arai tour x 4 vs shoei hornet adv

8 Of The Best Adventure Helmets (And 2 To Avoid)

Whether you are looking to ride on the street, off-road, or both, adventure helmets are an ideal option. But which of these helmets performs the best, and what features do you get in the real world?

Adventure helmets are first and foremost designed for versatility. After all, what’s not to like about riding off-road, on the streets, or a mix of both with only one helmet?

But since these helmets offer so much, where does this leave them in terms of performance on the road? This question is why we gave all the quality brand helmets to our test riders to try them out on the road with our measuring instruments 

This means we have measured their noise, ventilation, and more. So let’s see how our contenders performed, and let’s see which one gets to take home first prize as our top adventure helmet.

We attached a white monitor to our rider’s handlebars showing the helmet’s inside temperature to test these helmets. In addition, we placed a thermometer between the EPS and the interior liner to test the interior temperature.

We also attached a decibel meter showing the noise level in the helmet from a microphone that was placed near our rider’s ear. And finally, we attached a cell phone showing the day’s airspeed on the helmet from a bike-mounted meter.

Lastly, we have the rider’s speed and the outside temperature on the dash. We conducted our tests at 130 kilometers per hour on long stretches of highway.

Best Adventure Helmets By Brand 

Table of Contents

First of all, let’s look at how these helmets are constructed since this has such a large effect on weight, safety, and performance.

Materials & Shell Sizes

For this section, we look at two points. The first point we looked at was what material the outer shell is made from. Then, we divided everything into three options increasing in quality: polycarbonate fiberglass and carbon fiber.

The second point we look at for material is the number of shell sizes available in the helmet. Again, this is often overlooked, but that is important. 

The more shell sizes a helmet has, the more compact around the head and safer it is. In addition, a helmet with a compact outer shell also looks better.

Now let’s take a look at the results from the material part. First of all, we see the Aria Tour X4 taking the lead with an excellent score of 4.5 stars.

The Aria Tour X4 owes its excellent score to the no fewer than 5 shell sizes available.

Shoei Hornet ADV also does a little bit better than the rest because the helmet comes in four shell sizes, which is also excellent.

The two helmets that did disappoint us were the Nolan N70-2X and the Scorpion ADX-2. These helmets only scored 2.5 stars on material because the helmets are made of polycarbonate and are available in only two shell sizes.

We also see that the helmets are fairly evenly matched, so let’s see what these scores mean for weight.

The lighter the helmet, the more stars it earns in our weight metrics. To make a good comparison for the weight, we weigh all helmets in a size medium. So let’s take a look at the results.

The Klim Krios Pro takes the lead in this section with a weight of only 1300 grams. With this special lightweight helmet, the Klim gets a well-deserved score of 5 stars.

If we look further, we see that the AGV AX9, the Airoh Commande, and the AGV perform very well and score 4 stars for their lightweight.

The helmets that disappointed us in this section are the Nolan N70-2X and the Scorpion ADX-2 .

Both helmets weighed a lot heavier than the average and only scored two stars on the weight score. 

On the visor scores, we look at all kinds of properties of the visor. Examples are whether the helmet is or isn’t painlessly prepared. If the pin lock lens is standard included in the box, even better if it’s a max vision pin lock.

In addition, we also look at the visor mechanism. Is this a simple lever, or does it have an advanced spring mechanism? 

Furthermore, we want to know if the helmet comes with an integrated sun visor, what the field of view is like, if a dark visor is included for free, or any other accessories?

The Schuberth E1 is at the top in this section with a score of 4.5 stars, whereas the Bell MX-9 adventure can be found at the bottom, with an average score of only 2.

We also see that in this section, everyone is fairly evenly matched. 

Noise Insulation

We measured the sound during our road test with a decibel meter mounted on our bike. Our rider rode long straight on the highway for each helmet. 

We have taken the average decibel score from these measurements, which were all made at a wind speed between 115 and 130 kilometers per hour.

A one-decibel difference seems negligible at a first impression. Still, every decibel difference can be heard with these kinds of values, so every decibel does matter and is audible.

We also use the score metrics that we have developed, especially for our noise isolation test. The lower the number of decibels, the quieter the helmet is, and the higher the number of stars the helmet scores.

According to our metrics, a score below 98 decibels gives the ultimate score of 5 stars. So now let’s see how our contenders did for the noise.

The Klim Krios Pro stands out in this section with an average result of 98 decibels on the decibel meter. 

This score makes the Klim Krios Pro not only the quietest adventure helmet but earns a place in the top 10 of the quietest helmets we have ever measured to date.

Are you curious which other helmets are in the top 10? Then view our extensive data review of the top 10 quietest helmets?

What is also striking is that the AGV AX9, the Icon Variant Pro, and the Bell MX-9 adventure didn’t do too well in this section, therefore only earning a moderate two stars. 

Ventilation

To get the star rating for ventilation, we compare the temperature inside the helmet and the temperature outside.

A well-ventilating helmet efficiently removes heat and keeps the inside temperature the same as the outside.

If we put all competitors in a graph, we would see that the Klim Krios Pro, the Schuberth E1, the Aria Tour X4, and the Icon Variant Pro score 4 stars for ventilation.

The Klim Krios Pro and the icon are doing well in this section, with the inside temperature the same as the temperature outside.

Furthermore, we see that no one excels in ventilation, especially the Shoei Hornet ADV, the AGV AX9, and the Airoh Commander score really below average in this section.

The Airoh Commander particularly led us down with a difference of no less than 12 degrees.

Speaking of ventilation, this helmet is one of the worst ventilated helmets we have ever tested, disappointing.

This is the only subjective part of our road test, which we call comfort, which includes much more than comfort.

In this section, we assess the subjective criteria such as comfort, wind resistance, the view of the inner liner, the finishes, and the overall feel of the helmet. 

These are criteria that are difficult to capture in hard data, and that is why for this part, we rely on the more than 15 years of experience that our test writer has to his name.

Our test writer has tested all of these helmets and can therefore compare the helmets like no other.

All our helmets come with removable, washable, and antibacterial liners, which makes sense, as these helmets are the best on the market. 

The Schuberth E1 and the Icon Variant Pro lag slightly with 3.5 stars. We have the Klim Krios Pro, the Aria Tour X4, and the Shoei Hornet ADV standing out the most, with 4 stars each.

The Krios Pro’s liner was soft to the touch and very plush. The interior textures are Klim’s strong suit considering their gear experience, but the Shoei and Arai were also incredibly comfortable thanks to their soft fabrics. Aria foam springs for a supportive fit and Shoei high-quality finishing.

For our final category, we have features. First, we look for a range of indicators to tally up the scores, all based on what riders have asked us for over the years. 

This means we are looking at communication system options, glasses, fit, peak options, liner customization, etc.

Overall we have a very interesting result since the Krios Pro drops off to two stars since the features included were more spares.

So instead, we have the Shoei, Arai, Nolan, Scorpion, and the Schubert taking the lead with three stars each.

Though these helmets offer a great level of touring level functions, the Aria Tour X4 brings the best features in our lineup.

It is very comfortable for glasses, but it comes with peel-away pads to let you get your ideal fit. There are even special foam springs in the cheek pads to ensure they don’t lose form over time.

Which Adventure Helmet Came Out On Top?

Since we’ve got all of our data collection, we can look at how our helmets compare to get an idea of the bigger picture. Overall we do see a great set of results from our helmets.

Before looking at our top performance, it’s important to mention the performance of the AGV AX9 .

We were slightly disappointed by its performance out on the road as It was hot, noisy, and not very comfortable, even though it’s very light. 

The Bell and the Aria also have a disappointing overall score. Our strongest performance out of the gate is the Klim Krios Pro, the Schuberth E1, and the Aria Tour X4, as the scores are all very close.

Value For Money

Before we move on to our final scores, let’s look at what happens when we factor in our helmet’s prices since each helmet offers you a different set of features and performances at different prices. Therefore, it is important to factor these into our rankings. 

For example, if two helmets perform the same, but one of them has a lower price, it scores relatively better. That’s why we look at two variables to determine the value of money. 

At the top, we see the Aria Tour X4 with an average of 3.6 stars. Next, we see the Scorpion ADX-2 with an average score of 2.9 stars. Then we see the Klim Krios Pro, which has the highest average star score of 3.9 stars.

The AGV AX9 comes in next with an average star rating of only 2.4. This means that the helmet is too expensive compared to the quality the helmet delivers. 

2 Adventure Helmets To Avoid

To keep it exciting, we’ll start at the bottom. In 10th place, we find the Bell MX-9 Adventure that scored well or averaged on all parts.

In ninth place, we find the AGV AX9, which came out on top in the weight section but as one of the loudest helmets, we have ever measured.

We can now see which helmet came out as the best adventure helmet with all of our points given out.

Best Adventure Helmet Overall

In 8th place, we find the Airoh Commander that scores good on weight and the visor but lets us down in the ventilation component.

Next, we see the Nolan N70-2X in seventh place scoring weak on material, weight, and ventilation but strong in the visor and features section.

In 6th place is the Icon Variant Pro. This helmet was consistently strong in all areas, was nowhere the best, but was always competing only on ventilation and features.

Then our first helmet from the top 5, the Scorpion ADX-2. Again, this helmet scored strongly on its features and value for money.

We have the Shoei Hornet ADV that scored strongly in all areas except ventilation in fourth place. In third place, we have the Schuberth E1 with a nice score of 7.6. Finally, at a close second, we have the Aria Tour X4 at a score of 8.1. 

This means that our best adventure helmet is the Klim Krios Pro pro , with an excellent score of 8.2. This makes it a strong performer on the road and a decent helmet in terms of value for money.

It was a close race though still coming in at the middle ground. We found these helmets have performed quite well on the road, with some even coming in with touring level noise isolation.

But in the end, the Klim Krios Pro is the rightful winner that scored consistently strong in all areas.

Read our full review of the Klim Krios Pro here

Where To Buy

We have chosen what we think are the best motorcycle helmet retailers, for you to choose from. They both ship worldwide but you may like to order from one or the other depending on your location.

One supplier might have a sale so it’s always best to visit both suppliers to see what deals are available.

MotorcycleGear

Keith Mallinson has been a motorcycle enthusiast for the past 20 years. He has owned a variety of bikes during this time, ranging from sport bikes to cruisers. Keith has a passion for all things motorcycle related, including riding, maintaining, and customizing his bikes.In addition to his personal experience with motorcycles, Keith has also kept up to date with industry news and trends. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and insights with others through his motorcycle blog.When he's not out on the open road, Keith can be found tinkering in his garage, planning his next road trip, or spending time with his family.

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Consumer Editor of Bennetts BikeSocial, John's owned over 20 bikes, has been testing motorcycle kit for more than 25 years and is a member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, and part of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group.

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Date reviewed: June 2020 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £449.99 | www.shoeiassured.co.uk

The Shoei Hornet ADV on review here is an adventure-focussed motorcycle helmet with all the convenience of a full-face lid, but the addition of a more prominent chin section (which helps improve airflow around the mouth), and a peak, which is great for riding in low sun.

I’ve been using it on a BMW S1000XR, a Kawasaki Versys 1000 and a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650…

For and against

• Peak brilliant for evening rides
• Visor quick and easy to replace
• Relatively light for a helmet of this type
• Peak can add significant noise on bikes with screens
• Venting isn’t the best in class
• Not designed to use with goggles, or without peak

Outer shell

The outer shell is made of an extremely strong composite fibre and resin, with four different moulds based on sizes XS and S, M, L and XL and XXL – this is common in many premium brands as it stops the helmet looking huge on someone with a smaller head.

The finish is excellent, with very well-applied graphics under a deep gloss on this ‘Navigate TC-2’ version, which joins three other graphics that add £90 to the cost of the gloss black or white models. A matt black version is also available for £459.99.

Weighing 1,601g, the Shoei Hornet ADV is 109g lighter than its most obvious rival, the Arai Tour-X 4, though it’s still 100g heavier than a typical standard full-face lid. Having said that, I’ve yet to ride in any helmet that feels too heavy in use – people are too quick to judge a lid by picking it up and comparing it to another in the hand.

I’ve never suffered a strained neck through a heavier helmet, but the peak on any lid of this style will cause fatigue over time. This one doesn’t push hard on your head when riding into the wind, though like the Arai and others it will be very noticeable when you turn your head or when riding in cross-winds. After a long ride at roads speeds, you’re likely to feel more tired.

Why do some helmets have peaks?

Off-road helmets typically have peaks, in part to shield you from mud and stones thrown up by the bike in front on a motocross track, but also – and this is where they’re particularly valuable on the road – to shield your eyes from the sun.

As many riders know, low sun – particularly when commuting in the autumn – can be dangerously dazzling in the evening, but by just tipping your head down slightly it’s possible to quickly and safely shield your eyes from the glare.

Ventilation

Full-spec off-road lids tend to focus on ventilation, and while this is more of a road-biased helmet, the Hornet ADV isn’t that powerful.

The chin vent can be opened or closed, feeding up across the visor to the brow and directly into the mouth. Unfortunately for winter riders looking for more ventilation to spectacles, the mouth feed inside can’t be separately closed, so you’ll need to just close that and crack the visor in order to avoid a blast of cold air to the teeth.

A slider on the brow opens two small holes to blow straight through, and there’s another vent on the top of the lid, which directs air to two ports inside – this can be opened or closed with a slider on the peak, and is fed air from a channel running along the top.

Two always-open exhausts on the rear are fed by two ports each in the inner lining, which combine with two channels feeding out of the bottom of the helmet through a fabric mesh.

The ventilation can be felt when the vents are opened – particularly the one at the mouth – but overall it’s not as powerful as you might hope for if adventuring in hotter climates. If used off-road, this could get particularly hot as you work your body harder.

A chin skirt is provided – fit it for a more still environment when riding in cooler weather, but take it out and you’ll benefit from much more air moving around the chin and mouth area.

While you could use the Hornet ADV without the visor or peak, it’s not designed to do so

The visor gives a very good field of view to the sides and below, and while it isn’t a standard-shape Shoei visor, it does benefit from the company’s easy to use quick-release system.

Even with the peak in place, it’s possible to take the visor off for cleaning and to replace it, and it’s good to see that it also seals well, preventing any water from entering the top edge in the rain.

A Pinlock Evo – the top of the line anti-fog insert – is included, though spectacle wearers like me will have the visor just cracked open, or at the first of six stages of the visor opening. The ratchet controlling these steps is relatively firm, though it does stay in place. I’d have preferred to see a thumb tab on each side, or the middle of the visor as it’s easier to open when waiting at the lights with the clutch held in, but this good-sized tab is easy to find and locks the visor down fully.

There’s no drop-down sun shield, but of course the real benefit of this lid to road riders is being able to shield their eyes with the peak.

While the peak can be very easily removed thanks to a pair of rotating latches and a button (no tools required), the Hornet ADV isn’t designed to be used without it – you could, but the top vent is left open with nothing directing air down into it, and the fixing points would collect dirt.

It’s great to see that the peak is still during even high-speed use – the Schuberth E1 that I reviewed a few years back vibrated noticeably, which was extremely distracting when riding.

Theoretically you could use this Shoei with goggles, but it’s clearly not designed for it; if you take the visor off the mechanism is left exposed, and while you could flip the visor up and pop goggles in, the aperture isn’t quite big enough for my 100% goggles, so they don’t fit properly against my face.

The inner shell is made up of two separate sections of expanded polystyrene – for a softer area around the top of the head compared to the front, back and sides – along with additional panels at the cheeks and chin. The plush and well-constructed lining is easily removed for cleaning, including the cheek pads, crown, strap covers and neck skirt.

The cheek pads have clearly-labelled quick-release tabs, which would allow emergency responders to pop them out in order to remove the helmet without straining the neck.

A double-D fastener is used on the Shoei Hornet ADV, which makes for a reliable fit every time though isn’t quite as convenient as a micro-metric ratchet for day-to-day use. It works well and has a button to keep the spare strap from flapping around, but as always with this design, you’ll need to take your gloves off to use it.

Many people claim to have – or not have – a ‘Shoei head’, and while this might have been partly true many years ago, it’s really not now. Fit is of course entirely subjective as we all have different-shaped heads, so you must try any lid on for yourself (even if you usually get on fine with that brand). Personally, I’ve not had an issue with any Shoei or Arai, while Schuberth and Shark (for example) sometimes fit me and sometimes don’t; you must check.

This medium-sized helmet fitted my typically medium-sized head perfectly, with no pressure points – when buying a lid you must always check for any areas that could become painful after an hour or so in the saddle, but the helmet must also be snug all over. Unsurprisingly given the high-end build quality, I find the Hornet ADV comfortable all day long.

The lining easily accepts glasses, with no pressure on the sides of the head, and the specs remaining comfortably on the nose.

The peak does introduce noise when riding with a screen, but it’s not unique to the Shoei

Any helmet with a peak is going to be noisier than one without, and the Shoei is no different, having slightly more windblast on an un-faired bike than a standard full-face.

While some helmet brands claim to have the quietest designs, lids are wind-tunnel tested on un-faired bikes; as soon as you add a fairing or a screen you can forget everything as the ensuing buffeting makes all the difference. There’s also no helmet that is quiet enough to safely use without earplugs at anything beyond town speeds.

Don’t underestimate the noise that can be generated by a peak, given the right circumstances of your height (I’m 5’10”), riding position and of course bike – on both the Kawasaki Versys 1000 and the BMW S1000XR (both 2019 models), with the screens in the lowest position the Shoei was fine, but slide them up to the top and there’s significant buffeting. The booming sound isn’t quite as prominent as on the Arai Tour-X 4, reviewed here , but it is still there to the point that I ride with the screen lowered. It’s something you need to be aware of, and many owners who do find it a problem on any brand of helmet resort to sticking wheel weights on the end to reduce the drumming sound.

For more information on why earplugs are vital with any helmet, and advice on which are the best, click here .

Shoei Hornet ADV adventure motorcycle helmet review: Verdict

The Shoei Hornet ADV is a very well-made helmet that does add another layer of safety when riding in low sun thanks to that well-designed peak. But you have to be aware that your neck will get more tired and noise could be an issue.

The Arai Tour-X 4 retails at £30 to £40 more, and the visor is a lot more of a hassle to remove. On the other hand, it can be worn with googles much more readily (and can be run without the peak). Given the ease of maintaining the Shoei’s visor, set against its less powerful ventilation, I’d say the Hornet ADV is the more road-focussed lid, while the Arai will be likely to appeal to people needing more versatility.

Be honest with yourself – if you decide that a peaked helmet is right for you, choose based on how and where you’ll really be riding. Both are premium-quality and exceptionally well built, while both also have their advantages and disadvantages.

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Shoei Hornet ADV helmet review | Can the Hornet still hold its own against the latest adventure helmets?

This is my first Shoei motorbike helmet , ever – and it’s made me regret not picking one up sooner. The quality, fit and features are all superb and more than on-par with the Arai Tour-X 4 I’ve worn for the previous 40,000+ mile to this.

The Hornet ADV is an ECE 22.05 helmet, meaning it’s not the latest standard ( ECE22.06 ), and will inevitably need to be replaced in the line-up soon. But if you need an adventure helmet right now, this is still a great option.

Shoei Hornet Sovereign ADV TC-10

Tested by Richard Newland for five months

Is the Shoei Hornet ADV practical?

The visor system is excellent, allowing for simple click-out, click-in replacement with the peak fitted. The only niggle here is that it’s very hard to locate the tabs when you’re fitting a dark visor back onto the helmet as you’re effectively blind. Clear visors are easy.

The fitment is very good, and I’ve suffered no leaks riding in heavy rain. It comes with a Pinlock insert, which also works well, although I have had one Pinlock post snap off when switching the insert between clear and tinted visors (it comes with spare posts).

Venting is decent, but certainly not amazing. There are vents at the chin, brow and crown, and all allow enough air in to keep you relatively fresh – but on very warm days, or if you’re working hard on the bike on a trail, there’s not enough volume pushing through. Removing the optional chin curtain is wise if temperatures are high.

The lining is removable and washable, and the cheek pads are quick release in case of emergencies. After 5000 miles, there’s no hint of wear, rubbage or furring of the lining, and the lid still smells new, too. The chin strap is a D-ring type. In use, it’s quiet in clean airflow (I always wear earplugs), comfortable and stable. Even turning your head in the wind doesn’t result in any dramatic pull from the vented peak.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us .

By Richard Newland

MCN Editor - With over 40 years of riding experience and 21 years as a bike journalist, Rich has ridden pretty much every new bike of the last two decades and plenty of others from history – dating right back to machines from the 1930s. His big passion is for sportsbikes from the 1990s and early 2000s, but he also has a real soft spot for big bikes that handle well and can take you places. Tell him he’s got 24hrs to get to somewhere 1000 miles away and a Ducati Multistrada V4S to get there on, and he’ll be gone before you’ve finished the sentence. He has as a worrying penchant for big days in the saddle, and once stupidly rode from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back again without stopping (that was 1703.5 miles in 30 hours 4mins, in case you were wondering). In his own man cave there’s a 2007 Honda VTR1000 SP-2, a 1998 Ducati 996, a 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750 ‘Slabby’, a 1998 VFR800FiW and a 1975 Honda CB750 SOHC Dunstall. Previous ownership highlights have included a Kawasaki Z1000, Ducati 900SS, Sherco 2.5 trials bike, a Kawasaki ZXR750H1, Suzuki T500 classic racer (which he never actually raced, ahem) and a KTM LC4 Supermoto. He rides anything between 12,000 and 30,000 miles every year in all weathers, all year round. You’ll only find him in a car when there’s simply no way of travelling by bike. The rest of the time, he’s sat behind a Mac helping to make MCN as one cog of the best team in bike journalism.

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• Shoei Hornet X2 vs Arai XD4

Product Comparison: Shoei Hornet X2 vs Arai XD4

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• Shell Material
• Interior Material
• It's a great helmet, but there's not enough venting if you're riding in warm weather or exerting yourself on jeep trails.
• I find myself wearing this helmet for hours at a time when with previous helmets i could only wear for 20 minutes at a time before feeling strain and stress.
• The quality of this helmet is outstanding. I returned a Bilt helmet that felt cheap as soon as I opened the box. I was very uncomfortable.
• I have a harley and just picked up a BMW 1200GSA and wanted a helmet that fit well with both bikes, so my harley one didn't work well. I liked the idea of a visor and the fact this helmet is a new design.
• This helmet has extremely good aero for a DS. I can run the peak on the highway and it is very neutral at 70-80mph looking ahead.
• I think the previous model is more suited to dual sport.
• Typical Arai quality. It had been a while since I'd purchased a helmet, and I see that Arai has further defined the head shape game. Best bet is to always try one on first- I have gone from a round Shoei to a more oval Arai over 20 years.
• First off, I loved this helmet well before my accident. The field of view is fantastic, the fit is incredible.
• Since this is one of those "dual sport" type of helmets with a visor, those riding are at some point going to get on a highway and get up to highway speeds.
• The XD-4 is my second helmet. I began riding just over a year ago and had been using a friends Bell racing helmet until I purchased the Arai. I've gone about 14,000 miles in the XD-4 and it's great!
• Arai has the reputation of first rate quality and protection which should be primary in a helmet choice, and I wanted an ADV style helmet for the new bike, overall I am very happy with it so far.

• This helmet fits my head perfectly. I purchased the Hornet II based on reviews (especially the Revzilla review), and after never having seen, or even tried on the helmet.
• Comfort is phenomenal, I don't know how I lived without a peak (as my commute takes me straight into the rising sun, and at least lets me screen out the sun when it's a few degrees above the horizon).
• The overall fit is snug, I thought too snug at first because it's tight getting on and off, but once it's on it's very comfortable.
• Quite comfortable although the back edge of my ears get sore after a few hours of wearing it.
• Comfort is exceptional. Quality is very nice. A solid feel and a good feature set and accessories.
• Great fit, light ,comfortable! Tried several other dualsport and street helmets.
• I replaced my XD3 with this XD4 (pulled the trigger after the 2016 update happened with the new Snell 2015 rating came out). It fits perfectly.
• Excellent condition, quick delivery. Helmet is light weight and fits snugly.
• On receiving the XD-4 I can say the fit was perfect! It was initially quite snug! I really had to pull it down over my head however after a couple rides and a few hundred miles the pads have shaped to me perfectly and is now extremely comfortable.
• This helmet meets that standard in almost all aspects. Starting with the fit - I absolutely love the conforming fit of the cheek pads.
• The quality of the parts and the fit. Can't wait to take it out.
• Sunglasses fit well with the helmet on.
• The visor snaps down tight against the eye port gasket, something the previous model did not do well.
• The ear cutouts fit my Sena smh10 speakers except I had to cut off the plastic trim on the speakers in order for them to lay nice and flat in their cutouts.
• The visor locks down nice and really creates an airtight seal, I have been through a couple small rain bursts but nothing to really make claims of it's waterproof ability, but so far all dry.
• To noisy, and definitely the missing dark visor is no so good when you like touring rides
• In any case, this helmet is like all my Arai (and you can now peel away some layers from the cheek pads to customize fit), there are no compromises, absolute top quality construction, light weight, almost indestructible visor (will NOT scratch if you are cautious) and functional venting.
• Vents and airflow abound, as with everything moto-related you'll get hot standing still, but once moving-- this helmet lets in a good amount of air. I would definitely buy another.
• The top visor is easily adjusted with a coin or flat screwdriver and seems to be well built.
• Road noise is not bad and have zero complaints about it.
• The helmet accepts my Scala Rider G9x easily, the recesses in the cheek pad have ample room to fit the speakers behind the soft covering.

Popular Comparisons

Other reviews

Helmet Showdown: Arai XD-4 vs. Shoei Hornet X2 vs. Klim Krios Pro

A Three Helmet Showdown Is About To Go Down

Search the internet today using the words “Best (insert topic here)” and you’ll get plenty of opinionated claims popping up from a myriad of sources touting their impartiality and honesty. But who can you really trust? It’s getting harder and harder to know whether the source is secretly working for a manufacturer or just overly biased and close-minded, right?

Generally, I read several reviews for this reason and then average them out to get closest to reality but even then, my instinct tells me that some reviews are parroting others or are obsessively negative.

Lend Me Your Trust

I’ve worked very hard to remain neutral during this fun experiment I’ve run the last 3 months while testing three excellent adventure helmets. My quest was to find which one I would recommend the most to discerning consumers based upon logic and reason as much as possible. That was challenging!

I’m pleased to say that I managed to accomplish that goal while carefully considering the merits and also weak points of the Klim Krios Pro , Arai XD-4 , and Shoei Hornet X2 .

Certainly, I could have brought in additional contenders (and maybe should have) from manufacturers like Scorpion , AGV , and SCHUBERTH , but I wanted to limit it to the three premium-priced helmets I see most often being discussed on social media.

The helmets and accompanying accessories were provided enthusiastically to me by each respective manufacturer at no charge for testing. Each of them feels their helmet is the best one on the market and I would agree you can’t go wrong choosing any of them depending on what your individual riding style, needs, and wants entail. They excel in different ways.

I’ll provide specific details of how I arrived at my choices for:

• Best helmet for the price
• Best helmet off-road
• Best helmet on-road
• Most comfortable helmet
• Best ventilation or air flow
• Best crash protection
• Best overall quality of build
• Lightest helmet
• Quietest helmet
• Bluetooth communicator installation
• Best scoring helmet overall

These categories should help anyone pick their favorite faster and easier if they value one characteristic (ie. lightest possible) above others.

Having said that, the final category is the one I would say is most telling because it’s the helmet earning the most points. In theory that helmet will do it all the easiest. In adventure riding, adapting to ever-changing riding conditions quickly is (in my opinion) the most important factor to consider.

In order to make this fair and clear I’ll use a point system:

• 3 points for the winner in each category.
• 2 points for the runner up .
• 1 point for third .**

**If one of the helmets stumbles significantly in any category then I won’t award the single point for third place.

Going The Distance

I’ve logged more than 2000 miles (3200 kms) while wearing each of the three helmets totaling over 6000 miles of testing time! How’s that for thorough?

I’ve ridden in temperatures ranging from 0 Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) to highs of 34 Celsius (93 Fahrenheit), on the highway while riding a sportbike and both on and off-road with my KTM 790 Adventure. I tested them on the sportbike just to gauge where the limits are when it comes to adaptability.

Rain, plenty of dust, dirt, mud, insects, rocks, tree branches, bushes, and even hailstones have ricocheted off these safety hats to test the strength of the shell finishes and moving parts (vents, visor hinges, etc).

As gross as it sounds, I’ve worn each of them for 4 days straight without having showered to test the antimicrobial liner materials. The “sniff test” is valid.

I’ve used the exact same cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth on the inside and outside of the visor lenses to test durability and scratch resistance.

Let the battle begin!

Best Helmet for the Price

Here are the prices of these helmets from the Revzilla website. You may find them for less elsewhere but I chose this site as a general source to work from. This isn’t necessarily about which helmet costs the least, but more so about the value gained for your dollars.

• Winner: Klim Krios Pro in Loco Striking Grey – $699.99
• Runner up: Shoei Hornet X2 Navigate in orange/silver/black – $715.99
• Third place: Arai XD-4 Vision in Frost Orange – $739.95

Why does the Klim Krios Pro win?

• An auto-darkening Transitions visor (valued at $150 USD!) with a Pinlock anti-fog insert ($30 USD) is included with the helmet along with extra hardware for connecting the sun peak and visor to the helmet.

• You also get a FidLock chinstrap and Koroyd material in the helmet crown as an absorption layer for energy in an impact. Koroyd is claimed to absorb crash energy significantly better than standard EPS foam.

• This is as of yet unconfirmed by an independent source, though.

• If you prefer a D-ring chin strap closure to the Fidlock chinstrap, and don’t like a Transition visor, the Shoei comes with a clear one and a Pinlock insert. No extra mounting hardware for the sun peak comes with this helmet.
• If you don’t like anything on your visor for anti-fog or tinting whatsoever, the Arai XD-4 comes with an untreated, clear visor and no extra visor/sun peak mounting hardware.

Admittedly, calling a $700 USD helmet a bargain sounds insane, but in my opinion, you do get the most for the least money with the Klim.

***A note on the Shoei Hornet X2: I tried to get a comparable graphic package on each helmet tested since fancy graphics inflate the price above the “solid” color schemes. Shoei didn’t have a fancy one available and so they sent me a solid silver model which costs $100 less than the fancy Navigate graphics one requested. I still used the Navigate price to compare apples to apples in this review since the other two helmets wear the premium graphics packages.

Best Helmet Off-Road

• Winner: Arai XD-4
• Runner up: Shoei Hornet X2
• Third: Klim Krios Pro (no points awarded due to poor performance)

Why did the Arai XD-4 win?

• Dust, dirt, and water resistance is the main reason I pick the Arai in this category. The sun peak and visor on the Arai is held on with two plastic screws that were completely unaffected by dust, dirt and mud buildup around the hinge area. Regardless of how much gunk was thrown in there, the visor remained consistent to operate and remove/install despite the fact it’s not quick release like the other two helmets are.
• The Arai air vents were largely unaffected by dust, dirt, bugs, etc encountered. Air flow was consistent and the vents didn’t plug up as the other two helmet vents did.
• I stayed the coolest while wearing the Arai while working hard picking up my bike or riding slowly over very technical terrain. I credit it to the combination of silky-smooth nylon material used on the interior along with better than average airflow.

• The Shoei top vent filled up with bug guts regularly and had to be cleaned out in order to maintain good air flow, but at least the vent switches weren’t affected by any dust, dirt or insect carcass accumulation.

• The Klim performed well in most off-road riding thanks to how lightweight and breathable it is, but notably was the worst in dusty conditions. The vents and the hinges for the visor/sun peak clog up with dust the easiest of the three competitors. The chinbar vent wouldn’t even close anymore after only 2 hours of gravel road riding and had to be flushed with lots of water just to get it to move again. Ditto for the visor quick release inserts. They wouldn’t budge until thoroughly rinsed.

• The Arai sun peak does a great job protecting the visor when in the raised position. It’s got the least amount of openings in it of the three and as such almost completely covers the visor, keeping it from getting scratched by branches when riding through gnarly, single track terrain.
• The Shoei sun peak allowed several scratches to the partially exposed top part of the visor (in the fully raised position) when riding in similar heavily wooded areas, but didn’t scratch at all when cleaned with a microfiber cloth.
• The Klim visor took a small amount of damage just from being wiped by my gloves while riding in the rain, and the large gaps in the sun peak don’t protect it when fully raised like the Arai peak does either.
• All three helmets work equally well when using goggles instead of the visors and the massive field of view available to the wearer looking out from the eyeport is terrific for off-road navigation.
• The paint on the exterior of the Shoei shows damage much more easily than the finish on the other two helmets do. I now have three small dents in the Hornet X2 silver paint that show up conspicuously thanks to the bright white primer that lies underneath.

I had to get really finicky in order to pick a winner in this category, but the Klim was the easy third place finisher because of how the dust negatively affected it.

**The Krios Pro vents jamming open (and the sun peak fasteners seizing) due to dust build up is what I would call an unacceptable failure compared to the other two helmets, so I think it’s fair not to award even the single point I normally would for finishing in third place.**

Best Helmet On-Road

• Winner: Shoei Hornet X2
• Runner up: Arai XD-4
• Third: Klim Krios Pro

Why Did the Shoei Win?

This one is so close to call because all three helmets perform reasonably well at highway speeds, in busy traffic, and in the rain. I’m tempted to call it a draw between the Arai and Shoei but there are a couple of factors that give the nod to the Hornet X2.

• The sun peak on the Shoei is locked in place and the chinbar isn’t elongated like the other helmets making it the least affected by crosswinds and headwinds. Yep, that’s it. That’s why it wins by the smallest of margins over the other two helmets.
• The Arai sun peak comes in second for crosswind neck cranking and the fact it is adjustable to two positions is both good and bad. It’s impressive that it will stay in the lower position even with the wind working on it, but if you tilt your head up too high the wind will grab it and yank the sun peak up violently. The effect on the wearer’s neck is more pronounced because the peak can move independently from the helmet unlike on the Shoei or Klim.
• The Arai sun peak also wind whistles annoyingly in the lower position but not the upper one.
• The Krios Pro sun peak is super disappointing to me because of how easily crosswinds grab it and the way headwinds work on it. It creates a painful pressure point on my forehead.
• I had to remove the sun peak from the Krios Pro in order to ride on the highway without discomfort. Interestingly, once the peak is removed the Krios Pro is fantastic at high speeds!
• If I ride with the peaks removed from all the helmets I like the Krios Pro the most because it’s slightly quieter and much lighter. I feel bad giving it third place in this category, but it’s only fair to judge it with the sun peak installed.

Most Comfortable Category

• Winner: Klim Krios Pro
• Third : Shoei Hornet X2

Why did the Klim win?

I admit this area is dependent on multiple factors that can vary from person to person, so let me hash this out.

• The Klim Krios Pro has velvet-like microsuede lining every inch of the interior padding which is heavenly to have against your face any day. The interior cradles my head perfectly and evenly all around as it should. Best of all the Krios Pro only weighs 3.1 lbs (1406 g). That’s nearly a full lb lighter than the two other helmets, resulting in zero neck fatigue even after long days in the saddle. The carbon fiber shell and a Koroyd-infused crash liner get the credit for this win.

• The Klim shell tapers inward ever so slightly at the neckroll, so it’s tight getting my fat, round oval shaped head in or out, but not to the point it causes me as much grief as the Shoei does.
• The Arai is easier to get on and off my head and just as comfortable for me to wear as the Klim is. In truth, I personally prefer the fit of the Arai more than the Klim, but I believe the majority of people might prefer the overall package the Klim offers when it comes to comfort. It’s so close though because the XD-4 liner can be fine tuned for thickness and shape more readily than the Klim padding and the center of gravity is low down making the extra bulk barely noticeable.

• The Arai only narrowly misses winning this section because it’s so much heavier than the Klim.

• The Shoei is VERY narrow in shape, especially around the neck roll opening. In fact, I had to swap out the interior padding to a much thinner M5 crown liner and M31 cheek pads just to avoid enduring serious pain on the sides of my head! Since installing the new thinner liners it’s been comfortable if not still a tad snug compared to the other two, but that’s better than being too loose.

• I find I have to hold this helmet at a sharp angle when donning it, otherwise, it folds over my right ear in an irritating way.

You can see the painful marks left on the side of my round-shaped head from the narrow Shoei HornetX2 in the photo above.

**Note: if you have a head shape that is on the narrow or long oval end of the spectrum then the Shoei is the helmet to buy for comfort without question.

Best Ventilation & Airflow

• Third: Shoei Hornet X2

• It comes down to the fact that in temperatures below 15 Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) I must close the vents on the Klim in order to avoid getting too cold. Even with the vents closed the Krios Pro flows more air than many helmets do with their vents open.
• The chinbar vent on the Klim is massive, but it’s not just the volume of air entering that sets the Klim apart. It’s the coverage or distribution of air across my scalp I really notice. I can feel it around my temples on both sides and on the back of my head too.
• Despite the massive volume of air entering the helmet there’s a perfect area to mount a Sena or Cardo microphone right in the top-center area of the chinbar where no wind noise gets picked up. The same spot works in the Shoei, but the Arai struggles with this. I’ve tried everything and still can’t find a quiet pocket in the chinbar area to mount my microphone. A minor complaint, but in this clash of helmet Titans even a small flaw will tip the scales.
• The Arai XD-4 is right there with the Klim in the airflow department and actually flows air more turbulently in the chinbar area. It also has more flexibility in how the air flowing through it can be customized than the Klim does thanks to a larger number of vents to work with.
• It blows my mind just how good the ventilation is in this Snell M2020 certified helmet. I only score it second because I don’t feel like I need to close all the vents when the temperature drops to 15 Celsius or 59 Fahrenheit. It’s SO CLOSE though, that I’m sure some people will justifiably disagree with me on this one.
• The Hornet X2 takes third place when it comes to airflow. Like the Arai, it flows air surprisingly well for a Snell M2020 certified helmet. Poor airflow is a popular gripe against Snell rated helmets, but that isn’t the case with this Shoei.
• It does a respectable job keeping me cool but lacks the same number of vents found in the Arai and I’ve never found the need to close the vents on it even in cooler weather.

Best Helmet Visor

• Runner up: Klim Krios Pro
• Third: Arai XD-4

This category winner may create some controversy I’m afraid! This win is definitely asterisked because it’s not the visor the Shoei comes with that wins. I was sent the Transitions CNS-2 visor by Shoei to better compete with the Klim Transitions visor.

Why did the Shoei win?

• The Hornet X2 comes from the factory with a clear CNS-2 visor and Pinlock anti-fog insert. That visor is excellent when it comes to clarity, durability, and strength, but I wouldn’t pick it over the Transitions visor that also comes with a Pinlock with the Klim Krios Pro from the factory.
• However, Shoei’s specially designed CNS-2 Transitions visor for the Hornet X2 (when combined with the Pinlock insert) that I was also sent for this review is easily the best all-around visor I’ve ever used on a helmet. But, it costs a whopping $209.95 extra to buy over and above the $500 to $700+ Hornet X2 helmet (price depending on the chosen graphic package).
• Am I playing fairly by giving the win to the helmet with the best visor available instead of giving the win to the helmet that comes with the best visor from the factory? Either way, the Transitions visor for the Hornet X2 is tops with me.
• The Arai comes with a clear visor from the factory with no anti-fog coating or Pinlock insert. It really needs some sort of anti-fog strategy added (as do all three helmets). If you don’t install the Pinlock in the Klim or Shoei visors they fog up horribly.
• Arai sent me a tinted visor with a special anti-fog coating on the inside for this comparison in order to compete with the auto-tinting Transition lenses on the other two. This tinted Arai visor costs an extra $74.55 to buy but is a brilliant lens and worth the added cost. It’s actually clearer than either of the other two visors since it doesn’t have a second layer of plastic to look through (no Pinlock).
• It resisted fogging up just as well as the Pinlock visors did during my testing and my cleaning solution didn’t harm the coating despite repeated cleaning sessions.
• NOTE: Pinlocks and anti-fog coating notwithstanding, all three visors did fog up a little bit at the bottom in front of my nose when used in colder temperatures, but not in my field of view where it matters.

• The Klim Krios Pro Transitions visor is more than sufficiently clear to look through and I appreciate the convenience of the auto-tinting, but the Pinlock insert isn’t custom designed for the uncharacteristically large visor on it the way the Shoei one is. Klim just chose a standard Pinlock insert that stops about ¾’ below the top of the visor creating an annoying optical border between the Pinlock covered area and the non-covered area of the visor.
• That’s why the Shoei wins and the Klim comes second.

• Something important to bear in mind is that these Transitions visors wear out after 3 or 4 years from what I’m told and need replacing because after that time they don’t darken enough anymore.
• Conversely, the permanently tinted Arai visor will remain consistently shaded. This knowledge may sway your choice away from the Klim and definitely from paying more for the Shoei Transition visor if price is a major concern.
• I still prefer the Transitions visors because I don’t need to wear sunglasses in the helmet or burden myself with a second clear visor to swap out when riding at night or in low light conditions.

Best Crash Protection

• Co-Winners: Shoei HornetX2 and Arai XD-4

Why did the Arai and Shoei beat the Klim?

• Snell M2020 is a proven standard of safety certification shown to demand the highest level of performance from a helmet. Some would argue it’s overkill and unnecessarily stringent, but in an adventure helmet, it seems appropriate. Conversely, the ECE 22-05 standard while also excellent doesn’t demand as much from a helmet comparatively.

• I have no way of knowing whether the XD-4 performs better than the Hornet X2 in crash testing, but both are Snell M2020 approved. I was hoping SHARP had tested both helmets and I would have used their scoring to break the tie, but alas neither are on their list. So it’s a draw, unfortunately.

Have a look at the video below to see some of what I witnessed at the Arai factory when it comes to crash testing their RX-7V helmet.

• The Koroyd safety liner found in the Klim is claimed to absorb a lot more crash energy than the EPS foam liners found in both the Arai and Shoei, but as I mentioned before this hasn’t been confirmed by an independent testing facility at the time of this writing. If there comes a time it is then I would have to consider giving the victory to the Krios Pro in this category.

Having said all that, there’s more to providing protection in a crash than just energy absorption. The shape of the shell, protrusions, and ridges along with the way it’s built also play a significant role in determining structural integrity. The shape can contribute to deflecting incoming energy away from the absorbent liner materials before absorption even becomes a factor.

The wavy, disorganized carbon fiber weave patterns found on the Klim shell don’t fill me with as much confidence as the hand-built fiberglass and aramid formulas used by Shoei and Arai on theirs.

My contacts at Klim insist their carbon fiber sheets are hand-laid in the molds with exact precision and care. They say the waves on the outside layer of carbon fiber are caused by excess resin being pushed out of the pre-impregnated sheets they use during the curing process. They say it’s only a visual flaw and doesn’t affect structural integrity. I’m not a carbon fiber expert, but an hour-long research session I conducted online seemed to back up this claim, so I’ll take their word for it.

I’ve personally toured the Arai factory in Japan and seen their complete dedication to chasing the highest possible level of quality control in their shell creation process.

I suspect Shoei runs their QC inspections in a similar way as Arai, but can’t confirm they take it to the extreme level I witnessed at Arai. I was scheduled to tour the Shoei factory in April 2020, but COVID19 travel restrictions forced me to cancel it indefinitely. I’m going to get there as soon as possible to confirm my hunch.

Overall Quality of Build

Why did the Arai win?

• In a nutshell, it’s because it came out of the testing showing the fewest scars, and feels the closest to how it did when it came fresh out of the box. Even after thousands of miles ridden through rough terrain, there are zero dents, dings, scratches, or broken pieces.
• I also feel Arai took more risks with the design than the other two manufacturers did and yet still came through with flying colors. There are triple the amount of plastic vent covers/louvers stuck to the outer shell which could have fallen off or failed, yet didn’t.
• The Arai interior is customizable for size and shapes more readily than the other two helmets and everything comes apart just as easily as it goes together after cleaning. All features are there for a specific purpose and they just plain work.
• The Shoei is right there neck and neck with the Arai in almost every way, but the matte, silver paint on the outer shell didn’t shake off a number of knocks it took out on the road and looks like it’s been through a war comparatively speaking. Nothing failed on it either, but Shoei played it safe with the exterior design which is actually wise.
• I enjoy the “space soldier” look of the Hornet X2 a lot. The clear fins embedded in the exhaust vents on the back of the helmet remind me of the engine exhaust pipes found on many World War 2 fighter plane engines that stuck out of the fuselage.
• I wonder whether the gloss finish on the Navigate model of Hornet X2 would have been less prone to damage than this matte one I tested? Regardless, the Arai XD-4 I tested also has a matte finish on it so it’s kind of a moot point. The XD-4 barely squeaks out a win here over the Shoei.
• The Klim Krios Pro is a very nice helmet and well made, but it’s not hand made like the other two helmets are. Looking closely at it now after many, many thousands of miles ridden I’m noticing the orange plastic guarding around the chin bar vent is beginning to lift and separate ever so slightly from the carbon fiber shell and there are a few scratches on the visor exterior just from wiping it with my glove while riding in the rain.
• The plastic pieces on it don’t feel as high end as the ones on the Arai or Shoei.
• Actuating the vents and other moving parts on the Klim doesn’t feel as solid and sure, with the exception of the visor which is super smooth and quiet.
• As already mentioned the weave of the carbon fiber is a bit sloppy too, and the fact the Pinlock insert doesn’t truly fill the eyeport opening further illustrates the difference between how it was built by factory workers in China versus how the other two were built by artisans in Japan.

The antimicrobial liners in each helmet stood up well to the “funk” test. Even after I sweated into them profusely, none of them have a nasty smell left behind.

Lightest Helmet

The Sena 10C EVO weighs 0.2lbs so subtract that from the weight shown in this photo.

I weighed these helmets on my home scale instead of relying on specs from the manufacturer or distributors. As is often the case I got different numbers than those advertised on Revzilla.

• As already mentioned the Klim wins handily at 3lbs 1 oz and it feels lighter than that. Absolutely outstanding comfort is the main benefit of this feather-light frame.
• The Arai comes next at 3.8lbs
• The Shoei is the beefiest at 4lbs

The Shoei and Arai both feel lighter to wear than they are because of the appreciable effort put into keeping the center of gravity low in the shell. Neither helmet makes me feel tired wearing it, but again the Klim doesn’t even feel like a helmet, it’s so lightweight.

Quietest Helmet

• Third: Arai XD-4 (no points awarded due to whistling noise)

I wish I had a truly unbiased and scientific method to measure how noisy or quiet these helmets are so that I could present more than just an opinion. I haven’t worked out how to do that yet. There are just too many variables to account for if I use a microphone in the helmet while out riding and I don’t have the resources to build a wind tunnel.

None of these helmets are what I would classify quiet because of the turbulence and roar caused by the sun peaks, but they are generally quieter than I would have guessed.

• I picked the Shoei as the winner because it seems marginally quieter than the Klim. I think that might be attributed to how it fits so tight around my ears that it simply muffles some of the wind noise.

What I’m 100% sure of is that the Arai is the noisiest helmet of the three. Wind rushing around and under the sun peak on it causes a loud and noticeable whistling sound when positioned in the lower setting. When in the fully raised position the whistling disappears and it’s basically the same as the Klim for wind roar and hiss. Since I prefer the peak in the lowered position I got to know this whistle intimately during my testing. It’s unfortunate such an awesome helmet is plagued with this characteristic.

**I don’t know whether all XD-4 sun peaks create this whistle or if it’s just the sample I tested but because of how stiff this competition is I’m choosing not to award the usual single point for finishing in third place this time.**

Bluetooth Communicator Installation

• The Krios Pro is actually designed to accept the Sena 10U device for full integration inside it, but I don’t have one. Instead, I installed the same Sena 10C EVO in all three helmets for this competition.
• In each helmet, I had to notch out the plastic guide tab on the left side cheek pad in order to run wires from the inside of the helmet to the camera clamped on the outside of the shell. The 10C EVO speakers were installed easily in the Klim and the Arai.
• The Shoei should have been the easiest because it has molded pockets for speakers to sit inside the shell foam, but they’re too small in diameter to house the 45mm speakers that are common in newer devices like the 10C EVO.  ***Edit: I’ve been informed that the 45mm speakers from newer Cardo units have a stepped back to them which would fit into the smaller molded pockets in the HornetX2.
• The Klim wins this category because of the overall ease of installation and the perfect location available to mount the microphone right on a point at the top of the inside of the chin bar in front of the wearer’s nose. In that sweet spot, there’s no wind turbulence to be found, so you can transmit clear audio without any wind noise. The Shoei also has this sweet spot to its credit.
• In the Arai, unfortunately, I couldn’t find a calm, wind-free spot to mount either the boom microphone or the remotely wired microphone.

Long Way Up

If –like me– you’re enjoying the Long Way Up adventure ride show on Apple TV you’ll note Ewan and Charley wear Arai XD-4 helmets. You’ll also now likely note the garbled audio recordings from them while out on the road because of the air flow coming in being picked up by the microphones on their Sena 30K devices .

Best Scoring Helmet Overall?

I didn’t keep a running score while writing each section and only at the end did I tally up the total and realize the stunning (to me anyway) result. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie between the Shoei and Klim helmets!!!

• Klim Krios Pro: 23 points
• Shoei Hornet X2: 23 points
• Arai XD-4: 20 points

This isn’t at all surprising to me since all three helmets are strong contenders and I’m fanatically critical of any and all shortcomings. I expected a three-way tie before I began the actual testing process based on the reputation of these three competitors.

Conclusion: Read This If Nothing Else

How do we determine a winner overall if there’s an equal number of points scored?

The answer comes down to your individual head shape and riding tendencies in choosing between the Shoei and Klim. As mentioned back in the comfort category if you have a narrow shaped head the easy choice is the Shoei.

It’s even easier to choose the Shoei over the Klim if you have a narrow head AND often ride in very dusty conditions. I think the Shoei is a solid choice for the overall winner regardless of point total.

However…

If you have a round or intermediately narrow-shaped head AND tend to ride in very dusty conditions I would strongly recommend the Arai over the Klim since it won the off road category. But, if you have a round or intermediately narrow head shape and mainly ride on road the Klim is narrowly the better choice.

Frankly, I’m still perplexed how the Klim did better overall than the Arai… and I did the scoring!

Let’s Bring My Personal Bias Into The Equation

As mentioned at the start I approached this comparison trying to decide how to score these helmets with the broadest group of people in mind instead of just my own wants and needs.

What if I was the CEO of Klim, Shoei, and Arai and could make any change I want to the three competitors?

What would I change about the Klim Krios Pro to make it unquestionably the best choice for me, myself?

• Get rid of the Pinlock and install the Arai anti-fog coating on the visor (if possible)
• Change the vents and visor mechanisms to be dustproof like on the Shoei and Arai
• Put the Shoei Hornet X2 sun peak on it
• Give it a higher quality level of workmanship/finish like the hand made Shoei and Arai have instead of the mass produced-factory finish it currently has
• Give it Snell M2020 certification like the Shoei and Arai OR have three independent testing facilities confirm Koroyd is superior to EPS foam

What would I change about the Shoei Hornet X2 to make it better than the other two?

• Make it as light as the Krios Pro is
• Give it airflow equal to the Krios Pro or XD-4
• Include the Transitions visor at no extra charge with the Arai anti-fog coating instead of the Pinlock insert
• Make the helmet less narrow so it fits me like the Arai and Klim do
• Add the Krios Pro’s Fidlock chinstrap or micrometric buckle instead of the D-ring one.

What would I change about the Arai XD-4 to make it better than the other two?

• Make it as light as the Klim Krios Pro is
• Get rid of the sun peak whistling noise
• Make the visor a Transitions auto-tinting one with anti fog coating on it
• Add the Krios Pro’s Fidlock chinstrap or a micrometric buckle instead of the D-ring one
• Make a quiet spot for the microphone to mount on the chinbar or add an integrated microphone somewhere else that isn’t affected by wind noise

For Myself, It’s the Arai or Klim

For me, the helmet I will likely wear the most of the three is the Arai because it’s the most comfortable for my head and just feels “right”. It has that intangible “ahhhhh” factor for me when I put it on that isn’t as strong with the other two.

My very close second choice would be the Klim Krios Pro, especially if I’m filming video footage while out riding and need clear audio on the recording.

The Shoei still just fits a bit too tight and doesn’t cool me as well as the other two helmets do.

I would prefer to have the convenience of a Transitions visor on the Arai XD-4, but since I don’t typically ride at night the tinted visor by itself should be fine 99% of the time for my riding style.

Oops…

I managed to encounter that 1% when the tinted visor was a problem during my testing. I got caught out later than I anticipated one day and ended up having to ride home in the dark. I had left the clear Arai visor at home and only had the tinted visor with me.

Luckily I did have some Klim Viper goggles in my pack and used them to protect my eyes, but it was uncomfortably cold and extra noisy riding at highway speeds wearing only goggles.

That experience is what ultimately influenced me to score the other two helmets with Transitions visors higher than the Arai non-transitioning visor.

Long Live the Kings: The Klim Krios Pro and Shoei Hornet X2!

Why do I get the feeling I’ve only muddied the waters even more with this comparison? Perhaps I should have added another two helmets to the contest?

– Jim

Very thorough and critical, as it should be, especially with these top dollar models and brands. I like the fact that you mentioned what you would change in them as well. I really wish thd Hornet wasn’t as narrow as it was to get into! And that the speaker pockets were slightly bigger! And of course, more vents! I understand the lack of vents make for a quieter helmet, but there’s ear plugs for that reason, so I say, maybe more airflow for it!

Wow, you have such great insight into the HornetX2… it’s almost like you’ve spent a lot of time wearing it out on the road. I agree 100% with you on the changes needed and I sent the review over to my contacts at Shoei who will undoubtedly digest and consider the feedback.

I asked in my email when the HornetX3 comes out too… ahaha! Thanks for the comment, Mark!

I have the same XD-4. Have taken this everywhere. It is a smidge loud for microphones. You’re right about that. Love everything about this helmet except for the insane amount of fogging that occurs in the PNW (US). Cold and wet rain doesn’t stop me from riding but the fogging got too bad. I ended up buying the Arai breathe/nose guard and their anti-shield. These both do wonders as the Pinlock has issues on these shields due to the narrow design. But meh. It works now and it matches my 1090R. 😉

I also love the Arai XD-4. It’s such a complete helmet other than that whistling sun peak. I hear some people don’t experience that while others do. The anti-fog coating on the visor works perfectly for my riding, but I’m in a dry climate compared to the PNW. Yes, the color scheme is perfect for a KTM bike as well. I hope you enjoy that lid for many years as I know I will mine.

Interesting comment in the review about the whistling sound. My wife and I are both on our second XD4’s over the past 8 years and neither of us has ever experienced the whistling sound. I wonder if the bike’s windscreen can play a role in that. We each have a Hornet X2, but we found we really don’t care for them and don’t wear them much. Not very comfortable, don’t vent well, and if you do take the visor off the “blow hole” that is left … well talk about whistling. It sounds like a tea kettle 🙂

It’s interesting how some riders other than me have noted the whistling out of the Arai while others like yourself haven’t. The motorcycle design definitely could be highly influential as you say. For my part, I tested the XD4 on my 790 adventure which has a custom windshield on it along with my Ninja H2SX SE and the noise is there on both motorcycles. There was a short span of time where the whistle stopped while riding and I hoped for good, but it resumed shortly after. I don’t know why it’s there on that helmet and not the Klim or the Shoei which both have sun peaks as well.

I agree the Shoei doesn’t flow air nearly as well as the Arai and I had to completely swap out the internal comfort liners just to get it near comfortable for me to wear, but once done I think it’s a solid helmet just like the other two.

Thank you sharing……

My pleasure Anthony. I hope it helps with the decision-making process because I realize how expensive these helmets are. You only want to buy them once!

Aero gremilns at play? My XD4 peak whistles when up, I have to pull it down to make it quiet. And I prefer it up.

Good review, but update the old disclaimer: YMMV. To- Your Gremlins May Behave Differently. YGMBD.

Hahaha… truly Gremlins may be at hand here if your peak is behaving opposite of mine. Maybe we should swap them to see what happens? I’ve heard from another XD-4 owner who tells me his peak doesn’t whistle, and so now I’m beginning to wonder what exactly is the source. Mine stopped whistling at one point during my testing for about 20 minutes making me think it may be related to the visor seal?

If you come up with something let me know! Cheers.

Great write up! I would argue that you haven’t muddied the waters, just the opposite. What you have brought to light is just how competitive these helmets are. I am curios about how you would score changing visors?

I guess I still feel slightly conflicted at the end of the comparison about how it all shook out at the end with the scoring because as mentioned everyone prioritizes differently. For me the whistling of the Arai was heartbreaking because it’s my favorite helmet of the three and since writing this I’ve spoken to a couple of other XD-4 owners. One has whistling with the peak in the raised as opposed to the lowered position like mine. The other owner says they don’t have any whistle…

As for visor changeout– yes I probably should have gone into more detail on that one. The Arai is very straightforward. Remove the two plastic screws on each side and the visor comes out very slick along with the sun peak. Lining things up to reinstall the visor and peak is equally easy if not a little time consuming, but it’s consistent.

The Shoei is a quick release system the same as just about any other Shoei I’ve reviewed. Removal of the sun peak is necessary to get it off, but that’s very easy (quarter turn of the embedded plastic fasteners). The peak fasteners remain in the Shoei peak which is nice because I have a habit of losing things out on the trail and that’s the main advantage of the Shoei over the other two. Getting the quick release visor back in place is inconsistent for me. Sometimes I get it back in without any issue and very quickly, while other times I have to hold my tongue just right and it’s frustrating.

The Klim is easy to come off and back on when there’s no dust involved. It’s the easiest to master of the three because the quarter turn plastic fasteners hold the peak and visor on, but as mentioned dust freezes everything solid and requires flushing with lots of water to free up. The fasteners also are black and easy to misplace if you’re careless. Klim includes two extra ones with the helmet and I haven’t managed to lose one yet, neither have any popped off while out on the trail.

Overall I guess I would prefer the Shoei the most because you risk the least pulling it apart, but I like the Klim the most for speed and efficiency. The Arai I like very much, but I find it slow to come off and go on. The consistency of that system is the best of the three though.

LOL! See what I mean? They’re all good!

Nexx XWed2. Having tried all of those, it fits better, vents better, is quieter (once you fix the idiotic inner visor drop down lever noise) and more comfortable.

I haven’t personally tried that one, but Bruce reviewed it and scored it very highly. As mentioned I’d like to do more of these kinds of comparison pieces in the future. I’m hoping Nexx will make an appearance.

Paul, in having done the NEXX XWed2 review, and owned/reviewed four XD4 variants…and hopefully get another to review soon, along with a Shoei perhaps.

The XWed2 peak and visor change is indeed quicker, although the plastic pressure/latch pieces can be finicky…practice is needed. Much, but not all, of the whistling/noise off the XD4 is vent related and some air moving around the face shield; the peak on the XD4 is very good, but the NEXX piece is better yet overall.

As Jim says, hopefully we can do more of these helmets and comparos.

Dear Jim, thank you for the in depth comparison on these helmets. I currently have a schuberth C4 and really like it for the its modular function and an extra built in tented visor. Is it really important to have a peak for adventure riding? I understand the adventure helmets also provide extra breathing room and fit better with goggles. Do you think by investing $700 is justified? Thanks!

Hi Brandon!

I’m glad you liked reading this piece and think your question is a smart one.

Before I started wearing these three helmets I wore my Arai DT-X off road and on road because it’s my favourite helmet. I found dirt built up really badly in the side visor pods and I had to clean them out daily as a result. That made me want to buy an adventure helmet instead because they’re built to withstand dust and dirt buildup (in theory).

The sun peak answer is a multi-faceted one. The answer is yes and no! I wear my Krios Pro without the sun peak very happily but admit that when the visor is covered in dust at the end of the day with the setting sun shining directly in my eyes I have difficulty seeing through the visor if the sun peak is removed. On the Arai and the Shoei, I used the peaks in the same scenario and was grateful the peaks were there to block the bright sun so I could see even through the dirty visor clearly. I used to think sun peaks were overrated, but I’ve since changed my mind.

The question you need to answer about your C4 is whether it can stand up and perform under those dirty/dusty/sunny conditions. Do the air vents plug up easily and is the modular chinbar mechanism negatively affected by dust and dirt? Can you see well enough to ride safely at sunset with a dirty visor on your C4? If you find no issues with the Schuberth then I would encourage you to save your $700 and buy something else for your bike. If you notice the C4 failing to perform off road as I did with my DT-X then I would look at the Schuberth E1 first, but also other modular adventure helmets like the Scorpion AT950 and Touratech Aventuro Traveller Carbon which I also recently reviewed. If you go to the search function window on webbikeworld.com and enter these helmet names you’ll find we’ve reviewed many of them. My sources at Scorpion tell me an updated AT950 is coming soon just FYI.

I hope this helps!

Old thread, but with a missing factor ref the Arai XD4 peak and whistling.

Spent the last 6 years with the XD4 riding the infamous 990 Adventure. I find the wind noise and whistling to be almost entirely dependent on my bikes screen/configuration.

Just an afterthought to this old thread.

Hi Stephen!

That’s not a bad guess as to the cause and might be true in some cases. I tested the XD-4 on my KTM 790 adventure and also my Ninja H2SX SE. I noticed whistling on both bikes and the windshield on my KTM is custom built by me as well.

I did find a possible solution to it. Apparently, some people have installed a strip of thin rubber along the brim and the whistling has gone away. I’m going to try it once I get a chance.

Klim for me is not worth the price. Shell probably made by Nishua for KLIM. It should be half the price. https://www.louis.eu/artikel/nishua-enduro-carbon-enduro-helmet/215086?list=61ef6f76406836128186e16f3799b95e you can see the similarity, KLIM only adds front airflow, fastening and koroyd. The rest is China’s product.

Hi Ryszard!

That Nishua helmet is a clone of the Klim Krios Karbon, no doubt about it. The Krios Pro, however, is substantially different. I’m not certain whether it’s Nishua or someone else manufacturing it. Regardless, the carbon fiber shell is strong enough to pass ECE 22-05 and the added Koroyd (in theory) makes it a good helmet. I don’t think you could find any other carbon fiber shell helmets with a $150 Transitions visor, a Pinlock, and a Koroyd liner for $350 US, but I could be wrong.

This was a great read. I still have no idea which I want between the Shoei and the Arai but thanks!

When I wrote this piece I came away a bit confused and disappointed with the final results, to be honest. It’s tricky to draw a clear conclusion from it. I don’t think I weighted some of the categories well enough when I should have to make the results clearer. That’s what I was hoping readers like yourself would do with this information: Filter it according to your desired list of must-haves in a helmet. That’s why now when people ask me which of these three they should buy I ask them what 3 attributes matter the most to them. Overall weight? Airflow? Durability? Off-road performance? If you write down the three most important attributes and then read this piece then choosing the winner for yourself will make the choice much clearer as there’s a winner in each category.

Hey Sean, Loved the approach and agree with results. Excellent review!!

Could I recommend you go over to Forte Nine Videos, and watch the one on helmet strap securing methods, was quite the eye opener. Might change the recommendation on closures.

Good review as always Jim. I have an Arai head so Shoei’s are not an option for me. Ordered the XD4 and tried it on. Felt great but no Transitions option made it a no go for me. LOVE Arai, saved my head in three-track crashes. But those days are behind me now. I like puttering along the road and exploring off-road areas. The KLIM will get delivered next week so I will see if it fits my head well. Thanks for your review.

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Shoei Hornet ADV Review and Road Test

The Shoei Hornet ADV is the successor to the Shoei Hornet, and acts as Shoei’s top range dual-sports adventure helmet.

Shoei Hornet ADV Review

The Shoei Hornet ADV is the successor to the Shoei Hornet, and acts as Shoei’s top range dual-sports adventure helmet. This means that while it is designed to work as a high quality full face helmet on the road, it is also designed with off road riding in mind for those who like to occasionally leave the streets behind. This dual functionality is going to cost 519 euros, or around 600 USD at its recommended retail price. Later on in this review you’ll see how the Hornet ADV performs out on the road, but first we are going to take a closer look at the helmet and its features.

But before we get started, if you’re interested in seeing any of our other dedicated helmet reviews , you can find those on your YouTube channel, in our dedicated review playlist.

Ventilation

Some adventure riders may be looking at this helmet and wondering if they can easily pair it with their goggles. Well one really cool feature of this helmet is that you can ride with goggles without removing the visor. You simply fully open the visor, and shove on your goggles, making sure the strap sits in the groove on the back of the helmet. Another nice feature of the visor is that it can be removed without having to remove the peak, something which couldn’t be done on the previous Hornet. You simply fully open the visor, and pull down the trigger while lifting off the visor. To reinsert it you line the visor back up in the groove, and push down. This simple system means you can easily change your visor on the fly without having to mess with the peak.

Remember if you want to purchase the Shoei Hornet ADV , you can find it on our website at Championhelmets.com , where you can see the product bundles we have available, and where you get free shipping and the lowest price guaranteed.

The Hornet gets a lot of things right, like its comfort and the ability to remove the visor without removing the peak, but also falls short when it comes to ventilation. What this means is you have to make some concessions if you are interested in this helmet. Let us know what you think of the Hornet ADV in the comments, and if you have any questions please join us in our live chat on our website.

My name is Kees with Champion Helmets, and I hope to see you again soon.

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Arai XD4 vs. Shoei Hornet X2 (Which Is Better?)

Let’s look at a comparison between Arai XD4 vs Shoei Hornet X2 and help you decide which is a better motorcycle helmet for you out of these two.

Let’s begin!

Arai XD4 vs. Shoei Hornet X2

Arai XD4 Wins!

Arai XD4 weighs less, and you know I like lightweight motorcycle helmets. 😅 I’d personally pick the lighter Arai XD4 over the heavier Shoei Hornet X2.

“The fluorescent yellow is an awesome eye-catcher. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had people glance my way and start to pull out and then do a double take on the helmet. I’m not lost in the crowd anymore. Couple of drivers have given me a thumbs-up while pointing to their head and nodding. This color actually makes a difference. Notches on the visor are great, can get a small crack if I want one at stops or around town.”

Probably one of the most versatile helmets that Arai makes is the XD4. It is possible to remove the peak entirely on a lot of adventure helmets to turn it into more-or-less a regular helmet.

A look at it from inside the box imparts a sense of a helmet designed for use off-road, with the sun/roost peak and large shield. Arai intends a helmet to be as safe as possible, so their design goal – in addition to being as safe as possible – has also been to produce a round helmet with vents and spoilers as low as possible, to reduce airflow noise created by an accident.

The Arai XD4 is very much a continuation of what’s come before, like most of the new Arai models. We’ve discussed the XD4’s versatility previously. XD4 is incredibly useful for all of these reasons.

It is also designed to have the same shape as the R75 helmet for improved ‘glancing off’ performance, meaning that the helmet slides instead of gripping when hit, and it has a lining that is made of a single piece of polystyrene.

SHARP safety ratings do not always reflect all this careful safety design. Although Arai produces amazing, higher-end helmets, the results of its SHARP safety tests often indicate that their helmets are not always the safest. The average Arai helmet score over the years is 3.4/5.

Arai’s helmets aren’t poor by any means, but they’re also not the best – as one might expect from a high-end helmet! We can’t say at this point how well the Arai XD4 will perform in an accident because we have not yet tested it (so we’ve assigned it our default safety rating of 3 stars until we can make sure).

Shoei Hornet X2

Riders who participate in dual sports are certainly unique. Dual sport helmets are becoming increasingly popular, which explains their popularity.

To tell you the truth, we have conducted so many tests on dual sport helmets that we’re confident that we’ve come up with one of the best ones out there. In lieu of custom paint jobs, their decal customization services are durable, sharp-looking, and more reasonable than custom paint.

Manufacturers of these helmets have molds tailored to the heads of Asian or European/North American citizens. This helmet provides excellent impact absorption thanks to its dual-layer, multi-density EPS liner in key impact areas. 

Rather than allowing air to enter through an open mesh system in the chin, it has a 50mm wide opening to allow air to flow through. As far as Shoei’s ventilation system goes, it was always good at striking a balance between airflow and silence, but the lower intake vent now has a long slot that air passes through.

Riders are able to stay cool with this model while maintaining aerodynamics and functionality as a visor. Using a specially-designed upper intake vent to force air to pass through, the new and finely tuned V-460 visor of the Shoei Hornet X2 helmet offers superior airflow.

Despite the fact that most riders didn’t stop long enough to adjust previous Hornet models, Shoei believed that most of them wouldn’t bother to do so anyway. Hornet X2 helmets feature a white all-over appearance, which makes judging their paint quality quite difficult.

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Arai XD4 vs Shoei Hornet X2

Discussion in ' Equipment ' started by alvincullumyork , Apr 26, 2016 .

alvincullumyork Ol Two Flags Supporter

So I need a new helmet and I would like to get a good one. I currently have an Icon Variant that treated me fairly well but I want more and better. I would like for my next helmet to first be quiet and second be goggle compatible. I have it narrowed down to the two in the title but I am open to suggestions.

motoexp Been here awhile

I had an XD-4 for a while. I only got rid of it because it didn't fit my head shape. But its top quality and protection. But it was NOT quiet at highway speeds.

BobcatSig 4th gear singletrack

Like @motoexp metnioned, the XD4 is not the quietest helmet. I have one and I love it ... for around town. Tours, not so much. The XD4 is goggle compatible. Can't say much on the Shoei as they don't fit my head. They make great helmets In the end, get the helmet that fits your head.

BobcatSig said: ↑ In the end, get the helmet that fits your head. Click to expand...

K1W1 Long timer

+whatever for a helmet that fits you properly. I'm a Shoei head not an Arai head and I think the X2 is a utterly fantastic helmet. I had the original Hornet and the X2 is a massive improvement (except comfort, they are both very comfortable for me). On thing the Shoei does not suffer from is the vibrations in the peak many Arai people report.

HOTPASS F*ck cancer.

It's been a long love/hate thing with my shoei x2. I loved the original hornet. The x2 is really quiet, pin lock is awesome, venting actually works, but the thing has been trying to rip my ears off for many thousands of miles now. It's the big block of comfort foam under the ear. It's getting better,slowly. This is a common complaint. Another thing that probably doesn't affect many. my smh10 speakers don't fit. The speaker cut outs are not nearly deep enough. I modified it a bit, but it still puts a slight bit of pressure on my earplugs that hurts like hell after a few hours. Still working on that fix. This is also a common complaint. Yet Another thing...its heavy...really heavy... Its balanced well on the head, but damn. This too....is also a common complaint. It's a great helmet,I've just never had so many little niggles to work out on a helmet. I use it mostly for long trips and bad weather commuting. Wear my offroad helmet and goggles most of the time nowadays. Oh...and it fits some goggles decent enough. My 100% Accuri OTG don't fit very well,certainly not enough for dust or roost. I do have some old Scott's that fit fine,so you probably outta bring your goggles with you to try. The opening is not quite large enough top to bottom. I have never been able to close the visor over the goggles like some dualsport helmets do. The X2 is a really nice helmet, and I'm hoping it'll keep softening up, I can live with the other little niggles. I'd say it certainly feels like a $600 helmet.

Av8rPaul Have bike will travel

Ordered an X2 today from Revzilla. Tried on the Arai but it is not shaped like my head, the Shoei is perfect for me.

BobPS Been here awhile

I wear Arai TX3...it's similar to XD4, it's the non US model designation. It fits my head perfectly and really comfortable to wear. It's not a quite helmet though (neither is my Arai RX7). It starts to get noisy at about 70-80 kph, but the noise doesn't bother me cause most of the time I wear ear plugs. Fit and comfort are more important to me.

Well looks like I'll be trying on some helmets. I really want to the hornet to fit better.

Nesquik Long timer

HOTPASS said: ↑ It's been a long love/hate thing with my shoei x2. I loved the original hornet. The x2 is really quiet, pin lock is awesome, venting actually works, but the thing has been trying to rip my ears off for many thousands of miles now. It's the big block of comfort foam under the ear. It's getting better,slowly. This is a common complaint. Another thing that probably doesn't affect many. my smh10 speakers don't fit. The speaker cut outs are not nearly deep enough. I modified it a bit, but it still puts a slight bit of pressure on my earplugs that hurts like hell after a few hours. Still working on that fix. This is also a common complaint. Click to expand...

MotoPolo So many places, so little time

I tried the Shuberth, NEXX and Arai dual sports and settled on the Shoei - fit my head better, the workmanship is awesome and the reviews say it is the only peak that really works. I also like the no tools visor change I got the black and orage and it looks great - should provide some hi -vis capability - Also the Shoei has the largest eyeport for goggles

FlyByWire535 Adventurer

I like my XD4, but I can fog it up in 85 degree weather. It's terrible in that regard. Thinking about a C3Pro... Not exactly sure I need an enduro helmet, even offroad.

RetiredandRiding Retired to Ride Supporter

FlyByWire535 said: ↑ I like my XD4, but I can fog it up in 85 degree weather. It's terrible in that regard. Thinking about a C3Pro... Not exactly sure I need an enduro helmet, even offroad. Click to expand...

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ARAI TOUR-X 4 VS SHOEI HORNET ADV

Il casco perfetto per girare il mondo? Ognuno ha le sue esigenze e i propri gusti, ma tra i caschi da adventure-touring migliori rientrano senza alcun dubbio il Tour-X 4 di Arai e l’ Hornet ADV di Shoei . Per chi cerca l’eccellenza, il miglior comfort e la massima sicurezza, le due aziende giapponesi sono un punto di riferimento da anni.  

Il casco Arai Tour-X 4 e il casco Shoei Hornet ADV sono le proposte della gamma adventure dei due produttori, top di gamma che puntano tutto sulla versatilità, la sicurezza, la semplicità e la comodità. Simili ma con alcune differenze, con questo nostro confronto vogliamo aiutarvi a scegliere il casco giusto per voi.  

ARAI TOUR-X 4

PESO: circa 1650 grammi PREZZO: a partire da 650,00€ MATERIALI: calotta in laminato di fibre complesse SICUREZZA: cinturino con anello a doppia D PRO: ventilazione eccellente CONTRO: il frontino può risentire di turbolenze

Shoei hornet adv.

PESO: circa 1560 grammi PREZZO: a partire da 519,00€ MATERIALI: calotta in fibra AIM+ urto-assorbenti SICUREZZA: cinturino con anello a doppia D PRO: rimozione di visiera e frontino semplice e immediata CONTRO: ventilazione migliorabile

Arai tour-x 4 da vicino.

Il Tour-X 4 è uno dei caschi più versatili mai sviluppati da Arai : avventura, grand touring o fuoristrada. Senza frontino parasole è ideale anche per una guida sportiva su strada. Qualunque sia la condizione di guida, il Tour-X 4 è pronto a tutto.  

Le taglie vanno dalla XS alla XXL , la calotta è disponibile in ben 5 misure per assicurare una calzata ottimale, dimensioni compatte e maggiore comfort. La calotta esterna è realizzata in laminato di fibre complesse (CFL) : speciali strati di fibra legati da resine uniche formulate da Arai , producendo un rapporto fibra-resina estremamente elevato. Questa soluzione offre robustezza, integrità strutturale e flessibilità d’impatto che consentono all’ arrotondata e liscia calotta esterna di svolgere il suo compito principale: deviare, assorbire e disperdere l’energia dell’impatto nell’area più ampia possibile. Il casco è progettato per scivolare senza opporre inutili resistenze. Per questo motivo tutte le prese d’aria sono progettate per staccarsi in caso d’impatto.

Il sistema di ventilazione del Tour-X 4 è eccellente. Sono presenti una presa d’aria sulla mentoniera, due prese d’aria sotto il frontino e due prese direttamente sulla visiera, tutte regolabili. Allo stesso modo il casco è dotato di due estrattori d’aria regolabili sulla parte superiore e due estrattori laterali. Infine troviamo anche uno scarico nella zona del collo per migliorare la fuoriuscita dell’aria calda.

Lo schema di aerazione del casco è studiato per avere un maggiore flusso dell’aria ed una minore rumorosità. Tutti gli elementi sono studiati per essere il più aerodinamicamente efficienti per ridurre rumore e vibrazioni dovute alle alte velocità.

La visiera di Arai è ampia e dotata di lente Pinlock, sistema che previene efficacemente l’appannamento e la formazione di condensa sulla visiera.

La chiave vincente del casco Tour-X 4 è la sua modularità: il casco può essere infatti utilizzato con tutti gli accessori, con visiera e senza frontino oppure con frontino ma senza visiera per poter utilizzare maschere da fuoristrada. Lo svantaggio è che per smontare visiera e frontino c’è bisogno di un cacciavite, inoltre frontino e visiera non sono indipendenti, dunque per poter rimuovere la visiera bisognerà prima smontare il frontino.

Gli interni del casco sono realizzati in materiale Dry-Cool® di Arai che rimuove il calore e l’umidità dal viso. Gli inserti sono facilmente rimovibili e lavabili.

Per offrire una calzata ulteriormente migliorata ed aumentare il comfort nella zona della mandibola il “sistema di contorno facciale” (FCS) utilizza un supporto in schiuma nei guanciali che massimizza l’aderenza, fornendo il supporto necessario senza esercitare eccessiva pressione.

Le imbottiture di paraorecchie e guanciali possono essere personalizzati grazie allo strato “Peel Away” di 5 mm che può essere rimosso con facilità. Allo stesso modo i cuscinetti delle tempie possono essere imbottiti con un ulteriore strato da 5 mm di spessore.

Queste soluzioni permettono a tutti i motociclisti di trovare la vestibilità perfetta e il comfort ottimale.

Infine il casco è dotato di sistema di rilascio di emergenza (ERS) che consente di rimuovere i guanciali tirando l’apposita linguetta arancione per agevolare la rimozione del casco da parte del personale medico nel malaugurato caso di incidente.

GAMMA COLORI ARAI

SHOEI HORNET ADV DA VICINO

Hornet ADV è il casco pronto per l’avventura di Shoei . Un crossover che non teme il fuoristrada e che dà il meglio di sé nei lunghi viaggi e sfruttabile anche tutti i giorni in città.

L’ Hornet ADV è realizzato all’esterno in fibra AIM+ , una speciale composizione urto-assorbente, mentre la calotta interna modulare è realizzata in EPS a pluridensità. Disponibile nelle taglie dalla XS alla XXL e in 4 differenti misure di calotta esterna .

Il sistema di ventilazione è meno avanzato di quello di Arai. Si ha comunque un buon circolo d’aria grazie alle 3 prese d’aria , una sulla mentoniera, una sotto al frontino e una sulla parte superiore del casco, tutte regolabili, e grazie ai due estrattori di aria calda che troviamo sulla parte superiore.

Il casco è estremamente aerodinamico , ottimizzato sia per l’utilizzo stradale veloce sia per il fuoristrada. Il frontino V-460 ricorda le branchie di uno squalo, non solo per fattore estetico ma per minimizzare la resistenza all’aria.

Per rimuovere frontino o visiera dal casco di Shoei non c’è bisogno di attrezzi , entrambi gli elementi hanno dei sistemi di sgancio indipendenti l’uno dall’altro e facilmente azionabili. Per usare una maschera da fuoristrada con l’ Hornet ADV , inoltre, no n c’è bisogno di rimuovere la visiera .

Anche l’ Hornet ADV è dotato di visiera anti appannate Pinlock e di sistema di sicurezza E.Q.R.S. per rimuovere con facilità i guanciali in caso di emergenza.

Gli interni del casco sono ben imbottiti e personalizzabili: i guanciali sono disponibili in vari spessori (31, 35, 39, 43 mm). L’ Hornet ADV è predisposto per apparecchi interfono universali e dotato di cuscinetti auricolari. Ovviamente tutte le imbottiture sono rimovibili e lavabili.

GAMMA COLORI SHOEI

QUALE CASCO SCEGLIERE?

Entrambi i caschi offrono il massimo della sicurezza e il massimo della comodità . Sia il Tour-X 4 sia l’ Hornet ADV sono modulari e pensati per un utilizzo a 360°.

La proposta di Arai è più orientata verso il fuoristrada e offre una ventilazione di livello superiore . La proposta di Shoei è più orientata verso un utilizzo stradale/touring e ha il vantaggio di una maggiore leggerezza .

Entrambi i caschi sono comodi e piuttosto silenziosi, in teoria a velocità da autostrada la rumorosità all’interno di entrambi i caschi dovrebbe aggirarsi attorno ai 102 dB.

Sono entrambe due proposte top di gamma, tra le migliori opzioni sul mercato per chi cerca un casco adventure.

La scelta finale dovrebbe essere dettata dai gusti personali e dal prezzo, da 650,00€ per l’ Arai e da 519,00€ per lo Shoei . Tuttavia online si riescono a trovare numerose offerte con risparmi di 100€ per l’acquisto del Tour-X 4 e di circa 60€ per l’acquisto dell’ Hornet ADV .

Ci auguriamo che questo confronto vi possa aiutare nella scelta del casco perfetto e vi ricordiamo che il nostro consiglio è quello di provare sempre un casco prima di comprarlo!  

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