LS2 MX701 Carbon Review — The ADV Helmet That Completely Changed My Mind
- Danny - Ride Roam Review
- May 5
- 3 min read
I’ll be honest — I never really understood the hype around ADV helmets.
I always assumed they were bulky, noisy, awkward at speed, and more suited to riders crossing deserts than everyday riding. But after spending time with the LS2 MX701 Carbon, I can safely say I was completely wrong. The team at Cotter Motorcycles gave me one to test and this helmet genuinely surprised me in the best possible way.
First Impressions — Master Chief Energy
The first thing that grabbed me was the look.
I went for the reflective gold visor, and paired with the aggressive shell design, the whole thing gives off serious Master Chief from Halo vibes. It has that futuristic military-style look without feeling over the top, and it stands out in a sea of standard sports and touring helmets.
The carbon finish keeps everything looking premium too. It feels like a proper high-end lid the moment you pick it up.
And somehow, it manages to look rugged and sleek at the same time.
LS2 mx701 carbon Comfort That Shocked Me
One of the biggest surprises was just how comfortable this helmet is.
Usually with new helmets, there’s always something — pressure on the forehead, tight spots around the ears, or that one annoying point that starts hurting after an hour. But with the MX701 Carbon, I honestly couldn’t find a single hard spot anywhere on my head.
It just fits.
The padding feels plush without being too soft, and the helmet wraps around your head naturally instead of squeezing it. Even after longer rides, there was no irritation or pressure building up.
That alone already put it above a lot of helmets I’ve used before.
The Vision Is on Another Level
This is the feature that completely blew my mind. The field of vision on this thing is incredible.
Compared to my other helmets, the amount you can actually see feels almost unreal at first. Peripheral vision is massively improved, and everything feels more open and less restrictive. You notice it immediately when shoulder-checking, filtering, cornering, or even just riding through town.
It honestly changes the riding experience.
You feel more aware of everything around you, and it adds a level of confidence I wasn’t expecting. After using this, going back to a traditional helmet suddenly feels narrow and boxed in.
I genuinely can’t believe I’ve never tried an ADV helmet before now.
Wind Noise? Surprisingly Minimal
Another thing I expected was loads of wind noise.
Adventure helmets aren’t exactly known for being whisper quiet, especially with the peak visor design. But the MX701 Carbon handled motorway speeds far better than I expected.
Even at higher speeds, wind noise stayed surprisingly minimal. There wasn’t the buffeting or turbulence I thought I’d get, and the helmet stayed stable without trying to yank my head around.
That makes it far easier to live with for daily riding or longer journeys.
The Gold Visor Completes the Look
The reflective gold visor deserves its own mention because it completely transforms the helmet.
It takes an already aggressive ADV design and pushes it into full sci-fi territory. In sunlight, it looks absolutely unreal, and combined with the carbon shell, it gives the helmet a proper premium feel.
It’s one of those setups where you catch your reflection in a shop window and think:
“Yeah… that looks ridiculously cool.”
Final Thoughts
The LS2 MX701 Carbon has completely changed my opinion on ADV helmets.
I expected compromise. What I got instead was:
incredible comfort,
minimal wind noise,
massive visibility,
lightweight carbon construction,
and one of the coolest-looking helmets I’ve worn.
Most importantly, it genuinely made riding more enjoyable.
If you’ve never tried an ADV helmet because you think they’re only for off-road riding or big touring bikes, this might be the helmet that changes your mind too.
Because honestly? My mind is blown at how good this thing is. Want to buy one? check out the deals here : https://www.cottermc.com/ls2-mx701-c-explorer-gloss-carbon-06-xs.html
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