Increasingly, I find myself daydreaming about getting a smaller capacity dual-sport motorcycle, joining the TRF, and spending my weekends bumbling along gentle off-road tracks and lanes.
There are all kinds of flaws to this plan, including the fact that I have a very strong track record of crashing off road, and – as the father of a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old – my weekends are pretty much booked up for the next several years.
But my mind is happy to skip over all that and instead focus on the things I need to be able to fulfill this ridiculous fantasy. There’s a bike, of course. But also gear. It’s vitally important that I look the part. How else will people know what I was doing when they find me unconscious at the bottom of a ravine?
So it is that news of the affordable HJC C50 arriving in shops this week has drawn my attention. Announced at EICMA 2025, the C50 is, according to an HJC media release, “a competitively priced off-road helmet for riders that value quality and safety.” (Hey, that’s me! I like value and safety!)
But it’s actually more than that. The helmet is ECE 22.06 and DOT certified, which means that it’s legal for road use. Featuring an “Advanced Polycarbonate Compound Shell,” the C50 claims to be lightweight, strong, and impact-resistant.
The peak visor is removable without tools and has, according to HJC, been wind tunnel-tested to provide “stability and reduced drag, even at high speeds.” Looking at it, the peak visor appears to be different from the one on my otherwise excellent HJC RPHA 60. As much as I love and recommend that helmet (full review coming soon), its peak visor is largely there for show.
Additionally, the RPHA 60 isn’t really built to accommodate goggles, whereas the C50 boasts a “perfect” goggle fit that is “suitable for all goggle strap thicknesses.”
Inside, the lining is made of an anti-bacterial fabric that wicks moisture and dries quickly. The cheek pads are removable, washable, and interchangeable with differently sized pads, giving you a better chance of a perfect fit.
You get four intake vents and two exhaust ports. Plus, you know, the big ol’ space where your goggles slot in.
Hmm, this means I also need to buy goggles. And pretty much all the other gear needed for riding off-road. No one’s going to take me seriously if I rock up wearing a Roadcrafter.
Meanwhile, the C50 comes with a three-year warranty, and retails at £84.99 for solid colors, £119.99 for fancy colors, and £129.99 for really fancy colors.
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