Flipover helmets promise much in the way of versatility and the LS2 Advant II is one of the most convincing takes on the formula. I've found it to be ideal for mixed riding, and it shone during a 2000-mile summer tour across northern Europe. It blends everyday comfort with proper touring credentials, and while it’s not perfect, the issues are relatively minor.
Fit & comfort
The Advant II fits true to size — I take a medium, which matches the size I usually take in helmets. It’s perhaps slightly generous, but not enough that many riders would need to drop a size.
Comfort levels are generally very good. The liner feels soft, plush and well-padded, doing a solid job of managing sweat. A small pressure point develops occasionally on the right side of my forehead, but I put that down to my awkward head shape rather than any design flaw. A short break will usually relieve it.
It’s also worth highlighting that LS2 offer this helmet in three shell sizes — rare for a flipover. That means smaller and larger head sizes aren’t compromised by excessive padding or oversized shells.
Noise & aerodynamics
Like many flipover helmets, the Advant II runs noisier than a typical full-face. When riding a Suzuki V-Strom 800RE adventure bike, I found it louder than usual, but not outside the norm for this style of lid.
Stability, however, was good at regular road speeds and the helmet remained composed without buffeting or lift.
Chinbar operation
The chinbar flips from full-face to open-face with a single button at the tip, which releases the lock and automatically raises the visor. Once the bar is flipped over to the back of the helmet, the visor can be pulled down again, converting it to open-face mode.
Riding with the chinbar open, the helmet felt well-balanced. The mechanism worked reliably, although at times it needed more force to release it — I suspect due to the visor lock, which must disengage before the chinbar can lift fully. It’s a minor niggle, and one I eventually adapted to.
Vision & visor system
Vision is a strong point. The visor offers excellent peripheral views, both laterally and vertically — a consistent strength in helmets of this type.
The main visor attaches via side runners and is incredibly easy to remove and replace. There are graduated detents for staged opening, plus a cracked-open position for extra airflow. When riding with the visor slightly open it tends to wobble at the bottom edge, which is distracting. I usually resort to opening the chinbar to let air in — fine in warm weather, but not so good in rain or cold.
Photography: Helen Meeds
A visor lock button helps keep the visor securely shut, though releasing it is fiddly — and this occasionally interferes with opening the chinbar.
Anti-mist performance is excellent, thanks to the included Pinlock 120 insert, which has worked faultlessly during my testing.
There’s also a drop-down sun visor, which operates smoothly, but I find the tint a bit too mild and would prefer it to drop slightly more for better sun-blocking coverage.
Ventilation
The helmet features a fairly normal setup of chin vent, top vent and a rear exhaust.
Ventilation is effective without being spectacular. The top vent does most to cool things down, providing a noticeable flow of air. The chin vent allows some airflow, but it isn’t especially strong. Overall, it managed to keep me reasonably cool on summer rides.
Fastening & safety
The helmet fastens with a micrometric buckle, enhanced by LS2’s extra pull tab, which makes undoing it especially quick and easy. It takes a while to get used to feeding the slider back in place due to the extra tab, but it soon becomes intuitive.
Safety-wise, the Advant II carries the latest ECE 22.06 certification — reassuring for a helmet in this category. There’s no SHARP rating yet and I’m curious to see how it performs, especially in terms of the chinbar’s integrity in an impact.
While any flipfront helmet carries inherent compromises — particularly when riding with the chinbar open — I felt reasonably confident in the level of protection offered.
Intercom compatibility
I fitted a Sena 60S intercom without much trouble. The unit needed to sit a little further back than ideal, but I quickly adapted to its new location. In fact, mounting it further back may have reduced drag and turbulence, which is always a bonus.
Final thoughts
Having tried many flipover helmets over the years, the LS2 Advant II strikes me as one of the most effective for real-world use. It delivers day-to-day practicality, long-ride comfort, and solid value for money.
The issues I experienced are relatively minor — such as the visor wobble and fiddly visor lock release — and this helmet is a strong addition to the flipover helmet options. For touring, commuting, or general riding where flexibility matters, the Advant II is a strong contender.
