The Lid Test

The Best Modular Motorcycle Helmets

Flip-up touring helmets compared on shell material, sun visor and comms integration — the convenience of an open-face with the coverage of a full-face.

By Stephen V.Last verified How we compare

A modular—or flip-up—helmet lets you lift the chin bar and face shield as one piece, so you can talk, drink, or take a breather at a gas stop without pulling the whole helmet off. That single feature makes modulars the touring and commuting favorite: glasses-wearers love them, and so does anyone who stops often. The trade-off is a little extra weight and usually a little more wind noise than a full-face, because the flip mechanism is one more thing air can find.

We compared these on the same terms as any helmet—certification, weight, shell material, and a live price—plus the two things that matter most on a modular: whether it has a drop-down sun visor and how cleanly it integrates comms. The Shoei Neotec 3 is the class benchmark and the one everything else is measured against, but it’s also the most expensive by a wide margin, so we’ve ranked genuine value picks below it. Read the table for the verdict, then dive into any write-up.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which helmet we recommend, and we’ll tell you plainly when a cheaper or lighter one is the better buy. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on our spec score — certification, weight, features and value. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not tested these helmets; here is exactly how we compare them instead.

#HelmetBest forOur scorePrice
1
Shoei Neotec 3

Shoei Neotec 3

The touring modular the class is measured against. DOT and ECE 22.06, an AIM composite shell, a bigger QSV-2 sun visor and a Defogger-equipped shield — plus the cleanest integration for Shoei's own comms system. It is expensive and worth understanding why.

Best overall9.2
$949.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
HJC RPHA 91

HJC RPHA 91

HJC's composite touring modular splits the difference: a P.I.M. EVO carbon-blend shell and a drop-down sun visor at a mid price, ready for HJC's own SMART Bluetooth. Not as quiet as a Schuberth, a lot cheaper than one.

Best value composite8.5
$559.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Sena Outrush R

Sena Outrush R

The shortcut to a helmet-and-comms setup: the Outrush R builds Bluetooth speakers, a mic and a 4-way intercom into the shell, so there is no external unit to buy, clamp on or charge separately. DOT-certified, with a sun visor, at a single sensible price.

Best built-in comms8.1
$315.92 · View on Amazon

$359.0012% off

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Scorpion EXO-GT930 Transformer

Scorpion EXO-GT930 Transformer

The trick here is a genuinely removable chin bar — the GT930 runs as a full-face or, with the bar off, a proper open-face, which few modulars actually allow. Add a sun visor and a sub-$300 price and it's the value convertible.

Best convertible7.9
$279.95 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 20, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overallOur score9.2

Shoei Neotec 3

The touring modular the class is measured against. DOT and ECE 22.06, an AIM composite shell, a bigger QSV-2 sun visor and a Defogger-equipped shield — plus the cleanest integration for Shoei's own comms system. It is expensive and worth understanding why.

Strengths

  • DOT and ECE 22.06 in a composite AIM shell — not the polycarbonate most modulars use
  • QSV-2 internal sun visor is larger than the old QSV-1, and the CNS-3C shield is Pinlock-ready with a defogger
  • Purpose-built channel for the SRL3/COMLINK comms unit — no bulky external clamp

Trade-offs

  • The most expensive modular here by a wide margin
  • Comms unit is a separate, Shoei-specific purchase
CertificationsDOT, ECE 22.06
Weight1700 g
ShellAIM composite
Head shapeIntermediate oval
SizesXS-2XL
Internal sun visorYes
Pinlock-readyYes

Notable. QSV-2 sun visor; CNS-3C Pinlock shield with defogger; SRL3/COMLINK-ready

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#2Best value compositeOur score8.5

HJC RPHA 91

HJC's composite touring modular splits the difference: a P.I.M. EVO carbon-blend shell and a drop-down sun visor at a mid price, ready for HJC's own SMART Bluetooth. Not as quiet as a Schuberth, a lot cheaper than one.

Strengths

  • P.I.M. EVO shell blends carbon, glass and linen fibers — lighter than a polycarbonate modular
  • Drop-down sun visor and a Pinlock-ready face shield included
  • Purpose-made for the SMART HJC 21B/50B Bluetooth units

Trade-offs

  • The page we verified listed DOT only (no ECE/Snell stated)
  • Comms is HJC-specific; heavier than the flagship composites
CertificationsDOT
Weight1742 g
ShellP.I.M. EVO (carbon, carbon-glass and linen fiber)
Head shapeIntermediate oval
SizesXS-2XL
Internal sun visorYes
Pinlock-readyYes

Notable. Drop-down sun visor; Pinlock-ready shield; SMART HJC Bluetooth-ready

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#3Best built-in commsOur score8.1

Sena Outrush R

The shortcut to a helmet-and-comms setup: the Outrush R builds Bluetooth speakers, a mic and a 4-way intercom into the shell, so there is no external unit to buy, clamp on or charge separately. DOT-certified, with a sun visor, at a single sensible price.

Strengths

  • Bluetooth 5.1 comms are built in — speakers, mic and a 4-way ~900 m intercom, up to 18 hours talk
  • One purchase covers helmet plus comms; nothing to clamp to the side
  • Includes a drop-down sun visor

Trade-offs

  • Polycarbonate shell; DOT listed but no ECE/Snell on the pages we verified
  • Built-in comms means you can't swap to a Cardo mesh system later
CertificationsDOT
Weight1730 g
ShellPolycarbonate ABS with multi-density EPS
Head shapeIntermediate oval
SizesS-2XL
Internal sun visorYes
Pinlock-readyNo

Notable. Integrated Bluetooth 5.1 comms (4-way intercom, ~900 m, 18 h talk); sun visor

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

#4Best convertibleOur score7.9

Scorpion EXO-GT930 Transformer

The trick here is a genuinely removable chin bar — the GT930 runs as a full-face or, with the bar off, a proper open-face, which few modulars actually allow. Add a sun visor and a sub-$300 price and it's the value convertible.

Strengths

  • Removable chin bar converts between full-face and open-face configurations
  • SpeedView drop-down internal sun visor and EXO-COM Bluetooth-ready pockets
  • DOT and ECE 22.05 certified at a budget price; includes a detachable peak

Trade-offs

  • Certified to the older ECE 22.05, not 22.06
  • Polycarbonate shell is heavy (~1,814 g) — one of the weightier lids here
CertificationsDOT, ECE 22.05
Weight1814 g
ShellAdvanced polycarbonate
Head shapeIntermediate oval
SizesXS-3XL
Internal sun visorYes
Pinlock-readyNo

Notable. Removable chin bar (full-face to open-face); SpeedView sun visor; EXO-COM-ready

Specs read from the manufacturer / retailer listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the maker does not state that figure.

How to choose a modular helmet

Shell material is the big divider.Most modulars use polycarbonate, which is heavier; the premium ones (the Neotec 3, the HJC RPHA 91) use a composite shell that shaves real weight off a helmet type that’s already heavier than a full-face. On a touring day, that weight difference is what your neck feels at hour six.

Decide how you want comms. There are two routes. A helmet with built-inBluetooth like the Sena Outrush R means one purchase and nothing to clamp on—but you can’t swap comms brands later. A comms-readyhelmet (the Neotec 3 with Shoei’s SRL3, the RPHA 91 with HJC’s SMART unit) has a purpose-built channel for that brand’s module, which is cleaner than a universal clamp-on but ties you to that ecosystem. If you want total freedom, buy any modular and add a standalone intercom.

A sun visor is nearly universal here—use it.Almost every modular includes a drop-down internal sun visor, which is one of the best convenience features in motorcycling. The Scorpion EXO-GT930 goes further with a genuinely removable chin bar, so it runs as a full-face or a true open-face—two helmets in one for the money.

Frequently asked questions

Are modular helmets as safe as full-face helmets?

A modular from a reputable maker that carries current certification (DOT plus ECE 22.06, like the Neotec 3) is a genuinely protective helmet. That said, the flip-up chin bar is a moving joint, so a full-face of equal quality is structurally simpler and typically a bit lighter and quieter. Buy a modular for the convenience it gives you, not despite a safety penalty — just make sure it's certified, and always ride with the chin bar latched down.

Can you ride with the chin bar up?

Only at low speed, if at all — an open chin bar wrecks the aerodynamics and offers no face protection. Some modulars are certified in both the closed and open positions (a 'P/J' rating) and some are not. The flip is designed for stops, not for cruising. Always latch the chin bar closed before you get up to road speed.

Why are modular helmets more expensive?

The flip-up mechanism, the extra seals, and usually a drop-down sun visor all add cost and complexity over a full-face. That's why the value picks in this list matter: the HJC RPHA 91 gets you a composite shell and a sun visor at a mid price, and the Scorpion EXO-GT930 adds a removable chin bar for under $300.

Do modular helmets have more wind noise?

Generally a little, yes — the flip mechanism creates more paths for air than a one-piece full-face shell. Premium modulars like the Neotec 3 engineer around this with tight seals and a padded neck roll, but if absolute quiet is your priority, a full-face usually edges it. See our quietest-helmets roundup for the design features that reduce noise.

Sources

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