Another AZ rider here, no helmet required for adults. I always wear a helmet. With the wind noise from the stock low shield so pronounced I couldn't hardly hear my tunes so I did some research and bought a Shoei GT air, at 650 bucks it was the most expensive lid I've every purchased, sad to say despite the reports of it being very quiet, still too much wind noise, I just got a taller shield, problem solved. My other helmet has the speakers inside, so that is really nice too. Rode mostly MX in my younger days, wouldn't ever ride the dirt without a helmet, assfault :icon_mrgreen: is much less forgiving on your skull than dirt.