BILT Explorer Dual-Sport Helmet

BILT’s new Explorer dual-sport helmet is well constructed and comfortable, with a few areas for improvement.

First I noticed that the face opening was just right for my Oakley goggles. I was also pleased with the weight, especially in light of its features. During a recent Hare Scramble race, I found the bill length great for keeping the roost off my face, and after a few crashes, the paint showed no scratches.

Around town and on the highway I’ve really come to appreciate the sun shield. It took a little practice to consistently find the sun shield lever, but I like the way it operates with its spring-loaded return. It takes a little pressing to put the shield down, but hitting the release button pops the shield out of the way—a feature that was appreciated when I rode into a tunnel on a sunny day. Both the regular visor and the sun shield are optically very good, with almost no distortion. The visor lift tab is up front by the chin bar, and could be a little more prominent, but again, once I became accustomed to it there were no problems locating it.

Overall, I found the helmet to be adequate. It’s DOT certified—but not SNELL or ECE. It’s comfortable enough, but the sizes run a bit small. The visor and sun shield work great, but they take a little getting used to. I had fogging issues because the venting isn’t routed properly, but the windscreen opens just a smidge and resolves it. Like everything dual-sport, there are compromises. At the low price point, they’re a very good value. MSRP: $199.99 CycleGear.com