LS2 Valiant 2 Flip-Up Review

 The Valiant 2 takes the original concept of LS2's Valiant helmet and has improved on it in several notable areas, mainly the ventilation and the way the visor changes. It's still essentially the same basic convertible helmet. It can be converted between full face and open face. I've also seen them as flip-overs, which is a good term.

LS2 Valiant 2 Flip-Up Review

Pushing the button at the base of the chin bar will ping the visor up to create some clearance between the chin bar and the visor. It stops that chin bar from scratching it as it passes over.

Where a normal flip front helmet stops would stop in the verticle position, making it top-heavy, this one continues all the way to the back of the helmet with the chin bar nestled at the back.

IMage Chin Bar

You've got better weight distribution from having it sat back, whereas on a normal flip front helmet, the visor tips back with the chin bar. 

Pull the chin bar back across when you want to return to the full-face configuration. Then, once again, it lifts the visor to keep it clear of the chin bar as it passes. 

Click it in place, slot the visor back down, and now we're back to a full-face configuration.

One difference between this version of a convertible or flip-over helmet and some of the others, notably the shark, is that it's possible to convert this helmet from open face to full face while riding.

There's no lock to hold it back in place; that's something that the shark does have, a lock. So you need to stop your bike to move the chin bar back with two hands. 

This one is a single-hand operation. You just overcome resistance by holding the chin bar at the back and flipping it over and back into place.

Shell Material

The shell is made from an LS2 material that they call kinetic polymer alloy. They make some pretty bold claims about combining the weight benefits of a composite fiber shell with the strength of polycarbonate.

Shell Sizes

The LS2 comes in two shell sizes. XS-XL, 2XL-3XL

Weight

If there are weight savings in the shell, they don't really tell in the overall weight of the helmet. We weighed the size medium valiant 2 on our scales which weighed in at 1795 grams. That's pretty meaty, especially when the equivalent shark helmet weighs about 160 grams less, which is about 10 percent.

Ventilation

The main improvement on this helmet over the previous model is in the ventilation. The chin vent on the Valiant 2 is bigger than on the original helmet. If you slide the switch on the side of the helmet, it allows air to flow through the grille and to the inside.

That combines with improved venting on the top. Opening the switches on the top of the helmet allows air to flow through two holes down into the helmet's interior.

Channels are running through the EPS liner. They're quite shallow channels that allow air to circulate and travel towards the back of the helmet, where warm air can escape through the two exhaust vents. The exhaust vents are permanently open.

Visor

The visor is a broad, deep visor that offers plenty of vision. In addition, they are Pinlock max vision protected so that insert covers the majority of the aperture to protect your mist without ever impeding your vision. 

It's a pinlock 70 insert, so it's Pinlock's most basic grade, but it's effective enough.

One quirk of this visor is that the lifting tab sits at the top of the visor rather than the bottom.

It's instinctive that you try to lift your visor from the base. But, unfortunately, almost every helmet I've ever used, other than the Valiant, had its tab at the bottom of the visor, so overcoming the instinct to do that takes a while.

The big change that anyone who owns a Valiant will be envious of is how the visor can be replaced. 

If I tried to explain to you how to change a Valiant one visor, then the bleep machine on this article would be running into overdrive because it was a pain. So now it's just a case of sliding the lever across, and the visor comes free from its mounting. 

Image visor release

Slid the hook located at the side of the helmet down inside and the visors back in, it takes seconds, and it's gone from being one of the hardest visors to change to one of the easiest.

The main outer visor is supported by an internal sun visor that operates with a switch on the left-hand side of the helmet. 

It's got good breadth and depth of coverage, but it's not anti-fog protected, so you might find that it mists up as you ride. 

If you do, lifting that chin bar will allow a little more air to flow and clear the internal sun visor.

Interior

The interior is plush; it's comfy, and it's easily removable. It's 3d cut to shape, so it doesn't need to bed in too much from the beginning, and it's moisture-wicking so that you won't get a big buildup of sweat inside.

The cheek pads are also thin just at the top near the temple, so it's even much easier to fit a pair of spectacle arms down the side without discomfort.

The strap fastener is a micrometric buckle, as you would expect on a touring commuter helmet like this.

Safety Rating

DOT approved

Overall I like the concept of convertible helmets or flip overs and the flexibility to choose between an open face and a full face and have both with you on a trip without having to take two helmets.

There are some issues that you need to bear in mind. First, these helmets are quite heavy, and a long day in the saddle can leave you with a bit of neck ache. 

Second, I found that when I took a valiant original away for a couple of weeks, I found that at the end of the day, I was pretty tired, and they're also quite noisy.

There are lots of different protrusions here for the wind to catch and make that ride a little bit noisier than on other helmets, so earplugs are an essential with a helmet like this.

Maybe touring is using it in a way for which it's not really intended. But, on the other hand, LS2 describes this helmet as an urban commuter helmet, so maybe that's the kind of environment to which this helmet's best suited.

Running around the city where you're not quite reaching the same speeds, and you're not spending long days in the saddle.

In Conclusion

LS2 designers took a popular concept, the 180-degree flip. They created a completely new and unique mechanism, allowing the Valiant to be the smallest and lightest helmet of its kind on the market. 

When the weather is cold, wear it as a full-face mask. To converse with your friends, flip the chin bar back. Then, use it as a three-quarter open-face helmet as things warm up. 

You still get a Pinlock-ready face shield and LS2's Twin Shield System drop-down internal sun shield regardless of how you configure it. 

In addition, the fog-resistant shield with FogFighter treatment is optically correct and scratch-resistant. 

Thermo-Form lining from LS2 is used in the comfort padding. Thermo Form welds the outer material to the inner foam with heat and pressure. 

This eliminates the need for glues and other chemicals while allowing the breathable fabric to breathe. In addition, the liner is washable, removable, and hypoallergenic. 

It comes with fully adjustable dynamic ventilation and provides airflow to keep you cool while also providing control to keep you comfortable. 

The quick-release chin strap allows for a secure, comfortable fit. In addition, the Valiant is LS2 SENA Bluetooth capable and meets or exceeds DOT requirements.