Best Touring Motorcycle Helmet in 2023 (Reviews and Comparison)

Shoei helmets have the reputation for aggressive style and customization. The Neotec II is no different. This helmet derives its look from the original Neotec helmet from 2012. It’s convenient for commuting and wear, and probably one of the best of their brand yet. This helmet was five years in the making, so it excels in improvements and has taken the Neotec name to another level. Let’s check out how the Neotec II fares with other helmets.

Highlights and Features

The Neotec II helmet is a combination of minimalism and master presentation with the matte finish, multi-ply matrix shell. The Neotec II has vast improvements from earlier models with the smaller chin vent and the more streamlined look. 

It’s comfortable without a doubt, even on long rides. The internal padding helps bring comfort. It’s medium weight at 4.2 lbs; a little heavier than some but this isn’t noticeable once you put it on. You can customize the fit with the micro-ratcheting strap. 

The interior comfort system minimizes sound and vibration, and the configuration of the Bluetooth connectivity kit is great. Do what you want — make and receive calls, play music and navigate on your phone — all hands-free!

Neotec II offers excellent peripheral visibility and restricted movement when turning your head either way. The drop-down sun visor and UV-blocking face shield and built-in pin lock system are definitely added pluses when it comes to visibility.

Its excellent aerodynamics and internal systems make it one of the quietest modular helmets you’ll ever wear. With an improved ventilation system, the Neotec II keeps your head cool and dry at low speeds even when you’re in hot desert weather.

Negative Feedback

The matte finish questions its durability as it marks up easily, and the micro ratchet strap seems a bit weak. The Bluetooth connectivity kit is great, but you have to purchase it in addition to the helmet.  

Overall Safety

The Neotec II is DOT rated for the U.S. and Europe and received 4 out of 5 stars from SHARP. The excellent peripheral visibility and hands-free communication also add to its safety record.

The Shark Spartan GT is sleek and just looks awesome! It comes in two versions: carbon fiber and fiberglass. Our review will focus on the carbon fiber version; the lighter of the versions. Let’s see how it compares to other helmets.

Highlights and Features

This medium lightweight (3.17 lbs.) helmet balances very well to give a very comfortable feel. The interior has a removable lining convenient for cleaning and helps in reducing bacteria. The liner serves a two-part purpose in also helping to keep your head cool. 

The anti-fogging visor with a pin lock max vision is great at protecting from sunlight and debris. Best of all, the double-D fastener ensures the helmet fits firmly on your head. Neck and head support are great at providing a very comfortable fit. 

The two visors included — clear and tinted — provide the type of visibility you need. Its “sharkskin technology” reduces wind sound that results in a smooth, quiet ride. It’s so quiet; no earplugs are needed. Also, the full chin shirt and neck roll wrap the helmet all around your head for ultimate protection and noise reduction.

Three ventilation points help airflow around the head, from the chin to the scalp and then to the back, which provides for a cool ride. 

Negative Feedback

Although the Shark Spartan GT comes in multiple sizes — from XS to XXL— its oval shape may not feel too comfortable on riders with round heads. That said, they may want to buy it a size larger to allow more room for comfort. But most riders should be able to find a size that fits them well. Although the “sharkskin technology” professes a quiet ride, some riders have complained about noise, so expect a little noise during the ride. Debris and bugs may find a way in due to the many ventilation points. The rider may want to invest in a vent screen.

Overall Safety

The Shark Spartan GT is Sharp tested, with four out of five stars, and also passed the ECE 22.05 test in Europe and is certified through the DOT in the U.S.; it meets all minimum safety requirements. In addition, the anti-fogging visor with pin lock max vision, double-D fastener for a secure fit, and clear visibility all help sell this helmet as an overall safe helmet.

The HJC F70 is the latest in HJC’s long line of sleek, technology-enhanced helmets. It provides comfort, convenience, and an overall good look and is great for that three-quarter riding position. Everything about it screams performance — from its aggressive visual design to the well-configured configuration system. But let’s read further to see how it really compares to the other helmets.

Highlights and Features

The F70 shell is a tough, durable carbon fiberglass construction that’s good for handling most anything. This middle light-weight helmet is just under four pounds. The cheek pads are removable and convenient for cleaning and can be easily swapped out for another pair. It offers an overall comfortable fit and is easy to slide on and off, despite the oval shape. The chin strap can be adjusted by the easy-to-operate ratchet system. 

Visibility is not an issue with the large visor that blocks 95% of the harmful UVA and UVB rays. The easy-to-operate sun visor slides into place easily when you need it. The F70 also offers anti-fog coating and a pin lock-ready system for beating the fog. And the eyeglass grooves provide plenty of room for prescription lenses and shades. 

The HJC comes with a Bluetooth system specifically designed for HJC products. The system provides a great, safe way for the rider to fully enjoy his ride — to lay back, feel the breeze and listen to music, or talk hands-free. The system is sold separately, but easy to install on the helmet.

The ventilation seems to be sufficient with four intakes and five exhausts. This includes two cents on the chin bard and two vents on the crown of the helmet. A chin curtain that fits comfortably is also part of the helmet. This feature helps to keep air away from your chin and neck on cold days or when it’s windy. The curtain needs to be installed but can easily be removed if needed. 

The HJC is a good, quiet ride with an exceptional ventilation system that includes four intakes and five exhausts. 

Negative Feedback

Although the F70 comes in multiple sizes — from XS to XXL— its oval shape may not feel too comfortable on riders with round heads. That said, they may want to buy it a size larger to allow more room for comfort. But most riders should be able to find a size that fits them well.

The Bluetooth system, the Smart HJC system, is sold separately.

Overall Safety

The F70 met the minimum requirements for the DOC and ECE testing. Its great visibility, anti-fog feature, and pin lock ready system, all help in ensuring this is a safe helmet to be in on the road.

Shoei RF-100 is one of the most popular helmets on the road. It’s been around for a long time and is a good option when you’re looking for something comfortable, nice, and high-performing. It’s also a great option for experienced riders who are looking for a high-performance helmet. Let’s see what the review tells us.

Highlights and Features

The RF1400 is lightweight, weighing less than two pounds and durable. Its expanded polystyrene liner gives it an increased level of impact absorption for better protection. The high-impact material of the clear face shield serves a dual purpose, providing clear visibility and protecting your eyes from the sun (99% protection from harmful UV rays) and debris. 

The removable cheek pads are comfortable, breathable, and easy to remove or switch out. The 3D Max-Dry System II is installed in the liner to keep you comfortable and cool, and the liner is removable and washable.

Shoei did a fantastic job at making this one of the quietest helmets you will ever wear. Some of the improvements are tightened shutter on the visor, additional soundproofing for the ears, ridged rig on the shield, adding a rubber gasket to put on the top and on the sides, wind noise locked out and rain locked out. This is more than you would find in most other helmets.

Negative Feedback

During casual rides, you may notice that noise is an issue. The ventilation is not that great. The padding and inner liner consist of breathable materials that help with sweat when it’s hot, but not having a sufficient ventilation system is definitely a downside to this otherwise awesome helmet.

Overall Safety

The RF1400 has passed the minimum requirements for DOT, ECE and SNELL. Most importantly, recent data show that 93% of impacts proved the face shield remained fully locked. This is a good thing and adds to the other factors that speak to its level of safety: the clear face shield that provides clear visibility and eye protection from the sun and debris.

The Arai Profile-V or Regent-X was created in Japan. It’s the only family-owned helmet manufacturer, and it wants to make an impact in Japan and bring safe helmets to its market. Let’s read on to see what else we learned about the Regent-X. 

Highlights and Features

Made completely by hand, each helmet takes about 18 hours to make. It’s made from a fiberglass material that is strong and lightweight with a hyper range and extra reinforcement that makes the headgear more stable. A good grip makes it easy to pull off and on. The round helmet looks more oval-shaped and may not fit everybody well. 

The cheek pads contain speaker holders and an updated pod system for your communication purposes. The cheek pads and crown pads are removable and washable.

The facial contour system has been improved so that it opens better and is easier to put on. This is an upgrade from before when users complained they were not even able to squeeze the helmet on. This is now one of the best features of the helmet, with springs in the cheek pads that are gentle and form-fitting. The helmet adjusts to your face shape nicely.

The Profile-V has 11 vents — six exhaust vents and five intake vents. The exhaust vents are instrumental in keeping the back of your head cool. While the intake vents (two brow vents, chin vents, and two-scoop vents) are all designed to fall out in the event of a crash for protection and comfort during a crash.

Negative Feedback

The interior of the helmet contains basic lining; you can upgrade to premium. It’s always good to try a helmet on before wearing it. Some users have warned that the two brow vents are right above the eyes and obstructs your vision. Even though your eyes may adjust to it eventually, it’s not safe to have any obstructions while riding. No extra bells and whistles are included that helps reduce noise or provide increased visibility.

Overall Safety

The Profile-V is DOT, ECE, and SNELL safe. A lot of time was spent on this hand-made helmet to ensure it’s bounceable and that it absorbs impacts. Initially, anything that hits the helmet during a crash is sure to bounce off without impacting the rider’s head. Also, the outer vents fall off in a crash to create the most round and smooth surface possible. Arai’s main concern overall was safety and they have fulfilled that goal in this helmet.

The Schuberth R2 is more budget-friendly than previous models. Now that we know that it’s affordable, let's see how it compares to other touring helmets when it comes to safety and comfort.

Highlights and Features

This is one of the rare helmets that is set to accommodate round-shaped heads. This will appeal to the many who often feel slated because most helmets are oval-shaped. Sizes are from XS to XXL. The R2 is lightweight at three pounds and fits comfortably on the neck and shoulders. 

The EPS liner can be easily removed for cleaning, and the helmet comes with an integrated slot for glasses. This means you can sport your prescription wear or your favorite shades. The face shield locks down smoothly, and it features a pin lock max vision that gives the visor a double-paned window effect. The pin lock system keeps the face shield from fogging up. 

You can easily detach and reattach your clear face shield to swap it with a darker shade that you have to purchase separately. The face shield is wide enough for good peripheral vision and reading all of the gauges. 

Schuberth added a microphone and speaker system to the helmet that assumes a quiet ride. Although most helmets have three areas for ventilation: chin vents, top vents and back vents, the R2 only has two. It only has the chin and top vents. However, the engineering of those two areas makes it hard to miss the third area because the ventilation feels good to the rider. So, the helmet rides cool.

Negative Feedback

This helmet will fit comfortably on someone with a round head. Anyone else will suffer from soon-to-be pain points when trying to wear this. So, it’s best that you try the helmet on before purchasing or opt-out of buying altogether due to the helmet shape. It may cause more aggravation than it’s worth. 

The accompanying face shield is clear and does not offer any protection against sunlight or glares. If you want a darker shield you have to purchase it yourself separately. Most helmets have three areas for ventilation. The R2 only has 2 - chin and top vents. This may be an issue at first, but the two areas of ventilation adequately do what they were meant to do. 

Overall Safety

The R2 received 3 out of 5 stars from its SHARP rating, and it has a DOT certification. With those approved certifications, riders should feel safe wearing this helmet. However, with a rating less than 4, it still may not be high on your list to buy.

The Schuberth C4-Pro is an adjustable flip-up headpiece that is sought after by many. It’s sleek design combines cutting-edge technologies with top-grade quality. And we’re about to take a more thorough look at this protective gear.

Highlights and Features

The fiberglass helmet is strong, durable and lightweight. Its shape has gone from oval to rounded, which pleases some, but not everyone. The shape is aerodynamic and sleek, and the inner shell allows for more absorption from outside forces. This makes the helmet safe upon impact.

The microphones have been moved from the top of the helmet next to the mouth, making it easier to have clear communication. This helps the rider to speak and hear better. The C4 is also compatible with other standard communication systems, so you can use Bluetooth and access radio stations.

The velvet texture in the interior lining feels smooth and soft and holds the head comfortably. The chin strap can be adjusted with its ratchet strap or double-D ring fastener. Where it used to have only one size, now it has two more sizes, making it more wearable for more people.

The large visor makes visibility easy and secure. The rider has enough vision width to see all gadgets and get clear readings of what’s happening on the road in front of him and around him. The visor is anti-fog and anti-scratch, making it even more clear.

The pin-lock is pre-installed, which usually has to be installed on most helmets. The helmet also has an adjustable sun visor to protect your eyes from the sun and harmful UV rays.

According to Schuberth, they call this the quietest flip helmet they ever created. That’s because it has optimized neck padding and noise reduction technology. It also has other elements and mechanical attachments that help reduce the outside noise. 

Negative Feedback

The C4 only has two vents — a chin vent and a chimney vent. Rather than have a vent in the back, it offers additional padding. This helps the airflow and sweat in the back float to the chimney and chin vents. The jury is still out on how well this configuration is. Riders seem to have mixed emotions about it. The good thing is, the visor moves up and down. Doing this can help create additional airflow.

Overall Safety

The C4 meets the DOT standard minimum for helmet safety. This is good but may not be good enough for riders who want to ensure safety when they’re riding on the road.