Dual Sport vs Street Helmet | GTAMotorcycle.com

Dual Sport vs Street Helmet

Wheelieboy

Wheelieboy

Well-known member
Whats the difference between a Dual Sport helmet and a Street Helmet?

I can see how there would be better ventilation with a Dual Sport Helmet, but it also looks less aerodynamic.

Pros? Cons? Your experiences?

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I am new to motorcycles and dual sports but am buying gear now so have done a bit of reading. My understanding is that a DS lid will be noisier on the road and you might get some lift from the peak at higher speeds but you have the advantage of a face shield over a MX helmet. Off road you will have the option of wearing goggles and the protection from branches that the peak will provide. I think it boils down to a compromise where you get decent road and decent offroad performance but not the best of either world. Dual sport as a whole seems to be a compromise but I guess the "go anywhere" abilities out way the negatives.
 
Wheelieboy said:
Whats the difference between a Dual Sport helmet and a Street Helmet?

I can see how there would be better ventilation with a Dual Sport Helmet, but it also looks less aerodynamic.

Pros? Cons? Your experiences?
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I think it's pretty obvious... if you are riding a dual sport bike then a dual sport helmet is for you!
Not that I actually know what I'm talking about, but I do know that getting the look right is VERY important.
Sorry I can't be of any real help.
 
The biggest difference is noise and aerodynamics at Hwy speeds. If you're going anything over 80 kph, from my experience the noise is bad even with earplugs. Taking off the peak helps, particularily in a crosswind. The dual sport helmets are a bit too much of a compromise from my experience.

I'd suggest an honest assessment of what kind of riding you'll really be doing. If you're riding on the street mostly (including dirt roads) and some light, leisurely off road go with a street bike helmet. The important thing is to be comfortable, that way you can enjoy the experience. If you choose to go primarily off road buy a good quality dirt bike helmet and goggles. A face shield can fog up easily and WHEN you do a face plant the sheild on a street helmet (or dual purpose helmet) can be expensive to replace.
 
you'll find out saturday !
 
xrljoel said:
The biggest difference is noise and aerodynamics at Hwy speeds. If you're going anything over 80 kph, from my experience the noise is bad even with earplugs. Taking off the peak helps, particularily in a crosswind. The dual sport helmets are a bit too much of a compromise from my experience.

I'd suggest an honest assessment of what kind of riding you'll really be doing. If you're riding on the street mostly (including dirt roads) and some light, leisurely off road go with a street bike helmet. The important thing is to be comfortable, that way you can enjoy the experience. If you choose to go primarily off road buy a good quality dirt bike helmet and goggles. A face shield can fog up easily and WHEN you do a face plant the sheild on a street helmet (or dual purpose helmet) can be expensive to replace.
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When I ride dirt and single track, I usually have to take at least 30-45 mins of highway to get there. Ive pretty much only ridden in the Niagara/Welland area and in the tough muddy spots I'm finding that I sweat a lot in my helmet even in 15 degree weather....but I'm new at dirt so I'm using more energy than is really required. I can't imagine how hot it would be in the mid to high 20's though which is why I want to consider a dual sport helmet if it significantly helps with venting.

I have a bunch of street helmets so I could choose when to wear a DS helmet if I had the choice.

My DRZ is quite unaerodynamic at highway speeds though so the DS helmet may make it worse....but I suppose it is tolerable.
 
Even when you're riding the dirt bike "properly" you'll be sweating balls. The better you get, the faster you'll go and the more energy you'll use. And when it hits 40 the sweat will drench you.
I sweat balls on the mx track, and when I hit the trails even though the speeds are lower I'm still working hard and still sweat... If I'm not riding hard enough that I'm sweating then I'm probably bored! Even on my sled on the "groomed" trails, I ride hard enough that I have to watch I don't start sweating.

I have used my MX helmet twice on the road. It was ok on my FZ6 up to about 100 and then the peak caught the wind too much and it was fairly noisy... However, the breeze over my face was nice!
 
I use my dirtbike helmet with goggles all year round. Spring summer fall on the WR supermoto. Then I use it on my sled all winter. 80-120 mph all the time on the sled. It's not that bad.

As far as I'm concerned, if your bike looks anything like a dirt bike, you look like a tool with a street/ds lid.
 
bellofello said:
I use my dirtbike helmet with goggles all year round. Spring summer fall on the WR supermoto. Then I use it on my sled all winter. 80-120 mph all the time on the sled. It's not that bad.

As far as I'm concerned, if your bike looks anything like a dirt bike, you look like a tool with a street/ds lid.
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Haha, I look like a tool on my dual sport with full face AND big black leather jacket. I don't think an MX helmet would hold up as good as a full face helmet in the event of a crash.

I rode in April this year with my MX helmet and I kept using to put my hand over my mouth to warm my face up. In conjunction with one of those biking mask things it would be ok though.
 
"As far as I'm concerned, if your bike looks anything like a dirt bike, you look like a tool with a street/ds lid."

Who cares what you look like as long as you're comfortable.
 
To each his own, I'm not trying to ragg on anybody.

I'm just saying, when worn properly, an mx helmet can be just as comfortable as anything.

Great ventilation for hot summer days. Shut the vents and wear a balaclava/biker mask (combination of both for bitter-30 days) for colder days or nights.

Goggle to helmet fit is also a key factor
 
I found there was quite a difference in the fit of the dual sport helmet compared to a full face off road helmet like you prefer.

I had a Shoei DS helmet and wore it on a ride to Kapuskasing (700km day) and my head and face was killing me. Even though it was the largest they offer it pressed on my cheeks and squeesed my head in odd ways. Yet my Shoei off road helmet was perfect. Perhaps because of the sheild they have to narrow the chin bar area on the DS helmet.
 
imnothng said:
I don't think an MX helmet would hold up as good as a full face helmet in the event of a crash.
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Considering pro MX riders and freestylers bounce their heads off the deck on the regular, MX helmets are plenty safe. They pass all the same tests as your street lid does.

I dont like wearing mine on the street. You get too much airflow if it's anything less then a warm day. I also don't like the way you are pretty much stuck with one position because of the goggles. I tilt my street lid down a bit and I cant with mx helmet or it pinches my nose.

For offroad there is no comparison though. You would melt in a visored helmet.
 
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N3WMAN said:
Considering pro MX riders and freestylers bounce their heads off the deck on the regular, MX helmets are plenty safe. They pass all the same tests as your street lid does..
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yeah, I thought of that too. For the main head part I agree 100%, but not for the mouth guard. There is just no way to say a MX lid would hold up the same as a full face when going down at 100 or more on the highway, and then being run over by a truck. That's the kind of thing I was thinking about.
 
imnothng said:
There is just no way to say a MX lid would hold up the same as a full face when going down at 100 or more on the highway, and then being run over by a truck.
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I'm pretty sure you're **** outta luck in any helmet if you wipe out and your head gets run over by a truck...
 
bellofello said:
I'm pretty sure you're **** outta luck in any helmet if you wipe out and your head gets run over by a truck...
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I could be wrong, but didn't that happen to someone on here this summer and he walked away?

Again, the only part that concerns me safety wise would be the mouth guard area.
 
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