I’ve been waiting a long time for this one. The Arai XD-4 helmet has been unchanged for over ten years. It’s not like I didn’t still wear and love the XD-4, but like pretty much everyone, I want something new now and then. Finally, the Arai XD-5 is here. It’s not just a new helmet; the XD-5 is a better helmet that is more versatile thanks to its three configurations—adventure (standard), dual-sport/dirt bike (no faceshield), and street (no faceshield, no peak).
When you pull the Arai XD-5 out of its box, it’s abundantly clear that this is an all-new helmet, and one that looks less like a dirt bike helmet than the XD-4. The peak sits far above the outer shell, so there’s plenty of room for air to flow through at high speeds.
The next thing you’ll notice is that the Arai XD-5 has a huge eyeport—almost bug-eyed. Again, this contrasts with the XD-4’s more dirt-style shape and configuration.
Okay, we’ve established that the Arai XD-5 is an all-new helmet. If you’re interested in all of the details of the features in smaller bites, check out our Arai XD-5 First Look story. We’re going riding.
As timing would have it, my first experience with the XD-5 was in the mountains of Southern France on the 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801. It’s a pure street bike with a few scrambler-adjacent styling cues, so the peak-free setup got the nod, along with a stylish VAS-A MV Mirror Light-Tint Silver faceshield.
This is as good a time as any to discuss the new VAS-A faceshield and peak mounting system, which is an adaptation of the VAS-V system used on Arai’s pure-street helmets.
The VAS-A system is a vast improvement over the XD-4, though not perfect. You can change the faceshield without tools, which is convenient. Referring to Arai’s helpful (and essential) YouTube how-to video will get you through the process a few times. Then you’ll have it down—except for the times when it just seems impossible before it all clicks into place unexpectedly like magic. When you want to remove the faceshield, you also remove the peak.
However, if you want to run the XD-5 with the faceshield but without the peak, you will need a flathead screwdriver to take off a small cover on each side of the peak and install the two covers on the VAS-A system. Again, it’s far better than the XD-4 setup, but you still need tools to make a complete change.
The Arai XD-5 looks pretty cool with the peak removed. The styling is contemporary, as we’re seeing more helmets with a chinbar that look more like a dirt helmet than a street helmet. For a bike like the Svartpilen 801, it’s perfect.
Arai helmets are typically a leap of faith when putting them on, even when you’ve had the helmet for a long time. You look at the opening for your head, and you think there’s no way it will fit in—but it always does if you have the correct size. Arai widened the opening a few millimeters to make it less daunting, though the difference isn’t significant.
I have an Arai-friendly head, and this Intermediate Oval helmet fits perfectly. I always wear a Medium, and the Medium XD-5 feels custom-made. There was zero break-in time. As is Arai tradition, the interior is plush and luxurious.
As soon as you get the helmet on, you’ll likely be shocked at the size of the eyeport. You get a wide-screen Panavision view of the world that’s so expansive that it is startling. The peak and edges of the eyeport are just barely in view.
It was chilly in France on the Husqvarna, and the venting let itself be known first thing in the morning. There is a substantial chinbar vent with a large switch, making it easy to open and close while riding. That vent prevented fogging, though Arai includes a Pinlock setup if you ride in fog-friendly conditions.
There’s a permanently open forehead vent disguised as a 3-D Arai logo—very nice. Further up the center of the helmet at the crown is a vent with a three-position sliding switch—open, half-open-closed. Again, you can easily manipulate the switch while riding with gloves on. There’s a noticeable difference in airflow with the top vent open and closed. Also, the multiple exhaust vents are fixed in an open position. Arai helmets are known for effective venting, and the new XD-5 is no exception.
Another airflow management tool is a retractable chin curtain. Pull it out, and the amount of wind blowing from below onto your face is reduced. It’s not a big deal, but the difference is there. If you have a hydration system, leave the chin curtain undeployed, as there’s precious little room between your mouth and the chin bar. Arai doesn’t like protruding chinbars, as they make the helmet’s exterior shape less round—part of the Glancing-Off philosophy that drives Arai helmet design.
Although it’s an adventure helmet, the XD-5 is impressively quiet in the street mode. Of course, how well the helmet seals out noise often depends on how well your head shape works with the helmet. In my case, it’s great.
Arai relies on a smooth shell shape for safety reasons, but it also keeps the helmet aerodynamic and probably contributes to lower noise. Even at triple-digit speed in the peak-free street configuration, the Arai XD-5 is stable and quiet. Head turns introduce no substantial turbulence, and the VAS-A faceshield prevents air leaks.
The action of the faceshield could be improved. Although it settles nicely into each notched position from fully open to closed, it requires too much effort to move. A few times, I started to worry I would break the faceshield or the VAS-A pivoting mechanism as I adjusted the shield. Perhaps that’s something that will break in over time, but when it’s new, it’s not the kind of smooth and sophisticated faceshield experience I’d expect from a nearly $1000 helmet.
The Arai XD-5 turns out to be a great helmet in street configuration. The giant eyeport gives you a great view, especially when checking over your shoulder for lane changes. It’s quiet, aerodynamic, and vents well. Few people will buy the XD-5 solely for use as a peak-less street helmet, though they wouldn’t be disappointed if they did due to its unique appearance.
Adventure riding is the bread and butter of the XD-5, so that’s where it got the most use. The peak was reinstalled and adventuring we went.
Simply put, everything that makes the XD-5 work as a street helmet performs the same duties on adventure rides that include high-speed highways, paved backroads, dirt roads, and light trails. The venting is still impressive, and the view through the generous eyeport remains unobstructed.
The XD-5 peak is a considerable departure from the XD-4, which tended to catch the wind. The XD-5’s peak sits far from the helmet across the forehead for plenty of minimally restricted airflow.
The peak doesn’t make itself known until you get well into triple-digits on the open road, and it’s only barely noticeable when you turn your head to check out the scenery or road competitors. In a straight line, the peak is absolutely transparent. There’s a tiny bit of lift or downforce when you turn your head, depending on how your head is angled. However, it’s not a problem, as it’s temporary—you don’t ride with a cockeyed head.
My biggest problem with the peak is that it doesn’t pivot down as much as I’d like. While many riders like the peak sky-high, I like it down so it can block the sun when it’s near the horizon—that’s one of the best features of an ADV helmet. A smaller issue is that the peak is too malleable and easily tweaked.
Finally, you can use the Arai XD-5 as a dirt bike helmet—just remove the faceshield and add a pair of goggles.
I was impressed with the XD-5’s performance as a dual-sport/dirt-bike helmet. There’s plenty of room for goggles in the generous eyeport, though they can interfere with the removeable, flexible nose protector. As the protector sometimes touched my not-particularly-expansive proboscis, no matter what configuration of the XD-5 I was running, I simply removed the protector and put it into storage.
Remarkably, the helmet retains most of its quiet nature without the faceshield. Granted, speeds are generally much lower when off-road riding. Still, even when on the highway for transfer rides, I didn’t mind that I left my EarPeace earplugs at home.
The close chinbar does make it difficult to insert the tube from a hydration pack into my mouth, just as it is on the Arai VX-Pro4 dirt bike helmet. Again, the close-set chinbar is part of the Glancing-Off safety initiative.
Just as the Arai XD-5 is a legit street-only helmet, it also works great as a full-on dirt bike helmet. I’ll still be reaching for the VX-Pro4 as a first choice. However, if it’s not handy, the XD-5 is a superb backup for off-road riding with goggles.
As always, we endeavor not to crash-test our helmets, and we have not in the case of the XD-5. This new ADV helmet does lean more into the Glancing-Off style than the helmet it replaces. The heart of the protection is the one-piece multi-density EPS liner held inside the Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction outer shell. It is all handmade and put together by artisans in Japan. Helmet safety is impossible for us to measure, so it’s all about trust in the manufacturer. Arai goes to great lengths to earn and maintain that level of consumer confidence. Approval comes from Snell certification and DOT FMVSS No. 18 status.
The comfort layer is easy to remove, wash, and reinstall. Most parts of the comfort layer are replaceable for specific fit variations—check with your local in-person dealer for the best possible buying experience.
Intercom Queen Associate Editor Kelly Callan was impressed by how easy it was to install a Sena 50S on the Arai XD-5 due to the flat Hyper-Ridge where the communications devices are mounted. She also liked the pockets in the EPS shell for the speakers and the neck roll’s wire pocket—both eased the installation process. Maybe one day we’ll see a communications system integrated into an Arai helmet, though don’t hold your breath.
If you wear an XD-4, the new Arai XD-5 is absolutely worth the upgrade. Arai will also likely have many riders of other brands considering switching, as this is an outstanding adventure helmet that is also highly versatile, softening the blow of the steep price tag.
Arai XD-5 Fast Facts
- Sizes: X-Small to XX-Large
- Colors: 6 solids; 6 graphics
- Certifications: Snell M2020; DOT FMVSS No. 218
Arai XD-5 Prices: $840-$860 (solids); $950 (graphics)
