Klim Helmets

Having had a big off where my Rpha90 took a big hit against, as I undersntand it, a tree (it did its job, mind - no complaints about that at all!) I decided to change to a lid without the two things I was less than keen on. The 90 was noisy because of the shell width, the chinbar join and the side hinges. And having a sun-visor meant a very thin liner for forehead and temples, to make room for the visor pocket. As a result it has to be very dense and hard, and it gave me pressure points on my brows that caused discomfort and headaches after a couple of hours. I also have a big chin and wanted more room for both it and a mic; with the 90, a boom mic basically sat _in_ my mouth!

Shoei's Adv6 would have been a contender but wasnt available in XL at the time, but the only other 3 that worked for my head shape and chin generally were the Nexx X.trail (good but not ideal fit for me), and the 2 Klims. The X1 won on the basis of being a lot easier to manage, with tool-less visor and peak swaps, and it comes with blanks if you choose to go peak-less. That it matches the colours of my new versys didnt hurt any either, but that was secondary.

Hard to put on at first, esp once I'd put the cardo kit in, as I've big ears too so the snugness folds the tops over a bit. But a wooden stirring stick sorts that, and it'll break in anyway. Once on, it's super comfortable, being a close fit with even light pressure all over. It's light too; I can nod and shake my head quite hard and it doesnt slide or shift at all. Really inspires confidence.

There are 3 negative-ish points. The cheekpads don't have quick-remove tabs though they're not difficult to pull out, it's got D rings which I have never liked especially when my gloves are wet and hands are cold (I didnt like the magnetic type on the other lid much either) - I infinitely prefer a ratchet type, and where I can agree with other reviews, it is eye-wateringly expensive. But a lid is the one place where cost really isn't in my top 5 considerations; I've always spent the most on my lids and made do with cheaper clothing, or a cheaper bike, when money has been tight. I'm not ever going to be Old and Rich, but at least spending what I can on the dome gives me a fair crack at Old.

The TL;DR is - IMO, if it fits your head and your tastes it is worth every penny.

I was looking a the Nexx xwed3 but tried on this and it was so comfortable straight out the box. Yes it expensive and find it hard to justify Klim prices but you get what you pay for and I have no complaints everything about this helmet as been thought through to make it as perfect as perfect can be

Absolutely fantastic helmet. The KLIM X1 Alpha is lightweight, very quiet and extremely comfortable, even on longer rides. The fit and overall quality are excellent, and I’m really impressed with it.

The only downside is the price — it’s definitely very expensive. But apart from that, everything is superb. Highly recommended!

A comfortable, road focused touring helmet with excellent optics, improved padding, and solid heat performance. Not worth full retail price, but absolutely worthwhile if you get a discount.

Fit & First Impressions
Trying the Klim Alpha X1 alongside the Schuberth E2 and Klim GT1 at Sportsbikeshop made the choice clear. Despite the tight entry caused by Klim s new padded collar designed to reduce wind noise the X1 immediately felt more comfortable once seated on the head. It it really does help with wind noise.

Fit and comfort The updated padding holds the head and cheeks far better than the Krios Pro. With the Krios I needed larger cheek pads; with the X1, the stock fit is already secure with padding that is thicker and of a better quality.

Entry and exit The collar is snug at first, but after a few days it becomes noticeably easier to get on and off.

If you wear glasses, the X1 s arm channels are a welcome addition. Larger armed frames are slightly fiddly but still manageable.

Ventilation & Heat Performance

I rode in 46°C heat through the Pyrenees about as extreme as it gets for Mr average and the X1 held up impressively.

Ventilation is good but not as strong as the Krios Pro.
The helmet feels designed more for road touring than off road airflow.
The chin vent brings in more air than expected, and the top vents work well at certain angles.
Even in extreme heat, I never felt the urge to rip the helmet off.

The visor has a heat repelling coating. real world experience speaks for itself: the helmet stays comfortable even when the temperature is brutal.

Optics & Visor Performance
The transition visor is one of Klim s best features, and it remains excellent on the X1.

No distortion, even with prescription glasses.
Fast reacting tinting.
The peak has fewer vents than before, which you feel during shoulder checks.
You still get the patterned effect on the transition lens when the visor is up, but it s minor and expected.

Buffering settles down after a few days of riding, which is unusual but welcome.

Build Quality & Features
Klim clearly invested more in designing the X1 from the ground up rather than re branding an existing shell.

Padding and interior materials feel premium and secure.
Speaker pockets are now included.
The only real disappointment is the switch from the magnetic chin strap to a traditional DD ring. The magnetic buckle on the Krios Pro was a game changer, and going backwards feels unnecessary.


Value for Money
Is it worth full retail? No.
Is it worth it with £100 less? Absolutely and in true sports-bike fashion the helmet was discontinued.

You re getting a helmet that s:

Comfortable
Stable at speed
Excellent in heat
Great for glasses wearers
Built with noticeably improved materials
Road focused and refined

And tested 54 hours of touring with zero hotspots or pinching after only purchasing the helmet a couple of days before.

Final Verdict
The Klim Alpha X1 is a high quality touring helmet that shines in comfort, optics, and heat performance. It s not perfect ventilation is milder than the Krios Pro, the peak catches wind during shoulder checks, and the DD strap is a step backwards but overall it s a helmet you can trust for long distance riding.

After numerous trying on helmets using the try or buy, narrowed down to this X1, most comfortable Helmet ever put on my head, light, lovely lining material, Visor incredibly clear, after trying when riding it is not the quietest as you will need ear plugs anyway and then it’s Ace! Rolls Royce i would say. Really happy with Harlow Sportsbikeshop as i always feel guilty requesting about 8 helmets to try, the lesser expensive one’s really feel the difference in quality so get what you pay for. I have been fed up with purchasing cheap stuff every year so shelled out this time and absolutely no regrets!

Great fit from the first time I used the helmet. The Sportsbikeshop team provided great advice to ensure a proper fit.