LS2 FF350 / FF351 Review

Our take : Good quality mid-range helmet for the brand conscious.

Features: Optimum ventilation, Quick release visor, Detachable Washable liners, EPS Padding.

Also See: THH TS41, AXR 806

It's a beautiful Friday morning and I can smell the freshly brewed coffee. The clock on the wall reminds me its 9 am.

The weather is pleasant and I am sitting at the terrace garden of my brothers place in cochin (Kerala). The view from the garden reminds me why Kerala is called 'Gods own country'. Back in Mumbai you can't afford to get a terrace garden unless you are born with a silver spoon....oops gold...no...platinum...nah .... diamond spoon in your mouth. However, all the riches in the world can't get you this view in Mumbai . 

My thought process was broken by a sudden tap on my shoulder, I turned around and saw my brother standing with a swanky new helmet in his hand.

"New lid bro" I exclaimed, "yeah, LS2 Rookie One" came the reply. 

I scooped the lid from his hand to check out the graphics and any new features LS2 might have added.

First impression:

The lid is the same as the earlier LS2 FF350/FF351 models .Made with High impact thermo plastic as LS2 calls it, the helmet shell seems solid . The FF350/FF351 is certified to ECE standards. It has a more rounded shape so people with slimmer head size might find the helmet a bit loose. Currently the model is available only in L size in India and people who find another size may need to verify its authenticity with the company.

Ventilation seems to be adequate with a large adjustable intake port on the forehead and another one near the riders mouth. 

Two exhaust vents are located on the back of the riders head. The adjustable vents are easy to manage with the gloves on so no complaints there.

The mesh covering the rear vents came loose on three helmets when we received our latest consignment of LS2 FF351 and hence this might be a problem which one might face after buying the helmet.

Talking about the interiors of the helmet the EPS liners are basic , nothing unique to point out but I do admire the perfection and the fit thanks to the laser cut padding's. The liners are removable and washable, but as I advise majority of the buyers out there, if you use your helmet regularly it makes sense to invest in a balaclava and wash the helmet liners only once in a while as constant washing causes the foam to deteriorate over time.

Visor on the LS2 is a five stage adjustable the clicks are not so sturdy like seen on some of the other brands in the market nevertheless it should work just fine. 

The visor mechanism is a quick release system, however as there are no buttons it is a trouble to remove and put it back together unless you are used to it. It is more of a problem as the helmet comes fitted with a mercury visor as standard and you are unable to find the slots for fitting the visor as you cannot see through the mercury coating.

A breath guard has been provided in order to reduce visor fogging during long rides.

The chinstrap lock is a micro metric type so it is easier to operate than the double d ring types.  A major flaw pointed out by one of my friends on this helmet is the length of the chin strap. We had not observed this on earlier FF350 models so we are not sure if the length has been shortened on the new models however people with a long facial structure might find the length of the chinstrap to be inadequate even when it's at the maximum.

The beading on the bottom fits perfectly however, we are still skeptical about it  as we have encountered quite a few instances on the earlier FF350/FF351 models of the beading coming off within 4-8 months depending on the usage. On the contrary we have also come across lot of customers who have used the lid without facing this problem for more than two years. So it is not definite that you will encounter this issue but there is a rather high possibility.

The Ride :

I took the helmet for a spin and that's where the LS2 scores quite well. Wind noise levels inside the helmet are bare minimum till 95 kmph. Post 125 kmph it becomes loud. The visor seal is really good and no whistling noise is audible. Ventilation works well when in motion, as it was quite warm the visor started to fog up a bit when I stopped at the red signal, however as soon as I gunned the machine at the green light the visor cleared up almost instantly.

The only thing which is missing on the FF350 is a chin curtain which would have reduced the wind noise levels further and at the current price range the omission of the chin curtain is quite disappointing especially when majority of the competitors offer the same on less costing models.

The LS2 FF350/351 is available in both solid colours and graphics.

Affordability: The helmet currently commands an MRP of Rs.4400 in India.

Final Verdict: The LS2 FF350/351 is a good helmet with very few flaws, a year ago this would have been the best helmet available at this price range, however at the current MRP it is not the most value for money product as there are other helmets now available in India with more features at a lesser cost.

So if you are looking for a good helmet and are the brand conscious types the LS2 FF350/351 will serve you well.  


Russel J
Prostreet Motorcycle Gear
www.prostreetstore.com