Arai's outgoing Tour-X 4 helmet is still a go-to adventure touring option - here's why

The highly acclaimed, top-spec Arai Tour-X motorbike helmet has been around for decades and I’ve been testing the fourth-generation Tour-X4 for the past three years. It’s designed for adventure and off-road riding, but with the peak removed can be used as a road helmet, or with goggles instead of the visor.

I’ve used it in all conditions on adventure bike launches and group tests in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sicily and the UK.

It’s now been superseded by Arai’s new Tour-X 5.

• Read MCN’s previous Arai Tour-X 4 reviews

MCN’s guide to adventure bike helmets

Is the Arai Tour-X 4 comfortable?

I’ve worn Arai road and racing helmets for most of my biking life and the Tour-X 4 is instantly familiar and a joy to use. From the way it cossets your head, to its soft interior and even the way it smells, it’s textbook, quality Arai. It’s easy to slip on and feels like a conventional helmet, which is the biggest compliment I can give.

It has the same rounded R75 shell shape as the Japanese firm’s road helmets (for ‘glance-off’ impact protection) and it fits perfectly out of the box (I’m a medium). 5mm layers of foam in the removable cheek pads and skull cap can be peeled away, if it’s too tight and cheek pads can also be replaced with slimmer/thicker accessory versions.

Weighing 1670g the Tour-X 4 is quite heavy, especially at the front, due to the peak and extended off-road chin bar. It’s slightly more tiring to wear as a result, but I’ve worn it on day-long rides without a problem.

What’s the Arai Tour-X 4 visor like?

A clear visor and anti-fog Pinlock come as standard, but I mostly use an accessory dark tinted version. The visor has widescreen field of vision (although you can always see the peak, which I’m not keen on), a classy smoothness in the way it moves and is easy to crack open for extra ventilation.

It isn’t a two-minute job to change the visor, though, with fiddly plastic screws and fixing plates that need to line up with the visor and peak. The new Tour-X5 has a quick release system that gets around the problem. The Tour-X4 doesn’t have a drop-down visor.

Does the Arai Tour-X 4 have good ventilation?

For sweaty off-road rides or sun-baked road trips an adventure lid needs good ventilation. The Tour-X4 has seven strategically placed intake and five exhaust vents that do the job superbly. I’ve worn it as much in the cold and rain, too and it’s nice snug with no drafts or leaks.

Is the Arai Tour-X 4 a noisy helmet?

I’ve only used the Tour-X4 while riding adventure bikes, which have notoriously noisy screens. Despite the racket the bikes make the Arai manages to be surprisingly quiet, although the peak can cause some buffeting and catch in the wind. I wear earplugs so it’s never a problem. I’ve never used it without the peak or with goggles.

Does the Arai Tour-X 4 look good?

The Tour-X4 is a beautiful hand-built creation, as much as a safety device. I’m not a huge fan of the off-road style in general and it looks too storm-trooper-ish with the peak removed. I’d always choose to wear a conventional road helmet, regardless of the style of bike and only pick something like this for practical reasons.

Is the Arai Tour-X 4 good quality?

It’s hard to fault the Tour-X4’s first class build quality, from its plush interior fabrics to the deep, durable white paintwork and the way the vents and trims fit perfectly. There’s nothing about this Arai that feels cheap or plasticky.

Does the Arai Tour-X 4 offer good value for money?

Arai’s Tour-X 4 is unashamedly premium, but now it’s been replaced by the Tour-X 5 there are some stonking deals to be had from retailers’ existing stock.

If the Arai isn’t floating your boat, there are plenty of other adventure helmets available on the market.

The Klim Krios Pro combines cutting edge technology and lightweight materials in a comfortable and great-looking package.

Once upon a time, riders looking for a comfortable, peaked adventure-touring helmet pretty much had two choices, an Arai Tour-X or a Shoei Hornet ADV. Like the Arai, the The Shoei is still available on the market today.

Portuguese brand Nexx might not be on the tip of every British biker’s tongue, but their X.WED2 is a really great dual-purpose helmet with very little to be found in the way of negatives. We included it in our adventure helmet product showcase back in 2020 and it won the test with a maximum 5 stars.

Arai Tour-X 4 verdict

If you ride off road, a peaked adventure lid is useful to protect yourself from flying rocks, dust and dirt from other bikes and to keep the sun out of your eyes. The Arai Tour-X4 ticks those boxes, while being every inch a premium helmet that’s as beautifully made and comfortable as any of their top-level road offerings.

But do both on and off-road jobs it’s a compromise. It’s heavier, slightly more fatiguing to wear and the peak is ever-present in your vision and sometimes whips in the wind. Changing the visor is tricky, too, but the updated Tour-X5’s quick release system gets around that problem.

Wearing an adventure helmet is part of my road tester’s ‘dressing-up box’ and useful on the dirt, but I wouldn’t choose to wear one purely for the road just for its looks, even on an adventure bike.

Got an Arai Tour-X 4 of your own? Why not get in touch and find out how you can give an owner review for inclusion on this page!

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What our other testers said about the Arai Tour-X 4

Tested by Justin Hayzelden for two years, 5,500 miles
Quality 5/5, Value 5/5

Just opening the Arai Tour-X 4 box is an experience in itself. Cleverly packaged without the need for tape or staples, it’s a masterclass in simple origami and opens to reveal the helmet cocooned in a neatly tied, fleecy storage bag, along with stickers, instructions (including a small bottle of silicone lubricant for the visor mechanism) and the Pinlock anti-fog insert.

Slipping it out of the bag and seeing the graphics in the flesh for the first time actually drew oohs and aahs, and then there’s the smell when you first put it on – new Arais have a unique aroma that immerses the wearer in a sensation of quality and craftsmanship.

I’ve yet to find a helmet that is as pleasant to wear as an Arai, and with that cavernous opening, the Tour-X 4 may well be the best in the range. The weight distribution is so good, that it barely feels like there’s anything on your head, even after a full day on the trails.

And that’s from a helmet weighing 1670g (on our scales), hardly the lightest in its class. The double D-ring strap ensures an infinitely secure fit and the extendable chin spoiler does a great job of keeping the wind out when you don’t want it. There’s also very little drag from the aerodynamically designed peak.

The Tour-X 4 isn’t the quietest of helmets, especially with the peak in place, but if you wear earplugs when riding (as I do) wind noise shouldn’t be a problem.

I tend to use goggles when riding off-road and like the fact that the strap fits with the visor installed, regardless of whether it’s open or closed. However, if the going gets messy it can also be removed entirely to prevent damage from mud and grit, turning the Tour-X into a traditional off-road style lid.

It may not be the cheapest, but consider that it’s essentially three helmets in one and the value should become clear – for trail riding, touring or even tearing up the track, the Arai Tour-X 4 could well be the only helmet you’ll ever need.

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Tested by Michael Guy for five years, 8400 miles
Quality 5/5, Value 4/5

The Tour-X 4 has certainly been my go-to helmet for a significant chunk of riding I’ve completed over the last five years. While Arai claim it works as a grand tourer, adventure helmet and for use on naked bikes with the peak removed the vast majority of my riding has been using it for off-road and adventure.

From events in Italy, to riding the Trans Euro Trail in Northern Spain and most recently a trip to Iceland it’s been my helmet of choice for when I need something I can completely trust and rely on. After all your helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment we all wear.

This is actually my second Arai adventure helmet, I ran the previous X3 model for the five years prior to getting the X4. One of the key factors that keeps me coming back for more is the fit. I wear an XS and unlike other helmets Arai have different outer shell sizes meaning that I’m not wearing a helmet with a large outer shell and lots of padding to make it fit correctly. This in turn makes it feel and look better.

I’ve used the helmet with both clear and a light smoke visor and both give excellent vision and minimal glare. The light smoke visor gives the same quality and contrast as a decent pair of sun glasses. Compared to a motocross helmet the peak is short but it’s enough to act as a sunshade when the sun is low in the sky or give protection from rocks roosted up by the rider in front by simply dropping your head.

Despite the peak the smooth lines of the outer shell make it more than acceptable for sustained motorway speeds. I always expect the peak to make it feel worse than a regular road helmet but in reality, when riding a big adventure bike, it’s the flawed aerodynamics/screen of the bike that are the issue rather than the helmet. My only real gripe is that changing visors is a slow and laborious task which requires removing four easily lose able screws and the peak.

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