Arai Tour-X5 helmet review

The Arai Tour-X5's predecessor, the Tour-X4, was on the market for nearly 12 years, so an updated version was over-due. The new ECE 22-06 safety standard provided the opportunity for Arai to go back to the drawing board, to bring the helmet up to date, and to iron out some of the old helmet's flaws.

In essence, an adventure helmet is a helmet that looks like an off-road helmet, but that is designed for riding on the road. The distinguishing features are usually an extended chin bar and a peak. The Tour-X4 was the benchmark adventure helmet; far and away the most famous of its ilk. It pretty much owned the 'adventure' sector.

Arai make the best quality, and most protective helmets that money can buy. But the new ECE 22-06 standard almost certainly means that the new model is going to be more protective than the old one. But Arai has also taken the opportunity to update the helmet in a number of other areas.

The chin bar is now more rounded. Arai claim that they have done this to improve the helmet's 'glancing off' properties; glancing off being one of Arai's fundamental design precepts. The more rounded chin also means that the visor has a flatter profile; and this in turn means that its optical quality has been improved. The visor aperture is also larger, which is good for visibility. It is large enough to take even the largest off-road goggles.

The peak is one of the hallmarks of an adventure helmets, but it can also be a bugbear if most of your riding is on the road which, for most adventure bike riders, it is. A peak can cause buffeting and add wind noise. Which is why Arai has worked in the wind tunnel to improve the way the helmet's peak moves through the air. The most distinguishing feature here is a large cut out on the rear edge.

The old Tour-X4 was also often criticised for the complexity of its peak's fixing. It was tricky and laborious to take off, and put back on. The new visor removes far more easily, without any tools being required. But there is still some faff involved if you decide you want to ride the helmet without the peak, but with the visor, as you will need a screwdriver to replace the side plates.

One would normally expect an adventure helmet to be well vented; and the Tour-X5 is. It borrows from the Quantic its brow-mounted logo vent. There's another two-position vent on the top of the shell. You get an adjustable vent on the chin, with a switch inside the helmet that allows you to direct the incoming air over either the visor or the face. There are two, permanently-open exhaust ports at the back of the helmet. There's also an adjustable exhaust vent beneath the rear spoiler.

To make the Tour-X5 easier to get in and out of, the base of the new helmet has been widened slightly. There are now recesses to take speakers for a comms. system The Tour-X4 accrued near-iconic status in the motorcycle world. In truth, it looks as though the new helmet will be an improvement upon it in most key respects. The Arai Tour-X5 will never be the cheapest, adventure helmet, but it is almost certainly the best.

[SherpaMotoAdventures]

this dude is the best presenter in all the Moto industry. next level of details

[jaapbruijn]

I have my third Arai Tour X4 and I don‘t want anything else on my head anymore. Super helmet!!!

[honeyyeti]

First time watching your channel, this chap is a great presenter, really informative and very very balanced…excellent video..

[KHender]

Another phenomenal product review! I remain impressed with his knowledge of a wide variety of motorcycle kit!

[manuel_tp]

After 3 years using and loving my Tour X4, the only helmet I’m tempted to buy is the X5.

[facundolopez]

Brilliant review!!! There is so much knowledge condensed here. Thanks for sharing!

[grayknight]

Definitely think it was a mistake getting rid of the eyebrow vents ♨️, they’re perfect for the hot 🥵 summer months. The purpose for closing any vent is during very cold 🥶 winter riding. 🤙🏻

[BIGGGESTAL]

I have just bought the new X5 to replace my X4.
Massive improvement in the speaker recesses. Also a flat spot for comms on the outside of the helmet. A space in the curtain for wires too.
I had to go up a size for a perfect fit from L to XL.
I haven't ridden in it yet, but it feels glorious. Mine came with a pinlock fitted, too.

[davosat]

Can you please make review on airbags? The ones you wear under the jacket and also the ones you wear on a jacket. Thanks

[jjrider]

Is it just me or does the front edge of peak look distorted at 19:30 ?.. even in relation to it's own rear edge ? - It doesn't seem to be adjusted differently at either side and the helmet itself appears to be pretty straight-on to the camera, so if adjusting the peak position on the move can produce this type of effect on the peak itself surely that will result in a corresponding dramatic (and negative..) affect on the helmet's aerodynamics and balance ?..

[DragoniteMotoJP]

Best review on YouTube. Most critical.
My takeaway, I’ll keep my Hornet and wait for the Shoei Hornet 3.

[subarubrz]

I think it might be a good idea to reconsider your reception of drop-down sun visors compared to photochromic pinlocks. I use the later since years and I would never even think about using a drop-down instead of these. You have a good automatic adaptation - better than on/off - and you do not have to operate them manually by taking one hand off the handlebar. The price for these advantages - not taking into account the better security coming by not integrating a drop-down in the EPS - is for me much more than fair.

[gbner]

It looks like a decent upgrade to the XD-4. The only issue to me is the fact it's 800€ in EU. I think that's a tough price even for Arai standards. There is a lot of competition in this market, even for 22-06, and even cheaper helmets will offer a good safety level at this point, with most of them also having dropdown sunvisors or a transition shield. I really can't see this helmet get much interest, at least in my country Italy. Just for the fact alone that it doesn't have the dropdown sunvisor, which most riders here regard as a necessary feature for an ADV helmet.

[stephennewell]

I love my tour X4 after 3 years of use, hope the 5 is as comfy and good.

[michal_z]

Do you know if shoei is going to introduce a new version of Hornet according to the new 22.06 standard? In 2024?

[happytrails]

Have a few Shoei''s and Arai's, the XD-4 (us version) is the best helmet have even worn although its not perfect its very close. Was wondering if they ever do an XD-5 and now they have. Watching and waiting on more reviews and colors. Thanks for review!

[That_Paul_Guy]

I absolutely love my XD-4 in the winter months on the GSA to keep the sun out of my eyes. I really don’t like a tinted screen. In warmer months, I wear a Corsair X. Arai fits my head better than any other helmet but I do like the Neotec for a modular.

[karthiksivakumar]

I had seen your video are excellent. Which Arai Helmet is best suited for Ducati scrambler icon

[angelobaltoyannis]

Any news on Arai making a transition visor for the X5, like the one that comes with the Krios?
Tinted ones don’t help much, since they are useless without sunlight and it’s a pain riding with both visors with you..

[spazda_mx]

I've always regretted it whenever I bought a helmet that wasn't an Arai.