Arthur Liao and LS2’s tale of integrity and success
I have a deep appreciation for stories of humble beginnings that culminate to remarkable success. While there are countless such tales, it takes a truly exceptional individual to achieve this with unwavering integrity and honor. One inspiring story is that of Arthur Liao, the founder of LS2.
Arthur Liao founded the helmet company in 1990, with his three siblings and mother as his first employees. Through the years, he consistently prioritized producing quality helmets over chasing profit, setting him apart from many other Chinese businessmen. He began by serving the local Chinese market, and as his reputation for excellence grew, the global market naturally followed. This commitment to quality propelled his company to become the leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of helmets in China. Having visited China numerous times and met many successful businessmen, I can confidently say that Arthur stands out as one in a million. He has never lost sight of his roots or his original goals, and this dedication is evident in how he runs his company and interacts with his employees. Arthur embodies integrity and a strong work ethic, which are the cornerstones of LS2’s success today.
The Heart of LS2
LS2’s headquarters is located in Guangzhou, China, a city with over 2,200 years of history. Originally founded as Panyu in 214 BC, this city has played an integral role in the cultural exchange and economic development of China. The LS2 headquarters occupies 30 hectares of land–huge, oh yes. During my factory tour, I actually got lost because I was so caught up in shooting the facility. At one point I was like, “Where did everybody go?”.
LS2 handles almost every aspect of production in-house, from molds and plastics to visors, graphics, decals, inner linings, and design. The only components they source externally are the raw materials. Their quality control processes are exceptionally stringent, employing three machines to test compliance with FIM, ECE, and DOT safety standards. This ensures that no helmet leaves the factory without meeting these rigorous safety criteria. This commitment to quality is what sets LS2 apart from other helmets in the same price range; you can trust the structural integrity of their products.
The machinery used to produce the helmets—from molds and plastics to visors and inner linings—is state-of-the-art, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. LS2 truly has the best equipment available. However, LS2’s excellence extends beyond just a well-equipped facility. Their core focus, in addition to quality, is innovation. They pay careful attention to details, such as gaps between hinges, air tolerances, weight, wind noise, the operation of air vents, airflow dynamics, visor distortion, and the shapes and materials of inner liners. These aspects are meticulously considered to create a helmet that delivers performance and comfort.
New Helmets: A Glimpse into the Future
During the tour, we were presented with some new helmets, two of which caught my attention.
First, there’s the LS2 Dragon, named as such because LS2 claims it is their ultimate carbon fiber helmet to date. The helmet is crafted from Carbon 6 and comes in three shell sizes: Shell A for 3XL, XXL and XL; Shell B for Large and Medium; and Shell C for Small and XS. It features five layers of EPS and is Bluetooth-ready for seamless integration with your communication system.\
What truly sets this helmet apart is its use of carbon fiber for the top vent, a feature that most other helmets typically use plastic for. It can accommodate two types of visors, the No. 116 and No. 119, if you prefer using Pinlock systems. Additionally, it boasts a carbon fiber chin vent, a carbon exhaust port, and a carbon spoiler. It’s a masterpiece of carbon fiber excellence from top to bottom!
I’m excited about this helmet because it represents a true and legitimate carbon fiber option. I’ve seen other “carbon fiber” helmets on the market at similar price points, which I suspect to be japeks.
The LS2 Advant II is an innovative modular helmet that can transform into a half-face design. What sets this modular helmet apart is its unique face shield, which swivels all the way to the back of the head rather than stopping at the top.
This design helps distribute the helmet’s weight more evenly, making it more comfortable for the neck compared to traditional top-heavy helmets. Like the Dragon model, the materials used in the Advant II are of high quality, and the shell size options can accommodate all human heads on the planet.
There are also other new helmet models being introduced, which you can see at their launch during the Makina Moto Expo, taking place on April 4, 5, and 6 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.
A Leader By Example
What sets LS2 apart from other motorcycle accessory helmet manufacturers in China is the strong leadership of its founder. Employees deeply respect Arthur and you can sense that when you talk to them. At one point, a customer returned some motorcycle gear because it had saved his life, and the founder decided to display this gear on one of the factory walls. This gesture serves as a powerful reminder to everyone that their hard work and commitment to quality can truly make a difference and save lives. That’s just his way.
Ryan Chao, the man behind MotoWorld and Moto Market, is another inspiring example of success based on integrity. I hope to share his story with you if he’s comfortable with it, as he tends to be a low-key and humble person. During our trip, he mentioned his observations regarding the work ethic at LS2. I’m grateful he brought me along. I haven’t seen anything like it. Safety gear is incredibly important for us riders, and it’s essential to be educated about what we wear. Kudos to LS2 for being there for the riders! It’s clearly one of the truly best value to performance brands out there.
