and that everyone who races will wear ear plugs as a matter of course. The same may go for road riders too. However, the X Spirit II is not a quiet helmet, with pretty well all owners reporting that it’s noisier than their previous helmet, particularly at speed. Shoei do include a chin curtain with the helmet, and while that does reduce the amount of wind and noise coming up into the helmet around the neck, overall the Shoei X Spirit II is a pretty noisy helmet.

X Spirit II in Marquez Montmelo colour schem
X Spirit II in Marquez Montmelo colour scheme showing rear spoiler and vents.

Ventilation

Ventilation on the X Spirit II is average at best. It has a pretty narrow top vent that’s designed to suck air over the top of the head and exit at the exhaust vent at the rear and side of the helmet. But it seems it’s just too small with lots of owners saying they can’t really feel much air getting in. Also, while the vents can be opened/closed, the switch is very small and, because it moves left/right, most owners find it tricky to remember which way’s open and which way’s closed – not good.

The front chin vent is easier to use because it’s much chunkier and easier to find with gloves on, but it directs all its air up over the back of the visor. That’s good if you’re wanting to keep your visor fog-free, but not so good if you’re after lots of ventilation when the weather’s mild/hot and you’re wanting a bit of cooling, including when you’re on a track day.

Overall, ventilation on the X Spirit II isn’t up to the levels of many of its competitors.

Visor

Shoei X Spirit II gloss white crash helmet
Gloss white version. visor mechanism (with Pinlock) is one of the best.

The visor on the X Spirit II is one of its strong points. Shoei have always had a good, positive opening and ratcheting mechanism, and the same goes here. There’s a nice positive movement to the visor and it seats firmly at its different opening settings. The visor base plate has been redesigned to automatically adjust the visor, pulling it to a tight seal when closed and moving the visor away from the seal when it’s being opened. Users say it works well too. It also features an easy to use quick-release system – just pull a tab and the visor lifts away. That’s great for changing visors according to different weather or track conditions or just removing it to clean crud off after your ride.

Shoei have also increased the width and height of the visor for improved peripheral vision and to give the tucked-in racer better vision of the road ahead – another good feature that owners like (click to see other crash helmets with wide visors). That’s been married to a larger Pinlock anti-fog insert which is higher and wider than previous models and is designed to allow the rider to see right up to the top of the visor without it getting in the way (with some previous versions, the top of the Pinlock can be right in your line of vision). A Pinlock coupled with the chin vent pushing air onto the back of the visor (and the removable breath guard to stop your breath hitting the back of the visor) means X Spirit II owners say misting of their visor is a thing of the past.

shoei X Spirit II Marquez 2 TC1 helmet
Top view of the X Spirit II Marquez 2 TC1 helmet

Being a racing helmet, the X Spirit II has a wide number of replacement visors available for it too – from amber high-vis and tinted visors to tear-offs for the serious racer.

Comfort

The inside of the Shoei X Spirit II is a very nice place to be. While many lower-priced helmets have made big inroads into the quality levels of some of the top brands, one of the benefits of still buying a more expensive helmet is that the linings often use slightly better quality materials, meaning comfort levels edge above some of the cheaper competition. Once you get the right fitting, the X Spirit 2 is very comfortable. On that note, some owners say that because the X Spirit II uses four shell sizes, you might find the sizes to be slightly different from previous Shoei’s, so it might be worth trying in a shop before you buy.

The lining is fully removable and washable and features their Max-Dry anti-wicking material that Shoei says removes sweat twice as quickly as ‘traditional’ nylon based liners. Most sports helmets these days have anti-wicking liners of course so it’s nothing new, but owners rate the internals of the Shoei highly and find it very comfortable.

Shoei X Spirit II in gloss black
Shoei X Spirit II in gloss black

Looks & Graphics

The X Spirit II is a very handsome helmet with a sleek, racy look. The build quality is regarded as exemplary by owners with a great paint finish and quality stitching.

In Europe, at the time of writing, there’s currently six colour schemes available (all shown on this page); three Marc Marquez paints (Motegi, Montmelo, and the Marquez 2 TC1) as well as the usual gloss white, gloss black and Matt black.

Video

Here’s Shoei’s sleek, pacey sales video showing you how cool you’ll look wearing an X-Spirit 2! It’s worth a watch to see the helmet’s features too tho…

Other stuff – fasteners, glasses, warranty

Shoei X Spirit II matt black crash helmet rear side
Showing rear spoiler of the matt black Shoei X Spirit II

The X Spirit comes with the obligatory double d-ring fastener (so it can get the ACU gold sticker and be used on the track). They’re basic fasteners but work well.

Glasses owners are well catered for with the X Spirit II with owners reporting that the slots for the stem of your glasses are an improvement from the last model, with the grooves positioning your glasses better and with lots of space to slot them in yet holding them firmly in place while riding.

Finally, the Shoei X Spirit II comes with Shoei’s 5 year warranty – covering the materials and workmanship of the helmet under ‘normal’ use. All Shoeis purchased since 2013 come with this warranty which is a great comfort if you’ve had bad experience with other manufacturers. Note, the warranty only covers the original buyer and word is that it’s only valid if you buy through an authorised dealer – so beware if buying through Ebay or Amazon.

Best places to buy a Shoei crash helmet?

We've chosen some of the best places to buy from - whether it's a Shoei or any other helmet/gear.

If you want piece of mind when you buy, SportsBikeShop is based in the UK and offers outstanding service (9.8/10 on Trustpilot) including 365 day refunds. They may not always be the cheapest but are our recommended retailer for quality of service.

FC-Moto widely offers the best range of helmets in Europe and scores a decent (8.7/10 on Trustpilot) - and are based in Germany. If you want the biggest selection to choose from, we recommend you buy from here.

GetGeared is another recommended UK retailer, with no-quibble 365 day returns, free UK delivery and scoring 4.8/5 on eKomi.

Please click any picture/link to visit their Shoei helmets page where you can see all the latest colour schemes and prices. And if you buy from any, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site). Click here for more info on our recommended retailers.

Click to visit Sportsbikeshop
Click to visit Shoei at Sportsbikeshop
Click to visit Shoei helmets at Get Geared
Click to visit Shoei helmets at Get Geared
Click for FC Moto
Click for Shoei at FC Moto (then use site search to find the helmet)

Link to guides page

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various guides – or have a look at our top helmet lists where we’ve got the top 10 rated helmets overall and best budget/safest/full face/flip-up helmets.

Shoei X Spirit II marquez 2 TC1 crash helmet
Marquez 2 TC1 X Spirit II

Overall

The Shoei X Spirit II is a competent helmet in lots of ways. It’s very safe, has a great visor mechanism and is all-day comfortable. However, it’s let down by it’s noise levels, ventilation and its price tag.

If you’re after a helmet for race days and track days, you might well find the X Spirit II to be a great helmet because it’s been designed to work for racers – as long as you don’t find it too stuffy due to the poor ventilation. Lots of owners like the helmet, but we feel that for most who aren’t on the track all day and who probably want a helmet to work on the road too, there are better alternatives around for less money.

Alternatives

Which brings us on to alternatives. If you’re after a great racing helmet for use on your sports bike, the Shark Race-R is another SHARP 5 star rated helmet for use on the track. Owners love it both on and off the track and it’s a touch cheaper than the X Spirit. If you’re wanting to stick with a Shoei, you might consider the Shoei NXR, a helmet that performs well across the board and is designed for sports bike riders too.

Definitely want a Shoei?

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

Star Ratings

MT Revenge crash helmet review

mt-revenge-featured-updated

MT are Spain’s largest helmet manufacturer. They’re known for their range of budget helmets, which many folks will worry naturally means lower performance. But as the SHARP 5 star rating on the MT Revenge shows, that’s not necessarily the case, at least in terms of helmet safety. And with the Revenge having a pretty cool, aggressive and aerodynamic look about it, maybe there’s a lot more to this helmet than just the price tag….

  • SHARP 5 star rated (maximum)
  • Polycarbonate shell
  • Micrometric fastener
  • Weight – 1.45Kg (pretty light for a full face)
  • Sizes XS-XXL
  • Typical price range: £70-£100 (polycarb) £150-£190 (carbon)

Safety

mt-revenge-replica-gp-blue-red-black-crash-helmet
Replica GP version of the MT Revenge.

The MT Revenge has a polycarbonate shell and it’s produced in two sizes (shell sizes are different from fitting sizes – click the link to find out more). More expensive lids are usually produced in three or even four shell sizes, so you might find the Revenge is a slight compromise here (in that they’ll have to over or under-pad the lining more to make just two exterior shells fit such a wide range of internal fittings). The upshot is that it might look a bit too big or too small on your head, depending on your fitting size. However, that’s not necessarily a massive problem, especially when the MT Revenge scored a maximum 5/5 stars on the SHARP helmet safety test. That’s an outstanding performance and puts its safety levels right up there with the best from the big names. Fantastic job MT!

The Revenge also has a micrometric fastener – which are very easy to tie securely and quick to release using a single pull of a tab. Pretty well all the bases covered there in terms of safety.

Best places to buy an MT Revenge?

Please click below to visit the MT Revenge helmets pages at Amazon. 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).

Helmet Noise

Owners are generally happy with the noise levels of the Revenge. It has a fairly aerodynamic shape which, owners say, helps keep it quiet, even with the vents open as there’s little to catch in the wind and create noise. The neck curtain also helps reduce noise and buffeting around the neck. It’s not the quietest full face helmet out there, but for the price, owners are happy and, even though helmet noise is pretty subjective, we think most riders won’t be disappointed.

Ventilation & visor

mt-revenge-matt-black-crash-helmet
Rear view of the matt black version of the Revenge

Ventilation is one of the MTs strong points. It’s got the usual three front vents, one on the chin guard and a couple on the forehead – complemented with a couple of rear exhaust vents. Again, owners are happy with the amount of air they bring in though the front vents can be a little tricky to open.

The only downside is, and it’s typical of most helmets without an anti-fog insert, that the visor will steam up at low speeds. MT do however offer a Pinlock-ready visor to combat this. They actually have a wide-range of other visors, from double visors to iridium – even an electrical visor (whatever that is!). We’ve seen double visors before as an attempt to reduce steaming on the visor – and from the MT website, it sounds like the electrical version is for riding in the extreme cold – if you’ve tried one, do let us know!

The Revenge comes with a 2mm thick visor (a safety feature) but there are just one or two reports of slight distortion. Perhaps it was a dodgy batch as most owners don’t have a problem. Finally, the visor’s got an effective quick-release system too, which is great for quick removal for cleaning after a ride.

mt-revenge-replica-gp-turquoise-pink-black-crash-helmet
MT Revenge Replica GP colour scheme in turquoise, pink & black.

Comfort

Owners reckon the Revenge is good for comfort. One or two people reckoned you can feel the occasional corner might have been cut here as it’s not quite as comfortable as they’d hoped. However, after a bit of bedding in, most people are happy with comfort levels.

Being made of polycarbonate, the Revenge is lighter than most full face helmets too, so that helps with comfort, with more than one rider commenting they just don’t know it’s there, it’s that light. As usual, the internal lining is removable and washable.

Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, carbon fibre version

There are speaker cut-aways inside the lining of the helmet and it’s been designed to work with MTs bluetooth communicator. And while owners like the micrometric fastener, a couple mentioned the loose end does flap around a bit while riding, slapping the side of the helmet. Probably not a deal-breaker, but something you might have to deal with. Oh, and if you want a special edition of the Revenge, there’s even a carbon fibre version that comes in at well under £200 and drops the weight down an impressive 1250g (large version). That comes with DD fasteners for the track. Sounds like a bit of a bargain to us – and looks very cool!

mt-revenge-carbon-fibre-crash-helmet
MT Revenge special carbon fibre edition

Helmet buying guides page

If you need any information on buying a crash helmet – what to look out for including guides on the SHARP helmet testing scheme or ACU gold stickers for example, you might want to check out our guides page.

Overall

It usually comes down to price v performance when you’re buying a new crash helmet. And on both scores, the MT Revenge delivers. At the time of writing, you can get the Revenge for around £80. That’s a SHARP 5 star rated helmet that, bar one or two niggles, owners really love and that performs as well as some of the biggest names around – for under £100. It doesn’t really have any new or advanced features on it, but if you’re after a solid performer that does all the basics well and will keep you as safe as any other helmet on the market should the worst happen, then the MT Revenge has got to be worth a good look.

Best places to buy an MT Revenge?

Please click below to visit the MT Revenge helmets pages at Amazon. 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).

Alternatives

While the MT Revenge is a great buy, there are some good alternatives for the same sort of money. While the Bell M1 has been discontinued, you can still find some great bargains on places like Ebay. There’s always the MT Thunder to look at too, that’s a four star SHARP helmet that you can get for £50 in some colours. Or if you’re after a better-known brand, the Nolan N85 is well liked by owners and scores SHARP 4 stars.

Definitely want an MT?

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

Review of the Scorpion EXO 500 Air full face helmet

scorpion-exo-500-air-discontinued-featured

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air is a medium-priced full face polycarbonate helmet. It’s got some interesting features – including integral sun visor and inflatable cheek pads, and comes with a Pinlock anti fog insert out of the box. But how is it rated by owners – on things like noise, comfort and build quality? And how safe is it? Read on and find out…

  • Now discontinued – deals to be found – check our recommended retailers below
  • SHARP 4 star safety rating (out of 5)
  • Average weight (1.6kg)
  • Fitted with Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog
  • Wind-tunnel tested & designed
  • Integral sun-visor and pump system
  • Sizes XS – XXXL
  • Typical price range: £130-£200 depending on model/retailer

Safety

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air scored a sound 4/5 on the SHARP safety test, dropping marks only slightly for side and forehead impacts.  That’s a pretty good score, showing that the Exo stands a good chance of doing its job in an accident. The helmet shell is constructed from polycarbonate and is manufactured in 3 different shell sizes, covering the usual fitment sizes of XS – XXL – but it also goes right up to XXXL, which is pretty unusual. As a rule of

Scorpion-exo-500-Air-crust-blanc
Scorpion Exo 500 Air in ‘Crust’ white/chameleon colour scheme

thumb, more expensive helmets tend to be made in more shell sizes, so getting this on a medium priced lid is a good thing and adds to safety as well as looks (the helmet will generally look better on your head – see our guide to helmet shell sizes for more information).

Given that it’s a lower-priced helmet, it’s pleasing to see that owners are happy with the Exo 500 Air’s build quality, saying that it’s well constructed with panels and vents fitting nicely together, all improving ownership and use, and contributing to safety. The 500 Air comes with a micrometric strap fastener – they’re regarded as pretty safe and easy to operate (and we like them too!).

Helmet Noise

The Exo 500 has been designed with a wind tunnel, which has the double benefit of producing a helmet with reducing buffeting and noise levels. Owners say the Exo works well in both areas. Only a little buffeting is noticeable in strong winds or at high speed, and it’s a very quiet helmet, though owners do reckon that helmet noise increases a little if the forehead vents are open and if the head’s down in a racing-tuck. But overall, it’s a quiet helmet.

Looking to buy this Scorpion?

We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, free delivery and 365 day returns backed by outstanding reviews. Or you can click through to the Scorpion helmets pages of J&S Accessories at Amazon (UK) if you prefer to buy from there. Please see here for more info on why you can buy in confidence from these recommended retailers (note: if you buy from either, we get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you - it's how we finance the site) or click the links to go straight to their Scorpion helmets pages.

Size

The Scorpion Exo 500 comes in seven sizes – including XXXL. There’s two things to be aware of though if you’re thinking about ordering one. First, lots of people reckon you need to order a size above normal as Scorpion haven’t quite got their sizing right. So if you’re usually a medium, it’s probably worth ordering a large.

Secondly, the Exo 500 Air comes with an internal air pump (hence its name). On the inside of the chin guard, you’ll find a red bulb which you can use to pump air into the cheek pads to inflate them and improve fitting. However, most folks reckon they don’t bother with the pump – only one or two people who found the helmet a bit loose either after buying the wrong size or after finding the cheek pads had lost a bit of their firmness after wear, found it useful to pump up the pads.

Either way, it’s there if you need it, although one or two people with larger chins said their chins rubbed on the bulb which was a bit uncomfortable. If that’s you, might be worth trying before you buy, or ordering from a company with a no-qualms return policy.

Scorpion-Exo-500-Air-helmet-matt-black-rear
Rear of the matt black Exo 500 Air showing twin exhaust vents and both visor switches.

Ventilation

Ventilation is good. The chin vent is really simple to open, even with winter gloves, and pulls lots of air into the front of the helmet – which is really useful for keeping the visor clear. The forehead/crown vents are a bit more fiddly as the switch is small and tricky to operate and there’s also two of them which is a bit of a pain. Other than that, they pull enough air into the lid to keep your head cool on hot days and the couple of rear exhaust vents do their job at pushing air out of the back. All good on the ventilation front.

Visor

The Exo 500 Air has a couple of visors – the external, clear main visor and an internal sun visor, operated by a switch to the left of the helmet.

The main visor has both left and right tabs at the bottom which is a nice touch as most helmets make you open the visor how the designers want you to, rather than personal preference. There’s a small three-way switch to the left of the visor that gets mixed reviews. First off, it’s a bit small and fiddly to use when you’re riding and when you’ve got thick gloves on. Secondly, owners have mixed opinions about how useful it is. The switch allows you to firstly lock the visor, secondly to push it forward for a cracked visor (the visor moves slightly forward to crack open top and bottom) and thirdly to allow it to freely open and close on its 3-position ratchet. If they sound useful features to you, then it’s all good. Personally, it sounds like it’s fixing a problem that doesn’t really exist. There are plenty of lids out there that have great visors without fiddly switches – but each to their own. Some people find the ‘crack it open’ feature useful, especially to help defogging.

scorpion-exo-500-air-thunder-white_matte-black
Striking Air Thunder white/black colours

On that note, the visor of the Exo 500 Air is Pinlock-ready – in this case it has a recess on the internal side of the visor that fits a Pinlock Max Vision visor. The pinlock is fixed using the two posts in the usual fashion and sits in the recess to stop movement and to create a tight seal with the visor. They work really well and owners reckon there’s no problem with fogging on the 500 Air.

The internal sun visor doesn’t have a Pinlock but is coated on both sides with an anti-fog preparation which again, owners say works well. The sun visor is operated by moving a lever to the left hand side of the lid. It’s mostly fine, although most people seem to complain that the tint’s bit light. Also, it doesn’t operate quite as well as the best sun visors in that it’s tricky to move it to an intermediate position (not fully up or down). But on the whole, helmet-owners are pretty happy with the sun visor.

To view other helmets with internal sun visors, check out our helmets with sun visors page.

Finally, the visor removal system isn’t the best in class but it’s pretty easy and, importantly, it’s tool-free. Twist the hubs at the pivot point of the visor and it pops out – takes about 10 seconds in all.

Comfort

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air is comfortable. It’s got a decent quality lining that’s removable and washable and, providing you get a helmet that fits in the first place, owners say it’s really comfortable. It’s also hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking (but then most are these days). The vents keep your head cool and one or two owners report that it’s easier than previous helmets to get on or off. So all good here.

scorpion-exo-500-air-laces-black_magenta
The Exo 500 Air Laces colour scheme in black and magenta. Nice.

Looks & Graphics

We’ve selected what we think are some of the best colour schemes on the helmets on this page. Scorpion produce the Exo 500 Air in the usual range of plan gloss and matt whites/blacks, and they also do some striking and vibrant schemes that are higher vis but look cool too – such as the Exo 500 Air Thunder in yellow/black or black/white.  They produce some subtler, classier colours like the magenta Exo 500 Air Laces (to the right)- as well as the Shoutier Air Crust. They can all be found on this page.

Video

Here’s a 2-3 minute video showing you some of the key features of the Scorpion Exo 500 Air.

Helmet Buying Guides

If you’re looking to buy a new crash helmet, you might want to check out our useful guides page – including all about the SHARP crash helmet safety testing scheme – and our 10 things to look out for when buying a helmet.

Best place to buy this Scorpion crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion helmets pages at our recommended stores including the Scorpion helmets at J&S Accessories on Amazon UK. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

Buy Scorpion from Sportsbikeshop Shop for Scorpion helmets at Amazon

Click above to drop onto their Scorpion helmets pages or *quick view retailer T&Cs here.

Scorpion-Exo-500-Air-helmet-gloss-black
Popular Gloss black version of the Exo 500 Air

Overall

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air retails at a decent mid-range price point and offers lots of helmet and features for the money. Owners rate it highly for comfort, noise and ventilation, while it’s been well rated by SHARP for safety (4 stars out of 5). At this price point, you might be forgiven for expecting a few corners to be cut – but no, owners say it’s well built and finished, and it includes extras in the box like a Pinlock anti fog insert which really help if you live in colder regions. Overall, the Exo 500 Air is a great helmet offering a great mix of useful features and performance at a competitive price and is well worth looking at if you’re looking to buy a new full face helmet.

Alternatives

There’s lots of alternatives available. You might want to check out our top-10 helmets list that rates helmets in order from the highest rated to the lowest – in terms of comfort, noise, value, safety and features. Or you might want to check out a list of the safest helmets – those that scored a maximum 5/5 SHARP safety rating. There’s also a list of other medium-priced helmets (those priced between £100-£250).

Definitely want a Scorpion?

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

Review of the Lazer Paname Z-Line crash helmet

lazer-paname-discontinued-featured

Lazer have been making crash helmets for a long time. Since 1919 to be precise. So they ought to know a thing or two about making skid lids. We’ve not reviewed many Lazers (though their Monaco flip-up is excellent) so we thought we’d take a look at this cheaper, polycarb version and see if it can compete in what’s a hotly contested segment of the helmet market full of great alternatives.

  • SHARP 4 star safety rated (out of 5)
  • 1.8kg (quite heavy)
  • Ventilation & comfort both good
  • Integral sun visor
  • Pinlock anti-fog insert in the box
  • Sizes XS-XL (53/54 – 61/62)
  • Price range: £120-£190 depending on model

Safety & shell

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet titanium open view
One hand chin-guard opening on the Paname titanium

Let’s start off by looking at safety – after all that’s why you buy a helmet. While the Paname is ECE 22/05 approved (like all motorcycle crash helmets on sale in the EU) it has also been independently tested by SHARP and scored a creditable four stars out of five. That’s a solid rating. And because it’s a flip-up helmet, SHARP also note the number of times the chin guard opened during these tests. In the Paname’s case it opened 10% of the time; which is actually pretty reasonable among modular lids. We’ll leave it to you to decide whether that’s a good enough rate for you; obviously it’s not ideal for your chin guard to open in an accident!

According to the Lazer website, the Paname has an ‘injected’ shell which we take to mean an injected polycarbonate thermoplastic shell. Which is fine; polycarb helmets perform very well, but tend to be used on cheaper helmets because they’re cheaper to fabricate and the raw material is cheaper in the first place. It also has a tri-composite EPS lining, meaning the polystyrene inside the helmet is triple-density, with the less dense polystyrene there to absorb smaller knocks and shakes while the heavier density is there to absorb the bigger impacts. Which should all mean it’s better at absorbing an impact and will pass less of the impact through to your head. And from the SHARP rating, it seems to do the trick.

It’s secured with a micrometric fastener which is nice and easy to use and to adjust and, for those of you who like your helmet to be seen, it has a scotch reflective zone on the rear of the neck for night time visibility. The Paname is available in sizes Sizes XS-XL (53/54 – 61/62).

Helmet Noise

Like many modular helmets, the Lazer Paname isn’t the quietest helmet (look here if a quiet helmet is what you’re after). Modulars need to cater for extra hardware to allow the chin guard to rotate and that tends to mean they have less space for noise-reducing padding. However some owners have remarked that it’s quieter than most modulars (and even some full face lids) and is broadly OK up to motorway speeds where you’ll need to be wearing ear plugs to keep things nice and quiet. Most of us tend to wear plugs anyhow. If you do, the noise levels should be fine.

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet drone front view
Here’s the Paname Drone showing off its 5 front vents. Click to enlarge.

Ventilation

Overall, owners rate ventilation pretty highly. It’s got a couple of closable chin vents and three effective vents on the forehead which do a decent job of pulling in air, taking it round the scalp and exiting through the couple of exhausts at the rear (below). The chin vent switch is a bit fiddly, especially for gloved hands, but it’s OK once you get the hang of it. The chin vents also do a reasonable job of bringing air over the visor to keep it fog-free, however you’ll probably need to keep the visor cracked in cold weather – or fit the Pinlock.

Looking to buy a Lazer?

We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for outstanding service, great prices (including price match) and free delivery. Or if you prefer to buy in Euros, you could try FC-Moto (Ger) who carry a really wide range of helmets with competitive prices. Please see here for more info on these retailers or click the links to go straight to their Lazer helmets pages where you'll find the latest helmet designs and deals.

Visor

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet white rear view
Rear view showing exhaust vent

The Paname comes with a main clear visor and an internal, UV light protecting sun visor. The sun visor is lowered by using the slider on the left hand side of the helmet. It’s easy to use and, because it’s a slider, means you can lower the visor to any degree you like which owners really like, commenting it’s particularly important when the sun’s low in the sky and you need small degrees of adjustment. It’s also really easy to change – just lower the visor, jerk it down and out it comes.

The main visor has a nice wide aperture; great for good peripheral vision and when you’re doing life savers before turning. It opens on a ratchet and seats well with no owners reporting leakage from the seal. It comes with a Pinlock anti-fog in the box – Pinlock’s are clear anti-fog inserts that stop your visor fogging up, even when cold, raining and with no ventilation. So that’s good. What’s not so good – is that one or two owners have said the Pinlock sits too low on the visor and the top of it can get in your eye line when riding. I think that’s probably slightly dependent on the bike you ride too – sportier positions where your head’s down will be more prone to this that more upright touring positions.

Removal of the main visor isn’t the easiest – when compared to some of the competition anyhow – but it’s not tricky either. It needs a quarter turn of the pivot screw to pull it free, and that’s about it. It does need a tool though, so compared to the best in class which usually need either a tab-flicking or a lug-pulling and they pop out, it’s not the best. But in the scheme of things, it’s still pretty simple.

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet black metal open
Paname in Black Metal colour scheme.

Chin Guard

The chin guard opens by pressing a button on the inside of the guard. This works well and means you can easily open the guard with one hand. As mentioned earlier, when in its down  and locked position, the guard stayed locked and closed in 90% of impacts – which is actually quite a good rate for a modular helmet. But it’s your call whether that’s good enough for you!

Comfort

No problems reported here. The Lazer Paname comes with the usual anti-bacterial and sweat-wicking interior liner (removable and washable) and, as long as you get the right fitting in the first place, owners say it’s very comfortable. It also has their (ludicrously named) Morpho System which means you can buy different cheek and head pads to get the fitting just right. Ludicrously named but very useful if you find the helmet’s not quite right after purchase.

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet white top view
Top down view showing vents.

Other stuff – glasses, bluetooth, guards

Like most flip-up helmets, the Paname is great for glasses wearers – open up the front, pop your glasses on and away you go; much less fiddling than with a full face helmet. What you might find a bit weird if you’re not used to a flip up, is the weight. Like many flip ups, the Lazser Paname is heavier than the equivalent full face (all that mechanical gubbins to fit in all adds weight). Plus the weight can feel a bit oddly distributed at times, especially when the chin guard is up. Of course it’s relative, 400g here or there isn’t going to be a deal breaker for most of us, but it’s worth being aware of; if you’re wanting a light weight lid, then the Paname’s probably not for you.

The Paname also comes with a breath guard and chin curtain in the box, which can help with visor demisting and reducing noise, and there’s the usual helmet bag. If you’re buying through our affiliate link, at the time of reviewing, there’s a free bluetooth kit included in the deal, which is nice. Though people are moaning that, while the microphone fits, there’s not really anywhere to fix it. Ooops!

Helmet buying guides

If you need any help on buying a helmet, you might want to check out our Guides page where there’s some useful information on things like fitting or safety tests.

Overall

The Lazer Paname is a good solid helmet. It’s well built, has some useful features and owners think it performs well – especially at the price. Ventilation and comfort are both good and it’s reasonably quiet too (at least, for a modular). If you’re on a budget and looking for a flip-up helmet with sun visor, that offers good levels of protection, then you can’t go wrong with the Lazer Paname.

Alternatives

It’s a bit more expensive than the Paname, but the Caberg Duke is an excellent, 5 star rated modular polycarbonate helmet. It’s lighter and quieter than the Lazer too, and looks pretty cool to boot (sorry Lazer!) We like the Caberg Tourmax too, though it hasn’t been SHARP rated yet. Click this link to check out all our flip-up/modular helmet reviews.

Best places to buy a Lazer crash helmet?

We've chosen a couple of great places to buy from - whether it's a Lazer or any other helmet/gear.

If you want piece of mind when you buy, SportsBikeShop are based in the UK and offer outstanding service (9.8/10 on Trustpilot) including free UK delivery and 365 day refunds. They're competitively priced too (with price match) and are our recommended retailer for quality of service.

FC-Moto widely offers some of the best € prices, has a really wide range of helmets and is based in Germany. Note if you buy from FCMoto you'll have to add shipping charges on top if you're outside Germany. Note: please read FC Moto's entry here before ordering.

Please click any picture/link to visit their Lazer helmets pages where you can see all the latest graphics and deals. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS (it's how we finance the site)!

Click to visit Sportsbikeshop
Click to visit Lazer at SportsBikeShop
Click for FC Moto
Click for Lazer at FC Moto (then use site search as their navigation's a bit pants)

Definitely want a Lazer?

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

Review of the MT Thunder budget motorcycle helmet

mt-thunder-discontinued-featured

£50 for a decent full face helmet? Surely not? Well the MT Thunder is a budget full face crash helmet from Spain that retails at a tiddly £50 (a bit more for a fancy paint job) and it’s making waves among people who normally wouldn’t be tempted away from some of the bigger brands. Is it a decent lid for learners? What about more ‘serious’ owners who wouldn’t usually shake a soiled stick at a helmet without the words Shoei or Arai written on it? Let’s see…

  • Budget full face helmet
  • Scores 4 out of 5 stars in the SHARP helmet safety test
  • Micrometric fastener
  • Kids to XXXL sizes
  • Typical price range: £50-£70

Best places to buy an MT Thunder?

Most places have stopped selling the Thunder, but the last time we checked, you could still find it on Amazon. So please click below to drop straight onto their MT Thunder helmets pages… and as always, 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 & Shell

Well first off, the Thunder scores a very respectable 4/5 in the SHARP crash helmet test. That’s fantastic for a lid at this price point. To put it in context, that’s as good as an Arai RX-7 GP, a helmet that sells for around 12x the price!

MT Thunder crash helmet in gloss white
MT Thunder crash helmet in gloss white

It’s better than a Schuberth S2 that’s 9x the price! OK, it might lack some of the features of those lids, and it might be a little less carefully put together, but in pure safety terms, the MT certainly holds it’s own. The Thunder is also manufactured in three different shell sizes and is available in fitments from kids sizes, all the way up to XXXL – again that’s at least as good if not MUCH better than helmets costing many times the price – and means, in general, that the helmet is safer to use and will look better when you wear it than many other helmets that come in fewer shell sizes.

The locking mechanism is your regular micrometric fastener – which we’re a fan of as they’re really easy to use and reliable. The Thunder also comes in Double-d fastener form and if you’re after a track day helmet, you’ll need to ensure yours comes with this to qualify for the ACU gold sticker you’ll need.

Helmet Noise

The MT Thunder isn’t the quietest helmet around. It’s lacking in some of the wind tunnel testing and careful aero sculpting that pricier manufacturers manage. However, it’s not the noisiest either. And, as usual, it’s as much about what you’re used to and the bike you ride as the aurally-insulating properties of the helmet. I mean, tuck in behind the barn door fairing of your BMW tourer and your lid will feel as quiet as if you were punting down the Cam on a summer’s afternoon. Hurtle up the A1 into a headwind at 90 on your naked Ducati monster, and you’ll feel like your head’s inside a kettle drum. However, all things being equal, the Thunder drops a mark or two for noise compared to the quietest helmets around. It’s widely regarded as about average by most owners.

MT Thunder in Roadster colours - just about showing front and top vents
MT Thunder in Roadster colours – just about showing front and top vents

Ventilation & Visor

This is a strong point for the Thunder and mentioned by several owners. Even though the vents look basic, with a single chin and forehead vent (both closable) and a smattering of rear exhaust vents, users reckon that ventilation is very good. Both vents are fairly easy to find with gloved hands and channel air over the head through to the exhaust vents at the rear. If you’re using the helmet without any anti-fog on the visor, the ventilation isn’t sufficient to keep the visor fog-free, but that goes for all helmets; so you’ll need to invest in an anti-fog insert if you regularly ride in colder weather. The visor works well with a positive ratchet, and is easy to remove/change using a system similar to many Shoei helmets. Open the visor, pull the lug down and the visor will be released – simple and effective.

Comfort

MT seem to have covered all the major bases with the Thunder – including comfort, with owners reckoning the Thunder is a really comfortable helmet. Obviously, you need to ensure you get the size right in the first place, but when you do, owners say it’s particularly comfortable with it’s internal shape being very forgiving and offering plenty of space. The interior lining is removable and washable and, although it’s not quite as plush as many more expensive helmets, it’s reasonably light and, for the price, owners are more than happy.

Best places to buy an MT Thunder helmet?

Most places have stopped selling the Thunder, but the last time we checked, you could still find it on Amazon. So please click below to drop straight onto their MT Thunder helmets pages… and as always, 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).

Rear view of the MT Thunder Butterfly - showing graphics and vents
Rear view of the MT Thunder Butterfly – showing graphics and vents

Looks & Graphics

The MT Thunder is a neat looking helmet that comes in 10 different colour schemes, including the usual gloss/matt black and white. There’s also a fluorescent orange version for folks who like to get noticed and a couple of other designs – the Roadster 2 is a single design that comes in a number of different colour schemes, plus there’s the in your face Thunder Italian and the Thunder butterfly that’s very stylish and will probably appeal more to the ladies. All in all some nice designs.

Overall

Not only is The MT Thunder a great budget full face helmet, it’s a great full face helmet full stop. Many owners buy them who are new to the world of motorcycling, but there’s an increasing number of people trying out lower price helmets as alternatives to the higher price well known brands. And why not? The MT Thunder performs well in all respects and is an excellent buy – and probably up amongst the best value for money crash helmets you can buy.

Best places to buy an MT Thunder?

Most places have stopped selling the Thunder, but the last time we checked, you could still find it on Amazon. So please click below to drop straight onto their MT Thunder helmets pages… and as always, 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).


Definitely want an MT?

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

10 Things to look out for when buying a crash helmet

If you’ve not bought a new helmet for a while or want to find a refresher on some of the latest features, check out our guide below. We’ve hyperlinked some of the terms for you to click through for more information – or sometimes to show you crash helmets with a particular feature.

1. SHARP rating*

We bang on about SHARP because if you’re going to buy a crash helmet, you might as well stack the deck in your favour and buy one that’s going to do a good job in an accident. Buy a helmet that’s been SHARP tested and scored four, or preferably five stars, and it stands a good chance of keeping your skull intact in an accident.

2. Visor

Anyone who’s been stuck with a leaky or misty visor knows how important visors are to living with a helmet. Look for a visor that’s Pinlock-ready and that’s got a nice wide aperture. Thankfully you can click those words in the link cloud to the right to find helmets with those features. Go for a helmet with a visor that’s quick-change too, that’ll make it much easier to clean.

3. Modular/flip up helmets

They’re great if you fancy a bit more wind in your face and the convenience of actually being able to speak to someone or make a call with your helmet on. If you’ve not had one before, they’re usually a bit heavier and noisier than a full face and the weight distribution can seem a bit odd when you wear it. They’re often slightly compromised in terms of little things like visor sealing or ventilation so be prepared for the occasional niggle.

4. Chin strap

If you want to go on a track day, buy a crash helmet with a double-d ring fastener as only those are ACU approved and get the ACU gold sticker on the back. D-rings are pretty easy to use too. Micrometric fasteners are in vogue at the moment – a ratcheted strip slots into a hole and shuts tight, pull a tab to release. They’re even easier to use so don’t be put off.

5. Communicators

More and more folks are using bluetooth gubbins with their helmets. So check your helmet has got the right cut-aways and space for your speakers and microphone. Many of the latest helmets come with little removable areas in the lining – again check the feature cloud to the right to find helmets that are communicator ready.

6. Fitting

Getting the right fitting is absolutely crucial. Your helmet should be reasonably tight all round but without pressure points otherwise you’ll suffer on longer rides. The polystyrene liner will usually give a little after you buy it – but not too much. See our fitting guide for more info.

7. Ventilation

Helmets are broadly pretty good for ventilation these days (but check our best vented helmets list to make sure). A chin vent, one or two forehead vents and some exhaust vents should do the job to pull the air in and over the scalp – and check the front vents are all be closeable. The chin bar vent needs to be able to pull a decent amount of air up across the visor to help with demisting. Our reviews will tell you if they do or not.

8. Sun visors

Many full face and modular lids have built-in sun visors. Sun visors are secondary tinted visors that slide down inside the main clear visor, usually operated by a small lever or slider on top of the helmet or to one side. They can be very useful though they can fog on cold days and it’s worth checking that it’s anti-scratch too as some older ones aren’t. Sun visors are becoming an essential item for lots of riders though.

9. Best helmets

We rate helmets on a range of important features that mean a helmet will work well when you buy it. You can find our top 10 list here. Get one of these helmets and the chances are you’ll be happy with it.

10. Retailer

When you buy your helmet online, make sure you go for a retailer who’ll replace or refund without any quibbles. Many retailers have very specific returns policies (you’ve gotta call for returns number, use their carriers and pay for it yourself, keep all stickers on etc. etc.) so go for one who are a bit more relaxed. Free delivery is good. Long returns policy is good – some even do 365 days. They’ll all want the helmet returning in perfect, unused condition though so don’t go for a blast on your bike before deciding it’s not right. Some of the links on this site take you to Sportsbikeshop. We reckon they’re one of the best around (with free delivery and 365 day returns) so if you’re in the market for a helmet or some other gear, please click this link and browse around. If you buy from there, we get a small % from the sale, which is how we fund the site – so thanks lots!

*We’ve also analysed SHARP helmet safety data to find out which types of helmet materials are safest and lightest and discovered if flip-up crash helmets are as safe as full face. Read our guide here.

Shark S900c Full Face Motorcycle Helmet

shark-s900c-updated-featured

Widely advertised as an aggressive, incredibly versatile and balanced helmet, the Shark S900-c is designed to replace the earlier S900 model, with just a few modifications here and there coupled with some rather nifty features, such as new shell construction, an ergonomically improved sun visor and Shark’s innovative integrated ‘Air Pump’ system (more later). Shark want us to think of the S900c as a kind of ‘upgrade,’ a self-assured ‘top-of-the-line’ helmet for street riding but with all the practical functionality you’d expect from a ‘sports touring’ helmet and that’s comfortable and secure.

But what do owners think about living with the 900C…

  • Model now discontinued. Try our recommended retailers below for good deals
  • 1.5kg
  • Sizes S-XL
  • Micrometric locking
  • Quite noisy
  • Ergonomic internal sun visor
  • Very comfortable with integrated air pump system
  • Good for glasses wearers
  • Prices typically range from £120-£160 depending on retailer/model

Best places to buy a Shark S900C?

It’s now been updated, but the last time we checked, the S900C was still available at these 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).

Buy from SportsBikeShop

Shark-S900C-crash-helmet-Code-colours
Shark S900C in Code colour scheme showing integral sun visor

Safety and Construction

First off, the S900c has yet to receive a SHARP rating, though this might not be of paramount concern as the entire Shark range has achieved consistently high marks in all SHARP safety tests so far (ranking them joint 3rd in our look at the safest crash helmet brands). The S900c model scored four out of five stars during Sharks own rigorous in-house assessments, plus the helmet meets the usual EU ECE safety standard.

As soon as it gets SHARP tested you will be the first to know.

The helmet itself is constructed from an injected thermoplastic resin, which in layman’s terms means it’s plastic that’s injected into the mould in liquid form before being cooled. Thermoplastics have long been used for helmets and lots of other gear that needs to be tough and light weight. It’s also relatively cheap compared to laminates and composite helmets. But don’t let that put you off – some of our top 10 best performing helmets are thermoplastic so you shouldn’t have a problem there.

The fact that it’s light weight has been mentioned by many a S900c owner, which means it’s an easy helmet to live with and reduces fatigue on the neck when you’re in the saddle for long distances. So bonus points earned here.

Another contemporary feature is the quick release micrometric fastener; if you’ve not used one before, we love em. It’s a simple toothed design where a sharp tug on a tab quickly opens the chin strap – a good safety feature if you’re involved in an accident (or after ten hours on the bike and you’re desperate to get your sweaty lid off!)

Shark-900C-crash-helmet-black-rear-view
Rear view of the Shark S900C showing air pump controls underneath

You could be risking your health wearing an ill-fitting helmet – so the Shark have tried to combat this and improve fitting in the S900c helmet by adding something called their ‘integrated air pump system’, allowing you to adjust the internal dimensions of the helmet for (what Shark say) is a perfect fit by pumping air into the liner. Users maintain that this is the most impressive part of the helmet design by far, especially by those who possess rather small heads and have to experience that hazardous moment when the head turns sharply right but the helmet stays facing straight ahead! Believe me it can happen, even with a fully fastened chin-strap (I speak from alarming personal experience here!).

Many owners thought the air pump might be a bit of a gimmick or not work very well but most reckon it’s actually not and it does! So, another bonus point earned here and maybe it’ll be something we’ll see in other helmets in the future (as long as Shark haven’t patented the arse out of the idea!).

Size and Comfort

The S900c helmet comes in five sizes, XS-XL, with the usual removable and washable lining made of a microfibre fabric. Comfort and fit is enhanced by the aforementioned integrated air pump system, situated in each cheek sack. Users report that the ‘Air Pump’ system is very easy to use; to inflate you simply press a button on the cheek pad to inflate/deflate. But even without it, owners say it’s a pretty comfortable helmet.

Wind Noise

Wind noise is not one of the helmets strongest points, receiving mostly poor reviews on the whole, with an approximate 70/30 split between users experiencing quite a lot of noise to very little noise at all. This is somewhat surprising considering its new design features but if you are the type of biker who wears ear plugs, then this shouldn’t be an issue for you.

In defence of the S900c, I have yet to find a helmet that totally eliminates all outside noise though you have to feel that the 900Cs logos that stand up from the shell surface won’t help one little bit. Most manufacturers are at pains to make their helmets as slippery as possible yet Shark make the Shark logo on the front and the model number on the side stand proud to catch the wind. Some folks report that the top vents are fairly noisy too.

Look here if for reviews of only the quietest crash helmets on the market.

Shark-900C-crash-helmet-dual-black-front-view
Top air intakes of the S900C dual black

Ventilation

As any self-respecting biker knows, the efficiency of their helmet ventilation can easily be influenced by a number of outside factors, such as their height, the bike’s seating position, the size of the windscreen, speed and so on.

Notwithstanding this, the S900c rates above average on ventilation, with the majority of users reporting ample air flow and no annoying high-pitched whistling. The helmet has an adjustable ventilation system, consisting of two top vents and a bottom chin vent. All vents can be opened and closed, the lower vent being the easiest to operate, even with gloves, and consists of a long narrow vertical switch, which emits a loud click when opening and closing. When the lower ventilation is open the breath guard and well-padded chin cover can be easily removed. This lower ventilation is also designed to direct a constant flow of air over the visor to prevent mist forming, though some reports do remark upon a certain degree of fogging at low speeds (though this is sorted by adding the Pinlock – see below).

The top vents consist of narrow plastic strips that open and close via a basic sliding switch. Owners reckon these are a bit of a disappointment on the whole, with several comments referring to them as being rather ‘cheap’ and/or ‘flimsy’ and noisy.

Visor

One of the most important features on any helmet is a good visor and I am pleased to report that the S900c helmet scores highly here. The helmet comes complete with a 2.2mm clear visor, which has an excellent optical quality to it, providing the user with well-defined all round vision. The visor shuts with good solidity and seals well against the visor seat (with one or two exceptions where an owner reported it didn’t seal properly but was sorted with a return to the retailer).

Shark-900C-crash-helmet-foret-matt-black-red-white-side-view
Shark S900C in foret colour scheme

As you would expect the visor is anti-scratch and it’s also Pinlock-ready (though doesn’t necessarily come with one when you buy) which users found to be highly effective. For those who have attempted to spray their own visor with the latest ‘recommended’ anti-fog product, and failed abysmally, you will appreciate just how great and effective Pinlocks are!

A really impressive feature here is the face shield removal system. Removal is an easy process, a quick press on a pivot point, a gentle push, a little slide and ‘hey presto,’ the visor slides right off. Re-installation can be somewhat tricky, but it’s the old story of ‘once you know how’ and then it’s a doddle. A quick re-alignment and the visor should click into place with no great difficulty. Owners like this.

Another much-loved feature is the integral drop down sun visor. It’s one of the main reasons owners bought the helmet because it means you don’t need to carry a spare visor with you and you don’t get caught out when the sun starts to set. They’re awesome and it works well on the 900c.

The Shark team has given considerable thought to glasses-wearers too, leaving plenty of space within this visor and sides of the helmet for glasses to be worn in comfort. A big ‘thumbs up’ here me thinks.

Looks and Graphics

Shark-900C-crash-helmet-comfort-hedge-side-view
Bizarrely named ‘comfort hedge’ ~
S900C colour scheme!

Colour schemes and graphics are somewhat subjective, but a quick browse on the Shark website will show you the vast range of ‘jazzy’ paint and design options that are currently available, including a rather groovy ‘glow in the dark’ option for those of you who like to spend their spare time riding in the gloom (bring on winter riding 🙁

Best places to buy a Shark S900C helmet?

It’s now been updated, but the last time we checked, the S900C was still available at these 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).

Buy from SportsBikeShop

Other Stuff – communicators

For those of you who use communicators/bluetooth and need to install speakers, the S900c has an in-built cavity in the sides of the lining, with people stating that the speakers nestle nicely in the helmet without squeezing your ears.

Overall

So what’s the verdict? Well the Shark S900c is a decent helmet that scores highly in comfort and design. All the important bits you would like to work do and do rather well, the only let down being it’s a bit noisy and the anti-fog isn’t quite up to the competition unless you get a Pinlock. However, the S900c offers good value for money, is mostly well built and is available with a wide range of optional extras, such as titanium linings, additional Pinlocks and tinted visors, as well as a full five year warranty.

Alternatives

You might want to look at our Top 10 helmet list to find our current favourite helmets. If you’re looking to buy a mid-priced full faced helmet, one very good alternative in the same price range is the HJC IS17 – another medium priced helmet that is outstanding for safety, noise and ventilation and also has an integral sun visor. There’s also the Nolan N86, a 4 star rated full faced helmet that comes with a Pinlock and also has an integral sun visor. Both these helmets are brilliant performers at a sensible price point.

If you’ve experience of the Shark S900C, let us know what you reckon by adding a comment below or fill out the form and we’ll publish it – the site’s based mostly on feedback from users and owners like you so we’d genuinely love to know what you think.

Best places to buy a Shark S900C?

It’s now been updated, but the last time we checked, the S900C was still available at these 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).

Buy from SportsBikeShop
If you’re looking to buy a new crash helmet, check out our homepage for links to some vital stuff you should probably consider first.

Definitely want a Shark?

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

Review of the Arai Quantum ST full face crash helmet

Arai-Quantum-ST-older-model-featured

Note in the US this helmet is known as the known as Arai Signet-Q.

Arai describe it as ‘race-tested’ and it’s based on RX technology, but it really seems to be made for the all-rounder who takes long trips; ST = Sports Touring. Positive comments are that it works well when you wear it all day; it deals with speed once you get to the autobahns/motorways, but it also keeps you comfortable. It does this partly by making sure you can get the shape as well as the size just right for your own unique head before you start. It’s a slightly longer version of original Quantum – another 5mm from front to back – with inserts that allow you to adjust the fit for individual contours, using ‘peel off strips’ and replaceable inner linings to personalise the fitting. Arai have put plenty of thought into the lining because they assume you will wear it for extended periods. It isn’t cheap but, like any expensive purchase, if you get enough wear out of it, then you may well decide it is still good value. It’s been described as the kind of helmet you can forget you are wearing – especially true if your head is an Arai-shaped head (that means a long oval shape – i.e. it’s longer than it is wide).

  • Now replaced by the Arai QV-Pro
  • SHARP 4 star safety rated (out of 5)
  • Good fitting if your head is longer than wide (oval heads)
  • Plenty of ventilation
  • Good visibility
  • Quite noisy
  • 1.6Kg (about average)
  • Available in sizes XXS – XXXL
  • Price range: £350-£500 depending on model

Best places to buy an Arai Quantum ST?

It’s not widely available, but the Quantum ST is still available at Amazon UK the last time we checked. Please click the link below – 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

There’s a lot of impressive sounding technology to protect your thinking equipment – “super complex laminate … enhanced hyper ridge strengthening … triple density inner shell”. The super complex laminate is claimed to be 40% stronger than standard fibre glass and it all sounds very reassuring to the lay reader.

AraiArai Quantum ST in Diamond Black
Arai Quantum ST in Diamond Black

The original Quantum was awarded SHARP three stars, with good results for front and crown impact and the new ST is described by the manufacturer as “one of the few” that meets both ECE22-05 and SNELL M2010 standards”. It was SHARP tested in June 2015 and scored 4/5 stars, dropping points only on the left hand impact test (though bizarrely not the right) so, as far as we can tell, it should perform well in an accident.

If you consider comfort an element of safety, then being able to adjust fit size makes this a safer helmet than something that either moves too much or pinches when you’re riding it.

Hopefully you’ll not need it, but in an emergency, when the ambulance staff need to remove your helmet they’ll find the emergency release mechanism that allows the chin pads to be pulled off first so the helmet can slide away easily. As helmets become more sophisticated and have special safety features like this, let’s hope the emergency services get medical training that includes updated helmet awareness to take advantage of these systems.

Helmet Noise

There’s plenty of air rushing through when vents are open and that creates noise. But if you close vents and pull out the chin spoiler to maximum users reckon it makes a big difference. One advantage of the vent system is that the rear outlet not only lets the damp air escape but also acts as a kind of spoiler to improve airflow around the helmet and that smoother air flow does help noise reduction. In general, air tends to move smoothly along the shell rather than towards the body, with minimised turbulence (that also helps reduce buffeting).

Having said that, in comparison to other helmets, the Arai Quantum ST is generally reckoned to be on the noisier side.

Arai-Quantum-ST-Contest-Black
In Content Black colours – nice.

Size

Arai are proud of their wide range of helmet sizes. They’ll even make one to measure if you need it, but most people don’t as they use up to 6 outer shells then add a range of detachable inners shells in different shapes and sizes, matched to the normal head shapes for each continent. They say that for most of their helmets, there will be one unique shell size covering two fitment sizes (eg. one shell size for XXS & XS, another for S & M and so on).

The Quantum ST is advertised for XS/54 to XL/62 for general distribution but they do go as far as XXS to XXXL. However, there is so much adjustment to the standard shell, using those replaceable inserts, some users have had to reconsider their basic size on this particular model, as the new shape can make all the difference to where you start and finish within each helmet size.

Removable foam padding allows for small adjustments but owners report that the lining can take time to settle in, so you may have to allow for this when buying one new.

Ventilation

The Free Flow System (FFS) has vents front and back, top and bottom – it’s very effective at cooling in summer but can be pretty chilly in winter. Thankfully, most vents are easy to open and close with gloves on, although some people found the chin vent took a little practice. Except in the most disgusting weather, it’s pretty rain tight, and the most that has been reported so far is an occasional dribble from the top after several hours of heavy downpour.

For safety, all the vents and ducts are supposed to break on impact, so it remains to be seen how easy it is to damage them with careless handling (though no one reported any damage so far).

Visor

Arai Quantum ST crash helmet pro shade
Arai Quantum ST in diamond white with Pro Shade System fitted

The ST has very good overall vision, with an extra 10mm on the width of the visor, so you get a good sideways view as well (click here to see other helmets with wide visors). The visor is fairly flexible so you can change it quickly without any tools or fiddling about – a single lever gets it off and it clicks back easily.

Given the UK weather, we suggest you in the anti-fog insert (often included in the buy price but worth checking when you buy). An easy-to-use Pinlock enabled visor is increasingly common on more expensive lids and the Quantum ST is no exception. Briefly, it means your anti-fog insert is located using two locking ‘pins’ on the visor that ensures the insert stays in place and forms a good seal between an anti-fog insert and the main visor. The Arai Quantum ST insert fits into what they call their “cavity shield” so it covers practically the entire visor area, with no misty margins, and you still get good vision even on potentially steamy days.

A breath deflector also helps and there’s a pull down chin spoiler with three positions which is a useful touch.

But what about sunny days? The helmet comes with a clear visor as standard but a ‘Pro-Shade’ option is also available. This is a sun visor which fits over the clear visor. You can raise or lower it easily and it locks in position, so you just need to decide whether it is worth up to £99 extra and, if so, do you fit it before you leave the house? Some users preferred to avoid the choice by making their own sun strip on the original clear visor while others, with a stronger or more reliable sun, were more grateful.

Again, some retailers are offering a Pro Shade free of charge with the helmet, so worth shopping around (at the time of writing clicking the link at the bottom to our partner retailer will get you a Pro Shade included in the price).

Comfort

The ST version is elongated – 5mm longer than the original – so it’s better for those many heads that are not standard ovals. Side cheek pads can be put in or taken out to get a perfect fit for all face shapes, with and without bulges and beards. The Facial Contour System (FCS) also allows headband room to be adapted for the individual; with the goal of making the final result good fit all over without feeling too tight.

Many owners say it’s the perfect fit for their head shape. You tend to hear lots of people say their head is an Arai shape – and that generally means they’re folks with longer oval heads as that is who Arai generally target with their lids. So if that’s you, then you may well find that the Quantum ST is the ideal helmet for you.

With a bit more chin space from the previous Quantum, and adjustable foam lining, you can swear at white vans and chew the remains of your scotch egg whilst remaining perfectly cradled inside the shell. It also makes it easier to get off at the end of the day.

If you wear it for long enough, as you might, you can take out the whole of the interior, wash it and put it back, but the Dry-Cool© lining keeps you fresh enough in the short term.

Arai Quantum ST in fluorescent yellow
Arai Quantum ST in scary fluorescent yellow

Looks & Graphics

There are up to 13 design options on line – possibly fewer in your local shop – but one of them is scary fluorescent yellow. Car drivers have no excuse for not seeing that one coming! It’s fair to say that Arai tend to opt for more subdued and plainer colour schemes, but none of our owners claimed they bought it because of how it looks, more for how it feels and how well it seems to be made.

Other stuff – fasteners and glasses

The fastening is a double-D system. You either like them or you don’t but in our experience they’re easy to use and fairly reliable. Once you master doing them up with either cold or gloved hands, they are certainly secure and they’re quite easy to undo. It’s also a pre-requisite fastener for an ACU Gold sticker to take the helmet on a track day.

Glasses are less of a problem because you have more adjustment to play with. Owners don’t report any problems using the Quantum ST with glasses. If you only use sunglasses, a Pro-Shade might mean you won’t have to any more.

Best places to buy an Arai Quantum ST helmet?

It’s not widely available, but the Quantum ST is still available at Amazon UK the last time we checked. Please click the link below – 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).

Quantum ST video

A quick video of the Quantum ST from J&S.

Overall

The Arai Quantum ST is well liked by owners. It has good ventilation, but can be a bit noisy. It scored a creditable four out of five stars for safety when tested by SHARP which should mean its safety performance is up there with some of the best. The build quality is good and owners like the comfort; you can personalise the fitment of the Arai Quantum ST to a surprising degree and, if you’re a long-oval head shape, ought to be able to get the ideal fit. At this price point there are some great alternatives (see below) but the Arai Quantum is a quality performer and well worth a look.

Alternatives

There are lots of alternatives – click on our top 10 best helmets to see which lids we’d recommend you buy. Here’s a couple worth checking out. The HJC IS-17 is a fantastic helmet – it’s 5 star rated (the maximum) by SHARP for safety, is all day comfortable and great value. If you’re wanting something a bit more exclusive (read pricey!) then the Shark Race R carbon fibre lid might be what you’re after. It’s another 5 star rated full faced helmet that’s got great build quality, light weight and with a wide visor for improved visibility. Both these lids are better options than the Quantum ST – unless you have a long-oval head in which case, the Arai might work better for you.

If you’ve found this Arai Quantum ST review helpful – or if you’ve owned an Arai Quantum ST, we’d love to hear what you thought about it – please let us know in the Comments area below. For other motorcycle crash helmet reviews, including other Arais, visit our All Crash Helmet Reviews section or our Only SHARP 4 or 5 Star Helmet Reviews section.

Best places to buy an Arai Quantum ST?

It’s not widely available, but the Quantum ST is still available at Amazon UK the last time we checked. Please click the link below – 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).

Definitely want an Arai?

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

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