9 Best Motorcycle Helmets for Dual Sport Riding

Dual sport motorcycles open up the possibility to leave the pavement behind on a whim and continue your adventure on gravel trails. But while your bike might serve you on any road, will your helmet?

Not all motorcycle helmets are made equal. A motocross helmet will not perform well on the highway, while a smooth street helmet can leave to blind to risks during off-roading.

That’s where dual sport helmets come in. These versatile head protectors can adapt to changing riding conditions and elevate your motorcycling experience.

But even within dual sport helmets, you’re spoiled for choice. That’s why we wrote this buyers’ guide to help you choose the right helmet for your dual sport adventure.

Z1R Range Uptake

You shouldn’t compromise safety on the trail, even if you’re on a budget. The Z1R Range Uptake helmet offers decent protection and comfort at an affordable price.

This helmet is a little bulky, but the size leaves plenty (but not too much) room for it to sit comfortably on your head. The Range Uptake includes removable moisture-wicking lining and cheek pads for extra comfort and hygiene.

The ABS/polycarbonate shell is durable and scratch-resistant. You can use the helmet with or without the removable faceshield, and it includes a retractable (if a bit stiff) sun visor. Z1R has designed the helmet in a way that gives you a very wide field of vision through the visor.

All in all, the Z1R Range Uptake is a basic entry-level helmet. For its price point, however, it’s an excellent choice for a budget-conscious rider.

Schuberth E1 Endurance

The good thing about dual sport bikes is their versatility, allowing them to move from pavement to gravel with ease. Riders who want their helmets to be equally versatile should consider the Schuberth E1 Endurance to go with their motorcycle.

The E1’s flip-out design transforms it from a full-face to open-face configuration in a couple of seconds. You can also remove the faceshield and/or peak altogether, depending on where you happen to be riding. 

Schuberth has also implemented a “memory” to the helmet—after opening the faceshield, the helmet returns the peak to the position where it was originally. It’s a small touch, but it adds a lot of convenience. The helmet also features a retractable sun visor. 

Inside the helmet, you’ll find a lot of removable and washable padding with a cooling function to keep you comfortable. An anti-roll-off system adds extra security to the glass fiber shell.

The biggest drawback of the helmet is its weight—even the smaller shell size weighs more than four pounds. But as long as your neck muscles can take it, the E1 is a helmet that can change with the road surface.

Arai XD-5

The Arai XD-4 helmet has been popular among dual sport riders for more than a decade thanks to its supreme comfort. Its long-awaited successor, the Arai XD-5, is finally available, and it continues in its predecessor's footsteps.

Helmet comfort is, of course, always subjective and dependent on the rider’s head shape. That said, as far as the RoadRUNNER crew’s experience goes, the XD-5 is one of the most comfortable helmets we’ve worn in… Well, ever.

The XD-5 looks and feels like a high-quality helmet. It has excellent ventilation, with some adjustable vents being twice as large as on the XD-4, and the relatively light weight and plush padding virtually eliminate pressure spots.

As an advantage over the XD-4, the peak and visor are removable. However, they need a tool and are held in place by cheap plastic screws that you might want to swap for something sturdier.

And speaking of cheap, this helmet is not. It’s the priciest option on our list, but if first-class comfort is what you’re after, it’s worth every penny.

Klim Krios Pro

A heavy helmet can make long motorcycle rides a real pain in the neck—literally. The Klim Krios Pro takes the burden off your shoulders with its extremely lightweight design.

This is the lightest helmet on our list, clocking in at only 3.4 pounds with all the components attached. For extra weight savings, you can shed the peak, faceshield, or both to transform the helmet between four “ride modes,” as Klim calls them.

The Krios Pro might seem pricey, but consider that it comes standard with a Pinlock-ready Transitions faceshield. Buying that separately would set you back around $200. 

Ventilation on the helmet is excellent and a real step up from the basic Krios model. However, it does make the Krios Pro loud at road speeds.

Additionally, its fit might not be the most comfortable on some heads (your mileage will vary). You may want to get the helmet in one size smaller than what you usually wear. 

All that said, though, its low weight makes the Krios Pro easy to wear anyway.

Bell MX-9 Adventure Mips

If you happen to get into an accident on a remote trail, you’ll want to have all the protection you can get. Bell MX-9 ADV features an additional layer of security by implementing the Mips technology.

The Mips tech consists of a thin slip liner between the cushioning and the helmet shell. It allows the helmet to move by a few millimeters, which helps straighten impact angles and prevent serious brain injury.

In addition to being safe, the MX-9 ADV is comfortable. It fits well (particularly on longer oval-shaped heads), doesn’t weigh a ton, and it has enough space for you to wear thin-armed sunglasses or eyeglasses without strain.

The MX-9 is reasonably priced and offers a good value-for-money proposition. However, the low price means it lacks some niceties of more expensive helmets, like a sun visor. The MX-9 is also very loud at highway speeds.

Riders looking for affordable and comfortable security would do well to give the MX-9 a try.

Shoei Hornet X2

A helmet with good aerodynamics can make your motorcycle ride much more comfortable by resisting buffeting and keeping the wind noise down. That’s just what Shoei Hornet X2 provides.

This helmet is likely the quietest we’ve listed here, and it doesn’t catch the wind, which helps reduce strain on your neck. That’s all (at least in part) due to the expansive faceshield, which also offers excellent visibility all around you. It’s a pity you don’t get a sun visor, though.

The Hornet X2 stays in place tightly with its snug fit—a bit too snug, in fact. You’ll likely want to buy one size larger than you usually would with this one. We strongly recommend trying it on in person before purchasing.

Additionally, the Hornet is heavy. It’s not quite as hefty as the Schuberth, but it’s not far behind.

In the end, though, if you want to enjoy a quiet ride, the Shoei Hornet X2 delivers relative silence in droves.

Scorpion EXO-XT9000 Trailhead

The Scorpion EXO-XT9000 Trailhead is like your grandpa’s truck. It doesn’t excel in any particular way, but it will serve you well in all situations for years to come.

This helmet has a lot going for it. It’s fairly light, it has good aerodynamics that offer a reasonably quiet ride, the ventilation works well, it fits comfortably on your head, it has good visibility, it looks good, and it doesn’t have an outrageous price tag.

If you start nitpicking, you’ll find that the EXO-XT9000 isn’t as light as the Klim or as versatile as the Schuberth, and so on. But that’s alright, because it is an excellent all-rounder that will keep your head safe and comfortable wherever your dual sport takes you.

There’s something to be said for being a reliable jack of all trades, and that’s just what the EXO-XT9000 Trailhead is.

HJC DS-X1 Synergy

Are you the kind of person who’s always clipping coupons and browsing for deals to squeeze the most bang out of every buck? Well, allow us to introduce you to the excellent value proposition of the HJC DS-X1 Synergy.

The DS-X1 Synergy is a very affordable motorcycle helmet whose features punch above its price point. Its weight is manageable, the decent aerodynamics keep it reasonably quiet on the highway, and the ventilation works better than on some much more expensive helmets.

This thing even has eyeglass grooves.

With all that said, the low cost shows in some places. You need tools to remove the visor or peak, and some components feel cheap and plastic-y (well, they are plastic).

You should also be aware that the sizing is pretty tight. Consider going up one size, or prepare for a long break-in period. 

In the end, though, the top shelf isn’t what the DS-X1 Synergy aims for. What it is simply a good deal, providing you a well-working basic helmet without breaking the bank.

AGV X101

If there’s a classic dual sport bike—perhaps something like a Honda XL250—in your garage, here’s a helmet to match it. The AGV X101 is a new helmet, but you wouldn’t guess that from its looks, which ooze pure ‘70s.

But this helmet isn’t just about the style. It’s reasonably lightweight despite its large size, and the fit is comfortable and snug. 

There’s a bit of break-in period, but bear with it and the helmet will get comfy. AGV helmets also boast a good reputation in terms of safety, so your noggin is secured.

You’ll have to give up a lot of modern features, though. There’s no faceshield, which necessitates goggles and equals an incredibly loud ride. As to adjustability… What adjustability? At least you can remove the peak.

Let’s face it, though—if you buy the AGV X101, you’re buying it for the retro looks. And in that department, you can’t do much better.

Copy, that classic style