Simpson has introduced not one, but two new helmets, which are the company’s first adventure motorcycle helmets ever. The Journey is a flip-up design, while the similar Xcursion is a full-face helmet with a fixed chin bar. Right out of the gate, these lids appear to target important features that ADV riders are looking for, including good ventilation, a reasonable weight, integrated sun visors, and an optional carbon fiber shell. They also include elements of Simpson’s traditional styling, such as the pentagonal shape on the front of the chin bar. 

Adventure riders may not be familiar with the Simpson brand, which has focused mainly on auto racing safety equipment since its inception in 1959. However, about 20 years ago, Simpson brought its extensive knowledge of automotive racing helmets to motorcycle applications, introducing its extensive range of Bandit street helmets. These have proven popular with the Harley-Davidson crowd, as both companies are based in the United States.

A new market for the brand, Simpson says the move into the ADV arena comes amid the global rise in motorcycle touring and adventure riding. In spite of their popularity among the HD crowd, Simpson intends to embrace riders of other ADV brands, which is clear from the fact that KTM, BMW, and Triumph are featured prominently on Simpson’s ADV-specific Instagram page. Additionally, the brand offers helmet graphics to match several popular non-Harley adventure bikes. The Xcursion’s optional blue/grey/red color scheme emulates BMW Motorsport colors, while the grey/orange/white pattern brings KTM to mind.

A Tale of Two Simpsons

Despite their different styles, the Journey and Xcursion have quite a bit in common. Both helmets come in three shell sizes for an improved fit from XS through XXL and are designed for an intermediate-oval head. Each helmet offers a tri-composite shell or an optional lightweight carbon fiber shell for an additional $200. Inside is standard EPS foam with speaker cutouts to accommodate your choice of comm system. This is notable since Simpson also sells rebranded Cardo communicators, yet does not force you to use them. Installation of  a Sena or other communicator is said to be hassle free. 

To enhance comfort further, these helmets feature a moisture-wicking liner with plush Comfort Max padding that is removable, allowing riders to swap out the standard pads for different sizes to get a more tailored fit. Overall there seems to be a clear focus on high-quality materials and a premium fit and finish. 

“Premium hardware is something that we’ve always used with our helmets, so the chin bar and visor screws are all made out of metal rather than the plastic you’ll find on a lot of our competitors’ helmets,” says Jamie Beckett, director of Simpson Race Products’ motorcycle division. To enhance fit and finish, the shell venting is created using a water jet manufacturing process, and those vents are backed by metal mesh rather than plastic pieces. “It’s all part of the larger goal of delivering top-notch quality,” he adds.

A chin vent and two top vents can be opened or closed to adjust airflow. The chin vent is operated from inside the chin bar rather than outside the helmet, which may be a little awkward to reach around the chin skirt. A standard double D-ring chin strap keeps these helmets secured. Both helmets have earned DOT and ECE 22.06 safety ratings. The modular Journey meets ECE 22.06 standards with the chin bar both open and closed.

The helmets are designed with a large eye port for excellent visibility but we haven’t seen anything mentioned about their ability to accommodate larger goggles. Both helmets include a Pinlock MaxVision 120XLT to keep the face shield fog-free. A large drop-down interchangeable sun visor is standard equipment for the Journey and Xcursion as well. While this feature does add a little bit of weight, some riders may prefer the easy immediate deployment or retraction of this visor instead of changing face shields or relying on a photochromic one. Simpson will also have a variety of optional shields, including colored, tinted, and mirrored. Both helmets are adaptable as well, allowing you to remove the peak, face shield, or both. Although unlike some competitors, you will need an Allen wrench (included) to do this. 

On carbon fiber models, the peak remains composite, as well as some other exterior trim pieces, mainly around vents. Painted black, the peak still matches the raw carbon fiber shell  well, but it also stands out as being a different material. Some competitors provide a carbon fiber peak that matches the rest of the helmet perfectly while further reducing weight.

Journey

The Journey’s peak and face shield utilize the same two mounting points in an integrated hinge design. This also avoids the need to cover up separate mounting points when the peak is not in use — a common design in modular ADV helmets.

It is also worth noting that the chin bar is made entirely of carbon fiber, not a carbon fiber shell over a different material frame, which saves weight. The online retailer SpeedAddicts.com recently weighed the Journey and it came in at about 4 pounds in the XL. However, they did not specify whether it was the composite or carbon helmet, only that the carbon version weighs a few ounces less. 

A common gripe with Simpson’s other modular street helmets like the Mod Bandit, is an issue where the chin bar can jam halfway up if you try to lift it with the face shield already open. The design requires you to close the face shield first before lifting the chin bar to ensure smooth operation and avoid breaking anything. The Journey addresses this inconvenience, allowing you to open the chin bar fully, regardless of where the face shield happens to be at the time. This should be expected of all modular helmets, but it’s good to see that Simpson has addressed this known issue in their new design.

The Journey is currently on sale for $574.95 in the composite or $774.95 for the carbon fiber shell.

Features:

• One handed modular chinbar opening
• Removable 2-anchor peak
• Tricomposite or Carbon Fiber construction
• Universal communications compatible
• Closable top and 3-position chin vents
• Upgraded interior for max comfort
• Moisture Wicking Comfort Max interior
• Interior drop-down interchangeable visor
• Carbon version with carbon chinbar
• Pinlock 120 Max Vision Included
• 3 shell sizes for optimal fitment
• DOT and ECE 22.06 certified

Xcursion

Like the Journey, the full-face Xcursion helmet provides a variety of configurations, enabling you to remove the peak, face shield, both, or neither, as you wish. The peak has three mounting points, one on each side and one on top of the helmet. These mounting points are separate from the two for the face shield. You will need to use the Allen wrench included with the helmet to remove or attach these pieces. Additionally, the peak partially obscures the washers that hold the face shield on, likely making it difficult to remove the face shield without first detaching the peak. Speed Addicts also weighed the composite versions of the Xcursion and it came in at three pounds 13 ounces, while the carbon fiber version shaves more three ounces from that total.

The Xcursion is currently on sale for $524.95, or $724.95 for the carbon fiber shell. The flat grey “Armor” color is selling for $499.95 in the Xcursion, but the Journey offers no discount for this color.

Features:

• Removable 3-anchor peak
• Tricomposite or Carbon Fiber construction
• Universal communications compatible
• Closable top and 3-position chin vents
• Moisture Wicking Comfort Max interior
• Upgraded interior for max comfort
• Pinlock 120 Max Vision Included
• Interior drop-down interchangeable visor
• 3 shells sizes for optimal fitment
• DOT and ECE 22.06 certified

Whether Simpson attracts existing customers switching from a street Harley-Davidson to a Pan America or new ADV rider customers, both the Journey and Xcursion appear to be competitive offerings, with most of the features riders look for in an ADV helmet. It’s even possible that some of Simpson’s existing customers may upgrade to these helmets, being a newer design with many improvements over some of their street helmets that have been around for a while. Remove the peak, and the Journey and Xcursion can be good street helmets as well. While some competitors’ helmets may be lighter, the Journey and Xcursion are similar in weight to other top ADV Helmets. The use of metal fasteners, three shell sizes and features like a drop-down sun visor or the included Pinlock all point to a solid design on their first attempt. 

Author: Justin Hughes

Justin has been an automotive and motorcycle journalist for the past 10 years. After learning to ride on a series of Suzuki GSs, he took up touring on a Honda Silverwing and PC800 before turning his attention to off-road adventures. His racing experience is mainly with cars, although he did do a track day once on a KLR650. He has traveled with his cat, Lister, to 44 states in his “moto-glamping” camper van, Smokey Da Van, with his V-Strom 650 in tow.