Adventure Helmets
How to Choose an Adventure Helmet for the Great Outdoors
Adventure motorcycles are go anywhere, do anything bikes. So the type of kit you need to wear when riding one has to be equally as flexible.
Join us now and take a deep dive into what makes a great adventure helmet and discover how to choose the right one.
Street-orientated helmets can't take the off-road knocks. Meanwhile, MX helmets are too noisy and basic. To combat this, adventure helmets developed along a unique evolutionary path.
So what makes a good adventure helmet? Dual sport motorcycles can switch from cruising at highway speeds to blasting along a grassy trail. This capability means your adventure helmet has to keep pace.
Features to Look for in an Adventure Helmet
An adventure helmet needs to be aerodynamic and provide good soundproofing for the road. It must also conform to safety ratings such as ECE 22.05. Also, it should feature a pull-down visor, and in the best case, combine with a sun visor.
If mobile communications are essential, look for an adventure helmet that is Bluetooth compatible. It should also have pre-formed speaker pockets.
A quick detachable peak is advisable and removable/washable liners are essential.
Head off-road and the helmet will need an oversized MX-style peak to fend off debris. Plus, a facial opening that is wide enough to take the option of goggles.
An adventure helmet should also offer multiple chimneys and exhaust air vents to keep the head cool.
An anti-fogging feature like a pin-lock system is desirable if you ride in winter or humid climates. Fit is also crucial for an adventure helmet. Therefore, a manufacturer offering multiple shell sizes is a significant plus point.
On the subject of fit, some manufacturers offer additional cheek pads. Riders wanting added safety should also look for emergency release cheek pads. This feature enables emergency services to remove the helmet more easily in an accident.
Adventure Helmet Materials
If you're going to spend long days in the saddle, the heavier the adventure helmet, the more of a workout it gives the neck muscles. With this in mind, let's look at adventure helmet materials, weight and safety characteristics.
Thermoplastic/Polycarbonate Adventure Helmets: Polycarbonate adventure helmets are tough. Yet they remain flexible and offer excellent features and value for money. The offset is weight and helmets such as the Bell MX-9 MIPS Dash Adventure helmet weigh around 1800g.
Fibreglass Adventure Helmets: Fibreglass adventure helmets offer advanced levels of safety. They are also quite lightweight, with the Acerbis Reactive Grafix Adventure Helmet tipping the scales at a mere 1350g.
Composite Adventure Helmets: Composite helmets combine different materials, including fibreglass, carbon fibre and aramid fibre. These adventure helmets offer strength gains over fibreglass while remaining comparatively light. The Nexx X.WED2 Hillend, for instance, weighs approximately 300g less than the Bell MX-9.
Carbon Fibre Adventure Helmets: Carbon fibre is the strongest of all ADV helmet materials. It is resilient, flexible and lightweight. Not too long ago, carbon fiber helmets attracted huge price tags. Today, competitively priced helmets like the LS2 MX701 Explorer mean anyone can join the carbon club.
At one time, all adventure helmets were full face. Today, adventure helmets are also flip-front, thanks to the likes of the HJC C80 and Nexx X.Vilijord. However, if you find a full face confining and a flip-front too heavy, the Shark X-Drak and O'Neal Volt will ensure you come face to face with the great outdoors.
Dual-sport motorbikes are the ultimate freedom machines. Thanks to the vast range of adventure helmets offered by 24MX, you will be safe and secure while on and off the road.