HJC IS Max II modular crash helmet review

The HJC IS-Max II is a polycarbonate shelled flip-up/modular crash helmet with an integral sun visor. It’s on sale at a very attractive price-point for such a well-featured helmet – and it scored pretty highly in German magazine Motorrad’s review of a range of 16 modular helmets – coming in 5th place. So let’s take a look at what features it offers and, most importantly, what owners think of it.

Modular/flip-up helmet
Scored 4/5 in SHARP safety test. Not Snell certified
3.9Lbs (1.76Kg) about average for a modular
Integral sun visor
Glasses groove
Sizes XS – XXL (up to XXXXXL in the US!)
Price range: $190-$210

Looking to buy an HJC IS-Max II?

The HJC IS-Max II has now been discontinued. But the last time we checked, you could still buy it at Amazon. Please click below to drop onto their HJC IS-Max II search page – 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).

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Safety

The IS Max 2 hasn’t been Snell certified and we originally anticipated that it might score 3 stars in the SHARP safety test because that’s the score every other HJC modular has achieved (to date). But as of Sept 2015, the IS-Max II has been rated as 4 stars for safety, which is a very good score. SHARP also noted that the chin guard stayed closed and locked in every test – which is outstanding and not something every flip-up helmet can manage by any stretch.

So the HJC IS-Max II is one of the best modulars in terms of outright safety – well done HJC and a good improvement on their previous helmets.

hjc-is-max-2-crash-helmet-fluorescent-green-side-view — HJC IS-Max II in fluorescent green

The shell is manufactured in ‘Advanced’ polycarbonate – polycarbonate being the material of choice for cheaper helmets, mainly because it’s a cheaper substrate to buy and work with in the first place. Having said that, don’t let the fact that it’s polycarb put you off – some of the safest helmets around are polycarbonate. The shell is created in 2 shell sizes and is available in fittings XS-XXXXXL in the US!

Helmet Noise

Even though the IS Max II has been wind-tunnel designed and tested, most owners seem to think it’s average to poor for noise suppression. Which is about what you expect for most modulars as they tend to be noisier than the average full-face helmet. Of course, riding with ear-plugs in will make things just fine.

Ventilation

The HJC IS-Max IIs ventilation is much improved over the old IS Max. There’s a large and easy to use toggle switch on the chin guard and a slider on the forehead – easy to find and use, even in gloves.

hjc-is-max-2-crash-helmet-elements-black-grey-top-view — Top view showing vent & sun visor sliders on the HJC IS Max 2 Elements Black

Ventilation is provided by what HJC call ACS or their Advanced Channeling System, which is similar to most other manufacturers’ systems these days and includes vents that channel air through the shell and into channels within the polystyrene compression lining, through the comfort liner and straight onto the scalp. Stale air is then taken out through the rear exhaust vents – in this case, four of them.

Owners are broadly happy with the ventilation – even in particularly hot climates, so all good here.

Shield

There’s both an optically-correct main clear shield and a drop down integral sun visor fitted to the IS Max 2.

The main shield is Pinlock-ready (though unfortunately isn’t supplied with a Pinlock in the box) but has a nice wide aperture for extra peripheral vision and a decent double-edged gasket seal against rain and wind ingress. The main shield also gives 95% UVA-A and B protection too. It’s secured to the helmet with HJCs Quickslide system – HJCs take on the quick-removal and tool-less shield removal system, and it works really well – great for whipping off your shield for a clean after a long run.

There are one or two moans about how light the integral sun visor is – in that it could be a bit darker. However, owners do like the way the visor operates. There’s a 3-stage spring-loaded slider on the top of the helmet that allows you to drop the visor into position and then retract it at the touch of the spring-loaded button. As per usual, it’s not anti-fog so it can steam up in cold weather but that goes for every other sun visor on the market too (for now!).

hjc-is-max-2-crash-helmet-gloss-white-side-view — Side view of the gloss white Max 2 showing full extent of chin guard opening.

Chin Guard

There have been one or two murmurings about the chin guard not giving the right feedback to the rider that it’s locked in place (i.e. it doesn’t clunk loudly enough when you close it). So you may need to make sure you give it a solid slam to close it and a bit of a tug to check it’s locked in place until you get used to it. However what’s nice about the HJC IS-Max 2 is that it only requires one button press to open up the chin guard so it’s easy to open with just one gloved hand, and that this latest version closes against metal pegs compared to the plastic pegs of the previous model – which should reduce the chance of the chin guard opening in an accident. No other problems are reported with the chin guard.

Comfort

Owners widely report that the IS-Max 2 is a comfortable helmet. When you buy one, you may find that it requires a fitment size up as a number of owners report having to return it for a size larger (so make sure you buy from a retailer that has a no-quibbles replacement policy) but once you’ve got the right size, you should be happy with the level of comfort offered by the IS Max 2.

hjc-is-max-2-crash-helmet-elements-black-grey-rear-view — Rear view of the IS Max 2 Elements showing sun visor slider and rear exhaust vents.

Internally, the removable and washable liner is both antimicrobial and moisture-wicking (like those found inside most lids these days) but it also has a glasses-groove making the helmet more comfortable for glasses-wearers and easier to slip them on/off when wearing the helmet. Cheek pads are independently removable and available in 3 sizes to help you tailor the fit – and while there isn’t a chin curtain provided in the box, they can be bought separately if you like the draft-excluding and noise-cancelling effect they can offer.

Looks & Graphics

The IS-Max II isn’t one of those helmets that come in tons of color schemes. There’s the usual gloss/matt black and gloss white, together with a hi-vis fluorescent green. In addition there’s the Elements design scheme – that comes in 5 colors – some shown on this page.

Best places to buy an HJC IS-Max II?

Video

Here’s a dude rattling through some of the features of the IS-Max II.

Other stuff – communicators & buffeting

hjc-is-max-2-crash-helmet-gloss-white-side-view-closed — Plain gloss white version

The HJC IS-Max 2 does have a couple of generous pockets for speakers and should work well with most third party communicators. Owners also say that its aerodynamically-sculpted shell means that the Max isn’t susceptible to buffeting.

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Overall

HJCs IS-Max II is a great modular crash helmet. It’s reasonably priced, well built and is really user-friendly to live with. It has an easy-to remove main shield, easy to operate sun visor and chin guard and is comfortable and well-ventilated. Like many modular lids, it can be a bit noisy and it’s not the lightest helmet around. But it scores highly for safety (as tested by SHARP), and at this medium price point, it offers a good mix of performance and value and is well worth a look.

Alternatives

There are some great alternatives worth checking out. If you’re after a modular/flip-up helmet, then you might want to take a look at our ‘top 5 modular helmets‘ list. Alternatively, how about the Lazer Paname for something a little more exclusive? It’s 4 star safety rated, well built and has a built in sun visor as well.

Looking to buy an HJC IS-Max II?

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Star Ratings

HJC IS-17 Full Face Crash Helmet Review

The HJC IS-17 is the replacement to the popular IS-16. It’s been designed to be a bit of a jack of all trades, for riders of all types of road bikes and with features that the modern rider will find useful thrown in; from integral sun-visor and Pinlock anti-fog insert to wind-tunnel tested shell design to reduce noise and buffeting that’ll also be good for the odd track day or two.

But the problem with trying to be all things to all people can be that you end up pleasing no one. Can the HJC avoid the trap? Here’s a quick clue – by jingo it can!

5 Star SHARP safety rating (Eu version)
Not Snell certified
DOT & ECE certified versions
Very comfortable
3.4Lbs (1.55kg) – about average
Polycarbonate shell
Sizes XS – XXL
Typical price range: $160-$280 (depending on design)

NOTE: The HJC IS-17 is no longer available. To find a great alternative, try our Top 10 helmets pages or our HJC helmet review page.

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Safety

First off, safety. As we always say, if you’ve gotta wear a helmet, you might as well wear one that’s been proven to be safe.

The HJC IS-17 is advertised as having an ‘advanced polycarbonate composite’ shell, but there are no more details about exactly what the polycarbonate is composited with. Either way, whether it’s just plain old polycarb or something a bit more hi-tech, the EU version has been been tested by SHARP and rated as a (maximum) 5 star helmet. This means it is among the highest rated helmets around and should offer great protection in an accident.

It’s unclear whether the US version is the same as the European, but the IS-17 has been DOT certified so should offer a guaranteed minimal level of protection in an accident.

hjc IS-17 fluorescent green crash helmet — HJC IS-17 in Fluorescent green. It might not look much different from other lids, but it’s a very slippery profile to reduce noise and buffeting.

Helmet Noise

Of course helmet noise is subjective and depends on how noisy your last helmet was, but most owners are happy about how quiet the IS-17 is (but do read owner comments at the bottom of this post). HJC have recently invested in a wind tunnel and the results show in the IS-17 as it has a new slippery shell with vents and sliders with a lower profile meaning there’s less to catch the wind and create noise. But the majority of owners reckon it’s a relatively quiet helmet. We still recommend you ride with ear plugs if you’re going any distance – but unless you come from a helmet that was particularly known for noise suppression, you should find all good with the IS-17.

Crash Helmet Sizing

There’s no information been published about the number of helmet shell sizes HJC have produced for the IS-17 – usually the more the better – but with this lid coming in at such a low price, we’re assuming it’ll be one, maybe two. As for fitment, it’s available in sizes XS-XXL (53-64cms). If you’re unsure how you can tell if a helmet fits you – check here.

Ventilation

With an internal sun visor in the way, there isn’t space for any of the usual brow/forehead vents, which can be a problem for full face crash helmet ventilation. However, HJC seem to have overcome any problems with the IS-17. There’s a big central chin vent, a crown vent and three exhaust vents to the side and rear of the helmet. To help out, there’s also an integral breath deflector to help keep your breath away from the visor and your face. All these work very well with owners saying it’s great for keeping your head cool in the summer and fog-free in the rain and cold weather.

hjc IS-17 Genesis crash helmet — Rear view of the HJC IS-17 Genesis showing rear/side exhaust vents.

The central vent pulls air up and across the shield while the forehead vent brings air into the top of the lid and through the now ubiquitous channels through the internal shock-absorbing EPS liner to keep the head cool. The air is then pulled out of the rear of the helmet through the rear exhaust vent. All vents are designed to be closed off and their sliders/openers are sturdy and easy to use with gloves.

The only fly in the ointment is that some owners report that even with vents closed, air can leak in, making for a draughty helmet (thanks for this info commenters below). That said, most owners praise the IS-17’s ability to keep the shield clear and the head cool which means it broadly scores highly for ventilation.

Shield/sun visor

HJC have worked hard on the visors and seem to have got things (almost) spot on. The IS-17 comes with a Pinlock-ready, UV repellant, anti scratch main visor and an integral drop-down sun visor. Taking the main shield first, it’s interesting because it has a slight recess in the inside of the shield that will fit a Pinlock anti-fog insert. Pinlocks usually sit on the inside of the visor and so are slightly raised from it. HJC & Pinlock have decided that it’s a better idea to form the main shield with a recess to allow the insert to fit flat – a system that’s called Max Vision. It’s also slightly larger than regular Pinlocks offering a better field of view that’s obscured less by the edges of the insert.

That’s also shown on the shield opening and closing mechanism. There’s a central tab on the shield that clicks the visor locked when it’s down – and owners seem to like it. It stops the shield opening up when you’re zooming along – not that it’s a problem on many other helmets who do very well without a shield locking mechanism. It does help when keeping the shield cracked open on it’s lowest defog setting as well though, allowing a small amount of breeze in when needed. A couple of owners had a problem with the ratchet being a little too ‘soft’ – it’s OK when it’s fully closed or open, but intermediate positions can be a problem with this soft ratchet not being strong enough to keep it there. One owner reckoned the central locking tab is quite large too so it can get in the way of your vision if the shield’s half way up. That’s probably not a problem for many riders, but if you like to ride with your shield half way up, this might not be the right helmet for you.

The last thing to mention about the shield is that it has HJCs Rapid Fire II visor removal system. This is awesome. Just push a little lever below the shield pivot and the shield’s released. To replace it, just push the shield in place and it seats with a click. Job done – even with one hand. You can check out how well it works in the video below.

Onto the sun visor. You lower it with a slider on the top of the helmet and retract it with the press of a button. It’s spring-loaded so it’ll snap back up instantly which makes it easy to use and is a good safety feature. Some helmets with spring-loaded retractors are pretty basic and the visor bangs back up. The IS-17’s is shock-absorbed so it’s quieter and nicer to use. The only complaint some users have is that it’s not sun-dimmed enough. I’m assuming it’s dimmed down to a universally-acceptable legally allowable level but have no way of verifying this. Apart from that, and the fact that it can mist up on cold days (which is the same for all sun-visors) it’s universally liked.

hjc IS-17 Mission crash helmet — Side view of the mean and moody IS-17 Mission.

Comfort

There’s new internals for the IS-17. It has what HJC call their Supercool moisture wicking interior – that’s full removable and washable and is anti-bacterial; which is very similar to the features of most of the best-performing helmets. What all that stuff means is it’s designed to be comfortable, to help with ventilation, to pull moisture away from the head and to be fully removable and washable. There’s also a range of replaceable cheek pads available which are a great way to get the fit of the helmet just right. So HJC tick all the right boxes, but what’s it actually like in reality?

Well, when people talk about the HJC IS-17, they almost universally say it’s comfortable. Very comfortable. Folks don’t really talk about great wicking and how easy it is to wash – but they’ll moan about feeling too hot or they couldn’t wait to get the lid off. And in the IS-17s case, everyone says how it’s better than their previous lids (granted, most are stepping up from really budget lids) and that they’ve ridden all day in it without a problem. It also has a glasses-groove incorporated into the sides of the lining so is great to easily slip glasses on and off with the helmet in place.

All in all, we reckon you’ll be pleased at how comfortable the IS-17 will be. Check this link for other crash helmets that are reported as being really comfortable (or click the feature tags to the right)

Video

Here’s a video of some guy who really likes the IS-17 (mostly because he’s trying to shift em, granted)

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight

The IS-17 comes with a double-d fastener meaning that it’s good for track use (though if that’s important to you, make sure you check with your retailer before buying because it also comes with a micrometric fastener in some parts). It’s also very friendly for folks wanting to add communicators to their lids as owners reckon there’s bags of space behind the chin guard for a mic and space near the ears for ear phones. One final note is that weight and buffeting are reported as top notch. The lid weighs in around 3.4lbs/1.55 kilos which is about average weight for a full face. And finally, because this latest generation of HJCs have been wind tunnel tested/designed, it’s very slippery from every angle, meaning buffeting has been reduced.

HJC IS 17 helmet Metal pearl white ryan — IS-17 ‘Metal’ Pearl White Ryan (no idea!) showing of its ‘I’ve been designed in a wind tunnel’ looks and sun visor slider.

Overall

From all the comments we’ve found across the interweb, there aren’t many nay-sayers. It’s a feature packed helmet that’s well-built with good finish and that’s packed with useful, well-thought-out design features. Not only that – it’s DOT certified and also scores a maximum for safety according to SHARP (in the EU at least) – and while it’s not exactly a budget helmet, for the price (around $150-$250 at the time of writing) it represents very good value for money. Oh, and I nearly forgot – it also comes with HJCs 5 year warranty too! It’s a great package and well worth looking at if you’re in the market for a new low-price helmet.

Alternatives

Even though the IS-17 represents excellent value for money, there are some great alternatives around. The Shark Race-R Pro Carbon is another 5 star rated helmet that’s wonderful for comfort and scores either average or well in almost every category. Having said that, it’s over twice the price of the HJC – though if you’re looking after something a bit more exclusive, it’s worth checking out.

To see reviews on other helmets, click our crash helmets review section. For other four or five star SHARP rated crash helmets, choose from the menu at the top or the tags to the right.

If you’ve any experience of the IS-17, we’d love to know what you think in the comments section below. Nice one.

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Review of the MT Ventus open faced crash helmet

The MT Ventus is a helmet that’s designed with one thing in mind – convenience. That’s because MT created it to be as lightweight and unobtrusive as possible when you’re wearing it and to be as small as possible so it’s easy to stow away – probably under the seat of your scooter. They also made it so they could sell it as cheaply as possible. So can it be any good too?

Not distributed in the US
Polycarbonate shell
Small helmet shell size
Micrometric fastener
Anti scratch shield
Very low price
Great entry-level open face helmet
Price range – approx $50

Page Contents

Safety

The Ventus is an open face helmet (technically it’s a jet-style helmet because it has a shield – but I digress) and so it’s never going to be massively safe. It has been ECE 22-05 safety tested/approved for sale in the EU but, as with all open-face helmets, if you’re in an accident, you risk face-planting the floor so it’s impossible to give the Ventus a particularly high score for safety. We usually like to refer you to the SHARP safety rating too, but again, because it’s an open face helmet, SHARP won’t test them because if you want safe, you buy a full-face helmet.

Having said all that, and you really need the convenience of an open helmet – and you manage to avoid hitting your face/chin during an accident – then we’d expect the MT to perform reasonably well. It’s a polycarbonate helmet and comes only in one helmet shell size, but MT helmets that have been SHARP safety tested score an average of 4/5 stars making MT our 9th safest crash helmet brand at the time of writing. So we’d expect the shell of the Ventus to stand up reasonably well to an impact. It’s secured to your head using a trusty micrometric strap – which are tried, tested and very easy to use.

Overall though, because the Ventus doesn’t protect the face and chin, you’ll see in our star rating at the bottom of the article, we’ve had to score it a single star for safety.

MT-Ventus-open-face-crash-helmet-gloss-white-side-view — The MT Ventus in gloss white

Helmet Size

The helmet shell of the Venus is produced in only one shell-size. MT’s reasoning for this is that their goal was to keep the Ventus as small as possible so it can be stowed away under the seat. And indeed they’ve succeeded in that because several owners have reported that the Ventus is practically the only helmet they’ve found that’s small enough to fit under the seat of their scooter (obviously, that’s dependent on the model of your bike).

While producing a helmet in a range of shell sizes (that’s different from a fitment size) is generally a good thing, it’s arguably less of an issue for an open or jet style helmet because the helmet doesn’t totally envelop the head. However, for those of you with very a small head, it may make the helmet look really big on you – the so called lollipop effect. The rest of us should be fine though.

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Ventilation

Ventilation isn’t such an issue on an open faced helmet for obvious reasons. That’s not to say you can’t buy open faced helmets with ventilation because they do exist (such as the Scorpion Exo 100 Padova). And while the Ventus does have a couple of exhaust vents on either side of the helmet, there’s no integral ventilation to the skull. If you ride in hot places, this may be a drawback for you.

Shield

The Ventus has an anti-scratch pull down shield which users find very convenient. It’s very handy to have a shield there to stop rain or dust and because it’s anti-scratch, it should stay nice and clear even after repeated cleaning.

MT-Ventus-open-face-crash-helmet-matt-black-side-view — Gloss black version of the MT Ventus showing rear sculpting and side vent

Comfort

One thing that most owners of the MT Ventus praise is the helmet’s comfort. It is a cheap helmet so many owners didn’t expect much from it in the first place, but most are very happy with the comfort. The occasional owner mentioned that MT had skimped a little on the liner and that it was a bit thinner than they were used to. And of course, most users of the Ventus probbly won’t wear it for very long because it’ll appeal mostly to commuters. But if you buy a Ventus and get the initial fitting right, you should find it a comfortable helmet to live with.

Looks & Graphics

The Ventus isn’t available in may designs or colors. The main colors available are the gloss and matt black ones pictured, though on MTs website, they do show a white and a stripy version (various colored stripes) though these don’t appear to be available in all countries.

Ventus video

There don’t seem to be many videos showing the Ventus – but here’s a non-English one we found that’ll give you a feel for the helmet – and features some of the most inappropriate music overdubbing a crash helmet video we’ve heard so far!

Other stuff – weight, glasses, noise

Some owners reported that it’s a great helmet for glasses-wearers; you can take the helmet on and off without removing your glasses and it’s fine for riding with them on. Most also think it’s light to wear and like the fact you can hear quite a bit around you – which can be a bonus provided you don’t go too fast.

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Overall

If you’re after an open face helmet for your daily commute and that’s going to fit under your seat when you get there, the MT Ventus is a great bet. It’s not got the best build quality, but with such a low price, you can forgive the fact that MT have cut one or two corners. Overall, a very useful helmet with a nice and easy to use shield that’ll keep the worst of the road dirt and rain off your face and that’s comfortable for your daily commute and more.

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Alternatives

We’ve not looked at many open face helmets because, well, they’re not the safest helmets around. But you might want to check out the Scorpion EXO 100 Padova, a well-built helmet with an in-built sun visor as well as a clear shield too – that’s highly rated by owners.

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Review of the AGV GT Veloce full face motorcycle crash helmet

The GT Veloce is AGVs full face SHARP five star rated sports-touring helmet. It’s based on the shell of Valentino Rossi’s top-of-the-range Pista-GP and the slightly cheaper AGV Corsa but has been re-worked to create a helmet that’s less extreme and more practical but keeps much of the race pedigree of the other lids.

Note: the GT veloce is now a discontinued helmet so you might like to check out it’s replacement, the AGV GT Veloce S

Not Snell certified
SHARP 5 Star Safety Rated (maximum)
3.2Lbs/1450 g (light)
Wide and tall shield aperture
Pinlock and tear off ready
Not the quietest
Sizes XS – XXL
Typical price range – $500-$600 (depending on model)

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Safety & Shell

The AGV GT Veloce has a great pedigree. The shell is based on AGVs excellent Pista-GP and Corsa helmets. While neither of these has been tested by Snell (AGV don’t seem to submit their helmets to Snell for certification these days) both of these scored a maximum five stars by the SHARP crash helmet testing scheme, and so did the GT Veloce. If you compare the GT Veloce with the other two, you can see a few differences – the chin guard is less pointy and aerodynamic and there’s less of a spoiler on the back – but the overall look of the helmet is very similar.

AGV-GT-Veloce-gloss-white-crash-helmet — Veloce GT in gloss white

It’s also constructed of the same composite materials as the other lids too – a composite of fiberglass, aramid and carbon fibers. AGV call it their SSL system or Super Super Light (does that mean even lighter helmets will be called SSSL in future?!). It is a pretty light helmet, though it’s actually not any where near the lightest helmet around (for example AGVs own Pista GP weighs 2.75lbs/1250g compared to the GT Veloce’s 3.2lbs/1450g).

The GT Veloce’s helmet shell is manufactured in four shell sizes, and comes in fitting sizes XS-S-MS-ML-L-XL-XXL. Note, there’s two different medium ‘fitting’ sizes because a few manufacturers are now starting to split sizes to give an even better fit, especially in more popular sizes.

Producing a crash helmet shell in more sizes is a good thing – it means the shell is a better size/fit for your head and also means the amount of shock-absorbing expanded polystyrene lining will be nearer the optimum amount required to keep injury to a minimum. It’ll also mean the helmet will look better on you, avoiding the lollipop effect!

Other safety features include a thicker, 2mm visor, which is designed to be less easy to penetrate during an accident. It’s also wider too to give you better peripheral vision. The fastener is a double d-ring; they’re old style these days but work just fine, and are a must if you’re planning to take your helmet to the track.

Having said all this, the proof’s in the pudding and with a SHARP 5 star rating (and of course the obligatory DOT certification and ECE 22-05 approval in the EU), the AGV GT Veloce should be about as safe as crash helmets come.

Helmet Noise

AGV-GT-Veloce-TXT-black-white-crash-helmet — The AGV Veloce GT in TXT color scheme.

Because the AGV GT Veloce is based on race-bred technology, it will only be as quiet as these donor shells allow. Unfortunately, both the donor helmets are noisy – and the GT Veloce is no exception. Race helmets need to focus on safety, aero, buffeting, vision. Arguably the last thing a racing helmet designer will consider is noise – let’s face it, if you want to make a helmet quiet at the track, you bung in better ear plugs! So at anything over moderate speeds, owners reckon you’ll find the GT Veloce noisy.

This might not be a deal-breaker because add a decent pair of ear plugs into the equation, and it’s perfectly manageable. But if buying a quiet crash helmet is your thing or you do quite a bit of riding without plugs, the GT Veloce is probably one to avoid.

Ventilation

Ventilation on the AGV GT Veloce is a mixed bag. It’s a similar story to the ventilation on the AGV Corsa. Overall ventilation is fine. If the front vents are open, they pull in lots of air, take it up over the back of the visor, over the head where it can reach the scalp via the cut-aways in the lining (see comfort section for more information) and grotty air is expelled through the rear exhausts, helped by the rear sculpting of the helmet that causes and active pull effect. All good there.

AGV-GT-Veloce-GTX-black-gunmetal-crash-helmet — AGV GT Veloce GTX showing rear exhaust vents and reduced spoiler.

The main problem is with AGVs fiddly ventilation opening tabs. The forehead ones are fiddly at best and a right ole pain at worst. They are small, so hard to find, and owners reckon you’re never quite sure if you’ve opened them until you get up to speed and can feel the effects. Similarly, the chin vent is opened/closed by a slider on the inside of the chin guard. Again, owners unused to AGVs find it a bit unusual and fiddly, especially wearing winter gloves.

As usual, whether this will be a problem for you is down to personal preference. If you’re the type who leaves the vents in one setting for months on end, then it’ll not be a problem. If you like to get the helmet ventilation just right, it might cause you a problem.

Shield

There’s lots of good things to say about the GT Veloce’s shield.

First off, because it inherits the Pista GP and the Corsa’s racing aperture that’s wider and taller than normal, the GT Veloce gives great peripheral vision as well as view of the road ahead if you’re in a tuck position. The shield’s what AGV call a Race 2 shield. It’s thicker than average, to give extra protection, and it’s optically-correct to remove distortion.

Then there’s AGVs excellent shield release system (called XQRS or Extra Quick Release System). Pull a tab down on the shield and out it comes. Owners love it. Oh, and the GT Veloce is Pinlock-ready (make sure you find a retailer who’ll include one in the box for you for free) and it’s actually rip-off shield ready too, with a couple of mounting pins on the outside of the shield.

And finally (we said there were lots of good things) the opening tab is at the bottom centre of the shield – probably the best place for the opening tab to be? So all fine there then?

Well not quite. There’s a couple of things buyers need to be aware of here. Firstly, there’s no ratchet mechanism on the face shield. Owners report it’s reasonably firm and will stay open to moderate speeds, and of course that’s probably fine for the track. But many owners wished it had a ratchet to keep the shield at set openings. Secondly, the shield automatically closes and locks, needing you to press a switch to unlock and open it. Owners reckon this can be done with a single finger as the unlock button is right below the opening tab so can be achieved in one movement. However, unless you’re on the track, a lock is probably unnecessary and a spring-loaded auto-lock, doubly so. It is possible to lock the shield in a cracked slightly open position, which is useful, but many helmets manage the same without the need for an auto-lock.

AGV-GT-Veloce-matt-black-side-view-crash-helmet — Matt black version which shows the AGVisor LCD shield fitted and darkened (here, with Pinlock fitted too).

Again, if you do lots of track riding and want the security that your shield will stay closed throughout your session (or any crashing!) then the lock is a good thing. But for most riders, it’s probably unnecessary and some find it annoying.

One final note is that the larger shield has many benefits, but if you’re using the helmet for lots of touring or road-riding, then a higher shield aperture, without an inner sun-visor, means you can’t easily lower your head and use the top of the opening to cut out the sun – which can be a real pain, especially when the sun is lower in the sky.

Oh, and a final final note, the GT Veloce supports AGVs AGVisor (see what they did there?), their switchable LCD shield that darkens the shield at the touch of a button. Check the pic of the matt black version left to see what it looks like in it’s dark position. AGV reckons the battery will last for 12 hours in this fully darkened mode.

Comfort

It goes without saying that they key to a comfortable crash helmet is getting the right size and fit in the first place. But that said, AGV have a good reputation for making some of the most comfortable crash helmets around and the same goes for the GT Veloce.

It’s got a removable and washable liner composed of Lycra and a wicking fabric that owners say is high quality and comfortable. It’s also highly adjustable internally, with pockets in the liner to add padding at various points around the helmet including the cheeks, rear, and various other points around the skull using padding disks that come with the helmet. It’s also got adjustable ‘rabbits ear’ strips across the head, which allow the helmet to sit higher or lower on the head and alter its angle. They also allow you to slightly adjust the helmet for head shape.

All in all it’s a good effort from AGV to allow riders to get the helmet fit just right. Having said that, it’s no substitute for getting the helmet fitment right in the first place and most owners reckon they haven’t played around with the padding too much. But it’s there if you need it and has helped some riders perfect their helmet’s fit and remove any pressure points.

Overall, owners say the GT Veloce is a comfortable helmet with a high quality, well thought out interior making for a helmet that can be happily worn all day.

AGV-GT-Veloce-GTX-black-grey-red-crash-helmet — Swoopy black, grey, red GT Veloce GTX. Nice.

Looks & Graphics

The GT Veloce is a toned-down version of the Corsa, with less extreme, sporty looks. The graphics reflect this, being mainly toned down compared to its sportier cousins (what no race-reps?). There’s the usual gloss white and matt/gloss black but, notably, no high vis versions which is surprising for a sports touring helmet.

The AGV GT Veloce TXTs come in two variants as shown on this page – the TXT in black/white and our favourite, the TXT in black/gunmetal/red as shown at the top of the page. There’s also the classy GTX paints, in red/grey, black/gunmetal (right) and blue/gunmetal. Most are shown on this page but for the full range, please click on the graphic/links directly below.

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Video

Here’s some guy from AGV giving you a run through of the GT Veloce’s features.

Other stuff – communicators

All that’s left to say is that the AGV GT Veloce is probably fine if you’re looking for a helmet to use with a bluetooth or other comms system. There’s cutaways in the liner for speakers, although they may be a bit on the small side if your speakers are over-sized. Whether you can hear what’s being said is an entirely different matter!

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AGV-GT-Veloce-TXT-black-red-crash-helmet — Our fave – the GT Veloce TXT black/red.

Overall

The AGV GT Veloce has much going for it. It’s one of only a handful of crash helmets that have scored a massive 5/5 on the SHARP helmet safety test, and that’s gotta be worth a lot when you’re looking to buy a lid? It’s also comfortable, has a nice wide shield, has great build quality – it looks nice too – and it’s a good price for a composite shelled helmet. There are a few niggles though, in the form of noise, shield and ventilation opening. If you think you can live with these, then the GT Veloce will undoubtedly give you great service and be worth the money.

Alternatives

There are some great alternatives out there though. The Shark Race R Pro is another SHARP 5 star rated helmet that’s very track-orientated, lighter than the GT Veloce, and about the same price (slightly more in the carbon version). For something less track-focused, the Shoei NXR is a fantastic helmet, very much more road focused and slightly heavier (and scoring 4 stars not 5) it excels in everything else and is one of our top rated helmets. You should also check our reviews of the rest of the AGV crash helmet range.

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Shoei X-Twelve crash helmet review

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Shoei’s top of the range composite helmet designed for racers and track-use

The Shoei X-Twelve (X-Spirit II outside the US) is Shoei’s top of the range racing helmet – as worn by Marc Marquez. It features a shell of what Shoei call AIM or Advanced Integrated Matrix which is a composite material of fiberglass and ‘organic fibers’ which produce a particularly hard shell. Being Shoei’s top of the range helmet, it commands a hefty price tag, and because the X-Twelve is designed for racing, it could be a difficult helmet to live with on the road? Let’s have a look…

Now Replaced by the Shoei X-Fourteen
Shoei’s top of the range racing helmet
Composite fiberglass shell
Snell Certified
SHARP 5 star safety rated
3.3lbs/1.5Kg weight in size large (about average)
Wide shield aperture
4 shell sizes
5 Year Shoei warranty
Available in XS-XL
Typical price range: $400-$500

Safety and helmet size

X-Twelve shell sizes and fitment sizes together with a view of the removable lining.

Like all motorcycle crash helmets legally on sale in the US, the Shoei X-Twelve is DOT certified (also ECE 22.05 approved in Europe). But, unlike most, it has also been tested/certified by the Snell Foundation and the SHARP crash helmet safety testing scheme where it scored a maximum 5 star rating. There’s only a few helmets which have scored that maximum mark (many are viewable here) so you can buy an X-Twelve and ride in the knowledge you’re wearing one of the most protective helmets around.

Shoei do say that the shell is so hard it can only be cut with lazers. That’s not necessarily a good thing with a motorcycle helmet as there’s an argument that the shell should flex slightly to allow the EPS liner to do its job; but since it’s been tested by SHARP and given top marks too, it obviously does its job well.

The X-Twelve is produced in four helmet shell sizes for the US market, meaning the shell size will more closely marry to the fitment size, overall meaning that the correct thickness of EPS liner (the shock-absorbing polystyrene part that lines the helmet shell) will be used, which is good for safety. It also means the helmet will look more in proportion to your head and body size (not too large or too small); again, a good thing.

Shoei X-Twelve in Marquez Motegi colors. Click to enlarge. — Shoei X-Twelve in Marquez Motegi colors. Like all photos on this page, click to enlarge.

Other safety related features include the wider/taller shield for improved peripheral vision. The X-Twelve also has a couple of quick-release red tabs at the bottom of the liner which can be pulled to remove the cheek pads and allow easier/quicker removal of the helmet by emergency services. We’ve not had any reports of how effective these are – or indeed if the emergency services know to use them – but it could well be a very important feature to prevent further aggravation of any injuries.

Helmet Noise

The Shoei has been designed to be as slippery as possible and has been sculpted to reduce drag and lift at speed. And while owners widely report that it does indeed feel slippy and there’s not much buffeting, the design arguably doesn’t do much to help reduce helmet noise.

Of course, it’s quite probable that making the quietest helmet isn’t one of the main priorities for a racing lid and that everyone who races will wear ear plugs as a matter of course. The same may go for road riders too. However, the X-Twelve is not a quiet helmet, with pretty well all owners reporting that it’s noisier than their previous helmet, particularly at speed. Shoei do include a chin curtain with the helmet, and while that does reduce the amount of wind and noise coming up into the helmet around the neck, overall the Shoei X-Twelve is a pretty noisy helmet.

X-Twelve in Marquez Montmelo color scheme showing rear spoiler and vents.

Ventilation

Ventilation on the X-Twelve is average at best. It has a pretty narrow top vent that’s designed to suck air over the top of the head and exit at the exhaust vent at the rear and side of the helmet. But it seems it’s just too small with lots of owners saying they can’t really feel much air getting in. Also, while the vents can be opened/closed, the switch is very small and, because it moves left/right, most owners find it tricky to remember which way’s open and which way’s closed – not good.

The front chin vent is easier to use because it’s much chunkier and easier to find with gloves on, but it directs all its air up over the back of the shield. That’s good if you’re wanting to keep your shield fog-free, but not so good if you’re after lots of ventilation when the weather’s mild/hot and you’re wanting a bit of cooling, including when you’re on a track day.

Overall, ventilation on the X-Twelve isn’t up to the levels of many of its competitors.

Shield

Shoei X Spirit II gloss white crash helmet — Gloss white version. Shield mechanism is one of the best.

The shield on the X-Twelve is one of its strong points. Shoei have always had a good, positive opening and ratcheting mechanism, and the same goes here. There’s a nice positive movement to the shield and it seats firmly at its different opening settings. The shield base plate has been redesigned to automatically adjust the shield, pulling it to a tight seal when closed and moving the shield away from the seal when it’s being opened. Users say it works well too. It also features an easy to use quick-release system – just pull a tab and the shield lifts away. That’s great for changing shields according to different weather or track conditions or just removing it to clean crud off after your ride.

Shoei have also increased the width and height of the shield for improved peripheral vision and to give the tucked-in racer better vision of the road ahead – another good feature that owners like (click to see other crash helmets with wide face shields).

shoei X-Twelve Marquez 2 TC1 helmet — Top view of the Shoei X-Twelve Marquez 2 TC1 helmet

Being a racing helmet, the X-Twelve has a wide number of replacement shields available for it too – from amber high-vis and tinted shields to tear-offs for the serious racer.

Comfort

The inside of the Shoei X-Twelve is a very nice place to be. While many lower-priced helmets have made big inroads into the quality levels of some of the top brands, one of the benefits of still buying a more expensive helmet is that the linings often use slightly better quality materials, meaning comfort levels edge above some of the cheaper competition. Once you get the right fitting, the X-Twelve is very comfortable. On that note, some owners say that because the X-Twelve uses four shell sizes, you might find the sizes to be slightly different from previous Shoei’s, so it might be worth trying in a shop before you buy.

The lining is fully removable and washable and features their Max-Dry anti-wicking material that Shoei says removes sweat twice as quickly as ‘traditional’ nylon based liners. Most sports helmets these days have anti-wicking liners of course so it’s nothing new, but owners rate the internals of the Shoei highly and find it very comfortable.

Looks & Graphics

The X-Twelve is a very handsome helmet with a sleek, racy look. The build quality is regarded as exemplary by owners with a great paint finish and quality stitching.

At the time of writing, there’s currently six color schemes available (all shown on this page); three Marc Marquez paints (Motegi, Montmelo, and the Marquez 2 TC1) as well as the usual gloss white, gloss black and Matt black solids.

Video

Here’s Shoei’s sleek, pacey sales video showing you how cool you’ll look wearing an X-Twelve (note it says X Spirit II in the video but it’s the same helmet, just what they call outside of the US!) It’s worth a watch to see the helmet’s features too tho…

Other stuff – fasteners, glasses, warranty

Shoei X-Twelve matt black crash helmet rear side — Showing rear spoiler of the matt black Shoei X-Twelve

The X-Twelve comes with the obligatory double d-ring fastener (so it can be used on the track). They’re basic fasteners but work well.

Glasses owners are well catered for with the X-Twelve with owners reporting that the slots for the stem of your glasses are an improvement from the last model, with the grooves positioning your glasses better and with lots of space to slot them in yet holding them firmly in place while riding.

Finally, the Shoei X-Twelve comes with Shoei’s 5 year warranty – covering the materials and workmanship of the helmet under ‘normal’ use. All Shoeis purchased since 2013 come with this warranty which is a great comfort if you’ve had bad experience with other manufacturers. Note, the warranty only covers the original buyer and word is that it’s only valid if you buy through an authorised dealer – so beware if buying through Ebay or Amazon.

Link to guides page

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various guides – or have a look at our top helmet lists where we’ve got the top 10 rated helmets overall and best budget/safest/full face/flip-up helmets.

Shoei X-Twelve marquez 2 TC1 crash helmet — Marquez 2 TC1 X-Twelve

Overall

The Shoei X-Twelve is a competent helmet in lots of ways. It’s very safe, has a great shield mechanism and is all-day comfortable. However, it’s let down by it’s noise levels, ventilation and its price tag.

If you’re after a helmet for race days and track days, you might well find the X-Twelve to be a great helmet because it’s been designed to work for racers – as long as you don’t find it too stuffy due to the poor ventilation. Lots of owners like the helmet, but we feel that for most who aren’t on the track all day and who probably want a helmet to work on the road too, there are better alternatives around for less money.

Alternatives

Which brings us on to alternatives. If you’re after a great racing helmet for use on your sports bike, the Shark Race-R is another SHARP 5 star rated helmet for use on the track. Owners love it both on and off the track and it’s a touch cheaper than the X-Twelve. If you’re wanting to stick with a Shoei, you might consider the Shoei NXR, a helmet that performs well across the board and is designed for sports bike riders too.

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Star Ratings

MT Revenge crash helmet review

MT are Spain’s largest helmet manufacturer. They’re known for their range of budget helmets, which many folks will worry naturally means lower performance. But as the SHARP 5 star rating on the MT Revenge shows, that’s not necessarily the case, at least in terms of helmet safety. And with the Revenge having a pretty cool, aggressive and aerodynamic look about it, maybe there’s a lot more to this helmet than just the price tag….

SHARP 5 star rated (maximum)
Not Snell certified
Polycarbonate shell
Micrometric fastener
Weight – 3.2lbs/1.45Kg (pretty light for a full face)
Sizes XS-XXL
Typical price range: $100-$150 (polycarb) $250-$290 (carbon)

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Safety

mt-revenge-replica-gp-blue-red-black-crash-helmet — Replica GP version of the MT Revenge.

The MT Revenge has a polycarbonate shell and it’s produced in two sizes (shell sizes are different from fitting sizes – click the link to find out more). More expensive lids are usually produced in three or even four shell sizes, so you might find the Revenge is a slight compromise here (in that they’ll have to over or under-pad the lining more to make just two exterior shells fit such a wide range of internal fittings). The upshot is that it might look a bit too big or too small on your head, depending on your fitting size. However, that’s not necessarily a massive problem, especially when the MT Revenge scored a maximum 5/5 stars on the SHARP helmet safety test. That’s an outstanding performance and puts its safety levels right up there with the best from the big names. Fantastic job MT!

The Revenge also has a micrometric fastener – which are very easy to tie securely and quick to release using a single pull of a tab. Pretty well all the bases covered there in terms of safety.

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Helmet Noise

Owners are generally happy with the noise levels of the Revenge. It has a fairly aerodynamic shape which, owners say, helps keep it quiet, even with the vents open as there’s little to catch in the wind and create noise. The neck curtain also helps reduce noise and buffeting around the neck. It’s not the quietest full face helmet out there, but for the price, owners are happy and, even though helmet noise is pretty subjective, we think most riders won’t be disappointed.

Ventilation & Shield

mt-revenge-matt-black-crash-helmet — Rear view of the matt black version of the Revenge

Ventilation is one of the MTs strong points. It’s got the usual three front vents, one on the chin guard and a couple on the forehead – complemented with a couple of rear exhaust vents. Again, owners are happy with the amount of air they bring in though the front vents can be a little tricky to open.

The only downside is, and it’s typical of most helmets without an anti-fog insert, that the shield will steam up at low speeds. MT do however offer a Pinlock-ready face shield to combat this. They actually have a wide-range of other shields, from double glazed to iridium – even an electrical shield (whatever that is!). We’ve seen double glazed shields before as an attempt to reduce steaming on the shield – and from the MT website, it sounds like the electrical version is for riding in the extreme cold – if you’ve tried one, do let us know!

The Revenge comes with a 2mm thick shield (a safety feature) but there are just one or two reports of slight distortion. Perhaps it was a dodgy batch as most owners don’t have a problem. Finally, the shield’s got an effective quick-release system too, which is great for quick removal for cleaning after a ride.

mt-revenge-replica-gp-turquoise-pink-black-crash-helmet — MT Revenge Replica GP color scheme in turquoise, pink & black.

Comfort

Owners reckon the Revenge is good for comfort. One or two people reckoned you can feel the occasional corner might have been cut here as it’s not quite as comfortable as they’d hoped. However, after a bit of bedding in, most people are happy with comfort levels.

The Revenge is lighter than most full face helmets too, so that helps with comfort, with more than one rider commenting they just don’t know it’s there, it’s that light. As usual, the internal lining is removable and washable.

Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, carbon fiber version

There are speaker cut-aways inside the lining of the helmet and it’s been designed to work with MTs bluetooth communicator. And while owners like the micrometric fastener, a couple mentioned the loose end does flap around a bit while riding, slapping the side of the helmet. Probably not a deal-breaker, but something you might have to deal with. Oh, and if you want a special edition of the Revenge, there’s even a carbon fiber version that comes in at under $300 and drops the weight down an impressive 2.75lbs/1250g (large version). That comes with DD fasteners for the track. Sounds like a bit of a bargain to us – and looks very cool!

Helmet buying guides page

If you need any information on buying a crash helmet – what to look out for including guides on the SHARP/Snell helmet testing schemes or DOT certification for example, you might want to check out our guides page.

Overall

It usually comes down to price v performance when you’re buying a new crash helmet. And on both scores, the MT Revenge delivers. At the time of writing, you can get the Revenge for around $100. That’s a SHARP 5 star rated helmet that, bar one or two niggles, owners really love and that performs as well as some of the biggest names around – for around $100. It doesn’t really any new or advanced features on it, but if you’re after a solid performer that does all the basics well and will keep you as safe as any other helmet on the market should the worst happen, then the MT Revenge has got to be worth a good look.

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Scorpion Exo 100 Padova open face helmet

The Scorpion Exo 100 looks, on paper at least, to be a breath of fresh air. With a drop down sun visor and classic good looks, it promises to offer something a bit different from the usual crop of no-frills open face lids.

Polycarbonate Shell
Sizes XS to XXL
Spring-loaded sun visor
Typical price range: $95-$130 depending on retailer/model

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Shell and safety

The Scorpion Exo 100 is a polycarbonate-shelled open faced helmet made with a ‘half helmet’ shell.

Scorpion-Exo-100-padova-open-face-crash-helmet-cream-rear-view — Scorpion Exo 100 Padova in cream

Given the Exo 100 is an open face helmet, it won’t be tested by SHARP. It hasn’t been tested by Snell either. However, it’s worth nothing that every Scorpion helmet tested by SHARP to date has scored either three or four stars out of five, so assuming the Exo 100 uses similar materials and construction methods, it’s not unreasonable to think the shell itself might score similarly – which is above average.

Size & buying

If you’re thinking of buying an Exo 100, a few owners reckoned they had to go down a size (so, if you’re an M, you might want to try an S). Scorpions seem to be a bit hit and miss where sizing’s concerned so be aware – either try one in store or our advice is to err on the smaller size and buy from a vendor who will replace without any quibbles (not all do). Either way, don’t go out for a ride in it and keep it in perfect condition with stickers and labels so you can return it – until you’re sure you’ve got the right size.

Scorpion-Exo-100-open-face-crash-helmet-gloss-white — In white showing removable peak and lowered sun visor

The Shell is manufactured in two sizes – that’s good for both safety and looks. The smaller shell size covers fittings XS to M and the larger shell size fittings L to XXL. Making two outer shell sizes fit five internal ‘fitting’ sizes is achieved by using different amounts of internal padding; with the XXL having less padding than the L for example. Which, in this example, might make the L helmet seem over-sized when worn compared to a person with an XXL head; which one or two owners have complained about (the lollipop effect). Again, it’s something to check when you try on the helmet to make sure it’s a keeper. For more information on this, see our shell size guide.

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Sun visor & neck skirt

The Scorpion Exo 100 has some interesting features that set it apart from the competition. Firstly, it has a built-in sun visor. There’s a button top left of the visor opening (as you’re wearing it) that you press and a spring-loaded sun visor pops down and drops to just above the nose. Folks reckon it could be a bit darker but it’s good for low sun and keeping the worst of the rain or road crud out of the eyes. It can get a bit blustery behind it so it doesn’t stop really bad wind and rain, but for most owners, it’s a useful extra for when things get particularly bad like when you’re overtaking a truck or riding into the lowering sun. There’s also enough room behind it for goggles or glasses.

A range of different density sun visors are available as well as clear and amber (for low-visibility conditions).

Another nice touch is the removable neck/ear skirt. It zips in to the helmet to provide extra comfort and protection against the worst of the weather and reduces wind blast. It also houses speaker pockets and gives a great channel round the back of the helmet to route any cabling from your intercom or communicator that you might want to hide.

Other features include a sun peak that’s easily removable and leaves the front of the helmet clean and free of fixing brackets. Good design.

scorpion-exo-100-interior-view — Internals – well padded, well ventilated and comfortable

Comfort, ventilation

Users say the helmet is really comfortable on, though one or two owners with unfaired bikes do say there’s quite a bit of helmt-lift above 60 mph. Another couple complained the chin strap could do with being longer, though they did confess that it could be due to their double-chins! Most find it comfortable though – and like the micrometric fastener too.

Interestingly, the Exo also has front vents – with small inlets behind the front peak pulling air into and through channels in the EPS polystyrene liner to keep the head well ventilated and cool – and help the fully removable/washable lining wick moisture away from the head.

Looks and build quality

scorpion_exo-100_padova-motorcycle-helmet-matt-black — Matt black Exo 100 with sun peak removed. Mean and moody most popular version.

Quite a few owners remarked on how well the Exo 100 is made. For the price of the helmet, they were surprised how high the build quality is with a solid feel and quality detailing throughout.

The Exo 100 is available only in plain colors – including gloss/matt black and gloss cream and white. The pink shown in the video is no longer available (surprise!).

Video

Here’s a video of a dude doing very well to not feel embarrassed wearing a Barbie pink Exo 100!

Guides

If you’re looking to buy a new crash helmet, you might want to check out our useful guides page – including all about the SHARP crash helmet safety testing scheme – and our 10 things to look out for when buying a helmet.

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Review of the Scorpion EXO 500 Air full face helmet

scorpion-exo-500-air-discontinued-2-featured

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air is a medium-priced full face polycarbonate helmet. It’s got some interesting features – including integral sun visor and inflatable cheek pads, and comes with a Pinlock anti fog insert out of the box. But how is it rated by owners – on things like noise, comfort and build quality? And how safe is it? Read on and find out…

Model discontinued – check the Exo-T510 instead
Not Snell tested
SHARP 4 star safety rating (out of 5)
Average weight (3.5lbs/1.6kg)
Fitted with Pinlock Max Vision anti-fog
Wind-tunnel tested & designed
Integral sun-visor and pump system
Sizes XS – XXXL
Typical price range: $130-$200 depending on model/retailer

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Safety

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air scored a sound 4/5 on the SHARP safety test, dropping marks only slightly for side and forehead impacts. That’s a pretty good score, showing that the Exo stands a good chance of doing its job in an accident. The helmet shell is constructed from polycarbonate and is manufactured in 3 different shell sizes, covering the usual fitment sizes of XS – XXL – but it also goes right up to XXXL, which is pretty unusual. As a rule of

Scorpion-exo-500-Air-crust-blanc — Scorpion Exo 500 Air in ‘Crust’ white/chameleon color scheme

thumb, more expensive helmets tend to be made in more shell sizes, so getting this on a medium priced lid is a good thing and adds to safety as well as looks (the helmet will generally look better on your head – see our guide to helmet shell sizes for more information).

Given that it’s a lower-priced helmet, it’s pleasing to see that owners are happy with the Exo 500 Air’s build quality, saying that it’s well constructed with panels and vents fitting nicely together, all improving ownership and use, and contributing to safety. The 500 Air comes with a micrometric strap fastener – they’re regarded as pretty safe and easy to operate (and we like them too!).

Helmet Noise

The Exo 500 has been designed with a wind tunnel, which has the double benefit of producing a helmet with reducing buffeting and noise levels. Owners say the Exo works well in both areas. Only a little buffeting is noticeable in strong winds or at high speed, and it’s a very quiet helmet, though owners do reckon that helmet noise increases a little if the forehead vents are open and if the head’s down in a racing-tuck. But overall, it’s a quiet helmet.

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Size

The Scorpion Exo 500 comes in seven sizes – including XXXL. There’s two things to be aware of though if you’re thinking about ordering one. First, lots of people reckon you need to order a size above normal as Scorpion haven’t quite got their sizing right. So if you’re usually a medium, it’s probably worth ordering a large.

Secondly, the Exo 500 Air comes with an internal air pump (hence its name). On the inside of the chin guard, you’ll find a red bulb which you can use to pump air into the cheek pads to inflate them and improve fitting. However, most folks reckon they don’t bother with the pump – only one or two people who found the helmet a bit loose either after buying the wrong size or after finding the cheek pads had lost a bit of their firmness after wear, found it useful to pump up the pads.

Either way, it’s there if you need it, although one or two people with larger chins said their chins rubbed on the bulb which was a bit uncomfortable. If that’s you, might be worth trying before you buy, or ordering from a company with a no-qualms return policy.

Scorpion-Exo-500-Air-helmet-matt-black-rear — Rear of the matt black Exo 500 Air showing twin exhaust vents and both visor switches.

Ventilation

Ventilation is good. The chin vent is really simple to open, even with winter gloves, and pulls lots of air into the front of the helmet – which is really useful for keeping the visor clear. The forehead/crown vents are a bit more fiddly as the switch is small and tricky to operate and there’s also two of them which is a bit of a pain. Other than that, they pull enough air into the lid to keep your head cool on hot days and the couple of rear exhaust vents do their job at pushing air out of the back. All good on the ventilation front.

Shield

The Exo 500 Air has a couple of visors – the external, clear main shield and an internal sun visor, operated by a switch to the left of the helmet.

The main shield has both left and right tabs at the bottom which is a nice touch as most helmets make you open the shield how the designers want you to, rather than personal preference. There’s a small three-way switch to the left of the shield that gets mixed reviews. First off, it’s a bit small and fiddly to use when you’re riding and when you’ve got thick gloves on. Secondly, owners have mixed opinions about how useful it is. The switch allows you to firstly lock the shield, secondly to push it forward for a cracked shield (the shield moves slightly forward to crack open top and bottom) and thirdly to allow it to freely open and close on its 3-position ratchet. If they sound useful features to you, then it’s all good. Personally, it sounds like it’s fixing a problem that doesn’t really exist. There are plenty of lids out there that have great visors without fiddly switches – but each to their own. Some people find the ‘crack it open’ feature useful, especially to help defogging.

scorpion-exo-500-air-thunder-white_matte-black — Striking Air Thunder white/black colors

On that note, the shield of the Exo 500 Air is Pinlock-ready – in this case it has a recess on the internal side of the shield that fits a Pinlock Max Vision insert. The pinlock is fixed using the two posts in the usual fashion and sits in the recess to stop movement and to create a tight seal with the shield. They work really well and owners reckon there’s no problem with fogging on the 500 Air.

The internal sun visor doesn’t have a Pinlock but is coated on both sides with an anti-fog preparation which again, owners say works well. The sun visor is operated by moving a lever to the left hand side of the lid. It’s mostly fine, although most people seem to complain that the tint’s bit light. Also, it doesn’t operate quite as well as the best sun visors in that it’s tricky to move it to an intermediate position (not fully up or down). But on the whole, helmet-owners are pretty happy with the sun visor.

To view other helmets with internal sun visors, check out our helmets with sun visors page.

Finally, the shield removal system isn’t the best in class but it’s pretty easy and, importantly, it’s tool-free. Twist the hubs at the pivot point of the shield and it pops out – takes about 10 seconds in all.

Comfort

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air is comfortable. It’s got a decent quality lining that’s removable and washable and, providing you get a helmet that fits in the first place, owners say it’s really comfortable. It’s also hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking (but then most are these days). The vents keep your head cool and one or two owners report that it’s easier than previous helmets to get on or off. So all good here.

scorpion-exo-500-air-laces-black_magenta — The Exo 500 Air Laces color scheme in black and magenta. Nice.

Looks & Graphics

We’ve selected what we think are some of the best color schemes on the helmets on this page. Scorpion produce the Exo 500 Air in the usual range of plan gloss and matt whites/blacks, and they also do some striking and vibrant schemes that are higher vis but look cool too – such as the Exo 500 Air Thunder in yellow/black or black/white. They produce some subtler, classier colors like the magenta Exo 500 Air Laces (to the right)- as well as the Shoutier Air Crust. They can all be found on this page.

Video

Here’s a 2-3 minute video showing you some of the key features of the Scorpion Exo 500 Air.

Helmet Buying Guides

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Scorpion-Exo-500-Air-helmet-gloss-black — Popular Gloss black version of the Exo 500 Air

Overall

The Scorpion Exo 500 Air retails at a decent mid-range price point and offers lots of helmet and features for the money. Owners rate it highly for comfort, noise and ventilation, while it’s been well rated by SHARP for safety (4 stars out of 5). At this price point, you might be forgiven for expecting a few corners to be cut – but no, owners say it’s well built and finished, and it includes extras in the box like a Pinlock anti fog insert which really help if you live in colder regions. Overall, the Exo 500 Air is a great helmet offering a great mix of useful features and performance at a competitive price and is well worth looking at if you’re looking to buy a new full face helmet.

Alternatives

There’s lots of alternatives available. You might want to check out our top-10 helmets list that rates helmets in order from the highest rated to the lowest – in terms of comfort, noise, value, safety and features. Or you might want to check out a list of the safest helmets – those that scored a maximum 5/5 SHARP safety rating. There’s also a list of other medium-priced helmets (those priced between $100-$250).

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Review of the Lazer Paname Z-Line crash helmet

Lazer have been making crash helmets for a long time. Since 1919 to be precise. So they ought to know a thing or two about making skid lids. We’ve not reviewed many Lazers (though their Monaco flip-up is excellent) so we thought we’d take a look at this cheaper, polycarb version and see if it can compete in what’s a hotly contested segment of the helmet market full of great alternatives.

SHARP 4 star safety rated (out of 5)
4lbs/1.8kg (quite heavy)
Ventilation & comfort both good
Integral sun visor
Pinlock anti-fog insert in the box
Sizes XS-XL (53/54 – 61/62)
Price range: $170-$260 depending on model

Page Contents

Safety & shell

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet titanium open view — One hand chin-guard opening on the Paname titanium

Let’s start off by looking at safety – after all that’s why you buy a helmet. While the Paname hasn’t been Snell certified (it doesn’t look like Lazer submit their helmets for Snell testing) it has been independently tested by SHARP and scored a creditable four stars out of five. That’s a solid rating. And because it’s a flip-up helmet, SHARP also note the number of times the chin guard opened during these tests. In the Paname’s case it opened 10% of the time; which is actually pretty reasonable among modular lids. We’ll leave it to you to decide whether that’s a good enough rate for you; obviously it’s not ideal for your chin guard to open in an accident!

According to the Lazer website, the Paname has an ‘injected’ shell which we take to mean an injected polycarbonate thermoplastic shell. Which is fine; polycarb helmets perform very well, but tend to be used on cheaper helmets because they’re cheaper to fabricate and the raw material is cheaper in the first place. It also has a tri-composite EPS lining, meaning the polystyrene inside the helmet is triple-density, with the less dense polystyrene there to absorb smaller knocks and shakes while the heavier density is there to absorb the bigger impacts. Which should all mean it’s better at absorbing an impact and will pass less of the impact through to your head. And from the SHARP rating, it seems to do the trick.

It’s secured with a micrometric fastener which is nice and easy to use and to adjust and, for those of you who like your helmet to be seen, it has a scotch reflective zone on the rear of the neck for night time visibility. The Paname is available in sizes Sizes XS-XL (53/54 – 61/62).

Helmet Noise

Like many modular helmets, the Lazer Paname isn’t the quietest helmet (look here if a quiet helmet is what you’re after). Modulars need to cater for extra hardware to allow the chin guard to rotate and that tends to mean they have less space for noise-reducing padding. However some owners have remarked that it’s quieter than most modulars (and even some full face lids) and is broadly OK up to freeway speeds where you’ll need to be wearing ear plugs to keep things nice and quiet. Most of us tend to wear plugs anyhow. If you do, the noise levels should be fine.

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet drone front view — Here’s the Paname Drone showing off its 5 front vents. Click to enlarge.

Ventilation

Overall, owners rate ventilation pretty highly. It’s got a couple of closable chin vents and three effective vents on the forehead which do a decent job of pulling in air, taking it round the scalp and exiting through the couple of exhausts at the rear (below). The chin vent switch is a bit fiddly, especially for gloved hands, but it’s OK once you get the hang of it. The chin vents also do a reasonable job of bringing air over the shield to keep it fog-free, however you’ll probably need to keep the shield cracked in cold weather – or fit the Pinlock.

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Shield

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet white rear view — Rear view showing exhaust vent

The Paname comes with a main clear shield and an internal, UV light protecting sun visor. The sun visor is lowered by using the slider on the left hand side of the helmet. It’s easy to use and, because it’s a slider, means you can lower the visor to any degree you like which owners really like, commenting it’s particularly important when the sun’s low in the sky and you need small degrees of adjustment. It’s also really easy to change – just lower the visor, jerk it down and out it comes.

The main shield has a nice wide aperture; great for good peripheral vision and when you’re doing life-savers before turning. It opens on a ratchet and seats well with no owners reporting leakage from the seal. It comes with a Pinlock anti-fog in the box – Pinlock’s are clear anti-fog inserts that stop your shield fogging up, even when cold, raining and with no ventilation. So that’s good. What’s not so good – is that one or two owners have said the Pinlock sits too low on the shield and the top of it can get in your eye line when riding. I think that’s probably slightly dependent on the bike you ride too – sportier positions where your head’s down will be more prone to this that more upright touring positions.

Removal of the main shield isn’t the easiest – when compared to some of the competition anyhow – but it’s not tricky either. It needs a quarter turn of the pivot screw to pull it free, and that’s about it. It does need a tool though, so compared to the best in class which usually need either a tab-flicking or a lug-pulling and they pop out, it’s not the best. But in the scheme of things, it’s still pretty simple.

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet black metal open — Paname in Black Metal color scheme.

Chin Guard

The chin guard opens by pressing a button on the inside of the guard. This works well and means you can easily open the guard with one hand. As mentioned earlier, when in its down and locked position, the guard stayed locked and closed in 90% of impacts – which is actually quite a good rate for a modular helmet. But it’s your call whether that’s good enough for you!

Comfort

No problems reported here. The Lazer Paname comes with the usual anti-bacterial and sweat-wicking interior liner (removable and washable) and, as long as you get the right fitting in the first place, owners say it’s very comfortable. It also has their (ludicrously named) Morpho System which means you can buy different cheek and head pads to get the fitting just right. Ludicrously named but very useful if you find the helmet’s not quite right after purchase.

Lazer Paname Z-line crash helmet white top view — Top down view showing vents.

Other stuff – glasses, bluetooth, guards

Like most flip-up helmets, the Paname is great for glasses wearers – open up the front, pop your glasses on and away you go; much less fiddling than with a full face helmet. What you might find a bit weird if you’re not used to a flip up, is the weight. Like many flip ups, the Lazser Paname is heavier than the equivalent full face (all that mechanical gubbins to fit in all adds weight). Plus the weight can feel a bit oddly distributed at times, especially when the chin guard is up. Of course it’s relative, 400g here or there isn’t going to be a deal breaker for most of us, but it’s worth being aware of; if you’re wanting a light weight lid, then the Paname’s probably not for you.

The Paname also comes with a breath guard and chin curtain in the box, which can help with shield demisting and reducing noise, and there’s the usual helmet bag. If you’re buying through our affiliate link, at the time of reviewing, there’s a free bluetooth kit included in the deal, which is nice. Though people are moaning that, while the microphone fits, there’s not really anywhere to fix it. Ooops!

Helmet buying guides

If you need any help on buying a helmet, you might want to check out our Guides page where there’s some useful information on things like fitting or safety tests.

Overall

The Lazer Paname is a good solid helmet. It’s well built, has some useful features and owners think it performs well – especially at the price. Ventilation and comfort are both good and it’s reasonably quiet too (at least, for a modular). If you’re on a budget and looking for a flip-up helmet with sun visor, that offers good levels of protection, then you can’t go wrong with the Lazer Paname.

Alternatives

Check out some of the best alternatives by clicking the link to all our flip-up/modular helmet reviews. Alternatively, you can find our top 10 flip up crash helmets here.

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Review of the MT Thunder budget motorcycle helmet

$95 for a decent full face helmet? Surely not? Well the MT Thunder is a budget full face crash helmet from Spain that retails at a tiny $95 (a bit more for a fancy paint job) and it’s making waves among people who normally wouldn’t be tempted away from some of the bigger brands. Is it a decent lid for learners? What about more ‘serious’ owners who wouldn’t usually shake a soiled stick at a helmet without the words Shoei or Arai written on it? Let’s see…

Budget full face helmet
Scores 4 out of 5 stars in the SHARP helmet safety test
Micrometric fastener
Kids to XXXL sizes
Typical price range: around $95

Page Contents

Safety & Shell

Well first off, the Thunder scores a very respectable 4/5 in the SHARP crash helmet test. That’s fantastic for a lid at this price point. To put it in context, that’s as good as an Arai RX-7 GP, a helmet that sells for around 12x the price! It’s better than a Schuberth S2 that’s 9x the price! OK, it might lack some of the features of those lids, and it might be a little less carefully put together, but in pure safety terms, the MT certainly holds it’s own. The Thunder is also manufactured in three different shell sizes and is available in fitments from kids sizes, all the way up to XXXL – again that’s at least as good if not MUCH better than helmets costing many times the price – and means, in general, that the helmet is safer to use and will look better when you wear it than many other helmets that come in fewer shell sizes.

The locking mechanism is your regular micrometric fastener – which we’re a fan of as they’re really easy to use and reliable. The Thunder also comes in Double-d fastener form if you’re after a track day helmet.

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Helmet Noise

The MT Thunder isn’t the quietest helmet around. It’s lacking in some of the wind tunnel testing and careful aero sculpting that pricier manufacturers manage. However, it’s not the noisiest either. And, as usual, it’s as much about what you’re used to and the bike you ride as the aurally-insulating properties of the helmet. I mean, tuck in behind the barn door fairing of your BMW tourer and your lid will feel quiet as. Hurtle up the interstate into a headwind at 90 on your naked Ducati monster, and you’ll feel like your head’s inside a kettle drum. However, all things being equal, the Thunder drops a mark or two for noise compared to the quietest helmets around. It’s widely regarded as about average by most owners.

MT Thunder in Roadster colors - just about showing front and top vents — MT Thunder in Roadster colors – just about showing front and top vents

Ventilation & Shield

This is a strong point for the Thunder and mentioned by several owners. Even though the vents look basic, with a single chin and forehead vent (both closable) and a smattering of rear exhaust vents, users reckon that ventilation is very good. Both vents are fairly easy to find with gloved hands and channel air over the head through to the exhaust vents at the rear. If you’re using the helmet without any anti-fog on the shield, the ventilation isn’t sufficient to keep the shield fog-free, but that goes for all helmets; so you’ll need to invest in an anti-fog insert if you regularly ride in colder weather. The shield works well with a positive ratchet, and is easy to remove/change using a system similar to many Shoei helmets. Open the shield, pull the lug down and the shield will be released – simple and effective.

Comfort

MT seem to have covered all the major bases with the Thunder – including comfort, with owners reckoning the Thunder is a really comfortable helmet. Obviously, you need to ensure you get the size right in the first place, but when you do, owners say it’s particularly comfortable with it’s internal shape being very forgiving and offering plenty of space. The interior lining is removable and washable and, although it’s not quite as plush as many more expensive helmets, it’s reasonably light and, for the price, owners are more than happy.

Rear view of the MT Thunder Butterfly - showing graphics and vents — Rear view of the MT Thunder Butterfly – showing graphics and vents

Looks & Graphics

The MT Thunder is a neat looking helmet that comes in 10 different color schemes, including the usual gloss/matt black and white. There’s also a fluorescent orange version for folks who like to get noticed and a couple of other designs – the Roadster 2 is a single design that comes in a number of different color schemes, plus there’s the in your face Thunder Italian and the Thunder butterfly that’s very stylish and will probably appeal more to the ladies. All in all some nice designs.

Overall

Not only is The MT Thunder a great budget full face helmet, it’s a great full face helmet full stop. Many owners buy them who are new to the world of motorcycling, but there’s an increasing number of people trying out lower price helmets as alternatives to the higher price well known brands. And why not? The MT Thunder performs well in all respects and is an excellent buy – and probably up among the best value for money crash helmets you can buy.

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