HJC RPHA 72 Carbon Test: Lighter New Sport-Touring Helmet

Sport-touring helmets today have to do almost everything. They need to be light, not tire the rider on long stretches, stay stable at high speed, accommodate modern communication systems, and still look sporty. HJC positions its new RPHA 72 Carbon exactly within this field of tension.

The new helmet replaces the well-known RPHA 71 and thus also indirectly succeeds the popular RPHA 70. Many touring riders had refused to switch from the extremely light RPHA 70 to the RPHA 71, since the latter turned out considerably heavier and bulkier due to the stricter ECE 22.06 test standard. Since the new RPHA 72 has now shed massive weight, it closes exactly the gap left by its predecessor.

Right when unpacking it, you notice how compact the new HJC RPHA 72 Carbon has been made. The helmet looks modern and surprisingly sporty. Especially in a direct comparison with the RPHA 71, you immediately see the slimmer and more aggressive line work. The vents appear more harmoniously integrated and the overall shape more aerodynamic.

Overall, the RPHA 72 is much less reminiscent of a classic touring helmet and much more of a very sporty full-face helmet with high long-distance capability. The carbon structure under the clear coat is finished to a high standard and cleanly painted. Panel gaps, visor mechanics and numerous detail solutions are clearly in the premium segment despite the down-to-earth purchase price.

The interior fit-out stands out particularly positively. The liner feels more premium than many competitors in this price class. Above all, the side and rear attachments of the padding leave an excellent impression. Everything clicks in solidly, nothing shifts when putting the helmet on or taking it off.

High-mileage riders know the problem well: in the heat of the moment, cheek pads like to come loose or the interior liner shifts. With the RPHA 72, even after frequent putting on and taking off, everything stays exactly in place.

Low weight is one of the biggest strengths of the new helmet. Compared directly to the RPHA 71, the new RPHA 72 saves around 150 grams. On paper that doesn't sound dramatic at first, but in practice it is immediately noticeable.

Especially on long tours, the low weight reduces the strain on the neck and shoulders. This becomes particularly noticeable with sporty riding or longer motorway stints. But while riding, the helmet feels even lighter than the scale would actually suggest. Even during shoulder checks it remains pleasantly neutral and creates almost no inertia.

Fit is also one of the clear improvements over the predecessor. The helmet sits snug and stable on the head without pressing uncomfortably. Especially in the cheek area, the shape feels noticeably more harmoniously tuned than on the RPHA 70.

The new aero skirts in the lower area seal the helmet very effectively against incoming wind. This creates a calmer airflow inside the helmet.

However, these skirts also have a small downside. On first putting the helmet on, it feels unusually tight. The inner liner must be deliberately pushed outward a bit with the straps while putting it on, otherwise the skirts can easily irritate or press, especially when brand new. After a short break-in period it works without problems, but this point should still be mentioned.

Compatibility with glasses stood out very positively. Temples can be inserted without problems, provided the helmet's fit fundamentally matches your own head shape.

On country roads the helmet feels extremely stable and neutral. Even at brisk pace hardly any disturbing movements occur. Only from around 200 km/h does the helmet start to become slightly light and pull minimally at the strap. This behavior is absolutely within the range expected of a sporty touring helmet with a sun visor.

More important than pure high-speed stability in everyday use is airflow calmness anyway. And here the HJC delivers strongly. Particularly impressive: hardly any unpleasant air turbulence occurs around the ears. Some other helmets may objectively be quieter, but they generate unpleasant frequencies or pressure fluctuations. The RPHA 72 avoids this very well.

Noise level is always intensely discussed with touring helmets. The new HJC RPHA 72 Carbon is not the quietest helmet in its class. Especially compared to the older RPHA 70 it feels subjectively a bit louder.

The less voluminous carbon construction probably plays a role here: smaller shape, thinner outer shell, less weight, but somewhat more sound permeability in return. Still, the noise level should by no means be dramatized.

Because what matters is not just the pure decibel figure but the type of noise. And exactly here the RPHA 72 gets a lot right. There is hardly any disturbing turbulence, no annoying whistling and no unpleasant pressure frequencies. The riding noise feels even and not very stressful.

For a sporty touring helmet, the overall sound insulation is at a very good level.

The integrated sun visor is one of the most successful solutions on the helmet. It extends far down and covers an immensely large field of view. Even riders with a bigger nose or a mustache don't hit it. At the same time, enough distance remains so that nothing fogs up.

Operating the sun visor works reliably, but requires a bit more effort. The mechanism engages cleanly, though the sound when extending and locking feels somewhat clunky ("plasticky") and doesn't quite do justice to the otherwise high-quality function of the system.

The main visor, on the other hand, is completely convincing. The mechanism works precisely and cleanly. The visor locks in solidly and conveys high quality. When opening, the mechanism initially requires a bit of practice because the latch works relatively firmly. In return, the visor sits absolutely stable while riding.

The Pinlock system is also one of the highlights of the helmet. Installation is simple and straightforward, and the effect is excellent.

The HJC RPHA 72 offers a pleasantly wide field of vision. Especially during shoulder checks or sporty riding, the helmet conveys an all-round secure feeling. We could not detect any distortion at the edges.

Ventilation performance also convinces in everyday use, as the temperature inside the helmet almost exactly matches the outside temperature. The two front air intakes can be operated intuitively and comfortably. Particularly important: the airflow works effectively without creating unpleasant drafts inside the helmet.

In our opinion, the preparation for the HJC Smart System is one of the best solutions on the market. Many helmets feel unfinished without a built-in intercom or press uncomfortably on the ears with speakers. With the RPHA 72, none of this is noticeable. Everything is cleanly integrated and solved in a practical way.

Additionally, the helmet offers exceptionally much space between the mouth and chin bar. For motovloggers in particular, this is a real advantage. Even with a built-in microphone, plenty of free space remains. No disturbing contact on the lips, no space problems with action cam clamps.

A motorcycle helmet can only fully develop its protective effect if size, fit and head shape match optimally. The outer shell distributes impact energy, while the EPS liner absorbs shocks and reduces rotational forces. If the helmet sits too loosely, it can shift or, in the worst case, even come off. If it is too tight, on the other hand, pressure points, headaches and concentration problems occur on longer rides.

The individual head shape is particularly important here, since not every head matches the classic mid-oval standard shape. NoPain's head shape lies between mid- and long-oval, which is why a different head pad (7 mm instead of 12 mm) was tested on the HJC RPHA 72 in size M. Unlike previously with the HJC RPHA 70, this swap was this time more of a "nice-to-have" than an absolute necessity. The helmet would probably have worked fine with the stock padding as well, since the basic fit already harmonized noticeably better.

High-quality helmets like the HJC RPHA 72 still offer, through different pad thicknesses, a simple way to fine-tune the fit individually without major modifications.

In a direct comparison with the predecessor RPHA 71, the new RPHA 72 shows numerous detail improvements. HJC has consistently further developed the popular sport tourer and optimized it in the decisive areas.

The most important innovations at a glance:

• Less weight: Noticeably lighter for maximum comfort on long stretches.
• Slim build: The overall volume was reduced by approx. 4%.
• Modern design: Fresh, dynamic lines with an aerodynamically optimized forehead area.
• Optimized aerodynamics: Drag was reduced by 19.7%, lift by 6.2%.
• Better fit: The helmet wraps around the head even more ergonomically.
• Premium interior: The interior liner feels premium and comfortable against the skin.
• Effective weather protection: An improved wind seal in the lower area minimizes drafts.

The fact that HJC switched the RPHA 72 from formerly four to now three outer shells is the result of a fundamental redesign. To guarantee a perfect fit and maximum safety for every head despite fewer shell sizes, the interior was massively upgraded: the helmet now uses five separate EPS damping cores (styrofoam inner shells) with different densities. Precise size adaptation is thus achieved more efficiently through the high-tech interior than through the outer dimensions. The result: a slimmer silhouette with an excellent, stable fit and high running smoothness.

Anyone still riding the RPHA 70 will experience a massive difference in overall riding feel when switching to the RPHA 72. The new one sits noticeably more stable in the wind, feels more premium and aerodynamically more mature in every respect. Only in terms of acoustics is there a small difference: subjectively, the RPHA 72 is somewhat louder than the 70. However, this impression is offset by a significantly more pleasant noise character and the absence of disturbing turbulence or whistling tones.

The new HJC RPHA 72 Carbon presents itself in everyday use as a modern sport-touring helmet with a very broad range of application. It combines low weight, sporty aerodynamics and high-quality workmanship with everyday-friendly features such as an integrated sun visor, communication preparation and high long-distance suitability.

Particularly memorable is the combination of good aerodynamics, stable fit and high-quality interior fit-out. The helmet sits snugly on the head without pressing uncomfortably, offers very good wind sealing and conveys a stable and secure riding feeling even at higher speeds. Add to that a precise visor mechanism, an excellently functioning Pinlock system, and a pleasantly wide field of vision without disturbing distortion.

Equally successful is the preparation for communication systems, which in everyday use stands out neither visually nor ergonomically in a negative way.