There's no reason why you can't take a helmet in cabin luggage, though security can be funny especially in countries where motorcycling is less common. Just make sure it's inside a bag or rucksack, preferably in its own helmet bag.
For Turkmenistan the visa situation seems to be very hit and miss. To get a tourist visa you need to be part of an organised tour with a guide, which is expensive. Otherwise you must get a transit visa and the authorities turn down nearly half of those for no reason with no appeal possible. If you do get one you have a very narrow window and you do need to keep to the dates, perhaps not as easy as it sounds if you are driving there. The other option is a visa on the road, which you can get from some embassies in the region, but it takes a full 10 working days which is a long time to be hanging around. Also note it is a TRANSIT visa so you must exit to a different country from the one you entered. In the end Turkmenistan has little to offer but one big hole in the ground and with all the admin that's the main reason not many people bother with it. If you're doing the silk road cities of Uzbekistan and the Pamir Highway you won't regret the experience.
If you are determined to go to TM though, speak to Travel Notoria who are local and very helpful.
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