• Cardo’s Beyond GT and Beyond GTS helmets introduce active noise cancelling designed to dramatically reduce wind roar while riding.
• The Packtalk Pro mesh intercom is built directly into the helmet, eliminating external units and improving aerodynamics.
• Expected to arrive in New Zealand in Spring 2026, pricing will be unveiled closer to the time.

The future of motorcycle helmets may have just arrived. At MotoFest, BRM got a first look at Cardo’s Beyond helmet range, featuring built-in Packtalk intercoms and active noise cancellation designed to dramatically reduce wind noise on the road.

While the BRM team were checking out all the stands at MotoFest, we came across a person sitting on a chair in front of a fierce fan wearing a helmet. We had to check it out.

There has been quite a bit of innovation in motorcycles over recent years, from the rider aids designed to keep us on two wheels to TFT screens, phone connectivity and more. Bikes are becoming smarter, yet when it comes to crash helmets, the technology has remained fairly constant since the advent of composite shells – until now.

You might already know the brand, Cardo. They are one of the two leading intercom companies on the market today, with the battle between Cardo and Sena similar to the VHS and Betamax wars for those of you old enough to remember watching movies on video cassettes. Okay, it’s not quite the same – while Betamax lost and became defunct, both Sena and Cardo are going strong, developing new products to finally make our helmets as smart as our bikes. And looking at the new Cardo helmet, things are about to get very clever, very quickly.

We’ve run news articles on the BRM website in recent months about a new generation of helmets from Sena and Cardo, which, while not claiming to offer additional crash protection, could make you less likely to crash in the first place, thanks to emerging technologies that, among other things, should help reduce rider fatigue. And it’s an exciting time, because this new tech is arriving quickly.

NZ First Look

Darbi Accessories is the importer of Cardo intercoms in New Zealand, and it was their stand that had the demonstration we were curious to try. Somehow, they had managed to secure a couple of pre-production units of the new Cardo helmet, which, among other features, offers active noise cancellation designed to significantly reduce wind noise.

And to be honest, this feels like something that has been a long time coming. In reality, who wears headphones these days that don’t feature noise-cancelling? Very few. And that’s because the feature works so well.

As Cardo has traditionally only produced intercom units, this is their first time producing an actual helmet – and they’ve decided to go straight to the high end. That means the Beyond GT and Beyond GTS, which are aimed squarely at the sport-touring market.

Both helmets feature a five-section multi-density EPS liner, wind-tunnel-tested aerodynamics, plenty of ventilation, an internal drop-down visor, and Pinlock compatibility. Both also meet the latest ECE R22.06 certification and are available in six sizes. The difference is that the GT features a fibreglass shell, while the GTS has a carbon-fibre shell. And while the active noise cancellation is standard on the GTS, it’s an extra for the GT.

So far, that all sounds like premium helmet territory. But the real magic is found inside.

Communication Powerhouse

It didn’t take long before Neil was slipping one of the two demo GTS units – shipped to New Zealand specifically for MotoFest – onto his head. His first impression was that the interior felt luxurious and snug.

That snug fit is deliberate, as Cardo has designed the helmet to minimise wind noise as much as possible. Both models come with the latest Packtalk Pro system built directly into the helmet, meaning there’s no external unit mounted on the side, creating drag or buffeting. A pair of 53mm speakers, tuned by Cardo Sound Labs specifically for motorcycle use, is also already integrated.

These speakers deliver a sublime, bass-rich sound that’s a dramatic improvement over the tinny speakers found in some intercom systems. And taking it to the next level is the Active Noise Cancelling system, which is designed to reduce the damaging low-frequency wind roar while still allowing important sounds like sirens and horns (and music) to come through.

But the big question is… does it work?

Demo Time

The Beyond GTS we tried was configured purely to demonstrate the active noise-cancelling function, so all four buttons on the exterior simply toggled the system on and off.

With the helmet on, the fan was started, blasting a serious amount of air directly at the helmet to simulate highway wind noise. First, we experienced the helmet with noise-cancelling off.

Next, the demonstrator played some music so we could hear what the 53mm speakers sounded like – and they were impressively clear.

Only then were we instructed to press one of the exterior buttons to activate the noise cancellation.

A flash of some lights inside the visor showed us that the system was active, and it was at that moment we became convinced this might be one of the most important developments in motorcycle gear since the advent of the airbag vest.

The difference was significant.

To be clear, there was still wind noise. But what the active system does is cancel out the harsh, aggressive roar that makes long rides tiring and contributes to hearing damage.

If you were exposed to the same level of noise in a factory environment, reports suggest you’d only legally be allowed to work for about 20 minutes per day. Yet riders regularly spend hours exposed to it.

Reducing that harsh wind roar brings several benefits. It reduces fatigue and helps limit hearing damage, which is huge. But it also means you can hear what’s happening around you more clearly, while still enjoying music or conversations over the intercom without cranking the volume to maximum.

And again, that’s something your eardrums will definitely appreciate.

And There’s More

There are several other clever features built into the helmet.

A high-mounted rear brake light activates via an internal G-sensor, which will undoubtedly help riders become more visible to motorists behind. And there is wireless charging on the GTS model, and even over-the-air software updates.

The integrated Cardo system is the latest Packtalk Pro platform, featuring second-generation DMC (Dynamic Mesh Communication). This provides up to a 2km communication range and allows connection with up to 31 riders if you know that many people. And it’s also compatible with most other major mesh-based systems.

As you’d expect with a touring helmet, the interior lining is fully removable and washable, while an emergency cheek pad release system allows the helmet to be removed more safely in the event of an accident.

And if you do have an accident, the helmet can even detect it and send an alert.

Yes, this really does feel like the future arriving.

Premium At A Price

As you might expect with a high-end helmet packed with this much technology, the price will likely sit firmly in the premium bracket. Darbi Accessories are yet to confirm New Zealand pricing, waiting until closer to the arrival of the first units in Q3 of 2026.

That means it will probably be spring before we get the chance to properly test one on the road.

Websites in the United States have predicted pricing of around USD$949 for the GT and USD$1199 for the GTS. That would likely put them around the $2,000 mark once they reach New Zealand. That’s undeniably a serious chunk of change for a helmet.

But when you consider that a premium helmet already costs between $1100 and $1500 – and that’s before adding any technology – the numbers start to make more sense. Add a Packtalk Pro intercom, currently retailing for around $939, and suddenly the bundled price becomes easier to justify.

When the Cardo Beyond helmets arrive later this year, riders will have to decide whether active noise cancellation is worth the investment.

For those of us who spend a lot of time in the saddle, it’s shaping up to be a significant step forward in reducing fatigue and protecting our hearing on long rides.

Cardo Beyond GT/GTS

Cardo is stepping into the helmet market with its new Beyond GT and Beyond GTS models, combining premium sport-touring helmet construction with integrated communication and active noise cancellation technology. Demonstrated at MotoFest, the system dramatically reduces wind roar while still allowing riders to hear surrounding traffic and intercom conversations. With built-in Packtalk Pro mesh connectivity, wireless charging and crash detection features, the Beyond helmets signal a major shift toward smarter motorcycle safety gear.