The Shoei RF-SR2 wins our shootout, but the LS2 Assault III is the one we’d actually buy.
Summary: We rode five entry-level full-face street helmets from AGV, HJC, KYT, LS2 and Shoei to find the best mix of fit, airflow, vision, noise and value. The $499.99 Shoei RF-SR2 takes first as Best Overall. The $249.98 LS2 Assault III is the helmet we’d buy if we could pick only one.
Five full-face street helmets, five different ideas of what “entry-level” should feel like. We rode the AGV K1 S, HJC i11, KYT TT-Revo, LS2 Assault III and Shoei RF-SR2 back to back for this SpeedAddictsTV shootout. Fit still comes first, so use our Best Motorcycle Helmet Fitment Guide before you buy from a photo. The Shoei is the best helmet in the group. The LS2 is the one we’d spend our own money on. The HJC i11 is the one to get if you just want something that works and don’t want to spend a lot.
1st Place, Best Overall: Shoei RF-SR2 — $499.99
Calling a $499.99 helmet “entry-level” is a stretch. Think of it as the on-ramp into Shoei’s handmade-in-Japan family, which we already unpacked in our Shoei RF-SR 2 Review.
The interior is plush, and the fit is well balanced. The chin bar sits in the sweet spot: closer than the roomy HJC and LS2, but not in your teeth like the AGV and KYT. Peripheral vision is wide, the eyeport is tall, and the CWR-1 shield ties the KYT for the best optics here. A Pinlock EVO insert comes in the box; we just didn’t have it on our clear shield. The chin vent is excellent, the top vents are only okay, and the switches are fiddly with gloves on. Noise is the RF-SR2’s party trick: this is one of the quietest helmets you can buy.
Speaker pockets just barely accepted our Cardo Packtalk Pro 1.8 in (45 mm) JBL speakers. Our size medium weighed 3.6 lb (1,633 g). Want more airflow? The next step is the Shoei RF-1500.
Pros: Excellent all-day fit, very quiet, strong optics, Pinlock included, offset shield latch, five-year warranty, Snell M2025D and DOT.
Cons: Twice the price of everything else here, average top-vent airflow, vent switches are clumsy with gloves.
2nd Place, Best Value: LS2 Assault III — $249.98 ($279.98 Flag)
If we had to buy one helmet from this group, this would be it. Solids start at $249.98. The Flag Matte Black we tested is $279.98. For that, LS2 includes a Pinlock 70 MaxVision insert, a medium-smoke exterior shield and a drop-down internal sun visor that is wide, deep and doesn’t smear your nose. Need it darker? Drop the visor. Too dark? Pop it back up. You can ride day or night without swapping shields.
The size-medium fit is generous, more like the HJC than the snug AGV and KYT, with useful chin-bar room. It’s the only helmet here with a ratcheting micrometric chin strap. The eyeport is wide and fairly tall, close to the KYT, though the KYT’s optics are still sharper. Ventilation is good, about even with the i11 and a step behind the TT-Revo. Noise is a little quieter than average, even if the shield seal isn’t the tidiest. The helmet feels bulkier than the AGV and KYT, and the styling is the one thing we don’t love.
Speaker recesses should take larger drivers, and there’s a pocket for LS2’s own communicator. Our size medium weighed 3.8 lb (1,724 g), tying the HJC as the heaviest we weighed.
Pros: Drop-down sun visor, tinted shield and Pinlock included, generous fit, quiet enough, comms-friendly, best feature-per-dollar package.
Cons: Bulky looks, optics a step behind the KYT, heaviest as tested, shield seal could be better.
3rd Place, Most Racy: KYT TT-Revo — $169.99 ($174.99 Graphics)
Solids are $169.99. Graphics, including the Speeding colorway we tested, are $174.99. For that, you get a track-inspired shell, class-1 optical clarity and the best airflow in the group. The visor is the star: wide, tall and crisp, with enough upward view to actually see the road ahead. It ties the Shoei for the best optics, at one-third the price.
The fit is snug and racy, similar to the AGV, but the chin bar is a little farther from your mouth, so it feels less claustrophobic. It’s still close. The vents move a lot of air, and you can fine-tune the top exhausts. The tradeoff is noise: it’s a little loud, which is what you get when a $175 helmet flows this much air. The center-lock shield has a secure detent, though we still prefer an offset latch, and changing shields takes finesse. Speaker pockets are deep, but the diameter is tight; 1.8 in (45 mm) speakers will struggle.
It’s made in Indonesia. Our size medium weighed 3.6 lb (1,633 g).
Pros: Excellent optics and eyeport, strong airflow, sharp aero, terrific price, ECE 22.06 and DOT, three-year warranty.
Cons: Chin bar sits close, a bit noisy, awkward shield changes, tight speaker pockets, Pinlock not included.
4th Place, Best Budget Helmet: HJC i11 — $169.99
The i11 is the sleeper. If you want an affordable helmet that just plain works, this is the one we’d buy. Solids are $169.99. Graphics are $199.99, and the Acid Skull is $209.99, on HJC’s U.S. site. Our size medium had a generous, comfortable fit. It may feel a little big if you’re between a small and a medium, but for us that was a good thing. The eyeport is wide and tall. ACS ventilation is above average, the chin vent moves a surprising amount of air, and the controls are easy with gloves on. Despite the airflow, we wouldn’t call the i11 loud. Build quality at this price is better than you’d expect.
The HJ-38 shield is Pinlock-ready, but the insert is not included. Emergency quick-release cheek pads come standard. Our size medium weighed 3.8 lb (1,724 g), tying the LS2 as the heaviest we weighed.
Pros: Lowest solid-color price, comfortable generous fit, strong chin-vent airflow, good eyeport, Snell M2025D and DOT, emergency cheek-pad release.
Cons: Heaviest as tested, Pinlock not included, interior isn’t plush, not the quietest or slipperiest shape.
5th Place, Most Stylish: AGV K1 S — $249
If looks were the only category, the K1 S would be wearing the crown. It’s the raciest lid here, with that MotoGP-adjacent AGV silhouette and a rear spoiler, and solids start at $249. Graphics run $289 to $329. It’s also the lightest helmet here, at 3.48 lb (1,580 g). It doesn’t feel heavy, and it cuts air pretty well.
The fit is very snug, especially in the cheeks, and the chin bar sits close to your mouth, close enough to get annoying. Extra-small, small and medium share one shell; large through 2XL share the other. With the vents open, it actually flows more air than the HJC i11, but it’s a little louder than average. The bigger knocks are in the visor. The side-detent latch and the seal are good, and peripheral vision is wide. Top to bottom, though, the eyeport is short, and there’s noticeable distortion toward the top of the shield. If you like to look well down the road, this visor clips your view.
The shield is Pinlock 70 MaxVision prepared, but the insert is sold separately. Speaker pockets are wide enough for larger comms units, but the recesses are shallow. AGV’s U.S. page lists a one-year legal warranty that you can extend to five years by registering within 30 days of purchase. Do the paperwork if you want the coverage we mentioned in the video.
Pros: Best looks, lightest as tested, strong airflow, wide peripheral vision, easy side-detent shield, DOT and ECE 22.06.
Cons: Very snug fit and a close chin bar, short eyeport with top-of-shield distortion, a bit noisy, Pinlock not included, shallow speaker recesses.
Entry-Level Street Helmet Spec Comparison
| Spec | Shoei RF-SR2 | LS2 Assault III | KYT TT-Revo | HJC i11 | AGV K1 S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shootout award | 1st, Best Overall | 2nd, Best Value | 3rd, Most Racy | 4th, Best Budget | 5th, Most Stylish |
| U.S. MSRP | $499.99 | $249.98 solids; $279.98 Flag and most graphics | $169.99 solids; $174.99 graphics | $169.99 solids; $199.99–$209.99 graphics | $249 solids; $289–$329 graphics |
| Weight (size M) | 3.6 lb (1,633 g) | 3.8 lb (1,724 g) | 3.6 lb (1,633 g) | 3.8 lb (1,724 g) | 3.48 lb (1,580 g) |
| Shell material | AIM+ multi-fiber | Kinetic Polymer Alloy (KPA) | ADT advanced thermoplastic | Advanced Polycarbonate Composite | High-resistance thermoplastic |
| Shell sizes | 4 (XS–S, M, L, XL–2XL) | 3 (XS–S, M–L, XL–3XL) | 3 (XS–S, M–L, XL–2XL) | 3 (XS–S–M, L, XL–2XL) | 2 (XS–S–M, L–2XL) |
| Size range | XS–2XL | XS–3XL | XS–2XL | XS–2XL | XS–2XL |
| Certifications | Snell M2025D and DOT | ECE 22.06 and DOT | ECE 22.06 and DOT | Snell M2025D and DOT | ECE 22.06 and DOT |
| Pinlock | Pinlock EVO included | Pinlock 70 MaxVision included | Pinlock 70 ready, not included | Pinlock-ready, not included | Pinlock 70 MaxVision ready, not included |
| Internal sun visor | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Chin strap | Double D-ring | Micrometric ratchet | Double D-ring | Double D-ring | Double D-ring |
| Warranty | 5 years (U.S.) | 2 years (per our shootout; confirm with LS2 USA) | 3-year limited | 3 years from purchase or 5 from manufacture, whichever first | 1 year, or 5 years if registered within 30 days |
| Made in | Japan | N/A | Indonesia | N/A | N/A |
Want a plain-English breakdown of those safety stickers? Read our DOT vs. ECE vs. Snell Explainer.
Which Helmet Should You Buy?
Buy the Shoei RF-SR2 if you want the best helmet here and $499.99 isn’t a deal-breaker. Buy the LS2 Assault III for the smartest spend: sun visor, tinted shield and included Pinlock cover a lot of real riding. Buy the KYT TT-Revo for a racy fit, a huge crisp visor and strong airflow. Buy the HJC i11 if you want the least expensive helmet that simply works. Buy the AGV K1 S if the look matters most and you have a smaller head that likes a snug, light shell. Try them on if you can, including at the Speed Addicts Superstore in Orange, California.
Entry-Level Street Helmet FAQ
Which entry-level street helmet won the shootout?
The Shoei RF-SR2 took first as Best Overall. The LS2 Assault III finished second as Best Value, and it’s the helmet we’d buy if we could pick only one.
Which helmets include a Pinlock insert?
The Shoei RF-SR2 includes a Pinlock EVO insert, and the LS2 Assault III includes a Pinlock 70 MaxVision insert. The AGV, HJC and KYT are Pinlock-ready, but the insert is sold separately.
Does any helmet have an internal sun visor?
Only the LS2 Assault III. It also ships with a medium-smoke exterior shield, so you can ride in changing light without swapping visors.
Are these helmets DOT certified?
Yes. All five are DOT certified. The Shoei RF-SR2 and HJC i11 also have Snell M2025D. The AGV K1 S, KYT TT-Revo and LS2 Assault III also have ECE 22.06.
Want more Moto-1 in your Google results?
Add Moto-1 as a Preferred Source on Google
