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Sedici Strada II full face motorcycle helmet review.
If you thought a brand like Sedici is gonna be Italian, think again. The Sedici range of motorcycle gear is actually a house brand of Cycle Gear/Revzilla (who’re both part of the Comoto Holdings group).
Obviously, that’s not necessarily a problem at all and will, in theory at least, mean they could keep their over-the-counter prices lower by cutting out the middlemen, so we get better value gear.
Which, if you look at the prices of the Sedici Strada II helmets with their fancy fiberglass/Kevlar or carbon fiber/Kevlar helmet shells, does seem like it might be the case.
They actually seem pretty cheap for the tech you get. Which is great… as long as the helmet’s a good ‘un.
The original Sedici Strada was widely seen as a bit uncomfortable, a bit noisy and, well, generally a bit underdeveloped.
So now there’s a follow up – the Sedici Strada II – and it comes in four flavors.
Sedici Strada II, Carbon, Primo & Parlare
First up is the regular Strada II. That’s a fiberglass/Kevlar helmet with drop down sun visor that’s DOT and ECE rated.
Second is the Sedici Strada II carbon helmet; that’s a full carbon fiber helmet using 6K fiber (and still with the Kevlar stripe over the top) that also has the sun visor and is DOT/ECE.
Third, there’s the Strada II Primo which is the carbon fiber helmet but one that doesn’t have a sun visor and has been Snell 2020 safety approved (I guess either Snell’s not too keen on helmets with sun visors or it failed their test).
Finally, there’s the Strada II Parlare which is the same helmet as the regular Strada II but comes with an integrated Sena DWO-6 bluetooth comms unit already fitted.
All helmets have been designed to be nice and compact, have great aero and noise-reducing properties – as well as give good protection and look cool!
So, if you’re thinking about buying one, here’s the lowdown on the Sedici Strada II range of helmets.
- Sporty looking street helmet
- Fiberglass or carbon shell with Kevlar reinforcement
- 3 shell sizes
- Snell approved (Strada II Primo)
- Drop down sun visor (Carbon, Strada II, Parlare)
- Double D-ring strap
- Pinlock ready shield
- DOT & ECE versions
- Sizes XS-XXXL
- Expect to pay $200-$350
Looking to buy a Sedici Strada II ?
Please click below to visit the Sedici Strada II helmets pages at our recommended store – checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from them, 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
Sedici Strada IIs are well liked helmets. Whether it’s the carbon fiber or fiberglass you go for, they’re great all rounders that represent excellent value for money.
And they do everything pretty well – not amazingly well but pretty well. The shell tech is great – good enough to let the Primo Carbon fiber version achieve Snell approval. And while they don’t have the best ventilation on comfort levels on the market, they’re generally quite well rated for both.
Helmet noise levels are OK too and the whole thing’s put together and finished nicely. But it’s that excellent value for money that owners like most and the Sedici II gives it in spades.
Safety
(more about helmet safety)
Strada II helmets have either a fiberglass or a carbon fiber shell that’s reinforced with a band of Kevlar running from above the visor to the rear of the helmet.
If you want to be sure that a helmet will give good protection, you’re best going for a Snell approved helmet as that’ll mean the Snell labs has put the helmet through its set of tests and given it the thumbs up. In that case, go for the Snell certified Sedici Strada II Primo.
Which is not to say the other non-snell helmets won’t give great protection. All Strada IIs are DOT and ECE certified (except the Primo which is DOT and Snell) so should offer the levels of protection demanded by US and European regulators, including putting samples through their testing labs (the ECE test requires this before going on sale).
It’s just that when a helmet’s Snell certified, we know it’s been rigorously tested beyond DOT levels of testing, so should offer excellent protection.
Having said that, all Strada II helmets also have a dual-density shock absorbing EPS liner and all are fastened using a tried-and-tested D-ring strap.
Most models have an integral sun visor too – which is not only very convenient but can really be a life saver (I’ve known riders being caught out by the lowering sun and crashing).
Shells are made in three different sizes which is a good thing: it means the shell size will be better optimized for your head and isn’t over- or under-padded to make a shell fit you.
It also means it should look better when you’re wearing it and help with improving protection as you’ll be carrying less helmet weight and have the right amount of EPS inside the helmet.
All in all, the Sedici Strada II should give good protection. But if you want to go that extra mile and have the peace of mind that you’re wearing proven protection, we recommend going for the slightly more expensive Snell approved Strada II Primo Carbon helmet.
Helmet Noise
(more about helmet noise)
Sedici make quite a few claims about how they’ve reduced the amount of noise getting into the Strada II. They say their improved aerodynamics should quieten noise coming into the helmet through the helmet shell, while a larger chin curtain and neck roll will prevent it coming in from below.
And while a couple of owners commented that the helmet can get noisy, especially when the vents are open, most owners reckon it is above average when it comes to quietness.
Because helmet noise is so personal and subjective, we always find a range of opinions, so if you buy one, it’s still possible that you’ll find the Strada II noisy.
But overall, most Sedici Strada II owners seem to think it’s somewhere between average to good when it comes to suppressing helmet noise.
Ventilation
(more about helmet ventilation)
The venting systems on all versions of the Strada II are the same.
In the chin bar, there’s a single vent covered with a large, glove-friendly slider to open and close it.
Up top, there’s a pair of crown vents, again with large sliders covering them, that have to be opened/closed individually.
They take air through the helmet shell and into some pretty miserly internal channels that are designed to carry air through the helmet, before taking the warm, moist air out of the helmet through the four rear exhausts located under the rear spoiler and on each side of the rear shell.
A couple of useful links…
– About carbon fiber helmets –
– Snell certified helmet reviews –
So far, so good. It’s a similar system to 90% of helmets on the market today. But it’s how well it’s been designed and implemented that makes all the difference.
Visually, those internal venting channels moulded into the EPS liner do look narrow, and it seems they might be the culprit – because most owners seem to think venting around the head isn’t as good as it could be. Yes, some owners think it’s fine – but others, probably folks who live in warmer states, seem to find the venting average to poor.
Chin bar venting on the other hand seems to be OK with some riders saying there’s enough air getting to the back of the shield to quickly clear fogging without a Pinlock being fitted.
I guess that’s in pretty optimal conditions, but still it’s not bad going.
Overall then, ventilation to the chin bar is good but not so great around your head.
Shield
(more about shields)
The face shield fitted to all Sedici Strada II helmets is a 2D racing style shield that’s Pinlock anti-fog ready (Pinlock insert sold separately for around $30). It’s a toolless, quick change visor system with a ‘cracked open’ city riding position and opening tab in the middle/bottom of the shield.
Several Strada 2 owners commented that the viewport is nice and wide as well as giving a larger than average downward view, making it easier to see your instrument panel.
The quick release system on the visor couldn’t really be much easier – just open up the shield, pull a tab and the shield pulls off for easy cleaning.
It’s a shame the Strada II doesn’t ship with a Pinlock insert free in the box, but if you ride somewhere it gets cold/wet/humid, it might well be a good investment as they really will stop your shield fogging up.
Having said that, a couple of owners reckoned there’s enough venting to the back of the shield to clear up fogging quite quickly.
Note: all Strada II helmets come with a clear face shield fitted, despite all the photos showing a smoke shield.
Sun Visor
(more about sun visors)
All Strada IIs, except the Snell certified Primo carbon fiber, come with a drop down sun visor.
It’s operated using a slider located on the bottom left hand edge of the helmet, which may interfere with mounting a clamp-mount bluetooth controller if you’re looking to use one – though there’s plenty of room for a sticky mount comms units above.
Most owners seem to find the sun visor works just fine: it’s easy to use, drops down low enough and is dark enough. Sun visor tint is always going to be a compromise and if you live in sunnier states you might well prefer it to be darker. But overall the majority of owners are finding it works just fine.
Comfort and Sizing
(more about comfort and sizing)
Internal fitment of the Strada II is medium oval – so it should fit most of our head shapes here in the US.
The internal comfort liner is a smooth-to-the-touch antimicrobial and moisture wicking liner that’s fully removable and washable, with 3D contoured cheekpads and 5mm removable panels in the forehead.
These panels can be added/removed to tweak the fitment a little. Several owners have commented that their Stradas felt a little tight when they first got them and adjusting these panels can help – although Strada IIs usually break in nicely over the first few rides.
One thing a few owners comment on is that, with the large neck roll and (removable) chin curtain, it can be a bit of a struggle to get the helmet on or off in the first place. A bit of a birthing experience. Which can make a helmet a real pain to live with – in more ways than one.
However, once you do get the helmet on, and as long as you’ve bought the right size, most owners say it’s a really comfortable helmet. And the sizing’s true, so measure your head, order the correct size and it should fit.
Looks & Graphics
The carbon fiber Strada IIs use a 6K carbon fibre (the 6K actually referring to the number of individual fibers within each thread – 6000). The carbon fiber Stradas are available in matte and gloss carbon, whereas the Snell Primo helmet is matte only.
Other than that, if you’re looking to buy a fiberglass Strada II, there’s a wide range of solids and graphics available. If you’re looking for a solid, there’s matte black and blue and white, grey and black.
For graphics, there’s Animale, Dino, Curvone, Horta and Donna – and we’ve tried to put examples of all these up and down the page.
But if you want a closer look at any or to see any deals or designs that might have come out since our review, please click through to the Sedici II pages at our recommended stores below.
Best places to buy a Sedici Strada II helmet?
Please click below to visit the Sedici Strada II helmets pages at our recommended store – checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Sedici Strada II Video
Well, the Strada II is an own-brand Revzilla helmet so they might be just a little bit biased… but it’s the best video I could find covering the Strada II so here’s their 11m video looking around a solid grey fiberglass version.
Other stuff – audio, weight, glasses
All Strada II helmets have generous speaker cutouts inside so should be able to accept many 3rd party bluetooth headsets. But note: the slider for the sun visor sits just where you’d want to mount a clamp mount bluetooth controller so you may need to use a sticky mount (where sun visor is fitted).
If you want to buy a helmet with a headset already integrated into the helmet, then you might want to consider the Sedici Strada II Parlare helmet. That comes with a Sena DWO-6 bluetooth headset.
That’s a headset that seems to be made specifically for this helmet so you won’t find it for sale, but is equivalent to a Sena 10R headset and that’s a $200 bluetooth – so if you are looking for a helmet and headset combo, the Parlare looks to be pretty good value.
As to weight, well there’s a range of helmets and sizes to consider. But overall, the Strada II weighs around 3.5lbs (1.6Kg) which is a few ounces heaver than the average weight of a typical fiberglass helmet. Though expect the carbon fiber helmets to be a few ounces lighter.
If you’re looking to ride in glasses, we’ve only heard bad things about the Strada II – like it’s tricky to push them on and it’s tight when you do. It’s doable but sounds like it’s far from ideal. So if you are looking for a helmet to work with your glasses – you might want to take a look at some of these helmets that are good for glasses.
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Good Alternatives to the Sedici Strada II?
Here’s a selection of highly rated full face helmets that we recommend you check out.
First up is the Scorpion Exo-R420. It’s a lower priced Snell certified full face helmet with an Everclear antifog shield and EQRS. A great value package.
Or how about the HJC i10? That’s another Snell approved polycarbonate full face that’s got great ventilation and offers an excellent bang for your buck.
A bit further up the food chain is AGV’s K5S: a great composite fiber sports touring helmet with sun visor that’s comfortable, well built and with good aerodynamics on the road.
Finally, another sportier touring helmet that’s well liked is the Scorpion Exo ST1400. That’s a bit pricier than the Sedici but comes with a Pinlock and EQRS and is known to be a great venting and comfortable helmet, even though it can be a bit noisy.
Looking to buy a Sedici Strada II ?
Please click below to visit the Sedici Strada II helmets pages at our recommended store – checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
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