MCN testers have worn these sporty helmets for 30k miles combined | What we learned about this crop of ECE 22.06 options

Sportsbikes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and price points and that’s also true of sporty motorcycle helmets. You might want the latest FIM-approved lid to wear on your Panigale V4 for a track day, or you could need a road-friendly option that works on the Yamaha R125 you ride to college in all weathers.

The aerodynamic shape of a sports helmet also makes it a great option for riding a naked or super naked, too, and the less aggressive options look right at home on a sports-tourer.

Best sporty helmets at a glance

• Budget option: AGV K1-S
• Professional grade: Shoei X-SPR Pro
• Sports-touring in style: Arai Quantic

So whether you’re chasing lap times, heading out for a Sunday blast, commuting to work or exploring on a longer tour, a sporty motorbike helmet could be the ideal choice.

• Just bought a sportsbike? Read our complete sportsbike gear guide

Here are some of the best we’ve tested recently at MCN – alongside each option you’ll find details of who tried it and for how long and you can find out more about how we test here.

Jump to:

• Best sporty motorbike helmets
• Things to consider before you buy
• Sporty helmet features to look for
• How we test

Best sporty motorbike helmets

This selection is taken from across the market, everything here has achieved at least four stars overall in our test but they appear in no particular order. If you love your sporty helmet but can’t see it on the list, get in touch at mcn.online@motorcyclenews.com.

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Things to consider before you buy a sporty motorbike helmet

The latest helmet safety standard is ECE 22.06, and all of the options in this list are certified as such. It is still perfectly legal to buy a helmet that meets the previous standard (ECE 22.05) and there are actually some great deals available – but once stocks are gone, they are gone.

As well as the ECE 22.06 standard, you will need an ACU (Auto Cycle Union, the UK governing body of motorcycle motorsport) sticker if you want to go on a track.

Also look for a SHARP rating; this is a government testing and rating scheme that awards up to five stars for safety. Not all helmets are tested so if a lid doesn’t have a SHARP rating, it doesn’t mean it’s no good but a one- or two-star rating usually does.

At the pinnacle of protection are those helmets which have received FIM homologation. This involves passing a series of tests stipulated by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, motorcycle sport’s governing body worldwide, in order to be approved for use at the highest level of racing.

American DOT ratings do not apply in the UK and are not as difficult to achieve as ECE approval.

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What helmet features do I want?

The sportiest helmets (and all Arai models) don’t come with drop down sun visors because on a sunny day on track you simply swap to a dark visor. If you are touring or regularly ride in mixed conditions, you might want to look at a helmet that includes this feature.

Visors must be marked with a BSI or ECE stamp to be road legal in the UK and anything that blocks more than 50% of light is not road legal.

Chin straps are available in double-D ring, ratchet, seatbelt or magnetic clasps, with the sportiest helmets usually opting for the security of the double D-ring.

Make sure you have enough vision out of the top of the visor, too. I’ve worn supposedly sporty helmets before that seem fine when you’re sitting up around town or in a half tuck but completely obscure your vision with your chin on the tank.

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How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

We rate helmets out of five stars for comfort, visor, ventilation, noise, looks, quality, value and overall.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.