10 Of The Best Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets In 2024

Choosing your ideal motorcycle helmet can be a challenging proposition that, for bikers, is often only secondary to choosing your perfect motorcycle. Many options are available to suit various applications, with a slew of features and benefits even before you figure out whether it suits your unique head shape and size. However, all motorcycle authorities agree that a full-face motorcycle helmet is considerably safer than an open-face or half-helmet, as it protects the face and jaw from frontal impacts.

As the last line of defense between your noggin and the world around you, a helmet is the most important item of protective motorcycle gear. When buying, you must dedicate enough consideration to ensure that your chosen brain bucket is a good physical fit and well-suited to your requirements. According to several leading brands, a helmet should be replaced every five years. While it's certainly in their best interests to suggest it, this rule of thumb should be adhered to, as all suffer knocks and scrapes over their lifetime, and stress and general degradation markedly deplete a helmet's structural integrity.

If you are a first-time buyer or it is time to replace your existing motorcycle helmet, SlashGear is here to help. The following full-face helmets cover various applications, including dirt riding, touring, motorsports, and adventure biking, with classic and contemporary styling and smart features on several models. Modular helmets are included here, as they offer the same protection as full-face helmets, provided they are used correctly.

If the CrossHelmet X1 is considered cutting-edge, Forcite kicks it up with its MK1S, which adds visual prompts to its smart helmet. This could be a watershed moment for high-end helmets, as other brands like EyeLights are already making waves with HUD (head-up display) technology within a rider's peripheral vision.

The Forcite MK1S features an LCD in the rider's visor space that relays alerts and navigation cues without them averting their eyes from the road ahead. It would be subjective whether this could be considered a genuine substitute for its dashboard equivalent. Still, HUD displays have already proved their value in Formula One racing, and the amount of interaction can be tailored to your preferences via the Forcite companion app. Additionally, there is a wireless Bluetooth controller to adjust settings on the fly and a chin-mounted camera to record your rides, with low-light capabilities and a super-wide lens.

Forcite claims that the MK1S is the most advanced helmet available and is certainly impressive. However, it lacks a Bluetooth/Mesh communication system, a critical component in smart helmets, and one that many would consider more valuable than many of the MK1S's abundant features. It is also only DOT certified, with no ECE or Snell rating, which some may consider insufficient, especially for a unit costing around $1,100.

The last time I was in the market for a replacement helmet, I conducted due research and settled on the Shoei GT Air II. As such, I can attest to its excellent aerodynamic and ventilation properties, and the built-in (optional) Sena comms were the icing on the cake. The Shoei GT Air 3 is the latest generation in the class-leading touring helmet lineage. While it is undoubtedly an improvement on its older siblings, it sticks to the same principles without looking like a complete reworking of this tried and true favorite.

For the GT Air 3, the Japanese brand opted for a profile similar to that of the Air II, and it takes a close comparison to see any discernible difference. One feature that does stand out is its more subtle communication panels on either side. These are more in line with the contours of the helmet's rim and are, therefore, less intrusive, although whether the smaller buttons are as easy to operate with gloves on is another matter.

Thankfully, Shoei adopted an if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it approach to many of the helmet's other features, including the excellent ventilation from which it gets its name, the integrated sun shield, and the Pinlock-ready visor. The dedicated Comms system, also optional, is the latest Sena SRL3, which is excellent, but buyers beware, as it is not universally compatible with other brands. However, Sena's main competitor, Cardo, has rectified Cardo-Sena Mesh connectivity in its latest updates if most of your biking friends have Cardo systems.

Anyone with more than a passing interest in motorcycles will know there has been a massive resurgence in modern classics since the turn of the century. This Renaissance is primarily thanks to brands like Royal Enfield and BSA, with modern retro models combining classic styling with affordability and fun performance. However, if you're going for a classic image, you need a helmet to match, and Bell has just the solution with its Bullitt model.

The veteran brand has created a model with a timeless design and up-to-date levels of protection. Based on Bell's "Star" model, which was popular in the mid-20th century, it exudes quality from its range of slick, customizable graphics and colorways to its premium materials, including composite fiberglass and leather. A range of visors with different tints and bubble profiles are available, and the helmet features a chin intake with exhaust vents for improved airflow.

The Bell Bullitt is a solid choice for anyone with a retro-style cruiser or cafe, whether a Bonneville, Z 900RS, or Continental GT. Suppose you're concerned about compatibility with modern tech. In that case, it includes speaker cutouts, so you can attach your choice of comms unit without a fuss and enjoy all the benefits without harming your retro image.

Another model from this premium Japanese brand, the Shoei VFX EVO, is designed for off-road enthusiasts and motocross. It has excellent airflow qualities and advanced aerodynamics and is notable for its highly sculpted profile, protruding peak, and chin guard, distinguishing it from touring and sportbike helmets.

The VFX EVO was designed with ventilation in mind, as motorsports can be highly demanding, and fatigue can set in quickly. It has multiple front vents and rear ports to keep a constant airflow around the head without sacrificing its strength, and its multi-shell construction incorporates Shoei's Motion Energy Distribution System, which reduces the force of impacts on the head.

Another safety feature of the VFX EVO is the brand's emergency quick-release system, which is included on many Shoei helmets. In the event of an accident, an emergency responder can pull on two tabs to remove the cheek pads. This means they can easily slide the helmet off without exerting too much force on the neck before attending to the rider, making it a good choice for off-roading, where spills can be frequent.

dddddddddddddddddddddIt is also available in many solid colors with three tasteful graphics to ensure the wearer stands out when using it in competition.

Arai is a significant player in the helmet industry, and the Corsair-X is one of its most versatile models. It is available in various colorways and graphics and has advanced safety characteristics. While it doesn't boast as many bells and whistles as many models listed here, it is a premium helmet that focuses on its primary objective: to provide optimal levels of safety and comfort.

At well over $1,000, the Arai Corsair-X is undeniably expensive, but if you go all-in on one item of safety gear, it should be a helmet. For this, you get some of the best build quality in the industry, with special Super Fiber construction and materials gleaned from Formula One engineering. Protection is top-notch, with much research and development focused on direct impacts and glancing blows by redirecting energy around the helmet rather than absorbing it.

While the Corsair-X may not be loaded with accessories, it is no less impressive. Bespoke air diffusers channel air for ventilation and improve aerodynamics, and proprietary interior liners are equipped to wick away moisture. The chin curtain creates a seal that directs air to the exhaust vents, making the helmet as comfortable as it is lightweight. Additionally, there's a special "variable axis system" on the Pinlock-equipped visor that smoothly pivots and stays in position while a visor latch locks it closed.