Get the best of both worlds with MCN's pick of the best flip-front motorcycle helmets
![Best flip-front helmets tried and tested by MCN](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/822x548/best-flip-front-motorcycle-helmets-tat.jpg)
Unlike a single-piece full-face helmet, a flip-front has a separate chin-bar that lifts up, exposing the face while the helmet is still on. Not only does this allow people to see your face for ID, such as in a petrol station or a shop, but it also allows air to your face in hot conditions. Plus, you’ll be able to grab a drink, a bite to eat or simply have a quick chat with another rider or your pillion without taking your helmet completely off.
Why flip-front over full face?
Many people swear by a flip-front motorcycle helmet and once you’ve tried one, it easy to see why. They offer excellent versatility as well as (potentially) comfort and protection and can make struggling to get your lid off for a drink or to pay for petrol a thing of the past.
Another benefit is that because the helmet is put on with the flip in the up position, a modular can often give a better seal around the neck since the aperture doesn’t need to go over your head. This can mean a more comfortable fit, fewer draughts and lower noise.
- Are you in America? Find our best modular helmets USA page here
One historic criticism of flip-front helmets was that they always looked ungainly and larger than corresponding full-face items. Inevitably, they are a little heavier than their full-face counterparts like sports-touring helmets, due to extra hinges and fasteners, but most models are available in lightweight carbon nowadays (albeit more expensive than composite) and the design on many doesn’t look like a flip.
Safety ratings
One thing to consider with flip-front helmets is homologation. Since January 2024, all helmets have to conform to regulation ECE 22.06 to be legally supplied to retailers in the UK. The newer regulation forces manufacturers to test their flip-front helmets with the chin bar in both raised and closed positions, providing ‘dual homologation’.
If you’re still wearing an ECE 22.05 lid though, it’s a bit more complicated. For flip helmets, they can either be ‘P’ or ‘J’ homologated, or both. P means it is certified for protective when the flip is closed and J means it provides adequate protection when the flip is open (it will need to be locked open to conform). If you want to ride with the flip open, then it should be both P/J approved (Protective/Jet – the latter being the term for open-face lids in some markets), that means it has dual homologation.
Like all helmets, a SHARP rating is also useful in order to judge safety ratings. This government scheme tests and rates helmets for safety with a rating out of five stars, with five being the most protective.
The best flip-front helmets we’ve tested
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/250559/820x0/hjc_rpha-91-helmet_2023_008.jpg)
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/250559/820x0/hjc_rpha-91-helmet_2023_008.jpg)
This has all the practical elements that I’ve come to expect. The drop-down sun-visor is easy to operate, via a lever on the left underside of the helmet and the visor is sufficiently tinted to be of use. There’s a Pinlock anti-fog insert, which is essential for year-round riding."
Read our full HJC RPHA 91 review
Pros
- Really happy with the quality, comfort and fit
- Riding 10 hr days in this helmet is no problem
- Vents are well placed and offer enough draught to be comfortable even on the warmest day
- It has all the practical elements that I’ve come to expect from HJC
Cons
- Quite pricey at close to £500, but in my opinion it’s worth the investment
- At 1700g it is heavier than most lids I’ve worn of late but the weight doesn’t make it uncomfortable.
Weight | Unknown |
Construction | Carbon-aramid hybrid and natural fibre shell |
Chin strap type | Quick release |
Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL |
Warranty | 5 years |
Safety Standard | ECE 22.06 |
- Flip-front helmet with full front-to-back airflow
- Pinlock anti-fog insert
- Anti-scratch coated visor
- Drop-down sun visor
- Glasses grooves
- Removable and washable interior
- Quick release closure
Adventure style flip front
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/820x0/schuberth_helmet_2023_10.jpg)
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/820x0/schuberth_helmet_2023_10.jpg)
The marketing bumpf does claim superior aerodynamic properties for this lid, and they claim it’s very quiet, but in fairness this is borne out by my experience. It’s a quiet helmet at most speeds, and clearly the design features a number of attributes aimed at smoothing airflow. As you’d expect for a lid with integrated communications systems, they perform flawlessly, with perfect sound quality for listening to music or using the phone."
Read our full Schuberth E2 review
Pros
- The visor has a very wide aperture, meaning a vast field of vision.
- It’s the only flip-front at this price with an adventure-style peak
- Comfortable for me as there are no pressure points for my shape of head and the chin strap has Velcro-secured padding
- Impressive integrated comms system available (sold separately)
- Comes with a five-year warranty against manufacturing defects
Cons
- The feeling of quality of some of the materials leaves a little to be desired
- The peak is too bendy and the visor fittings feel flimsy
Weight | 1695g (or 1850g with comms system) |
Construction | Composite |
Chin strap type | Quick release |
Intercom ready? | Yes |
Drop down sun visor? | Yes |
Pinlock? | Yes |
Interior | Removable |
Shell sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL |
Warranty | Five-year |
Safety standard | ECE 22.06 |
Pre installed Pinlock insert
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/820x0/schuberth-c5-helmet.jpg)
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/820x0/schuberth-c5-helmet.jpg)
The Schuberth C5 has nearly as many ventilation options as my car, and while this seems a bit overwhelming at first, you quickly get used to the different options and when they function best. The main vents have washable filters and the top one can be popped off the helmet for cleaning, too.
On the chin there’s a big slider that covers up two vents, blasting cooling air straight into your face. Above this is a tab that rocks back and forth, which when open creates a curtain of air from the bottom to the top of the visor."
Read our full Schuberth C5 review.
Pros
- Dual homologated so you can legally ride with it open or closed
- One of the first helmets to be certified to ECE 22.06
- Comes with Pinlock already installed
- It’s really cleanly styled – you could easily mistake it for a regular helmet
- It's one of the most complete helmets on sale today
Cons
- The thin red catch that releases the chin bar could do with being a bit more substantial
- Some find it noisy but I was fine with it
- The sun visor can be a little stiff sometimes
Weight | 1660g +/- 50g | Size 61: 1810g +/-50g |
Construction | fiberglass shell reinforced with carbon fiber |
Chin strap type | Quick release |
Intercom ready? | Yes |
Drop down sun visor? | Yes |
Pinlock? | Yes |
Interior | Washable and removable |
Shell sizes | <strong>Shell 1 [</strong> XS (53) – S (55) – M (57) – L (59) <strong>] </strong> | <strong>Shell 2 [</strong> XL (61) – XXL (63) – XXXL (65)<strong> ]</strong> |
Warranty | 5 years |
Safety Standard | ECE 22.06 |
- Vents to brow and chin with rear exhausts
- Vents have washable and exchangeable filters
- Prewired speakers and wire harness for optional addition of intercom
- Visor memory function so that the chin bar returns to previously set position
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/820x0/shoeineotec3_helmet.jpg)
![](https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/206780/820x0/shoeineotec3_helmet.jpg)
Read our full Shoei Neotec 3 review here.
Pros
- There are three different fabrics for the interior, all of which have a soft, premium feel
- One of the quietest helmets I’ve owned
- I had my Neotec custom fitted and the result was superb and would be worth the extra outlay
- The boom mounted mic picks up my voice without shouting, and the Harmon/Kardon speakers reproduce both music and speech well
- Given that it's a flip-front, ventilation isn’t exactly lacking when desperately needed
- The one handed flip operation works really well
- A firm visor mechanism holds the shield exactly where you put it - no slipping
Cons
- It surprised me by being quite heavy
- The micrometric strap won't suite everyone, especially those used to a D-ring
Weight | 1,826g with intercom / 1,750g without |
Construction | AIM (Advanced Integrated Matrix) |
Chin strap type | Micrometric buckle |
Intercom ready | Yes |
Drop down sun visor | Yes |
Pinlock | Yes |
Interior | Fully removable and washable |
Shell sizes | 3 |
Warranty | 5 years |
Safety standard | ECE 22.06 |
- Pinlock insert included
- Mist resistant CNS3C visor with centre locking sytstem
- Fully removable and washable interior
- Integrated spoiler
- Chin and brow vents
FAQ
Are modular helmets safe?
Flip-front or modular helmets are subjected to the same safety standards as any other helmet so the short answer is yes, however a flip-front helmet may not be as safe as a true full-face helmet due the chin bar not being fully attached to the rest of the helmet. They are however safer than an open face helmet and of course safer than no helmet at all.
How often should I replace my helmet?
It is generally advised that a motorcycle helmet should be replaced every five years. This is because various factors such as UV rays from the sun or sweat can damage the protectiveness of your helmet over time. This is regardless of if you have had an incident in the helmet. It is recommended that the helmet is replaced after a crash or accident too, though.
Can I ride with the helmet in the open position?
Manufacturers advise that flip-front helmets are only worn in the closed position while riding a motorcycle. The flip-front feature is designed for ease of putting on and use off the bike, making communication, eating and drinking etc possible without removal of the helmet.
How MCN tests flip-front helmets
At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our helmets to destruction; we use them 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.
Each reviewer tests helmets in ways both subjective and objective. This includes the helmet’s safety rating, if comms systems are compatible, type of chin strap, weight and whether it has a drop-down sun visor, looks, ease of flip mechanism and aerodynamic properties.
MCN covers countless miles each week and tries lots of options in a short space of time. We quickly discover which helmets feel great, which ones don’t and why.
We’ve tried and tested these flip-front helmets for hundreds or thousands of miles on MCN test bikes and we’ll never recommend a helmet we wouldn’t wear ourselves!
If you can’t see a review against a flip-front helmet on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These helmets will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles. To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.
Our scores explained
When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:
- 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
- 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
- 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
- 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
- 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.
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