Tired of chin bars, venting schemes, EPS cut outs, B-tooth com units and visors with their locking systems? If you are of the minimalist type who does not care about fancy technologies and needs decent protection in a stylish package, the D22 awaits in silent élan. Embellished in a retro wood panel style color scheme, the D22 is all that you are ever going to need for riding in style. Keep your beard ready for some windy fun in this skid lid.
What Would You Love?
The D22 is a looker at heart. Not because it may attract a stare of ridicule in a punk rider meet, but because it will garner respect with its classy design. The finish and build quality on this lid are top notch. From the flawless stitches on the leather lining, the thoughtful placement of studs or the smooth and glossy shell profile every single thing on this helmet looks authentic. The chrome studs on the leather and on the strap at the back add to the feel.
It sports a removable leather neck and jaw extension which is attached to the leather lining on the shell with a zipper.
The chin strap features a click-n-secure strap which facilitates opening or closing the buckle with gloves on your hand, or without.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
The Top Features to Look Out For
A classic looking helmet with classy looks must have some interesting features. Right?
Let’s see.
Shell
The D22 shell is made up of fiberglass. It is amazingly light, weighing a mere 750 to 1050 grams or 1.6 pounds to 2.3 pounds depending on the size your order. Fiberglass construction means you can rely on the shell to protect your skull, except your jaw and face since they are exposed in the open face configuration. Fiberglass will actually withstand loads better than an ABS or carbon composite which have better abrasion resistance in contrast.
A faux leather lining covers the Mohawk line and the sides, leaving two bulbous exposed shell parts on either side. The crème yellow finish is very subtle and gives out a different, serene vibe. The overall hue shift is towards the orange end of the spectrum, which is synonymous with the color of the leather.
MOTO claims that this leather is 100% vegan – no animals were harmed in the production of this helmet. All hail the environmentalists!
Shell sizes number in 5 and vary from S to XXL (that’s 55cm to 64 cm). The shape is not intermediate oval, but a rounded one. So people with intermediate oval heads may not get that proper fit. In some cases, it may not fit the head properly and ‘wobble’. The chin straps may help, but depending on the shape of your head, the wobble might just change its direction and nothing else.
It is advised to get the measurement of your head and have it ready before you make a purchase online.
Visors
Visors? What visors? The only thing that’ll protect your face is a set of goggles and a Clint Eastwood neck scarf in that desert wind! A pair is included in the helmet package, but these are not a proper set of goggles that you can rely on. They have a distinct plastic feel to it, to be used more of a décor above the brow line. You are probably better off ordering a real, branded set of goggles from another vendor. Lest you end up looking like Dudley Frank from Wild Hogs.
Ventilation
Being an open face helmet, there is no need for any kind of ventilation scheme on this helmet. Feel that Texas wind on your face and watch that tumbleweed pass by as you strike the tarmac in that powerful V-twin or Triple!
Padding and Lining
The fabric is integrated with the shell and leather on this helmet. It is not removable, and it is doubtful whether it can be washed. There are no cheek pads to speak of. But there is a cheek and neck roll ‘attachment’ with a leather surface on the outside. This fabric is quite soft even though it looks perforated and sparsely woven.
Customer Reviews
As a novelty purchase, the customers who bought this lid are quite satisfied, save for the few who received the lid in a compromised condition in the package. Others are concerned about the lack of any kind of certification on this helmet. So, no DOT or ECE 22.05.
Some fitting issues were also reported even with the chin strap on. A lot of customers considered this helmet as a good gift for their counterparts for riding as well as for a few good laughs.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
Bottom Line
The D22 is a nice retro lid to have in this day and age. If the design and construction were a few more years older in concept, it would have been referred to it as an antique. Thankfully though, with the help of some modern adjustments and technology, the D22 is fully equipped to be worn while riding some mid powered bikes.
You don’t necessarily have to have a contemporary café racer or a Vespa to rock this helmet. Your old Panhead or a Shovelhead will do just fine. What’s more, it comes with a carrier bag. And with a color scheme like this, you will hear ‘Crème de la crème’, very often indeed.