Axxis Panther review | Budget motorcycle helmet tested

Date reviewed: July 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £99.99 | www.bickers-online.co.uk

The Axxis Panther SV on review here falls well into the budget price-range for motorcycle helmets, making it a potential choice for beginner riders, pillions and those looking to save on the premium brands.

I’ve been wearing it on a Zontes ZT350-T and BMW R1250GS to find out if it’s a good choice and worth the money…

Outer Shell

The Axxis Panther has a thermoplastic outer shell that comes in two sizes across the XS to XXL head range. Plain matt black costs £99.99, while the two colour schemes – the matt Tribute that I have on test, and the gloss blue/red/white Gale – cost £109.99.

The aggressive shape will be appealing to many – especially with the supplied rear spoiler clipped in place – while the graphics show only minor alignment issues at the very front, where they overlap some of the sculpting around the chin vent.

Some small areas of paint – again around the chin vent – look a little poorly applied, but for the price it’s fine and you do have to look closely to see any imperfections.

The paint just below the visor latch is scratched; it’s not easy to damage the overall finish, so this must be partly due to the design of one of the pairs of gloves I’ve been wearing. No other parts of the helmet are showing any issues.

Weight

Weighing 1,599g on my scales, the Axxis Panther is only a touch heavier than the budget HJC C10 reviewed here. Some people seem to get hung up on the weight of motorcycle helmets, but in my experience over more than 28 years, it’s aerodynamics that make the biggest difference – if a lid drags, it can cause neck strain. Fortunately, the Panther has no such issues.

Interestingly, many helmets are heavier since the introduction of the tougher ECE22.06 helmet testing standard – which makes for provably safer lids – leaving those that some used to claim were ‘heavy’ as now among the lightest. For instance, the composite fibre (usually considered the stronger, heavier construction) Arai Quantic is 11g lighter than this thermoplastic lid. Proof, perhaps, that budget helmets needed to get thicker to improve their safety.

Ventilation

The Axxis Panther has an open / closed chin vent that’s easy to operate, but the porting inside the aperture means it only really blows onto the bottom of the visor, rather than completely up the inside to your brow. Fortunately, it’s easy to crack the visor just off closed to allow more air to flow inside.

The two top vents have two stages and closed, and feed through large ports inside the EPS (expanded polystyrene) inner shell. These are quite powerful, with a definite blast to the head (especially when turning to the side) and are easy to operate with gloves on.

Finally, there are two always-open exhaust ports in the rear, which allow air to move out through the large holes inside.

Overall, the venting is pretty good for a budget helmet, though as with some others (even premium lids), riding in heavy rain can see water get in through the top vents when they’re closed.

Visor

The visor seals well against the rain, is easy to crack just open, then has three stages on the ratchet to fully open, holding in place well wherever you set it.

The Axxis Panther doesn’t include a Pinlock anti-fog insert, but it does have the pins installed ready for if you want one. If you’re riding in the winter, it’s well worth considering, so budget an additional £35.99 for the Pinlock 70 (mid-tier performance) model available here. Note that if you buy the Pinlock with the helmet, your dealer might be able to do a better price than this, as VAT doesn’t apply to helmets.

Annoyingly, and rather unusually in 2024, the Axxis’ visor requires a PH2 screwdriver to remove, which makes cleaning it inside more of a hassle. For a quick wipe down of the outside it’s not a problem of course, and for a helmet that might be used less frequently by a pillion, it’s also not really an issue.

The Panther has a built-in sunshield that drops down easily using a lever on the left, behind the visor mechanism. While the cut out for the nose is well positioned relative to the removable nose guard to block distracting, stray light, the sides curve up too far, leaving an annoying band of brightness in your periphery vision. More irritating though is the fact that Axxis has moulded in a bead along the bottom edge, which creates a dark line. It doesn’t affect forward vision, but it is a problem when looking down.

Lining

The Axxis Panther’s lining is made of what’s said to be an anti-allergic fabric, and it’s easy to remove and refit for washing. It’s a comfortable material that looks and feels better than you’d expect for the price.

Fastening

The micrometric ratchet fastener that secures the Axxis Panther gives a good range of adjustment once it’s been setup, and is easy to close and open, even with gloves on.

Some people prefer a double-D strap, but this ratchet design is proven to be safe and secure, and is an ideal system for newer riders and pillions as it’s a lot more intuitive, and allows for adjustment from day-to-day as long as it’s set up properly at first.

Fit

Fit is of course very subjective, so you must try any helmet on before you buy, even if you’ve had that brand before.

I found the Axxis Panther to be a good fit, just creating a little bit of an ache on the front after about two hours.

The EPS at the front of the Panther is relatively hard, so could take a little longer to compress than some others. Try it on and see how you find it, but the EPS can be CAREFULLY compressed with your thumb or even the back of a desert spoon to speed up the process in any lid, if necessary. NEVER cut anything out of a helmet, and always aim for the perfect fit when buying, or ask the dealer for assistance.

Axxis Panther Noise

I’ve not noticed any issues with noise while wearing the Axxis Panther, though of course you must wear earplugs at anything over 40mph or so, on any bike.

For more information on why earplugs are vital with any helmet, and advice on which are the best, click here.

Can I fit my own intercom to the Axxis Panther?

While the sculpted sides of the Axxis Panther can limit placement of an intercom to some extent, it’s still fairly easy to find space to stick or clip one on, and there’s room for the cable to tuck under the lip of the lining.

The speaker cutouts inside the Panther are 46mm in diameter, so you shouldn’t have any problems fitting any in there.

At the rear is a cover with ‘universal communication systems’ moulded into it, but I’ve been unable to find details of anything that would fit this, but the fact that you can use pretty much any intercom of your choosing is great to see.

Three alternatives to the Axxis Panther

Budget helmets that meet the tougher ECE22.06 safety standard have been slower to the market than many of the more expensive lids (which in some cases didn’t need any changes), but here are some others to consider…

• HJC C10 from £89.99 | The C10 was the first ECE 22.06-certified helmet that we'd seen under £100, and were impressed when we reviewed it: it makes a wise buy for anyone on a budget. Read the full review of the HJC C120 here.

• LS2 Storm II from £129.99 | It's £40 more than the HJC C10, but you get a drop-down sun-shield and a Pinlock anti-fog insert. Do check the fit and be aware of some ventilation issues. Read the full review of the LS2 Storm II here.

• Caberg Avalon X from £149.99 | With an RRP only just falling into our budget category, the Caberg is worth considering unless you wear glasses. Read the full review of thew Caberg Avalon X here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the motorcycle helmets we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership

Axxis Panther - Verdict

ECE22.06 is helping riders buy safer helmets, so the main thing to worry about is finding something that fits well. The Axxis Panther represents very good value for money, but there are some flaws to be aware of.

At the price, it’s pretty easy to overlook most of the grumbles I have about this lid, and for a rider who’s not doing huge miles – especially if they’re not riding through winter – the Axxis Panther is definitely worth trying on. It could also be a great choice for occasional use by a pillion, or indeed anyone on a tight budget…

Do you own this helmet? Tell us what it’s like, or ask us questions about it at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.