HJC I80 Helmet Review – A Budget-Friendly Modular ADV Option?

Introduction

Finding the right adventure helmet can be a challenge, especially if you’re looking for a modular design without breaking the bank. The HJC I80 caught my attention because it blends ADV styling, modular convenience, and affordability at around $300. It seemed like a great fit for what I was looking for—a modular helmet with adventure-oriented features that wouldn’t cost a fortune.

After spending some time with it, I’ve put this helmet through its paces. While there are a lot of positives, a few frustrating flaws hold it back from being a perfect choice. Here’s my experience with the HJC I80, covering what works, what doesn’t, and whether it’s a good fit for riders looking for a modular ADV helmet.

Build Quality and Design

The HJC I80 has an advanced polycarbonate composite shell, making it lightweight while still feeling solid. The modular chin bar rotates smoothly, and the double D-ring chinstrap keeps the fit secure. The interior padding is removable and washable, which is always a plus.

One of the standout features is the helmet’s built-in sun visor. It provides just the right level of tint—not too dark, not too light. Initially, I thought it didn’t come down low enough, but after wearing the helmet for a while, I found it to be sufficient.

The peak, however, is where this helmet falls short. It is extremely flimsy and starts vibrating aggressively at speeds as low as 35 mph. At higher speeds, it becomes unbearable, making it almost unusable unless removed. For an adventure-style helmet, this is a major oversight.

Comfort and Fit

Helmet comfort is subjective, but for me, the HJC I80 fits well, especially around the ears. I have an oddly shaped head, and finding a helmet that doesn’t create pressure points can be difficult. This one works well in that regard.

Ventilation is good while riding but gets warm in the cheek area when sitting still. The airflow improves significantly once you’re moving. The modular front is easy to operate and has a lock to keep it secured in the upright position, but I wouldn’t recommend riding with it flipped up since there’s no data confirming its safety in that position.

Visibility and Features

The visor provides excellent visibility, giving a wide field of view, which is especially useful for adventure riding. It does a great job of keeping the road and ground in clear sight. The included Pinlock lens and chin curtain are nice additions that help with fogging and wind noise.

The biggest issue I encountered was with the visor mechanism itself. The dust cover comes off too easily, and you may accidentally pull it off when lowering the modular front. I’ve adjusted to pulling the face down from the front or side, which has helped, but it’s still an annoying design flaw.

Communication System Installation

Installing a Cardo communication system was a frustrating experience. The speaker cutouts are deep enough, which is great, but there’s no good place to run the cables. I had to use a plastic pick (normally used for vinyl wrapping) to feed the cables around the pegs holding the cheek pads in place.

The bulky aux cable connector that comes with the Cardo system did fit well behind the cheek pad, which was a small relief. However, for a helmet that is marketed as being Bluetooth-ready, HJC should have designed it with better cable routing options.

Safety Certification

One thing to note is that the HJC I80 is DOT certified but not ECE certified. While HJC is a well-respected brand and I trust their helmets, having an ECE certification would have added some extra peace of mind, as it is generally considered a more rigorous safety standard.

Conclusion

The HJC I80 is a solid helmet for its price, offering modular convenience, good visibility, and a comfortable fit. However, the flimsy peak, visor cover issues, and difficulties with installing a communication system hold it back from being great. The lack of ECE certification might also be a dealbreaker for some riders.

For the price, it’s one of the better modular ADV helmets available, but it’s clear the market is still lacking in premium options. If a high-end, no-compromise modular ADV helmet existed, I’d gladly spend more, but for now, this seemed to be the best option. Despite its flaws, it gets the job done and is worth considering for those looking for a budget-friendly adventure helmet.