Shoei Dual Sport Helmet
If you are looking for a complete re-think of the modern Dual Sport helmet then you should consider getting yourself a Shoei Hornet X2. There are lots of reasons that make this one of the best in the market. One of them is the fact that Shoei decided to redesign every aspect of what’s known to be the common features of a helmet.
Here are the outstanding features:
Paint, Graphics and Overall quality
Like the previous Hornet DS, the new Shoei Hornet X2 comes in basic vanilla all-white. Although this makes it more difficult to assess the overall paint quality, but one thing is for sure. Both the white size large and the white size XL have the highest quality in paint and fittings.
Unlike the twisted peak on the Arai XD4 that we reviewed previously, this one has newly redesigned peak commonly known as “visor”, that’s perfectly aligned. This is the reason why Shoei helmets cost more. But the good thing is that you will be paying for the quality.
The front profile has been redesigned to make it flatter the helmet and look different form other helmets. This is in line with the 80/20 philosophy and what you stand to benefit from this new profile is the face shield that closes tighter than other DS helmets.
You will also love the fact that the face shield rotates on a spring-loaded attachment. This pulls the face shield tightly against the eye port gasket giving it the water-resistant sealing a helmet needs.
The design of the peak (visor) attachment interface has also been redone. The latter can be removed and replaced since the peak is separate from the face shield. You don’t have to disassemble the screws that hold the peak.
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.
Inner design
The Shoei Hornet X2 has a liner that’s comfortable and removable. You will notice the benefit of the new flat front profile when you lower the face shield. You will also love the fact that the Shoei Hornet X2’s shield is as optically perfect as the best street helmet. You now don’t have to struggle with some DS helmets that keep pointed front and correspondingly distorted face shield when you can get yourself the Shoei Hornet X2.
You get the best forward visibility with no distortion. That’s not all, the flatter chin bar means that what you get is a better vertical sight lines out the eye port. When it comes to visibility, there is no doubt that the Hornet X2 leads. It is combined with the straightener that has more square sides at the eye port.
According to reports from Shoei, the new CNS-2 face shield blocks 99% of the UV rays. To make things look even easier, the face shield comes with a friction snap lock at the bottom, on the left-hand side under the lift tab.
The inner part of the Shoei Hornet X2 is very different from other helmets and that can be seen with the face shield that has a rotating mechanism. We think, the fact that it’s too tight makes it difficult to lift the shield from the offset tab without bending the face shield across the radius and this is a big setback. It would have been better if the tab would be centrally located.
The new design also makes it easy to remove the face shield. You don’t have to first remove the peak to remove it.
Ventilation
The ventilation system is one of the most important aspects of a helmet and should be considered before buying a helmet. The Shoei Hornet X2 has updated its ventilation system. Unlike other helmets, the chin no longer has the open mesh type of opening.
The chin vent is different since it has a very positive on/off rocker tab that allows the air to flow into the helmet through a 50mm long slot onto the your face. Part of the air stream is directed along the top of the chin bar to give you a comfortable riding experience. Despite the fact that the vent is smaller than the typical large grid opening of other Hornet and DS versions, there is more air flow in the Shoei Hornet X2. In fact, the long “beak” on most of the DS helmets means that the air has more time to dissipate before it hits your face.
If you have the Shoei Hornet X2, you can easily install a chin curtain that’s included in the box. Similar brow vents on the previous versions of the hornet can be found on the upper half of the venting system of the new Hornet X2.
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.
Noise and sound levels
The noise control properties of the helmet have also been upgraded along with other changes. This helmet is very quiet you can even compare it to the best of the “quiet” full-face helmets in the market.
Shorter type windscreen found on larger Dual Sport motorcycles experience buffeting along the top where the air hits the peak. However, the new peak design found on the Shoei Hornet X2 reduces the lift and there is less buffeting noise. The noise is also reduced thanks to the plush Shoei interior and tapered lower shell. This means that there’s also very little additional noise that comes from the top vent when it opens. If you are riding a bike that has no windscreen, you will notice that the noise levels will be slightly lower with this helmet than when you are wearing the average street helmet.
It has now been established that the Shoei Hornet X2 is one of the quietest Dual Sport Helmet we have ever reviewed. There is also a definite improvement from its predecessors.
That said, the Shoei Hornet X2 is a helmet we can recommend to anyone who loves big Dual Sport/Adventure Touring bikes. This is nothing but a gold standard ever created by Shoei and to which all other DS helmets will look up to. You will only know the benefits of this helmet after your first ride in one.
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