Caberg Avalon X review | Budget motorcycle helmet tested

Date reviewed: June 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £149.99 | cabergcares.co.uk

The Caberg Avalon X on review here is at the upper end of the budget market, though street prices at the time of writing are around 10% lower than RRP.

I’ve been wearing this one for several months on a Zontes ZT350-T and BMW R1250GS to find out if it’s worth the money…

Outer Shell

The Caberg Avalon X has an ABS plastic outer shell with some well-placed sculpting and a rear spoiler to give it a subtly aggressive look. Plain gloss white and matt black have an RRP of £149.99, while graphics are £174.99.

The model on review is the ‘Optic White/Blue/Red’ colour-scheme by Milan-based Bargy Design. The graphics are well applied, with only minor imperfections visible on very close inspection (for instance a slight misalignment at the chin), and a deep gloss top-coat.

The Avalon X comes in two outer-shell sizes, with one covering XS, S, M and the other for L, XL, XXL.

Caberg Avalon X Weight

This medium helmet weighs 1,536g on my scales, which is 12g lighter than the HJC C10 and 29g lighter than the LS2 Storm II.

Since the introduction of the higher ECE22.06 test standard for motorcycle helmets sold in the UK and Europe, I’ve noticed a trend for an increase in average weight, though interestingly some that were at times considered (mainly pitched by sales people) as heavy are now among the lightest of current lids – the premium composite fibre Arai Quantic for instance only weighs 52g more than the plastic Caberg.

I can honestly say that in more than 20 years of testing helmets, I’ve never worn one that I truly felt was too heavy. What really matters is the aerodynamics, and the Caberg Avalon X has no noticeable drag either direct into the wind, or when turning the head.

Ventilation

The Caberg Avalon X has an open/closed chin vent, two open/closed top vents and a pair of always open exhaust ports.

The chin vent ports up across the inside of the visor, but of course it’ll not work if your head’s behind a screen – in open air it works well, providing some cooling to the brow too.

The top vents aren’t hugely effective, partly due to the lack of any channelling in the EPS liner, and the fabric lining covering the holes. Tilting your head down allows some slightly more powerful airflow, but it’s definitely not the most effective.

Removing the supplied chin skirt allows more air to move around in the lid, though there’s still a bit of a draft (dependent on your bike) with it installed.

The visor can be easily cracked open for more air.

Visor

The Caberg’s visor has a very good mechanism that makes it easy to remove and refit when it’s one step below fully open.

It also locks down securely, offers a great ‘just cracked open’ setting for more airflow, then has four positive ratchet positions to fully open.

There’s no anti-fog insert supplied, though a FogCity can be bought separately for £26.99, which is a double-glazed system similar to the now more common Pinlock.

In summer you’ll be unlikely to need the FogCity, though in colder weather you might find the need. If you wear glasses though, keep in mind that in any lid they can still fog up without the visor cracked open.

The visor seals well, with no water managing to get in along the top edge.

The Caberg's sunshield hits both this and my other pair of glasses

The Avalon X has a built-in drop-down sunshield that’s operated by a small lever on the left, behind the visor mechanism. This has a ratchet that makes it easier to set at your preferred height, though I found that even with it all the way down, while the bottom edge has a minimal gap, the space above my nose is very large, creating a distracting patch of bright light.

Not that this is an issue when I’m riding though, because I can’t use the sunshield at all: I wear glasses, and it hits them as it lowers. This is the first time I’ve experienced this, and a significant oversight in the design.

Lining

The Caberg Avalon’s lining is pretty simple, but it’s soft and comfortable against the skin. It’s also fully removable for easy cleaning, and no real hassle to pop in and out.

Fastening

The Avalon X has a micrometric ratchet strap, which once set is easy to use and gives a range of adjustment when fastening, to ensure a secure fit.

I did find that the ratchet mechanism is on a slightly too short strap, making it a little harder to get to than usual, and pressing into my neck a touch more than I’d like, though this could well be down to personal fit.

Fit

Fit and comfort is entirely subjective on any helmet, so it’s vital to try them on and focus on any pressure points – the best bet is to get some help with the fitting as far too many riders are in helmets that are too large for them

I found the Caberg Avalon to be comfortable from the start, with just a little soreness on the forehead after a couple of hours’ riding.

My glasses fit fine inside, but sadly I’m unable to use the drop-down sunshield at all.

Noise

Noise levels in any helmet are very hard to judge and compare as it depends so much on the shape of your bike’s fairing and screen, as well as your height and the fit of the helmet.

I’d say the Caberg Avalon seems a touch noisier than some others, but not excessively so.

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 Caberg Avalon X?

With cut-outs in the EPS inner shell, it’s possible to fit speakers up to 40mm in diameter, but nothing bigger. It’s unlikely that at this price point many owners would have one of the premium intercom systems with larger drivers, but it’s worth noting.

There’s enough flat space on the side to stick an intercom, or a clip-on bracket will tuck in securely.

Three alternatives to the Caberg Avalon X

If you’re looking at the budget end of the price range there are plenty of helmets to choose from, though they’ve been slower than the premium lids to reach the new ECE22.06 safety standard. The most important thing is fit, but here are some 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, but do check the fit and be aware of some ventilation issues. Read the full review of the LS2 Storm II here.

• Axxis Panther SV from £119.99 | A relatively unknown brand, first impressions of the Axxis are good. Expect a full review at Bennetts BikeSocial soon.

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.

Caberg Avalon X review: Verdict

The Caberg Avalon X is knocking on the top-end of the price for budget helmets, but it does have an excellent visor mechanism. Sadly it’s let down by a poorly-shaped and positioned sunshield, and while the ventilation is okay, it could be better for this money.

Fit is what matters most in any helmet, so if you don’t wear specs it’s worth trying the Caberg on, but there are other options that might be a better bet if money is tight. Be sure to check our best motorcycle helmets guide, which is kept constantly updated.

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