Dual Sport Style Helmet? Pros/Cons?

[raven]

Bought a Arai XD-3 when they can out, it's still the one I garb first for riding around town or just out in the country.On long freeway rides or strong cross winds it can be a little hard on the neck and usually wear something else.The XD-4 seems to have cured this,guess I will have to try one.
The only problem I had with the Arai, was trying to get new cheek pads.they never could get them.This only was with the XD-3,they had no problems getting them for other models.
Just my 2 cent's
Raven

 

[wally]

I have a cheapie - came with clear and tinted visor.

Took some getting used to - fits good for cheap helmet, more wind noise and slight distoprtion, but used to it now.

I still have my proper Shoei. Just can't afford the Shoei DS helmets....

 

[818Guy]

For $100 on sale, the Bilt Explorer Adventure helmet is pretty good.

I have the pearl white. Sizing can be funky though, just FYI.

http://www.cyclegear.com/CycleGear/...T/Explorer-Adventure-Helmet/p/43199_200897_21

Discussion here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830333

 

[RemainIncognito]

I bought one and returned it after the second ride......Way too much wind on my Lightning and my head was feeling like it was gonna be pulled off at high speed and/or acceleration.

 

[Gloomshadow]

"bought one" what?... a Bilt?

 

[818Guy]

What I can say based upon my experience is if you plan to go over 70mph, this isn't the helmet for you and that's any brand selling this "dual sport" type helmet. They were not designed for high speeds.

My Bilt is what it is. It's a decent dual sport helmet for $100. I did NOT have any expectations on what it could do or should be like. It's a $100 helmet. Period.

To me the Bilt seems a bit heavy but that maybe just a trait for this type of helmet. And if there is some cross wind I will feel it lifting a bit. I use this helmet for my commute to/ from work (7 miles on surface streets each way).

 

[go cytocis]

if you plan to go over 70mph, this isn't the helmet for you and that's any brand selling this "dual sport" type helmet.  They were not designed for high speeds.

Yup, I'd even suggest that 80 km/h (50 mph) is actually the threshold at which a DS helmet becomes a liability. All it takes is a little headwind, and you'll be wishing you wore the street helmet.

 

[anrkizm95]

i bought the icon and the speed and streangth ended up keeping the ss and sent the icon back.
pros great air flow,great view,looks awesome.
cons noise,face shield gives reflection of the inside of helmet,didnt have problems with wind buffeting from the visor on the zx until about 140 mph and around 100 on the lightning unless there was a strong cross wind.
i liked both the ss and the icon the ss was just a better fit for me and better built than the icon imo.

 

[Bandit13]

Arai XD-4. Kick ass helmet. Buffering has not been an issue for me. Sure it's not cheap but what the hell your head is pretty important

 

[RemainIncognito]

I had the Lunatic Fringe and sent it back.....Too much pull on the highway. I got the SS Stars and Stripes instead.

 

[Gloomshadow]

Ok the FX-41 arrived and I took it out for a test ride.. here is my video review of my first impressions. I may do another one later once I get some more time with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUXtov1YUqw&feature=youtu.be

 

[818Guy]

Great vid. Thx. [up]

 

[Gloomshadow]

I just adjusted that peak and it allowed the external visor to go up another notch.. that solved that problem of having the edge of that visor being too far into your field of vision .. so that's one "negative" gone.. so far, my main gripe with it is how loud it is, and I don't think that helmet HAD to be that loud.. I think they could have done better in that department..

 

[818Guy]

My Bilt Explorer Adventure helmet is hella loud too. If I had to ride more than 15 minutes in excess of 50mph the ear plugs would be goin' in.

 

[Gloomshadow]

and in this case, your ear is just hanging there inside a "echo chamber".. a little pocket for your ear with hard walls all around it.. that is a dumb Idea, had It been lined with some kind of sound-proofing foam I think it would improve a lot.. I may try to do it myself on this helmet..

 

[Enemy Zero]

After reading through this post I picked up the Speed And Strength Lunatic Fringe SS2500 this past weekend and I'm loving it. I had a shoei that was around 6 years old and was in need of replacing. After trying on a bunch of different ds style helmets, this one felt the best and the price was great.

its louder than my shoei was but the airflow is so much better and it doesn't pull my head at all like I expected even all the way up to 100mph. The one thing I like most is I feel like I've got an amazing range of view. I feel like I can see all around my head. Very cool helmet so far.

 

[818Guy]

I picked up the Speed And Strength Lunatic Fringe SS2500

[up]

 

[Gloomshadow]

yeah I am getting used to that FX-41... its good in-town.. only thing negative I can say about it now is that its pretty loud at 70mph but it was a lot better at those speeds with the vents closed.. I still want to see if I can sound proof it a little bit..

 

[wifarmboy]

Has anyone seen any dual sports with a drop down inner visor? I haven't seen any options for that unless I'm looking hard enough

 

[Enemy Zero]

Has anyone seen any dual sports with a drop down inner  visor? I haven't seen any options for that unless I'm looking hard enough

Suomy MX Tourer has that feature. Tried one on and loved it once it was on. Taking it off it was so tight it actually gave me rugburn on the sides of my head. I have a gigantic head though so you may not have the same issue. Check it out here:
http://www.suomy.com/en/products/mx-tourer.html