I'm in the market for two new enduro helmets, one for me and one for my wife. I've had a Nexo enduro helmet for a few years now but unfortunately it broke last October. My wife has been using my Caberg helmet, and is in dire need for something that is not too big for her. What I'm basically looking for is an open helmet, colored and eye-catching (the sooner the others see you the better). My wife would prefer an enduro helmet with a visor, since she doesn't like the idea of goggles. I already have Progrip goggles and intend to keep them. I've been browsing the web and local stores for a while but am still undecided. What's most important is that it absolutely has to be fiberglass or carbon, polycarbonate is not an option. Since we need two helmets money may also become an issue if both helmets are too expensive - our budget is around 500€ for both helmets.

To be honest I'm a bit swamped right now and don't really know what to look for. There's plenty of seemingly good helmets that fit our needs, all within a reasonable price range (150-400€) and I don't really know how to choose. What makes an enduro helmet a good or even great enduro helmet? Obviously design (the louder the better, imo a good enduro helmet has to scream "HERE I AM LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME YOU'RE NOT LOOKING LOOK AT ME!!!") is an issue, but that still didn't help me narrow down my choices. The question is: how can I sort the good from the bad? What should I be specifically looking for? Any input will be greatly appreciated.

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"

Hey MJ. As far as my experience goes, the only endro helmet I have owned/own is the Airoh S4. It currently retails at 195.00 GBP although I think I got mine for 90.00 GPB so interesting to see the price has more then doubled in the past year!

Its 6/10 comfy; not irriatble but not as soft as one would like for a long trip
Its 4/10 for noise reduction; I do ride over the peaks a lot but still its quite noisey for the price
Its 10/10 for the looks
and 10/10 for visabilty; the viser is very tall and wide and offers great vis

All in all I will probably buy another when/if the price drops as I think there are lids out there that are better value for money, buts its a top helmet and it had saved me once already!

Hope this helps with your research

link: Airoh S4 : Welcome to BIKEGEAR, helmets, jackets, leathers, all the bike gear at low low prices!.

My solution is this:

Arai Tour X Helmet. You can wear this with or without goggles.

I have tinted goggles for cool daytime riding. Keeps the sun out too.

As it gets overcast or dark I remove the goggles and flip the clear visor down.


"quickstraps" on the goggles make removal a doddle...

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Jeff Dean has an article on white helmets.
Reduce Risk 24%!

Tommy: the S4 looks looks good. However it's a thermoplast outer shell, aka polycarbonate, and therefore a no-go. I tried on an Airoh fiberglass helmet - M was too small, L was way too large but damn did that helmet look good. I'll certainly try on other Airoh helmets as well, I like their design.

Ted: I've heard good things about Arai but I'm definitely not spending 500€ on a helmet. Our budget is around 500-600€ for both helmets, not each. Frankly, I never really understood why Arai charges so much more for their helmets than anybody else, including Shoei and Schuberth.

What I forgot to mention: noise is not an issue at all. My Nexo was quite loud and it really didn't matter to me. I have good plugs, which I barely ever use though. Plus the noise level is pretty minimal behind my GSA's wind screen. Also, after years of experience and trying on dozens of helmets I can say this: my head was not made for Schuberth helmets whereas my wife's head was not made for Shoei helmets.

John: nice article, thanks. That's precisely why I want a colored and eye-catching helmet and not a black one. Never considered white, maybe I should take that into account as well.

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"

£230 if you shop around...

Worth every penny.

Arai Tour X - White

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Here's my 2 pennies worth: get a £20 white open face helmet with e-marking/kite marking and save the rest of the money for an extra few days travelling. Above all, enjoy yourself.

No helmet is going to make you invincible, so stop trying find one that claims that it can.

I'd like to think that all collisions/accidents have some part of the rider's responsibility to it's cause. Without exception.

If you want to be safe, don't live.

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Neil's in... (the website)
Also you can follow me on Neil's in... on FaceBook, Neilisin on YouTube,
@NeilSnaps on Instagram or NeilisTweetin Twitter.

Last year I bought a white mx Airoh-helmet.
It's the best helmet I have tried, but it depends on your head-shape.

I find white helmets nice, the police usually wear white helmets so people notice them.

I have a new idea for your signiture " Neil's in....... denial that your face is the first thing to hit the deck when you go over the bars" LOL.....

How do you think I stay this pretty ???

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

IMOT starts tomorrow, and there's thousands of helmets just waiting for me to look at and to try on. After looking at hundreds of helmets online I'm about to give up my strict no polycarbonate policy, because it looks like fiberglass helmets are either too expensive (Shoei, Arai), ugly, or non-existent. Carbon is too expensive, too, so I've ruled it out as well. Security is less of an issue since all helmets sold in the European Union have to adhere to certain standards so they're all safe. And if a 100€ polycarbonate helmet will last five years and will be just as safe as a four times as expensive fiberglass/carbon helmet that will only last twice as long then maybe I'll just take that.

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"

Have you considered a flip front helmet like the Nolan N103?

I used it for my trip down through Morocco, and to me as the absolute best of both worlds.

1. A proper full face helmet on the fast road sections, with no peak trying to tear my head off.

2. An internal flip down dark visor for use when the sun pops up - and quickly removed if you need to, no faffing with goggles.

3. A flip up chin piece which stays flipped due to the eccentric movement of the chin bar, so you have complete view in front / down, no chin bar blocking your view.

I could wear sunglasses under the helmet along with the flip down visor for the times it was extra bright, and it is far quieter than a MX style helmet on the motorway.

Worked for me, and is of course is full time use back in the UK, where perhaps a MX lid wouldn't be...

Frankly, I don't like the looks. I have a Caberg flip front helmet which I still use in the city every now and then. However, I definitely prefer enduro helmets, not only because they look so much cooler but mainly because I simply prefer open helmets with goggles.

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"

Yup, bought a C1, but EVERYONE I have ever seen in one looks like a chipmunk

Does the TourX 3 not have a QD visor?

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

No, you have to remove the two screws in the side pods to remove the visor - only takes a minute - although there really isn't much need to change the visor as it tucks up out of the way nicely, and as others have said, goggles or sunglasses work well with that helmet...

xxx

No idea man... I just thought the wind resistance gave me the face lift... i'm actually 92 not 29.

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Also you can follow me on Neil's in... on FaceBook, Neilisin on YouTube,
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