Review of the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 enduro and street helmets.

We’re looking at both the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 together because they’re very similar helmets: like quite a few helmet makers, Nexx has created a single helmet that they’ve then repurposed to make both a full face street helmet as well as an endro-style dual-sport helmet.

Which is why we’ve included both helmets in a single review – because they share so many components, you can pretty much regard the X.WED2 as the X.WST2 with a sun peak/roost guard bolted onto the top.

As for those names – X-WED2 makes more sense when you know it was originally called the X-Wild Enduro in the US – and the X-WST2 sold as the X-Wild Street. But they’re now sold with the same name over there too.

So, if you’re interested in either helmet, here’s the low down on what you get for your hard earned cash.

Nexx X.WED2 – dual-sports helmet
Nexx X.WST2 – street helmet

• Composite fibre shell construction
• Drop down sun visor
• Double-d ring fastener
• Equipped with EQRS
• X-Com (Sena) communicator ready
• Both ECE & DOT approved
• CRASH 4 Star rated
• Extreme shell sizes – XXS-XXXL
• 2 year warranty
• Expect to pay:
  
  • X.WED2 – £330-£370
  • X.WST2 – £250-£290 (carbon £350)

Best places to buy a Nexx Helmet?

Please click below to visit the Nexx 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).

Nexx X.WED2 or X.WST2?

The X.WED2 adventure helmet and the X.WST2 street helmet are pretty much identical helmets apart from the sun peak. So, the great thing about choosing the X.WED2 is that if you want to go touring for example, you can remove the peak and it’ll work as a great sports touring helmet. Obviously, you can’t do the opposite with the X.WST2 and turn it into a dual-sport helmet because it doesn’t come with the sun peak or the fitting so it’s a one-way street only.

If you do go for the X.WED2 enduro helmet, then it comes with a peak extender too, to extend the range of the sun peak, as well as Go-Pro accessories to mount a camera on either side or top of the helmet – plus there’s and a couple of different chin bar vent covers; either solid or perforated for extra venting off road but without the gravel getting in!

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Both the X.WED2 and X.WST2 share the same helmet shell and they’re both goodies.

Nexx focuses its helmet development efforts on producing composite fibre helmets, and both these helmets share the same X-Matrix composite shell. That’s a multi-layered sandwich of fibreglass, aramid (kevlar) and carbon, arranged in a multi-axial mat which helps increase strength in all directions.

They also produce helmet shells in 3 different sizes, with the smaller shell used for XXS-S sizes, the medium shell for M-L and the largest shell size covering sizes XL-XXXL.

Composite fibre helmets typically score higher for safety than polycarbonate or fibreglass helmets (according to SHARP testing results) and the more shell sizes the better in terms of making a helmet that fits comfortably and fits just right – i.e. firm and tight without being too tight. Comfort and fitting are key in getting a safer helmet too.

While neither helmets have been safety tested by SHARP (or Snell in the US), the ECE 22.05 version of the Nexx X.WED2 helmet was tested by the independent CRASH testing scheme in Australia where it scored a decent four stars out of five. That’s pretty much their highest rating as only one helmet ever has scored 5/5!

OK, so what other features are good for safety?

Well, there’s quite a few actually. Both helmets have got integrated drop down sun visors, wide visors for good peripheral vision, and they’re Pinlock antifog ready, though there’s no Pinlock included in the box.

They’ve also got Nexx’s version of EQRS which Nexx calls its ’emergency strap V2′ which emergency services can use to pull out the cheek pads to help them remove your helmet more easily.

Oh, and of course it’s ECE 22.05 certified (and DOT for the US).

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

It’s rare to come across a helmet that’s so universally praised for being quiet, but that’s pretty much the case here. It’s probably fair to say that the most glowing praise was coming from the dual sport crowd – but both helmets rank highly for noise suppression.

And that’s even the case when the vents are open it seems. OK it’s going to be noisier then because you’re letting in noise along with more air, but it’s still pretty good. But close the vents and keep the chin curtain in place and owners seem to rate it between good to great for quietness, which is a particularly great considering with the X.Wed2 you’ve got a big peak sticking up top.

Don’t expect to ride without the need for ear plugs though as it won’t be so quiet you couldn’t damage your hearing. But still, according to most owners, Nexx have done a great job here.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Both helmets feature a mass of front vents. There’s a large central chin bar vent with a large glove-friendly panel to open or close it. And up top, there’s three forehead vents – a large central vent plus a couple of smaller vents either side – all covered with two position sliders to open/close them.

On the X.WST2, that chin bar vent is covered by a solid two position panel – push the bottom to open the vent and push the top to close it.

On the X.WED2 you also have the option of swapping out the panel for a perforated cover to allow masses of air in whether it’s open or closed. Or you can stick with the solid cover because both are included in the box.

As we’re used to seeing in most helmets these days, those top vents let air through the helmet shell and around the helmet to keep your head cool.

According to several owners, both helmets vent extremely well, with a few owners saying it’s the best venting helmet they’ve owned.

OK, there’s one or two niggles – a couple commenting that the sliders are too stiff and, with the X.WED 2 that it’s all but impossible to open the top vents on the move because of the peak making it really hard to access them.

But get all the vents fully open, and they do flow a large amount of air to keep your head cool. Slightly less so with the X.WST 2 in the chin vent area because, unlike the dual sport helmet where you can pull off the chin bar vent cover entirely if you want, you can’t do that with the Street helmet. But it’s still pretty good.

Visor

(more about visors)

The visors on both the X.WED2 and X.WST2 are panoramic visors, meaning they’re wider than your average visor for that more involved riding feeling – as well as being that bit safer, allowing you better visibility in your peripheral vision.

They’re also Pinlock anti-fog ready, though a Pinlock doesn’t come in the box.

And they both have Nexx’s X-Lock quick release system. That’s a pretty unusual quick release visor system where you have to rotate a plastic pod (Nexx call this the X-Block) that fits over the visor pivot point on each side, then pull it off. That allows the visor to release from its pivot. It’s a bit quirky but it works.

Owners reckon the main visor system works well and like it particularly for the width of vision the panoramic visors give. If you buy an X.Wed2 and want to remove the visor to wear goggles, apparently it’ll accept goggles up to around 100mm (4″) deep.

Sun Peak (X.WED2 only)

Being a dual sports helmet (designed to work on the road as well as off road) the X.WED2 has a removable sun visor/roost guard. That’s good for shading you from the sun and sprayed up muck if you’re following someone else off road.

Nexx has redesigned the peak from the previous version of the helmet so it performs better on the road and doesn’t lift or vibrate the helmet as much at speed.

And it sounds like it works really well as we found a few owners who said it doesn’t buffet or catch the wind when you’re riding on the road, so that’s an excellent job.

It’s also got extra cut outs to help the air flow reach the top/side vents. And it’s a moveable peak too so you can adjust it (without tools) to suit your riding position.

They’ve also included an extender piece that makes the peak even bigger if you need it.

And if you want to remove the sun peak, you can do that too – Nexx has included a couple of quick release visor pivots in the box so you remove the peak and configure it as a street helmet with visor in place.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Of course, there’s an integral drop down sun visor included on both the X.WED2 and X.WST2.

A couple of things to say about the sun visor: it’s an 80% tint sun visor that’s operated by a slider situated in a slightly unusual place on the top left of the helmet.

It looks like it’ll be a bit tricky to find and use at first but we didn’t find anyone having a problem with locating or using it so I guess all’s well there.

What we did find though, were people complaining that the sun visor doesn’t drop down far enough. It’s a common problem with sun visors from quite a few makers – I guess because if it comes down too low they’ll potentially have lots of people complaining it drops onto the bridge of their noses which is going to be an even bigger annoyance.

It has to be said, it does sound like it’s particularly high on the both the X.WED 2 and X.WST 2 – though, as one owner pointed out (which I’d not thought of before) they liked the fact it doesn’t drop down too low so they can more easily see their instruments. Makes sense I guess!

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The X.WED2 and X.WST2 are medium-oval fitment helmets which generally suit most people’s head shapes in the West.

They’re made in 3 helmet shell sizes and they’re available in pretty extreme sizes too, with the smallest being XXS and the largest XXXL. The largest shell fits sizes XL-XXXL, the second shell covers sizes L-M and the smallest shell size fits XXS-S.

Having a helmet come in three shell sizes is good for overall fitting, comfort and – we’d argue – for safety too.

The internals of both helmets are removable and washable. Chin guards are ergonomically styled to fit the contours of the face (sometimes called 3D cheek pads) with a ventilated skull cap to let air through to your head.

Both helmets feature Nexx’s own version of the EQRS system – tug on the red tabs and it should allow for easier removal of the cheek pads to help emergency services remove your helmet. It also helps you remove the pads when it comes to washing your lining too.

Nexx has used what they call X.Mart Dry fabrics which are their version of moisture-wicking and anti-allergenic fabrics.

They usually make for decent, comfortable crash helmet linings – and that’s the case here with lots of owners saying it’s a very comfortable helmet.

The only niggles? A few owners say that the neck roll is on the large side making it a struggle to get the helmet on. And while the sizing’s accurate, they can be tight helmets at first and take a few rides to break in properly. After that though, most owners seem to agree that they’re nice and comfortable helmets.

Looks & Graphics

OK, there’s a stack of graphics out for both helmets so you’re really best clicking through to our recommended retailers below to check out what’s available (in addition to the one’s we’ve shown on here). It’s worth noting that the glorious full carbon version is only available as the X.WST2 and not as the dual sport version – at the time of writing. Shame.

Best places to buy a Nexx helmet?

Please click below to visit the Nexx 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).

Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 Videos

The top video’s a review of the X.WED2 (note it’s very comprehensive with almost 38m run time!) followed by an 8m look at the X.WST2 (was called the X.Wild Street in the US but it’s the same helmet).

Other stuff – audio, build quality, weight, warranty

The Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 both come ready to integrate the Nexx X-Com intercom unit. That’s a communicator built by Sena which fits into the slot in the left hand side of the shell. The plastic panel removes with a couple of screws and the X-Com unit slots in. It’s a bit old tech according to a few owners but it does the job.

The only issue with build quality we could find was that one or two owners commented that the poppers in the liner aren’t really strong enough so when they remove their helmets the liner can come loose. It’s by no means a common problem but worth looking out for. Other than that, owners seem to reckon their helmets are well built and the finish is broadly rated very good.

Nexx reckons both helmets weigh about 1.55Kg (1.45Kg for the carbon) though 3rd party reviewers seem to think they’re a bit heavier. One weighed the X.WED2 in size large at 1.7Kg. Either way, several owners reckoned their helmet feels light weight when riding, and I guess that’s the bit that matters!

Both helmets come with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty.

Overall/Summary

Like many helmet makers who produce a dual-sports or adventure helmet, Nexx has taken a street bike helmet added a sun peak and tweaked the ventilation system to produce a new helmet for adventure bike riders.

To be honest, it’s a sensible thing to do and it’s particularly useful for adventure bike helmet buyers since it often results in a helmet that can be converted into a true street bike helmet when you’re looking to use the helmet on the road.

Either way, both the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 are great helmets that are well liked by most owners. They’ve a reasonably light weight composite fibre shell with lots of ventilation, and have a long list of features and additions that make for a helmet that’s easy to live with – including a drop down sun visor, Pinlock-ready (and wide) visor and comfortable inner lining. They’re available at a decent middle-of-the-road price point too.

Strong points are very good ventilation and excellent noise suppression. They’re well built too and well designed with the peak on the X.WED 2 being particularly carefully designed for good aero abilities.

Nexx helmets are building a solid reputation for making quality helmets at affordable prices and the Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2 are both excellent helmets and well worth checking out.

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 Nexx X.WED2 and X.WST2?

You can check out all our adventure bike helmet reviews and our Top 10 full face helmets – but here’s some of the best alternatives out there.

The only dual sport helmet so far that scored well with SHARP – in fact scored a maximum 5 stars for safety – is Caberg’s Tourmax: a modular dual sport helmet. That’s still a great helmet and costs a stack less than either Nexx Helmet.

Another Adventure helmet that’s well rated is the Arai Tour X4. It’s not been SHARP tested but it is Snell certified (a similar US standard) and, like the Nexx X.WED2, it can be converted into a full face helmet by removing the peak. It’s a bit more expensive than the Nexx but comes with a 5 year warranty.

The Scorpion ADX-1 is a modular helmet that works as a street or adventure helmet. It’s half the price of the Nexx too, comes with a Pinlock anti fog insert in the box and has a 5 year warranty. Excellent value.

And finally, there’s the Shoei Hornet ADV – fibreglass helmet with full face and adventure configurations, Snell certified (US version) – and it was Ride magazine recommended. Around the same price as the Nexx.

For other decent alternatives to either adventure helmets or full face helmets, please click the links below.

Other Adventure/Dual-Sports helmets?

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

Other full face helmets?

We've got lots of other ways you can find your ideal full face helmet. You can check out our Top 10 full-face crash helmets list to see our best rated helmets or head over to our Smartish Filters pages and zoom in on helmets with your 'must have' features. You can browse through all our full face crash helmet reviews as well as our safest motorcycle helmets page where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there. Finally, check out our helmet gallery to find a lid that takes your fancy.

Best places to buy a Nexx Helmet?

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

Star Ratings