Arai XD3 Dual-Sport Helmet

This helmet is to my head as my comfy old slippers are to my feet. It doesn't just fit my head, it practically caresses it! Ventilation is better than expected, and I've never found myself sweating even in the hot and humid crud that hit the east coast this year. When I first got the helmet I was bothered by a loud buzzing that went away if I held the visor. A lot of others have made the same complaint. After reading the manual and making a few suggested adjustments, the buzz went away and has stayed away for the past 5000 miles. If you ride into the sun, there is nothing better than a good visor to improve your view of the road ahead.

Cons: (1) Until I installed the pinlock visor, this was the worst fogging helmet I'd ever worn. I expect most visors to fog in the teens, but this one fogged up in the thirties. The pinlock, which was $$$, solved the problem completely. (2) While the visor is fine with headwinds and headchecks, crosswinds on the slab can tug your head around a bit. If I have to ride in conditions like that for more than a few hours, I simply remove the visor. It's easy to do...just don't overtighten the plastic screws.

(Posted on 8/6/10)

Having worn my XD3 to Colorado and back on several dual-sport rides, it has become one of my favorite helmets. Because the helmet is comfortable, durable, multifunctional and stylish, I get to have my cake and eat it, too. (Posted on 10/8/09)