Helmet for an adventure bike
Discussion
I'd like some help deciding what helmet to get to use on an adventure bike (Desert X V2, so fixed screen).
I have a Shoei X-SPRO Pro that's great on the sports bike, but it's not good on a sit up adventure bike.
I'm planning on doing some light off-roading, but it will be used on the road far more. I want a quiet lid, but it needs to be good quality. I've tested a few crash helmets, and had some serious concussions so won't cut corners.
I've seen that there are loads of lids with peaks, an I quite like the idea of the peak as a sun shade, but a drop down visor may be just as good.
My Shoei GTAir2 was always really noisy, even with ear plugs, so I do trust the GTAir3 to be any better.
Ive seen Adventure Rider say the Leat 9.5 is good, the LS2 Carbon Adventure and the Air Commander 2, and there's new Shoei hornet.
I'm going to try them on to make sure they fit well, but you never can tell about noise.
Any suggestions or advice?
I have a Shoei X-SPRO Pro that's great on the sports bike, but it's not good on a sit up adventure bike.
I'm planning on doing some light off-roading, but it will be used on the road far more. I want a quiet lid, but it needs to be good quality. I've tested a few crash helmets, and had some serious concussions so won't cut corners.
I've seen that there are loads of lids with peaks, an I quite like the idea of the peak as a sun shade, but a drop down visor may be just as good.
My Shoei GTAir2 was always really noisy, even with ear plugs, so I do trust the GTAir3 to be any better.
Ive seen Adventure Rider say the Leat 9.5 is good, the LS2 Carbon Adventure and the Air Commander 2, and there's new Shoei hornet.
I'm going to try them on to make sure they fit well, but you never can tell about noise.
Any suggestions or advice?
First question, why is your current helmet not good on an ADV bike? This is a genuine question to help understand why you dismiss it as a choice and to help channel the advice you'll receive I think.
I haven't tried every helmet out there, but you can forget about the peak being an effective sun shade unless you go for a full MX lid with a huge peak. The peak won't be big enough or low enough to really help when you want it (sun low enough to be annoying), particularly if you have a drop down sunvisor anyway.
As for noise, you'll get all sorts of weird airflow unless you fit a huge screen to the bike, so the peak will always add a bit of noise compared to a standard helmet.
With all that said, I love my Airoh Commander 2, pretty light compared to other ADV helmets thanks to the carbon shell, and I think it looks good on the bike! I always want to use a helmet that looks like it suits the bike I'm riding, even though most of the time it's purely for aesthetics!
I haven't tried every helmet out there, but you can forget about the peak being an effective sun shade unless you go for a full MX lid with a huge peak. The peak won't be big enough or low enough to really help when you want it (sun low enough to be annoying), particularly if you have a drop down sunvisor anyway.
As for noise, you'll get all sorts of weird airflow unless you fit a huge screen to the bike, so the peak will always add a bit of noise compared to a standard helmet.
With all that said, I love my Airoh Commander 2, pretty light compared to other ADV helmets thanks to the carbon shell, and I think it looks good on the bike! I always want to use a helmet that looks like it suits the bike I'm riding, even though most of the time it's purely for aesthetics!
I've got the Airoh Commander 2 and am fairly pleased with it overall.
I'd say the noise is far more dependant on the bike and fairing than the helmet. On my Tiger 900 it is loud, but everything is. I took out a HD Pan American ST at the weekend (don't judge me!) and it was blissfully quiet. That experience has led me to order a shorter screen for my Tiger - to try and clean up the airflow around the lid.
I'd say the noise is far more dependant on the bike and fairing than the helmet. On my Tiger 900 it is loud, but everything is. I took out a HD Pan American ST at the weekend (don't judge me!) and it was blissfully quiet. That experience has led me to order a shorter screen for my Tiger - to try and clean up the airflow around the lid.
I have a Scorpion ADF-9000. I got this because on an ADV bike you have to have an ADV helmet otherwise are you really an ADV rider? I also got this because he peak is removable, this is useful on the few big motorway days I've done because it is fecking annoying having a peak at over 60mph
It has drop down visor, is very comfy, room for coms to be fitted, the inflatable cheek pads are a nice addition and drop down sun visor does what its meant to.
Cons - its not well ventilated around the dome, can't feel any airflow. The visor doesn't have a strong ratchet low down, so partially open is a lot more open that I'd like. I think this I will come to regret most in the summer.
It has drop down visor, is very comfy, room for coms to be fitted, the inflatable cheek pads are a nice addition and drop down sun visor does what its meant to.
Cons - its not well ventilated around the dome, can't feel any airflow. The visor doesn't have a strong ratchet low down, so partially open is a lot more open that I'd like. I think this I will come to regret most in the summer.
I bought a Leatt 8.5. It has a removable peak, came with a photochromic visor, spare clear visor and a pinlock.
The photochromic visor is great, and throwing in the goggles made it a good deal.
I wouldn't use the peak on the road - noise predominantly. I would rather the helmet itself was a tad quieter too, so I wouldn't make a solid recommendation for it.
I will be using it off-road so the wide aperture and goggles are a useful addition, the peak does also block sun and the visor is great.
The photochromic visor is great, and throwing in the goggles made it a good deal.
I wouldn't use the peak on the road - noise predominantly. I would rather the helmet itself was a tad quieter too, so I wouldn't make a solid recommendation for it.
I will be using it off-road so the wide aperture and goggles are a useful addition, the peak does also block sun and the visor is great.
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