Best Lightweight Motorcycle Helmet

June 2, 2022 Benjamin Strusnik

Motorcycles are becoming the go-to mode of transport among motorists worldwide. Less gas, further travelling distances, fewer repairs, and the ability to park almost anywhere, are a few of the many reasons why riding a motorcycle is becoming increasingly popular.

When riding a motorbike, you want to ensure that you are at your most comfortable and safe, especially around your head – this is where helmets come in.

In the past, helmets were made of unreliable, unprotected, and uninsulated heavy materials, providing little to no safety to the wearer. Thankfully, modern helmets are manufactured using much lighter materials and are still able to provide a significant amount of protection.

The most difficult part before purchasing a motorcycle is deciding on which helmet is best suited for your journeys. You always want to choose lightweight helmets, as they are the most comfortable, especially on those long joyrides.

However, the dilemma that many motorists face is deciding on which lightweight helmet to go for, as there is a plethora of them on the market with many different styles.

You cannot buy a helmet for the sole reason that it looks appealing. The comfortability, weight and feel are the most important aspects to consider.

Thankfully, we narrow the list down by going over some of the best lightweight motorcycle helmets for all types of travelling and terrain.

So, sit back and enjoy the ride.

What This Article Covers:

The Best Lightweight Helmets On The Market

Now that we know some of the basics about helmets and what to consider when choosing one, we can list some of the best lightweight helmets that are suitable for every kind of rider.

X-Lite X1004 Ultra Carbon Flip Face Helmet

First on the list goes to the X-Lite X1004 Ultra Carbon Flip Face helmet. It’s a carbon fibre composite helmet weighing about 1.6 kilograms. However, there are three outer shell sizes that can reduce its overall weight.

It has an incredible ventilation system with an air inlet design, making it suitable for long rides in warmer weather conditions.

As for the comfort and fit, the X-Lite X1004 has an extended dual-action chin bar offering reinforced support and comfortability.

There is a sun visor built into the shell of the helmet. Additionally, the shell is lined with anti-bacterial liners with quick-drying properties, making it so that your sweat isn’t retained.

The X-Lite X1004 helmet also has spectacular safety features such as the neck protector and soft padding.

Another great thing about this helmet is the space available for the N-Com intercom system. This allows you to communicate on the fly, as well as bump some jams through the helmet.

This headpiece is suitable for all types of riders but is labelled as the best touring motorcycle helmet because of all its associated features.

If you’re looking to get yourself an X-Lite X1004 helmet, they are available on the Moto1 website, along with all the accessories and spare parts. Additionally, they have various colourways of the helmet in styles that will suit both the lowkey and outspoken rider.

Moto1 has the biggest range of motorcycle helmets available in NZ, and you will find one for you.

Scorpion Exo-1400 Carbon Air

Another great lightweight helmet and great for the price is the Scorpion Exo-1400 Air. It’s a full-face, drop visor helmet made with carbon fibre and thermoplastic materials. This is what gives it a lightweight attribute and an affordable price tag.

The helmet is featured with a customisable pad set-up and comes in three shells sizing, further reducing its overall weight.

It has a removable lining that can be machine washed and easily replaced. Additionally, it has an incredible ventilation system with front and rear vents. These vents also reduce noise pollution within the helmet, making for a rather peaceful and quiet ride.

The Scorpion Exo-1400 is perfect for every motorcyclist, because of its state-of-the-art AirFit system. This system allows riders to have a personalised fit no matter their riding style.

The helmet is also fitted with 3D sculpted cheek pads, allowing for a tight and comfortable fit. Additionally, it features a breath deflector, chin curtain, and a pin lock ready antifog face shield.

With all these amazing accessories and features, the helmet weighs in at only 1.4 kg, making it one of the best lightweight helmets on the market.

The helmet is available in a variety of colourways and graphic styles.

AGV SportModular Helmet

If you are looking for a hybrid sports-touring helmet, then look no further than the AGV SportModular motorcycle helmet.

It’s an incredible lightweight helmet weighing in at only 1.3 kilograms with a ton of added features. The helmet is manufactured using a full carbon fibre design including a lightweight carbon fibre chin bar for enhanced support.

One of the standout features of this helmet is its incredible ventilation system that keeps you cool on a hot summer's day and warm during the colder winter months. Even with the great airflow, the helmet is as quiet as a mouse when cruising.

There are three shell sizes available for this helmet, so you will have no problem finding one that fits you perfectly. Included in the helmet shell is an integrated anti-scratch sun shield that can be easily removed without the use of tools.

The shell shape itself is designed to minimise the risk of impact injuries to the head and collar bone. The adjustable integrated shell spoiler significantly reduces turbulence and drag.

The interior is lined with reversible padding, which is especially great during those sweaty summer rides.

O’Neal Sierra 22

If you are looking for one of the best dual-sport motorcycle helmets that are perfect for both off-roading motocross riding and street riding, then look no further than the O'Neal Sierra 22. It’s considered one of the best motorcycle helmets for road biking and is packed with all the features you need no matter what type of adventure you are heading on.

The style of the helmet is significantly different from your typical modular or touring helmets. The style is more in line with traditional motocross helmets. These traditional motocross helmets appear to be heavier, but the O’Neal Sierra 22 weighs in at only 1.5 kg.

The helmet has a widescreen view with an additional drop-down tinted visor. The helmet doesn’t have fancy visor mechanisms, which is what makes it such a lightweight headpiece.

What makes up for this though, is the number of passive vents which creates an impressive ventilation system throughout the helmet. There are also several inlets on the mouthpiece and chimney, making it one of the best-ventilated helmets out there.

I would highly recommend this helmet to those who enjoy dirt biking, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it as your primary helmet for casual riding. They are also available in different colours, which are suited for both bold and timid drivers

At first glance, it may seem like there are fewer features when compared to the helmets listed above, but don’t let that full you. This helmet still comes with all the bells and whistles, and you will get a lot more bang for your buck.

Bell Qualifier

One of the most lightweight and affordable helmets has to go to the Bell Qualifier Rebel Motorcycle Helmet. At an incredibly affordable price of under $200, this touring helmet is of excellent value.

The helmet is packed with features from contoured cheek pads to integrated speaker pockets, all for an affordable price. The face shield features transition photochromic technology which automatically darkens the lens in harsh UV light.

It’s made out of an incredibly tough polycarbonate material, which provides you with protection in the event of an accident, but still manages to weigh in at a minuscule 1.52 kilograms.

The face shield incorporates an anti-fog system, making it perfect to ride during those cold winter mornings.

The helmet also has a removable washable liner, which makes it easier to clean and reuse after those long adventurous sweaty rides under the beaming sun.

Furthermore, the Bell Qualifier has a quick release system, which allows you to easily remove the visor if you desire.

There are loads more features in this helmet making it suitable for almost every ride, whether you’re looking for something to use every day or only on your weekend trips. You can get all this for less than $250.

AGV Pista GP RR

Finally, is the AGV Pista GP RR sports motorcycle helmet and one of the best motorcycle racing helmets on the market. This timeless helmet is not only light in weight but also has amazing colourways available.

This is a replica helmet that was used by none other than Rossi during the Mugello Grand Prix. Its shell is made of 100% carbon fibre, and it weighs about 1.52 kilograms.

The shape of the helmet is incredibly aerodynamic making for a lot smoother rides when hitting high speeds. It offers an enormous amount of protection even against accidents that involve twisting of the head.

The visor uses Ultravision technology which allows you to have a 190-degree panoramic view when riding.

The interior of the helmet is versatile using the 360-degree adaptive fit system which allows the wearer to customise the interior to enhance the fit.

This helmet is solely for those adrenaline rush riders who enjoy chasing speed, but that shouldn’t stop you from purchasing one if you’re a casual street motorcyclist.

What Makes A Helmet Lightweight

There are a few factors that can affect the weight of a motorcycle helmet. Generally, there are 3 important aspects to consider when it comes to the weight of a helmet.

The Materials

The weight of your helmet is largely dependent on the type of material it is made out of. Most helmets are made of either carbon fibre or fibreglass.

These carbon fibre and fibreglass helmets will be lighter than helmets with an outer shell made of thermoplastic resin.

Inner materials such as the extended polystyrene (EPS) and padding, which ensures snug-fitting, can also add weight to the helmet depending on its thickness.

The Accessories

The types of accessories that your helmet has on it can also add weight to the final product. Essentially, the more accessories you have, the heavier your helmet is going to be.

Visors, sunscreen, and any type of flip-up mechanism will add a little bit of extra weight to your helmet.

The Type Of Helmet

The type of helmet also affects its weight. Beanie helmets are the lightest motorcycle helmets that you can get.

They are made with a lot fewer materials and only cover the top of your head. However, these helmets have been prohibited by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation because they are the least amount of protection and can slip off easily.

Open face helmets take up the second spot when it comes to the weight. They are a little heavier than beanie helmets but provide adequate protection if you happen to fall off your bike.

The third heaviest goes to full-face helmets. They provide significantly more protection than both beanies and open face helmets. These helmets cover both the head and neck and have a fixed chin bar.

The heaviest of the helmets are modular helmets. They offer the most amount of protection than any other helmet. These helmets allow drivers to flip-up face shields or visors without having to remove the entire helmet. However, the hinge mechanism used for the flip function adds a significant amount of weight to the helmet.

Things To Consider

There are a few things to consider before jumping straight to purchasing any sort of motorcycle helmet.

Travel terrain, price, and durability are all things that you would need to take into consideration before deciding on a helmet.

All these factors will also affect the weight of a motorcycle helmet.

Travel Terrain

Ultimately, you would need a helmet suitable for your desired type of travel, whether that be off-road or around the city street.

If you are doing a lot of motocross or off-road riding, then safety would be your biggest concern before weight. In this case, your best type of helmet would be a dual-sport helmet.

If you want a helmet for everyday travel to work and back, then a modular helmet, or even a full-face helmet, would be the most suitable.

If you enjoy long joyrides along the coast, then a touring helmet would be your go-to.

Price

You would also need to consider the cost of the helmet, as a higher price doesn’t always equate to the most comfortable or suitable.

Generally, the lighter your helmet is the more it is going to cost. Top of the range helmets uses state of the art technology and material in their manufacturing process to significantly reduce their weight. This manufacturing process is what gives lighter helmets bigger price tags.

You might find that a helmet that is less than $200 will be more comfortable than those which cost three or four times the price.

Durability

If you use your bike as a primary source of travelling, then it is important to factor in helmet durability.

Helmets that have removable liners and can be upgraded are the best options to go for. Always check to see what accessories are compatible with your helmet.

Conclusion

Deciding on a suitable lightweight helmet can be quite a tedious task, especially since there are thousands of different helmet styles and brands available to you.

You shouldn’t just pick any helmet because of its aesthetic or price. Believe it or not, helmets that appear visually appealing may not protect you if you were to get into a serious accident.

Remember lighter helmets cost more money, but this doesn’t mean you need to break the bank when purchasing a motorcycle helmet for yourself.

This guide should provide you with insight into the things you would need to consider when looking for a helmet. Additionally, it gives a good a wide variety of the best lightweight helmets on the market as a starting point in your helmet hunting journey.

Travel terrain, price, and durability are your main concerns, and if you can get a helmet that also has incredible graphics then it’s a no brainer to go for it.

It is of paramount importance to always fit or test the helmet before purchasing it online. You might even get away with trying on one that is similar to get a feel for it.

Once you find what you’re looking for, and it fits the lightweight category, it's time to purchase it. If you need extra assistance, then don’t hesitate to reach out to Moto1 because we strive to give our customers a positive and easy shopping experience and will help you in your final decision.

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