When I was approached with the opportunity to review the Matryx, I was genuinely curious. While Airoh is a well-known name in the off-road and motocross world, I hadn't spent much time with their road-focused helmets.
Fast forward three months, countless commutes, weekend rides, filming sessions and several hundred kilometres later, and I feel I've spent enough time with the Matryx to share my honest thoughts.
This isn't a first impressions review. It's a real-world assessment based on actually living with the helmet.
First Impressions
The first thing that stood out when I unboxed the Matryx was the quality of the finish. The helmet immediately feels premium. The paintwork is excellent, the visor mechanism feels solid, and the overall fit and finish are exactly what I'd expect from a premium European manufacturer.
The graphics on my review unit are striking without being over the top. The blue, grey and white combination works exceptionally well and pairs nicely with my BMW R1250R.
More importantly, the helmet felt comfortable from day one.
As many riders know, a helmet can tick every box on paper, but if it doesn't fit your head shape properly, nothing else matters.
Fortunately, the Matryx suited my head shape extremely well.
Safety Features
Let's start with the most important aspect of any helmet: safety!
The Airoh Matryx carries both DOT and ECE 22.06 certification.
For those unfamiliar with ECE 22.06, it represents the latest European helmet safety standard and includes more rigorous testing than previous generations. Impact testing is conducted across a wider range of speeds and impact points, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of real-world crash scenarios.
One feature that particularly caught my attention is Airoh's ASN (Airoh Sliding Net) system.
The ASN system is designed to allow relative movement between the helmet's outer shell and internal liner during certain impacts. The objective is to help reduce rotational forces transmitted to the rider's head during an accident.
While I certainly hope I never have to test this feature personally, it's reassuring to know that Airoh has incorporated technology aimed at improving rider protection beyond simply meeting minimum certification standards.
The shell itself is lightweight while maintaining structural rigidity, helping reduce rider fatigue during longer rides.
Comfort and Fit
If I had to summarise the Matryx in a single word, it would probably be "comfortable."
Comfort is one area where this helmet consistently impressed me.
Straight out of the box, I experienced very little break-in period. There were no pressure points, no hotspots and no areas that became uncomfortable during longer rides.
The interior materials feel soft and premium while remaining supportive. The cheek pads provide a secure fit without feeling excessively tight, and the crown liner distributes pressure evenly across the head.
After several hours in the saddle, the helmet remains comfortable, which is something I can't say about every helmet I've owned.
The weight also deserves mention.
Although weight figures on paper only tell part of the story, the Matryx feels light when worn. That reduced neck strain becomes increasingly noticeable during longer rides and all-day adventures.
Ventilation Performance
Living and riding in Australia means ventilation matters.
A lot!!
Fortunately, the Matryx performs extremely well in this department.
The top vents channel a significant amount of air through the helmet, while the chin vent provides effective airflow across the visor and face area.
Once moving, airflow is immediately noticeable.
Even on warmer Victorian riding days, I found the helmet remained comfortable and well ventilated.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was how efficiently the ventilation system works without requiring excessive effort to operate. The vent controls are easy to locate with gloves and provide positive feedback when opening and closing.
Pinlock and Anti-Fog Performance
One of the standout features for me has been the visor system.
The Matryx comes Pinlock ready and includes a Pinlock insert.
Over the past three months, I have experienced virtually no fogging issues, even during colder mornings and stop-start commuting.
Combined with Airoh's A3S system, visibility remains excellent in varying weather conditions.
As someone who rides year-round, this is a feature that often gets overlooked until you really need it.
A fogged visor can quickly become frustrating or even dangerous.
The Matryx performed exceptionally well here.
Visor Mechanism and Ease of Use
Airoh has also done an excellent job with the visor mechanism.
The visor operates smoothly and provides positive detents throughout its range.
One feature I particularly like is the tool-less visor removal system.
Removing and reinstalling the visor takes only a matter of seconds, making cleaning or changing visors far easier than some competing designs.
It's a small feature, but one that contributes significantly to everyday usability.
Communication Device Compatibility
A question I often receive from viewers concerns communication systems.
Can you fit Cardo or Sena units?
The answer is yes.
I installed my communication system without issue and found there was sufficient space within the helmet for speakers.
Speaker recesses are well designed, and I didn't experience discomfort caused by speaker placement, which can occasionally be an issue with some helmets.
Whether you're running a Cardo, Sena or another modern communication device, the Matryx is generally very accommodating.
Motovlogging Setup
Given that I create content for YouTube, motovlogging compatibility is important.
The Matryx proved straightforward to set up.
My action camera mounting solution worked well, and there was adequate space around the chin area for mounting accessories without interfering with visor operation.
Audio quality was also respectable, particularly when paired with a quality microphone setup.
The helmet's aerodynamics helped reduce some turbulence around the microphone, contributing to cleaner recordings.
For content creators considering the Matryx, I don't see any major obstacles from a filming perspective.
Wind Noise
This is probably the area that generated the most discussion in my review.
Not because the helmet is excessively noisy, but because context matters.
Most of my riding over the years has been on adventure motorcycles fitted with larger windscreens.
The BMW R1250R presents a very different environment.
With significantly more clean air hitting the helmet, wind noise becomes more noticeable regardless of the helmet being worn.
Compared with my experiences on larger ADV bikes, I noticed more wind noise than I had become accustomed to.
However, I believe a significant portion of that is attributable to the motorcycle and airflow characteristics rather than solely the helmet itself.
With earplugs, which I recommend for all riders anyway, the experience remains perfectly acceptable.
Price and Value
The premium helmet segment is highly competitive.
There are plenty of excellent options available from Shoei, Arai, AGV, HJC, Schuberth and others.
The Airoh Matryx enters that market offering a compelling package.
You receive:
• ECE 22.06 certification
• ASN safety technology
• Excellent ventilation
• Lightweight construction
• Pinlock compatibility
• Tool-less visor removal
• Communication system compatibility
• Premium fit and finish
When viewed as a complete package, the Matryx offers strong value for riders looking for a premium sport-touring or street-focused helmet.
Final Thoughts
After three months of ownership, the Airoh Matryx has left a very positive impression.
What stands out most isn't a single feature. It's how well everything works together.
The comfort is excellent.
The ventilation is effective.
The safety credentials are reassuring.
The build quality feels premium.
And the helmet integrates well with communication systems and content-creation setups.
Is it perfect?
No helmet is.
Wind noise may vary depending on your motorcycle and riding environment, and fit will always depend on individual head shape.
But overall, the Matryx is a well-rounded, thoughtfully designed helmet that has earned its place in my riding gear rotation.
If you're considering a premium full-face helmet and the Matryx is on your shortlist, I believe it's absolutely worth a closer look.
If you are keen to know more- Check out my full review here
Ride safe,
Gurby!
ADVExplorerOZ