Dan reviews the LS2 Thunder Carbon helmet after several track days and many road miles

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The LS2 Thunder Carbon is a motorcycle helmet that is designed for sporty road and trackday riders, as well as some lower-level racers. Starting at £399.99 for a basic colour, it sits second in the LS2 track helmet hierarchy, with the more expensive Thunder GP Pro starting at £574.99.

Given its sporting disposition, I have spent my time testing the LS2 aboard my 2024 Honda CBR600RR long-term test bike, plus a few gentler miles aboard leftfield naked motorbikes like my own Royal Enfield Classic 350, and even BMW’s plug-in CE 02 urban electric.

I’ve also worn it for multiple trackdays – testing its vision when tucked in, as well as high speed stability on the straights. As a fan of this kind of riding, I’ve previously tested many sport helmets including the LS2’s more expensive rivals including the £699.99-on Shoei X-SPR Pro, and £649.99-on HJC RPHA 1. I’m also currently testing HJC’s more road-biased sporty RPHA 12, so keep an eye out for a review of that soon.

How comfortable is the LS2 Thunder Carbon?

The LS2 Thunder Carbon is a comfortable helmet for the road, despite its track-focussed nature. At 1280g, it feels nice and light on your head and it cuts through the air nicely with minimal buffeting on faired and naked bikes.

Despite looking fairly large in your hands, it sits snug on your head, with the side only let down by some occasional pressure on the top right side of my head. It’s never enough to cause me to stop though, and I’ve never noticed it on circuit, when you’re more focussed on the task in hand.

Also welcome is the chin curtain, which I’ve left in place during the summer as it’s done an excellent job of keeping the pollen away from my hay fever-riddled face and vastly improved my summertime riding experience. It manages to do this with getting too hot, or steaming up either.

I’ve worn the helmet on straight line motorway slogs, as well as winding weekend rides and track excursions, and it’s been perfectly pleasant in each scenario. It is not perfect though, as I’ll allude to below, but it does a great job for the price point.

What’s the visor like on the LS2 Thunder Carbon?

The visor is one of the best bits on the LS2 and something that immediately sticks out when you look at it. Coming with a clear lens installed and a tinted option sold separately, it’s one of the largest visors of any sporting helmets I’ve used and provides excellent frontal and peripheral vision for the rider.

Things are also very clear when you tuck in on circuit, with no obstruction when looking upwards, towards the next corner. A central HJC-style locking button shuts with an audible click, and it’s easily pressed open with a gloved hand, even on the move.

The visor mechanism itself is also far easier to use than that exterior wheel design would have you believe. Looking like some kind of micro hubcap stuck on to each of your temples, it’s my least favourite design feature on an otherwise great looking lid.

It doesn’t even need to be there either, playing no part in visor changes, or locking your visor in place. Outside of that, it’s easily cleaned and comes with one Pinlock Max vision anti-fog insert in the box.

How good is the ventilation on the LS2 Thunder Carbon?

On this helmet, you get a range of vents – all of which are easily operated with a gloved hand on the move. There’s no fiddly internal chin faffery, just solid, chunky, external adjustments that won’t distract you from the road, should you want to make a change.

There are large chin and top air intake vents, plus rear spoiler exhaust ports, and unlike some helmets on the market you can actually feel them working when they’re open – especially around your forehead.

It’s also never steamed up, even during heavy breathing on track, and should things get hot and sweaty, there’s a removable and washable interior that’s also breathable and hypoallergenic, too.

Is it a noisy helmet?

Noise is something that lets the LS2 down somewhat. It’s not the quietest helmet in this field, and you’ll notice the howl of the wind regularly at road-going speeds. I should also add that I almost always wear earplugs and will only ever leave them out on a short jaunt across town.

This noise would’ve once been acceptable in a sporty helmet, but we’re living in a time of very sophisticated performance designs, with many now offering a level of sound deadening that could be mistaken for a touring alternative.

On circuit, it’s amplified, and something you’ll still occasionally still notice – despite focussing on threading from one corner to the next.

It’s not overly distracting and isn’t likely to cause too much fatigue on a longer journey – you’re just aware of the passing wind, and I’d say it’s one of the louder track-orientated lids I’ve sampled.

Is the LS2 Thunder Carbon a good looking helmet?

If you ignore the visor mechanism, which really doesn’t do it for me, this is a great looking helmet. It’s also nicely finished and feels like it’s going to stand the test of time well. I’m looking forward to completing many more road and track miles in it.

As a fan of colourful crash helmets, it would be nice to have a more varied selection of colours to choose from though.

Also, whilst the large visor is a blessing for vision, it does expose a lot of your face when you’re using a clear visor. That’s no real issue in terms of riding, but I find that less desirable in the looks department – preferring to have as much of my faced tucked away as possible.  

What’s the quality like?

Quality is again very impressive on the LS2 Thunder Carbon. All of the vents click and lock in a sturdy and satisfying way. The visor also opens and closes without fuss, with no resistance from the mechanism, and changes from clear to dark made in a matter of seconds.

The chin strap is also sturdy, with two chunky metal D-ring fasteners and an easily accessible popper on the end. Should anything go wrong, you’ll also find emergency quick release cheek pads, plus a reflective neck roll to make you more visible in lower light conditions.

A gloss finish makes it easier to clean than a matte design, too, and you get a two-year warranty with the item, should anything go wrong down the line. It meets ECE22.06 regulations and comes with an ACU Gold sticker, meaning it can go on UK racetracks.

Is the LS2 Thunder Carbon good value for the money?

Yes, it’s not the quietest helmet in the world, and some others cut through the air more effectively, but this LS2 Thunder Carbon is a helmet that punches above its price tag, and is worthy of your consideration.

Starting at less than £400 (some online sellers have it listed far cheaper still), the quality feels on par with a sporting Shoei, or HJC RPHA 1, with both of these options costing hundreds of pounds more. You get a lot for your money, with a Pinlock insert in the box with your purchase, plus a two-year warranty.

Other options for this sort of money include the HJC RPHA 12, and AGV K6.

So what’s the verdict?

I would happily recommend the LS2 Thunder Carbon to someone in the market for a reasonably priced sporting helmet.

It’s comfortable for much of the time and has great vision on the road and track. It’s not the quietest helmet I’ve ever used, even with earplugs in, but it’s not dangerously noisy – you’re just aware that it’s rattling past your ears.

The vents are easily operated in gloves and actually make a tangible different. I just wish they made it in some more colourful designs, and did away with that wheel-like visor mechanism that spoils the look of an otherwise handsome helmet.

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