Shoei Hornet X2 Motorcycle Helmet Review 

Hell yeah. 💪✌️

Yes love the Hornet X2

Thanks Mike! It has worked out well and it will remind me of my time in Florida!

Thanks Jeff! Cheers

Thanks Laurie! It is a great helmet, I think I might give that modular one a try next time around. Cheers! Hope all is well.

Thanks!

Thanks Chip! The sunglass channel is great, I do miss the modular feature of the Scorpion. Baja has been great. Hope all is well with you!

@@FTAAdventures Doing well man! Always pushing forward to be behind the lens and sell my prints and not behind a gigantic steering wheel😆. Patience and One day at a time.....Ttyl my friend!✌

Thanks! I agree, and that is a great comparison.

Thanks Norse! I agree, I should be able to get my moneys worth out of this helmet for sure. Plus the fact that being out on the road so often means the odds are always stacking against me, better safe than sorry.

Thanks Michael! I agree.

Is the ventilation only poor compared to other DS helmets or in general? Currently have an HJC i10 and that thing is a sweat bucket if I hit the trails in Missouri weather so I'm just looking for a noticeable improvement over that.

@@mitchellsteele1468 Poor as compared to my other modular helmets. (HJC RPHA 90S, Shoei Neotec 2, Shoei GT Air) A true DS helmet like my HJC DSX1 has 5 or 10 times the ventilation as the Hornet X2. The Hornet is more of a adventure helmet more ment for use on the highway IMHO. It is a nice helmet but if you live in a hot climate I would think it would get quite warm. It would help if a person didn't put the air diffuser in under your chin and left that open as the vents on the helmet are quite small.

Cant find one to save my life

Thanks Randy, I am getting ready to review the soft panniers I have switched to, just a bit more testing first. I haven't covered that debate yet on hard verse soft side cases, I will have to make a video about that soon. I think they both have their advantages. Cheers

Thanks Rik! Life on the road suits me well I guess. Mud and this heavy bike don't mix well with smooth tires lol, but I made it, all part of the adventure. Cheers!

I love modular helmets, definitely don't have anything against them. Great for snacking or taking a quick picture without having to take the helmet off. I just love the ADV style with the visor and it's hard to find a modular one that isn't really heavy. I think the next one will be modular.

Thanks Steve! It is a great helmet.

Hi Greg, great seeing you on here, hope all is well. That Scorpion is a great helmet, especially for that price. Definitely miss the modular aspect. Cheers

Thanks Bill. I totally get what you are saying, I have stood up on the bike a few times at speed and it certainly isn't as aerodynamic as a regular full face would be but compared to other adventure style helmets it is far sleeker than others. Would not be an ideal helmet for a sport bike though. I rode a Ducati monster with the Arai XD4 and it almost ripped my head off haha, would not recommend that. Cheers

@@FTAAdventures LOL, now that's a video I'd like to see... "Ducati monster with XD4..." Look Ma, no head!

You might be able to offer returning your lid to the mfg at a specified mileage interval for R&D purposes. If I were in your shoes I would certainly ask for a sponsorship.

Padding was degraded and the chin strap was getting shredded. The visor was still holding up for the most part but it was just generally beat up and I couldn't see investing money in new padding for it.

@@FTAAdventures Thanks Tim. Youve probably worn your MX-9 for far more days in the past year than I've worn mine in 5 =)

Soon Haur Teo Hi, Comparing the Shoei with the XD4, which one moved better air with the face shield closed?

Hey, I’d like to know which one you’d prefer - or what you thought were the main differences between the Shoei and the Arai - too.

@@4imazupi Arai, but also noisier.

@@spiceweasel945 Main difference should be aerodynamic, ventilation and noise Aerodynamic : Shoei is much better. Vents: Arai wins Noise: Shoei is quieter Shoei is like 70:30 while Arai is like 60:40

@@spiceweasel945 Shoei liner is more comfortable than Arai

Thanks!

It depends on the helmet and your windshield. It doesn't bother me at all, and I love the benefits of touring with this style helmet so it would be hard for me to go without it. The way it blocks the sun glare is super valuable to me, and I have a tall windscreen so I barely feel it, even on really long days. Most of these helmets the visor can be removed for highway stretches and put back on when needed.

Forty Times Around thanks for taking the time to reply. I really enjoy your channel. I also used to suffer from anxiety around people, it gets easier as you know I’m sure. Happy travels my friend ✌🏻RU-vid can turn into a grind for creators, I used to have a channel but deleted it because of all the stress to put out videos and because of negativity in the comments. Do you ever experience this? Just curious, you have me contemplating starting a channel again

It's about the foam, it contains resins and oils that keep it spongy. After ~5yrs or so these are reduced to the point where the foam is brittle and therefore less protective in the event of a crash. Ryan F9 explains it in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_nbQsnUvlo4.html

Degraded padding and the chin strap was starting to shred. I could have replaced the lining but it was just in bad shape all around.

@@FTAAdventures I can see that now that I think.... you're riding a LOT!

Plus it is usually the length of time the manufacturer recommends

Jim, great question! I usually just go for the cheap gas station sunglasses as they tend to get scratched and covered in bugs and it's easier to just replace more often. I do prefer the sport wrap around style as it offers more wind protection.

I use whatever sunglasses are Army approved for wear. They are considered protective eyewear and while blocking sun is what any sun glass will do, blocking sun and having protection from objects hitting eyewear at high speed is important, Oakley and wily-x come to mind. FTA A I get the cheap gas station stuff, but for riding w/visor up, invest8ng in quality eyewear could be a literal eye saver. I have seen some definite eye saves from eyewear, both in everyday life and deployed. Trace it all the way back to Gargolyes and shotgun pellet protection. If you take care of them, they will last 4 ever, I still,have plenty left over from Army days ( they kept issuing new pairs like candy, but I have only lost some, never had any damaged significantly, so have a lifetime supply in locker and have had them last 15 years). I was in when Gargoyles were first issued. Before that, no sunglasses approved for wear. Still resisted (Terminators Glasses, Hollywood ) but one day, a Ranger Sgt ordered his men to, take off their “sunglasses” on a grenade range, and they did. Shortly afterward, there was an incident involving a grenade and there were significant eye loss and injury. After that, “sunglasses” were changed to “protective eyewear” and wear was mandatory on ranges after that.Now it is rare to see one without them. Many many eyes have been saved in the military by wearing “sunglasses” that meet the MILSTD for protection (There is a difference between the two, all are sunglasses, not all have protective qualities). That’s in day to day life and especially in combat. These are well known brands commercially available to everyone and are not Mil only. It is now habit and I am rarely without eye pro, tinted or clears anytime I walkout of house. . You pay more , but you are paying for eye protection, not from sun, but from projectiles/fragments hitting lenses at high speeds in combat, but also low speed falls/impacts with objects etc hitting face/eyes. Highly recommend if you are concerned with protection other than sun. Service Members are not wearing sunglasses, but actual tested , approved and proven eye protection, and that’s what they really wearing. If Military says it’s approved to wear as Eye Protection (eye pro), it’s good to go. You can probably google examples of instances of saved eyes/damaged eye pro; Tens of thousands of saved eyes later.........

Hi Rob! It is Pinlock ready but as far as I know they don't have a transition lens that is pinlock ready. I am sure that will be coming soon, seems more companies are catching on to the advantage of the transitions. There are removable pads by the ears to make space for hedphones or speakers. Cheers!

Thanks Tim!

@@FTAAdventures the official transition visor just launched last month. Stock is coming soon.

Same here. I just returned from my local dealer really wanting to get the LS2 but it does not fit me! I walked around in the store for half an hour and it was too tight on the fore head. I went back and forth from an L to XL! Great review Tim as always.

I have an arai xd4, and the exo 950, the xd4 is a great helmet especially with glasses, very well ventilated for a street helmet. the exo is less well ventilated with the visor closed but with the visor open and the sun shade down its about the same and my eyes are still protected. the exo is heavier, but better in the winter with less fogging and less unwanted ventilation. If i don't get back home before dark i don't have to change shields with the exo and can flip up the whole face assembly for a quick drink or snack ( a great plus with the glasses, helmet removal is complicated bc, i have to find a level surface to lay my glasses on before i can remove my helmet). If i had one helmet, the exo totally, plus its half the price. btw i can wear it on sport bikes too, the arai's adjustable peak is pushed down by the wind while in a aggressive riding position blocking vision,the exo peak is caught a bit by wind but, doesn't obscure my vision. removing the peak is a bit of a pain with either one.

I did try the Scorpion, I liked the modular aspect of it, it was pretty heavy though but an awesome option. I think my head shape is more ovalish. I think the Shoei is considered more round but it works and fits me well.

I’ve always worn Shoei helmets and personally still ride with earplugs for anything over 10mins. It’s the best thing for your hearing and fatigue levels.

You should wear earplugs but even without them this helmet is quiet.

Probably 60 fast two laners and 40 slow, dirt and gravel and some really slow technical off road. I was wearing earplugs with my last helmet but got out of the habit with this hemet.

The Scorpion is a great helmet, just heavy but it is a solid option. Especially considering the price and the modular aspect.

I like the Hornet personally, but they fit different shaped heads so you may have different results. The Arai is much lighter though.

Same question, i'm considering shoei hornet vs arai tour cross3 vs airooh commander 🤭😅

I agree, great point Bob!

I am currently in Baja, just took a long ride now I am taking a little break.

@@FTAAdventures wow.... enjoy

Yes, new camera it is a Nikon. I accidentally left the autofocus on in this one but the picture quality is definitely improved IMO.

You can mount the GoPro on the mouth part of the helmet, there is no vent in that spot.

Forty Times Around perfect thank you sir that’s really good to know that way I can make plans for it. Awesome review

That is interesting, my windshield is pretty high so I guess that helps. I didn't feel too much standing up but those were slower speeds. I'll have to give it a try on a different bike and see what happens. Haven't tried the photochromatic shield myself.

Padding was degraded and the straps were starting to shred. I could have replaced the lining but it was just too beat up.

@@FTAAdventures got it thanks

I tried E1 before, the weight is quite bad for my neck. There are many negative feedback from advrider forum.

I have had an E1 for about 2 years now and very happy with it. Expensive but fortunately I was able to get one on sale so it was priced a bit less than hate Hornet and the XD4. That being said, the off road I do is an occasional ride on dirt roads. If you are more off-road oriented, not sure the E1 would be the right helmet for you.

I will take a look at that, I'd love a modular ADV helmet.

What did you get. I'm Int oval also but the Arai is far more ROUND..the X2 Hornet is INT Oval and fit me much better.

@@kee7678 i didn't buy a new helmet since most of my riding in on the street so my Scorpion works fine. If I were in the market I'd lean towards the Hornet since it's better for road then XD4.

@@rogermeyer860 yeah agreed.I just go the Shoei Hornet...tight fit for sure but still breaking it in. Def high quality.

@@kee7678 once you wear a modular it's hard to go back...i'm assuming you do off-road?

@@rogermeyer860 Yes..or planning on it..Baja and all over SoCal and desert roads etc. I think I would love a modular...but, I have cervical spine issues and neck fatigue issues and even though my new Hornet is a bit heavy, wanted to save weight and space as much as possible. I love my Shoei so far, very high quality and quiet too as I always listen to music on the Cardo.

I had the same question. I’m in the market for a new ADV helmet and I can’t decide between the two. My Shoei GT air doesn’t ventilate as well as I’d want and I’d heard the Shoei wasn’t as well ventilated as the Arai XD4 - but this review makes it even more of a close call. I’d love to hear a view on this.

Spice Weasel I’ve heard the XD is hard to beat. I have a Shoei currently & love it. It doesn’t have a visor & when I wear a balaclava in the winter it compresses the foam. So, a new helmet is on me horizon & when I’m looking to drop 6 bills I want to limit the unknowns. I totally trust Tim, he is honest, has a kind heart, & isn’t selling anything:-)

Rik Englebert - thanks. I keep going around and around. I think it’s just going to come down to fit. I’ll try both and the best fit is what I’ll go for.

Arai best ventilation better visor. Shoei more comfort(Little). Arai has very good aerodynamic 170 km/h no issues. Both helmets are very good (but arai best)

Viktors Voroneckis thank you very much!

I filmed a bunch of videos in a row so I would have stuff to post while I was riding to Baja.

Visors are mainly made to block debris from getting on your face. Only really relevant if riding with others in sand/mud. They are good at blocking the sun in the morning, but other than that, the visor is for fashion.

are you bored?

Near there, it is Bartlett Dam.

The jacket is from Mosko Moto. There’s a video somewhere on my channel about it. Great jacket, waterproof but doesn’t come with armor.

The lining was toast and the strap was wearing out. It wasn't even worth replacing the lining, unfortunately.