Shoei Hornet ADV full face helmet test

Menus

• 4 shell sizes, 8 colors, around € 590
• A top-of-the-range "adventure" style helmet, but comfortable and versatile
• Discovery
• On the highway
• On small roads
• Daily
• Conclusion

4 shell sizes, 8 colors, around € 590

A top-of-the-range "adventure" style helmet, but comfortable and versatile

The Shoei Hornet ADV is an adventure helmet. That is to say, like the BMW R1200GS and the Peugeot 3008, it is all about the SUV. It is both a full face helmet and almost a cross helmet. Its visor gives it a backpacker look and the full-face helmet-like screen gives it a total closure.

Discovery

In its matt black livery (Matt Black), the helmet shows quality finishes. It has as standard a Pin-Lock, the EQRS (Emergency Quick Release system) which allows a rapid removal of the helmet in an emergency and a "Double D" closure guaranteeing safety and comfort. The AIM + shell is made of a superposition of several layers of different materials (glass fibers, organic fibers, multi-composite fibers) giving it maximum absorption and rigidity. As usual with Shoei, the screen mounting system is accessible and visible.

It is available in 8 finishes (4 solid colors and 4 "decorations") and 4 types of screens (ref CNS-2) available in the catalog, clear, smoked, dark and iridium. This helmet benefits from a bold and modern design that is rather rewarding. In the Shoei range, it is in fact an evolution of the Hornet DS.

On the highway

The biggest fear that we can have with this helmet concerns the aerodynamics of the cross type visor (ref V-460). Well, let’s kill the suspense right away: it doesn’t bother and we can even raise our heads a little on the highway. The visor is dotted with small spoilers which allow the air flow to be channeled and thus prevent excessive wind resistance. This same visor ends on a spoiler which perfects the management of the air flow. On the other hand, the helmet has a more "pointed" profile (seen from above) which makes it easier to keep your head in line. The counterpoint to this is simple: you are more sensitive to turbulence generated by vehicles. The highways being populated by SUVs (again them!) And other minivans, all these vehicles sharing the aerodynamic coefficients of washing machines, the problem will often arise and will require working your safety distances. Despite this, the helmet remains really comfortable at high speed, it does not tire the neck and in case of fatigue, putting the visor in the aerodynamic extension of a nose screen will give you a little rest. The presence of a bib to cut off upwelling under the chin is a real plus.

We will also find the Hornet ADV a bit noisy on this exercise. Note that the visor can be removed to make the exercise quieter. By default I advise the use of earplugs anyway.

On small roads

This is where the helmet reveals itself. Taking advantage of a very wide field of vision, it allows you to fully understand your environment. It is obviously less noisy and the visor allows you to shelter your eyes from the sun for a good part of the day, making the day of riding less tiring. The foams are comfortable and, as is often the case with Shoei, hug the face without generating any movement or discomfort. You can drive with the screen ajar (presence of a muffler) at moderate speed and take advantage of the very good air circulation.

Daily

The Shoei Hornet ADV is very easy to handle. The ventilation inlets are located in the front (chin and forehead) and the extractors at the top of the back of the helmet. The ventilation at the chin is a bit resistant to handling sometimes (and even worse with heavy gloves) but nothing prohibitive. The "Double D" closure works wonderfully and the screen is easy to operate, allowing a notch to open to ventilate if necessary. Unlike the Hornet DS, it is no longer necessary to remove the visor to disassemble the screen. It’s always taken and it facilitates changes and other manipulations.

The Pinlock does its job without batting an eyelid and allows you to maintain perfect visibility even in conditions of severe cold and / or humidity (test carried out at the top of the Furkapass by 3 degrees, in fog and rain).

Conclusion

After 3,000 km of travel, I have a very positive assessment of this helmet. Looked, light (1550gr) and comfortable, this Hornet ADV lends itself to many different uses and seemed to me to be a perfect roadtrip companion that goes well with my SUV-type motorcycle too. It reassures by its quality of manufacture, by its ease of handling and its very wide field of vision. The shape of the helmet makes it more civilized than a cross-country helmet and above all more suitable for travel. Having had conditions between hot (over 30 ° without wind) and cold (3 ° with wind and rain), I appreciated that the helmet can sometimes keep my head warm and sometimes cool it down without too much manipulations. I have known helmets that the heat quickly made unbearable and there, at no time is the helmet too present. Once again, its comfort and low weight make it perfect for long days of riding..

Strong points

• Look and finishes
• Lightweight (1.550 g) and comfortable
• Wide field of vision
• Versatility

Weak points

• High speed noise
• Sensitivity to turbulence

Test conditions

• Route: 3,000 km to the Swiss Alps, the Stelvio and the Dolomites, with a few highways and a lot of mountain roads
• Problem encountered: none

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