LS2 Challenger: a versatile sportsbike and road helmet

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LS2 Challenger FF327 motorcycle helmet.

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

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

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

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

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

Best places to buy an LS2 Challenger?

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

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

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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

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

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

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

Visor

(more about visors)

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

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

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

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

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

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

A couple of useful links…

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

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

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

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

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

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

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

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

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looks & Graphics

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

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

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

Best places to buy an LS2 Challenger helmet?

LS2 Challenger Video

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

Other stuff – warranty

The LS2 challenger comes with 2 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

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

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

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

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

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

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

Good Alternatives to the LS2 Challenger?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best places to buy an LS2 Challenger?

More Sports Touring Helmets?

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