Every motorcycle gear is quite essential as you hit the road. Motorcycle gear will keep you safe out there as you explore new lands and destinations. However, the helmet seems to be the most crucial gear you ought to have with you.
The market is full of motorcycle helmets for sale. That may pose a problem to the new bikers as they try to choose the ideal helmet for them: a helmet that will fit them appropriately and be durable to last for a long time. The helmet should be safe enough to protect you in case of an accident.
Top 3 Adventure Motorcycle Helmets and What Makes Them Stand Out
The top three adventure motorcycle helmets are:
- Arai XD4
- Shoei Hornet X2
- Klim Krios Pro
What makes them unique is the fact that they are lightweight helmets. You will not feel like you are carrying a sack of sand on your head. These helmets will also offer you a large view opening. They have good ventilation and are super comfortable.
Getting the Right Helmet
As mentioned earlier, the helmet is an essential gear since your head is the most fragile part of your body. Should you get a severe injury on your head, then it is almost over for you. There will be no going back. That means you ought to look for the fitting helmet that will secure your head and serve you diligently for a long time.
Perfectly Blending Off-Road and Road Features
It is pretty simple; adventure motorcycles are the perfect blend of off-road and road helmets with unique features such as peaks and wider view openings. These helmets are made for dual-purpose riding. They are ideal for adventure riders and long-distance motorcycle travel.
What Makes the Perfect Adventure Bike Helmet?
Arai XD being one of the top adventure bike helmets holds the spot for several vital features it exhibits. The most notable feature is the fact that the helmet appears like a motocross helmet. That typically means the helmet has a massive eye port, a long chin bar, and sizable dirt, sun, or roost peak protruding.
These are great features for any adventure bike helmet if you wish to have a good time riding. In addition, there are other things you need to consider for your ideal adventure bike helmet. These may include:
- Sufficient aerodynamics for cruising on the highway
- Compatible with goggles
- Adequate airflow for off-road use
- It does not produce too much noise on the highway
These top adventure motorcycle helmets are a tradeoff between off-road and touring features. With these top helmets, having earplugs is unnecessary as they are quiet, and you will not sacrifice too much ventilation. Whether to put on goggles as you ride is a debatable topic, but if you are riding via a dusty or hot trail, you could avoid the goggles for easy visibility.
Letās take a closer look at the top 3 adventure motorcycle helmets:
1. Arai XD4
Arai is known as the father of adventure bike helmets. Currently, the company is producing the fourth iteration, and the helmet is considered one of the best adventure motorcycle helmets you will ever come across. The helmet comes with lots of comfort and premium safety features to protect the rider. It also has a unique paddling system.
The company has been going big on the ventilation aspect of these helmets, whereby they have been improving every series of the Arai helmets. The latest models have an upper exhaust, enlarged chin ports, and even side cowl areas. You would expect safety features from this top helmet, which is precisely what the helmet offers.
The helmet becomes lightweight due to the integrated nylon mesh fabric, handmade super fiber shell, and multi-density EPS liner, making things even easier for you. ThisĀ Arai XD4 helmetĀ has an efficient airflow in off-road conditions.
Arai XD4ās most notable and standout characteristic is the face shield. The rider has a wide, unobstructed, and clear view around their peripherals because of the broad face shield. The other notable characteristic of this helmet is venting. This face shield bears brow vents that help circulate air in the riderās forehead and keep the helmet fog-free. The helmet bears toggles inside the chin area and to the sides to control the ventilation.
Arai XD4 helmet has two top vents adjusted by a rocker switch. It covers the air streaming in the helmet. There is also a retractable chin wind deflector on the helmet. It comes in different sizes considering fitment with the internal sizes from 2XL to XS.
With a comfort headliner and 5mm peel-away layers, these helmets are the real deal when it comes to adventure bike helmets. Its interior has a cool, dry system that wicks away heat and moisture that is also aided by the ventilation system.
The Arai XD lid can be configured into iterations, including clear face shield removed, face shield removed, and peak visor or the peak visor removed. This helmet comes in a variety of paint options. Riders can choose from the nineteen different paints with only five colors being solid.
Pros
- Very comfortable off and on road
- Vented face shield
- Simple visor adjustment
- Many safety features
- Perfect fit liner guarantees
Cons
- Premium features mean premium price ā pricey
- It does not have a chin strap cushion
2. Shoei Hornet X2
The Shoei Hornet X2 is designed to perform both off-road and on the road. The impressive helmet comes with a redesigned visor that bears an innovative wedge shape. It perfectly strikes a balance between conventional functionality and aerodynamics. The ideal adventure helmets ought to have the perfect functionality, smooth airflow, and reduce noise.
Shoei Hornet X2 balances all these three aspects. These helmets offer riders four different shell sizes and come with a detachable peak. As you speed on the highways with this helmet on, you will not easily notice the presence of the peak due to its design. One key feature that many riders love this helmet about is the quietness of the helmet. You will not hear too much noise even as you cruise at top speeds with these helmets. You will not need to have earphones on as you ride.
Its visor works quite well with goggles. Riders will not have a rough time closing and opening the visor even with their goggles on. TheĀ Shoei Hornet X2Ā is the lightest yet most robust exterior build quality from its predecessors. It comes with a shape that one can easily say is āuniversally comfortableā for almost every rider. The helmetās shell consists of Shoeiās AIM + system that makes it more aerodynamic and stronger at the same time.
The most notable feature of this helmet that makes it unique is the fine-tuned v-460 visor. This visor is designed to allow air to go into the upper intake vent. With that, riders have optimal cooling, and of course, this helps balance the functionality of the helmet and its aerodynamics. This helmet also has āwedgeā shape louvers that direct wind to pass through without too many interruptions even while riding at top speeds.
The Shoei Hornet X2 has certification from both Snell and DOT. It has an outstanding reputation, and many riders believe the company produces reliable and safe helmets. Features that contribute to its overall safety include the multi-density polystyrene shock absorber. Understand that these helmets come in four different shell sizes, and this helps you as the rider select the ideal helmet for your head. That will offer you comfort and the protection of your skull from impacts.
The helmet offers riders a wide shield aperture. That gives you a wide range of vision, enabling you to see every corner of the road as you cruise. When speaking of interiors, the hornet X2 helmet bears a 3D max-dry internal system II liner that can be easily removed. This interior is much more comfortable and plusher compared to the interiors of other typical adventure motorcycle helmets. The helmet also has a Shoei Emergency Quick Release System that will allow the easy removal of the cheek pads in case of an accident.
Pros
- Comfortable liner
- Has an excellent fixed peak
- It is goggles friendly
Cons
- It has no sun visor
- To take the visor out, you have to remove the peak
- Small chin vent
3. Klim Krios Pro
Klim heard what adventure bikers complained about the adventure motorcycle helmets and decided to create the Krios pro helmet. The helmet has attractive features that many riders love and fancy. The fascinating features of this helmet are the lightweight full-carbon shell and the aggressive design that comes with an aerodynamic visor.
According to the ECE and DOT standards, theĀ klim krios proĀ has all the safety standards. That makes it one of the safest helmets you can put on during your off-road and on the road adventures. Klim says that they use perforated material to make the inside of the helmet which will add safety to the rider.
The other great advantage is that these helmets are incredibly light, which makes them ideal for use in off-road endeavors. Its lightweight is courtesy of the carbon-fiber material used to make the helmet. Klim krios pro comes with an anti-scratch Polycarbonate shield lockable using a pin. It also has a Transitions Photochromic lens to give the rider an outstanding vision.
The helmetās face shield has a quarter-turn release feature that allows the rider to remove the visor and shield without tools. It makes everything effective and easy to handle. The biker can switch from a street helmet to an adventure helmet quite easily. Krios pro helmet is ideal for use even with your goggles on.
This helmet really stands out from the other adventure motorcycle helmets in terms of ventilation. The helmet comes with a considerable vent at the chin bar, which offers the rider ample airflow. This vent at the chin is ideal for dealing with fog inside the helmet. On top of the klim krios helmet are smaller air vents that are pretty effective.
Understand that the Koroyd technology applied in the helmets is what makes the ventilation system here unique. The helmets have a special liner material that enhances ventilation, reduces weight, and boosts the helmetās overall safety. The helmet is bound to dry faster with that technology, even if the rider sweats a lot.
The interior of the helmet is very comfortable and soft. Its lightweight also makes it comfortable for any rider. Riders with any neck pain conditions will easily use this helmet without problems on the way. This helmet also comes with moisture-wicking and antibacterial properties.
Pros
- Removable peak
- Super lightweight
- Good ventilation
- Goggles capability
- Wide opening
Cons
- No internal sun visor
How to Differentiate Between Off-road, Touring, and Adventure Motorcycle Helmets
The main distinction between these helmet types would be the helmetās shape. The touring, adventure, and off-road helmets come in different shapes. A touring helmet bears lines that resemble the traditional helmet, while the adventure helmet comes with a line halfway between the motocross helmet and full-face helmets.
Adventure helmets come with more spaces between the chin guard and the face than touring bikes. These helmets have a grid that prevents dust entry into the helmet due to the condition of the trails. The adventure helmets have a visor, while most road touring helmets will not have one. These adjustable visors protect the rider from mud and stones as they explore new trails.
Off-road helmets are made to enhance maximum ventilation, meaning they have many vents. These helmets are also lighter than road helmets, which is another significant factor in differentiating between the two.
Final Thoughts
Adventure motorcycle helmets are very crucial for any rider. However, as you purchase the helmet, ensure you know the exact qualities to look out for. Get a helmet that will protect you for a long time to come. This guide consists of the three top adventure bike helmets you can consider.
