u/Fit_Act6078 — reddlx

Need helmet suggestions, especially Himalayan 450 owners.

Current helmet: SMK Typhoon
Issues:

ventilation in city traffic is poor
side visibility / shoulder checks feel restricted

Weight honestly isn’t a major issue.

Looking for an ADV helmet mainly for:

city riding
long tours/highway rides

Priorities:

good airflow in Indian heat
wide field of view
stable enough for highway
ECE 22.06 preferred

One concern: I strongly prefer Double D-ring closure, so I’m unsure whether to compromise on that for helmets like the LS2 Pioneer II.

Budget around ₹10k.

Currently considering:

LS2 Pioneer II
Axor X-Cross
Axxis Wolf

Would especially like feedback from people using these in Indian road/climate conditions on the Himalayan 450.

Need suggestions for saddle bag + saddle stay setup for my H450.

Was initially planning to go with the Viaterra Leh, but sales guys mentioned it’s not ideal for this bike and suggested the Condor instead. Honestly, not a big fan of the Condor’s looks, so a bit confused here.

Main confusion is around saddle stays:

OEM stays
Moto Torque (leaning towards these because of the base support tube to prevent bags touching the exhaust)

Also considered going rackless (like Dirtsack Erupt v2), but I'll be riding with a pillion so that idea doesn’t really work.

Context:

Not interested in top box setup
Priority = stability + pillion comfort + no exhaust damage

Would appreciate real-world experience:

Anyone running Leh on H450? Is it actually a bad fit or just sales talk?
OEM vs Moto Torque stays, is the base support worth it?
Any better alternatives I should consider?