The Arai XD-4 Helmet is certain to be one of the most sought-after helmets of the upcoming riding season as it replaces, and provides significant upgrades over, the leading dualsport helmet on the market, the XD3. Every serious ADV and dualsport enthusiast out there recognizes that the XD-3 is the pinnacle of this category, and Arai hopes to build on its success with the release of the Arai XD4 Helmet. With improvements to ventilation, fit and aerodynamics, we have no question that Arai has achieved what they set out to do.
Let's dive right into the upgrades that are found on the Arai XD 4 Helmet. Starting with ventilation, the venting at the face has been improved with redesigned chin vents and the addition of brow vents. Seen on other Arai helmets, these brow vents have been a hit amongst riders wearing the RX-Q and others. Channeling air directly to the forehead, these brow intakes are a significant improvement in overall ventilation. The chin vent has added two additional intake holes to draw even more air into the helmet. The side-of-chin vents feed the FFS (Free Flow System) which is designed to suck air around the lower portion of the helmet, increasing airflow and preventing shield fogging. The top-rear exhaust vents have been improved as well, the addition of two divots that help to pull more air through this lid.
Next up is the interior fit of the helmet. Using technology that we first saw in the Arai Vector 2 Helmet last year, the new XD-4 Helmet is using the FCS (Facial Contour Support) system in the cheek pads, which utilizes an additional 5mm of peel-away foam padding at each side to allow for a custom fit. This is also found at the temple pads of the comfort liner. By having a total of 10mm of adjustability at the temples and cheekpads, it allows the rider to avoid having to buy new cheekpads or a comfort liner if the fit is slightly off, making this helmet more accommodating to a wider range of head shapes. Both the liner and cheek pads are now using DryCool fabric, an upgraded antibacterial and moisture-wicking material. Everything is fully removable and washable, including the chinstrap covers.
The shell has been redesigned for aerodynamics to allow for more stability at higher speeds when using this helmet on the street. A glance at the XD-3 and the XD-4 makes it easy to see that the profile of the new helmet is sleeker than it was previously. The shield now features a locking mechanism which further enhances the wind-cutting ability and reduces turbulence. The shell is the Arai CLC which is a combination of fiberglass and exotic fibers resulting in a lightweight yet strong construction. The new Arai XD-4 Helmet also features both DOT and Snell 2010 safety certifications. To us, it seems as though the best just got even better.
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