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LS2 Assault great value motorcycle helmet review.
The LS2 Assault (sold as the LS2 Storm in some countries) is a modern looking sports touring helmet made with a plastic shell using what LS2 calls a kinetic polymer alloy (KPA), which mixes aramid fibers into the polymer mix for improved strength.
What does the LS2 Assault offer? Well, it’s a mix of a pretty low price point coupled with quite a few features that you’d expect to see on a more expensive helmet. That includes a drop down sun visor, Pinlock ready and optically correct face shield, speaker pockets (if you’re looking to fit a Bluetooth kit), and easy to use micrometric 2 fastener.
So, on paper at least, it looks like it offers quite a bit – all for not much cash.
- Thermoplastic KPA Shell
- All-rounder helmet
- Drop down sun visor
- Pinlock-ready shield (Pinlock included)
- micrometric fastener
- ECE and DOT versions available
- Medium oval fitment
- 2 Shell sizes
- Sizes XS-XXXL
- Expect to pay $160-$200
Looking to buy an LS2 Assault?
Please click below to visit the LS2 Assault 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
One of the recurring themes from LS2 Assault owners is that it’s a great value helmet. And looking at the spec, the price, and what owners think of their helmets, it’s hard to disagree.
For not very much money, you get a comfortable, well vented all rounder helmet with a great optically-correct shield system, that’s lightweight and that has a handy integral sun visor.
It’s a shame it’s made in only two shell sizes (though fitment sizes are up to 3XL which will help some folks!), but it has got a super easy to use metal micrometric fastener, and it should fit nearly all bluetooth headsets and it’s reasonably quiet too.
It’s great that it’s sold with a Pinlock anti-fog insert included too as that’s really useful and $30s worth right there.
All in all, the vast majority of LS2 Assault owners really like their helmets and reckon they’re good quality too – again, worth emphasizing – at this price point.
So, if your budget tops out sub-$200 and you’re after a good all rounder helmet, then the LS2 Assault is really worth getting your hands on.
For some similar and equally great alternatives to the Assault, take a look at our alternatives section at the bottom of the page.
Safety
(more about helmet safety)
The shell on the LS2 Assault is made from what LS2 calls a kinetic polymer alloy. The last time we looked into KPA was when we looked over the LS2 Rapid, where it turned out to be a fancy name for ABS plastic.
With the LS2 Assault, it seems aramid fibers have been added into the alloy mix, designed to give improved penetration resistance.
Whether it works or not is hard to say. LS2 doesn’t pay to get their helmets tested by Snell (as far as we can tell) so our only guide is that a couple of other LS2 helmets made from KPA have been SHARP safety tested in the UK – that’s the Rapid and the flip-up Valiant.
The Rapid scored 2 stars (out of 5) for safety whereas the Valiant scored 4 stars. But remember, that was a test on ECE versions of the helmet – not DOT – and we don’t know if there are difference between the two helmets.
LS2 does use a multi-density shock absorbing liner inside the Assault though, which is great to see. Though they only make the Assault in 2 shell sizes, which isn’t the best for safety, fitment or looks.
Having said all that, what we do know is that – in terms of safety and utility – there’s a load of features on the Assault that should help.
That face shield system is optically correct and comes Pinlock ready which means the shield’s prepared to accept a Pinlock insert. And there’s a Pinlock in the box in – which is great because there’s not much more important than having a clear shield when you’re riding, and if you ride anywhere cold/wet/humid, your Assault probably will fog up without it.
Stick in a Pinlock to keep your shield condensation free and, together with the built-in drop down sun visor to stop you getting dazzled by the sun, you should always have a clear vision.
The Assault’s secured in place using a micrometric 2 metal fastener. They’re really easy to use and save all the messing around you get with a double-d ring imo.
Helmet Noise
(more about helmet noise)
LS2 doesn’t make any claims about the noise suppression on the Assault. There’s a decent internal liner what will deaden noise but there are also vent holes inside which will let in noise, along with the air flow.
Most owners we came across thought it was a reasonably quiet helmet – but that’s always very subjective and massively dependent on how fast and the type of bike you ride (as well as how deaf you are!).
From comments we came across on the web, we’ve marked it down as about average for noise attenuation. But expect to need to wear ear plugs with the Assault as it’s amazing/scary how wind rush can damage your hearing while riding.
Ventilation
(more about helmet ventilation)
The LS2 Assault’s got a decent configuration of vents. There’s a single chin vent operated by a single slider, and a dual crown vent set high up on the helmet shell, again operated by a single slider.
At the back, there’s a nice large exhaust high on the shell and a couple of exhausts further down – all designed to help flow air through the helmet.
From the perspective of ease of use, a single slider up top and one in the chin bar is about as easy as they come.
They’re nice and chunky sliders too and the word is they’re easy to find in gloves.
They’re also decent vents too with a few owners saying they vent quite a bit of air into the helmet to keep your head cool.
The chin bar vents take air towards the mouth as well as onto the back of the shield. There isn’t enough venting on the shield to keep things fog free though (same goes for most helmets to be fair) so get the Pinloc fitted to stop it misting up.
Face Shield
(more about shields)
The shield system on the Assault is well thought through.
The main clear shield is class A optically correct to keep distortion to an absolute minimum. It’s a quick release shield but doesn’t work on a ratchet, so shield positions are fully open or closed and it’s just held by friction at intermediate positions.
When you close the shield, there’s a small central shield lock which is easy to unlock and open using the central tab on the bottom of the shield.
That central tab means it’s very easy to open the shield with either hand – which is really handy compared to shields with tabs on the left hand side only, which can be a real nuisance when you want to open the shield with your right hand.
A couple of useful links…
– Helmets that are great for glasses wearers –
– The best ear plugs reviewed –
At speed, there is a reasonable amount of ventilation that gets onto the rear of the shield to help with defogging – and that’s helped by the Assault coming with a removable breath guard that helps divert your breath away from the shield.
But for many of us, the shield’s going to fog up for much of the time when it’s cool or rainy. So it’s excellent news that the Assault is supplied with a Pinlock antifog insert in the box as it’s the best long term solution.
If you’ve never used a Pinlock before, it’s a hydrophobic insert that stops condensation and is a must if you ride in anything other than perfect conditions (read more here). They’re usually around $30 to buy so it’s great that LS2 have decided to include one in the box, especially with such a competitively priced helmet.
The shield system on the Assault looks to have just about everything covered. And on the road it all works well with several owners saying it’s nice and wide and very easy to operate. LS2’s shield release system is one of the easiest to use too, making it really simple to whip off your shield to clean it after each trip.
Sun Visor
(more about sun visors)
Ease of use goes for the drop down sun visor too. That slider is mounted at just the right location and its action is nice and smooth. And just like the ventilation controls, the slider’s really easy to work in gloves, which is always handy.
Like the main shield, the sun visor is made of polycarbonate and not only are sun visors really useful to drop down to protect your eyes from glare, but because it’s polycarbonate, it adds an extra layer of 95%+ UV protection too.
Comfort and Sizing
(more about comfort and sizing)
The LS2 Assault is only made in 2 shell sizes which isn’t that great (find out why here) with the smallest shell covering fitments XS-M and the larger shell L-XXXL). It’s designed for medium oval head shapes – which should be fine for most of us – and the internal comfort liner is both hypoallergenic and moisture wicking.
The cheek pads inside the Assault are made from laser cut foam to help mould them more closely to the contours of the face, and while there’s nothing particularly special about the internals of the assault, their liners are known for being very comfortable.
They are also known for often being a bit snug for your first few rides, though a few owners commented that they’re a bit of a squeeze at first but do break in pretty quickly after a few rides. And once they do, they’re a very comfortable helmet.
A few owners also commented that the chin strap is particularly comfortable and – as it’s a micrometric fastener – very easy to use.
Looks & Graphics
You can buy an Assault in all the usual whites and blacks and there’s a mid-grey too (see above). For graphics, there’s an absolute ton of designs. On this page you’ll find the cool Nerve graphic (above) as well as a Assault Faster and Techy.
But there are a load more – for those and any others that’ve been released since we wrote this review, you’re best clicking the links to our recommended retailers below that’ll drop you straight onto their LS2 Assault pages to check out the latest lids and deals.
Best places to buy an LS2 Assault?
Please click below to visit the LS2 Assault 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).
LS2 Assault Video
This is a 5m video from Revzilla looking around the LS2 Assault.
Other stuff – audio, weight, chin curtain, build quality, warranty
If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth headset to your Assault, you shouldn’t have a problem. There are speaker pockets in there – take a look at the video above where you’ll see them – and we’ve had word of owners fitting Freecom and Sena SMH5 systems without a hitch (they mount the controller in front of the sun visor slider).
If you don’t have a bluetooth set but want one, the LS2 Assault’s designed to work with their own (Sena manufactured) Linkin Ride Pal bluetooth set.
All LS2 Assaults come with a breath guard and removable chin curtain in the box.
Even though the Assault’s a thermoplastic helmet – which are usually heavier lids – most riders we came across reckoned it feels like a lightweight helmet when you’re riding in it. It weighs around 3.1lbs (1.4Kg) so it is actually very much at the lighter end of plastic shelled helmets.
And even though it is a cheaper helmet, several Assault owners said that it feels a quality piece of kit – it feels well made and materials/sliders feel of decent quality.
Which is handy, because LS2 Assaults are only backed by a 2 year warranty (some brands offer a 5 year warranty on their helmets).
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.
Looking to buy an LS2 Assault?
Please click below to visit the LS2 Assault 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).
Good Alternatives to the LS2 Assault?
So you’re after a good performing helmet for around $200 or less? Here’s some recommended helmets to look out for…
First up, you should read our HJC C70 review. That’s a well-liked, lower priced polycarb full face that’s got a sun visor too.
HJC also make the I10 which is a Snell certified helmet available for about the same price as the Assault and the C70.
Shark’s Ridill is a highly rated full face with sun visor and glasses groove. It also comes with a Pinlock in the box for about the same price. Amazing value helmet that.
You should also check out the Scorpion Exo R420 which is another Snell approved helmet, this time with EQRS and with a double-d ring fastener, if that’s your thing.
