Tested: MT Rapide motorcycle helmet review

Date reviewed: July 2018 | Tested by: BikeSocial Test Team | Price: From £149.99 | www.tri-motive.com

Priced at £149.99 for plain colours, or £169.99 for graphics, the MT Rapide is at the top-end of the budget price range for a full-face helmet. Robert Massam, BikeSocial Test Team member, has been using this one for two months on his Honda CBF125…

Outer shell

Unlike the majority of helmets in the sub-£150 price bracket, the MT Rapide uses a fibreglass shell. While every helmet tested by BikeSocial is already approved to ECE 22:05, a fibreglass or composite shell is often considered to be tougher than polycarbonate.

Typical of other MTs, this Rapide’s ‘Overtake’ design has a matt black, grey and white finish that feels very high quality, with the graphics, vents and latches all adding to the high standard.

Weight

Despite the fibreglass shell, this medium-sized Rapide weighs just 1282g – a very light helmet by any measure, so there’s no worry that you’ll find this tiring to wear.

Ventilation

Twin vents on the top are closed with a single lever, as are the pair on the chin. Both are easy to operate with gloved hands, and let in a good breeze. The two exhaust ports on the rear are always open.

The lid is quite still inside when riding, thanks to the removable chin skirt.

Visor

The visor is opened using a large central thumb tab, which is easier to operate than one on the left when using the right hand if the clutch is held in.

The visor locks down securely, with a metal button on the front that needs to be pressed to pop it open (I found this a little bit fiddly at first) – at this point, it cleverly springs a few millimetres to aid cooling and ventilation. It opens on a five-position, smooth ratchet mechanism.

Out of the box, the visor leaked a little on the right hand side in heavy rain, but it’s very easy to adjust the mounting plates, which cured it, leaving a very effective seal.

The visor is removed for cleaning by pulling a single lever on either side, then snaps simply back into place.

A Pinlock MaxVision 70 is supplied in the box, which adds a significant amount to the value. MaxVision gives a wider field of view, and the 70 means this is the mid-level performing anti-fog insert (30 is the lowest, 120 is the maximum). It’s the first time I’ve used a Pinlock, and thought it distorted a little at the edges, but it’s likely something I’m just not yet accustomed to.

There’s no drop-down sunshield built into this helmet, though this does keep the brow slightly more shallow, which helps when tipping the head forward on a sportsbike.

Lining

The lining is easy to remove and refit, which means it’s a lot simpler to keep clean.

Fastening

I prefer the convenience of a micrometric ratchet fastener, but I know many swear by the Double-D strap fitted here. It’s not as easy to use with gloves on, but it does give a solid, reliable fit every time.

Fit

I found this a little tight on the cheeks at first, but they do give, and this is a more sports-focussed helmet. With glasses on, the arms of my specs are pushed into the sides of my head a bit, so be sure to try some on – they do fit in properly though, not ending up skew-whiff, so you might not have the same issue.

Noise

I’d say that the MT is fairly average in its noise level. Every helmet should be worn with earplugs (regardless of how quiet the manufacture claims it is), and this is no different.

Conclusion

This is a high quality helmet for a very reasonable price. Personally, I’d have liked to have a sunshield built in, and a micrometric ratchet fastener, but I understand that this is more of a sports lid.

The MT Rapide has a lot going for it, and is definitely worth considering, especially when you remember that this is a fibreglass helmet.