Are you searching for a dual-sport helmet with such a sweet price that puts a smile on your face and also be as effective as a trustworthy helmet?
Well, if you are looking for something like that, this Pioneer V2 helmet from LS2 might be worth checking out. There is another helmet from LS2 on our Best Budget Dual-sport Helmet list, which looks almost identical to this one, the LS2 Blaze.
The LS2 Pioneer V2 is an adventure helmet with a very competitive price range. Like any other dual-sport helmet, you can use this one as an off-road dirt bike helmet and a standard street helmet. The looks of this helmet are kind of cool, and it’s more of an off-road-oriented helmet, so it has an aggressive look as well. The looks and the built quality also seemed pretty decent, considering the price at least.
Let’s just point out all the details about this LS2 Pioneer V2 helmet without further ado.
LS2 Pioneer V2 Helmet Review
Structure and Design
Well, it’s an adventure helmet, right? So, it does have the characteristics of an adventure helmet. This helmet has an aggressive look in it; the styling is so cool. Although you can use this helmet as both a dirt bike helmet and a street helmet, this one is more of an off-road one.
The peak is a nice and flexible one, and there are two adjusting screws on the top of the helmet instead of one. That’s a thing you might notice at first glance of this helmet. But it is totally an adjustable one; you can adjust the peak level according to your preference.
The peak removal is simple enough; all you’ll need is a coin or something like that to detach the peak visor and make it a street helmet.
One of the nitpicks about this helmet. Actually, almost all the budget adventure helmets are they tend to be loud. I mean, there are the premium ones like the Shoei Hornet X2; those will give you a comparatively low noise level. But this is a budget dual-sport helmet, and there you have it.
Ventilation
While riding off-road or even on a highway street, a well-ventilated helmet is a must. Especially for off-road riding when you will be riding at low speed for a long time. You’ll need a helmet that intakes a decent amount of air and pass them through the helmet with all the warm and hot air from inside.
This Pioneer V2 helmet got a really well ventilation structure. There are a bunch of intake vents that take tons of air inside. Here, you’ll have the option of either opening or closing the chin vent.
However, the other intake vents are passive or always open. So, you might have a hard time here in the rainy and winter seasons; those vents are the top chimney vents and jaw vents. Although the jaw vent gives the helmet a pretty aggressive look, it looks awesome.
And all the air that comes into the helmet from the front vents passes through the air-channeled EPS liner. And it takes out of the helmet all the warm air from inside and makes the interior nice and cool.
Safety Measurements
Well, you have to have something good enough to keep your head safe on the roads. The last thing you want is an unsafe helmet over your head if you, unfortunately, happen to be in a crush.
Like some of the other helmets from LS2, such as the Metro V3, this one also got a KPA shell. That is a Kinetic Polymer Alloy shell, which might not be the best shell material out there, but it’ll do the job considering the price.
I’ll say that the emergency cheek pads release mechanism is something I found rather unexpected. Most of the higher-end motorcycle helmets usually come with this life-saving feature.
The chin strap here is a quick-release one, and you can get a Double D Ring strap and fit it in the helmet, though. This helmet is also DOT, and ECE rated, which is really good. And that also proves that this helmet is safe enough to wear on the streets of the U.S.
Face Shield or Visor
It doesn’t matter what kind of bike you ride, being able to see other drivers is critical. The smallest visual distortion can cause a possibly dangerous situation on the road. So, make sure the helmet you are choosing confirms nice and clear visibility. It always doesn’t have to be those shiny mirror visors all the time, but the face shield should give you a clear view.
The thing about these adventure helmets is that they usually have huge viewports. And the same goes with this helmet; it got a viewpoint that can easily fit any off-roading goggles.
The face shield here is a nice and clear Polycarbonate made, which is good enough. The shield is also anti-scratch and UV protected, which you’ll see in all the helmets out there and is useful too.
Another impressive thing is that this is a Pinlock-ready shield, and these Pinlock inserts work so nicely to prevent fogging. The shield removal system is also pretty simple; to be honest, this is the same as so many budget adventure helmets out there. The shield removal screw is the same one as the peak removal one, so you shouldn’t face any trouble here.
Interior
An uncomfortable helmet can be such a pain when you can’t really take the helmet off for safety reasons. And also can’t keep wearing this thing because it’s not so comfortable. You should confirm that the helmet you spend money on is comfortable enough. It always doesn’t have to be as premium as the Arai XD4, but it should be comfortable enough.
The interior of this LS2 Pioneer V2 seemed to be pretty decent. Of course, it’s not the best you’ll find out there, but the built materials aren’t too shabby. It’s built with a breathable Hypoallergenic fabric, and that’s good. And certainly, you can completely detach the interior and put it for a wash.
This helmet is actually eyewear friendly, which is a pretty nice feature within the price this one comes in. However, there’s another nitpick about this helmet, and that is there isn’t any speaker cut out for this helmet. Yes, you can fit your com unit inside the helmet, but it’ll probably be too tight.
Fitting and Size
Well, you can’t enjoy an adventure ride if the fitting isn’t correct. You might find yourself with a helmet that’s going to pop your eyes out or a helmet waggling over your head. So, it’s good to spend a little bit of time researching your head shape and size and then start selecting the helmet you want.
The sizing of this LS2 Pioneer V2 is almost like any other helmet out there. This one comes from size XS (53-54 cm) to size 3XL (65-66 cm). And the head shape comes with the Intermediate Oval; it might feel like a long oval, narrower from the sides. And this helmet comes with three shell sizes and 3 EPS line sizes; that’s something we usually see in higher-end helmets.
Pros
- Pinlock ready shield
- Great value for the price
- Inner sun shield included
- Eyewear-friendly interior
- A decent ventilation structure
- Detachable and washable interior
- Emergency cheek pads removal system
Cons
- A bit loud
- Not so great build quality
Conclusion
This helmet from LS2 is an adventure helmet, which gives you the ability to use the helmet in both dual-sport conditions. The street helmet performance and also the off-road experience. And this one has a very affordable price on top of that. If you are looking for a dual-sport helmet without spending lots of money, this one might be the right choice for you.
Of course, this helmet isn’t gonna be something like the Klim Krios. But this LS2 Pioneer V2 isn’t gonna be a bad deal either.
If you are looking for something like this helmet, you might also like some of the other helmets.
So, all the riders out there, have a great time!