Modular helmets have always forced riders to compromise. You get flip-front convenience, but you lose the solid, secure feel of a true full-face chin bar. For years, that trade-off kept many riders from fully trusting them.
That problem shows up most in real riding conditions. Heat, humidity, and stop-and-go traffic mean constantly opening and closing the helmet. Most modulars start to feel flimsy, hot, or inconvenient under that kind of daily use.
HJC i90 Modular Helmet
The HJC i90 is best for touring riders and daily commuters who want the protection of a full-face with the convenience of a flip-front chin bar. Dual homologated for both open and closed riding, with solid ventilation and an integrated sun visor, it's the practical choice for riders who spend real time on real roads.
The HJC i90 is designed to solve exactly that issue. In testing, its chin bar felt stable, the ventilation stayed effective, and the mechanism remained smooth with repeated use. At under ₱14,000, it delivers modular convenience without feeling like a compromise.
Curious how communication systems work with modular helmets like this? See our review of the RESO PILOT PRO premium intercom to explore comms gear that pairs well with flip-front helmets.
Understanding Your Modular Helmet Needs
If you’re on a naked bike, a classic, or any street bikes, your needs are simple. Reliable protection. Comfortable fit. Ventilation that actually works. And the ability to open your helmet without pulling it off entirely.
The i90 was built around those priorities. HJC didn’t chase race-focused aerodynamics or a spec sheet number. They built it for the rider who splits lanes, stops for fuel, and needs to talk to someone at a toll booth without removing their helmet.
Here’s something most buyers don’t realize: not all flip-fronts are legal to ride open. Many modulars are only certified in the closed position the flip mechanism is just for convenience at stops. The i90 holds a P/J dual homologation, meaning it’s certified for both. That’s not just a legal point. It’s a direct signal of how robust the chin bar mechanism is.
Build Quality and Weight: Honest Numbers
At 1,700 grams, the i90 is solidly mid-range for a polycarbonate modular. The Caberg Duke II and Shark Evo ES edge it out by roughly 50 grams. In real riding, your neck won’t notice a difference that small.
The shell comes in three separate sizes XS–S, M–L, and XL–3XL. That matters more than most buyers realize. Budget helmets often use one shell padded out to fake multiple sizes. The i90 is actually sized to your head, which improves fit accuracy and reduces unnecessary weight.
The paintwork quality is impressive at this price point. No lifted sticker edges, no lacquer runs. The graphic colorways are applied cleanly. Side by side with cheaper competitors, the i90 consistently looks and feels like it costs more than it does.
The Flip Mechanism: Where It Counts
One button press under the chin. The bar snaps up cleanly, no rattle, no slop. Latching it back down gives you a positive click you can feel through gloves.
I’ve flipped this helmet at traffic lights, fuel stops, toll plazas, and mid-traffic slowdowns during rides. It has never once felt uncertain. That consistency is exactly what you want from a mechanism you’ll use every single ride.
Some flip-fronts are fine at slow speeds but develop wobble under highway forces. Riding a naked bike with no fairing, the helmet takes direct wind at every speed. The i90’s chin bar doesn’t move, flex, or rattle, even on sustained highway runs. That’s the P/J certification working in practical terms.
With the bar fully raised, the helmet stays aerodynamically composed at 60–80 km/h. No tendency to catch air. No sudden snapping forward. Riding open actually feels intentional, not like tempting fate.
Ventilation: The Real Story in Tropical Heat
The i90 runs HJC’s ACS Advanced Channeling Ventilation System. Cool air enters through chin bar and crown intakes, channels across the top of the head, and exits through two rear exhaust ports. On paper, standard. Out on a ride in Philippine heat, noticeably effective.
Modular helmets are harder to ventilate than full-face designs the chin bar mechanism interrupts airflow paths. The i90 handles this better than most in its class. Above 50 km/h with all vents open, I can feel air moving across my scalp. That’s real cooling, not decorative ventilation.
The crown vents click open and closed with firm, glove-friendly action. The chin vent directs cooler air across the face more important in humidity than most riders expect. Riding through Metro Manila traffic on a hot afternoon, the i90 runs noticeably cooler inside than average.
At low city speeds airflow drops but that’s physics, not a design failure. The SuperCool liner wicks moisture away at standstill. Between active ventilation at speed and moisture management in traffic, the i90 stays comfortable across the full range of riding conditions.
Visor and Visibility: A Genuinely Wide View
The i90 ships with the HJ-33 Pinlock-prepared visor. The Pinlock anti-fog insert is included in the box worth around ₱1,500–₱2,000 PHP on its own. In the Philippines, where stepping out of an air-conditioned building onto a hot street fogs visors instantly, this inclusion matters from your very first ride.
The eyeport is enlarged compared to older HJC modular designs. Peripheral vision is genuinely better noticeable whether you’re upright on a naked bike or leaned slightly forward. For lane splitting, checking intersections, and reading traffic, that extra field of view makes a real difference to confidence on the road.
The visor is quick-release, swapping in and out without tools. Fast enough to do at a fuel stop. The integrated internal sun visor deploys via a wire lever on the lower left side smooth, gloved-finger accessible, and dark enough to skip sunglasses on most rides.
One real limitation: the outer visor doesn’t lock in the raised position. At highway speeds with the visor up and chin bar down, it will flutter. Riders who habitually ride visor-up will notice this. It’s a known quirk of the i90 and worth factoring in before you buy.
Comfort and Interior: The SuperCool Liner Experience
The i90 uses HJC’s SuperCool Coolmax liner across the headliner and cheek pads. It’s antibacterial and moisture-wicking. In Southeast Asian heat, the difference between this and a standard liner is noticeable within the first 30 minutes of riding.
The cheek pads drop lower than most helmets, wrapping the base of your head to reduce wind ingress and noise from below. Combined with the chin curtain, there’s more sealing thought here than the price suggests. Initial fit can feel snug that’s a common i90 complaint. The fix is simple: HJC sells cheek pads in multiple thicknesses, and sizing up is straightforward.
Glasses grooves are cut into the cheek pads at the temples. The liner and pads are fully removable and washable. And with the chin bar raised, getting at interior components to swap or clean them is dramatically easier than on a full-face.
The i90 has pre-cut speaker pockets for the SMART HJC 10B and 20B Bluetooth systems co-developed with Sena. The fit is flush and aerodynamic not the bulky clip-on profile of a generic intercom. If you’re planning to run comms, the i90 was designed for it.
One practical heads-up if you’re mounting a Cardo unit: watch where you position it on the left side of the helmet. The sun visor lever sits on the lower left shell, and depending on how you mount your Cardo, the unit can sit right over it making it easy to accidentally hit the visor switch while reaching for your intercom controls. Position your Cardo slightly higher or toward the rear to keep both accessible without interference.
Noise: Not a Problem, Just a Trade-Off
Let’s be clear the i90 is not a loud helmet. Many reviewers actually rate it quieter than other modulars in the same class. For city riding and daily commuting, noise is a complete non-issue.
What you will notice at highway speeds is some wind sound. That’s not a flaw it’s a direct consequence of the ventilation working. More airflow means more wind noise. That’s the trade-off, and for most riders it’s an easy one to accept.
The low cheek pads, chin curtain, and neck roll flap all help manage ingress from below. The helmet is well-sealed for its category. If you’re doing sustained long-distance highway runs, earplugs are always a good idea regardless of what helmet you’re in but for the riding the i90 is built for, the noise level is completely fine.
Value for Money: What You Actually Get for ₱11,000–₱14,000
The HJC i90 sits in the mid-range price point at around $200–$250 (₱11k–₱14k) but already includes premium features like P/J dual homologation, a Pinlock insert, three shell sizes, and DOT/ECE certification. Comparable European modular helmets with similar specs usually cost ₱20k–₱35k, making the i90 far more accessible. In daily riding, the actual performance gap rarely matches the large price difference.
One major value factor is that the Pinlock is already included, saving riders an extra ₱1,500–₱2,000 compared to competitors. The helmet also uses three shell sizes instead of a single shell, which greatly improves fit, comfort, and safety. Additionally, its P/J dual homologation means it’s certified for protection both open and closed, which many budget modular helmets lack.
Build quality also stands out, especially the smooth flip mechanism, secure latch, and minimal rattle at speed, features often seen in more expensive models. HJC’s massive production scale allows them to deliver premium features at mid-range pricing. In short, you’re paying less for branding and more for actual functional value on the helmet itself.
Choose the HJC i90 if:
- Daily commuting or touring is your primary use case
- You want a P/J certified modular legal to ride with the chin bar up
- Tropical heat or warm climate ventilation is a priority
- You want the Pinlock anti-fog insert included without an extra purchase
Consider Other Options if:
- Minimum weight is a top priority look at composite or carbon modular options
- European brand certification standards (ECE 22.06) are specifically required
- You want a sport-focused modular for aggressive riding positions
Final Perspective
After testing the HJC i90 across the Philippines, one thing stands out: this helmet knows exactly what it’s for. It’s not chasing premium flags or spec sheet wins. It’s built for the rider who commutes, tours, and puts in real daily hours and wants a modular they can actually rely on.
The flip mechanism works. The ventilation does real work in tropical heat. The visor setup is practical and fog-free from day one. The interior manages moisture well enough to stay comfortable across long sessions. Weight and noise are real limitations but they’re category limitations, not failures of the i90 specifically.
HJC i90 Modular Helmet
The HJC i90 is best for touring riders and daily commuters who want the protection of a full-face with the convenience of a flip-front chin bar. Dual homologated for both open and closed riding, with solid ventilation and an integrated sun visor, it's the practical choice for riders who spend real time on real roads.
For riders on naked bikes, classics, tourers, or anything upright and street-focused, the HJC i90 is one of the best arguments for going modular at this price point. You don’t have to choose between a trustworthy flip-front and a reasonable budget. This helmet proves both are achievable at once.
Tested in tropical Southeast Asian conditions. The HJC i90 is available in sizes XS–5XL. Sizes XS–2XL are DOT FMVSS 218 and ECE 22.05 certified; 3XL–5XL are DOT only.