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Nexx X.R3R: FIM certified motorcycle helmet with great ventilation.

Nexx X-R3R sportsbike/track motorcycle helmet review.

The X.R3R is a full-on sportsbike/track helmet made by composite fiber helmet maestros, Nexx.

There’s a couple of different versions available. One with a composite fiber shell (fiberglass, aramid & carbon) and the other with a full carbon fiber shell. This X-Pro carbon XR3R is – as you’d expect – a good deal lighter (and pricier!) than the composite helmet, and it’s also been FIM certified for circuit racing – or at least size S has been at the time of writing (each size has to be separately certified by the FIM).

Nexx XR3R 20 years edition motorcycle helmet side view
20 Years Edition Pro Carbon Nexx X.R3R

So, what’s the Nexx X.R3R about?

Well, according to Nexx, it’s a track helmet designed for sportsbike riders. They reckon they’ve gone crazy with the aerodynamics (i’m paraphrasing here!) to keep it weight-neutral and stable at speed and also to help reduce noise.

They also say it’s lighter than the competition, has optimized ventilation to offer all the cooling you’re gonna need on the track; and that the shield’s super wide – with 225 degrees horizontal vision and 85 degrees vertical.

It comes with that break-off rear spoiler in the box (but not fitted) and a clear Pinlock-ready shield (but the actual Pinlock insert’s extra – boo). Here’s a run down of the X.R3R’s main features:

Looking to buy a Nexx X.R3R?

Please click below to visit the Nexx X.R3R helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Overall/Summary

The Nexx X.R3R’s a great looking helmet and looking at the full carbon FIM certified helmet; it’s actually pretty good value.

OK, Nexx hasn’t quite got the pedigree of some other brands in making proven track helmets. And a few owners have reported quality issues (see build quality section below). And while the carbon version is lightweight, the composite fiber version’s a bit on the weighty side.

Nexx XR3R Pro carbon FIM track helmet side view.
Nexx XR3R Pro carbon FIM track helmet.

Having said that, there’s quite a bit going for the XR3R. That large shield system’s fully featured being both Pinlock- and tear-off ready. And owners say it’s both comfortable and very well vented, which are both key for long days on the track.

And there’s some nice touches in there including speaker pockets (still not that common in racing helmets) and magnetic strap end – along with some essentials such as EQRS cheek pads and large rear spoiler for stability (and pose).

And if you’re after proven safety levels, the FIM certification of the carbon fiber helmet along with latest ECE 22.06 certification on both carbon and composite helmets is a big thumbs up (though we’d like to see a SHARP or Snell rating too).

Overall though, this third generation of Nexx’s XR helmet looks to be an accomplished if left-of-field alternative to the regular bunch of track helmets.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

All versions of the Nexx X.R3R will be DOT and have the latest ECE 22.06 certification – click the link to find out what exactly what testing that means they’ve passed.

In addition, the full carbon helmet has passed FIM testing/certification – or at least size S has. I’m not sure which pro racer wears a Nexx lid but I’m guessing it’s only one rider and they’re a size S because Nexx aren’t really known for their MotoGP or SBK riders and that’s the only size that’s been certified.

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Other than that, the XR3R hasn’t been independently tested by either Snell or SHARP in the UK. No Nexx track helmets have ever been tested by Snell; but a few have been tested by SHARP in the past including the XR1R that scored 3 stars (out of 5), and the XR2 that also scored 3 stars (composite helmets were tested in both cases).

They’re both reasonably average results – and across all five SHARP tested Nexx helmets over the years, their average star rating is 3.2 out of 5. So maybe that’ll point to the X.R3R scoring something similar if SHARP was to test it?

Nexx XR3R white motorcycle helmet from the rear
Gloss white X.R3R from the rear.

Having said that, the X.R3R is created in three shell sizes (which is good for fit, comfort and safety) and it has a super wide shield for great all round vision – important whether on track or road.

That shield’s Pinlock ready too which is good – though the actual insert’s extra. That’s a bit annoying on a helmet the price of the XR3R because many riders are gonna need that Pinlock to stop their  shields fogging.

One thing worth noting on the safety front is that there appears to be a collarbone friendly base. Nexx don’t mention it as a feature on their blurb, but the way the bottom edge of the helmet raises up is usually so it doesn’t break your collarbone if you have an impact.

Overall then, with that FIM certification and extra light weight, the carbon fiber helmet should offer excellent protection. But the jury’s out on the composite fiber XR3R – it should be pretty good because it’s ECE certified but beyond that it’s difficult to say.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Nexx say they’ve aimed to keep noise levels down with the X.R3R – which is relatively unusual as most racing helmets tend to be noisy.

They reckon aero has been designed to stop the airflow catching on the helmet and causing noise. They’ve even added vortex generators to the chin to reduce drag and noise, and that double shield seal’s there to stop noise getting in as well as wind and rain.

Having said all that, noise does get into the XR3R by all accounts. I guess with all those generous vent holes (see below) it was bound to, whatever they do with the aero. It’s probably about average for a sportsbike helmet; so best to push in a decent pair of earplugs and you should be fine.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Nexx look like they’ve really gone to town with the ventilation on the X.R3R.

Nexx XR3R Zorga helmet top down view
Top view of the Nexx X.R3R Zorga showing helmet profile and forehead vents.

There’s a dual chin vent in the chin bar, with the top section operated externally and channeling air onto the back of the shield for demisting. The bottom section is opened/closed inside the chin bar and lets plenty of air get to the face and mouth.

Above the shield, there are four vents taking air through the shell and around the head in venilation channels within the polystyrene. That’s a lot of vents – just a shame they’re operated by tiny switches which can be tricky to find in gloves.

The good news is that Nexx X.R3R owners reckon the vents do flow a ton of air, so if you’re road riding in sunny weather or getting a workout on the track, there’s plenty of cooling available.

Shield

(more about shields)

Nexx say they’ve done a lot of work on the shield system for the X.R3R.

There’s a double gasket seal around the shield for improved rain/wind sealing, and the shield base plate is designed to pull the shield back towards it for a tigher fit. Nexx also says the shield base plate is anti-vibration – though they don’t say why the’ve felt the need to do that because as far as I’m aware very few riders (like none, ever) complain of shield vibration. Still there it is, it’s got one.

A couple of useful links…

– Expensive/Exclusive helmets reviewed –
– Motorcycle helmets with integrated bluetooth –

One thing that is very definitely good and worth having is the width and depth of the shield to give great peripheral and vertical vision – that’s very important whether on track or road. Nexx quotes 225 degrees horizontal and 85 degrees vertical which I know is just numbers but for context the new AGV Tourmodular says it has a wide shield but has only 190 degrees of horizontal vision.

Like most track helmets, there’s a dual locking system on the shield – close it fully and the shield snaps closed but for added security, you can also slide a plastic tab across to lock it fully and make sure it doesn’t pop open unexpectedly mid corner after an aggressive block pass. Or on your way to Walmart.

The shield works on a ratchet and has a single opening tab to the left – not ideal if you ever want to open your shield with your left hand but most of us cope.

The shield is tear-off ready and it’s class one optically correct for a distortion-free view. And if you like an iridium or photochromic shield on your helmet, there’s four different iridium shields available as well as a transitions shield – though that’s a pretty fruity $150!

Oh, and if you buy the full carbon helmet, there’s a smoke visor included in the box along with the clear.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

By all accounts the X.R3R is a medium oval fitment with a nod towards a slightly more rounded/neutral fit.

It’s made in three shell sizes with the smallest shell for sizes XXS-XS, middle shell covering S-M and largest shell L-XXL.

Nexx XR3R Precision composite racing helmet side view
Precision graphic’s available in 5 different colorways

Inside the helmet there’s a hypoallergenic and moisture wicking comfort liner (Nexx calls it X.Mart dry fabric) that also has quick-release cheekpads (see EQRS) as well as an adjustable velcro strap to tailor the fitment a little – either raise it up or lower it on the head. And if you find the fit not quite right, Nexx sells an Ergo Padding Kit to replace some of the foam and tailor the fit a little more.

As you’d expect, the composite fiber X.R3R is heavier than the carbon fiber helmet. Nexx says the X-Pro carbon fiber lid weighs around 3lbs (1.35Kg) with the composite helmet 8oz heavier at around 3.6lbs (1.65Kg) – though we’ve heard from owners who reckon the largest shell size can weigh considerably more than that, getting on for 4lbs (1.8Kg) which is far from light weight!

Still, go for a carbon X.R3R and it’s light enough to qualify in our lightest helmets pages.

And if you’re happy to order online, reports are that the Nexx X.R3R fits broadly true to size, so order the correct size according to our fitting guide and you should be sorted.

Overall then, owners reckon it’s a comfortable helmet and most perceive their helmet as lightweight too.

Looks & Graphics

It’s all subjective of course, but the X.R3R is a modern looking sportsbike helmet. It looks very much part of the Nexx family of helmets and its aero, with that large rear spoiler, is very much in vogue with the latest generation of track helmets.

Nexx XR3R Zorga graphic motorcycle helmet front view
Zorga graphic in pink. Three other colors also available.

If you’re interested in the composite fiber X.R3R, there’s a plain matt black and ghost helmet along with a gloss white helmet available as well as the Zorga, Precision, Hagibis and Izo graphics.

X-Pro Carbon helmet is available in a range of designs, most with various color highlights against the carbon weave.

As always, to check them out, please click the links below which should take you straight to each store’s Nexx X-R3R helmets page.

Best places to buy a Nexx X.R3R crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the Nexx X.R3R helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Nexx X.R3R Video

A 15m look around the white/red Nexx X/R3R carbon helmet.

Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, build quality, warranty.

Fasteners

As mentioned, the X.R3R – along with all track helmets – has a double-d ring fastener. They’re good, secure fasteners, if a bit fiddly. One thing to note with the X.R3R though is that the end of the fastener has a magnet to stop if flapping around, unlike the snap that most helmets have. Very handy that.

Nexx XR3R Carbon white red sportsbike helmet side view
Carbon White X.R3R

Bluetooth Headsets & Speakers

Quite a few track helmets aren’t really suitable for speakers – and quite a few don’t actually add speaker pockets inside – so if you’re looking to fit a headset into your sportsbike helmet, it’s useful that the X.R3R does. So far, we’ve only heard from one rider who said that their Cardo speakers fitted in there OK.

Build Quality

Overall build quality seems to be pretty good with high quality materials and finishes. There were occasional early reports of quality niggles though – both loose vents and paint coming off. Hopefully those QA issues should’ve been fixed now the helmet’s been out a while; but if you do order one, have a good look over it to ensure you’re happy with everything before you wear it. And order from a store who’ll give refunds without a quibble (like our recommended retailers do).

Warranty

Nexx helmets come with a pretty standard 2 year warranty covering manufacturing and material defects.

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Good Alternatives to the Nexx X.R3R?

Shoei-X-Spirit-III-X-fourteen-motorcycle-crash-helmet-Marquez-TC-1-side-view
Shoei X-Fourteen

If you’re after a top quality sportsbike or track helmet, one of our current top dogs is the Shoei X-Fourteen. That’s a Snell/SHARP 5 star rated racing helmet used by some of the world’s top racers including Marc Marquez.

The Bell Star range also offer a choice of three helmets that are Snell certified and offers a choice of great sportsbike helmets to suit a range of budgets.

bell-race-star-motorbike-crash-helmet-rsd-chief-side-view
Bell Race Star

There’s also the LS2 Thunder which is LS2’s latest FIM racing helmet. It has a carbon/aramid shell, an optically correct shield and included Pinlock for around the same price as the Nexx.

LS2 Thunder Racing

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Looking to buy a Nexx X.R3R?

Please click below to visit the Nexx X.R3R helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Star Ratings

HJC i100 review: HJC’s first flip-over modular helmet.

HJC-i100-featured

HJC i100 modular flip-over helmet review.

UK/Oz/Eu readers – please check out the European i100 review over on our UK site as it’s a slightly different helmet.

The i100 is HJC’s first attempt at a flip-over modular helmet.

HJC i100 modular motorcycle helmet Beis grey yellow side view
What the i100 looks like with the chin bar closed (Beis graphic).

Just like a number of Shark helmets – and even a couple of LS2’s (see alternatives section towards the bottom of the page) HJC has decided to produce a modular helmet where the chin bar flips right over to the back of the helmet to get the chin guard right out of the airflow and give the rider a proper feeling of open face helmet riding.

The i100 is a polycarbonate shelled helmet and it’s available at a pretty low price point too. But is it any good and is it worth buying one of these over some stiff competition?

  • Polycarbonate flip-over helmet
  • Designed for all-round use
  • DOT certified (ECE 22.06 in Europe)
  • Pinlock antifog ready shield
  • Drop down sun visor
  • Dual homologated
  • D-Ring fastener
  • Weight around 4.2lbs/1.9Kg (heavier)
  • Bluetooth headset integration (unit extra)
  • Sizes XS-XXL
  • Expect to pay around $330

Looking to buy an HJC i100?

Please click below to visit the HJC i100 helmets pages at our recommended store or Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Overall/Summary

It might be HJC’s first bash at a flip-over helmet, but you wouldn’t know it when you look at the HJC i100. Not only is it a looker but owners highly rate it too.

HJC i100 flip over modular helmet matt black side view
Matte black i100 with chin bar in open face riding position.

OK there’s the odd niggle – it’s on the heavy side and it’s not that quiet (but what modulars are?!). But overall owners of i100s love em.

The biggest plus point seems to be that flip over chin bar that gives a real open face ride and keeps the helmet balanced and looking the part. Quality’s good, sizing’s about right, comfort’s good and the sun visor (with adjuster wheel) drops nice and low.

And it comes ready to accept HJC’s Smart Intercom kit: it might not be the latest mesh kit if that’s what you’re after but because it’s based on Sena’s 20S it does the job, though it’s not cheap. And of course you can always use your own bluetooth set in there.

It’s available at an attractive price point too. So it’s well worth looking at if you’re after a lower priced flip-over modular. But don’t forget to check out our suggested alternatives too.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

On safety, there’s a couple of major points worth making.

HJC i100 flip over modular helmet hyper silver side view
Hyper silver HJC i100

In the US it’s DOT certified while in Europe and elsewhere it’s ECE 22.06 certified. That’s a new testing standard and includes extra and randomized test points along with a higher drop test speed. And it also includes testing with and without factory extras fitted – including bluetooth headsets.

So, because the i100 has passed ECE 22.06, we expect it should give you a bit more confidence it’ll do the job if you ever happen to put it to the test on the road (note: that’s for the ECE helmet and it’s likely that the US DOT helmet will be slightly different).

Similarly, that chin bar. Because it’s a flip-over chin bar where it flips right over to the back of the helmet, it stands to reason that being tucked out of the way like that, it’ll have less chance to impare the performance of the helmet in an accident – such as digging in and rotating the helmet which can be a very bad thing indeed.

It’s worth saying there’s no actual test data I know of that shows flip-over chin bars do reduce secondary injuries compared to flip-up helmets; but having that chin bar tucked reasonably flush to the helmet shell and round the back feels like it should help.

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Either way, the helmet has been dual homologated, which means it’s been tested and approved for use in both configurations – with the chin bar locked in position round the back as well as in place at the front.

HJC i100 flip over modular helmet white front view
Front view of the i100 with chin bar flipped over and visor down.

Beyond that, there’s little actual test data to go on for the HJC i100. Recently SHARP tested HJC modulars have scored an average of around 3.5 stars out of 5 with chin bars staying locked in place in 92% of tests – so we’d expect the i100 to score something similar.

Other than that, the i100 looks a fairly standard modular helmet in terms of protection and it’s lacking a few features that you might like to see – such as MIPS, EQRS, or a wide visor aperture.

It does come with a Pinlock antifog ready face shield though if you do suffer from fogging the actual insert is extra. And there’s a sun visor in there to cut glare should you need it.

To keep the i100 securely fastened to your head there’s a double-d ring fastener on the DOT i100 (micrometric on the ECE i100) – they’re a little fiddly but very secure fasteners if they’re tied up correctly.

Overall then, it seems the HJC i100 should give a good level of protection, though until it’s been independently tested by SHARP we won’t know for sure quite how good it is.

If you want to view a range of helmets that have been tested and proven to offer great protection, please take a look at our Safest Motorcycle Crash Helmets pages.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

We’ve found a wide range of opinions on the noise levels inside the i100s – ranging from it being very noisy at anything over 30mph to not noisy at all.

HJC i100 modular helmet beston graphics front view
Beston graphic i100

It just goes to show how totally subjective helmet noise levels can be. If you ride slowly behind a screen and you’re deaf as a post, you’ll probably find most helmets pretty quiet – conversely, ride like a hooligan on a naked in an open face helmet, then you’re gonna reckon any full face is whisper quiet.

So, it’s difficult to judge quite how you’ll respond to noise levels in an i100 if you buy one. Suffice to say that modulars are usually noisier than full face helmets and that HJC has included a chin curtain around the bottom of the chin bar on the i100 to stop some of the noise getting into the helmet from down below.

But that’s not going to help massively if the helmet hasn’t been designed to be quiet in the first place.

Overall then, expect it to be middling in terms of helmet noise and that you’re going to have to wear some good quality ear plugs to keep things tolerable and to protect your hearing. Do that, and you should be peachy.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Ventilation’s said to be one of the i100’s stronger points.

HJC i100 flip over modular helmet white top view
Large top vent slider is easy to find.

There’s a large three-position chin bar vent that takes plenty of air towards the mouth and up on to the back of the face shield – and its easy to find and operate, even in thick gloves.

Same goes for that crown vent which takes air through the helmet shell and into ventilation channels moulded into the protective polystyrene EPS liner.

That top vent is generally rated as being less effective than the chin bar vent though – but that’s usually the case as it has a lot more work to do to get air circulating round the helmet and pushing through to vent out of the exhausts at the back.

Overall ventilation on the HJC i100 seems to be slightly above average.

Shield

(more about Shields)

The faceshield system on the i100 is pretty good too. Owners reckon it’s optically clear and with opening tabs on either side, it’s easy to open and close with both hands.

The only fly in the ointment here is that firmly shutting the visor really needs you to push down from the middle/top rather than the tabs – doing it using an opening tab tends to just bend the visor and not close it.

A couple of useful links…

– Helmets with a Micrometric Fastener –
– A Guide to Pinlock Antifog Inserts –

The shield works on friction – no ratchet here – but it’ll stay fully open or cracked open no problem. And it’s a quick change shield for when you want to swap it out or clean it.

HJC i100 flip over helmet grey chin bar raised view
Grey i100 with sun visor down and Pinlock-ready shield in raised position.

That also helps if you want to fit a Pinlock antifog insert. It’s not supplied in the box but if you do suffer from misting it’s a worthwhile investment. The available Pinlock is a Pinlock 70 Max Vision antifog insert (Max Vision means it covers the entire visor).

The 70 is Pinlock’s middle effectiveness Pinlock but should work in most circumstances. Just remember to store your helmet in a dry place otherwise when you come to ride on a rainy day, your Pinlock might already be saturated so won’t work too well.

One other thing to mention about the shield is that there’s a mechanism to keep it lowered when you open or close the chin bar.

Apparently that’s usually great for when you’re riding and want to quickly open the chin bar while keeping the shield down, but it’s a bit annoying for when you come to take your helmet off as the shield’s always in the way.

Swings and roundabouts I guess.

Unlike some modulars, it does mean that you can ride along with the chin bar flipped back and the main visor down if you like – and not just having to use the sun visor as a main visor.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The sun visor’s operated by a slider on the bottom left side of the helmet, which is a pretty standard setup. What’s not so standard is that there’s a small thumb wheel on the inside of the helmet that lets you slightly adjust how far down the sun visor drops.

HJC i100 flip over modular helmet white side view
Chin bar fully flipped over to the rear where it locks in place.

We often come across riders who complain that their sun visors don’t drop down low enough, leaving a stripe of bright light at the bottom of their vision. So having the ability to adjust the drop is a great idea. You can apparently adjust the drop by about 7mm using the adjuster and a couple of owners commented that they’ve never had a sun visor drop down so low so it seems to work well.

Another good touch is that there’s an antifog coating on the sun visor which is ideal because they often steam up too.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

One of the key features of the HJC i100 is of course that flip-over chin bar.

It’s the first time HJC has developed a flip over chin bar and according to owners it works well.

It’s got a single button operation so is super easy to use: press in the red button underneath the chin bar and push the bar up and over towards the back of the helmet (when you’re not riding!).

Doing that, the shield moves out of the way and then, in one fluid movement, relowers itself as you push the chin bar towards the back of the helmet.

There’s also a chin bar lock that you should slide into position to ensure the chin bar can’t move during riding or during an impact.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The comfort lining on the HJC i100 is HJC’s Supercool liner – that’s a moisture wicking and antibacterial fabric that’s soft to the touch and hard wearing.

HJC i100 modular motorcycle helmet Beis rear view
Another Beis graphic i100 this time from the rear.

We’ve never heard of any owners disliking HJC’s linings except to say they’re more or less always a tight fit to start with but do loosen off after a few rides – and it sounds like the i100’s about the same.

If you do have an ongoing issue with the padding being too tight or too loose, there are extra cheekpads available in different sizes and by all accounts the internals are very easy to pull out, whether you’re looking to swap the pads or wash and refit them.

And if you wear glasses, the i100 does have glasses grooves built into the liner so you should be good there.

Looks & Graphics

The HJC i100 is a modern looking modular helmet and with its flip-over chin bar, it’s balanced on the road whether in full or open face mode.

HJC i100 modular helmet beston graphics side view
Beston graphic HJC i100

In the UK and Europe there’s just a few different colors and designs available for the i100 at the time of writing (though check out the links below which will take you right to the i100 helmets pages to find any new graphics and helmet deals).

For plain helmets, there’s a gloss (metal) black and matt black along with a semi flatt (matt) titanium and gloss (pearl) white, mid grey and chrome-like hyper silver.

Graphic options are thin on the ground at the time of writing with only Beston and Beis graphics widely available.

Best places to buy a HJC i100 helmet?

Please click below to visit the HJC i100 helmets pages at our recommended store or Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

HJC i100

 Video

Here’s a good 10m look around the i100 with SpeedAddicts…

Other stuff – bluetooth, weight, warranty

HJC i100 Integrated Bluetooth using the HJC Smart Intercom

One of the most notable features of the i100 is that it’s ready prepared to accept HJC’s Smart Intercom – either a 10B or 20B system.

There isn’t an option to buy an i100 with the intercom pre-installed like some other helmets like the Scorpion Exo-GT930, but it comes with all the cutouts and pockets needed to seamlessly install the Smart Intercom yourself.

hjc_intercom-system_smart-20b
HJC 20B Smart bluetooth intercom – top is the controller, bottom the battery pack that slots into the rear of the i100.

An HJC 20B Smart Intercom will cost you around $300. It’s an intercom that’s based on Sena’s 20S which is a decent bluetooth v4.1 unit though not a bluetooth v5 unit so won’t support mesh.

And if you’re looking to install your own bluetooth kit onto an i100 then you should be able to no problem. There’s a couple of good sized speaker pockets in there – large enough to fit some 40mm speakers – while the only thing to be aware of is that the sun visor slider might get in the way of fitting a clamp mount so you may have to revert to a sticky mount for the controller.

HJC i100 Weight

One of the only real bugbears with the i100 is weight. A medium or Large i100 will weigh around 4.2lbs (1.9Kg) which is pretty heavy, even for a modular. It’s been suggested we might start to see more heavier helmets with the introduction of ECE 22.06 (we’ll have to wait and see) but still, by any standards 4.2lbs is pretty heavy – possibly heavy enough to start tiring your neck muscles out after a long day’s riding.

We did find lots of riders who said the weight’s no problem but if you’re weak of neck, you might want to look elsewhere.

Warranty

In the US, all HJC helmets, including the i100, come with a 3 year warranty from date of purchase or 5 years from manufacturing date: whichever date comes first (only HJCs RPHA range of helmets come with a 5 year warranty).

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Good Alternatives to the HJC i100?

You might want to check out our Top 10 Best Flip-up Helmets page to find our latest recommended modular helmets. Or take a look at our helmets with integrated bluetooth headsets page if you’re after an integrated helmet. But here’s some other modulars you should take a look at.

Scorpion Exo GT930 matt black side view chin bar up
Scorpion Exo GT930

First off, the Scorpion Exo GT930 is another modular helmet with integrated bluetooth but this one lets you remove the chin bar entirely. It’s a cheaper helmet than the i100 as well.

Nolan N90-3 Wilco modular helmet open view
Nolan N90-3

Nolan’s N90-3 is a well rated modular. It’s prepared to accept Nolan’s N-Com bluetooth, has a sun visor, and the ECE version was rated SHARP 4 stars for safety.

Here’s another flip-over, this time from flip-over originators, Shark helmets. The Evo One 2 is  lighter than the i100, is DOT and ECE certified, comes with a sun visor and Pinlock antifog in the box – though it’s a little more expensive than the HJC.

shark-evo-one-2-slasher-anthracite-motorcycle-helmet-side-view
Shark Evo-One 2

Looking to buy an HJC i100?

Please click below to visit the HJC i100 helmets pages at our recommended store or Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Star Ratings

Scorpion Exo-GT930 & Exo-Com review: a mega versatile modular with the option of pre-loaded bluetooth.

scorpion-exo-gt930-featured

Scorpion Exo GT930 review: great value flip-up helmet offering real 3/4 and integrated bluetooth riding.

Note: if you’re interested in the UK/Eu Scorpion Exo-930, please visit the review on our UK site as it’s a slightly different spec of helmet to the US version.

The Scorpion Exo GT930 is the replacement of the GT920 – a well liked polycarbonate flip-front helmet with a sporty edge.

Scorpion Exo GT930 transformer helmet side view
The reason the GT930 is called a transformer helmet – it changes into a 3/4 helmet

The GT930 though takes things to a whole new level. Yep, it’s a cheaper priced modular helmet with a sun visor just like the old 920. But the GT930 has been renamed a transformer helmet because now it has a fully removeable chin bar for a true 3/4 helmet riding experience.

And if you like your bluetooth units fully integrated, there’s also an Exo Com version that comes preloaded with Scorpion’s (Uclear-developed) Exo-Com bluetooth headset that’s more or less ready to rock.

So now not only does the GT930 promise to give you most of the regular features you want from a modular, but if you really like to ride in a fully open face 3/4 helmet or you’re looking for a helmet that comes bluetooth ready out of the box, then it offers that too.

But promise is one thing, reality can be another. So we scoured the web to find out the truth behind the claims – to see if the Scorpion Exo GT930 does what it says and whether it’s worth the money.

  • Polycarbonate Modular Helmet
  • Best for cruising, commuting or touring
  • Dual homologated with removable chin bar
  • Drop down sun visor
  • Medium oval fitment
  • DOT and ECE 22.05 certified
  • Sun peak included
  • Double-D ring fastener
  • Integrated bluetooth version available
  • Sizes XS-XXXL
  • Expect to pay
    • $270 regular
    • $425 with integrated bluetooth

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo-GT930?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-GT930 pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Overall/Summary

There’s no doubt about it, not only is the Scorpion Exo GT-930 great value for money but it offers something very different.

OK there’s a few helmets now that come with integrated bluetooth comms – though that’s a big selling point for many. But one of the biggest selling points for the GT930 is that you can pull off that chin bar entirely, slot on an (included) peak and ride it as a 3/4 helmet. That’s a great feature.

Scorpion Exo GT930 modulus transformer helmet rear view
Rear view of the Scorpion Exo GT930 Modulus

So, not only do you have the usual flexibility you find with a flip-front helmet, but now it’s even more flexible and convenient – a real two-in-one helmet.

In full face mode it’s a good helmet too. Excellent double shield system – both a clear and smoked visor and both being Everclear antifog treated. And with the chin bar down, according to owners it’s an all day comfortable helmet and reasonably quiet too (for a modular) – with the only real downside being that it’s a bit on the heavy side – heavier than your typical modular.

But if you don’t mind a bit of weight (and apparently you do get used to it) then the icing on the cake is that it’s a lower priced modular making it excellent value for money too. Overall then, other than the weight, it’s really hard to fault the Scorpion GT930 and well worth a look if you’re in the market for a new budget modular helmet.

Safety

 (more about helmet safety)

According to the Scorpion Exo website, the GT930 is both DOT and ECE certified – which is fantastic because not many helmets are dual certified like that. Dual certification means it’s undergone thorough testing in Europe to pass ECE certification as well as promising to pass the US’ DOT standards.

And because the GT930’s ECE certified, the chin bar is dual homologated too. That’s an ECE standard meaning the helmet’s been separately tested to offer protection with the chin bar in both raised and lowered positions and so it’s legal to ride with the chin bar up.

Scorpion Exo GT930 modulus helmet side view
This is the white/blue Modulus graphic GT930

Happy days. And if you do ride with the chin bar up, there’s a small lock on there to push into place to make sure it stays raised while riding. The last thing you need is it slamming down while you’re in the middle of a bend!

Of course one of the cool features with the GT930 is that you can fully remove the chin bar so I’m guessing it was tested and approved with the chin bar removed too. There are other modulars you can remove the chin bar with (such as the Nolan N40-5 mentioned in the recommended alternatives section below) and if you love riding in an open face helmet, that’s a great feature.

OK it’s always great to see all those safety certifications and they do mean the GT930 should give you a decent level of protection. But beyond those there’s no independent Snell or SHARP rating too so we can’t see how well the GT930 will perform in relation to other helmets – nor can we see how secure that chin bar is (SHARP releases figures on how often chin bars become unlocked during testing).

Looking at past SHARP data for Scorpion modular helmets shows their chin bars have stayed locked and closed in 90% of impact tests. And looking at their most recent tested polycarbonate shelled helmets (like the GT930) they scored either 3 or 4 stars overall out of a maximum 5. Whether that’s indicative of how the GT930 would score if it was to be tested by SHARP remains to be seen but we’d expect it to be around that figure.

Take a look at our Best Motorcycle Helmet Top 10s to find your next helmet…

top-10-full-face-motorcycle-helmetstop-10-full-face-motorcycle-helmetstop-10-budget-motorcycle-helmetssportsbike-and-track-motorcycle-helmets-top-10top-10-flipup-modular-helmets-featuredtop-10-safest-motorbike-helmetssafest-motorcycle-helmet-brands-top-10

Still, beyond cold hard stats, the Scorpion GT930 has plenty going for it on the safety stakes.

Its shell is made in 3 sizes which is great for optimising the look, the amount of EPS shock absorbing liner and the fit to the rider’s head. That EPS is dual density too to help it better manage energy from an impact.

Scorpion Exo GT930 modulus transformer helmet front viewThe only downside here is that the GT930 is a bit of a hefty lump weighing in anywhere between 4-5lbs depending on which size helmet you weigh, and more weight means more mass to control during an impact.

Moving on… it has a wide faceshield for good peripheral vision which comes pre-coated in Everclear antifog to stop it steaming up.

And of course there’s a sun visor to stop you getting dazzled while riding.

Finally, the helmet’s secured using a double d-ring fastener which are old school and fiddly but are secure as long as they’re done up well every trip.

All in all, we’d expect the Scorpion Exo GT930 to be pretty good for safety. It has a good range of safety features and it’s good to know that it’s dual certified so has passed both sets of safety standards.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

The Scorpion Exo-GT930 comes with a reasonably plush interior with 3d cheek pads, a chin curtain and generous neck roll as standard. It’s also reasonably aerodynamically tuned – and all these things can help make a helmet that’s a bit quieter than average.

Having said that, it’s a modular helmet and modulars do tend to be noisier than full faces.

So, assuming you’re gonna be riding in your GT930 with the chin bar down, how noisy or quiet is it?

Scorpion Exo GT930 white side view chin bar off
Chin bar off, peak on, sun visor down. Job done.

Well, according to owners’ opinions we came across it’s not bad. Overall it’s probably not as quiet as most full face helmets but it seems it’s about par for a modular with a few owners reckoning it’s pretty loud above highway speeds but others saying they found it quieter than expected.

As usual it’s very subjective depending on your motorcycle, speed, hearing, how noisy your last helmet was etc. etc. And as usual, push in a good pair of ear plugs and you should be just fine on the noise front with the EXO-GT930.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Venting on the GT930 is a standard sort of configuration.

That means a single vent in the chin bar and a single vent pushed high up top, beyond the retracted sun visor that sits inside the helmet shell.

The chin vent is quite large but the button ain’t and can be a bit fiddly to use until you get the hang of its location.

The top vent is much better – a larger slider right on the top of your head.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Scorpion Exo helmet reviews –
– Medium oval helmets –

Word is that the chin bar vent’s better than the head vent.

The chin bar vent is pretty good. And while the top vent looks like a big scoop that should take a good amount of air into the helmet, the overall effect seems to be a bit muted. It’s not bad, just that it’s not that good either.

Scorpion Exo GT930 matt black front view
Matte black GT930 from the front showing chin bar and crown vents.

Still, with a modular you can always flip-up of the chin bar – or in this case remove it fully – in which case you’ll get about as much ventilation as you’re ever going to need!

Face Shield

(more about shields)

The face shield is great though. It’s nice and wide for great perhipheral vision; it’s Everclear antifog coated which owners reckon does a decent job; and it’s quick change if you need to pull it off for cleaning.

It works on a ratchet mechanism and there’s a ‘cracked open’ city position to let a bit of air in. And it’s got a couple of visor opening tabs too – one left, one right – so you can easily open it with either hand. That’s something far too few helmets seem to offer.

All good on the shield front then.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Same goes for the sun visor.

One problem lots of people seem to find with sun visors is that they sometimes don’t drop down low enough. Not so with the sun visor on the Scorpion Exo-GT930 because several owners said how great it was to have one that covers all their view.

It’s also Everclear antifog coated too, just like the main visor. Great touch that because most sun visors aren’t antifog.

It’s operated with a slider on the bottom left edge of the helmet and the action is apparently nice and easy. So no problems here.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

In its normal operation, the chin bar on the Scorpion Exo-GT930 is a pretty standard sort of affair for a flip-front helmet.

There’s a single button to press underneath the bar to release the lock and you then push it upwards until it comes to a firm stop somewhere above your forehead. That means it’s not a ‘flip-over’ modular as the chin bar sits over your forehead – and it can feel a little unbalanced if you’re riding with it in this position as the weight’s towards the front.

Scorpion Exo GT930 matt black side view chin bar up
That’s as far up as the chin guard goes.

It’s not really an issue in the US – but because it’s been ECE dual homologated (i.e. tested and certified with the chin bar both up and down) that means it can be ridden with the chin bar raised in ECE territories – and it means it’s got a small red locking button to keep the chin guard locked open. So far, so standard.

The big feature on the GT930 is that you can fully remove the chin bar to convert it into a proper 3/4 helmet. And it’s a pretty simple and toolless job too according to owners (like many things – it’s easy once you’ve done it a few times!). Just open up the chin bar fully, pull down on a couple of sliders then slide the chin bar off towards the front.

That’s a great feature and the reason why quite a few owners buy the GT930. And to top it off, Scorpion includes a nice peak in the box too that just slides on and clicks in place. You don’t have to use it but the helmet looks a little more finished if you do. And again according to some owners, if you fit the peak, the aero is still pretty good, so not too much buffetting or catching the air because of it.

Back to having the chin bar in place: Scorpion helmets have done quite well over the years. When ECE versions of their modular helmets have been tested, they score an average of 90% for the performance of the chin guards. That means during impact testing, the chin bar has remained fully locked and closed 90% of the time. For the remaining 10% that doesn’t mean the chin bars have sprung open or broken off, just that the lock’s become unlatched.

That 90% is actually a reasonable score if you look at all tested modulars – though it’s up to you whether it’s actually good enough for you of course!

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the GT930 is Scorpion’s Kwik Wick liner – that’s a fully removable and washable liner that’s antimicrobial treated and designed to offer good moisture wicking characteristics.

Scorpion EXO-GT930Chin Bar Removal
to get into full on cruise mode, quickly pull of the chin bar and it becomes a 3/4 helmet

According to most owners the sizing’s about right and it’s a medium oval fit helmet which means it should work for the majority of us.

They also overwhelmingly reckon it’s a very comfortable helmet. The liner’s soft to the touch and well padded, and if you wear glasses it has glasses grooves in the cheek pads and we came across a few riders who said they work well.

And if you’re the big brained type, more good news is that the Scorpion GT930 is available in sizes up to XXXL. Hurray.

It’s got good aero properties too by all accounts – in full face mode it’s pretty neutral with little buffeting or whistling reported; and in open face mode with the peak fitted the peak doesn’t catch the wind or pull your head around too badly.

I guess the only real downside in terms of comfort with the GT930 is that it’s a weighty helmet. Yes most owners don’t seem phased by it and yes, if you turn it into a 3/4 helmet it’s actually pretty light weight. But there’s no getting away from the fact it’s on the heavier side of modular lids. So if you’re weak necked or worried about helmet weight, I’d probably look elsewhere.

Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo-GT930 helmet?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-GT930 pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Scorpion Exo-GT930 Video

11m video looking around a matte black GT930.

Other stuff – bluetooth, warranty

Integrated Bluetooth – Scorpion Exo-Com Helmet

The Scorpion Exo GT930 is available in two flavors – the regular dumb helmet and the Exo-Com which comes with a Uclear-based Scorpion Exo Com bluetooth headset pre-installed.

If you buy the regular helmet it has all the holes, pouches and pockets there to accept the Exo-Com if you decide you want to fit one later (takes about 10 mins to fit apparently). But the Exo-Com helmet has it all already installed – so that’s the battery in the pocket at the back of the helmet, speakers and wiring in there and the neat controller unit on the left hand side of the helmet.

And the Exo Com is a pretty good mesh bluetooth headset by all accounts. It’s a Bluetooth V5 Mesh system (called DynaMesh on the Exo Com), allows for connection with up to 4 riders, has a half mile (800m) range and should cost you about $190.

Given it’ll connect to four riders that should give it a theoretical range of up to a couple of miles if you’re all strung out equally along a road (mesh uses each bluetooth set to ping your chat between each rider) though I guess that’ll be quite a bit less in practice.

It should theoretically pair with other non-mesh bluetooth headsets too but that can be a bit hit and miss and the only real way to find out is to buy one and try it – headset makers don’t really do the testing with other kits unfortunately.

And of course if you’re looking to fit your own bluetooth kit in there, you should be able to use the existing speaker pockets and a sticky mount should do the trick on the side of the helmet (to avoid the sun visor slider and controller pocket).

Warranty

The Scorpion Exo-GT930 comes with a full 5 year warranty against manufacturing defects.

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Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo-GT930?

Nolan-n40-5-GT-N-com-silver-motorcycle-crash-helmet-side-view
Nolan N40-5

You might want to check out our Top 10 Best Flip-up Helmets page to find our latest recommended modulars. But here’s a few selected helmets we think you might like to take a look at if you’re in the market for a modular.

First off, the Nolan N40-5 is another versatile modular that you can remove the chin bar from. It has a sun visor too along with an easy to use micrometric fastener and it’s around the same price as the Scorpion.

Nolan N90-3

Nolan’s N90-3 is a well rated modular – it’s prepared to accept Nolan’s N-Com bluetooth, has a sun visor, and the ECE version was rated SHARP 4 stars for safety.

shark-evo-one-2-slasher-anthracite-motorcycle-helmet-side-view
Shark Evo-One 2

For a bit more money you can buy a Shark Evo One 2 which has a ‘flip over’ chin bar for real open face riding, comes with a Pinlock antifog in the box and it’s lighter than the 930.

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo-GT930?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo-GT930 pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

JPCyclesShop for helmets at Amazon

Star Ratings

A 2 Minute Guide to ECE 22.05 (Regulation No.22) for Testing of Crash Helmets

ECE 2205 logo

What is ECE 22.05 (concerning the approval of protective crash helmets)?

Think of it like DOT certification but for Europe.

The ECE stands for Economic Commission for Europe and the 22 refers to Regulation No.22. The 05 part refers to a specific amendment to the regulation (yawn!). Essentially, they’re rules put in place to make sure crash helmets for sale in Europe protect the head adequately in an accident – and include info. on the tests each helmet must pass to prove they do so. The regs also cover the performance of face shields.

ECE 22.05 is the most widely respected and used regulation in the world and is endorsed and used by many countries outside Europe too: as of Nov 2015, that includes Australia.

ece-22.05-crash-helmet-label
ECE 22.05 approval label from inside an AGV

A quick note on UNECE 22.06

The ECE 22.05 standard is being superceded in 2024 when the new ECE 22.06 regulation comes into force. Till then, you’ll see a mixture of old 22.05 helmets and newer 22.06 on the market. Read more about ECE 22.06 here.

Why do they need Regulation No.22?

The rules are there to make sure if you’re buying a crash helmet to protect you on a motorcycle, then you know the helmet’s giving you at least a minimum level of protection. If there aren’t standards there, manufacturers have a tendency to push out any old tin bowl with a strap on it and claim it’ll save you from headbutting lamp posts, and you won’t have a clue if they’re telling you the truth or not until it’s too late. Regulation 22 tells manufacturers what they have to do in order to produce an effective motorcycle crash helmet and how to prove they’ve complied with the regulations (through testing and labelling). It also gives us buyers/wearers/crashers confidence we’re buying a helmet that offers us at least some protection.

Where can I read about Regulation No. 22?

Funny you should ask. It’s available as a pdf on the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) website. Grab it by clicking this link.

So how do they test the helmets?

They test helmets in a few funky ways under a few even funkier conditions. These include testing for initial impact, rigidity, friction, chin strap strength and  ‘retention’ (making sure the helmet stays in position during impact). But while testing for these, they also subject the lids to solvents (!), low and high temperatures, ultraviolet and moisture. Testing is also supposed to be carried out using the helmet size which is determined to be weakest.

Most of that is similar to DOT however ECE testing has to be performed on all helmets for sale within the Eurozone whereas DOT is a self-certification scheme where manufacturers have to say their helmet will pass DOT – and they can then go on sale, with the OVSC carrying out sample testing.

There are separate tests for shields too, testing for scratch resistance, refraction, light transmission and field of vision.

Helmet labelling

The regs also stipulate what each helmet is and isn’t tested to provide, such as no chin protection for open faced helmets. It also shows how each helmet and shield should be labelled. For example if a helmet’s approved under regulation 22 it displays a capital E in a circle followed by a number that represents each country (see the pic above). This is followed by a series of other numbers and letters representing specifics of the type approval, approval number and production serial number.

While Regulation 22 ensures motorcycle crash helmets are fit for purpose (and labelled as such) it’s important to realise that this is only one step towards you being able to buy and use a helmet that will protect you in an accident. Crash helmets are always compromised to some extent (what’s effective in a single high speed impact isn’t the same as what’s effective in an impact that has multiple slower speed impacts and includes lots of abrasion for example). It’s also probably true to say that where there’s a helmet testing procedure to be taken (and passed) then a manufacturer’s focus tends to prioritise the passing of the test over other more practical (and effective) ways to protect the rider’s head. But then, that’s one of the drawbacks of imposing any test and arguably a drawback worth risking.

Also, one of the most important factors in reducing head injury is making sure your helmet fits properly (so see our helmet fitting guide). Finally, SHARP testing and Snell testing supplement DOT certification and the ECE 22.05 testing procedure as they find there’s a wide range in how well crash helmets perform even amongst those which pass either regulation, and which is why we focus on helmets that are DOT/ECE 22.05 approved and are Snell certified/score the highest ratings in the SHARP tests.

What about DOT AND ECE Certified Helmets?

Some helmets on sale say they are both DOT certified for the US as well as ECE certified for sale in Europe. But sometimes helmets can be advertised as both simply because the European version of that helmet has passed ECE while the US version complies with DOT. In reality, unless a helmet shows the correct stickers or markings covering both standards, it’s not dual certified.

So what if a DOT helmet over here’s also available in Europe? Surely if it’s the same helmet I can wear my DOT helmet over there?

It’s a bit of a grey area because if it went to court and you could prove to a judge that they’re identical helmets, you might well be OK.

But the problem lies with the fact that if you got pulled over by the police, they could look at your helmet and expect to see the correct DOT stickers and ECE tags and stickers in/on your helmet. And if it hasn’t got them, then that officially means you’re not wearing a legal helmet.

And often while helmets may have the same name and look the same in different countries, they can actually have slight differences in manufacture and construction – especially if they want to pass Snell tests which can require a stiffer helmet shell.

So, if you’re thinking of taking your DOT helmet abroad with you believing it’s DOT and ECE, then you need to first check it has the correct certification and tags to show both standards have been passed on that specific helmet.

OK the chances are that most police won’t ever check, but if you stumble across a particularly officious police officer (and ain’t that always the way?!) then you could conceivably end up with a fine and a confiscated helmet.

For more information on pretty well everything to do with crash helmets, see our motorcycle crash helmets guides pages.

nolan-n90-3-flip-front-motorcycle-helmet-review

Nolan N90-3 Modular Motorcycle Helmet Review.

Italian helmet maestros, Nolan, have been making the N90 line of helmets for quite a while now. And the Nolan N90-3 is the (suprise surprise) third version of the helmet that originated back in 2010.

Nolan N90-3 modular helmet in classic metal white side view
Classic Metal white Nolan N90-3

It’s their entry-level do-everything modular helmet that evolved from the original N90 into the N91, then became the N90-2 and now we’re onto the N90-3.

And in all that time, the spec’s hardly changed. They’re all thermoplastic modulars. They all come with a Pinlock-ready shield and sun visor. They all had micrometric fasteners, are bluetooth-ready and they’re all more suited to rounder-headed or neutral fitment riders.

And they all look kinda the same. Which does make you question why bother updating it if they all kinda do the same thing?!

Still, as long as the latest version’s a great helmet, then I guess we’ll all be happy.

So, here’s all you can expect from the Nolan N90-3 including feedback from around the web on what owners and riders think of their N90-3s.

Looking to buy a Nolan N90-3?

Please click below to drop onto the Nolan N90-3 helmets pages at Amazon. 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).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Overall/Summary

Whatever you’re after from your modular helmet, the Nolan N90-3 could well fit the bill – commuting, touring – in fact probably just not sportsbike riding!

Nolan N90-3 Wilco graphic modular helmet front view
Wilco graphic N90-3 showing wide shield and chin/top vvents

It’s a good quality modular with a great dual-visor system with included Pinlock antifog. It’s comfortable, has a decent and easy to use ventilation system, and if you’re looking for a seamless bluetooth install, it offers N-Com bluetooth integration (extra).

The ECE version (not DOT) scored well for safety in the SHARP test too (though the chin bar lock could probably do with an upgrade) and it’s designed to be used with the chin bar up if you like the occasional ride with the wind in your face.

Downsides? No EQRS, and you can see where Nolan has cut corners in the production by using only a single shell for all fitments.

But other than that, the Nolan N90-3 is a great value, comfortable and fuss-free modular that works well that owners seem to be more than happy with.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Obviously, when it comes to safety, you need a helmet that has all the basics covered to keep you out of trouble; and the Nolan N90-3 does a decent job here.

It’s been designed with a nice wide shield that comes with a Pinlock antifog insert. Which means you get good all-round vision that shouldn’t fog up when it’s cold or rainy.

Nolan N90-3 modular helmet flat black side view
Pprofile view of the Flat or Matt black N90-3

And when the sun drops low, you can call on its integrated sun visor to keep your vision dazzle-free.

If you like to ride with the chin bar up, you can because the Nolan N90-3’s dual homologated and there’s a lock to keep that bar in the fully raised position while you’re riding.

If you do ride with the chin bar up, you’ll have to rely on the sun visor for eye protection because the chin bar takes the main shield with it.

The whole thing is well secured to your head by using a strap with a micrometric 2 fastener – that’s the one which needs you to raise a small red tab before you pull the lever and unfasten the helmet. If youre not familiar with them, they’re safe and easy to use.

So in general, the Nolan N90-3 has most of what you look out for in a modern helmet in terms of safety features. Ok, there’s no quick release cheek pads which we like to see on all helmets these days – but to (kind of) compensate, there is the option to fit an emergency stop light if that’s your kind of thing.

You only get ESS with Nolan lids so far. It’s a rear brake light with its own accelerometer and battery so it’s fully independent of your motorcycle’s braking system. It’s an extra cost though.

Moving on to what if you have an accident – will the Nolan N90-3 be any good then?

Take a look at our Best Motorcycle Helmet Top 10s to find your next helmet…

top-10-full-face-motorcycle-helmetstop-10-full-face-motorcycle-helmetstop-10-budget-motorcycle-helmetssportsbike-and-track-motorcycle-helmets-top-10top-10-flipup-modular-helmets-featuredtop-10-safest-motorbike-helmetssafest-motorcycle-helmet-brands-top-10

Well, it’s DOT and ECE 22.05 so that means it passes Europe’s mandatory and pretty rigorous safety testing (which is a smidge easier to pass than the newer ECE 22.06 test). But looking at other helmet testing labs… well it hasn’t been Snell tested because it’s a modular, and Snell don’t do modulars for some reason. So let’s look at UK SHARP test data who test ECE versions of helmets (which may or may not be different from the DOT helmets we get).

Back in the day, the old N91 was tested by the helmet testing bods at SHARP where it scored four stars out of five for safety. They also noted the chin bar stayed closed and locked in all the impact tests – something that every one of the six Nolan modulars tested up until 2021 managed too.

That’s a great score. And given the N90-3 builds on all Nolan’s know-how and modular helmet history, surely it’ll be even better, right?

Erm, not really.

Nolan N90-3 classic silver front view
Second red button pushes out – pull down to open chin bar

SHARP has tested the Nolan N90-3 and while it scored the same excellent four star rating of every other Nolan modlar (in fact every single Nolan they’ve ever tested has scored a four star rating – that’s across 15 different helmets!) they slipped up a little with the chin bar.

On the N90-3 it scored 90%, meaning – if my maths are correct – that the chin bar became unlocked (not necessarily opened) in 3 out of 32 of those impact tests.

While not ideal, that’s actually a reasonably OK score for a modular. In fact if you look back at modulars tested by SHARP over the last few years, it’s bang on the 90% average score scored across all helmet brands.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

OK, helmet noise is very subjective. Hearing loss, riding speed, faired or unfaired… there’s a long list of factors that can change your perception of noise.

Nolan N90-3 Wilco modular helmet rear view
Rear view of the Wilco N90-3

Having said that, Nolan hasn’t made any particular claims for aero or noise supression with the N90-3. Sure there’s a reasonably thick liner in there and it comes with a chin curtain which are usually helpful in stopping noise getting into a helmet from below.

But, in general, modulars do tend to be pretty noisy beasts compared to full face helmets – and that’s how it seems to pan out with the N90-3.

Overall, owners broadly seem to think it’s about average for a modular – so in general you’ll probably find it’s a bit noisy but not too bad. And you’ll need to stick in some decent ear plugs while riding to make it more tolerable… but then you probably do that anyway. In which case you should find the N90-3 just fine.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The one thing that’s changed over the years with N90 helmets is that the ventilation inlets have moved from being double vents top and bottom, to single vents.

Single vents are easier to operate on the move; and I guess they’re easier and cheaper to fabricate too.

Nolan N90-3 modular helmet classic slate grey side view
Slate Grey N90-3

For the Nolan N90-3, there’s a large single chin bar vent that’s opened/closed with a large rocker panel. With the crown vent, it’s a large sliding panel that lets air into the helmet where it circulates around air channels in the EPS liner, exiting out of a large single exhaust at the rear of the helmet.

These vents are super easy to find and use on the go and in winter gloves and, according to owners’ opinions we found, they work pretty well. If your helmet’s in the wind, you can feel air getting into the helmet and the chin bar vent works OK at keeping your face cool and helping defog the shield.

Shield

(more about shields)

Like most modern faceshields from serious manufacturers, Nolan has worked to give the N90-3 a wider field of view – which owners say gives the helmet great all round visibility.

And it should come with a Pinlock ready visor and a Pinlock insert in the box, which is always nice to see.

The visor itself works on a ratchet and it’s a quick-change shield for easy cleaning or swapping.

A couple of useful links…

– Got a medium oval shaped head? –
– Sportsbike Helmet Reviews –

The opening tab is in the centre of the shield, so that’s good for easy opening with either hand, and there’s a cracked open position to help get air into the helmet while still staying protected from the elements.

Overall then, the visor on the N90-4 is fully featured and does its job well.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Same goes for the sun visor.

It’s operated by a staged slider on the left hand side of the helmet – staged because there are four different positions you can drop the slider to with the first being down an inch and the fourth being fully down.

That sun visor (or VPS as Nolan calls it) also doubles as the main shield if you’re riding with the chin bar in Jet position. And it gives maximum UV 400 protection, which is always nice to know if you’re cruising around in the sun for days on end.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin bar on the Nolan N90-3 is raised using Nolan’s dual action opening system which needs two buttons to open it. It can still be operated with one hand once you get the hang of it, and it’s there to prevent accidental opening if you do have a spill.

To open the chin bar, you have to push a button up underneath the chin bar which then pushes out the button on the front of the bar which you can then push down to undo the latch and raise the chin bar.

It sounds more complicated than it actually is and riders report getting the hang of it reasonably quickly.

Nolan N90-3 Wilco modular helmet open view
Chin bar fully opened. Chin bar is locked up using that small red switch.

You should never raise or drop a chin bar while you ride for obvious reasons, but the system on the N90-3 works well and lets you go from locked and closed to up and fully open with minimal fuss.

And if you want to ride with the chin bar fully up, you can because it’s been designed to be  P/J or dual homologated and you can lock the chin bar in place with a small red switch that’s exposed on the left hand side.

There’s a chin curtain provided in the box that fits onto the bottom of the chin guard and stops air and noise getting into the helmet when it’s down.

As mentioned in the safety section, the chin bar on the Nolan N90-3 unlocked a few times during impact testing, which isn’t great. That doesn’t necessarily mean the chin bar actually opened or would’ve exposed a rider to danger, but it does probably show a weakness.

To put it in perspective; firstly, all previously tested Nolan modulars have stayed locked and closed in every single impact test at SHARP – including the Nolan N100-5. Secondly, the score of 90% is bang on average score across all modular helmets tested in the last five years – so actually isn’t all that bad!

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Nolan N90-3’s are available in fitment sizes XS-XXL, with all fitments sharing a single helmet shell – which is actually pretty rare these days (not in a good way!).

Nolan N90-3 driller modular side view
Driller graphic in red

What’s also pretty rare is that the internal fitment is more suitable for rounder heads rather than the usual medium oval – what’s sometimes called a more neutral fitment. That’s handy because we’ve only identified one other neutral fitting modular so far (the Simpson Mod Bandit) so now you’ve a choice – wooop!

Inside the Nolan N90-3, you’ll find a similar liner to those Nolan has used for years – their Clima Comfort liner. That’s a moisture wicking, fully removeable and washable liner that are long lasting and that lots of owners say are nice and comfortable.

Looks & Graphics

The Nolan N90-3 hasn’t changed much over the years but it’s still a nice and compact looking helmet with a good range of plains and tons of graphics available.

Plains come as Classics – that’s a pair of different whites, a gloss and matt black, and a gloss or mat grey. They also come as Specials which have slightly different panel colors for highlights and are available in matt/gloss black, gloss white or gloss silver.

You’ll find the latest graphics (and deals) by clicking our store link below but at the time of writing, there were Comeback, Laneway, Reflector, Voyager, Wilco and Driller graphics available.

Looking to buy a Nolan N90-3?

Please click below to drop onto the Nolan N90-3 helmets pages at Amazon. 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).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Nolan N90-3 Video

Here’s a 5m look around a Driller graphic N90-3.

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

Bluetooth Headset

The Nolan N90-3, like lots of Nolan helmets, has been designed to fit Nolan’s N-Com bluetooth kit. So that means it features the usual removeable panel on the side to take the controller and panel at the back to take the battery.

According to Nolan, the N90-3 can accept any of the following N-Com systems:

  • B902L R series
  • B902 R series
  • B602 R series
  • B101 R series
  • MCSIII R series

If you’re looking to fit your own bluetooth instead, there’s speaker pockets cut into the EPS liner and plenty of room for a boom mic. We heard from one owner who managed to fit their Sena kit OK though you might have to fiddle around with the controller mounting as there’s not much space available when the chin bar’s raised.

Nolan N90-3 special modular helmet silver side view
Metallic silver N90-3

Weight

The N90-3 should be fine on the weight front. On the scales, it weighs around 3.75lbs (1.65Kg -1.7Kg) which is about average weight for a modular. And while that might be a bit hefty for something like a full face, we found a few N90-3 owners who described their helmets as feeling light weight, which is the important factor.

Build Quality/Warranty

Nolan has been in the helmet game for a long while now, so they know how to build a good helmet. And while the N90-3 is Nolan’s entry level modular, that’s actually quite pricey compared to some other brands’ helmets.

The reason for that is that their build quality and QA are a step up from some brands’ and that goes for the N90-3 which several owners said is well made helmet – especially for an entry-level model – with great paint and materials.

All Nolan helmets come with a two year warranty, extended to 5 years if you register on the Nolan website.

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Good Alternatives to the Nolan N90-3?

Nolan N100-5 consistency fuschia kiss motorcycle helmet side view
Nolan N100-5

There’s some great modular helmets around (see our Top 10 Best Modular Helmets List to find them) but here’s some hand-picked lids that we recommend you take a look at…

First up is Nolan’s slightly more expensive N100-5: that’s a SHARP 4 Star rated helmet (this time with a 100% chin bar) with all the same features as the N90-3 but it’s that bit quieter too.

The LS2 Valiant is another polycarb helmet, this one’s longer oval fitment and comes with an optically correct visor. The ECE version was also SHARP 4 star safety rated and there’s a drop down sun visor as well.

The HJC RPHA90 is slightly more pricey than the N90-3 but it’s a SHARP 4 star composite fiber shelled helmet with a Pinlock and sun visor. It’s pretty lightweight and well rated by owners too.

Finally, if you like riding in open face mode, Shark’s Evo One 2 lets you push the chin bar to the back for a real jet helmet experience. It comes with a Pinlock and it was tested by SHARP in the UK and given a 4 star rating.

Looking to buy a Nolan N90-3?

Please click below to drop onto the Nolan N90-3 helmets pages at Amazon. 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).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Star Ratings

Bell Moto 10 Review: Bell’s Top of the Range Dirt Helmet

bell-moto-10-featured
bell-moto-10-featured

Bell Moto-10 Review: Amazing ventilation. Bit heavy.

It’s pretty safe to say that Bell Helmets have been working hard on improving the safety and performance of their dirt lids for quite a few years now.

And with the Bell Moto-10, Bell reckon all that learning and know-how have condensed to make their best performing dirt helmet to date.

bell moto 10 spherical mips dirt helmet pro circuit front view
Front view of the Pro Circuit Moto-10.

It’s the replacement to their Moto-9 range and Bell say they’ve worked with a range of pro dirt riders to create a helmet that offers outstanding protection, ventilation and weight reduction. Not entirely sure about that last point with the DOT version of the Moto 10 weighing around 3.5lbs but OK, we’re still listening.

As far as protection’s concerned, there’s a bit more to the boast because you can trace their development work going on through the evolution of the Moto-9 series.

That was available with either a tri-composite or a carbon shell. Then they introduced a Flex version where Bell experimented with their own slip-plane internals (designed to reduce rotational forces during an impact) and gave it a trick three-ply shock absorbing liner.

They then licenced tech from Mips and stuck their liner in there which, I’m guessing, had a bit more proven protective performance than their own slip-plane liner.

So, It’s clear Bell does take protection seriously in their dirt lids – which is just as well when you consider the risk dirt riders face, even compared to street riders.

Here it is then, Bell’s top-flight off-road helmet. It’s not cheap, it’s not very light; but is it good? Is it worth the money?  And are there any better alternatives out there (see the bottom of the page for alternatives)?

We hope to answer all these questions in our full Bell Moto 10 review.

Looking to buy a Bell Moto-10?

Please click below to drop onto the Bell Moto-10 pages at our recommended store and Amazon. 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).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Overall/Summary

Seems like Bell has done a great job with the Moto-10. Mostly.

OK, the negatives. It ain’t the lightest helmet and folk want light helmets, especially at this price. Which is the second negative – but then you’re always going to get a high price if you want a top-dog helmet from any premium brand.

bell moto 10 spherical rhythm motocross helmet side view
Side view of the Moto-10 Rhythm

And with the R&D that you can see has gone into the Bell Moto-10, you’re gonna have to pay for that in a price that’s North of $800.

So onto the good stuff. It’s got a MIPS liner, collarbone-friendly NMR base and it’s Snell approved so should offer excellent protection for when things go wrong.

It’s also got amazing ventilation along with a CoolJade liner, so when you’re working hard and need cooling down, the Moto-10’s got you covered.

It’s also comfortable, has a huge eyeport that’ll take the biggest goggles and there’s some great touches like their use of magnets for cheekpads and strap.

Overall then, if you can cope with the weight (apparently not so bad when you’re wearing it) and the price (always hurts) then the Moto-10 is a great dirt helmet and worthy successor to the popular Moto-9.

Safety

 (more about helmet safety)

Bell obviously work hard to ensure their helmets perform when it comes to safety, and they’ve thrown every trick in the book at the Moto-10. And rightly so because it’s no laughing matter when you drop things in the dirt – especially in competitions.

Safety/protection features with the Moto-10 include:

  • Carbon fiber shell
  • Spherical Mips liner
  • EQRS cheek pads
  • Shoulder/collarbone protection (NMR)

Obviously, having a carbon fiber shell is a great starting point for any helmet because carbon fiber helmets tend to be both light and strong. The shell on the Moto-10 has a 3K weave giving it that classic carbon fiber look and it’s made in three different shell sizes to give a more optimized look and performance. All of which is great to see and should improve protection levels.

bell moto 10 spherical mips motocross helmet fasthouse blue grey rear side view
You can clearly see the NMR collarbone protector on the bottom edge of this Fasthouse graphic Moto-10

Lining the shell is a Mips liner. Mips is actually a Swedish company who licence out their tech – in this case their Spherical Mips liner.

The idea behind the liner hasn’t changed in a few years; namely to produce a liner where the outer surface of the liner is connected to the helmet and the inner surface is in contact with the rider’s head. So when you have an accident that tries to rotate the helmet, there’s a degree of independence so your head (neck and brain) won’t take the full impact of the rotation.

Severe rotations can cause lots of nasty injuries so it’s great to see Mips and Bell doing what they can.

The only slight fly in the ointment here is the lack of independent verification of their system. Sure, there’s lots of stories of people swearing by the protective powers of Mips and Bell helmets, happily relating how it saved their bacon and how they’d never buy a different helmet.

Thing is, you can usually find similar stories with even cheapo helmets – and I guess the fact of the matter is if a helmet doesn’t do its job, then the wearer may not be around to say otherwise!

Interestingly, the only independently tested Mips helmet was actually a Bell Qualifier DLX Mips – an ECE street bike helmet. That only scored a mediocre 3 stars out of 5 when SHARP tested it over in the UK – and their test does include an oblique test for rotation too.

Still, common sense does make you think that having some sort of rotation protection has to be a good thing. And besides, without a closer understanding of their testing methodologies and data analysis, it’s nigh on impossible to know how effective the Mips part of the test actually was.

bell moto 10 spherical mips dirt helmet marmot design side view
Funky Marmot graphic Moto-10

But Bell has obviously thought safety on the Moto-10 through.

There’s EQRS cheek pads to help get the helmet off in the event of a spill. They’re held in just by magnets too so they’re super easy to pull out – unlike the EQRS in some other brands.

And the Moto-10 is Eject system compatible too (not included) so both these will help first responders safely remove a helmet.

The only real downside I can think of is that the Bell Moto-10 is a bit on the heavy side – and lighter helmets are better for reducing inertia and associated possible brain/neck injuries, so that’s not ideal.

Interestingly, the ECE (non Snell) version of the helmet is a good few ounces lighter than the DOT helmet; that’s usually because you need a harder (and heavier) shell to pass Snell’s penetration test (which is arguably not that real-world relevant as things rarely actually penetrate a helmet). So I guess if you do want a lighter Moto-10 you could always buy an ECE version; though of course that wouldn’t be road legal in helmet law states.

All of that work on protection has culminated in Bell achieving Snell M2020D certification – so you know it’s going to give you just about as good protection as you can get if you do faceplant the track.

OK, there’s other stuff that contributes to safety of course.

Bell has worked to make the visor hole bigger to accommodate a wide range of goggles and give good all-round vision. They’ve also included softer lower edges – what Bell calls No Missed Races or NMR – so if you do suffer a severe impact, the softer edges of the lid shouldn’t break your collar bone or shoulder. Handy that.

It’s all secured on your head using the usual Double-D ring fastener that pro racers (and pro-track authorities) usually want.

So, apart from being a bit weighty, the Snell Moto-10 should really give you all the protection you can currently get in a modern dirt helmet.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

You’d expect a helmet with a ton of vent holes to let in a load of noise too. If it did, it probably wouldn’t be the end of the world in a dirt helmet because chatting with your friends and being aware of your engine and environment is important too.

Thing is, owners we came across say it’s surprisingly quiet. I guess it might be because those generous cheek pads and lack of speaker pockets keep padding around the ear pretty thick, insulating you from noise?

Either way, it seems the Bell Moto-10 is not a noisy helmet. Result.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)
Note gazillion air holes around the goggles. This thing vents very well.

If you’re a pro dirt bike rider, you work really hard in some of the most demanding of conditions. So great air flow is really important to keep you cool and able to stay focused.

Bell say they’ve put the hours in on the aero and ventilation of the Moto-10 to allow as much air as possible to get directed towards the vents and pass through the helmet.

That includes designing intake vents into the visor/peak and moulding the outer shell to help pass air through and into the helmet. It’s a system that Bell calls their Thermal Exchange Airflow System or TEAS.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Dirt/Motocross helmet reviews –
– Snell certified helmets –

That system includes a large five section chin bar inlet, six smaller inlets around the eye port along with large exhausts around the sides and rear of the helmet.

And the word from Moto-10 owners is that it all works really well. Folks reckon it’s got great cooling around the goggles and helps (along with the wicking interior) to push sweat out of the helmet when you’re working hard. And compared to the outgoing Moto-9, Moto-10 owners say it’s a big improvement.

From what we’ve heard, the Moto-10 is one of the best venting dirt helmets out there with riders saying they can really feel the airflow over their heads and around the face, so it’s very much job done on the air flow front.

Visor & Goggles

bell moto 10 spherical dirt helmet slayco purple white front view
This one’s the Slayco graphic showing massive eyeport and goggles groove

There’s not much new in the visor on the Moto-10. Bell calls the visor on the Moto-10 a flying bridge design because it’s not secured in the centre, but other than that, it’s big, it’s pointy and it can be removed with thumb screws if you need to swap it out or clean it.

Visors can be easily damaged if you impact them too heavily so you can buy replacements – the only downside is there’s only one in the box and they’re around $50 a pop if you break one.

Bell’s designed the eye port to be nice and large so it can take pretty well any goggles and gives excellent peripheral vision.

And of course it’s big enough to let them scatter loads of vent holes around the goggles to pull air into the helmet and let air vent around your goggles and brow.

Owners reckon that large eyeport (surrounded by nice and soft rubber for extra comfort) has fitted their Airbrakes and 100% Armegas well and because it’s so large has helped seal them around the face better than some other helmets.

All good here then.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Bell Moto-10s are a medium oval fitment which is the most popular internal shape for a helmet and means – if you’re unsure of your head shape – that it matches the shape of most riders’ heads.

There’s a few nifty features inside the Moto-10.

As mentioned, it’s got EQRS (like all sports helmets should) but in the Moto-10 the cheekpads are held in with magnets. That means they’re super easy to pull out and refit, whether you do it to clean them or whether it’s first responders looking to carefully remove your helmet. Either way, they work well.

bell moto 10 spherical mips helmet tomac replica top down view
Top down view of the Tomac replica

What also works well is that double-d ring fastener. OK double-d’s can be a bit fiddly, but on most straps you have to tie up the end using a snap. Not so on the Moto-10 because Bell’s used magnets there too making it really easy and mega convenient to quickly tie up the end of the strap and stop it flapping about. Great touch that.

The comfort liner’s fully removable and washable too of course, and it’s laced with ventilation holes to let masses of air straight through to your head.

It’s also a a Virus CoolJade liner which means it uses a fabric that’s laced with Jade which Virus (the material’s maker) reckons can actually leach heat away from the head and keep your head cooler. As far as we know, you’ll only get one of these liners with Bell helmets.

We’ve heard reports from a few owners that they do size about right (so measure your head, order the right size and it should fit correctly) though they can be tight around the cheeks when you first wear them; though they break in pretty quickly and fit about right after that.

Other than that, Moto-10s are generally regarded as a comfy helmet with no issues reported.

Looks & Graphics

There’s a ton of graphics out there including some Monster Energy, McGrath and Tomac replicas. There’s also the Fasthouse, Rhythm and Slayco designs alongside some more plain solid and matte black or carbon weave helmets.

As usual, we’ve slung some of the most popular graphics up and down the page, but if you want to see the latest designs and deals on the Moto-10, please click the links below.

Best places to buy a Bell Moto-10 Helmet?

Please click below to drop onto the Bell Moto-10 helmets pages at our recommended store and Amazon. 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).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Bell Moto-10 Video

Here’s an 8m look around the Moto-10 from Revzilla.

Other stuff – Bluetooth, weight, build quality, warranty

Bluetooth and Comms

bell moto 10 spherical mips dirt helmet pro circuit rear view
Here’s a rear view of that Pro Circuit Moto-10

I guess most riders don’t wanna stick a bluetooth and speakers into their dirt helmets because Bell hasn’t fitted any speaker pockets into the Moto-10.

Weight

Weight is one of the biggest turn offs for folks looking to buy a Bell Moto-10. They typically weigh around 3.5lbs (1.6Kg) which makes it a reasonably hefty helmet although owners report that it doesn’t feel all that heavy when you’re riding.

But if you’re after a lighter helmet, maybe check out our lightest helmets pages?

Quality/Warranty

A few owners reckoned the Moto-10’s well built with a great quality liner and good finishing. I guess Bell have faith in their helmet quality too as it’s sold with a full 5 year warranty. That should last the life of the helmet.

Good Alternatives to the Bell Moto-10?

Bell Moto-9

Alternatives you should check out?

First up, while they’re still around, the Bell Moto-9 is still a great alternative. Cheaper, lighter and a highly rated Snell helmet.

The Shoei VFX-Evo is also a Snell certified dirt helmet. And it’s also got an anti-rotate liner and is slightly cheaper than the Moto-10

shoei vfx evo crash helmet matt black side view
Shoei VFX-Evo

If you’re after a budget dirt lid that vents well, you should take a look at the LS2 Subverter. It’s got slip-plane internals and EQRS too – though it is noisy.

LS2 Subverter Evo

Finally, and back onto helmets that major on protection, is the 6D ATR-2. Anti-rotation liner, tri-composite shell, great ventilation and comfort – it’s a well sorted helmet.

6D ATR-2 Strike motocross helmet side view
6D ATR-2

Click to see all our Dirt/Motocross helmets reviews.

Looking to buy a Bell Moto-10?

Please click below to drop onto the Bell Moto-10 pages at our recommended store and Amazon. 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).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Star Ratings

Speed and Strength SS2400 review: a badass 3/4 helmet with removable chin bar.

Speed-and-strength-ss2400

Motorcycle helmet review: Speed and Strength SS2400.

The SS2400 is a budget 3/4 open face helmet from US brand Speed and Strength.

3/4 helmet?? I hear you cry! Well yup, that chin bar is actually removeable and non-protective – at least as far as DOT and ECE certification are concerned. So, think of the SS2400 as an open face helmet with a face guard for a bit of extra rain and dirt protection and you won’t go far wrong.

Speed and Strength SS2400 call to arms helmet side view
Call to Arms graphic with chin bar removed.

And it’s a budget lid, but one with a design that gives dollops of bad attitude and includes both a tinted and a clear face shield in the box – all for a decent low price.

Which, on the surface, seems like a great deal. But at the same time, it begs the question… if it’s that cheap and offers that much, can it be any good?

  • Thermoplastic-shelled 3/4 Helmet
  • Non-protective removable chin bar
  • Comes with clear and smoked shields
  • Made in 2 shell sizes
  • Accessory mounting point
  • Double-D ring fastener
  • Always-open ventilation
  • Sizes XS-XXL
  • Expect to pay around $180

Looking to buy a Speed & Strength SS2400?

Please click below to visit the Speed & Strength SS2400 helmets pages at Amazon and our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

JPCyclesShop for helmets at Amazon

Overall/Summary

In answer to the question of whether the SS2400 is any good; most owners seem to like their helmets, so yeah it is. But it’s not always that clear cut and seems to depend on whether you’re coming at it from an open face or a full face perspective.

It’s probably no surprise that lots of buyers buy one because of its looks. And it’s a DOT/ECE helmet too so it should offer a decent level of protection (as long as you don’t face-plant anything!).

But if you’re looking for protection, keep on telling yourself that that face guard isn’t a protective one – and if you’re looking for protection as well as badass looks, maybe check out the Bell Broozer: it has a protecting and removeable face piece and looks cool.

Speed and Strength SS2400 tough as nails motorcycle helmet side view
Speed and Strength SS2400 Tough as Nails graphic with included iridum shield

Overall though, the SS2400 is generally seen as a decent performing and comfortable helmet by owners. OK, there’s some niggles. The sizing might be tricky to get right and the face shields might be a bit less than sophisticated. Oh, and it’s a bit on the noisy side – but then again aren’t all 3/4 helmets?

And some things might not work quite as well as helmets from more established and premium brands – thinking here of the mostly always open vents and the less than optimal bluetooth integration that you’ll get with the likes of Shoei or Bell.

Still, you’re not paying Shoei money and overall SS2400 owners seem pretty happy about their lids – especially when they’re riding around somewhere warm. And if you’re used to riding in a 3/4 helmet, then being able to slap on a face guard to cut out some wind and rain is a real luxury, right?

So, if you like the look of the SS2400 and the price is right – and you’re willing to accept that it’ll perform mostly like an open face helmet, then what are you waiting for – we reckon you’re probably going to love a Speed and Strength SS2400.

Safety

 (more about helmet safety)

OK, there’s a few things to note about the safety of the SS2400.

First up, make sure you’re aware that it’s actually a 3/4 open face helmet that just looks like a full face. OK, they’re not trying to pull the wool over your eyes about it (though I did find owners who thought they were buying a full face helmet!) but as far as the helmet testing and certification dudes at DOT and ECE testing are concerned, it’s not a protective chin bar. Plus there’s a label on the chin bar saying it’s non-protective too.

So why’s it there? Well it makes the helmet look cool of course, and it is genuinely useful to be able to slot on that guard and stop bugs/dirt/rain and the like when you’re wanting to press on a bit.

But don’t kid yourself that it’ll give you any serious protection in a spill – it won’t!

Speed and Strength SS2400 tough as nails helmet front view
Another Tough as Nails graphic SS2400 – this one comes with silver iridium and clear shields

The helmet shell is made of what S&S rather grandly call ATPA or Advanced Thermo Poly Alloy Shell. Wow, that sounds impressive!

We’re not at all sure how advanced it actually is or what’s alloyed about it, but it shouts of marketing spiel to us, trying to make a good ole fashioned thermoplastic shell sound more technical than it is.

On the flip side, if it is a regular thermoplastic shell, then that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Plastic shelled helmets can offer amazing levels of protection – and of course complying with DOT standards, and actually passing the ECE 22.05 range of tests is no mean fete either. So it should give good levels of head protection in an accident. Unless you land on your face, in which case skimping on a proper protecting chin guard might be a budget cut too far!

Speed and Strength SS2400s are all made in two different shell sizes, which about average for a lower priced helmet and offers some degree of optimisation for looks, comfort and safety.

And it’s great that they’re all sold with both smoked and clear shields – clear for night riding and tinted for daytime. There’s not many helmet makers that do that; and to do it at this price point is a big tick in the box. Shame neither are antifog tho, but I guess you can’t have everything.

A final note on safety is about that accessory mount. I know quite a few folks love to mount cameras on their helmets but you gotta question whether it’s safe to do so or not. On the SS2400 there’s a mounting point on the top of the helmet and Speed and Strength offer a go pro mount for around $10. That looks like a fairly solid piece of plastic to me and heaven knows what would happen if you took an impact around there. It’s probably fairly unlikely you will but if you do it’s gonna concentrate an awful lot of energy on one small area – and helmets usually aren’t designed to cope with that sort of impact in a single small point.

Incidentally, complying with the new ECE 22.06 regs would probably mean that S&S had to have the helmet tested with this official accessory fitted – and to pass tests like that. But because it’s ECE 22.05 only, it doesn’t. Makes you wonder if it’d pass the new standard…

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Helmet noise is a weird one with the SS2400 because it’s an open face helmet – which are generally pretty noisy helmets – but there’s also  that chin bar which you’d think is gonna attenuate some noise.

Speed and Strength SS2400 solid speed mate black open helmet rear view
Solid matte black SS2400 from the rear

However, it also has a ton of mostly always-open vent holes which are gonna let in noise along with the air. So if you’re trying to second guess whether it’ll be noisy or quiet, it’s a bit of a puzzle.

Well the jury’s now in in the form of lots of owners who seem to agree – it’s a noisy lid.

It seems like that chin guard doesn’t do a great deal to reduce noise, plus there’s not much aero going on to smooth the air flow. And all those open vents mean that if you get towards to upper limit of legal speeds you’re gonna need to be wearing some seriously good ear plugs to keep things manageable.

Otherwise, drop the speed, sit behind a screen and you should be OK.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Speed and Strength seem to have taken ventilation pretty seriously with the SS2400.

Not only are there top vents to keep your head cool, but there’s a pair of brow vents above the shield and they’ve even put twin vents into the removable chin bar.

And of course, if you want even more wind getting in, you can always open the visor and pull off the chin bar and you’ll get all the ventilation you can handle!

A couple of useful links…

– All our Open Face helmet reviews –
– Top 10 best helmet reviews –

Which is great – to a point. If you only ride in hot weather, then you’re good to go.

If you ride in rain or cold, you might find all those uncloseable, always-open vents a bit much to bear.

Actually that’s not entirely true. Speed and Strength does provide a pair of rubber bungs to pop in those two top vents which is nice – although a couple of owners reckoned they could pop off pretty easily, never to be seen again (though they do sell spares).

Overall though, the SS2400 is a helmet that vents really well and if keeping cool while riding’s in your top 10, then you should be a happy puppy here.

Face Shield

(more about shields)

That face shield – or should I say those face shields – are a mixed bag of good and not so good according to SS2400 owners we came across.

The great is that Speed and Strength include both tinted and clear shields in the box. That’s almost unheard of for a helmet at this price point so a double-thumbs up to S&S for that.

Speed and Strength SS2400 tough as nails motorcycle helmet front view
From the front showing multiple always-open vents

Oh, and some of the helmets (thinking the Tough Nails graphics here) come not just with a smoked visor but with an iridium smoked visor to match the helmet. Wooo (if that’s your thing!).

That’s the great part. The not so great part it’s is that a few owners say it’s only really fixed on the left hand side and that it doesn’t seal well when closed.

Overall though, most SS2400 riders seem happy with the shield system, though online quite a few say their helmets should come with instructions to replace the shields as they feel like they’re gonna break when you try and change them.

There’s actually a guide on Speed and Strengths website now, but the process is to remove the chin bar first, pull the shield down as far as it normally goes and then a little bit more so you can see the top of it then pull each side free. To replace, just do the opposite making sure it’s seated properly and will go up and down.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

As mentioned (lots), that chin bar is non-protective and is removeable so you can convert the SS2400 from a 3/4 helmet into a 3/4 with face guard – a bit like some other helmets mentioned in the Alternatives section towards the bottom of the page.

To remove it, you open the face shield, pull down the tab at the bottom of the chin bar and pull the whole chin bar down to unlatch and remove.

It’s actually secured by four metal clasps so it’s fitted there pretty rigidly, and if you ever needed to replace it, S&S do sell replacements separately for around $40 (which is good to know if you’re good at losing things 🙂 )

Other than that, there’s not much to say. It’s there to keep a bit of wind, dirt and rain off your face – and fitting it makes the helmet look bad ass, so it’s all good. Just remember, it’ll probably not save your face in a spill. Did we mention that??

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)
Speed and Strength SS2400 solid speed mate black open helmet side view
Side view of the matte black SS2400

Like most motorcycle helmets nowadays, the SS2400 has a removable and washable internal comfort liner that’s moisture wicking and hypoallergenic. And several owners reckon that it’s a nice comfortable helmet to wear. It’s not too heavy – weighing in at around 3.2lbs or 1.45Kg – and in fact lots of owners say it feels very light weight while you’re wearing it.

So comfort’s all good then – providing you get the sizing right. Which is where quite a few owners say SS2400s size really small. Several owners reckoned they needed to go up a size – even two sizes in some cases – to get their helmets to fit right.

So if you are thinking of buying one online, make sure you buy from a store that’ll give no quibble refunds – and ideally will pay for returns, just in case (like many of our recommended sellers).

Looks & Graphics

Of course, looking at the SS2400 you know that lots of owners are gonna be tempted simply because it looks so good.

Most of the graphics that are available tend to be dark and simple so we’ve managed to get more or less all there is on these pages. That includes the Solid Speed, the Tough as Nails and the Call to Arms designs.

If any new graphics have come out or if any are on closeout, you might want to click the links below to drop straight onto their SS2400 helmets pages.

Looking to buy a Speed & Strength SS2400?

Please click below to visit the Speed & Strength SS2400 helmets pages at Amazon and our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, warranty

Speed and Strength SS2400 call to arms helmet front view
SS2400 Call to Arms with chin bar fitted

SS2400s come with a double D-ring fasteners. No problems there, though they’re not as super easy to use as micrometric fasteners or the newer fidlocks.

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth set, there’s enough space to fit speakers in the cheek/ear pads and we’ve read of people who’ve fitted Cardo Freecoms and Sena 30k units in there, though it doesn’t like it’s quite as suited to fitting speakers and mics in there as some other helmets with dedicated pockets in the polystyrene liner (or Helmets with Integrated comms of course).

And if you do buy an SS2400, it’ll only come with a bear bones one year warranty covering manufacturing defects, so give it a good look over when you buy it to make sure everything’s good. Or buy a helmet from a maker who offers a 5 year warranty instead.

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Good Alternatives to the SS2400?

scorpion exo combat gloss white side view
Gloss white Covert

If you’re looking for a helmet that looks cool and maybe offers something of a halfway house between a full face and open face helmet, then here’s some good helmets to consider.

bell broozer modular motorcycle helmet arc matte black front view
Bell Broozer Arc

First up, there’s the Scorpion Exo Covert. They’re similar to the SS2400 in that they’ve a non protective face guard, but they’re slightly more expensive and come with a 5 year warranty.

Shoei J-Cruise II

Or how about the Bell Broozer – that’s another thermoplastic lid but this one has a removable and fully-protecting face guard. It’s also sold with clear and smoked shields too.

If you’re more interested in the 3/4 angle but with a nice deep shield, then the Shoei J-Cruise 2 is top dog. It’s more expensive but then you’re getting Shoei build quality and protection – and it’s designed from the ground up to work with the Sena/Shoei SRL bluetooth set.

Nolan N21 Visor

Finally, if you like that classic retro jet style open face helmet, Italian brand Nolan has their dual-shield N21 range. They’re good value and are both DOT and ECE like the S&S.

For more alternatives, have a trawl through our open face helmets and modular helmets pages – or cut to the chase and have a look at our Top 10 Helmets lists.

Looking to buy a Speed & Strength SS2400?

Please click below to visit the Speed & Strength SS2400 helmets pages at Amazon and our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Star Ratings

Nolan N21 and N21 Visor open face crash helmet review.

Nolan N21: great value open face helmet with sun visor.

Nolan’s N21 open face helmet is designed to look a bit fighter pilot and a bit vintage at the same time – which I guess it pretty much does. It’s also designed to work for both daily commuters who want a lightweight helmet and some sun/wind protection but like the convenience of an 3/4 lid – as well as for touring types who maybe sit behind a screen and like the freedom of an open face helmet.

nolan n21 skydweller helmet front view
Nolan N21 in Skydweller graphics (available with visor and non-visor N21s)

So Nolan made the N21 in both Visor (with face shield) and non-visor versions (though the non-visor version still has a pull down sun visor).

But it looks like the ‘visor’ version has been the most popular, because it’s made in more colors and there’s tons more available to buy online so, in this review we’ll be mostly looking at the N21 Visor. But because they’re essentially the same helmet, most of the stuff in this review covers both helmets.

Both models are mainly designed for slower speed, commuter type riding. And Nolan has tried to make them compact by producing the helmet in two shell sizes and fitting a close-fitting comfort liner and padding into the N21 to try and keep it from looking big on you when you’re wearing it.

It should also make it more easily stowable if you’re looking for a helmet you can store in your scooter or in bags. So, that’s the idea of the Nolan N21.

Read on for the detail…

  • Polycarbonate open face helmets
  • Visor and non-visor versions
  • DOT and ECE 22.05 certified
  • Wide shield for great vision
  • Both versions have sun visor
  • Micrometric fastener
  • No internal ventilation
  • Useful helmet lock hoop
  • 2 shell sizes
  • Sizes XXS-XXXL
  • Expect to pay:
    • N21: $160-$200
    • N21 Visor: $200-$240

Looking to buy a Nolan N21?

Please click below to visit the Nolan N21 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Overall/Summary

Owners generally love their Nolan N21s. They find them light, comfortable, love the great all-round vision from that large clear visor (N21 Visor owners only obvs) and the sun visor works really well. They also rate the build quality really highly too.

nolan n21 tricolore helmet front view
Front view of the N21 Tricolore

The only slight niggles are that the sizing can be a bit of a squeeze (see Comfort/Sizing section below) and there’s the obvious issues of it being a bit noisy and lacking the protection you’ll find in helmets with chin bars.

But other than that, with Nolan’s excellent reputation for making high quality, protective helmets, and with the N21 (Visor or no visor) being particularly stylish and available at a very competitive price, it’s hard to see how you can go wrong. Well worth a look.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Both N21s are open face helmets so it goes without saying that there’s precious little face/chin protection if you have an accident. But then you knew that and you’re still interested in one, right?

So if you take that as a given, how well will the N21 protect your head (as opposed to your face)?

Well, we suspect it’ll do pretty well. It’s a polycarbonate helmet (AKA plastic) which are generally a cheaper helmet – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t offer great protection. Nolan are specialists in producing helmets out of plastic. Of the 15 helmets tested to date by the UK’s SHARP helmet test labs, 14 have been classed as either polycarbonate or thermoplastic (polycarbonate is a thermoplastic) so there’s a decent bit of historical data to look at.

nolan n21 visor motorcycle helmet dolce-vita_corsa-red
Nolan N21 Visor in popular Dolce Vita stripe design.

Every single one of those tested helmets has scored a 4/5 star rating – which is a pretty incredible and a consistently high score.

So, we’d probably not be stretching it too far to expect the N21 to score four stars if it were tested today – which it won’t be because SHARP don’t test open face helmets (something that may well change in the not too distant we hope).

You might see that sort of score and think that’s good enough for you. However, it’s also worth pointing out that the N21 – whether Visor version or not – has been designed to offer a particularly wide view of the road ahead. That’s obviously great for safety as it hopefully means you’ll not find anything hiding in your peripheral vision while chugging along.

The N21 has also got a nice and easy to use micrometric strap – they’re both safe fasteners and super quick to use and tighten up firmly.

If you’re new to helmets, micrometric fasteners are much easier than the usual alternative which is the double-d ring fastener (though most folks do get the hang of those pretty quickly too).

All in all then, based on Nolan’s track record, we’d expect the N21 to offer good levels of protection for an open face helmet. Though of course if you want better protection for your face, have think about a full face helmet or a modular (the best of both worlds). And if you are considering a modular, please check out our top 10 modular helmets list and our safest modular helmets page too.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)
nolan n21 visor motorcycle helmet classic_flat-black
Side view of the N21 Visor matt/flat black with both visors fully dropped.

Word is that the Nolan N21 offers reasonable noise suppression for an open face helmet. Of course, if you’re sat on a naked bike with the main shield down (on an N21 visor) then because the visor drops down nice and low, that’s going to stop a some of wind noise blasting straight into your helmet.

But if you’re in a non-visor version, it’s about the same as most open face helmets – and that’s pretty noisy.

Obviously, it’s all dependent on the type of bike you’re on and how quickly you ride, along with a whole multitude of other variables. But the concensus among Nolan N21 wearers is that it’s not as quiet as a full face helmet and there’s quite a bit of wind noise – especially at speed. A fairly predictable result I guess because open face helmets don’t stop noise getting in as well as most other helmets.

But if you want to ride quietly as it’s possible in an N21, buy the visor version, sit behind a screen, ride slowly and stick in some quality ear plugs and you should find it all hunky dory.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Ok, Nolan N21’s are open face helmets so there’s no shortage of air getting in towards the front of the helmet.

Nolan N21 Durango helmet solid white side view
Another non-visor Nolan N21, this one’s the solid gloss white Durango – the one with the vent holes.

But your head’s a different matter.

There is a version of the non-visor N21 called the Durango that actually has three small air inlet holes above the eye port. But, rather strangely, none of the other models have any vents whatsoever.

The Durango lets air into the shell where it’ll take a small amount of ventilation into the air channels in the liner and onto the head. The rest of the N21s have to do without any ventilation at all so you’ll have to make do with any air that seeps around the visors.

It’s probably not really a problem for many of us, but if your riding’s done in mostly hot weather, then you should probably look elsewhere because you’ll end up with a very hot head most of the time.

Face Shield

(more about shields)

If you buy a Nolan N21 Visor, you’ll get an external pull-down clear shield to cut out wind and rain.

It’s a large polycarbonate visor that drops down nice and low and, like face shields on full face helmets, it can be pushed up out of the way when you don’t want it. Whether the shield’s up or down, owners say you get a great field of view with the N21 Visor and the optical quality of the shield’s very good.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Open Face helmet reviews –

– Top 10 All Helmets List –

Nolan don’t advertise the N21 Visor as having a quick release shield. But if you want to pull it off for cleaning, it is a toolless job and pretty quick. Close the visor, pull off the side plate and pull the shield off to remove. Putting the shield back on again is more fiddly, though shouldn’t take long once you get the hang of it.

nolan n21 visor motorcycle helmet slate grey side view
Slate grey N21 Visor

Unfortunately there isn’t a Pinlock antifog available for the N21 and it’s not advertised as antifog treated either, so expect things to fog up when it’s cold – until you get moving and get a bit of wind circulating behind the shield.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Both versions of the N21 have an integral drop down sun visor and both stow away into the helmet’s shell (you can see exactly where it stows because it’s behind that raised area on the front of the helmet above the eye port).

The sun visor’s made of polycarbonate (like all shields and sun visors) and it’s UV400 which offers maximum protection against UV.

It’s made out of a Lexan polycarb which is a trade name but it’s supposed to be good quality polycarbonate. And it’s also anti-scratch and anti-fog treated which is a good touch (not all sun visors are and they can be a bit of a pain on cold or rainy days).

nolan n21 dolce vita helmet in red rear view
Rear view of the Dolce Vita graphic N21

If you buy the N21 Visor, you can either drop down the sun visor by pulling it straight down using the lip on the bottom left. Or, if your face shield’s down, you can use the slider on the left hand side of the helmet.

On the regular N21, you don’t get the slider (you don’t need it) but there’s a small tab bottom left of the sun visor to tug it down.

The word on the sun visor from N21 owners is that it works very well. It slides down over most glasses without a problem, the tint level seems to be about right (it can’t legally be tinted any darker and used on the road) and it drops down nice and low, giving a good coverage against the sun.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Nolan N21 is made in two different helmet shell sizes – with the smaller shell used for fitment sizes XXS-L and the larger for XL-XXXL.  That’s about right for a lower priced helmet.

And Nolan do say they’ve tried to make the N21 a compact helmet – so it seems smaller on the head. Having said that, if the size you’re after is at the lower end of those fitments, it could look a bit oversize when you’re wearing it. For instance, if you’re a size XXS, you’ll be wearing a helmet that has the same shell as size L but padded out to fit – and that can mean it’ll look oversized on you.

nolan n21 skydweller helmet rear view
Another view of the Skydweller graphic N21

Same goes for you if you wear a size XL helmet as you’re wearing the same shell size as someone in an XXXL. And we’ve found a couple of N21 owners who do reckon their helmets look a bit big when they’re wearing it.

Not that it’s necessarily a problem – just if you’re a bit of a fashionista and care what you look like, it’s something to be aware of.

Something else to be aware of is that a few owners reckoned they found their N21s sized a bit too small (i.e. they were usually a size M but found they needed a size L with the N21). So if you’re wanting to buy an N21 and you’re unsure of your size or between sizes, we’d opt for a size up.

Inside the N21 you’ll find Nolan’s Clima Comfort liner. They’re typically nice and comfortable liners and they’re removeable and washable.

In fact, apart from the ocassional person finding their helmets a bit of a squeeze (so ended up ordering a size up) the vast majority find the Nolan N21s really nice and comfortable helmets.

nolan n21 visor helmet in silver side view
Side view of the Nolan N21 Visor in silver

It does help that because it’s an open face 3/4 lid, everyone also finds it’s a particularly light weight helmet too – that always helps make a helmet more comfy.

Looks & Graphics

There’s a huge array of graphcs available if you’re looking for an N21.

In the non-shield N21, they tend to be plainer blacks, whites and greys of all types (matt, gloss, flat, solid, metallic – you get the picture), along with the Dolce Vita range that have a simple go faster stripe over the top.

You can get those colors with the N21 Visor too but there’s also the Skydweller, Playa, Quarterback, Flybridge and Getaway graphics.

As per usual, we’ve added some of the designs to this page – but for a wider range along with any new graphics that have been launched – as well as any Nolan N21 deals – please click the links below that’ll take you straight onto the Nolan N21 pages at some of our recommended stores. Cheers.

Best places to buy a Nolan N21?

Please click below to visit the Nolan N21 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Nolan N21 Visor Video

Here’s a guy pulling his N21 visors apart. There aren’t really any decent review videos around but this video gives you a decent look at all the parts and the internals and how they work.

Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, build quality, warranty

As mentioned, the Nolan N21 has a micrometric fastener. They’re great and easy to use. There’s also a helmet lock loop on the chin strap of the N21. That’s a metal loop sown onto the strap which you can use to lock onto your motorcycle. Could be very handy that if you don’t have anywhere to stow your helmet.

nolan n21 visor motorcycle helmet flat black and yellow side view
Black and yellow N21 Dolce Vita

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth headset, word is that there are recesses for speakers inside the N21 and there’s just about space outside to clamp the control unit on – so you should be OK there.

One overriding opinion expressed by N21 owners is that – for the price – the quality’s excellent with good quality materials used and the fit and finish being very good.

Which is probably why Nolan are confident enough to back it with a 5 year warranty (manufacturing defects). But that’s a class leading warranty, especially on a lower priced helmet.

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Good Alternatives to the Nolan N21?

arai urban v blitz brown open face helmet side view
Arai Urban V

You can find all our Open Face helmet reviews here for a great selection. But here’s some choice picks. Arai’s Classic V is a high quality fiberglass open face helmet with cunningly hdden ventilation channels that work well. In the US it has been Snell certified too so should work well if you ever need to put it to the test.

Bell Custom 500

Bells Custom 500 is a low profile fiberglass open face (full carbon is available too) that’s made in 5 different shell sizes. It comes in a range of very cool retro schemes too.

The Shoei Jo is another quality fiberglass offering – this time with pull down visor and using the same shell tech as their full face lids.

Shoei J.o

Finally, how about a thermoplastic open face helmet with a proper protecting removeable chin bar. The Bell Broozer also comes with a clear and dark shield in the box and is excellent value for money.

bell broozer cranium modular helmet side view
Bell Broozer

Looking to buy a Nolan N21?

Please click below to visit the Nolan N21 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Star Ratings

Nolan N100-5 and N100-5 Plus flip up modular motorcycle helmet review

nolan-n100-5-featured

The Nolan N100-5 and N100-5 Plus flip-up. The perfect modular helmet?

The N100-5/Plus is Nolan’s top of the range flip-up/modular helmet, designed to be all things to all riders. And the list of features is pretty impressive. It’s P/J dual homologated (meaning it’s been designed so you can ride it with the chin bar up) and it has Nolan’s patented chin bar raising mechanism that pulls the chin bar closer to the helmet to improve aero when it’s up.

First up though – N100-5 or N100-5 Plus?

To be honest, there’s hardly any difference. Even Nolan’s own website uses the same graphics for both helmets and both are available.

The only real differences are to do with the comfort liner inside the helmet – with the Plus version of the helmet having a size adjustable liner and slightly different cheek pads. You’ll find more info on these differences in the sizing/comfort section below. Other than those small changes, they’re the same helmet.

Both have a nice wide and tall main shield that even comes with a Pinlock antifog insert already installed out of the box (that’s a first as far as we’re aware).

There’s also a drop down sun visor that has its own ‘staged’ drop down, so it’ll happily sit at one of four positions before being auto-retracted at the touch of a button.

And it’s got a microlock 2 fastener, ESS brake light capacity as well as being ready to accept Nolan’s N-com communicators, with pockets and spaces for easy integration.

And as if that wasn’t enough, it comes from Italian maker Nolan who are known for producing some of the safest modular helmets in the whole world ever.

Don’t know about you but, on paper at least, that’s a mouthwatering prospect. So we set about finding out what owners and riders who’ve bought an N100-5 think of it and find out if it’s worth spending your money on one…

  • Polycarbonate modular helmet
  • Dual Homologated for open/full face riding
  • SHARP 4 star safety rated (ECE helmet)
  • Micrometric fastener
  • Wide/tall face shield
  • Drop down sun visor
  • Available in ECE and DOT versions
  • Pinlock Antifog pre-installed
  • ESS system ready
  • Integrates with N-com bluetooth kit
  • Sizes XXS-XXXL
  • Expect to pay $410-$460

Looking to buy a Nolan N100-5?

Please click below to visit the Nolan N100-5 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Nolan N100-5 fade silver hi viz modular helmet front view
A Nolan N100-5 in silver with its chin bar down

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

Nolan has an excellent reputation for helmet safety – especially for its modular helmets.

It hasn’t been independently Snell tested in the US or SHARP tested in the UK yet, but as you probably know, we analyze SHARP’s helmet testing data to assess helmet safety; and looking back over all their tested helmets, Nolan has scored four out of a maximum five stars for every single tested helmet.

That’s not only a great score but it’s staggeringly consistent across the years.

Of course, when you’re looking at flip-front helmet safety, you obviously want that chin bar to stay firmly closed during an impact. Thankfully, looking at the SHARP data we can see that Nolan is one of the very few helmet makers who have a perfect 100% record so far for their chin guards staying locked and closed during testing.

Nolan N100-5 Plus SHARP 8.5 ms impact test
Courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk ECE Nolan N100-5 Plus 8.5 m/s Impact test results.

And we’re delighted to say that when SHARP tested the N100-5 in 2021 (remember, this is for an ECE helmet, not DOT), Nolan continued it’s staggeringly consistent form with yet another 4 star SHARP safety rating for safety along with a 100% on the chin guard! Just incredible and a testament to their focus on safety and internal QA.

You’ll have to make of that what you will given this is for an ECE 22.05 certified helmet and not a US DOT helmet (we don’t know if they’re slightly different helmets or not), but hopefully it points towards Nolan helmets being a trustworthy brand and one you can trust will give you very good impact protection.

One of the reasons their chin guards stay closed is that they use solid metal clasps along with a two-finger opener that means you’ve gotta use both a finger and thumb to open the chin bar so it can’t be accidentally opened – and it’s the same setup on the N100-5.

The helmet’s dual homologated in Europe too. That means it’s been designed so you can ride with the chin bar fully opened if you like – and there’s a lock on there to keep it locked open.

Nolan N100-5 consistency hi viz modular helmet front view
If your’re after a hi viz helmet, this one’s the Consistency in hi viz yellow

Obviously, having great vision is kinda key to not hitting things on a motorcycle. The N100-5 has a wide/tall shield combo for good all-round vision. Plus it comes with a Pinlock anti-fog insert pre-installed – which is a nice touch because most manufacturers leave you to fiddle/curse/struggle to fit it on your own.

There’s also a micrometric 2 fastener to keep the helmet on your head plus the Nolan N100-5 comes ESS-ready. That’s the ability to add your own brake light to the back of the helmet for added visibility.

Wow – that’s a lot of safety shizz on the N100-5 and we expect it’ll give you great protection should the worst happen.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

If you’ve read any of our helmet reviews before, you’ll know that helmet noise is the most difficult thing to accurately review.

That’s because how noisy your helmet is is a perception thing and dependent on loads of stuff from how great/knackered your hearing is to how loud/quiet your last helmet was to how fast you ride etc. etc.

Profile view showing chin bar fully raised

And while not absolutely everyone who rides with a Nolan N100-5 reckons their helmet is the quietest ever, there are enough owners who say it’s really quiet for us to add it to our Quietest Helmets pages.

In fact we found roughly 70% of owners rated it as a really quiet helmet, which is a great score – especially for a modular helmet.

Why for a modular? Because flip-up helmets are generally noisier than regular full face helmets, mostly because of the space needed for that flip-up chin bar mechanism. But it seems some of the aero work done by Nolan to produce a smoother helmet shell that’s more compact and with fewer protrusions has really paid dividends on the N100-5.

But a word of warning if you buy one; I suggest you don’t buy one expecting it to be mega quiet. No, buy one hoping it’ll be maybe a bit quieter than your existing helmet – then, hopefully, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Just managing your expectations here (another important factor in helmet noise perception!)

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

You’ll find a single chin vent covered by a sliding panel on the chin bar of the N100-5. That’s obv there to deliver air to your mouth and the back of the face shield.

Way up top on the crown of the helmet is another vent panel to bring ventilation to the rest of the head.

Nolan N100-5 lumiere modular helmet rear view
Rear view of the N100-5 Lumiere

On helmets with sun visors, you’ll find top vents set way back on top of the shell because when the sun visor’s retracted, it takes up the space where you’d ideally place the vent.

Both vent sliders are low profile – in their closed positions at least – helping with the aero and overall noise suppression of the helmet.

When you open the top vent, the whole panel pops back/up a little to reveal quite a sizeable vent on the top. It’s what Nolan calls its Air Booster Technology. And it’s a vent that pretty well all owners say is great – letting in tons of air to get circulated around the channels inside the helmet and keep you cool.

It’s much better than the chin bar vent which, by all accounts, is reasonably pointless. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean your shield fogs up quickly because of course the N100-5 not only comes with a Pinlock anti fog insert in the box but it’s pre-installed onto the back of the shield.

And, as always with a modular, if you really need a bit more ventilation into your chin/face area, you can either crack open the shield a little to let a nice breeze in – or even open up the front entirely and ride in open-face mode.

Nolan N100-5 consistency corsa red motorcycle helmet front view
Front view of an N100-5 Consistency in corsa red showing large visor area and sun visor fully lowered

Shield

(more about shields)

The face shield on the Nolan N100-5 is wide and tall for improved vision and it’s a ratchet shield with 5 positions, including a ‘cracked open’ city riding position. Yay.

It’s opened by a single central opening tab and comes pre-fitted with a Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog insert. That’s the first time we’ve seen one already installed and saves you the hassle of fitting it yourself which can be tricky if you’ve never used one before.

But if you want to know how to fit a Pinlock, here’s a video I produced a while back showing you how.

The ‘Max Vision’ part of the Pinlock means it’s a full-shield coverage insert, so you won’t get the edges of the Pinlock in your line of sight.

A couple of links you might find useful…

– Click to see all our Nolan Helmets Reviews –
– Here you’ll find every Helmet rated highly for safety we’ve looked at –

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

The sun visor on the N100-5 is pretty unusual too.

The slider to operate it is on the bottom left edge of the helmet – which is pretty commonplace and a decent place to locate it. What’s not so common is that it’s a four position sun visor with noticeable ‘steps’ in the slider movement to let you drop the sun visor down in stages.

Nolan N100-5 consistency fuschia kiss motorcycle helmet side view
Another Consistency – this time Fuschia Kiss graphics

In its lowest position, it’ll cover most of your vision and it’s spring loaded so all you need to do to retract the sun visor is press a button in front of the slider and it’ll spring back out of the way.

The sun visor’s anti-fog coated too, as well as being anti-scratch – so all good here.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin guard on any modular helmet is a really important feature – and some helmet manufacturers are better at making them than others.

Looking at the stats, Nolan are one of the best.

To open up the chin bar requires a pinch movement of finger and thumb to unlock it – that’s a good safety feature and stops it being accidentally unlocked during an accident. It’s also pretty easy to do.

And whereas some chin bars from well known makers have been shown to be less than bomb-proof during safety testing, no Nolan modular helmet so far has ever come unlocked during SHARP impact testing – which is a fantastic result.

nolan-n100-5-hi-vis yellow side view
If you wanna be seen, buy a hi-vis yellow N100-5

As mentioned in the safety section above, that’s not to say the Nolan N100-5 won’t buck that trend, because it hasn’t yet been independently safety tested. But we’d probably put money on it scoring well for safety (i.e not coming unlocked and open when you don’t want it to).

Once opened, there’s a cunning hinge on the N100-5 that opens up the chin bar then pulls it backwards towards the helmet, so it sticks slightly less into the airflow than many other modulars.

And if you decide to ride with the chin bar raised – you should be fine with the N100-5 because it’s been designed to be ridden with the bar up or down, and there’s a P/J locking switch to let you lock the chin bar open so there’s no chance of it accidentally dropping down while you’re riding.

OK, if you do intend to ride along in a modular helmet with the chin bar raised, you might want to consider a helmet where the chin bar rotates right to the back of the helmet (like the Roof Desmo, LS2 Valiant or Shark Evo One 2). But other than that, the Nolan N100-5’s got everything covered.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The inside of the the N100-5 has what Nolan calls it’s Clima Comfort interior. That’s an antibacterial and moisture wicking comfort lining that includes lots of perforations to allow circulating air to reach your scalp.

Nolan N100-5 motorcycle helmet inside view
Inside the N100-5 showing vented lining and drawstring adjustable neck roll

The inside is fully removable and washable – including cheek pads – and though you can fit glasses inside the N100-5, there aren’t any dedicated glasses grooves in there so if your glasses’ stems are thick, you might have a problem.

Unusually, the neck roll at the bottom of the helmet is actually adjustable. There’s a drawstring running around the bottom of the helmet with a couple of toggles on it – so you can tighten up the helmet to reduce the amount of noise and draft getting up inside the helmet.

And the end result is that pretty well every owner said their Nolan N100-5 is a really comfortable helmet to live with and is great for long-distance trips.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, there is a slight difference between the internals of the regular and Plus versions of the N100-5.

The differences are that the Plus has more moulded polystyrene behind the cheek pads to try and improve fitting and it has a small extra section of fabric at the bottom of the pads to help reduce draughts. The Plus liner also features Nolan’s LPC system – or liner positioning control – where you can adjust a plastic tab to slightly change the angle the helmet sits on your head.

Finally, there’s a mesh panel running around the top of the liner to let a little more air through to the head. And that’s about it.

Looks & Graphics

There’s a stack of different graphics available for the Nolan N100-5 – but only a few names to remember.

If you’re after a solid plain helmet – they’re always a bit cheaper than helmets with fancy graphics – and they’re mostly called either Classic or Special by Nolan. They come in all the usual blacks/whites/gloss/matts you’d expect plus there’s a few different greys and silvers.

Nolan also do a variant on these flat colors – the Fade where it’s essentially a plain color that fades to a darker color – pretty classy those.

Finally there’s the Lumiere and the Consistency designs – you’ll find a few of these up and down the page but they’re available in stacks of other colors too.

To see these and more, as well as find any deals that are on at the retailers we recommended for giving great service as well as good prices, please click through to our recommended retailers using the links below. Nice one!

Best places to buy a Nolan N100-5?

Please click below to visit the Nolan N100-5 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Nolan N100-5 Video

Here’s one of the official Nolan videos for the N100-5. The choice was either this Nolan US video or the European one with Marco Melandri in it, so..!

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

The Nolan N100-5 uses a micrometric 2 fastener. That’s a micrometric ratchet fastener with a 2 action opener to stop accidental opening of the strap. So that’s both convenient to use and safe as houses.

It’s designed to accommodate Nolan’s N-Com bluetooth communicator with a built-in pocket to fit the bluetooth controller, battery and mic/speakers. That’s great if you’re going to buy one of their intercom kits (either a B901L R series – B601 R series – ESS – MCS III R series) but less good if you’ve a different 3rd party bluetooth to fit. You will find space for speakers and a mic in there, but placing the controller itself might be a bit fiddly; like one Sena 10s owner found. It fit but was really awkward to get in there.

Nolan N100-5 consistency flat lava grey modular helmet side view
Another Consistency Nolan N100-5 – this time in flat lava grey

As for weight – the Nolan N100-5 weighs around 3.8lbs (1.7Kg) which is about average for a modular and should be OK. In fact a couple of owners said it feels pretty light when you’re wearing it.

Great build quality is a recurring comment among owners with lots of people commenting about the overall high quality feel, fit, finish and materials.

And finally, to underline Nolan’s commitment to quality, the N100-5 comes with a fabulous 5 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

The Nolan N100-5 is a high quality, well featured and well liked helmet by people who’ve bought one.

It scores really highly in just about every respect and is a well designed and excellently made helmet. In fact, at the time of writing, it’s soared to the top of our top 10 best modular helmets list.

It’s got a great shield mechanism too with pre-installed Pinlock anti-fog, and it’s got a great sun visor with innovative multi-stage drop down. It’s quiet too according to owners – that’s rare for a modular helmet – and it’s designed to integrate with Nolan’s N-com communicators as well as their ESS brake light module.

nolan-n100-5-fade-red black rear view
Here’s another Fade graphics N100-5 – this time red to black

And it’s also dual-homologated so you can ride with the chin bar up and locked should the mood take you.

And now it’s been independently safety tested by SHARP where it scored 4 stars along with a 100% score on its chin bar staying locked (ECE helmet), we reckon it’ll give you some of the best protection of all modulars.

All in all, the Nolan N100-5 is a hugely well designed and hugely impressive modular helmet and should really be somewhere near the top of your shortlist if you’re looking to buy a new flip-up motorcycle helmet.

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Good Alternatives to the Nolan N100-5?

First up, take a look at the Shark Evo One 2. That’s a SHARP 4 star safety rated (chin guard scored 100%) that has a chin guard that’ll flip over to the back of the helmet to give a real open faced helmet look and feel.

If your pockets are deep enough, how about the AGV Sport Modular? It’s a carbon fibre modular designed to work with sportsbikes. It comes with optically correct shield with Pinlock and is very light weight for a modular.

Or if you’re on a tight budget, there’s the HJC IS Max II – sun visor, SHARP 4 star safety rated and available in a massive range of sizes.

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Looking to buy a Nolan N100-5?

Please click below to visit the Nolan N100-5 helmets pages at our recommended stores – all checked for great online ratings. And if you buy from any store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

BTO SportsShop for helmets at Amazon

Star Ratings

HJC RPHA 1N: FIM certified pro racing track helmet for the road.

HJC-RPHA-1N-featured

HJC RPHA 1N: Now you can buy HJC’s FIM homologated MotoGP racing helmet.

HJC have been sponsoring riders in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP for…well…ever.

And just a quick squiz over their website shows a horde of riders wearing HJC lids in all major competitions around the world.

hjc RPHA 1N red bull austin sportsbike helmet rear view
Rear of the Red Bull Austin GP HJC RPHA 1N helmet

So they should know a thing or two about making helmets that protect well.

And of course it helps focus the mind when they absolutely have to pass FIM testing before their riders are allowed to wear their HJC helmets on the grid in MotoGP!

Well, now HJC has got an entire range of RPHA 1 helmets FIM approved which means you can now buy their FIM certified RPHA 1N helmet for the road.

HJC actually has 3 different versions of the RPHA 1N helmet FIM certified: the RPHA 1N, RPHA 01R, RPHA 1NN and RPHA 1N GP. And it’s the RPHA 1N and RPHA 1NN that’s been certified in all sizes from XXS-XXL.

So if you buy an HJC RPHA 1N (Europe) or RPHA 1NN (US) you’ll be getting more or less the same lid as worn by your MotoGP idol. Which is kinda cool.

And that means you’ll be getting a helmet that’s been designed to offer exceptional aero on the track as well as great all round vision and performance if you’re on a sportsbike (or any bike for that matter) on the road.

Click to find all the FIM certified track helmets we’ve covered, or read on to find out all about the latest HJC RPHA 1N helmet.

  • Sportsbike/track full face helmet
  • Composite fiber construction
  • 4 Shell sizes
  • Pinlock/tear off shield
  • Pinlock included
  • 3.3lbs (1.5Kg) weight (size medium)
  • EQRS cheek pads
  • 5 year warranty
  • Sizes XXS-XXL
  • Expect to pay $700-$850

Looking to buy an HJC RPHA 1N ?

Please click below to visit the HJC RPHA 1N helmets pages at our recommended store or Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The HJC RPHA 1N is designed for international motorcycle racing. Which means one thing these days: it has to be tested and homologated by the FIM.

And at the time of writing they’ve certified all sizes of the RPHA 1N. That’s the RPHA 1 (as sold in the UK and Europe), the RPHA 1N (as sold in the US) along with the RPHA 1 GP and a RPHA 01R.

What the difference is between these variants, it’s difficult to say as they all look pretty much the same. Except to say that it’s only the RPHA1 and RPHA1N that have been homologated in all sizes from XXS-XXL so I guess these have been homologated with a view to retail sales.

hjc rpha pol espargaro replice FIM homologated helmet top view
Top down view of the Pol Espargaro replica RPHA 1N. Notice 3 large air intakes above the shield.

So, given it’s passed the FIM’s stringent range of tests, we’d very much expect the shell to do its job if you ended up hitting the deck.

Of course, if you buy one in the US it has to be DOT certified, and in Europe, the HJC RPHA 1N conforms to the latest ECE 22.06 safety standard.

So what helmet tech has HJC used on the RPHA 1N? Well, it uses their PIM+ shell – that stands for Premium Integrated Matrix and is a development of HJCs PIM tech that’s been around with HJC for a while.

The PIM+ shell has a 6 laminate construction which includes layers of a carbon/glass fiber hybrid material and carbon fiber (sorry, HJC don’t publish any more information that that).

The helmet shell’s backed by a multi-density shock absorbing liner, all of which you’d kinda expect from a top flight track helmet at this price point.

Of course you want to keep out of trouble in the first place. Features that’ll help that happen in the RPHA 1N are: the shield’s nice and wide to give good all-round vision. There’s a Pinlock in the box to stop fogging. Like all race-bred helmets, it’s secured using a double-d ring fastener. And there’s EQRS cheek pads in there to help get the helmet off more easily should you have a spill.

So, it’s got all the key features in there to stop the helmet contributing to a crash in the first place, and for giving you good head protection if you do end up off your motorcycle.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

If you’re looking for a quiet helmet, you should probably stay away from a track helmet.

hjc RPHA 1N motorcycle helmet senin yellow side view
Senin graphic HJC RPHA 1N.

Track helmet designers tend to prioritise stuff like light weight, lots of ventilation and good aero rather than focusing on having enough padding to keep things quiet.

It’s true that these things aren’t always mutually exclusive of course. Make a helmet that’s slippery through the air and it’s going to reduce the amount of noise that it generates too.

And it seems that HJC have done just that with the HJC RPHA 1N with Champion Helmets scoring it as the 2nd quietest of the latest generation of track helmets (after the Scorpion Exo R1 Air).

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The HJC RPHA 1N has what HJC calls advanced channeling ventilation system or ACS. It’s nothing too radical, simply HJC’s fancy name for a system that takes air into the helmet, circulates it around the head using channels in the polystyrene liner and exhausts it out the back of the helmet.

However, in the RPHA 1N’s case, HJC has put a larger number of vents in the helmet than they typically do.

hjc RPHA 1N motorcycle helmet senin red top view
You can just about see all 5 inlets at the front and one of the rear exhausts on this Senin graphic RPHA 1N

In the chin bar, there’s both a bottom slider to let air in towards the mouth (and venting to both sides of the chin), as well as a top slider that directs it onto the back of the shield.

On the forehead, there’s a couple of large vent sliders – left and right – which hide a couple of inlets each. There’s also a smaller central vent with slider.

These upper vents circulate air around the helmet and there’s a couple of large exhausts on the top of the helmet and underneath the rear spoiler to let warm and moist air out of the back.

This venting is coupled with HJC’s Silvercool comfort liner that’s designed to wick moisture away from the head. And given pro racers have a proper workout at some very hot circuits, we expect the ventilation system on the RPHA 1N should be up to the job of keeping airflow going through the helmet and keeping us cool on our sunday afternoon blasts over the hills.

Shield

(more about shields)

The shield on the HJC RPHA 1N is what’s called a 2D shield – the same type that you’ll find on all serious track helmets. It’s called that because it’s basically cut from a sheet of polycarb and then wrapped around the front of the helmet, rather than being moulded and shaped.

That way, you can fit a tear off shield to it; and usefully, it helps with seating a Pinlock on there too.

The HJC RPHA 1N comes with both in the box. So if you’re a track monkey, you can have a dabble with tear offs. And stick on the Pinlock, and you should be able to solve more or less all your fogging issues.

A couple of useful links…

– All our FIM helmets reviews –
– Safest helmets you can buy –

Note, all the photos of the RPHA 1N show it with a dark shield. I guess marketing bods at helmet companies reckon it makes their helmets look meaner and more purposeful. But it’s a bit misleading because every helmet ever sold comes with a clear shield – including the RPHA 1N (though the occasional lid is sold with an extra tinted shield in the box).

OK, onto the details of the shield.

hjc RPHA 1N track helmet arenas replica rear view
This one’s the Arenas replica

It’s a quick release, toolless change shield, meaning you can remove it for cleaning or replacement really easily and without tools.

The shield covers a wide aperture to give you excellent peripheral vision and HJC reckons they’ve pushed the Pinlock pins back a bit to keep them nicely out of your vision too.

There’s also a shield lock on there so you can make sure the shield stays tightly closed for all 21 laps (or when you’re surfing the gravel nose-first!). Putting on a shield lock means that you’re gonna have to push up on the lock each time you want to open your locked shield though.

It also means that they’ve had to put the opening tab on the left hand side which can be a bit of a pain when you’re sitting at the lights with the clutch in and want to open your shield (you’ll have to reach around with your right hand).

Finally, even with the clear shield on your RPHA 1N, HJC say it’ll cut out 99% of UV, which is obviously great for protecting your long-term vision (all polycarb shields cut out at least 95% but still… it’s good to know the RPHA 1N’s nearer 100%).

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The RPHA 1N is manufactured in 4 different shell sizes (read here why that’s a good thing) and comes in fitment sizes of XXS-XXL. Size XXS is a pretty rare fitment so that’s gonna make someone’s day!

And unusually for an FIM homologated helmet, all sizes have been certified. Usually a helmet brand will only get the sizes their sponsored riders need tested for homologation, so HJC’s gone a big step further with the RPHA 1N.

hjc RPHA 1N track helmet arenas replica top view
Same helmet (Arenas) but top view.

Inside the helmet, you’ll find a high quality Silvercool interior.

HJC liners are usually called Supercool – given they wick away moisture, therefore keeping your head cool. There’s precious little info out there about their Silvercool liners other than they’re moisture wicking and antibacterial.

But quite a few manufacturers (such as Bell and LS2) have helmet liners that contain strands of silver fabric in them because silver’s an excellent antibacterial, so I’m guessing that’s what Silvercool is.

There’s also speaker pockets inside (becoming more common in track helmets) and glasses grooves – so if you’re looking for a helmet that’s going to work for your glasses, you should be sorted with the RPHA 1N.

The liner’s fully removeable and washable and it’s also fitted with EQRS cheekpads – that’s a bit of a must if you’re taking your helmet on a track day I’d say.

Looks & Graphics

At the time of writing, there aren’t too many graphic options around – so you might wanna click through to our recommended retailers using the links below to find any new graphics that have been launched in the meantime.

For plains, there’s a matt black and gloss white. For graphics, there’s the Senin (available in red/black, yellow/black and blue/white) and the rest are race reps: a Pol Espargaro, a Red Bull Austin and the RPHA 1N Arenas (he’s a Moto3 rider if you’re not familiar).

Looking to buy an HJC RPHA 1N ?

Please click below to visit the HJC RPHA 1N helmets pages at our recommended store or Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

HJC RPHA 1N Video

Here’s a reasonable 14m look around the Red Bull Austin RPHA 1N from Champion Helmets.

Other stuff – weight, chin curtain, warranty

Even though the HJC RPHA 1N is made from some fancy composite materials including carbon fiber, it’s still not massively light. It weighs around 3.3lbs (1.5Kg) in the medium shell so there’s plenty of other sportsbike helmets that are lighter weight.

If you buy an RPHA 1N, it’ll come with the full compliment of breath guard and chin curtain in the box (along with the tear offs and Pinlock insert).

And it’s backed with HJC’s longest warranty; that’s a 5 year warranty from date of purchase or 7 years from manufacturing date (whichever comes first).

Overall/Summary

The HJC RPHA 1N looks to cover everything you’ll need from a serious track helmet.

The only real downside is that it’s not super light which some of its competition are (Scorpion Exo R1 Air or the AGV Pista GP RR for example).

hjc RPHA 1N senin blue white graphic motogp helmet side view
Blue/white version of the RPHA 1N Senin graphic.

Other than that, it’s a wind-tunnel designed out-and-out track helmet. It has a wide 2D racing shield with tear-off and Pinlock pegs (both tear offs and Pinlock are included in the box), and it has a super laminate complex composite construction that has helped it pass FIM testing making it fully racetrack-ready.

And it’s been developed in conjunction with HJC’s team of sponsored riders, which includes the likes of Pol Espargaro, Sam Lowes, Garett Gerloff (WSBK) and Tony Elias (MotoAmerica). Which is really no bad thing!

And because it’s an HJC – who specialize in more affordable helmets – that means it’s available at a slightly lower price than most other FIM helmets.

All of which means, if you’re looking for a helmet that really works on sportsbikes and on the track – and you quite fancy wearing the same helmet as pro MotoGP riders – then you might want to check out the HJC RPHA 1N (preferably using our retailer links 🙂 )

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Good Alternatives to the HJC RPHA 1N?

OK, you might want to check out our sportsbike helmet reviews, or track helmet reviews if you’re looking for a helmet that’ll work going fast and tucked in. Or maybe our sports touring helmet reviews if you’re after something a little less extreme.

Or of course, there’s always our Top 10 Sportsbike/Track helmets page.

sportsbike-and-track-motorcycle-helmets-top-10

Shoei-X-Spirit-III-X-fourteen-motorcycle-crash-helmet-White-rear-view
Shoei X-Fourteen

But if you want a couple of premium track helmets to think about:

The Shoei X-Fourteen is a proven top-flight helmet. As worn by Marc Marquez and scores of other riders, it’s an amazing track helmet and because it’s been around for a few years now, can be found for less than the RPHA 1N.

Arai Corsair X

Another top track lid is the Arai Corsair X, as worn by Johnny Rea in WSBK. It’s not the lightest but its FIM certified, Snell Certified and SHARP 5 star rated so you know it’s gonna give you excellent protection!

Looking to buy an HJC RPHA 1N ?

Please click below to visit the HJC RPHA 1N helmets pages at our recommended store or Amazon. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shop for helmets at Amazon

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