Great value flip-front helmet with a sporty edge: Scorpion Exo 920 review.

Page Contents

Review of the Scorpion Exo 920 modular helmet.

Scorpion Exo make some great performing mid-price motorcycle helmets.

There’s the composite fibre Scorpion Exo 1200 Air street helmet that uses Scorpion’s air fit system to really tailor the fit.

Or there’s their top-flight sports touring Scorpion Exo-1400 Air that’s super lightweight with a Pinlock and EQRS thrown in.

And there’s even the cool/wacky Scorpion Exo Covert that’s really an open face helmet that wants you to look like stormtrooper.

And all of these can be had for waaay less than the price of even an entry-level premium helmet (like the Arai Profile V).

So if you’re after buying an all rounder modular helmet but don’t want to pay much, then Scorpion’s gotta be well worth a look. And when their 920 model is a sportsbike-derived helmet with all the potential for cool looks and great aero that brings, then you’ve gotta raise at least an eyebrow, right?

Modular Helmet
Polycarbonate shell
Sportsbike aero and styling
2 Shell sizes
Everclear treated visor
Integral sun visor
double-d ring fastener
Size XS-XXL
5 year warranty
Expect to pay £160-£190

Best places to buy an Scorpion Exo-920?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-920 helmets pages at our recommended store. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Overall/Summary

The Scorpion Exo 920 is a well liked flip-front helmet that’s excellent value for money.

OK it’s a polycarbonate (AKA plastic) helmet, but that just means it’s got a lower price on the ticket. Plus it’s got some great features such as its excellent anti-fog visor system together with a hyper-useful integral drop down sun visor.

scorpion exo 920 satellite black neon yellow side view — Scorpion Exo 920 Satellite in profile – an aggressive and sportsbike-influenced modular

The chin bar system is real easy to use too and the helmet’s pretty lightweight (for a modular) and does a reasonable job at keeping things quiet as well.

On the downside, there are one or two question marks about the sizing and you might find the cheekpads a bit of a squeeze.

Plus, it was SHARP safety tested where it scored only 2 stars out of 5.

What owners love is the fact that the Scorpion Exo 920 works well as a daily helmet for not very much money at all. But we’d struggle to get beyond that low SHARP safety rating (you wear a helmet for great protection after all).

So we suggest you either check out our Top 10 Modular Helmets pages or take a look at the bottom of the page for other suggested alternative flip-front helmets.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

OK, so you buy a helmet to protect your head. So let’s look at the basics.

It’s a polycarbonate helmet which is the cheapest helmet material. But that’s OK as many polycarbonate helmets offer amazing protection – it’s just it’s to cheaper to manufacture a helmet using plastic, so the shelf price is less.

It’s made in two shell sizes which isn’t the best for looks or fitment (and hence safety) but at this price point, that’s no massive surprise.

scorpion exo gt920 unit modular helmet rear view — Black/red Scorpion 920 in Unit graphics showing its track-inspired rear profile

But it does have dual density EPS shock absorbing lining inside, designed to absorb higher and lower speed impact forces.

More expensive helmets have an even wider range of EPS densities in there and some even have slip-plane internals to reduce the rotational forces that can injure your neck or brain (such as the Bell Qualifier MIPS or 6D ATS-1).

But for a lower priced helmet, the EPS on the 920 is fairly typical.

It’s kept on your head by an easy to use quick-release micrometric fastener (in the US the GT920 comes with a double-d ring fastener).

Obviously, the 920 is a modular helmet and that moveable chin guard is a potentially weak point. It needs to be well constructed to be secure so it’s good to see the Scorpion uses a metal locking mechanism.

The 920 is ECE certified so should give a decent overall level of protection.

But that’s not the whole story, because it was also tested by the independent helmet testing crew at SHARP.

scorpion_exo-920_matt-black — Solid matt black Scorpion 920. Note all helmets come with a clear visor

When they test, they record how often that chin bar lock stays securely locked and score it as a percentage.

The score for the Scorpion Exo 920 was that the chin bar remained locked and closed 90% of the time.

That’s actually a pretty good score when you’re looking across all tested modulars – the lowest recorded score is 23% for a long-obsolete Duchinni.

But it’s up to you to decide if a 10% failure rate is good enough for you. That score means the chin bar lock became unlocked around 3 times during its 32 impact tests.

Overall the Scorpion Exo 920 scored two stars for safety (out of 5).

scorpion exo 920 sharp 8.5 ms test — 8.5m/s impact test results on the Scorpion Exo 920 – thanks to sharp.dft.gov.uk for permission

As you can see from their 8.5 M/s test results, it’s dropping marks for side impact protection – probably where the chin bar mechanism sits – and the forehead protection ain’t great either.

If that score’s a concern for you, you might want to take a look at our Top 10 best rated modular helmets list instead – or check out some of our recommended alternatives at the bottom of the review.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Because it’s been designed to look a bit like a sportsbike helmet with a large rear spoiler and head-down aggressive looks, that should mean the 920 has a slippery shape and that can equate to a quiet helmet.

Couple that with relatively plush comfort padding and only a couple of air vents (more air vents means more noise inside the helmet) and things are looking up for noise in the GT920.

scorpion exo gt920 shuttle modular helmet top view — Top view of the 920 Shuttle showing top air vent.

On the flip side, it’s a modular helmet and that generally means it’s gonna be noisier than your typical full face helmet – though of course it’ll always be quieter than an open face helmet.

With the 920, it seems the two cancel each other (modular v good aero) out because owners seem to rate the Scorpion 920 about average for noise suppression.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing because lots of flip-front helmet makers have tried and failed to make their modulars quiet, so an average score is OK.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There are a couple of front vents on the Scorpion 920: a single vent on the chin bar and a single crown vent. Round the back there’s a single rear exhaust, hidden under the spoiler.

There’s also a hidden brow vent inside the helmet to try and take air that’s blown into the crown vent and push it back onto the inside of the visor to help with demisting.

Both front vents are covered large panel rockers – press one end to open and the other end to close. They’re nothing fancy but they’re both effective and easy to find/use in gloves.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Scorpion helmet reviews –
– Top 10 Flip-front helmets –

Inside the helmet, there’s large channels in the EPS lining, designed to circulate air front to back, and these channels correspond to large cutouts in the comfort liner to help that cooling air get through to the head.

scorpion exo 920 satellite black neon yellow rear view — Rear view of the Scorpion 920 Satellite in black with neon. The exhaust vents nestles underneath that rear spoiler.

So except for the routing of the air back onto the visor, it’s a reasonably conventional venting setup. But the question is, does it work?

Well, yeah – according to most owners, it does.

Owners of Scorpion 920s reckon it mostly works well – it’s probably not the best venting helmet around but most owners say there’s enough air to keep them pretty cool in the summer and, coupled with the Pinlock on the visor and the breath deflector, there’s enough air inside to keep the visor clear most of the time.

So it’s a thumbs up for the ventilation system on the 920.

Visor

(more about visors)

With any helmet you buy, you need an effective visor system. And, according to riders out there, the Scorpion Exo 920 has pretty well covered all the bases.

The visor uses Scorpion’s Ellip-tec system which is a system that gently pulls the visor back towards the rubber gasket when it’s closed to keep it nicely sealed against air and water.

It’s also got toolless visor removal so you can easily swap it out using fingers and a bit of tugging, and the whole thing opens/closes on a ratchet system for those of you who like to easily position your visor at intermediate positions.

scorpion exo gt920 satellite modular helmet side view — At the time of writing, the 920 Satellite comes in 3 colourways

A few riders said they found the visor to be amazingly optically correct too giving them the feeling that there isn’t a visor there when riding – though Scorpion don’t make any claims about it being an optically-correct visor.

They do however say it gives 100% UVA and UVB protection which is always good to know. All polycarb visors give at least 90-95% protection because that’s the nature of polycarbonate plastic, but it’s great to see Scorpion using a visor that gives 100% protection (and actually telling us about it – because most brands don’t!).

The visor comes Pinlock-ready and there’s a Pinlock Max Vision antifog insert in the box. Which is always great to see included in the price and should keep it from fogging up most of the time.

A few owners commented that it’s a nice and wide visor too, giving good wide peripheral vision which gives a nice uncluttered view of the road as well as improving safety when you’re city riding.

You’ll find the opening tab on the 920’s visor to the left hand side – we’d prefer one one each side or a central one so you can easily open the visor at stop lights if you’ve got the clutch in.

But we’re getting into niggles here because word is that Scorpion’s done a great job with the visor system on the 920.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Same goes for the integral sun visor.

OK, there’s one or two people saying the sun visor could do with being darker, but there’s rules about how dark sun visors can be out of the box, so that’s not really Scorpion’s fault.

scorpion exo 920 modular anthracite matt open bar front view — According to owners, the chin bar operation is easy and the sun visor drops nice and low

Other than that, people reckon it drops down nice and low and the slider is easy to find right behind that left hand visor pivot – slide it back drop down and forward to push it up again, simple.

Scorpion has coated both sides of the sun visor with that Everclear antifog treatment too, which is great.

One or two folks reckon it can fog up if it’s really cold so it sounds like they’ve not got it cracked entirely, but same goes for most sun visors when it gets really cold or humid.

Other than that, it seems like the sun visor on the Scorpion 920 is right up there with some of the best.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

Like most chin guards you’ll find on modular helmets, the chin guard on the Scorpion Exo 920 flips up to just above the line of sight. It’s not a flip up where the chin bar rotates to the back of the helmet like the LS2 Valiant or Shark Evo One 2.

scorpion exo gt920 shuttle modular white black open side view — 920 shuttle with chin bar fully raised and sun visor fully lowered

It was however designed so you can ride with the chin bar up if you like – as it’s dual homologated.

Just make sure you don’t try and flip the bar up when you’re on the move as that’s gonna end in tears – and probably much worse.

The locking mechanism for the chin bar uses a single central button just underneath the bar, so you can press the button in and move the chin bar up in one easy move using one hand. Owners say it’s really easy to use, even in gloves.

And it has a metal locking mechanism to make sure it’s robust enough in an impact. In fact, SHARP tested the locking mechanism during its independent impact testing and found it stayed locked in 90% of their impact tests.

The average score across all tested modular helmets is actually 80% so it’s well above average there.

Whether it’s above average enough for you and your safety is another matter. I’ve gotta say I’d want a score of 100% (minimum!) from my modular.

Where a modular helmet’s scored maximum marks for this, we always include the figure in the helmet review.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Scorpion Exo 920 uses Scorpion’s KwickWick2 liner which is a comfortable and hard wearing fabric that’s both anti-microbial and moisture wicking.

It’s fully removable and the cheek pads incorporate grooves for glasses so you can wear your specs or shades without them digging in (Scorpion calls this Kwikfit tech).

scorpion exo 920 motorcycle helmet neon yellow side view — If you’re after a hi viz modular, the 920 is available in Neon Yellow

Owners of the 920 reckon that overall it’s a nice comfy helmet and glasses wearers say the glasses grooves make things nice and easy too.

But there are couple of things riders say you need to watch out for.

First up, the sizing. While most folks say it’s about right (so measure your head and order the appropriate size) quite a few owners say they’re sized really small and had to order a size larger than normal.

So if you’re looking to order one online, it might be worth ordering both sizes and sending one back? Just a thought.

Secondly, quite a few owners also said that the cheek pads can feel really tight when you first get it.

Most will bed in over the first few weeks but if they’re still too tight, you can buy thinner replacements from Scorpion.

The overall fitment shape of the 920 is medium oval so it should suit most of us. Get all these right and most owners find the Scorpion 920 a very comfortable helmet indeed.

Looks & Graphics

Most of the colourways of the Scorpion Exo GT920 are pretty muted with a cement grey being the only other plain solid colour available, apart from the usual blacks and whites.

There’s a few colourways available in the Shuttle, Satellite and Unit graphics though. We’ve sprinkled some examples up and down the page, but to see other colourways and any new graphics that’ve been released since we wrote this review (and to find any deals that’re going on) please click to visit our recommended stores using the links below.

Best places to buy an Scorpion Exo-920 helmet?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-920 helmets pages at our recommended store. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Scorpion Exo GT920 Video

This 8m video gives you a decent look around a solid black GT920.

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, build quality, warranty

In the UK, the Scorpion 920 comes with a micrometric fastener (double-d ring in the US). Micrometrics are the easiest to use and are reliable as long as you check the strap adjuster from time to time as straps do stretch over time.

scorpion exo gt920 unit modular helmet side view — White version of the 920

Inside the 920, there’s speaker cutouts for your bluetooth set. They’re not massively deep, so you might struggle a bit with older kits, but in our research we found users with Sena SMH10, 10s and a Cardo G4 fitting their bluetooths without a problem.

Weight shouldn’t be a problem either because even though modulars tend to be on the weightier side, the GT920 is only about 1.6Kg (3.5lbs) which is below average for a modular helmet.

If you’re looking for a helmet that’s well built – and who isn’t – then word from owners is that the Scorpion 920 uses good quality materials and it’s put together well. Even though it’s a lower price helmet, it’s well finished and owners seem to be happy with the build quality.

Finally, the Scorpion Exo 920 comes with a full 5 year warranty. That’s excellent and should cover you for most of the life of the helmet.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo 920?

If you like the idea of a modular helmet that works on a sportsbike, then AGV’s SportModular was made for you. It’s way more expensive than the 920 but it’s a carbon fibre lightweight flip-up helmet with 5 layer EPS and SHARP 4 star safety rating.

Or there’s the Evo-One 2 from French maker, Shark. It scored well in safety testing, comes with a Pinlock antifog and the chin bar spins round to the back of the helmet for a real 3/4 helmet feel.

For something that’s even cheaper than the Scorpion, HJC’s IS Max II is great value and comes with a sun visor, though it’s heavier than the 920.

Best places to buy an Scorpion Exo-920?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-920 helmets pages at our recommended store. And if you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

The big-bottomed helmet is here. Meet the Arai Profile V.

Page Contents

Arai Profile V (US Regent X) motorcycle helmet review.

The Arai Profile V (sold as the Regent X in the US) is Arai’s second-in-line full face helmet, after the entry level Arai Debut.

Which means it doesn’t cost as much as most Arais. Yet looking down the features list, it seems to offer just about the same amount of tech and features as most.

Which could mean it offers particularly decent value for money – especially for a hand built and premium Arai helmet.

It uses the same ‘R75’ round helmet shape as the rest of the range, and it’s made using the same tech – namely a fibreglass laminate using Arai’s proprietary ‘superfibres’ which Arai say are an improved grade of fibreglass.

It uses the same fasteners, visor tech and venting system you’ll find on many other models too.

But there is one feature that marks the Profile V out from the rest of the range – apart from the lower price and the use of a one-piece multi-density liner inside (some use multi-piece EPS liners).

And that’s the big bottom that Arai’s added to the Profile V. Or rather they’ve splayed out the bottom of the helmet a bit to make it easier to get on/off.

So, if struggling pull your helmet on is a problem you have and/or if you’re after an all-rounder helmet and like the idea of wearing an Arai, then the Profile V might be a great place to start your helmet search.

Composite/Fibreglass full face helmet
Designed to be easier to get on/off
SHARP 4 star safety rated
Pinlock Max Vision antifog included
D-ring fastener
1.55Kg (heavier than average)
Sizes XS-XL
Expect to pay £370-£420

Best places to buy an Arai Profile V?

Please click below to visit the Arai Profile V helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Profile V in hi viz fluo Bend design

Overall/Summary

The Arai Profile V is Arai’s all-rounder full face helmet that they’ve designed to be easy to slip-on and take off.

If you find helmets difficult enough to get on or off, then you’ll probably be particularly interested in the Profile V, because people find it works really well and once on, it’s a particularly comfortable helmet too.

The Profile V is a mid-priced Arai that includes much of the helmet tech Arai has spent a lifetime developing for a similar price to many other premium helmets.

It’s got a decent visor system with a Pinlock included, which is always good to see. It’s a very well built helmet like all Arai’s and it uses quality materials throughout, including a particularly nice plush and comfy interior.

It’s also a pretty quiet helmet too, works well if you wear glasses, it’s got good aero capabilities (stable, little buffeting) and, compared to most other Arai’s, it’s actually decent value for money too.

And most importantly, it should give good levels of impact protection too since the helmet testing guys at SHARP scored it 4 Stars (out of 5).

So, if you’re after a great all-rounder full face helmet that’s well built (with a quality brand name to match) then the Profile V is definitely worth a butchers.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Arai uses lots of moderately ludicrous wordage to describe their helmet tech. In the case of the Profile V that’s PB e-cLc R75.

Arai Profile V in Rock graphics showing off Arai’s super round R75 shell form

Essentially, that means it’s a fancy fibreglass composite construction (the e-cLC bit) with some extra strengthening in a band around the head (PB) – which is what Arai uses in most of their helmets.

The R75 part relates to the very round shape of Arai helmets which Arai says helps it ‘glance off’ stuff during an accident rather than dig in and spin your head.

Minimising the rotation of the head and the movement of the brain within the skull is 100% an important role of energy management with any helmet during an accident.

However, we’re not sure how much of the ‘glancing off’ theory has ever been scientifically demonstrated. To our knowledge Arai hasn’t published any scientific papers on it and it seems to be generated through observation rather than provable science.

Anyhow, I digress. What is certain is that Arai helmets – after getting steadily better in terms of SHARP safety test ratings in recent years – have suffered a setback. Their last two tested ECE helmets – the Arai Renegade V and the Arai Axces III – both dropped down to 3 stars out of 5 when safety tested by SHARP. That’s an OK but not great score, especially when you consider the usual price of Arai helmets and how their marketing bumf is always banging on about safety first.

The good news for Arai is that the Profile V scored 4 stars when it was tested by SHARP. That complements the US version (called the Regent X) being given a Snell rating which is another thumbs up for protection – though it’s possible it’s a slightly different spec helmet from the Eu Profile V.

Onto other stuff – the helmet’s kept secure using a double-d ring fastener which are low tech and can be a bit fiddly to use compared to micrometric fasteners. Buy hey, if you want an Arai, you’ll have to put up with a double-d as they’re the only ones they use.

arai-regent-X-Sensation-blue-frost-helmet-side-view — This one’s only in the US as the Regent X Sensation blue frost colourway

The Profile’s made in 3 helmet shell sizes; that’s pretty optimal for safety, fit and look – so you shouldn’t be wearing a helmet that looks to big or small for your body size.

And word is that the visor is nice and wide to give good peripheral vision, and it comes Pinlock-ready with a Pinlock in the box to keep your vision fog-free.

The Profile V misses out on a few other safety features we’d like to see – such as EQRS or even a drop down sun visor to keep the sun out of your eyes (FYI Arai has never made a helmet with an internal sun visor, opting for their external pro-shield system instead).

But other than that, the Arai Profile V seems to cover the basics well and we expect it to be a safe place to stick your bonce.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

There’s a decent amount of padding inside the helmet but there’s also a stack of vent holes which can let noise in as well as air.

Same goes for that enlarged opening which should be a great way for road noise and wind to get inside.

Having said that, Arais are known for a relatively slippery shell shape and there is a (fixed) chin curtain on the bottom designed to stop wind (and noise) getting into the helmet.

And the good news is that the majority of owners reckon it’s a pretty quiet helmet. Sure there are one or two who say it’s noisy, but then there always are with every helmet. And as usual the perception of helmet noise is very individual and dependent on you, your bike, how fast you ride etc. etc.

But overall, we found many more Arai Profile V owners saying it’s quiet than noisy, so hopefully you will too if you buy one!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

You’ve got the usual Arai array of ventilation inlets in the Profile V – that means a decent sized chin bar vent, a couple of visor vents and a pair of crown vents up top.

Another hi vis – this time the Profile V Patch. Click the links to our recommended retailers to see more colours

That chin vent is easy to operate because it’s got a nice big flap in it but, according to several owners, the others are a bit fiddly, especially in winter gloves.

Like anything, most riders found that after a bit of practice they got used to them, but they’re not ideal for adjusting on the move – especially when the helmet’s new and the mechanisms are a bit stiff.

The chin bar and visor vents direct air onto the back of the visor and the forehead – and reviews we’ve found seem to reckon they’re effective. Couple that copious visor ventilation with the supplied Pinlock Max Vision visor insert and that should keep your vision free in all but the worst weather.

What’s least effective are the crown vents.

Not only are they a bit of a fiddle because there’s two of them and they use smaller slider buttons which are difficult to find on the move – but most owners say they don’t channel a great amount of air into the helmet. There are five exhaust vents at the back of the helmet but it seems the routing of the air inside the helmet is poor.

So don’t expect your head to be kept mega cool when it’s hot weather; although you can expect decent ventilation to your face and visor.

Visor

(more about visors)

There’s a couple of ‘cons’ but quite a few ‘pros’ when it comes to the Arai Profile V’s visor.

Word is it’s nice and wide and gives good peripheral vision – which is always something worth having.

Profile V in Tube design

It works on friction so you can have the visor hold open anywhere from the cracked-open defogging position to fully open: and it should stay there at legal speeds which is good.

Plus, the Profile V comes Pinlock-ready out of the box and there’s a large Pinlock antifog insert – a Max Vision – that comes along with the helmet. That means if you suffer from fogging, you can whack on the Pinlock and it’ll solve most of your fogging woes.

And there’s Arai’s usual visor lock on there too. They’re basic tech but it’s effective and pretty simple to use: close the visor firmly down and a pin will locate in the hole in the visor to lock it closed. Push the lever up with your thumb and it’ll unlock and open the visor.

I doubt most of us actually need a visor lock for road riding – and a few owners find them fiddly or a bit annoying – but it’s there on the Profile V and doesn’t really get in the way for most.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Arai helmet reviews –
– Top 10 full face motorbike helmets –

Cons? Well they’re not massive but people tend to either love or loathe Arai’s quick release visor mechanism, used to swap out or remove the visor.

It’s less fiddly than their old system and it’s still tool-less, but it’s also less intuitive than some helmet manufacturers manage.

Classy Calm Red solid. Plain colours also include black, white and modern grey

Open the visor, press the side-plate release button and pull off the plates (they’ll dangle off a string rather than drop down the side of the sofa like the old ones would!) then rotate the visor down and the visor will pull off for cleaning or swapping out.

It takes a bit of learning but most owners soon get the hang of it.

Another slight niggle is that the opening tab is on the left – that’s pretty common but means you’ve to reach round to the left of the helmet with your right hand if you’re sat at the lights with the clutch in for example.

It’s not a massive problem but it can be a bit of a pain when it’s red hot and you’re gasping to get some air in.

All in all though, it’s a decent visor mechanism with a good field of view that does all the basics well.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

There’s plenty of plush padding inside the Profile V and the vast majority of owners find it’s a super comfy place to put their heads. The Profile V is designed for riders with medium-oval head shapes although we did find a few riders with more rounded heads saying they found it very comfortable too.

The cheek pads and a top sweat band are removable for washing and de-stinking but, unusually, the very top cap of the padding stays in the helmet.

Rear of the ‘Modern Grey’ Profile V

Like most premium helmets, those cheek pads are moulded to fit your cheek/jawline for improved comfort and Arai uses foam ‘springs’ to keep the fit snug to the face (what Arai calls its Facial Contour System).

And if you find they’re too tight or too loose, you can buy thicker/thinner replacements from Arai to get the fit you need. Same goes for that sweat band too. Replacement cheek pads will cost you somewhere between £40-£50 though.

Behind those cheek pads you’ll find a reasonably generous pair of pockets for your comms unit speakers.

There’s a built-in chin curtain on the bottom of the helmet too to keep out the worst of the wind and noise (not necessarily a good thing if you’re riding on a hot day!).

And of course there’s that extra 5mm flared shell at the bottom of the helmet to give you a bit more room to put the helmet on without it trying to pull your ears off. Several owners said it really helped them and makes the helmet much easier to use.

Arai don’t make any particular claims about the internal materials used in the Profile V but folks seem to think they’re good quality and particularly plush and comfortable, with a few riders commenting that it’s the most comfortable helmet they’ve ever owned.

Sizing’s reported to be about spot on – so your usual helmet size should be right (if you’re unsure, read our helmet fitting guide and measure your head before ordering).

Looks & Graphics

You’d probably be hard pressed to spot a great deal of external difference between the Profile V and most of the rest of the Arai range.

Arai says it’s designed to be sportier and more aggressive. But given it’s got the same headform as the rest of their range, let’s be kind and say it’s a subtle difference.

This is the Profile V in Bend graphics. Also in red and yellow.

Which ain’t a problem as it’s kinda Arai’s trademark look. And when you’re spending big bucks on a helmet like you will be with most Arais, you might well want folks to easily spot what you’re wearing.

To help differentiate the Profile V from the rest of the range, Arai has thrown an awful lot of graphic options at it, and there’s always more coming out (so click through to our recommended retailers below to find the latest designs and deals available).

At the time of writing, Copy, Bend, Tube, Patch, Impulse and Rock are the names they’ve given to their current range of Profile Vs (as well as the Sensation colourways if you’re looking at the US Regent X).

And if you’re looking for a plain solid colour, there’s the usual blacks/whites along with a ‘modern grey’ and ‘calm red’ that you’ll have already passed further up this page.

Best places to buy an Arai Profile V helmet?

Please click below to visit the Arai Profile V helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Arai Profile V Video

Here’s a pretty useful 7m video from Arai showing you the main features of the Profile V.

Other stuff – weight, build quality, aero, glasses, warranty

The Arai Profile V isn’t the lightest full face helmet. It weighs around 1.55Kg which is around 50g heavier than the average fibreglass full face. That slight extra weight isn’t noticeable when you’re riding though.

Arai helmets are hand built and are known for using quality materials. The Profile V is no exception with a high level of finish and build quality according to loads of owners we came across.

It seems Arai has done a good job in the wind tunnel when designing the Profile V as word is that it’s got good aero qualities, with little buffeting or lifting at speed and excellent stability, even on the track.

We also came across some riders who reckoned it’s a comfortable helmet if you’re a glasses wearer, with plenty of space at the sides to fit in the arms of glasses and a nice large visor aperture to accommodate the lenses.

The Profile V will come with Arai’s class-leading warranty. That’s a 7 year warranty from date of manufacture, or 5 years from date of purchase.

Good Alternatives to the Arai Profile V?

If you’re after a good quality full face helmet, then we recommend you check out these bad boys.

Diamond White Profile V

First up and costing a bit more than the Profile V is the tried and tested, SHARP 5 star safety rated Arai QV-Pro. It’s another fibreglass helmet that comes with a Pinlock insert and Arai’s Pro Shield sun visor.

If you’re after a helmet to go with your sportsbike or sports tourer, the Bell Stars have a variety of SHARP 5 star rated helmets to suit most budgets. They’re composite or carbon fibre shelled and are great helmets.

Shoei’s Ryd is another max safety rated helmet. It’s a highly rated all-rounder helmet that comes with EQRS as well as that legendary Shoei build quality.

Finally, for the price of a Profile V, you can get the full carbon Shark Spartan. It’s super cool looking, comes with a Pinlock, and is SHARP 4 star safety rated.

Other full face helmets?

We've got lots of other ways you can find your ideal full face helmet. You can check out our Top 10 full-face crash helmets list to see our best rated helmets or head over to our Smartish Filters pages and zoom in on helmets with your 'must have' features. You can browse through all our full face crash helmet reviews as well as our safest motorcycle helmets page where you'll only find helmets that are SHARP four or five star rated - so you'll know you're wearing the best protection out there. Finally, check out our helmet gallery to find a lid that takes your fancy.

Best places to buy an Arai Profile V?

Please click below to visit the Arai Profile V helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

Cool-looking fibreglass/carbon flip-up helmet: Roof Boxxer.

Page Contents

Roof Boxxer and Boxxer Carbon Review: a cool-looking fibreglass/carbon flip-up helmet.

The Roof Boxxer (sometimes called the Boxxer 9 or Boxxer carbon) is the long-awaited addition to the Roof helmets family, taking their classic Boxer V8 and updating it slightly to make it a more user-friendly helmet while still keeping those iconic Boxer looks.

And like the old Boxer V8 – and the Roof Desmo for that matter – the Boxxer is a flip-front helmet where the chin guard flips right to the back of the helmet to give you a true open face helmet feel.

While the old Boxer V8 still looks cool, with the launch of the Boxxer, Roof has uprated a few of the features that might put off buyers. They’ve simplified the old chin bar opening mechanism (a bit), uprated the chin vents and introduced an adjustable comfort liner. And the styling and aero’s been tweeked to bring it a little more up to date.

So, if you’re thinking of buying a Roof Boxxer, here’s all the info you need to know.

Modular helmet
Fibreglass and fibre/carbon versions
Fully rotating chin bar
Dual homologated
Micrometric fastener
Weighs 1.55-1.6Kg
Sizes XS-XXL
3 year warranty
Expect to pay:
- £270-£340 fibreglass
- £350-£450 carbon

Best places to buy a Roof Boxxer?

Please click below to visit the Roof Boxxer helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

roof-boxxer-carbon-uni-yellow-helmet-front-view — Front view of the hi-viz Roof Boxxer carbon Uni

Overall/Summary

French helmet maker, Roof, has been making Boxer style helmets for over ten years now and the Boxxer and Boxxer Carbon is the latest version.

It’s got heaps of distinctive style, is usefully dual-homologated with a chin bar that flips over to the back of the helmet so you can ride like an open face, or pull it down to convert into a full face when you need a bit more protection.

And most owners seem to love their Boxxers. They reckon it’s really well built, very comfortable and find it light weight for a modular.

It’s a little bit of a quirky helmet, with two separate opening latches for the chin bar and a large visor opened by a tab at the top: and no Pinlock anti fog available which is a shame (though the visor’s anti-fog treated).

So, if you’re after a helmet that’s a little different and converts easily from a full face to an open face (and being legal to use as an openface – not all modulars are) then the Roof Boxxer is a well liked, great performing modular helmet.

For tested alternatives to the Roof Boxxer, check out our suggestions at the bottom of the page. Or to buy, click through to our recommended shops above.

roof-boxxer-carbon-black-modular-helmet-side-view — Carbon black Roof Boxxer

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The Roof Boxxer is ECE certified which means it’s been taken through (and passed) a rigorous bunch of certification tests including a whole range of impact tests. But that goes for all helmets on sale in Europe.

Outside of ECE testing, the Boxxer hasn’t been independently tested. But looking at SHARP test data for Roof helmets, they’ve tested four fibreglass Roofs (Rooves?) and they’ve scored an average of 3.5/5. Which is an OK score. The old Roof Boxer V8 scored 4/5 which is good.

So, if we had to, we’d guess that the Boxxer will score a similar kind of figure for safety.

We’d hope that the chin bar score would be higher with the Boxxer than the Boxer V8 though. During testing that came unlocked 43% of the time which is obviously really poor.

Having said that, when they tested the more recent Desmo, its chin bar stayed locked during 97% of impact tests which is much better – meaning it came unlocked (but not necessarily open) in only one of the tests.

The Boxxer has a new latch mechanism on it though so hopefully it’s upgraded and improved. It’s simpler than the old, slightly weird, press-stud type system. But again, we’ve no data to show whether it’s safter too.

If you’re buying a modular because you like the idea of riding with it in open-face config, then the Boxxer’s chin guard is ideal because, unlike many modulars, you can push it right round to the back of the helmet to get it right out of the way.

roof-boxxer-fuzo-orange-mat-black-modular-helmet-raised-chin-bar — Fuzo orange Boxxer with its chin guard in fully back position

It’s become a bit of a signature feature of Roof modulars – though you can buy Shark Evo One 2 and LS2 Valiant flip-up lids that do the same.

Some modular helmets aren’t legal to ride with the chin bar raised, but the Boxxer is. That’s because it’s been tested and approved by ECE – what’s called dual homologation or P/J homologated.

Not that it’s very likely you’ll get nicked if you ride with your chin bar up in any other modular, but it’s kinda good to know that your modular has been tested to work in both configurations.

Plus, while having that chin bar round the back can make your helmet feel a bit strangely weighted, having it out of the way at the front of the helmet does give a much better open face riding experience.

We’d expect protection levels to be solid enough on the Boxxer. But if you’re wanting a proven safe modular, you can always check out our Safest Modular Helmets page.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Like both the Roof Desmo and old Boxer V8, the Roof Boxxer is generally rated as about average for noise.

Modulars tend to be louder than full face helmets of course, but reading through online owner opinions, people seem to find it either pretty noisy or reasonably quiet. So I guess if you ride steadily behind a screen with the chin bar down and wearing ear plugs, you’ll probably find it quiet. Not so much if you ride a blade at full tilt!

All in all, probably don’t expect it to be super quiet and hopefully you’ll be pleased. And always stick in some decent ear plugs and it should be totally fine.

Helmet Shell and Padding

The Roof Boxxer is available in both fibreglass and carbon versions. Actually, the carbon Boxxer still uses fibreglass in its construction but with a layer of carbon over the top.

That carbon-composite makes the carbon version a tad lighter – but only around 50g lighter – and it also helps slightly with safety, with lighter helmets imparting smaller inertial forces on the head during an impact. Though obviously, in the case of the carbon Boxxer, it’s is very marginal.

roof-boxxer-viper-black-white-red-crash-helmet-side-view — This one’s the fibreglass Boxxer Viper

Inside the Boxxer, there’s a dual density polystyrene shock absorbing liner, and the helmet’s secured in place using a strap that’s secured to the helmet in four places and uses a micrometric fastener to keep it locked.

Even though strap strength and helmet retention (the resistance to the helmet pulling off the head during an impact) is tested during ECE testing, that four point anchor is potentially a good addition to safety.

Visor Safety

There’s a large visor on the Boxxer to give decent vision. And while it does have Roof’s own anti-fog treatment to prevent misting, there isn’t a Pinlock system available should you need one. That visor’s just so curved, I guess they’ve struggled to develop one that works with Roof helmets, which is a shame.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

In the chin bar, there are two vents that take air onto the back of the visor, plus another couple that vent towards the face. They’re both opened/closed by a small plastic slider that can be fiddly to operate in gloves.

Those two smaller chin vents to either side of the chin bar are actually exhaust vents to help improve circulation around the face. Again, it’s closable, so you can shut off all the face venting if you need to.

roof-boxxer-face-metal-white-helmet-front-view — There’s a couple of variants of the Boxxer Face – black/white and black/grey

Up top, there’s a single central air vent that takes air through to grooves inside the helmet to cool things down inside. That’s operated by a single large slider behind the vent.

According to several Boxxer owners, venting generally works well. And of course, if you do need more air, you can always push up the chin bar for some serious levels of ventiation!

Visor

(more about visors)

The visor on the Boxxer is a reasonably basic affair. It’s not a quick change visor, it doesn’t work on a ratchet and it’s not Pinlock ready. All of which may or may not be a problem for you.

It’s also got a single central opening tab at the top of the visor. Having it central is good because it means you can open the visor with either hand which can be really useful. But having it at the top of the visor is unusual and can take a bit of getting used to because most visor tabs are at the bottom.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Roof helmet reviews –
– Our Top 10 modular helmets list –

The visor automatically raises when you push up the chin bar, which is a useful feature. And while it’s antifog treated, not all antifog treatments are great and there’s no Pinlock or other antifog insert available for the Boxxer.

Having said that, several owners said they found the antifog worked well on their Boxxers – though expect it to still fog during more severe rainy or cold weather.

Note that if you buy a Boxxer, some are supplied with a clear visor while other sellers will supply a tinted visor. Generally, UK vendors will sell with a clear visor but it’s worth checking the small print before you buy.

If you get a clear visor and want a tinted visor as well, you can buy tinted replacement visors for the Boxxer, but swapping them out is less easy than helmets with quick release systems because you’ll have to wield allen keys and fiddle around a bit. It’s also a bit tricker to wash after a ride too because it’s so curved and sits quite close to the helmet shell.

Overall though, Boxxer owners do rate the visor. It’s quirky and a bit fiddly but generally works well and gives a nice wide and clear view of the road.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

Roof has upgraded the chin bar on the Boxxer from the old Boxxer V8.

roof-boxxer-carbon-alu-modular-helmet-side-view-2 — Side view of the Carbon Alu Boxxer. Note red chin bar opening tab – one on each side.

Most chin bars on modulars can be opened either buy pressing a single button or a single two-button combo. The Boxxer is different in that you have to push a separate opening tab on either side of the helmet before the chin bar unlocks.

It can still be done by one hand because you can unlock one side then the other sequentially before pushing up the chin bar, but it’s not the most convenient system in the world.

We’re not sure how securely locked the chin bar on the Boxxer will be either. The Roof Desmo improved on the chin bar lock on the Boxer V8 (which scored pretty badly) because SHARP recorded that stayed locked an excellent 97% of the time during impact testing. So hopefully the Boxxer will be thereabouts too.

According to Roof Boxxer owners, the operation of the chin bar is generally well liked. Once you get the hang of the two catches its easy to use and it’s a simple action to push the bar up and slide it right over to the top of the helmet where it’ll sit conveniently out of the way.

Pushing the bar upwards will also open the visor to make sure it’s well out of the way too when the chin guard swings up.

roof-boxxer-gloss-white-modular-helmet-chin-bar-up — Chin bar slides right over to the back of this dual homologated modular

To close the chin bar, it’s just a matter of firmly pulling the bar down where it’ll auto-lock in place.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the Boxxer is a fully removable and washable comfort liner that’s also also antibacterial to keep it smelling better for longer. There are also adjustable pads inside to help tailor the fit.

It’s available in sizes XS-XXL. Check our fitment guide on how to measure your head to ensure you buy the right size helmet.

Owners mostly reckon the sizing’s spot on and even though Boxxers aren’t really very light (not compared to full face helmets anyway), many owners find them particularly comfortable and light weight to wear.

All in all, there’s no reported problems with comfort in the Boxxer.

Looks & Graphics

There’s a few classy and understated designs if you’re looking to buy a carbon Boxxer – called the Uni they all nicely show off that carbon fibre weave too.

If you’re ok with a fibreglass Boxxer, there’s a wide range of different colourways and designs, including the Fuzo in green, red or orange; harlequin style Faces or solid ‘Mono’ red, white or graphite.

Please click our recommended retailers below to see the latest designs and deals: we only recommend stores with great online reputations and service.

Best places to buy a Roof Boxxer helmet?

Please click below to visit the Roof Boxxer helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Roof Boxxer Video

Here’s the Boxxer launch video from Roof.

Other stuff – audio, weight, glasses, warranty

There are speaker pockets inside the liner of the Boxxer so you should be ok with a bluetooth kit as long as the speakers aren’t too deep.

roof-boxxer-rouge-red-modular-helmet-side-view — Another hi-viz, this time the fibreglass Boxxer in solid red

While modulars are generally heavier than full face helmets, the Roof boxxer is actually quite light for a modular. The full carbon version is around 1.55Kgs while the fibreglass shaves a few grammes off at around 1.6Kg – both comfortably inside the typical modular helmet weight of 1.7Kg.

If you wear glasses, the good news is that Roof has designed the interior to work with glasses’ stems, so it should be ok for you.

Check our helmets that are great for glasses pages if that’s particularly important for you.

The Roof Boxxer should come with a 3 year manufacturer’s warranty.

Great Alternatives to the Roof Boxxer?

Tricky one this – depends whether you’re buying it because it looks cool, because you want a quality modular or because you want a modular with a chin bar that wraps over to the back.

If you want a dual homologated modular where the chin bar pushes right round to the rear of the helmet, take a look at the SHARP 4 star safety rated Shark Evo-One 2.

roof-boxxer-carbon-uni-white-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — The white/carbon Boxxer Uni

For another 4 star rated modular that’ll work great with a sportier bike, hop on over to our AGV Sport Modular review.

If you like the style of the Boxxer and don’t really mind if you wear a modular or not, check out the 4 star safety rated Simpson Venom. Works great on a sportsbike too (I bought one to use on my ZZR).

Or if you want the safest modular on the market, the original Caberg Duke scored 5 stars for safety and it’s now been updated as the Caberg Duke II. It’s a cheap helmet too.

Best places to buy a Roof Boxxer?

Please click below to visit the Roof Boxxer helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Other ways to find the Best Modular Helmet

If you're after a new modular/flip-up helmet, they've never been more popular and there's a ton of choice out there. You can find our latest top 10 modular helmets list here or check out all our modular helmet reviews here. You can also visit our Safest Modular Helmets page or our smart filters page where you can click the flip-up/modular check box then choose a few other features to find the best flip-up helmet for you.

Scorpion Exo Combat: low-cost open face helmet badassery

Page Contents

Review of the Scorpion Exo Combat motorbike helmet.

It’s usually Shark with their Drak/Raw helmets that turn bikers into stormtroopers. But now Scorpion’s having a go too with their Scorpion Exo Combat helmets.

Like the Sharks, the Scorpion Combat is essentially an open face helmet with a plastic face guard that’ll instantly make you look like a badass. All for not very much money.

But with the addition of a drop down sun visor, the Combat (called the Covert outside of Europe) promises to be a much more practical helmet too.

Just don’t think of it as a full face helmet replacement – more an open face that’ll keep your face clean!

Polycarbonate shelled open face helmet
Removable plastic face guard
SHARP 3 star safety rated (max 5 star)
Drop down sun visor
Antifog coated visors
Micrometric fastener
5 year warranty
Sizes XS-XXXL
Expect to pay £140-£180

Best places to buy a Scorpion Combat?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Combat helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Overall/Summary

So is it worth buying a Scorpion Exo Combat?

Well, it’s got some mega cool looks, an interesting sun visor system, it’s well built and it’s comfortable – providing the helmet shape suits your head. It’s also very well ventilated.

On the negatives, that tinted visor system means you might struggle when it gets dark. Plus, you’ll struggle to fit a bluetooth kit in there. And with that face guard, you might be lulled into thinking you’ve all the protection of a full face helmet when in fact you’re exposed in an open face.

But if you’re after a lower-priced open face helmet that’ll make you feel and look distinctive/badass, with the advantage of having some protection from the elements, then the Scorpion Exo Combat is very much made for you my friend. Go and check one out immediately.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

scorpion exo covert ratnik phantom helmet side view — Scorpion Combat in open face config with ultra dark visor

The Scorpion Exo Combat has a polycarbonate shell and is made in two shell sizes.

It’s a pretty basic shell construction and material, but that doesn’t mean the shell itself won’t give decent protection.

If we look back at the stats of how well Scorpion polycarbonate helmets do when they’re safety tested, we can see that of the seven Scorpion polcarb helmets tested by SHARP to date, they score an average of just over 3 stars out of 5.

And when SHARP tested the Scorpion Exo Combat in 2021 it scored exactly the same – 3 stars. If you look at the 8.5 m/s test results it seems that it falls down a bit on the side and rear impact tests, though of course that’s only part of the picture.

Scorpion Exo Combat SHARP 8.5 ms impact test — Courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk Scorpion Exo Combat 8.5 m/s Impact test results.

That’s because that face guard doesn’t really offer impact protection. When ECE certified the helmet, they certified the face guard as NP for non-protective. So don’t buy a Combat for facial protection because it doesn’t really offer any. If you want that, buy a full face lid.

That face guard is easily removable courtesy of pressing in a couple of plastic tabs and pulling the guard off. It does protect you from road filth and flies etc. but that’s about it.

So, if you have an accident, as long as you hit the actual helmet shell and nowhere else, the Scorpion Combat should offer a reasonable level of protection. If you don’t, it won’t – and that includes the plastic panel that wraps around to the back/bottom of the helmet.

In the US, you can remove that part and ride with it as what’s called a half helmet (see pic below). In the UK, that’s not really a thing.

scorpion-exo-covert-rockstar-motorcycle-helmet-rear-view 2 — Rear view of the Combat Rockstar

The sun visors on the Combat do give you some level of eye protection, though of course don’t use it after dusk. But that visor aperture’s a bit small according to some riders, so may not give you the all round visibility of many other helmets.

Overall, if you think of the Scorpion Combat as an open face helmet with some other useful bells and whistles – and accept the risks of riding with an open face lid – then you should be happy with the protection on offer.

But if you’re looking for the best protection out there, then choose one of our SHARP 5 star rated helmets instead.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Yeah, it’s an open face and open face helmets usually let more air – and noise – into a helmet.

Couple that with the fact that there’s a ton of air getting into the Combat through the vents (see below) and that makes for a helmet with potentially all the noise attenuation of a kettle drum.

scorpion-exo-covert-rockstar-motorcycle-helmet-side-view 2 — If you really don’t want any noise suppression at all, use it as a half helmet (US)

And sure enough, most owners reckon it’s a noisy helmet. Actually, most owners reckon it’s a noisy helmet but they’re happy to put up with it because a) it’s not quite as noisy as their usual open face helmets without a face guard and b) they expected it to be noisy but bought it anyway, so don’t really mind.

If you want a quiet helmet, you’re probably best to steer clear of the Scorpion Exo Combat. But if you want to look damn cool, don’t really expect to be riding too fast or too far in it (or just don’t give a s**t anyway!) then you’re good to go.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Ventilation’s good. There’s a surprise.

Obviously, it’s an open face helmet so pull off the face guard, push up the sun visor and you’ll get all the ventilation you’ll need.

But there’s a bit more to it than that with the Combat.

With the muzzle on and visor down, you’ll rely a little more on the designed-in vents.

scorpion exo covert matt black helmet front view — Matt black combat showing all those front vents

The vents in the chin bar are always open and just have some metal gauze in there to stop flies etc. getting in. But with the space underneath the face shield and those vents combined, there’s no shortage of air getting in.

Up top, there’s a forehead vent operated by a slider. And while there’s no exhaust vent in the rear of the shell, that forehead vent does let air circulate inside the lid through channels in the polystyrene liner.

All in all, owners of the Scorpion Combat says it flows tons of air. Which may be a good thing or it may be a bad thing depending on how often you ride in mid-winter!

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

OK, there isn’t actually a conventional clear visor on the Scorpion Combat. It’s really a sun visor, although it pulls down very much like a normal visor and is actually sealed at the bottom to stop water/wind getting in like a proper visor.

But because it’s tinted, you shouldn’t use it to ride at night for obvious reasons.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Open Face Helmet Reviews –
– Coolest Motorbike Helmets –

Scorpion does include both a lightly tinted and dark tint sun visor in the box, which is handy.

And if you’re thinking I’ll just buy a clear visor to swap it out so I can ride at night – that’s an option because Scorpion will sell you one – or a darker tint, gold or silver one for about £20-£30.

scorpion exo covert incursion helmet side view — This one’s the Combat Incursion

Those sun visors are actually Everclear anti-fog coated so you shouldn’t be too troubled by misting either – except when it’s really cold or rainy.

Usefully, the sun visor has an opening tab on both sides which is very handy for when you’re stopped at the lights and want to use your throttle hand to push up the sun visor.

The only real fly in the ointment is that the visor opening isn’t really very big, with a few riders saying it’s both vertically and horizontally challenged and can make shoulder checks and lifesavers tricky.

So probs a helmet to avoid if you’re still on L-plates then. If that’s you, you might want to check out our commuter helmets instead.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin guard on the Combat is basically a large plastic face guard that’s EPS-lined and is easily removable from the helmet.

Sorry to keep on repeating myself – but it’s not designed to be protective in an accident – rather it’s there give weather and road filth protection. Oh, and to make you look hard of course!

scorpion exo combat matt black motorbike helmet side view — Side view of the matt black Scorpion Combat

It clips off easily using a couple of tabs, one on each side. And there’s a couple of locating magnets on each side to help align the tabs when you’re putting the chin piece back on. Nice touch that – with a couple of owners saying they make it dead easy to get the chin guard back in place.

Removing this chin piece obviously turns the helmet into a regular open face helmet. In the US, you can also remove the piece that wraps around the bottom of the helmet to turn it into a half helmet.

In fact they push the US version, the Covert, as a 3 in one helmet over there. However it’s fairly unanimous that it works and looks best in its openface config.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

OK, the Scorpion Exo Combat is made in two different shell sizes to cover fitment sizes XS-XXXL.

Sizing’s a bit weird with the Combat though. Slightly more people reckoned the sizing’s a bit small, so you need to go up a size to get the fitment right. While others said the opposite. Bit weird that so we’d recommend measuring your head correctly and ordering the right size and keeping your fingers crossed.

scorpion-exo-covert-unborn-helmet-side-view — Unborn graphics

Just make sure you order from someone with a decent returns policy who’ll refund with no quibbles (all online retailers should do but some are better than others!)

Inside the shell, there’s Scorpion’s KwikWick2 liner which is a comfortable lining made up of anti-allergenic and moisture wicking materials.

The cheek pads are velcro’d in there so can easily be removed, while the cap is held in using poppers.

Overall, owners find their Combats very comfortable. Once they’re sure they’ve got the right size (with no pressure points but an overall comfortable yet firm fitting) then it’s a very comfortable helmet – with one occassional exception…

A few owners reckoned there’s not enough padding – or space – around the ears. There isn’t space inside the helmet for speakers and the EPS liner can push the padding into the ears making it uncomfortable.

The internal headshape of the Combat is medium oval, which means it should fit most riders as that’s the most common headshape. But if your headshape is rounder than average, you may find this sort of problem.

scorpion exo combat matt black motorbike helmet rear view — Backside of the matt black

So, again, make sure you buy from a retailer who’ll give no-quibble returns – and always leave any tags and stickers on the helmet until you’re happy it works for you, otherwise a store may not accept the return.

Looks & Graphics

Obviously, it’s the looks of the Combat that are the big talking point. And it seems that Scorpion reckons they’re only helped by dark and moody graphics because, so far, most are black or urban camo like the Incursion or Ratnik. But there is also the Rockstar – named after the energy drink, not the GTA game company.

We’ve pretty well covered all the available graphics up and down the page, but to see if any more have come out and find pricing/deals, please click through directly to the Scorpion Helmets pages of our recommended sellers below.

Best places to buy a Scorpion Combat helmet?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Combat helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Scorpion Exo Combat video

Here’s a 5m video looking at a solid gloss white version of the Combat – don’t think this one’s available any longer tbh though you might find the odd one still in stock.

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, glasses, weight, aero, build quality, warranty

In Europe, the Combat comes with a quick and easy micrometric fastener. In the US it’s a double-d ring.

If you’re thinking of fitting a bluetooth kit to your Combat, don’t bother as there’s not space inside for speakers.

scorpion exo covert incursion helmet frontview — Nuther view of the Incursion colourway

And while Scorpion does say it’s got grooves inside to fit your glasses stems – what they call their Kwikfit system – we’ve heard from a few riders who reckon that tightness around the ears really limits the type of glasses you can wear. Maybe if they’ve ultra thin arms and you’ve quite a narrow head, you’ll get away with it. Might be you’ll have to try it out to see if it works for you.

Onto weight, most owners say it feels quite light weight. It’s a polycarbonate helmet so that shell’s gonna be on the heavier side, but it is an open face helmet so that means it’ll shed a few grammes. It weighs around 1.3kg (2.9lbs).

As you might expect for a helmet that’s not quite a full face, aero isn’t the best on the combat. Some owners say it’s fine if you keep the speed down but press on and you’ll find quite a bit of resistance and buffeting.

Build quality is widely seen as very good though – but I think that’s widely seen in light of a helmet’s price. So comments like – great build quality for a helmet at this price range are common. Which means don’t expect top of the range Arai hand built quality but it’s more than good enough for most people.

Finally, the Combat comes with a very generous 5 year warranty. Hurrah!

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo Combat?

OK, we’re gonna go with baddassery here and find some decent alternatives to the Combat that’ll send grannies and children running for cover when you ride by.

First up, there’s the good old Roof Boxer V4 modular helmet. It may be as old as the hills but it still looks the part and still has that excellent SHARP 4 star safety rating.

scorpion exo combat gloss white side view — Full on Stormtrooper Scorpion Combat

Of course there’s also the Shark Drak which is the most direct comparison with its face mask, though the Drak comes with goggles instead of sun visors.

The Shoei Ex-Zero is a fibreglass full face helmet with a proper visor (kinda). Definitely looks the part too and uses their tried and tested AIM helmet shell tech.

And there’s a nice clutch of Simpsons to look at too – including the modular Darksome and the four star safety rated Venom. Both of those have that distinctive Simpson cool look.

Best places to buy a Scorpion Combat?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Combat helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Definitely want a Scorpion?

Here you'll find all our Scorpion crash helmet reviews and previews including full face, flip-up and open face helmets.

More Helmet Options?

For more helmet buying options, click through to our Open Face Helmet Reviews, our Modular Helmets Top 10 and our Safest Helmets. Or jump onto our homepage to find lots of other ways to find a new helmet - just scroll down.

Star Ratings

Simpson Darksome modular helmet review

Page Contents

Practical, badass modular helmet: Simpson Darksome.

Now you can have that fantastic genuine Simpson ‘streetfighter’ helmet style but in a modular helmet. The Simpson Darksome (Mod Bandit in the US) takes off where the full face Simpson Venom left off and adds a flip-front chin bar for folks who like the convenience and practicality of a flip-up helmet but what to look badass at the same time.

It’s a concept that feels a bit wrong – but hey, it’s where most of us are, right? Same way you go down your local, eye up the ladies (or guys!), and talk about baby clothes and mortgages.

It’s wrong but it’s what time does to us… we move on.

So, we want the look of an uncompromising bad MF helmet but we also want it to be practical and comfortable and not too hot and to fit right etc. etc. I mean, we’re not animals are we?!?

So, is the Simpson Darksome any good? Does it make you feel like the man in the iron mask or stroked by a velvet glove?

Modular helmet
Choice of composite or carbon shells
3 shell sizes
Fitment sizes XS-XXL
Pinlock-ready visor
Pinlock included with Carbon lid
Excellent comfort
But a bit noisy
Integral sun visor
Double-D ring fastener
Expect to pay:
- Composite fibre £349
- Carbon £499
  Here’s the gloss white Darksome. Note all helmets are supplied with a clear visor

Best places to buy a Simpson Darksome?

Please click below to visit the Simpson Darksome helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Overall/Summary

The Simpson Darksome is a quality helmet that’s popular with owners.

If we were nit picking, it’s maybe a little on the basic side, lacking certain features like EQRS and a included Pinlock that much of the competition offer nowadays (tho the carbon version does come with the Pinlock). But what it does do, it does well.

The chin bar is easy to use and gives feedback to the rider. A drop down sun visor; toolless quick change visor together with all-day rider comfort make it a really easy helmet to live with. Couple that with the convenience that comes with a modular helmet and that badass Simpson look and there’s plenty of reason to invest in a Darksome.

And talking of investment, it’s not the cheapest of helmets which means it drops a few marks in the value stakes. Plus it’s a tad on the noisy side – but then you always wear quality ear plugs anyway, right?

You’ll probably be eyeing a Darksome because you love the Simpson look. But now you can have a really effective and practical modular helmet at the same time. Win-win.

If you want one, we wouldn’t hesitate. It’s a great helmet.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The Darksome is ECE certified in Europe/Oz and DOT if you buy the Mod Bandit in the US.

simpson-mod-bandit-helmet-front-view — Front view with chin bar fully raised

OK that’s great and guarantees at least a minimum level of protection.

Outside of that, only the Simpson Venom has been tested by any independent safety testing dudes (in the Venom’s case scoring a very respectable 4 star rating), so we can’t really know for sure if the Darksome will live up to the best protecting helmets out there.

Looking over the helmet, it’s made in 3 different shell sizes which is always a good thing when you’re wanting a helmet that’s optimized just right for fitment. Getting a good fit is really important for maximising the ability of a helmet to do its job.

Plus it means it’ll keep the weight of shell to a minimum. Speaking of weight, modular helmets are usually a bit heavier than most full face helmets – all that extra weight from an articulating chin bar and all.

In the case of the Simpson Darksome, it comes in two different shell constructions – either a tricomposite or full carbon fibre version.

The tricomposite is a composite of carbon, aramid and fibreglass while the full carbon is just carbon fibre. As expected, that carbon fibre version is lighter than the 1.6Kg (3.5lbs) quoted for the tricomposite but both are weightier than most full face helmets.

The lighter a helmet is, the less inertial damage to the neck and head is likely during an accident. Incidentally, according to most owners, whichever version you go for, it feels light when you’re riding.

simpson darksome carbon matt black top view — Top view of the carbon fibre Darksome showing top air vents

OK, onto other stuff to look out for on a helmet that helps with safety: there’s a drop down sun visor to help stop you getting blinded if you’re caught out by the sun. The main visor is nice and wide according to owners and it’s pinlock antifog-ready so, if you live in the UK where you’re likely to suffer from fogging, pay an extra £30 or so and you can fit a Pinlock antifog to keep your vision clear.

The chin guard locks down with metal locking pins – all the safest modular chin guards tend to use metal pins to help stop the guard unlocking and opening during an impact.

And finally, the Darksome uses a tried-and-tested double-d ring fastener to keep it securely tied to your head. But make sure you keep it tightly fastened – it’s not uncommon for a helmet to actually come off during an accident if it’s not fastened well enough.

All in all, there’s enough plus points for the Darksome for us to think it should give decent protection if the worst happens – and there’s a few stories out there in internet land saying exactly a Darksome’s done just that.

But until it gets independently safety tested, we won’t know exactly how good it is – especially in relation to other helmets.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Because it’s a modular helmet, the Simpson Darksome was always likely to be a bit louder than the average helmet.

All that chin bar mechanism means space is needed somewhere around the ears to accommodate it and space equals places for noise to enter or reverberate.

Couple that with the generous speaker pockets and cutouts in the comfort lining to give your ears plenty of space, and predictably it’s not the quietest helmet on the market.

simpson-mod-bandit-motorcycle-helmet-gloss-white-side-view — Gloss white composite Darksome – note chin bar slider behind visor pivot

Looking at online feedback from Darksome owners, it’s generally rated somewhere slighly lower than average for quietness. Obviously, how quiet you perceive it is dependent on what you ride, how you ride… and how deaf you are!

But you probably shouldn’t buy a Darksome if you’re after a really quiet lid – buy one of these instead.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

In a modular helmet you’re always gonna have the option of pushing that chin bar up to get a ton of air entering your helmet. And Simpson’s put a handy chin bar lock on the right side of the Darksome to make sure it’ll stay there if you do.

But you’ll probably be wearing it in full face mode most of the time, so what’s the ventilation like when you do?

A couple of useful links…

– All our Coolest Helmets –
– Other Modular Helmet Reviews –

As you can see from the photos, there are a ton of slits in the chin bar. The six side slits are always-open vents whereas the front two can be closed off from behind. They’re pretty tricky to get at though because you’ve to hook a finger behind the chin bar and round the neoprene chin curtain, so it’s best left to when you’re stopped.

Up top, there are a pair of closeable crown vents set quite high up to avoid the sun visor. They direct air through the helmet shell and into a generous network of venting channels inside the polystyrene eps lining.

Unusually, this top vent also directs air onto the top inside of the face visor too to help with demisting and keeping the top of your face cool.

simpson darksome carbon matt black chin up side view — Right side of the carbon Darksome

Word is the vents are easy to operate and overall ventilation in the Darksome is excellent.

Several owners said their helmet flows lots of air throughout and keeps their head nice and cool even during hot and humid summers.

Visor

(more about visors)

Having a fantastic face visor is really important on any helmet, but especially on a flip-front helmet as they tend to be used by long distance riders.

The visor on the Simpson Darksome is opened using a tab on the left hand side of the helmet (that’s OK) and it works on a ratchet (ditto). There’s a cracked-open position on there too, which is really useful if you just want to get a bit of extra ventilation in but still want to ride with your visor down.

It’s a quick change visor too… but unlike most systems that use a single lever or button, Simpson’s system uses a rotating panel on each visor pivot. Press in the spring-loaded locking button, twist the panel 90 degrees and the panel comes off. You can then pull of the visor. It’s simple and it works well so you can quickly swap over the clear visor your helmet comes with for one of several tints, or give it a quick clean.

The standard visor comes with Pinlock pins but if you buy the composite fibre version, there isn’t a Pinlock antifog insert supplied free in the box, which is a bit disappointing. But if you suffer from fogging, spend an extra £30 or so for the Pinlock and you’ll not regret it.

simpson darksome gun metal helmet side view — Side view of the Darksome in gun mental with sun visor fully lowered

Word is that the visor seals nicely to the helmet to keep out dust and wet, and it’s a nice wide aperture for good all round peripheral vision.

All in all, it’s lacking some of the bells and whistles like optically correct visor or supplied free Pinlock. But the visor system on the Darksome does all the basics very well and the vast majority of owners are very happy with theirs.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The sun visor slider’s located on the left behind the face shield pivot. On a modular, that’s actually a really good position as it’s relatively easy to find and it frees up space on the side of the helmet so you can fit a bluetooth controller unit.

One or two owners levelled the common complaint that the sun visor could do with being a bit darker to really cut the sun out, but sun visors usually err on the side of being lighter because it won’t interfer with your vision too much and it’ll make it legal in countries where there are laws to limit the tint.

Other than that, all’s good with the sun visor. It drops down nice and low and it’s pretty optically correct so shouldn’t distort your vision.

simpson-mod-bandit-modular-gloss-black-chin-open-side-view — Chin bar in fully raised and locked position

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

Whichever version of a Darksome you buy (carbon or composite) the chin bar is made from polycarbonate. That’s not a problem because polycarb is strong and durable; it’s more done from a manufacturing point of view as it’s easier to fabricate complex shapes, like a chin bar, using polycarbonate than multi-layer laminate or carbon.

To open the chin bar, there’s a single button located under the bar which unlocks the metal locking mechanism (metal’s good!). Simpson designed the system for one handed opening and it seems to work well.

You can see from some of the photos how far the chin bar raises and it’s possible to lock it in place using a slider on the right hand side of the helmet that’s uncovered once the bar’s raised.

Darksome owners reckon it’s very easy to raise the chin bar and the whole mechanism feels smooth and solid. There’s also good feedback from the mechanism to let you know when it’s either fully raised or closed and locked.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

If you’re thinking of buying a Simpson Darksome, it’s worth knowing that the helmet sizes a bit on the large side. So if you’re usually on the bubble between sizes, go for the smaller size. Even Simpson acknowledges this on their website and it’s been confirmed by lots of owners.

simpson darksome carbon helmet bottom view — Inside the Simpson Darksome carbon – showing double d ring, chin bar button and rear exhaust vents

The internal head shape of the helmet is somewhere between medium oval and a neutral shape. That should mean it’ll fit most rider’s heads, but if you struggle with medium ovals, the Darksome might well be a slightly better fit.

The comfort lining inside the helmet is fully removable and washable. It’s made from sweat wicking materials and has a premium touch and feel to it which owners say makes for a really comfortable helmet.

In fact pretty well every comment we found about wearing the Darksome pointed out that it’s an extremely comfortable helmet. But if you buy one and find it’s slightly too tight, a couple of owners said theirs broke in nicely after just a couple of hours of riding.

Looks & Graphics

There aren’t any graphic versions of the tricomposite Simpson Darksome, just a variety of solid colourways including flat/matt black, gloss white and gunmetal metallic.

At the time of writing, there’s only one matt carbon fibre version.

As always, please drop onto the Simpson helmets pages at the stores below to see any new colourways and find any deals on the Darksome – and we only recommend stores who have great online review scores so you know you’ll be looked after.

Best places to buy a Simpson Darksome?

Please click below to visit the Simpson Darksome helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Simpson Darksome Video

Here’s a nice 2m30s video showing you all around the Darksome (remember it’s called the Mod Bandit in the USA).

Other stuff – audio, aero/buffeting, chin curtain, warranty

The Simpson Darksome has been designed to easily accommodate bluetooth kits. There are large speaker cutouts inside the EPS lining and there are large ear pockets in the comfort liner to let you hear as much as possible from the speakers. There’s plenty of room for a mic too and there’s some channels ready cut away for the wiring. One owner said installation of their Sena 30K was very straight forward, so too another person installing a Sena 20s.

Despite having a reasonably unconventional shape, aero on the Darksome seems to be good. There are reports of buffeting being minimal and very little lifting, even at speed.

The Darksome comes with a removable chin curtain and there’s a breath deflector in there too.

All Simpson helmets come with a basic 1 year warranty.

Good Alternatives to the Simpson Darksome?

The Darksome might be an iconic Simpson, but that doesn’t mean there’s no competition. Here’s a range of helmets – flip-front and full face – you really ought to look over too.

Of course, there’s some other Simpson helmets to take a look at, like the excellent SHARP 4 star Venom or the Snell certified Outlaw.

And if you’re searching for a really great performing flip-front helmet, you should click through to our Modular Helmets top 10 list.

The Bell Eliminator is a retro style full face helmet. It’s a bit quirky but it’s light weight and comes with a Pro Shield anti-fog insert in its optically correct visor. It costs around the same as a Darksome.

There aren’t many modulars out there that are as cool as a Darksome. There’s the AGV Sport Modular though which is a full carbon fibre modular designed to work on pretty well all bikes – including sportsbikes. It’s more expensive than the Darksome but it’s SHARP 4 Star safety rated with sun visor and Pinlock included.

Or there’s the Shark Evo One 2 that’s a modular where the chin bar flips right over to give a true open face helmet feel. It was awarded a SHARP 4 star safety and you can buy it for similar money to the Darksome.

Best places to buy a Simpson Darksome?

Please click below to visit the Simpson Darksome helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Star Ratings

Nolan N60-5 polycarbonate full face motorbike helmet review

Page Contents

Nolan N60-5: entry-level full face helmet with tested protection.

Italian-based Nolan makes a pretty big range of helmets, and they’re all aimed towards the mid- to lower-end of the price range.

They leave it to their sister brand X-lite to hog all the glory of their higher-priced MotoGP-inspired racing helmets and the like, prefering to concentrate on helmets that are more accessible for those of us not wanting to shell out a month’s wages on a head protector.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t ride in a helmet inspired by the likes of Davies and Petrucci – or Stoner and Checa. Nolan’s entry level full face helmet, the N60-5, comes in a massive range of race replica colourways and it won’t cost an arm and a leg.

And now it’s been SHARP 4 star safety rated, maybe now you can have a helmet that gives great protection, doesn’t cost much and let’s you show support for some top racers all in one hit.

Nolan’s entry-level full face
Polycarbonate shell
Supplied with Pinlock antifog
Micrometric fastener
One shell size
Sizes XXS-XXL
Expect to pay £110-£160

Best places to buy a Nolan N60-5?

Please click below to drop straight onto the Nolan N60-5 helmets pages at our recommended retailers. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

nolan n60-5 gemini replica 52 motorbike helmet front view — One of the Casey Stoner relica N60-5s available.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

To be honest, it was fairly predictable that the Nolan N60-5 was going to score 4/5 stars in the SHARP helmet safety test.

Why? Well, of all the 12 Nolan polycarbonate helmets that’ve been tested by SHARP over the years, every single one has scored 4 stars. Thats whether it’s a modular helmet or a full face… 4 stars every time!

Which is obviously a fantastic and consistent performance and means you can pretty well trust in a Nolan, whichever helmet you buy.

Unfortunately, the polycarbonate Nolan N60-5 is only available in one shell size, which arguably isn’t that great for fitment, looks or safety.

Nolan N60-5 SHARP test graphic — 8.5m/s impact test results for Nolan N60.5 courtesy of Sharp.dft.gov.uk

But what it does have is a Pinlock-ready visor and it’s shipped with a Pinlock in the box, so you should have clear, unfogged forward vision in pretty well every adverse condition.

It’s strapped to your bonce with a micrometric fastener which are dead easy to use and, as long as you keep them adjusted at the strap (not just at the ratchet strip), they’re safe as houses.

Overall then, despite being a lower price helmet, Nolan have produced a helmet that should offer very good protection and has all the most important aspects of helmet safety covered. Result.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a single chin vent that directs air towards the mouth/face area and back of the visor. It can be shut off using the large slider planel which is mega glove-friendly.

nolan n60-5 special motorbike helmet in gloss white side view — Gloss white version of the Nolan N60.5 and clearly showing arrangement of the vents

So too are those forehead vents which slide back to let air through the helmet shell and circulate around the helmet via ventilation channels in the shock absorbing polystyrene lining.

It all exits the helmet through a small rear spoiler that contains an exhaust vent.

It’s a system that Nolan calls its Air Booster Technology but it’s more or less the same system you get in loads of helmets.

But Nolan ventilation systems are usually OK so we’d expect it to do its job.

If you’re after a helmet that’s proven to offer great ventilation, you might want to check out our best venting helmets pages.

Visor

(more about visors)

There’s a decent quick release visor on the N60-5, opened by a single, central tab at the bottom of the visor which means you can easily open the visor with either hand.

That’s particularly useful if you do a lot of stop-start urban riding where you might want to open your visor with your throttle hand, not just your clutch hand.

But it’s that Pinlock antifog insert that’s included in the box which is the main talking point.

Pinlocks are positioned on the back of your main visor between the two pins, and have a moisture absorbing plastic layer that prevents condensation building up on the back of the visor, keeping it fog free.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Nolan helmet reviews –
– Our safest helmets section –

They’re one of the best ways to prevent misting and if you live somewhere cool and damp (like most of the UK) or ride on days that are other than dry and sunny, they’re a must.

nolan n60-5 classic matt black crash helmet side view — Classic matt black N60-5

Nolan uses an adjustable locking pin on their visors which you can alter to increase or decrease tension on the Pinlock. They reckon by doing this you can make the gap between Pinlock and visor larger and increase the anti-fog properties.

I’ve not seen any research to show it works any better than regular Pinlocks – or that Pinlocks really need adjusting like this – but Nolan’s patented their adjustable pins so they seem convinced.

Like all visors, it’s made of polycarbonate and while Nolan doesn’t make any specific claims about the UV repelling properties of the visor on the N60-5, it should offer at least 95% UV protection, because that’s an inherent property of all polycarbonate visors.

The visor’s quick release so you can easily remove it for cleaning, and it uses a very simple push-button system. Open the visor and press a button either side and the visor pops off. Push the visor back on and close it and it’ll lock back in place. Great system that.

Overall then, it’s a good visor system with all the main must-have features covered.

Comfort and Internals

(more about helmet comfort)

Like the rest of the helmet, the interior of the N60-5 is relatively basic. But that’s not to say it doesn’t do its job well.

nolan n60-5 gemini melandri replica helmet rear view — Rear view of the shy and retiring Melandri replica

It’s all fully removable and washable and Nolan has made it so you can remove the foam in the cheek pads, presumably so you can fumigate them more thoroughly!

It’s all made with soft touch, moisture-wicking materials and there’s a pair of glasses grooves in there that’ll accommodate the stems of your glasses or shades.

So if you ride in glasses, that’s a great feature to look out for.

Other than that, it’s a functional but comfy liner.

Looks & Graphics

The range of colourways that’re available are one of the Nolan N60-5’s strong points.

Yep, you can go for a plain ole black, white, silver in gloss or matt. But, there’s also a Melandri, Petrruci, Davies, Stoner, Checa and Bastianini replica too.

To find what other graphics are on the market or to buy an N60-5, please click through to one of our recommended retailers below (they’re all checked out and highly rated for customer satisfaction so you’ll know you’re in good hands).

Best places to buy a Nolan N60-5 helmet?

Please click below to drop straight onto the Nolan N60-5 helmets pages at our recommended retailers. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Other stuff – weight, glasses, warranty

The N60-5 is a policarbonate shelled helmet, so don’t expect it to be the last word in lightness. But it is a relatively basic helmet too meaning Nolan’s managed to keep the weight down to just over 1.4Kg (3.2lbs) which is actually very good for a polycarb helmet.

nolan n60-5 gemini Bastianini replica motorbike helmet side view — Nolan N60-6 Bastianini replica

There’s a couple of glasses grooves in the comfort liner of the helmet so if you wear glasses, you should feel comfortable in the N60-5.

You get a 2 year warranty when you buy any Nolan helmet, extendible to 5 years if you register your helmet on the Nolan website within 10 days of purchase. The only downside is that the (long) form you’ve gotta fill in to extend the warranty is in Italian so you might need the help of Google Translate to do it!

Overall/Summary

If you’re after a low-priced do-it-all full face helmet from a respected brand, then the Nolan N60-5 may well be the ideal lid.

It’s got all the basics well covered. It’s SHARP 4 star safety rated (out of 5) so you know it’ll give good protection. And it’s got a decent visor system with Pinlock antifog to keep things clear in all weathers.

nolan n60-5 gemini replica 52 motorbike helmet rear view — Rear view of the Stoner replica showing rear exhaust vent and micrometric fastener

And if you’re a racing fan, you can get a replica graphic for little extra money, or you can go for a plain basic version and save yourself a few quid.

Either way, it’s a great value helmet that should serve you well whether you’re using it on your commute or week away overseas.

Good Alternatives to the Nolan N60-5?

Here’s a selection of full face helmets that have all been highly rated for safety – and that score well for all-round performance. We definitely recommend you take a look at some of these… or you can check out our safest motorbike helmets or all our full face helmet reviews.

The LS2 Arrow is a SHARP 4 star safety rated full face helmet aimed at sportsbike/track bike riders. It’s a bit pricier than the Nolan but it’s either fibreglass or carbon shelled, has an optically correct visor and is light weight. Good value too.

nolan n60-5 gemini Petrucci replica motorbike helmet side view — Petrucci replica Nolan N60-5

The HJC FG-ST is a great all-rounder helmet. It’s only a little more expensive than the N60.5 and it’s SHARP 5 star safety rated, comes with a Pinlock Max Vision in the box and has a drop down sun visor.

The Shark Ridill can be had for about the same money as the Nolan, it’s 5 star safety rated, comes with a Pinlock in the box, has a sun visor, and it’s backed by a 5 year warranty. It’s an excellent all rounder helmet and great value.

Finally, for something a little more up-market. The Shoei Ryd is a SHARP 5 star rated composite fibre helmet. It’s a great sports touring lid that’s made in 4 shell sizes to get the fit just right, and comes with EQRS and a Pinlock ready visor.

Best places to buy a Nolan N60-5?

Please click below to drop straight onto the Nolan N60-5 helmets pages at our recommended retailers. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

MT Kre: A great value helmet for your sportsbike and the track

Page Contents

MT Kre SV Snake Carbon motorbike helmet review.

Spanish helmet maker MT is known for making some excellent value lids that don’t cost a stack of money.

MT Kre Plus FIM carbon racing helmet 2 — FIM approved MT Kre+ race helmet

Mostly these have been ‘do everything’ helmets targeting cost-conscious riders. But with the MT Kre they’re targeting riders of more sporty bikes with a helmet that’s been developed in conjuction with professional Moto3 riders.

They’ve also launched it in three flavours ranging from a tricomposite ‘standard’ Kre, the composite Kre SV with sun visor (a useful addition to a sportsbike helmet) plus a light weight full carbon Kre Snake Carbon that’s been FIM Homologated for use in MotoGP (size s only).

Which means you can now get a racing homologated sportsbike helmet for not very much money at all. Happy days?

Sportsbike/track full face helmet
Composite fibre & carbon versions
SHARP 3 star safety rated (SV version)
FIM Homologated (Snake Carbon size S)
FIM Homologated (KRE Plus XS, S)
3 shell sizes
Sun visor version available
Micrometric or double-d fastener
Pinlock Max Vision anti fog included
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay:
- Carbon version: £200-£250
- Composite version: £150-£170

Looking to buy this MT helmet?

We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, outstanding service and free UK delivery/returns. Or you can click through to the MT helmets pages at Amazon if you prefer to buy from them. Please see here for more info on our recommended stores or click the links to go straight to their MT helmets pages where you'll find the latest designs and deals.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The tricomposite version of the Kre comes with our without a sun visor. The SV version was tested by the SHARP helmet testing labs where it scored 3 stars out of 5.

mt kre snake carbon helmet front view — Snake Carbon version of the Kre

As you can see from the 8.5 m/s test snapshot, it looks like side impact protection is letting the helmet down some (though note this is only a single visual of one part of the test data).

The tricomposite version is both ECE certified in Europe and DOT in the US, which also means it’s gone through the rigorous ECE testing too (DOT doesn’t have a mandatory pre-sale test though manufacturers do have to guarantee it meets their specifications).

There’s a new kid on the testing block these days too, in the form of FIM testing. That’s the scheme where helmets to be used in FIM racing – notably MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 – have to be submitted to the FIM’s own labs for testing/approval before they can be used in racing.

FIM racing approved MT Kre helmets include the MT Kre Snake Carbon (size S) and MT Kre Plus (sizes XS & S). I guess certifying only certain sizes of helmets is probably to do with the fact that riders wearing MT helmets (such as Vincent Perez) wear size S or XS helmets, so they only to bother getting those helmets certified (but that’s a guess).

mt kre sv sharp high speed test — Results of the 8.5m/s impact test on the MT Kre SV (courtesy of SHARP Gov UK)

Both the carbon and the composite helmets come in 3 shell sizes – which is great for looks, fitment and optimising shock absorbing padding (and so helps with safety).

All helmets come with Pinlock ready main visors with Pinlock Max Vision antifog inserts in the box so you shouldn’t have a problem with fogging in any version of the Kre.

If you prefer a double-d ring fastener, then the Kre Snake Carbon comes with a double-d whereas the composite fibre helmets come with a micrometric fastener. Both types are easy to use and safe as houses – as long as they’re fastened up correctly.

Other than that, there aren’t any other fancier safety features such as quick release cheek pads or slip plane internals like the 6D or some Bell helmets. But then again, this is a lower priced helmet so that’s really to be expected.

mt kre sv helmet intrepid flue yellow blue rear view — Rear view of an MT Kre Intrepid

If you’re looking for a helmet for the track, the Kre does come with an ACU gold sticker on it (UK only) – so if the marshalls do start checking when you’re in the pit lane, they’ll wave you past.

And don’t forget, if buying the safest helmet is your No1 priority, then getting any helmet to fit just right should be your main objective. Get it to fit right, it’ll be comfy to wear and it’ll perform at its optimum during an impact.

We’d suggest next that you buy a helmet that scored well in the SHARP safety tests – here you’ll find all our reviewed four and five star helmets.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a pretty regular set up of vents in all versions of the Kre.

That’s a large vent in the middle of the chin guard covered by a nice, large and glove-friendly panel to open and close it.

mt kre lookout white orange blue helmet front view — The non sun visor Kre Lookouts come in a range of colours

Plus there’s a couple of crown vents placed way up top to pull air through the helmet and let it circulate inside before exiting through the rear exhaust vents just below the rear spoiler.

Those crown vents are the same on the sun visor version of the Kre which is probably why they’re pushed so far back – to accommodate space for the internal sun visor when it’s retracted.

But even though they’re probably not ideally placed, MTs are usually decent for ventilation – they are Spanish after all so need to let a decent bit of air in.

And because all versions of the Kre come with a Pinlock anti-fog insert in the box, you’re not gonna be as dependent on lots of ventilation from the chin vents keeping your visor mist-free.

Visor

(more about visors)

The visor’s a ratchet visor with a single left hand opening tab at the bottom.

It’s also got an optically correct visor for distortion-free riding, and there’s a quick release visor which are mega handy for quickly ripping off the visor for a swap or a clean.

Some useful links…

– All our Track Helmet Reviews –
– Every SHARP 5 star helmet we’ve looked at –

And because it’s been designed for the track, there’s a tear-off visor available should you start getting properly serious about your lap times!

MT KRE SV Ahead helmet Matt Black Grey side view — This one’s the Kre SV in Ahead graphics

One of the biggie features we always look out for in any helmet is a decent anti-fog solution. If you’re riding in the UK and it’s anything less than a heatwave, you’re probably going to need something to stop your visor fogging in the mornings.

The good news is, MT has included a Pinlock ready visor and Pinlock Max Vision insert in the box. That’s a great duo and very welcome – especially for a helmet at this price point.

Stick the Pinlock onto the back of your helmet and you’ll be fog-free for 99% of your rides.

All in all MT has done a great job with the visor system on the Kre.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Only the MT Kre SV (for sun visor) comes with an integral sun visor.

mt kre sv matt black motorbike helmet side view — Sun visor slider visible on a matt black Kre SV

It’s operated from a slider mid way down the left hand side of the helmet. That’s a great position to put the slider – unless you’re wanting to fit a bluetooth kit to your helmet, in which case that’s exactly where the bluetooth controller will sit.

Other than that, a sun visor is a really useful addition to any helmet. Though if you’ve never used a helmet sun visor before don’t expect it to be mega dark or antifog like the main visor – because they’re not and it won’t be!

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

All MT Kre helmets are available in sizes XS-XXL.

Official weight figures are that both the full carbon fibre and the composite fibre Kre’s weigh 1.35-1.45Kgs (depending on shell size) with the SV version adding around 50g to that.

mt kre snake carbon helmet rear view — Rear view of the Snake Carbon Kre

That makes the Kre a reasonably light helmet but not the lightest around. Plus, we expected the carbon fibre version to be a few grammes lighter than the composite fibre version.

But again, for the price, it’s a great looking helmet and there shouldn’t be any weight problems at all when you’re wearing it.

Inside each Kre you’ll find a removable and washable lining made from hypo-allergenic fabrics that’re comfortable and soft to the touch. It’s a fairly standard interior but, get the right fitment size and you should find it a comfortable place to put your head for long days in the saddle.

Looks & Graphics

If you’re after a full carbon Kre, then there’s the stunning Snake Carbon graphics, available with a variety of highlight colours.

mt-kre-sv-gloss-white-motorcycle-crash-helmet-side-view — Plane ole gloss white’s always popular.

For the standard Kre there’s a number of different Lookout colourways; plus there’s the subtler Ahead graphics, many with Hi Viz Fluo options; and there’s a solid matt black version too.

If you want the sun visor Kre, there’s a solid matt black and gloss white version of both, plus the Intrepid designs.

Having said that, MT’s always launching new designs so please click through to our recommended stores below to find the latest graphics and deals. Cheers.

Best place to buy this MT crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the MT helmets pages at our recommended stores or Amazon UK. And if you buy from either, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

*Quick view retailer T&Cs here.

MT Kre Video

Here’s MTs 1m launch video for the Kre Snake Carbon.

Other stuff – fasteners, warranty

Like all track-focused helmets, the Snake Carbon version of the Kre comes with a double-d ring fastener. The composite fibre Kre’s come with a micrometric fastener (though check this when ordering as there are variants).

MT helmets come with a one year warranty. That’s pretty poor as you can buy many helmets with 5 year warranties.

Overall/Summary

If you’re after a track or sportsbike focused full face helmet on the cheap, then the MT Kre has gotta be worth a look.

KRE Snake Carbon Gabri helmet Matt Carbon Aqua side view — The new Kre Snake Carbon Gabri

You get 3 star SHARP safety if you go for the tricomposite SV helmet (if anything, we’d expect the non sun visor version to score a little higher); and the full carbon fibre Kre are kinda FIM tested/approved too. I say kinda because technically only size S has been FIM homologated.

It’s a basic helmet in many ways, without too many bells and whistles – although MT has put lots of effort into the stuff that counts, namely making the helmet in 3 shell sizes for optimal fit and effectiveness, and an excellent optically-correct and quick release visor system with included Pinlock anti fog.

The bottom line is you get an awful lot of sportsbike helmet for your money, making this a great helmet for riders on a tighter budget.

Looking to buy this MT helmet?

We recommend SportsBikeShop (UK) for competitive prices, outstanding service and free UK delivery/returns. Or you can click through to the MT helmets pages at Amazon if you prefer to buy from them. Please see here for more info on our recommended stores or click the links to go straight to their MT helmets pages where you'll find the latest designs and deals.

Good Alternatives to the MT Kre

As you’d imagine, there’s a ton of full face helmets available targeting sportsbike riders. But here’s a selection that’s we’d recommend for high levels of protection and great value.

First up, the AGV K5S. It’s a SHARP 4 star safety rated composite fibre helmet with sun visor that’s about the same money as the MT.

If you’re after an all-rounder full face helmet, MT’s Thunder 3 is great value and SHARP 4 star rated, and so’s the MT Mugello and that’s available for pocket money!

The LS2 Arrow is a fantastic value sportsbike helmet with Pinlock, optically correct visor, FIM homologation and a SHARP 4 star safety rating.

Finally, HJCs FG17 is a 4 Star rated race-ready fibreglass helmet with great aero that’s available for around the same price as a composite fibre Kre.

Check out our Sportsbike or track helmets sections for more previews and reviews of helmets suitable for your sportsbike.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

A great value carbon fibre/composite sports touring helmet

Page Contents

Scorpion Exo-1400 Air sports touring motorcycle helmet review.

The Scorpion Exo-1400 Air is Scorpion’s top flight sports touring full face helmet. It comes in a couple of variants; one in carbon fibre and the other in what Scorpion calls TCT (see safety section below for more info).

Either way, they both have the same features and they’re both designed to work on a wide variety of more ‘lean forward’ bikes.

Which means Scorpion says they’ve incorporated a big hole for the visor (horizontally and vertically) to give you good all round visibility, plus they’ve thrown in a Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog visor and insert to keep your vision free whatever the weather.

And there’s also drop down sun visor (what Scorpion calls SpeedView) and both Scorpion’s AirPump cheek pads as well as EQRS.

Not only that but it’s available at a decent price point too.

All in all, it sounds like it should be a great package. But read on to find out if it’s any good and whether you should splash – or save – your cash.

Sports touring full face helmet
Carbon and composite shells
SHARP 4 star safety rated (out of 5)
EQRS
Drop down sun visor
Light weight
Scorpion Airfit pump
Double-d ring fastener
Pinlock Max Vision visor (insert not included)
5 year warranty
Expect to pay:
- £250-£350 (carbon version)
- £220-£290 (composite version)

Best places to buy an Scorpion Exo 1400 Air?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

scorpion exo-st1400 carbon top view — top view of the matt carbon 1400 Air

The Scopion Exo-1400 Air is available with either a carbon fibre or what Scorpion calls a TCT shell.

Both helmets are functionally the same helmet and share similar constructions.

In fact, reading between the lines, it seems the carbon fibre version of the 1400 Air is actually a TCT shell with a top coating of 3K carbon fibre rather than a full carbon fibre helmet.

TCT stands for Thermodynamical Composite Technology which is a fancy word for a composite shelled helmet. And looking at one of Scorpion’s websites, it seems TCT is essentially a fibreglass shell (fibreglass is a composite material, right?).

Of course, a fibreglass shell is no bad thing if it’s built right. And Scorpion has a long record of producing fibreglass helmets. Just don’t expect to be getting a full-on carbon fibre helmet, that’s all.

Scorpion produces the 1400 Air in three shell sizes which is great for safety and for optimizing fit/looks.

Scorpion exo-st1400 hi viz yellow antrim carbon helmet side rear view — Rear view of the Scorpion Exo 1400 carbon Antrim with hi viz yellow highlights

If we look at the available UK safety testing data, of the most recent four fibreglass ECE certified Scorpions tested by SHARP – including the 710 Air, 1200 Air, 3000 Air and 700 – they scored an average of 3.25 stars out of five.

Which made us think the 1400 Air would score something similar.

Well, in 2019 SHARP tested the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air and it scored a very solid 4 stars out of a maximum 5, meaning it should give a decent level of impact protection if the worst happens.

As you can see from the 8.5m/s test graphic, it seems to be dropping a few points from side impact tests, which is reasonably common when a helmet scores less than 5 stars.

But there’s more to the Scorpion Exo-1400 Air safety than just facts and figures.

scorpion exo 1400 Air 8_5 MS SHARP impact test result — 8.5 m/s test results for the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air – courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk

It comes with EQRS or emergency quick removal system on the cheek pads so if you do take a dive, paramedics can more safely remove your helmet.

And it’s got a tall/wide visor to give good all round vision. It’s a Pinlock antifog ready visor but unfortunately a Max Vision Pinlock isn’t included in the box so expect to pay another £30 or so to buy one. It’ll be worth it to keep your forward vision nice and clear if you get caught in a downpour.

There’s also a visor lock on there in case you’re worried it might pop open and the whole thing is kept on your head by a good ole, reliable, double d ring fastener.

Of course, all helmets for sale in Europe have to come up to ECE standards (DOT in the US) so it should offer at least a decent minimum level of protection (you can read more about what tests its had to pass here).

scorpion exo 1400 matt black composite helmet side view — Plain matt black TCT composite fibre 1400 Air

So it’s great to see Scorpion has made some good efforts to add extra safety features into the 1400 Air.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Onto noise. Most of us would probably like a quiet helmet, right? It’ll protect your hearing and mean that you could probably get away with the odd low speed short trip without having to reach for the ear plugs.

Unfortunately, looking at folks’ thoughts and comments around the web, it seems the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air is a bit of a noisy helmet.

A few owners commented that there’s quite a bit of wind rush and that it becomes noisy anywhere above 50mph. And while a couple of people said they found it OK, most said it’s a noisy helmet.

Using the Air pump to press the lining in a bit can help but we wouldn’t recommend buying an 1400 Air if you’re after a really quiet helmet.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The ventilation config on the 1400 Air is pretty conventional. There’s a single central chin bar vent with two positions – and up top, a twin crown vent operated by a single slider, again with two positions.

scorpion exo 1400 air helmet blackspell side view — This one’s the TCT (composite) Scorpion Exo 1400 Air Blackspell

Air enters the crown of the helmet via these top vents and enters channels cut front-to-rear in the internal polystyrene lining. Out the back, there’s a single exhaust vent to create flow-through and let all that stinky warm Air exit the lid.

So far, so average.

The good stuff is that those venting controls seem to be really easy to use, with nice positive action and large grippy pads so you can find and operate them even in winter gloves.

And opinions seem to be that overall venting is somewhere between OK to very good, so unless you live somewhere mega hot and do a ton of hot weather riding, you should be fine with an ST.

A couple of links you might find useful…

– Click to see all our Sports Touring Helmet reviews –
– Here you’ll find our Top 10 Full Face Helmets –

Visor

(more about visors)

Scorpion say they’ve made the visor both extra wide and tall to give better peripheral vision as well as make the helmet work in a more ‘lean forward’ sportier position.

It also uses Scorpion’s Ellip-tech visor system which is designed to pull the helmet towards the visor seal when you close it to make a tighter seal to keep wind and water out.

Scorpion exo-st1400 matt carbon helmet rear view — Rear view of the matt carbon 1400 Air

There’s a central lock/opening tab on the visor, which a couple of owners reckoned was a bit stiff to use, although most said it’s fine for opening and locking the visor.

That said, a couple of other owners said that central lock can be a bit annoying because if you open the visor just a bit, the lock sits right in your field of vision.

Out of the box, the 1400 Air comes with a clear visor that’s Pinlock Max Vision ready. Though unfortunately in the UK the anti fog insert isn’t included in the box (it is in the US).

We do recommend that UK riders buy a Pinlock though because if you ride in colder wetter weather, you will be troubled by fogging and a Pinlock will sort you out in all but the most extreme conditions.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

There’s also a drop down sun visor incorporated into the Scorpion Exo-1400 Air which in our book is a great feature if you’re the sort of person who really doesn’t want to be swapping visors from tint to clear all the time.

scorpion exo 1400 air carbon helmet pure red side view — Scorpion Exo 1400 Air carbon Pure Red

There’s a slider behind the left hand visor pivot to drop the sun visor down and owners say the controls are easy to reach and work just fine in gloves.

Most people reckon the sun visor works well though one or two say it doesn’t drop down quite far enough.

That’s a common enough complaint with a few sun visors across helmet manufacturers, most likely because they’re designed to work with lots of different face shapes and not to drop onto your nose/cheeks where they’d make things really uncomfortable.

Meaning what works great for one person, isn’t necessarily that great for another. So if it’s the kind of thing that bugs you, then just make sure you try before you buy or buy from a store that’ll happily give a refund if it’s not right (like our recommended stores).

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the Scorpion Exo-1400 Air you’ll their Kwikwick3 lining which is a removable and washable hypoallergenic liner that’s designed using materials that’ll wick sweat away from your head.

Like all the Scorpion helmets we’ve come across, it’s made to fit medium oval headshapes which is right for the vast majority of Europeans.

scorpion exo 1400 espirit in blue side view — The Espirit is available in blue (note all helmets come with clear visors!)

But should you find the helmet doesn’t fit quite right or starts to move around over time, worry not. The 1400 Air uses Scorpion’s Airfit system where there’s a small inflatable bladder behind each cheek pad that you can inflate by pressing a rubber bulb behind the chin bar.

Doing that pushes the cheek pads in a bit, tightening things up more. Those riders that use it say it’s great to firm up the fit and can reduce noise levels a bit, though it seems like most folks don’t really bother with it too much – not regularly anyway.

Which shouldn’t be a massive problem because it sounds like the lining on the 1400 Air is mega comfy with loads of people saying it’s soft and cosseting and great for all day rides.

And if you wear glasses, the good news is there’s glasses grooves inside so no more pressing of stems into the sides of your head.

scorpion exo 1400 air torque red motorcycle helmet side view — Composite fibre Torque Red 1400 Air (also in blue)

Looks & Graphics

OK if you’re going for the carbon version, at the time of writing there’s the plain gloss or matt carbons. Or if you want a bit of paint with your carbon, there’s the Antrim colourways in either hi viz yellow or grey. And there’s the Carbon Pure red or yellow, the Esprit blue or grey as well as the Grands which come with either blue, white or orange highlights.

If you’re after a plain ole composite TCT fibreglass version, there’s a matt black, the Torque range (red or blue) and the weirdly wonderful Blackspell.

For more designs or deals, please check out our recommended stores using the links below.

Best places to buy an Scorpion Exo 1400 Air helmet?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Scorpion Exo-1400 Air Video

If you want to get a good look around the 1400 Air, then here’s a 12m video from Chapparal that shows you around the plain carbon black version (called the ST1400 in the US).

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, aero, buffeting, warranty

All 1400 Airs come with a double d-ring fastener. Old school but effective.

It should work well with quite a few bluetooth kits. Several owners said it works great with a Sena although some owners with Cardo’s struggled to fit the speakers into the pockets. There are deep speaker pockets inside the helmet and plenty of surface to either clip or stick your comms unit onto the outside, it just depends on the diameter of your speakers (sorry, we don’t have size info).

Scorpion exo-st1400 antrim grey white carbon helmet side view — Carbon fibre 1400 Air in Antrim colourway

Most owners of Scorpion 1400 Airs say it feels somewhere between light and crazy light! It weighs in somewhere between around 1.2Kg (2.7lbs) and 1.4Kg (3.1lbs) depending on size and helmet shell – but either way both helmets fall into our lightest helmets categories and owners say they feel light weight when you’re wearing them.

That sculpted shell seems to do a great aero job too because lots of riders say there’s very little buffeting from the 1400 Air and it feels super aerodynamic, even at high speeds.

The Scorpion Exo-1400 Air comes with a class leading 5 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

There’s no doubt about it; the Scorpion Exo-1400 Air is a class act.

According to owners, all the basics work well with great aero, quality, comfort and visor system (including sun visor) doing a good job. Plus there’s some useful extras such as that Pinlock antifog visor (insert’s extra though) and EQRS all for a very reasonable price.

It’s light weight too and should give all-day levels of comfort for medium oval heads. And Scorpion has a decent reputation for making helmets that score pretty well when safety tested too. And in the case of the 1400 Air that’s a SHARP 4 star safety rating (maximum of 5).

It’s not the quietest helmet but if you’re looking for a sports touring full face and like to get value for money – as well as a sweet looking helmet – then the Scorpion 1400 Air is well worth checking out.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo-1400 Air?

If you’re looking for a highly rated sports touring full face helmet, then there’s lots of choice out there. Here’s some we recommend you take a look at…

First up and a bit more money than the Scorpion is the Arai QV Pro. It’s a SHARP 5 star safety rated (and Snell in the US) fibreglass helmet that’s rated for comfort and ventilation and comes with a Pinlock. It’s best suited to longer oval head shapes though.

For around the same money as the 1400 Air is the Shoei Ryd: another SHARP 5 star rated full face helmet (and Snell) with excellent build quality, comfort and aero that makes for a fantastic all-rounder helmet.

Or for something a bit more edgy, how about the Simpson Venom – cool looking, sun visor, Pinlock visor, SHARP 4 star and comes in both full carbon or composite shells.

Best places to buy an Scorpion Exo 1400 Air?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Definitely want a Scorpion?

Here you'll find all our Scorpion crash helmet reviews and previews including full face, flip-up and open face helmets.

Star Ratings

Shoei Neotec II: a sports touring flip-up helmet that owners love

Page Contents

Shoei Neotec II modular motorcycle crash helmet review.

The old Shoei Neotec had been around for a good few years.

If you’re not familiar with it, it was Shoei’s top-dog flip-front helmet, designed to offer outstanding comfort and build quality for everyone from commuters to continent-blasters who wanted a quality modular helmet.

If you don’t remember the old Neotec – in a nutshell, folks loved it for it’s great ventilation, visor system and comfort. You can read that review here if you like.

And so, Shoei’s updated it and called it the Neotec II. Which is about right because the new Neotec II is very much a development of the old version.

Shoei says they’ve redesigned the cheek pads for improved comfort and reduced noise and the visor’s been re-shaped for better sealing and optical qualities. They also reckon the chin bar’s had an upgrade so it’s now P/J dual homologated so you can ride with it up and not get nicked.

So, if you’re thinking of buying a Shoei Neotec 2, here’s our full review – and don’t forget to check out our alternatives section at the bottom of the page where we recommend some other great modular helmets you should check out too.

- Modular helmet
- Fibreglass composite shell
- SHARP 4 star safety rated
- Chin bar scores a disappointing 70%
- Drop down sun visor
- Pinlock anti-fog
- Integrated for Sena bluetooth (not included)
- Ride Magazine: Best Buy
- Micrometric fastener

Three shell sizes
Expect to pay £500-£600 (depending on design)

Best places to buy a Shoei Neotec II?

Please click below to visit the Shoei Neotec II helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

There’s a few safety claims Shoei makes for the Neotec II.

First up is that it has an AIM shell with a dual density shock absorbing liner to give outstanding protection.

Also that the micrometric fastener is made of steel and the chin bar is now dual homologated with a stainless steel locking mechanism – both for added strength and durability.

Like the first Neotec, the shell on the Neotec 2 is made from Shoei’s AIM material – which stands for Advanced Integrated Matrix. Basically, that’s a fibreglass composite that’s used to create 3 different shell sizes – again, just like the old Neotec.

And three shell sizes is a good thing – good for optimising fit, size and safety.

shoei-neotec-II-excursion-TC-3-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — The Shoei Neotec II Excursion graphics

All of which has helped Shoei to show very well in our Safest Motorcycle Helmet Brands top 10 list – at the time of writing taking No. 1 spot.

In 2019, the SHARP helmet safety testing bods got their hands on a load of ECE versions of the Neotec II and scored it 4/5 stars for safety.

That’s the same as the old Neotec, which is a decent score. And ordinarily, we’d leave it there.

But SHARP also records how often the chin guard remains locked and closed – a key metric if your riding in a modular lid.

And in the case of the Neotec II, the chin bar only stayed locked and closed 70% of the time during testing – which I’d say is pretty poor.

The best performing modulars, including some of our recommended alternatives at the bottom of the page, score 100%.

I’ll let you make up your own mind whether 70%’s good enough for you – but I know it’s not good enough for me!

shoei-neotec-2-sharp-impact-test — Image of the 8.5m/s impact test result courtesy of SHARP Gov UK

Of the other stuff that helps with safety – the Neotec’s got a metal micrometric 2 fastener, Pinlock anti-fog visor to stop it steaming up, and a drop down internal sun visor (great for when the sun’s low).

It also features a dual-density shock absorbing lining and Shoei have used a stainless steel chin bar locking system to complement its dual-homologated certification – which will allow you to lock the chin guard in place if you want to ride in open-face mode (legally in Europe).

And while the blurb doesn’t mention it, that new rear shape of the helmet is usually shaped like that to reduce the likelihood of injury if the helmet’s pushed back during an impact – as well as help it clear your collar or hump.

So on the face of it, it’s a mixed bag of results. There’s a few decent features in the helmet to help keep you out of trouble, but if you do take a dive, that SHARP 4 star rating on the helmet shell is pretty good and should give you decent protection.

Just don’t depend on the chin bar because according to SHARP’s results, it looks like there’s a bit of a weakness there.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

If you’re after a quiet helmet but also want a modular, then you’re probably going to be disappointed. That’s because most modulars are just noisier than full face helmets – in general.

Shoei has put some effort into making the Neotec 2 a quiet modular though. There’s their ‘integrated vortex generator’ which is something to do with that lip on the bottom of the chin bar that’s designed for better aero and reduced noise.

Plus they’ve reworked the internal cheek pads and including what Shoei calls a ‘noise isolator’ – though there’s not really any detail of what that is or how it works.

The old Neotec was a bit of a disappointment in the noise department. So we’ve scoured the net to find out comments from tons of riders about the Neotec II and the result is… inconclusive.

As usual, some people reckon it’s whisper quiet whereas others say they expected it to be really quiet from the reviews, and were massively disappointed when they bought one. One person says it isn’t as quiet as their old Caberg whereas another says it’s quieter than their last Schuberth C3 Pro – and yet another says it’s not as quiet as their C3 Pro!

Just goes to show how everyone’s opinions of a quiet helmet can differ massively.

We found about an equal number of owners calling it noisy to those calling it quiet – so we’ll mark it down as about average for noise.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The last Shoei Neotec was designed to have tons of ventilation – and owners reckoned it worked well.

And the Neotec II is made to let in even more air, according to Shoei.

There’s a single chin bar vent covered by a nice, large, glove-friendly panel. And there’s also a single crown vent, again covered by a large slider.

These pull air into the helmet and it’s all extracted at the back through a large twin extractor.

Owners of the Neotec II say tons of air gets into the Shoei. They reckon the vents are easy to find and operate in gloves and they’re easy to use too.

The only downside is that the visor doesn’t have a cracked-open or city position, with the first detent being around an inch gap. Many riders use a cracked open position for a bit of extra ventilation while keeping protected behind the visor, so that’s a bit of an omission.

Other than that, venting on the Neotec 2 is bang on.

Visor

(more about visors)

shoei-neotec-II-gloss-black-motorbike-crash-helmet-side-view — Gloss black Neotec II. Click to enlarge.

Shoei says the new visor is redesigned and shaped to give a better weather seal and has been formed to minimise optical distortion.

There were no worries with either the seal or distortion on the old Neotec that we’re aware of, and owners of the Neotec II still say it’s still a great visor system that seals well against wind and rain.

It features a locking, Pinlock-ready visor and Shoei includes a Max Vision Pinlock in the box – called a Pinlock Evo when it’s supplied by Shoei. They say the Pinlock is their top race-spec version so that should be a Pinlock 120.

Word is that the Pinlock and visor system work well, except for the lack of a cracked open position as mentioned above.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

And like the old Neotec, the Neotec II has an integral drop-down sun visor that operates by a slider to the bottom left of the visor pivot.

According to Shoei, it offers 99% UV resistance and it’s distortion-free.

Owners say it works well, is easy to find, operates smoothly and gives decent coverage – so all should be fine with the sun visor on the Neotec.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin guard of the Neotec II is all new. It’s been redesigned to be sleeker with better aero properties and has a new dual-locking mechanism to allow you to ride legally with the chin bar up and open – what’s called dual-homologated (or P/J homologated).

Shoei say they use a stainless steel locking mechanism on the new Neotec too – which is a good thing because all the modulars with the best performing (safest) chin bars do.

What’s not such a good thing is that when the helmet safety bods at SHARP tested the Neotec II, they found that chin bar only remained fully locked in only 70% of the tests.

Which means it unlocked – potentially exposing a rider to danger – about 9 times during testing.

When you’re selling modular helmets on the premise that it offers the ‘safety and protection of a full face helmet’ then that’s not good at all. And it’s a double kick in the teeth to Shoei given the old Neotec scored a much more respectable 93%!

On the plus side, owners do say it’s easy to operate and you can comfortably ride with the chin bar raised up to around 5Omph without and problems.

It’s just a shame that new design of chin bar doesn’t seem to have made the grade.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Shoei helmets are known for producing comfortable helmets.

The last Neotec was widely loved for being comfortable and made from quality materials; and owners of the Neotec 2 say pretty much the same. Everyone we came across seem to say that it’s a massively comfortable helmet.

That’s even though the Neotec II is a little on the heavy side, weighing somewhere around 1.8Kg (4lbs) depending on size. For reference, the average weight of a modular is usually a smidge under 1.7Kg (3.7lbs).

Shoei-Neotec-II-motorcycle-helmet-interior — Interior shot – showing metal micrometric fastener

Inside the helmet, there’s a removable and washable interior – including cheekpads and chinstrap cover – while those multilayered cheekpads have also been redesigned to reduce wind and noise ingress and provide even greater levels of comfort than before.

And if you find the fitment not quite right, then Shoei does offer cheekpads in different sizes to tailor the fit more.

Of course, the fact that the Neotec is made in 3 shell sizes (4 according to Shoei US) will help with optimising the fitment too – making sure you’ve got just the right amount of EPS and comfort padding for your head size.

So all in all, while it’s on the heavier side of motorcycle helmets, the Neotec II is seen as cosy, comfortable and uses great quality materials to make a helmet that’s really easy to live with on the road.

Looks & Graphics

On launch, there’ll be all the usual plain/solid colours available – blacks, whites – and a range of classy greys. There’s also a wine red and a matt metallic blue.

They also have a fancy graphic version called the Excursion – available in grey, black/white and black yellow.

You’ll find some examples up and down this page but click through to our recommended retailers using the links below to find the latest designs and prices.

Best places to buy a Shoei Neotec II helmet?

Please click below to visit the Shoei Neotec II helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shoei Neotec II Video

The official Shoei Neotec II launch video – 2m37s.

Other stuff – audio, aero, glasses, build quality, warranty

The Neotec II has been designed to integrate with the Sena SRL/SRL2 communicator. That’s a great system based on Sena’s 20 series and an excellent solution if you’re looking for a best-in-class integrated bluetooth kit.

It means there are pockets to fit the control panels and batteries within the fabric of the helmet and it’s been specially designed to perfectly fit the Sena speakers inside. OK, one or two owners said it’s tricky to find the buttons to operate the kit, but that’s often the case for most helmet mounted bluetooth systems.

For those of you who’d be looking to use a different, non-integrated kit, it might compromise fitting your set a bit. A couple of folks we came across said they found it a struggle while some other guys said their Uclear HBC200 and Interphone systems fitted quite easily.

So if you’re going to try and fit a 3rd party system to the Neotec II, I guess it’s just going to take the usual bit of trial and error before you get it to fit right.

shoei-neotec-II-metallic-matt-blue-helmet-side-view — Metallic blue version of the Shoei Neotec II

As for aero, the whole shape of the Neotec II has been wind-tunnel designed to reduce buffeting and lifting – as well as noise. We’ve covered noise above. As for turbulence, a few people said the aerodynamics seem to work well with the helmet feeling very slippery and giving very little buffeting or bobbling in the air flow.

Inside the Neotec II there’s a glasses groove to take the stems of your glasses. Owners seem happy with it. From the reports we’ve seen, they’re plenty big enough and the sun visor drops down with a decent clearance so you you shouldn’t have problems wearing glasses in the Neotec II.

Build quality is one of the big features of most Shoei helmets and the Neotec II is no exception. Owners say everything looks and feels well made with operation of things like the visor and chin bar feeling solid and having a premium feel.

There have been one or two small quality control issues covering things like visor seals and chin bar closure but these seem to be very isolated cases and should be quickly handled by your retailer under warranty (as always make sure you buy from a responsive store who don’t leave you hanging – like our recommended shops)

And finally – warranty. The Shoei Neotec II will come with a 5 year warranty (or 7 years from date of manufacture – whichever comes first) which is pretty much as good as helmet warranties get.

Overall/Summary

With the Neotec II, Shoei’s taken a solid helmet that scored well in a host of areas, and have refined and developed it further.

It scores the same overall score for safety as the Neotec I (four stars out of five) when it was independently safety tested by SHARP – but the chin guard score of 70% was actually worse than the old helmet and lower than most buyers would probably accept from their modular helmets (see safety section).

It’s a little on the weighty side too – though we didn’t come across any owners who thought that’s a problem.

Those issues aside, in terms of levels of comfort, ventilation, build quality and visor system, owners reckon it’s a fantastic helmet that’s hard to beat. It’s not cheap but as a daily helmet to live with or cruise across continents in, they say it’s a pleasure to use.

It’s also great if you’re looking for a helmet that integrates with a bluetooth kit because the Sena SRL is one of the best.

All in all, if you love Shoei’s build quality and can look past the niggles of chin guard score and the fact it’s not the quietest helmet out there, you’ll probably love the Neotec II.

But for that premium price, there are some good alternatives out there that you might want to check out. See our alternatives section below…

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the Shoei Neotec II?

We mentioned three sensational modular helmets up in the helmet noise section – they’re all well worth looking at.

shoei-neotec-II-excursion-TC-5-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — Another Neotec II Excursion – this time the TC-5 version

But there’s also the SHARP 4 star safety rated Compact ST. That’s a thermoplastic shelled modular with a sun visor – thermoplastic meaning it’s nice and cheap. But the chin guard also stayed locked 100% of the time (unlike lots of modulars) so you can ride feeling secure.

There’s also our old favourite the Caberg Duke – a SHARP 5 star rated flip-up helmet that’s light(ish) cheap and comes with a Pinlock in the box.

Or how about the Schuberth C3 Pro which is a popular alternative to the Neotec II. It’s got great build quality, a Pinlock and sun visor – though it’s only about the same as the Neotec II for noise suppression (despite the hype).

Other ways to find the Best Modular Helmet

If you're after a new modular/flip-up helmet, they've never been more popular and there's a ton of choice out there. You can find our latest top 10 modular helmets list here or check out all our modular helmet reviews here. You can also visit our Safest Modular Helmets page or our smart filters page where you can click the flip-up/modular check box then choose a few other features to find the best flip-up helmet for you.

Best places to buy a Shoei Neotec II?

Please click below to visit the Shoei Neotec II helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Star Ratings

Ride Magazine 43/50 Apr 23

A budget flip-front helmet with an excellent SHARP 4 star safety rating.

Page Contents

HJC C90: flip-front, SHARP 4 Star motorbike helmet.

Note: the HJC C90 has now been discontinued. Try checking out our Motorbike Helmet Top 10s to find your next helmet instead…

C90? No, it’s not HJC’s take on the most successful 2 wheeler ever. It’s actually HJC’s inexpensive polycarbonate flip-front that’s been designed to be a durable all-rounder, suitable for anything from a spot of touring or your daily slog through the rush hour.

Like most HJCs, it doesn’t use the most expensive materials in the world and it’s available at a price that’ll leave you with that satisfying feeling that you’ve got decent value in return for your hard earned wodge.

hjc-c90-modular-helmet-matt-black chin bar up — Side view of a matt black C90 with chin bar fully raised.

Having said all that, there is one thing that sets the HJC C90 apart from the crowd. And that’s the SHARP 4 star sticker that they’ll no doubt slap on the box.

That means the testing boffins at the SHARP labs have put it through their paces and it’s come out in glowing colours. Meaning it should give you excellent protection if you were to nosedive at the tarmac while wearing a C90 (and assuming you’ve got the chin bar closed!).

So if you’re looking for your next modular helmet – or a helmet that’ll offer excellent protection (and probably both!) – here’s the lowdown on the HJC C90.

- C90 is now Discontinued
- Modular Helmet
- Polycarbonate shell
- SHARP 4 star safety rated
- 83% chin guard (see safety section)

Integral sun visor
Micrometric fastener
Not dual homologated
Sizes XS-XXL
Expect to pay £110-£125

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The HJC C90 is a reasonably basic flip front helmet in many ways – and that goes for the safety features it offers too.

It doesn’t have EQRS or any fancy slip-plane internals to reduce helmet rotation during impact. HJC don’t even claim it’s got features like a wide visor aperture or contoured mouldings designed to reduce clavicle or neck damage.

hjc-c90-modular-helmet-matt-black-front-view — Front view of the HJC C90

It does have a trusty (and easy to use) micrometric strap which should keep the helmet on your head, provided you tighten it up correctly.

And both a sun visor and Pinlock antifog insert (the visor’s Pinlock ready but you’ll have to buy the insert separately for around £20) are essential safety features these days, as well as making for a more comfortable ride.

But that’s about it.

But once you’re in an accident, it’s the helmet shell that’s the most important part of course. The other stuff will help keep you out of trouble, but once you’re there, you need a highly protective helmet.

And the great thing about the HJC C90 is that it’s been independently safety tested by the team at SHARP where it scored a very decent four star rating (out of five).

HJC C-90 impact test results at 8_5ms — HJC C90 8.5M/s impact test results – courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk

As you can see in the 8.5 m/s test result picture, it seems to have dropped a star for the side impact results – although it was still above average there.

Which means that, despite being a more entry level helmet at a lower price point, it should offer good impact protection should the worst happen.

With a couple of caveats:

First, while it is of course ECE tested/approved, like all helmets have to be on sale in Europe, it isn’t dual-homologated. So it’s not technically legal to ride around with the chin bar up on the C90 (like you can with these dual homologated modular helmets).

Secondly, SHARP also notes down how often the chin bar mechanism becomes unlocked during testing. And while us punters need to be able to rely on that chin bar remaining firmly closed whatever is thrown at it, the HJC C90’s chin bar became unlocked 13% of the time.

hjc c90 flip up helmet in gloss white side view — HJC C90 in plain gloss white

The average score across all tested modulars is 81% so the 87% rating of the C90 is actually better than most and means that across all 32 SHARP impact tests, it came unlocked in 5 tests.

I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that’s good enough.

Suffice to say, if you want to buy a flip-front helmet that’s been tested and proven to offer exceptional protection, take a look at our Safest UK Modular Helmets Page where you’ll find all the helmets that kept their chin bars locked 95% of the time or above.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

HJC doesn’t make any claims about how quiet the C90 is and looking at the helmet, there doesn’t seem to be any specific features that are going to make this a particularly quiet helmet.

Modular helmets on the whole are noisier than full face helmets, so if you’re looking to buy a quiet helmet, either take a look at full face helmets or jump on over to our quietest helmets pages.

Though it’s a new helmet, we found a few C90 owners out there and they generally seem to think that it’s about average for a modular. As always, helmet noise is very subjective and can vary quite a bit depending on speed/bike/age and loads of other variables.

But overall, opinions seem to be that it’s about average for a modular which means expect it to be a bit on the noisy side, especially if you’re getting a move on or riding a naked bike. So always stick in some decent ear plugs to protect your hearing and you should be OK.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a single top vent and single chin bar vent on the HJC C90.

hjc-c90-modular-helmet-matt-black-top view — Top view showing crown vent and sun visor slider

That big top scoop has a large slider behind it so you can close it off. And the same goes for the chin bar vent.

That has a two-way slider and it directs air up onto the rear of the visor to help with demisting – though to really keep things clear when it gets cold or wet you’re gonna need a Pinlock on there (see visor section below).

Up top, that crown vent lets air through the helmet shell and there’s a large network of channels in the polystyrene liner to let air ventilate your head.

However, there isn’t an exhaust vent on the rear so probably best to expect that it won’t be the best venting helmet in the world.

Visor

(more about visors)

The visor, on the other hand, should work well as it uses HJC’s tried and tested tech.

That means it’s got their RapidFire quick release system which is essentially a toolless visor removal system where you simply open the visor up, pull a latch on ether side and the visor pulls off. It’s quick and easy and one of the best quick change visor systems out there.

The visor itself is ready to accept a Pinlock antifog insert though HJC doesn’t include one in the box. But if you do buy a C90, it really is worth the extra £20 investment to buy a Pinlock.

Even though there are generous vents to take air from the chin bar up onto the back of the visor, the visor will still fog up when things get cold or wet, and fitting a Pinlock really will stop the visor fogging up in most circumstances.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Safest Helmet reviews –
– Top 10 Modular Helmets –

The visor works on a ratchet and has a single opening tab on the left.

And like all polycarb visors, it has excellent anti-UV properties which, in the case of the C90, HJC says gives 99% protection. And I guess you can double that if you have the sun visor down too.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

That sun visor drops down nice and low and is operated by a slider on the very top of the visor.

hjc c90 modular helmet metallic silver side view — Metallic Silver C90

It’s down to personal choice whether you like your sun visor sliders there or on the left of the helmet where, personally, I prefer them.

Having said that, locating it up on top of the helmet does leave plenty of room on the side of the helmet if you’re thinking of fitting a bluetooth communicator.

It’s also personal preference whether you want a sun visor in there at all. Some riders think that extra layer can interfere with your vision too much. And while that can be true, I find having the convenience of an integral sun visor really handy, especially when you forget your shades or you’re on the move and the sun comes out.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin bar on the HJC C90 is operated using a single button in the bottom/middle of the bar. Press it in and the chin bar rises to be just above your eye line at the front of the helmet.

But given the C90 isn’t P/J homologated, it’s not legal to ride with the chin bar raised (like you can with a dual homologated modular helmet). Not that anyone else is likely to know!

Of course, you want that chin bar to give you the protection of a full face when it’s down. But, as we mentioned in the safety section, the chin guard dropped a few marks here when SHARP tested it as it became unlocked in 13% of the impacts.

We don’t know if that means the chin guard was still closed or sprang fully open (and SHARP doesn’t include that chin guard score in their star ratings).

And while that score is actually above average when you look across all tested modulars, there are some flip-front helmets that scored excellent SHARP star ratings as well as keeping their chin bars closed 100% of the time (and you can find those here).

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the HJC C90 is HJC’s typical Super Cool lining.

That’s a nice and comfortable liner with antimicrobial and moisture wicking properties that’s soft to the touch and durable.

hjc-c90-modular-helmet-matt-black-rear-view — HJC C90 from the rear

It’s also fully removable and washable and there’s a couple of medium depth speaker pockets moulded into the internal EPS liner to accommodate your headset’s speakers.

And if you wear glasses, there’s a pair of glasses grooves in there which’ll stop the arms of your glasses digging in while riding.

HJC liners are usually very good and a few riders have said they find their C90s very comfortable for long days’ riding.

Looks & Graphics

At the time of writing, the C90 is only available in solid plain colours – so there’s no graphics available. If you really want a graphic version, we expect they’ll launch some soon as it’s virtually unheard of to have only plain helmets available.

So please feel free to click through to our recommended retailers using the links below – they’ll drop you straight onto their HJC C90 helmets pages so you can see how much it’ll cost to pick up a new C90 as well as see if any funky new designs are available or not.

Other stuff – fasteners, weight, build quality, warranty

All HJC C90s come with micrometric fasteners. They’re really easy to use and really secure fasteners.

Even though the C90 is a polycarbonate modular helmet – which both mean it’ll be heavier than most other helmets out there – it actually only weighs around 1.85Kg. OK, that’s no lightweight helmet (the average full face helmet weighs around 1.5Kg) but it’s only slightly heavier than the average modular (1.7Kg).

So it’s a reasonably weighty lid but it shouldn’t be a problem for most riders.

In terms of build quality, HJCs are usually pretty robust and well built. There can be the occasional niggle but we haven’t come across any problems with the C90 so far.

If you do come across any manufacturing problems, the C90 comes with a paltry one year guarantee. So if you have a problem, get it sorted quickly.

Overall/Summary

The HJC C90 isn’t the last word in a luxurious, high performance modular helmet. But at that price, neither should it be.

hjc c90 modular helmet metal gloss black side view — Gloss black version of the HJC C90

Like most HJC helmets, it’s been designed to be functional rather than fancy. And, because it’s made from cheaper materials, it’s made to a price point that’ll appeal to most riders.

Which is not to say it won’t offer excellent protection, because with that SHARP 4 star safety rating, it’s right up there with the most protective modular helmets available today.

Couple that with a Pinlock-ready visor, sun visor, easy to use micrometric fastener and comfortable liner, and the HJC C90 should be a great companion whether you use it for your daily commute or for taking on holiday around Europe.

All in all, an excellent value all-rounder modular helmet with proven protection. Well worth a look.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

Good Alternatives to the HJC C90?

We’ve already provided links to some of the best and safest modular helmets further up the page. So here’s some of the more interesting alternatives you might want to check out.

Nolan-n40-5-GT-N-com-fade-motorcycle-helmet-side-view — Noan N40-5 GT

First off, Nolan has historically made some of the best protecting modulars ever. And while the Nolan N40 hasn’t been SHARP tested yet, it’s such a functional and versatile dual homologated modular, that you might well want to take a look. It’s great value too.

caberg-duke-2-modular-motorcycle-helmet-in-matt-gun-metal-side-view — Matt gunmetal Caberg Duke II

The Caberg Duke II is one of the only SHARP 5 star rated modulars ever – but because of that chin bar score, it only just missed out of our safest modulars list. But it’s great value, comes with a Pinlock in the box and it’s much lighter than the C90.

scorpion exo adx 1 solid white modular dual sport helmet — Gloss white ADX. Note black sun visor slider behind the visor pivot

Or if you like a dual sport helmet, how about the Scorpion Exo ADX-1? It’s a mega flexible on/off road helmet with peak, that comes with a Pinlock and which is all day comfy.

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Other ways to find the Best Modular Helmet

If you're after a new modular/flip-up helmet, they've never been more popular and there's a ton of choice out there. You can find our latest top 10 modular helmets list here or check out all our modular helmet reviews here. You can also visit our Safest Modular Helmets page or our smart filters page where you can click the flip-up/modular check box then choose a few other features to find the best flip-up helmet for you.