The LS2 metro is a solid modular helmet and includes a lot of great features at a very reasonable price. It has an aggressive, fighter pilot look to it that looks great on the road, and comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors that you can match to your bike.
There have been several different versions of this model that have been released by LS2 over the past few years, each one improving upon both the highlights and the shortcomings of the previous generation
LS2 has made updates on the interior lining to make the Metro even more comfortable and breathable, while also making updates to the removable peak that gives you a dual-sport ability. They also decided to take the front chin vents and make them active, replacing the passive vents that you can see on the first version of this model.
We really like the modular chin guard goes up and down smoothly, with no issues in transitioning from the front to the back of the helmet. Riders will also be happy to hear that you can slide that chin guard back effortlessly, without having to remove or separately adjust the removable peak or the visors on this helmet. This aspect of the LS2 metro alone gives it a sportier, higher value and unique look to the previous models.
If you have worn an LS2 helmet in the past, you may already have a good idea of what to expect in terms of ventilation and comfort. If you haven’t, we think you’ll find that the metro has a lot to offer.
Ratings
Comfort:
Visibility:
Ventilation:
Quietness:
Specifications
Outer shell material : Kinetic Polymer Alloy (KPA)
Shell size : 3 shell sizes with a total of 7 fits—XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, 2XL, and 3XL
Liner : Multi-Density EPS removable and washable hypoallergenic lining
Weight : 3.86 lbs
Pinlock : Ready
Strap System : quick release, security plate reinforced strap
Safety Ratings
DOT : Yes
ECE : Yes
SNELL : No
SHARP : Not tested
Shape and materials
The LS2 metro is made of a fairly heavy, kinetic polymer alloy (KPA) outer shell that weighs in around the four-pound mark. As with many modular helmets, the adjustable chin bar is what can be credited to giving this helmet the additional weight.
This model is fitted for an intermediate oval head shape. It is a little longer from front to back and has three different shells which give this helmet a nice, compact feel and look to it, especially considering that it is better suited for slightly narrower heads. You aren’t going to have the tightness that you would normally have around the chin area that you would have in non-modular designs, but keep in mind that space is allocated so that you have the ability to move that chin guard up or down.
Overall comfort
As we mentioned earlier, one of the key upgrades to this model of the LS2 Metro is the improved interior lining on this design. It does have holes for Bluetooth speaker pockets in case you want to add those in. The comfort liner is made of Multi-Density EPS removable and washable hypoallergenic lining.
It provides a comfortable, sweat-wicking fabric that is going to keep you comfortable and cool during hot days of riding. It has big cutouts that give you a lot of interior airflow throughout the helmet, which works nicely with the front ventilation.
Even with the added weight to this helmet, LS2 made sure to incorporate a comfortable interior liner and padding that would take the load off of your head and neck while riding.
Things I liked
Things I don’t like
Visibility
The main visor is large which gives you tons of visibility through the top, bottom, and peripherals. The visor does have detents that give the shield the ability to lock securely in a variety of positions, other than when it is up or down. The peak is really nice for providing some additional protection from the sun, adding to your visibility while riding.
A great feature of this helmet that any modular fan can enjoy is how easy it is to slide the chin bar up and lock it back. Some modular designs can be a little clunky when you are sliding the chin bar up because it doesn’t always work smoothly with the visor. The Metro adjusts really nicely and doesn’t take a multi-step process to slide and lock the chin bar up and back.
In addition, the LS2 Metro has a dropdown sun shield just inside of the main visor. That makes it perfect for riding in any season, at any time of day. With that drop down sunshield, the main visor on the helmet doesn’t have that heavy fogging or tinting, that you would need otherwise if you didn’t have the secondary sun visor.
Quietness
The gasket on the visor of this helmet gives it a really nice seal for keeping out wind, rain, dust, and noise. Though noise suppression doesn’t seem to be a priority with the Metro, the adjustable vents on the newer versions of it do a pretty decent job at blocking out a lot of excess noise when they are closed. That does mean that they are going to let in more noise when you open them up during hot weather riding.
Ventilation
Ventilation is something that has changed over the course of different versions of the LS2 metro. The first iteration of the LS2 metro included massive vents on the chin guard of the helmet. The only issue with that is that they are passive, so you can’t open and close them. Since modular helmet riders typically ride throughout all seasons of the year, the earlier versions of the LS2 metro aren’t ideal for riding in cold weather.
Thankfully, on more recent versions of the LS2 Metro (take the Version 3 for example) they added adjustable front vents to this helmet. It’s a really nice update from the previous models. It makes this version nice for keeping your head cool while riding in hot weather, and you can shut them to keep out cold air during the late fall and winter.
Version 3 of the LS2 Metro also has an active chin vent that feeds air to the visor to keep you from fogging up. The first version of the Metro has this chin vent as well. It has two basic, active chimney vents on the roof of the helmet, and passive vents on the back that work to transfer air through the top of the helmet and liner, while the back vents work to extract that warm moist air out the back of the helmet.
Across the board, all of the vents on the LS2 Metro are easy to quickly open or close with gloves on, which is a nice touch. Other modular helmets we have seen have small switches that make it really difficult to adjust your vents, but that’s not something you have to be concerned about with the LS2 Metro.
Safety
The LS2 Metro is both ECE and DOT rated but is not SHARP tested. All things considered, this model does have an extra layer of padding and protection on the interior of the helmet which gives you an added layer and feeling of security and comfort.
Conclusion
Something that we often see in modular helmets is that they try to tackle a lot of features, but they don’t accomplish any of them very well. Over the different versions that we have seen of the Metro, LS2 has made it a point with each new model to include key improvements that add to the safety, comfortability, and functionality of this model.
The adjustable vents on the Metro make it great for all-weather riding, and the inner padding and liner make it really comfortable to wear. The visor integration is definitely a highlight on the here, with a chin bar that slides and locks easily and a dropdown sun visor that is easy to operate with or without gloves.
Where to buy this helmet :