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Arai VX-Pro4 enduro motocross dirt motorcycle helmet review.
The VX-Pro4 is Arai’s top of the range dirt helmet which Arai says has been designed using feedback from its sponsored riders in the worlds of motocross and enduro.
The improvements Arai says they’ve made over their outgoing helmet is they’ve extended the length of the peak to give better protection, improved ventilation and moved the chin vent gubbins to the outside of the helmet to give more space inside the chin bar.
The Arai VX-Pro4 has a fiberglass based composite fibre shell using a range of special fibers and construction techniques that Arai is keen to point out have been developed and honed across the decades and their helmets are made by hand in their Japanese factory.
And the good news is that the VX-Pro4 has been Snell 2020 certified meaning you should be able to put your trust in it shoud the worst happen out on the trail.
That’s always a great starting point. But there’s a ton more you want from your motocross helmet in terms of functionality and to make it easy to live with and useable on a day to day basis.
So here’s the lowdown on what the Arai VX-Pro4 offers and what owners/riders think of their helmets.
- Arai’s top dirt helmet
- Fibreglass shell
- Snell M2020D certified
- Medium oval fitment
- Double D ring fastener
- EQRS
- Weighs around 3.6lbs (1.65Kg)
- Expect to pay $650-$750
Looking to buy an Arai VX-Pro4 ?
Please click below to visit the Arai VX-Pro4 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Overall/Summary
The Arai VX-Pro4 is a high quality and well-liked motocross helmet. It’s been developed alongside pro motocross and enduro riders and performs well in many of the areas that serious dirt riders need: protection’s Snell certified, ventilation is good and comfort’s excellent.
And so is the quality of the helmet; materials, fit and finish are all first rate and a testament to the hand-built and hand-QA’d nature of Arai helmets.
Of course, when you’re taking your motorcycle off road, you need to know your helmet will protect you well. The VX-Pro4 is Snell certified and has EQRS cheek pads – though it does lack some of the latest features such as a slip plane liner (like MIPS) to protect against helmet rotation and a collarbone-friendly design. It’s a heavier helmet too, tho owners don’t seem to notice it.
Overall, folks who run an Arai VX-Pro4 seem to love it for the quality as well as functionality and they’re willing to pay a premium price for it. There are some excellent alternatives around (see section at the bottom of the page) but if you’ve got the budget and like what it offers, we’re sure you’ll be happy with an Arai VX-Pro4.
Safety
(more about helmet safety)
There’s a good few things to note about the protection offered by the Arai VX-Pro4.
First up is that Snell M2020 safety rating. That’s always a good thing to see in any helmet and should mean it’s going to offer decent protection if you suddenly find yourself faceplanting the dirt.
The helmet shell on the VX-Pro4 is a fiberglass/composite shell that’s hand-formed by Arai – hence the heftier price tags of Arai helmets.
Arai adhere to a philosophy of making rounder helmet shells as they say that helps the helmet stop digging into and rotating – damaging the rider in the process. It’s what Arai calls their R75 shape which sounds good on paper though I’ve never seen any actual science behind this claim (lord knows I’ve looked) so I personally take it with a pinch of salt. Still, I guess a rounder helmet shape won’t hurt so there’s probably no harm in it either.
Having said it’s a rounder shape, there is of course a big ole chin guard sticking out front of the VX-Pro4, though Arai do say they try to keep it shorter than most for just that reason; and with the VX-Pro4 they moved some of the filter/grill mechanism outside the helmet to help give a bit more room inside the chin bar while the external part can break off in an accident.
Take a look at our Best Motorcycle Helmet Top 10s to find your next helmet…
In fact, all those external bits and pieces – the peak, exhaust vents and chin bar inlet – are designed to break off under impact and reduce the likelihood of rotating the helmet and damaging the rider. And if you do break anything, you can buy them all as replacements if you need to.
There’s no MIPs style rotation protection system inside the VX-Pro4 (but again, I’ve yet to see any independently verified data to show MIPs actually helps reduce injuries either!) and there’s no collarbone-protecting bottom edge like you see in many other dirt helmets these days.
But there are EQRS quick release cheek pads in there which are always good to see, especially on dirt helmets. And the helmet’s secured in place using a tried and tested double-d ring fastener which is standard fitment on pro-level helmets these days.
Lengthening that peak to give the rider more protection from roost is undoubtedly a good improvement too, as long as it doesn’t bring its own problems with aero etc. (see below)
All in all then, Arai does have a good reputation for making protective helmets. And because it’s been tested and certified by Snell, you should be able to trust it’ll give the protection you need.
Helmet Noise
(more about helmet noise)
Motocross helmets do tend to be noisier than regular street full face helmets. Let’s face it, riders in dirt helmets don’t tend to be riding as fast as street riders so why would they be? Plus, dirt bike riders have more of a workout than most riders which means they sweat more so need more ventilation, and more vents mean more noise.
And that’s the case with the Arai VX-Pro4; it’s got lots of ventilation holes along with that large eyeport for goggles which makes for lots of ways for noise to get into the helmet. Plus one or two owners reckon that peak can make a bit of a noise as well, depending on how your motorcycle affects the aero, and your riding speed.
It’s not really any noisier than most motocross helmets, just that it’s not quiet either. It shouldn’t be a problem if you’re usually riding off-road, it just might be a pain if you do most of your riding on the highway – in which case you might prefer a convertible adventure helmet or consider pushing in some decent ear plugs to quieten things down.
Ventilation
(more about helmet ventilation)
Good ventilation’s important on a motocross helmet. And the good news is that owners seem to reckon the Arai VX-Pro4 vents pretty well.
In the chin bar, there’s a triple vent which ventilates the mouth area, and it’s covered in a stainless steel mesh which covers a removable/washable foam filter. That vent can be opened/closed using a slider inside the chin bar and the whole slider can be removed to get access to the filter to clean it out.
A couple of useful links…
– All our Top 10 best helmet reviews –
– Helmets with integrated bluetooth systems –
Up top, there are a pair of forehead vents – again closeable – that take air through the shell to circulate around the head and exit the helmet via a pair of top-rear and side vents. Arai has shaped the aero on the peak to direct air through to those forehead vents and they also say the rear exhausts are shaped to pull air through the helmet and improve ventilation.
The consensus among riders seems to be that it vents well, just not quite as well as some of the latest competition (such as the Bell Moto 10 or the 6D ATR-2).
Goggles and Visor
The eyeport on the Arai VX-Pro4 is slightly smaller than some comparable helmets, with several owners saying that you might have to remove your goggles’ nose guard to get them to fit. We didn’t come across anyone saying they actually failed to get their goggles in there, plus it seems to be broadly agreed that there’s good all-round visibility in the VX-Pro4, but some owners agreed that the eyeport is smaller than normal…
Unlike the visor that’s been extended in length for the VX-Pro4 to give more shade and better protection from rocks and dirt. Because it’s larger, they’ve had to tweak the aero some to try and make sure it doesn’t pull your head around in the wind. If you look up, it will catch air but as long as you’re not going silly fast, owners seem to rate it.
There is a slight adjustment available if you want to raise or lower the visor – loosen a single screw and it tilts a little. And Arai has sensibly coated the underneath in dark paint to keep glare to a minimum on lighter colors.
Like all the other external plastic bits, it’s designed to break off in an impact rather than cause head rotation. If you do break one, you can buy a replacement and don’t have to junk the helmet (though they do cost around $80).
If you are looking to wear goggles with your VX-Pro4, the sides and rear of the helmet have been designed to keep the strap in place so you should be OK on that front.
Comfort and Sizing
(more about comfort and sizing)
Arai VX-Pro4s are available in sizes XS-XXL. And according to owners, they fit about true to size – so no need to go up or down a size when ordering one.
Inside you’ll find the usual high quality Arai liner: it’s a ‘dry-cool’ liner which is designed to quickly wick moisture away from the rider. And like most other Arai liners, it’s very adjustable to help you tailor the fit as closely as possible to your head. There are peel away panels to help increase/decrease the cheek pad thickness and there are a range of replacement panels if you ever find it’s not quite right.
The comfort liner is fully removeable and washable and there are EQRS cheek pads in there to help get things out even more quickly.
We found lots of VX-Pro4 owners talk about how plush the liner feels and how hugely comfortable their helmets are so if comfort’s particularly important to you – and it generally is for most of us – then you should be fine with the VX-Pro4, as long as you’re a medium oval to neutral fitment.
Looks & Graphics
Arai helmets tend to be pretty conservative in their looks. The VX-Pro4 dirt helmet is slightly different though. Its overall form is dominated by the usual Arai R75 rounder headshape, but because it’s a dirt helmet with a roost guard and longer chin bar together with lots of snap off air vent covers, it hides that rounder shell shape well. Most are then smothered in the usual range of replica graphics and it looks pretty much as funky as the wildest dirt helmets out there.
Graphics include the Block, Slash, Resolute, Stars and Stripes, Stanton and Scoop. And if you’re after a solid there’s a Pearl Black, Frost Black and Plain White.
To find any more, please click the links below that’ll drop you straight onto the Arai VX-Pro4 pages at some of our recommended stores.
Looking to buy an Arai VX-Pro4 ?
Please click below to visit the Arai VX-Pro4 helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Arai VX-Pro4 Video
Here’s a useful 13m look around the (now discontinued) Slash graphic Arai VX-Pro4.
Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, weight, build quality, glasses, aero, warranty
Fasteners
Like most motorcycle helmets used in sport, the Arai VX-Pro4 comes with a double-d ring fastener.
Bluetooth Headset
If you like to listen to music or chat while riding, the good news is that there is room for some slim speakers inside the Arai VX-Pro4. OK, there aren’t any specific speaker pockets, but if your speakers are slim enough, according to some owners there is room to get them inside without too much struggle, though you might be able to feel them against your ears.
We heard from one Arai VX-Pro4 owner who said they fitted a Cardo Packtalk Slim in their helmet without a problem and it worked well for them.
Weight
Probably one of the main drawbacks with the Arai VX-Pro4 is weight. Arai helmets have always tended towards the weightier side of the scales and the VX-Pro4 is no exception. It weighs in around 3.6lbs (1.65Kg) which is on the heavier side for a motocross helmet.
Having said that, while some riders seem to have been put off buying a VX-Pro4 because of it, several owners said you don’t really notice the weight while riding; and others also reckon that weight gives them confidence that its well constructed.
Build Quality
In fact, it’s that build quality that’s one of the biggest reasons for Arai helmet ownership – and it’s the same for the VX-Pro4. It’s a hand made helmet and the materials, fit, paint and finish seem to make for happy owners with stacks of them saying how great it is on the VX-Pro4.
Glasses
If you’re a glasses wearer, you should be fine with the VX-Pro4 too. While there’s no specific glasses grooves in there, several owners we came across say theirs fit comfortably into place with one saying how refreshing it was to find their glasses sat in just the right natural position rather than being squeezed into place and forced to sit at an angle.
Aero
It might be quite a rounded shape, but Arai has worked on the aero on the VX-Pro4 in a number of ways. While that visor has been lengthened, they’ve sculpted it to reduce lift and let air pass through it as well as channel some air towards the front air vents. To the rear, the vent cowls create a small pocket of reduced air pressure to help draw warm air out of the helmet and improve ventilation.
And while that peak/visor will catch the air if you look upwards, at anything below highway speeds, owners say it works well and doesn’t buffet around.
Warranty
Like all Arai helmets, there’s a 5 year warranty against manufacturing defects (7 years from date of manufacture as found inside the helmet).
Crash Helmet Buying Guides
For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various guides - or have a look at our top helmet lists where we've got the top 10 rated helmets overall and best budget/safest/full face/flip-up/sportsbike/track helmets.
Good Alternatives to the Arai VX-Pro4?
Bell helmets have a great track record in making dirt helmets. The old Moto9 was good and the Moto-10 is arguably even better. It’s around the same price as the Arai, it’s heavyish (though slightly lighter than the Arai) but it’s great venting with a larger eyeport, carbon fiber shell and latest Snell certification.
The Shoei VFX-Evo is an accomplished helmet. With its MEDS rotation protection system, Snell rating, great ventilation and highly rated comfort, it’s also slightly cheaper than the VX-Pro4 too.
6D helmets are known for their slip-plane liners too – and their ATR-2 is no exception. It’s been developed alongside pro racers too and is known for it’s comfort and all-round performance.
Finally, if you need a lid that’ll work well on the highway as well as the dirt, you might want to check out the Arai XD-4. It’s an adventure helmet that converts between a road and dirt configuration so you can have the best of both worlds. It’s Snell, DOT and ECE too and a highly rated helmet.
Looking to buy an Arai VX-Pro4 ?
Please click below to visit the Arai VX-Pro4 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
