Sena's Stryker helmet - Comfortable and quiet with a great sound system and top intercom technology

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You probably know Sena for their motorcycle intercom technology rather than helmets. The Sena Stryker was one of their first forays into this new area. They made quite a splash with it and have followed up brilliantly with the new Phantom.

However, because the Stryker was certified to the previous ECE 22.05 safety standard, stocks are running low and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Most sizes are still currently available on the Sena site, but major retailers are stocking newer ECE 22.06 helmets.

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I’ve been riding with the Sena Stryker helmet for a few months now and really enjoying it. The built-in communication and technology features open up interesting dimensions for both commuting and touring. The icing on the cake is the quality sound from the Harman/Kardon speakers and microphone.

Is the Stryker a good looking helmet?

There is a cool, mysterious vibe about the overall look, especially when the sun visor is lowered. I’ve been testing the matt black version but it does also come in glossy white. The gun metal grey lines are subtle but smooth and give off an aerodynamic feel, along with the curving top vents and wrap-around visor.

What are the visors like?

Sena chose to treat the main visor with an anti-fog coating rather than the traditional Pinlock, and it worked just fine for me in colder temperatures. 

The visor is UV and scratch resistant and gives a clear line of sight throughout with no distortion or patches of blurring. The integrated sun visor sits low enough so that blinding winter sun can’t creep in underneath. The tint is dark enough to combat the glare, but not so dark that I can’t see in shaded areas. It operates smoothly and easily with no sticking or resistance, except for the click that lets you know it’s fully retracted.

Is it a quiet and comfortable helmet?

When I first tried on the Stryker I thought it felt a bit tight compared to my previous helmet, which I now realise is a bit loose. The inner padding of the Stryker is more snug than tight, and it feels securely in place on my head with no pressure points or sharp bits to irritate me as I ride. The material that lines the interior is soft on the skin and doesn’t rub uncomfortably, even after long spells in the saddle.

The Stryker is quite light at just over 3lbs, so it doesn’t feel heavy when riding and there’s no strain on my neck. It also doesn’t want to pull my head down or push it back at motorway speeds, which speaks for the aerodynamics.

And it’s not a noisy helmet. The wind doesn’t roar through like some helmets I’ve tried, and other outside noises like the engine and the din of traffic are not intrusive. Saying that, I always ride with ear plugs so I don’t know what it’s like without them. Even with earplugs some other helmets are quite noisy, but not the Stryker.

What about communication and the legendary Harman/Kardon sound?

How can I not listen to my playlists with such great sound in my helmet? Harman/Kardon are famous for their speakers and microphones and these helmet versions don’t disappoint. It’s like listening through a really good set of headphones with earplugs in, which normally wouldn’t make sense but of course it’s unavoidable on a motorbike. To benefit from these premium speakers I bought earplugs that allow the lovely sounds to come through but keep noise out. 

The bass fills the cavity beautifully, the midrange is ever-present, and the higher tones and vocals are clear as a bell. There is also a noise control setting for the microphone which reduces background noise during a conversation or recording.

The group communication features are equally impressive. Bluetooth 5.0 will connect with up to 4 other riders within 2km (1.2 miles). Group mesh intercom connects up to 24 riders in the same range in open terrain, but extends to 8km (5 miles) if only 6 riders are connected. There are 9 open mesh channels so you can always find one that isn’t busy.

What about ventilation?

Ventilation in the Stryker is well planned to keep air circulating and to prevent overheating and fogging up. On longer rides this has helped me stay cool, comfortable, and focussed on the road. 

There are three vents on top of the helmet to cool the top and sides of my head; one on the chin to cool my face; and a rear exhaust port for drawing hot, moist air out. The airflow is easily controlled by experimenting with the different vents and they are all easy to operate with gloves on.

Is this helmet good value for money?

Value is where I digress from my generally positive view on the Stryker. For £539 you’re getting a decent – but not top end – helmet with a multi-functional intercom system and the great Harman/Kardon sound system. But the reason I feel it’s overvalued at that price is the helmet itself is only certified to ECE 22.05 and it doesn’t feel like the same quality as a top of the range Arai, Shoei and Schuberth, which are in a similar price bracket. Those market leaders are also certified to the latest ECE 22.06 standard.

Also, intercom technology has advanced in the couple of years since the Stryker was launched. For these reasons I feel that, even though it’s still a great helmet, it is overpriced at £539 and should fall more into the mid-range category. As I mentioned, Sena is soon to launch the new Phantom helmet, and we should then see a price drop on the Stryker.

My verdict

I’ve enjoyed my time with the Sena Stryker helmet. Many times I would jump on my bike simply to indulge in my two favourite activities – riding and listening to music. It was never a hassle to slip on the Stryker and always a pleasure. When I did embark on longer distance travels the navigation and communication were clear as a bell and easy to operate. Sena, after all, are a world-class intercom and communications company at its core, and it makes sense that one of their first helmets had to be packed with tech. The Stryker has, I believe, done a good job of that and I’m looking forward to see what follows from Sena.

How MCN tests helmets

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.

We’ve worn and tested motorcycle helmets for hundreds or thousands of miles on our own bikes and on MCN test bikes, and we ride in all weathers and conditions, too. So we’ll never recommend a helmet we wouldn’t put our own head in!

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

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