Dual sport helmets combine all the things you want from a dirt bike helmet and put them into a helmet designed for street riding. What you get is a helmet that offers good performance both on the street and in the dirt. However, a dual-sport lid won’t be as good on the road as a street helmet is. Nor will it be as good off-road as a typical dirtbike helmet is.
Dual sport helmets are a compromise, and you have to be okay with that in order to wear on and be comfortable. With that said, the best helmets out there minimize the compromise as much as possible. Good dual sport lids are really very good in both environments. To help make your life a little easier, I’ve pulled together a list of the five best dual sport helmets out there.
AGV AX9 Helmet
This Italian brand has over half a century of helmet-building expertise and a lot of what it has learned over the years has gone into the AX9 helmet. The helmet is a lightweight upgrade to the AX-8 DS EVO helmet from AGV. The company further modernized and improved the lid and slapped the AX9 name on it.
What you get is a lightweight carbon-fiber, aramid, and fiberglass shell that’s available in three sizes to minimize the bobblehead effect. The helmet also gets a toolless removable chin guard, five vents for airflow, a Pinlock-ready visor, an adjustable peak, speaker pockets, and a double D-ring chin strap.
Overall, the AX9 is a top-quality dual sport lid. It’s a little pricey at nearly $500 but you are paying for one of the best lids out there in this space, so you kind of have to expect it to come with a high price tag.
Shopping Now? We Recommend:
BestBeginnerMotorcycles.com has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.
Where to Buy: Buy on Amazon / Buy on Revzilla
Scorpion EXO-AT950 Helmet
Ah, the Scorpion EXO-AT950. This dual sport, adventure helmet is one of the most versatile lids out there. It’s also the only modular you’ll find on this list. The company has totally redefined what a dual sport helmet can be with this helmet.
It features an advanced polycarbonate shell that comes in three different sizes, dual-density EPS inner liner that’s a multi-layer design, plenty of vents throughout the helmet for airflow, a drop-down sun visor, removable and washable interior, and speaker pockets.
Overall, the Scorpion EXO-AT950 is a fantastic lid. It comes DOT approved and with a five-year warranty. The fact that it has a reasonable price tag of about $270 is the icing on the cake.
Shopping Now? We Recommend:
BestBeginnerMotorcycles.com has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.
Where to Buy: Buy on Amazon / Buy on Revzilla
Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS Helmet
The Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS Helmet is another great option for riders looking for a dual sport or adventure, style lid. The helmet includes the unique Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) that is designed to mitigate the effect of rotational impact energy.
That system paired with a lightweight polycarbonate shell that comes in three-sizes to minimize the bobblehead effect, an integrated face shield, several vents for airflow, speaker pockets, EPS-lined chin bar, adjustable mouth vent, and a chin strap with a D-ring closure system.
The helmet also comes with DOT and ECE approval and, like pretty much every Bell helmet, it gets a five-year warranty. It’s even more affordable than the Scorpion lid shown above at about $220.
Shopping Now? We Recommend:
BestBeginnerMotorcycles.com has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.
Where to Buy: Buy on Amazon / Buy on Revzilla
Klim Krios Pro Helmet
The Klim Krios Pro Helmet is another great helmet that you should consider if you’re in the market for a dual sport or and adventure-style helmet. This helmet features Klims, unique Koroyd material and construction. This unique material is different than an EPS liner, and Klim says it reduces head trauma well.
Other than the Koroyd, the helmet features a wide carbon fiber weave shell, Pinlock ready anti-scratch face shield, a Transitions Photofhromic lens, a quick-release visor system, anti-microbial and moisture-wicking interior, adjustable forehead vents for airflow, and Klim Radius Goggle compatibility.
The helmet is also Sena 10U compatible, and the helmet meets or exceeds DOT and ECE standards. At about $700, this is a seriously pricey option, but the new Koroyd is supposed to be worth it, and that paired with the carbon-fiber shell makes $700 understandable, though no easier on your pocketbook.
Shopping Now? We Recommend:
BestBeginnerMotorcycles.com has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.
Where to Buy: Buy on Amazon / Buy on Revzilla
O’Neal Sierra II Helmet
The O’Neal Sierra II Helmet is the true budget option here. The O’Neal has basic features and construction at a very affordable price point. The helmet gets the job done and will protect you in a crash both on the road and off, but it lacks some of the refinement of the other models listed here. That said, for the money, it’s a good lid to have.
The helmet features an ABS shell that comes in two sizes across the fit range, a moisture-wicking removable and washable comfort liner, vents for airflow, an integrated face shield, and a padded chin strap with a double D-ring closure.
While it’s not as advanced as the other helmets shown here, it certainly gets the job done and in a good way. The helmet meets or exceeds DOT and ECE safety standards, and as any dirt rider knows, the O’Neal name is trusted among dirt and enduro riders.
Shopping Now? We Recommend:
BestBeginnerMotorcycles.com has worked closely with RevZilla over the years to provide our testers with products to review. In addition to being a great site to shop from, they’re also a great partner.
Where to Buy: Buy on Amazon / Buy on Revzilla
