A tourer needs comfort at extended periods of time, which means a cool head, soft cushions, an adjustable face shield and effective visors to ride in different weather conditions. The X-Lite 661 entry level, full face tourer helmet will easily satisfy this requirement.
In keeping with the times, it has a stylish exterior with a streamlined shape. All the attachments have been embedded in the helmet in such a way that they bring out the design lines beautifully and compliment the high quality finish.
With features such as an ECE certification, double action visor system, VPS sunscreen and a readiness for the N-Com X series communication system, the X-Lite 661 Pont Croix is more than enough to last you miles and miles of touring before you are ready to move up the ladder and become the ‘serious tourer’ from the ‘entry level’ one.
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.
What Would You Love?
Touring for extended periods can get boring. If you are with a party or a pillion, you shouldn’t have to bother with removing the helmet every time you need to communicate with them. So as everyone is moving from the Stone Age to the communication age, every tourer should be at least Bluetooth ready. The helmet makers are certainly ready. And X-Lite is not behind either.
The X-Lite 661 is fully prepared for communication devices. It accepts the N-Com X series communication system. Specifically, the X series BX4 Plus and BX5.
The other nice thing about this helmet is that X-Lite has actually taken care and provided a visor locking system to prevent accidental opening at high speeds or demisting the visor at low speeds by opening it just a little and snapping it at the position.
A Double-D ring retention system is included in the helmet, which is actually popular among tourers and is preferred for longer journeys.
Top Features to Look Out For
As far as tourer helmets are concerned, this one seems to have it all when you look at the box. But does it really live up to the standard? Check it out.
Shell
The other shell is made of a high quality composite consisting of Kevlar, carbon fiber and fiber glass. In a manner of speaking, the shell is actually composed of a triple shell giving you a solid, sturdy and lightweight lid.
At 3.3 pounds, it is extremely light on your neck muscles and should be very comfortable for the long haul.
X-Lite has made it available in 3 outer shell sizes and 6 EPS sizes, from XXS all the way up to XXL.
Visors
The face shield is a scratch resistant ‘ultrawide’ Schnellwechsel visor which gets you a broader horizontal as well as lateral view to aid you in gauging the road conditions better. The visor can be removed easily and does not require any tools to get it off.
A standard feature of the X-661 is the included PinLock fog-resistant inner visor which comes with a silicone sealed profile or Full Silicone Border (FSB). Its stretch can be fully adjusted from the outside of the visor inwards. This is necessary to avoid removing the inner visor.
The VPS or Vision Protection System is a neat little addition to the helmet. It consists of the Lexan sun visor with UV400 protection that operates independent of the face shield and can be adjusted in any position just by lowering it to the required level or retracting it completely for a clear view. Made by SABIC Innovative Plastics, it is fully scratch resistant as well as fog resistant.
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.
Ventilation
Ventilation is made easier in this helmet with the help of a chin vent which is your main inlet, two roof top vents on both sides, a chin guard vent and an additional frontal air vent.
What comes in, must go out. And this is handled by four exhausts in total. The top vents channel the air through EPS and out the back through very elegant dual exhausts on either side of a central meshed exhaust. The Venturi effect sucks the air out effectively through these three outlets. Two triple vented exhausts at the neck area channel the air around your neck and jawline area out to give your head a comprehensive cooling effect.
Padding and Lining
Turning the helmet over and looking into the guts reveal singular block cheek pads which are designed to be soft and gentle on your cheeks and jawline for maximum comfort on extended tours.
The inner linings have been made with Unitherm 2, completely removable, washable and have received an antibacterial treatment to boot. The fabric is highly breathable and soft to enable you to endure the lid on your head for long periods of riding.
Customer Reviews
Most customers love this helmet because of its considerable weight reduction which is always a bonus in touring. The ventilation was also appreciated given the unique placement of some inlets and exhausts.
Major grip was again the face shield removal mechanism, which seems to be a problem in the helmets with similar systems as well as the press release mechanisms. The removal is found to be messy, but installation is easy because of a snap-in provision.
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
Considering the number of features packed in this marvel, the X-Lite X 661 helmet is more of a sports tourer with top-of-the-line systems making it a must have.