Amazing value dirt helmet that owners love: HJC CS-MX II review

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HJC CS-MX II Motocross helmet review.

Here’s another lower priced helmet from HJC. The HJC CS-MX II is an entry-level polycarbonate motocross helmet for riders who’re looking for a less expensive helmet but still want decent protection and build quality.

If you’re after a lid that’s right for road riding, then you should probably look elsewhere because the CS-MX 2 needs a pair of goggles and lacks some of the creature comforts you might want on the road – such as a sun visor (and actual visor!).

But if you’re looking for a sturdy lid that’ll see you right through the dirt for not much cash, then read on…

Polycarbonate motocross helmet
Adjustable peak
Double-D ring fastener
Medium oval fitment
Goggles extra (no face shield)
3.2lbs (1.45Kg)
Sizes XS-XXXL (2XL in Eu)
Expect to pay $80-$140

Looking to buy an HJC CS-MX II?

Please click below to visit the HJC CS-MX II helmets pages at our recommended stores and Amazon: both 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).

hjc cs-mx 2 matt black motocross helmet side view — Matt black CS-MX II

Overall/Summary

If you’re after a great value motocross lid, then check out HJC’s CS-MX II because owners rate it really high for value for money. And it’s not hard to see why.

It has most of the features you need in a dirt helmet – tons of space for goggles, good ventilation, reasonably light weight, adjustable roost guard, removable and washable liner and chin vent filter – all for not very much money.

We don’t know exactly how much protection it’ll offer (till it’s Snell or SHARP tested) though HJC polycarbonate helmets have a great reputation so far.

But with a huge array of graphics available and decent 3 year warranty, if you’re after a quality entry level motocross helmet, then the HJC CS-MX 2 is well worth a look.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The HJC CS-MX II is a budget offroad helmet. And while there is a correlation between helmet price and safety, there are plenty of helmets that buck the trend so it doesn’t mean the CS-MX II won’t give good protection.

It isn’t Snell certified unfortunately, and it hasn’t been independently SHARP tested in the UK either. It is DOT certified over here and in Europe, the ECE version has been slammed around inside the UNECE’s helmet testing labs before it’s put on sale to ensure it’ll give at least a good minimum level of protection and usability.

It is a polycarbonate helmet which means it’s a plastic injection-moulded shell that’s inherently cheaper to make – and sell. But HJC has a great reputation for making plastic helmets that really perform when they’re tested.

hjc cs-mx 2 madax motocross helmet top view — Top view of the Madax graphic HJC CS-MX II

How do we know. Well, over the last few years, SHARP in the UK has tested four polycarbonate HJC helmets and they’ve scored a fantastic 4.25 out of 5 stars on average.

Obviously, that’s testing done on the ECE helmet and not DOT. And it doesn’t necessarily mean the CS-MX II will score just as well. But it underlines that HJC really does know how to make a decent polycarbonate helmet.

They make the HJC CS-MX II in two shell sizes (which is about acceptable for optimizing the size of the helmet) and they use a double-D ring fastener to keep it tightly fitted to your head.

Some people prefer the simplicity and ease of use of a micrometric fastener, but more serious ‘sports’ helmets tend to go for tried and tested double-d rings.

If you’re thinking of buying a CS-MX II for use on the road, then don’t forget, you’ll need to buy a good pair of (antifog) goggles too.

But if you are after a lower priced motocross helmet that’ll give decent protection – and that should be number one on your helmet buying checklist – then the evidence so far points towards the CS-MX II offering just that.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Helmet noise is probably one of the last things on your mind if you’re buying an off-road helmet. And with a large opening for your goggles that’s gonna let just as much noise in as wind, then it’s probably fair to expect that the HJC CS-MX II isn’t gonna be the last word in quiet.

hjc-cs-mx-2-pictor-hi-viz-motocross-helmet-side-view — Hi Viz Pictor Design CS-MX II

It also means that folks who have bought a CS-MX II probably haven’t expected it to keep out a ton of noise so tend to be quite happy with the noise levels of their helmet, rating it around average.

Basically, if you’re after using your helmet for weekend dirt riding, then you shouldn’t have any problems at all with noise of the MX-II.

And if you do, then we’ve got two words for you… ear plugs!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Talking of noise, HJC makes a bit of noise about the ventilation system on the CS-MX II.

Which is exactly what you want to hear because a day’s trail riding means a bucketload of sweat, so the more airflow and ventilation, the better.

The CS-MX II has HJC’s ACS or Advanced Channeling Ventilation System. In practice that means there’s a vent in the forehead where air can penetrate the helmet shell where it’s pushed into channels inside the internal shock absorbing (EPS) lining. From there, it can ventilate your head.

hjc cs-mx 2 motocross helmet sapir yellow side view — One of the camo Sapir graphic CS-MX 2s

That’s a pretty common setup in most helmets these days, but what’s a little different here is that most helmets have a stripe of venting channels running front to back whereas the CS-MX II has a checkerboard of channels that take air towards the sides of your head too. That’s good to see.

There’s a pair of exhaust vents at the back too, which gives that warm, sweaty air a route to leave the helmet so it can be replaced by nice cooling fresh air.

And owners reckon the system works well, flowing enough air inside to keep you cool on all but the longest, hottest days.

You’ll need a way for clean air to get in to your mouth too, so the MX II has a large central vent flanked by a couple of smaller vents in the chin bar. All these vents are covered by metal mesh to keep bigger chunks of dirt out, and that central vent has a washable foam insert to filter dust out.

All in all, it’s a very functional venting system that owners say works well. Job done.

Goggles and Peak

Don’t forget, you’ll need to buy a pair of goggles if you go for an HJC CS-MX 2 – or any other serious motocross helmet.

It shouldn’t be a problem because HJC has made a huge aperture with great peripheral vision that owners say accommodates most popular makes of goggles.

A couple of useful links…

– All our motocross helmet reviews –
– Coolest looking helmets –

Round the back, they’ve also sculpted the rear of the helmet so there’s a generous groove to keep your goggles strap in place – a definite must have feature on any dirt helmet with goggles.

hjc-cs-mx-2-matt-black-motocross-helmet-rear-view — Rear view of the matt black CS-MX 2 showing large rear goggles groove

Up top, there’s a plastic sun peak/roost guard that’s up/down adjustable by loosening off the side screws and a single center screw under the peak.

HJC claims the peak’s unbreakable on their website, which is a bold claim that I’m sure will be quickly proven wrong by plenty of riders.

They sell replacement peaks as well, which kinda gives the game away.

All in all, HJC seems to have done the basics right when it comes to goggles and roost guard on the CS-MX II.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Same goes for the internals: owners rate the CS-MX II highly for comfort, even for long days’ riding.

It’s been designed as a medium oval fit – so it should suit most riders’ head shapes.

It’s also got a fully removable comfort liner so you can pull it out and wash it. And it uses tried-and-tested plastic poppers to keep it in place along with seamless snaps along the top of the goggles port. All good.

hjc cs-mx 2 ellusion motocross helmet top view — Top view of the HJC CS-MX II Ellusion

The liner uses a brushed synthetic material that HJC advertises as either just Nylex or as Bioceramic Nylex on their European website. It’s easy to get bamboozled when it comes to technical names like this, but after a bit of digging, it doesn’t sound like this is anything to write home about.

Nylex is a trade name for a synthetic fabric manufacturer and the bioceramic part seems to relate to antibacterial nature of the fabric.

Fabrics can be coated with nano ceramics but usually this is for heat dissipation (or, alternatively, to stop fibers being rejected by the body) – and HJC don’t mention why they use bioceramics so that’s just a guess.

Either way, owners reckon it makes for a comfy helmet that’s moisture wicking too.

And if you wear glasses, there’s a glasses groove in there too to accommodate the arms of your glasses.

If you decide to order a CS-MX II, most owners say the sizing is bang on, so just follow a fitting guide then order the correct size. Job done.

Looks & Graphics

There’s a stack of different graphics and colorways available with the CS-MX II, including a Star Wars Rebel X-Wing design (and you can probably expect more movie tie-ins in the not too distant as HJC loves em!).

hjc cs-mx 2 rebel x wing star wars helmet side view — Star Wars Rebel X-Wing graphics

Sapir, Dakota, Madax, Pictor, Ellusion and Krypt designs are currently on sale (country dependent) and we’ve hapazardly thrown examples up and down the pages for you to enjoy.

As always, please feel free to click through to our highly recommended partners using the graphics below to find all the latest designs and deals.

Note: we only recommend shops where they score excellent online ratings.

Best places to buy an HJC CS-MX II?

HJC CS-MX 2 Video

Here’s a quick 4.5m video taking you around the now CS-MX II (in discontinued Edge graphics).

Other stuff – weight, warranty

Despite the CS-MX 2 being a polycarbonate shelled helmet (which tend to be heavier), it’s actually surprisingly light, weighing around 3.2lbs (1.45Kg). In fact, pretty well all the opinions we found online were owners saying how light it feels.

The HJC CS-MX II comes with a 3 year warranty which is pretty good going for a budget helmet.

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Good Alternatives to the HJC CS-MX II?

If you’re after a top quality off road helmet, then they don’t come much tougher than Shoei’s VFX-Evo. It’s much more expensive than the CS-MX but it’s based on proven composite fiber tech, has EQRS (really, a must-have feature in a dirt helmet) and is a quality piece of kit.

hjc cs-mx 2 krypt motocross helmet side view — HJC CS-MX II in Krypt graphics

For an offroad helmet with a touch of retro, the Bell Moto-3 is a fiberglass dirt helmet based on their classic 70’s design – but uses modern helmet tech and works well off road.

Bell also has their Moto-9 helmet if you want something more up to date. There are composite and carbon versions and in they’ve been independently Snell tested/certified for safety.

Looking to buy an HJC CS-MX II?

Please click below to visit the HJC CS-MX II helmets pages at our recommended stores and Amzaon: both 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).

Star Ratings

Great value flip-front helmet with a sporty edge: Scorpion Exo GT920 review.

Page Contents

Review of the Scorpion Exo GT920 motorcycle helmet.

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

There’s the composite fiber Scorpion Exo T1200 street helmet that uses Scorpion’s air fit system to really tailor the fit.

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

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

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

So if you’re after buying an all rounder modular helmet but don’t want to pay much, then Scorpion’s gotta be well worth a look. And when their GT920 model is a sportsbike-derived helmet with all the potential for cool looks and great aero that brings, then you’ve gotta raise at least an eyebrow, right?

Modular Helmet
Polycarbonate shell
Sportsbike aero and styling
2 Shell sizes
Everclear treated faceshield
Integral sun visor
double-d ring fastener
Size XS-XXXL
5 year warranty
Expect to pay $220-$250

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo GT920?

The GT920’s now been discontinued, but the last time we checked it was still available on Amazon. Please click below to drop onto their Scorpion GT920 helmet 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).

Overall/Summary

The Scorpion Exo GT920 is a well liked flip-front helmet that’s excellent value for money.

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

scorpion exo 920 satellite black neon yellow side view — Scorpion Exo GT920 Satellite in profile – an aggressive and sportsbike-influenced modular

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

On the downside, there are one or two question marks about the sizing and you might find the cheekpads a bit of a squeeze. Plus, in the UK the 920 was SHARP safety tested where it scored only 2 stars (*though we can’t know if their 920 differs from the US GT920).

If you can get over that safety rating, what owners love is the fact that the Scorpion Exo GT920 works well as a daily helmet for not very much money at all. And if that’s what you’re after from your next flip-up helmet, then by all means take a look at the Scorpion GT920.

You’ll find other suggestions either on our Top 10 Modular Helmets pages or check the bottom of the page for other suggested alternative helmets.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

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

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

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

scorpion exo gt920 unit modular helmet rear view — Black/red Scorpion GT920 in Unit graphics showing its track-inspired rear profile

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

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

But for a lower priced helmet, the EPS on the GT920 is fairly typical.

It’s kept on your head by a good old fashioned double-d ring fastener. These are as old as the hills but they’re simple tech and most of us find them easy to use – though not as easy as quick-release micrometric fasteners.

Obviously, the GT920 is a modular helmet and that moveable chin guard is a potentially weak point. It needs to be well constructed to be secure so it’s good to see the Scorpion uses a metal locking mechanism.

The GT920 is DOT certified so should give a decent overall level of protection. But it hasn’t been Snell certified (contrary to some reports, modular helmets can be Snell certified – just that none have been yet!).

scorpion_exo-920_matt-black — Solid matt black Scorpion GT920. Note all helmets come with a clear faceshield

We might be able to get some more insight into the level of protection the GT920 offers by looking over to Europe, where the UK version of the GT920 (sold as the plain Scorpion 920) was tested by the independent helmet testing crew at SHARP.

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

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

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

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

Overall the UK Scorpion 920 scored two stars for safety (out of 5). We don’t have any information about whether the US GT920 differs from the UK 920 other than they have different fasteners. But that 2/5 safety score really ain’t the best.

scorpion exo 920 sharp 8.5 ms test — 8.5m/s impact test results on the UK version of the GT920 – thanks to sharp.dft.gov.uk for permission

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

As I say, we can’t be sure the US helmet is identical to the UK helmet as manufacturers do sometimes change things a little – and indeed we do know that the chin strap locks and face shields are different between the helmets.

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

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Because it’s been designed to look a bit like a sportsbike helmet with a large rear spoiler and head-down aggressive looks, that should mean the GT920 has a slippery shape and that can equate to a quiet helmet.

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

scorpion exo gt920 shuttle modular helmet top view — Top view of the GT920 Shuttle showing top air vent.

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

With the GT920, it seems the two cancel each other (modular v good aero) out because owners seem to rate the Scorpion GT920 about average for noise suppression.

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

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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

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

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

A couple of useful links…

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

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

scorpion exo 920 satellite black neon yellow rear view — Rear view of the GT920 Satellite in black with neon. The exhaust vents nestles underneath that rear spoiler.

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

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

Owners of Scorpion GT920s reckon it mostly works well – it’s probably not the best venting helmet around but most owners say there’s enough air to keep them pretty cool in the summer and, coupled with the anti-fog coating on the faceshield and the breath deflector, there’s enough air inside to keep the shield clear.

So it’s a thumbs up for the ventilation system on the GT920.

Shield

(more about shields)

With any helmet you buy, you need an effective face shield system. And, according to riders out there, the Scorpion Exo GT920 has pretty well covered all the bases.

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

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

scorpion exo gt920 satellite modular helmet side view — At the time of writing, the GT920 Satellite comes in 3 colorways

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

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

The faceshield’s coated with an Everclear antifog coating which is designed to stop things fogging up, and owners say it works really well.

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

You’ll find the opening tab on the GT920’s shield to the left hand side – we’d prefer one one each side or a central one so you can easily open the shield at stop lights if you’ve got the clutch in.

But we’re getting into niggles here because word is that Scorpion’s done a great job with the shield system on the GT920.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Same goes for the integral sun visor.

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

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

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

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

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

Other than that, it seems like the sun visor on the Scorpion GT920 is right up there with some of the best.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

Like most chin guards you’ll find on modular helmets, the chin guard on the Scorpion Exo GT920 flips up to just above the line of sight. It’s not a flip up where the chin bar rotates to the back of the helmet like the LS2 Valiant or Shark Evo One 2.

scorpion exo gt920 shuttle modular white black open side view — GT920 shuttle with chin bar fully raised and sun visor fully lowered

It was however designed so you can ride with the chin bar up if you like – as it’s dual homologated in Europe. Just make sure you don’t try and flip the bar up when you’re on the move as that’s gonna end in tears – and probably much worse.

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

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

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

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

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

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Scorpion Exo GT920 uses Scorpion’s KwickWick2 liner which is a comfortable and hard wearing fabric that’s both anti-microbial and moisture wicking.

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

scorpion exo 920 motorcycle helmet neon yellow side view — If you’re after a hi viz modular, the GT920 is available in Neon Yellow

Owners of the GT920 reckon that overall it’s a nice comfy helmet and glasses wearers say the glasses grooves make things nice and easy too.

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

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

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

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

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

The overall fitment shape of the GT920 is medium oval so it should suit most of us. Get all these right and most owners find the GT920 a very comfortable helmet indeed.

Looks & Graphics

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

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

Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo GT920?

Scorpion Exo GT920 Video

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

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

In the US, the GT920 comes with a double-d ring fastener, unlike other territories that get the micrometric strap. Double-d’s are pretty simple and reliable though, and they’re very secure as long as you make sure you do it up nice and tight every trip.

scorpion exo gt920 unit modular helmet side view — White version of the GT920

Inside the GT920, there’s speaker cutouts for your bluetooth set. They’re not massively deep, so you might struggle a bit with older kits, but in our research we found users with Sena SMH10, 10s and a Cardo G4 fitting their bluetooths without a problem.

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

If you’re looking for a helmet that’s well built – and who isn’t – then word from owners is that the Scorpion GT920 uses good quality materials and it’s put together well. Even though it’s a lower price helmet, it’s well finished and owners seem to be happy with the build quality.

Finally, the Scorpion Exo GT920 comes with a full 5 year warranty. That’s excellent and should cover you for most of the life of the helmet.

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Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo GT920?

If you like the idea of a modular helmet that works on a sportsbike, then AGV’s SportModular was made for you. It’s way more expensive than the GT920 but it’s a carbon fiber lightweight flip-up helmet with 5 layer EPS and SHARP 4 star safety rating.

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

For something that’s even cheaper than the Scorpion, HJC’s IS Max II is great value and comes with a sun visor, though it’s heavier than the GT920.

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo GT920?

Star Ratings

The big-bottomed helmet is here. Meet the Arai Regent X.

Page Contents

Arai Regent X motorcycle helmet review.

The Arai Regent X (sold as the Profile V in Europeland) is Arai’s entry level full face helmet in the US market.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Composite/Fiberglass full face helmet
Designed to be easier to get on/off
Pinlock Max Vision antifog
D-ring fastener
Snell Certified (US only)
3.3lbs/1.55Kg (heavier than average)
Sizes XS-XL
Expect to pay $550-$690

Looking to buy an Arai Regent X?

Please click below to visit the Arai Regent X helmets pages at our recommended stores. 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).

Regent X in hi viz fluo Bend design. Note many of the graphics shown here are from the Euro Profile V – we suspect many will make it over to the US

Overall/Summary

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

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

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

It’s got a decent shield system that’s Pinlock-ready though the Pinlock’s extra. It’s a very well built helmet like all Arai’s and it uses quality materials throughout, including a particularly nice plush and comfy interior.

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

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

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

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

Arai Regent X in Rock graphics showing off Arai’s super round R75 shell form

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

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

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

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

Anyhow, I digress. What is certain is that Arai helmets have been getting steadily better in terms of safety ratings from lab testing if you look at the SHARP helmet test data. And of course, many Arais – including the Regent X – have been Snell certified too.

We’ll not go into the different benefits of ECE vs DOT helmets here – or between SHARP and Snell testing, though that partly accounts for the difference in our safety scoring between the US Regent X and the Eu Profile V on our UK website.

But knowing the Regent X is Snell approved should give you comfort that it’s gonna give you good protection in a crash (the Profile V is SHARP 4 star safety rated).

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

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

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

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

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

But other than that, the Arai Regent X seems to cover the basics well and we expect it to be a safe place to stick your noggin.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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

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

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

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

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

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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

Another hi vis – this time the Regent X Patch. Click the links to our recommended retailers to see more colors

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

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

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

What’s lest effective are the crown vents.

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

So don’t expect your head to be kept massively cool when things really heat up; although you can expect decent ventilation to your face and shield.

Shield

(more about shields)

There’s a couple of ‘cons’ but quite a few ‘pros’ when it comes to the Arai Regent X’s shield.

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

Regent X in Tube design

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

Plus, the Regent X comes Pinlock-ready out of the box, although the large Pinlock antifog insert – a Max Vision – isn’t included in the price. That means if you suffer from fogging, you’ll have to spend a few more dollars to grab a Pinlock which should solve 99% of your fogging woes.

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

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

A couple of useful links…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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

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

Rear of the ‘Modern Grey’ Regent X

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looks & Graphics

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

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

This is the Regent X in Bend graphics. Also in red and yellow.

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

To help differentiate the Regent X from the rest of the range, Arai is throwing in an increasing number of paints and designs at it.

Many of the designs you’ll find on these pages are taken from the Eu version of the Regent, the Profile V, where it’s been out a bit longer than in the US. So expect most of these designs to make it to these shores.

At the time of writing, there’s a sizeable range of solids available – blacks, whites, grey, yellow and red. And there’s the Sensation and Bend graphics available too.

To find the latest designs to hit the Regent X, please use the links to our recommended stores below.

Best places to buy an Arai Regent X helmet?

Arai Regent X Video

Here’s a pretty useful 5m video from some dude trying out his new Regent X.

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

The Arai Regent X isn’t the lightest full face helmet. It weighs around 3.3lbs (1.55Kg) which is a few oz heavier than the average fiberglass full face. That slight extra weight isn’t noticeable when you’re riding though.

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

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

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

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

Good Alternatives to the Arai Regent X?

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

Diamond White Regent X

First up and costing a bit more than the Regent X is the tried and tested, Snell Certified (and SHARP 5 star safety rated) Arai Signet X. It’s another fiberglass helmet that comes with a Pinlock insert and Arai’s Pro Shield sun shield.

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

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

Finally, for the price of a Regent X, you can get the full carbon Shark Spartan. It’s super cool looking, comes with a Pinlock, and is SHARP 4 star safety rated (Euro model).

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Looking to buy an Arai Regent X?

Star Ratings

HJC CL-Max III flip-up: a great all rounder modular helmet for not many $$$s

Page Contents

HJC CL-Max III flip-front motorcycle crash helmet review.

HJC has become know for producing decent quality, lower price helmets. And the HJC CL-Max III seems to be no exception.

It’s a polycarbonate modular helmet with a bunch of useful features but that costs less than most modular helmets on the market today.

Built for sports-touring riders and for medium oval headshapes, the CL-Max III comes in sizes all the way up to XXXL and includes both an integral sun visor and Pinlock-ready face shield.

Couple that with HJC’s decent reputation for building helmets that give good levels of impact protection, and the HJC CL-Max III might be a helmet that’s well worth the small investment they’re asking.

Read on to find out if it’s any good…

Polycarbonate shelled modular helmet
Drop down sun visor
Pinlock ready shield (insert not included)
Double-D ring fastener
Quick release face shield
Sizes XS-XXXL
Expect to pay $140-$160

Note, the HJC CL-Max III has now been discontinued. So why not check out our Top 10 Flip-Front Helmets page to find a solid alternative?

Overall/Summary

The HJC CL-Max 3 is a great value helmet that owners really like.

hjc-cl-max-3-modular-helmet-matt-black-side-view — Full extent the chin bar raises

OK, it’s at the lower end of the price range so don’t expect too many bells, whistles and exotic materials. But it’s a comfortable helmet with a nice quality liner. Ventilation’s about average but the face shield system has all you need – it’s wide for good peripheral vision and it’s Pinlock anti-fog ready and there’s a decent sun visor to stop you getting caught out in the sun.

It’s not the quietest or lightest modular in the world – but owners don’t seem to mind. That’s mainly because you’re getting a lot of flip-front helmet for your money.

We’re not entirely sure how much protection it’ll offer during an accident – because it hasn’t been independently safety tested. Though it is of course DOT certified.

So if you do want a good quality, comfortable flip-up helmet but you don’t want to spend very much, then you really ought to check out HJCs CL-Max 3.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The CL-Max 3 has a polycarbonate shell and chin bar.

hjc-cl-max-3-gallant-black-blue-modular-helmet-side-view — CL Max III in Gallant black/blue colorway

Being a modular helmet, that chin bar flips up, which can be a safety weak point in any flip-up helmet.

We don’t have any data about how strong that flip up chin bar is, but the last HJC polycarbonate modular tested by SHARP in the UK – in this case an IS Max 2 back in 2015 – stayed locked and closed during every impact test which is obviously an awesome score.

In case you’re wondering, Snell hasn’t ever (as far as I can tell) tested an HJC modular helmet – and if the chin bar failed they don’t publish the data anyway. So SHARP is really as good as we can get.

The polycarbonate shell itself is one of the more basic/cheaper shell materials, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t give good protection. By our calculations, Snell have certificated 4 polycarbonate HJC helmets since their 2015 standards came into play, so it shows, they can and do give decent protection.

Back in Europe, SHARP has tested four HJC polycarbonate modular helmets where they scored an average score of 3.3 stars out of 5, with the most recent IS Max 2 scoring four stars together with that 100% score for chin guard locking.

We’re hunting around to get some insight here, but all we know for sure is that the HJC CL-Max 3 has been DOT certified so should provide at least a decent minimum level of protection.

Let’s hope the CL-Max 3’s chin guard is just as secure as the one on the IS Max 2.

hjc-cl-max-3-modular-helmet-matt-black-top-view — Top view showing top vent and sun visor slider

It comes with a Pinlock ready face shield so if you do suffer from shield fogging, you can spend an extra $30 or so to get an anti-fog insert. A clear, de-misted shield is kinda cruicial for safe riding – so if you’re suffering you can sort it out with a Pinlock.

So too is some way to protect your eyes from glare, so a sun visor is very handy to have incorporated into the fabric of the shell in terms of safety and comfort.

The CL-Max 3 is secured to your head using a tried-and-tested double-d ring fastener which are nice and secure, though arguably not as user-friendly as a microratchet.

It’s only produced in one shell size unfortunately, meaning you’ll get the same helmet shell if you’re an XS fitment as someone with XXXL. That’s not so great – for looks and, arguably, for optimising the amount of shock absorbing EPS liner to helmet shell. Though there is an argument that if you’re smaller fitment size in a larger shell sized helmet, you’ll get more EPS liner in there so better impact control.

Of course, the opposite may be the case too, which isn’t so great if you’re a larger head size.

Being a lower-tech polycarbonate flip front helmet does come with its problems. In the case of the CL-Max 3 that’s weight.

Modular helmets are generally a few ounces heavier than full face helmets anyway. But the HJC CL-Max 3 is heavy for a modular, weighing in around the 4lbs (1.8Kg) mark.

hjc-cl-max-3-flow-black-purple-flip-crash-helmet-side-view — This design’s the CL-Max III Flow in black and purple

Generally speaking, having a lighter weight helmet makes for a safer helmet during an impact because there’s less kinetic energy transfer. It also make a helmet comfier to use in your daily ride.

Having said that, and while a few owners do say they find it heavier than average, we found more saying they find it quite a light weight helmet. I guess it depends on which helmets you’ve been wearing before – if you’re used to heavy lid or expected it to be a super heavy weight helmet when you bought it, you might find the CL-Max 3 lighter than anticipated.

Either way and even though it is a heavy helmet according to the scales, if the experience of other riders is to go by, it seems unlikely you’ll have a problem with the weight of the CL-Max 3.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Modular helmets aren’t known for being overly quiet. That’s usually because the chin bar mechanism leaves room for wind noise to either get into the helmet or reverberate around once inside.

hjc-cl-max-3-gallant-black-red-modular-helmet-rear-view — From the rear – another Gallant this time in grey and red

From owners’ opinions found around the web, the HJC CL-Max 3 sounds to be about average for modular helmet. That means it’s noisier than your average full face helmet and a bit noisier than some modulars.

So if you’re looking for a really quiet helmet, this probably ain’t it.

Though note that helmet noise is massively personal and subjective. So much so that if you really like the HJC CL-Max 3, I’d go for it and expect to wear ear plugs (which you know you should anyhow, right?!)

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The ventilation config is nice and simple on the HJC CL-Max 3.

Up top, there’s a single crown vent that’s designed to pull air through the helmet and cool the top of the head. In the chin bar, there’s another single vent to cool the face and let air push onto the back of the face shield.

For ease of use, a single vent in both areas is ideal so you can quickly adjust venting without having to scrabble around for multiple sliders.

The only issue with having a slider up top for both the vent and sun visor control is that it’s easy to get mixed up between the two, which can be frustrating. So, if you do buy a CL-Max 3, it’s very much worth familiarising yourself with the positions of both early on, otherwise you may find it annoying to adjust when you’re on the move.

A couple of useful links…

– Our Top 10 Modular Helmets –
– Safest Helmet Reviews –

However, while the sliders on each vent and nice and glove friendly and easy to use, there’s mixed reviews about how good venting is.

Inside the shell, there’s some nice and large channels designed to circulate air around the scalp. But they only run from front to back and don’t let in masses of air.

hjc-cl-max-3-modular-helmet-gloss-white-side-view — Plain white HJC CL-Max

The chin vent lets in a reasonable amount of air but if you live somewhere cold, you could well suffer from shield fogging as there’s not enough ventilation to keep the shield from misting.

Overall then, owners reckon it’s about average for ventilation.

Obviously, it’s a flip-front lid so if you really do need to get loads of air, you can always push up the chin bar and you’ll get all the venting you can cope with.

But if you need a helmet that’ll vent a ton of airflow with the shield down, you might want to check out one of these great venting helmets instead.

Shield

(more about shields)

The face shield on the CL-Max 3 covers all bases pretty well.

It’s a quick-release shield so you can easily whip off the shield for easy cleaning. Plus owners say it’s nice and wide so gives great peripheral vision – which is obviously good for that sense of freedom while you’re riding as well as being a good safety feature.

hjc-cl-max-3-modular-helmet-matt-black-rear-view — Small rear spoiler and smooth aerodynamic shell

It’s got an opening tab towards the bottom left – which is OK – and it’s got Pinlock pins on there in case you suffer from fogging so you can buy a Pinlock lens and it should slot in there no problem.

Shame it doesn’t come with a Pinlock in the box. But other than that, in terms of the face shield, the CL-Max 3 has all the basics covered.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

Same goes for the integral sun visor. Owners tend to love the sun visor on their CL-Max 3s.

It’s operated with a slider right on top of the helmet. As mentioned before, it’s a bit too easy to get mixed up between the sun visor slider and the top air vent slider, which can be a bit of a niggle.

The sun visor’s a bit low-tech too, in that it goes either fully up or fully down without the help of a a spring-loaded return that you get on some helmets. But owners reckon that’s fine – it’s a budget helmet so most riders don’t expect an overly-sophisticated mechanism.

Plus, if you’ve got your sun visor down but want to raise it just a little, you can push it up an inch or two using the slider to get an intermediate position. Job done.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

HJC has designed the chin bar on the CL-Max 3 to be operated with just one central button. That unlocks both clasps (one at either side) and the chin bar can be easily raised.

If you’re after a modular helmet, you’re undoubtedly wanting one where the chin bar has a secure locking mechanism that’s not going to open in an impact.

hjc-cl-max-3-flow-helmet-grey-black-white-top-view — This one’s a CL Max 3 Flow

Looking at SHARP (UK) test data, HJC has a mixed record for this. Taking all their years of data covering the testing of HJC modulars, their chin bars stayed closed and locked during just 64% of impacts – which ain’t great.

However, their latest tested modular – the IS Max II – scored an excellent 100%. That means the chin bar on the Max II didn’t unlock at all in any of the 32 impact tests it went through. So hopefully that means the safety of HJCs chin bars is on the up!

As you can see from the picture, the HJC CL-Max 3 is one of those flip-up helmets where the chin bar raises just above the line of the closed face shield rather than pushes right the way round to the back of the helmet.

If you’re looking for one of those, take a look at modulars from LS2 and Shark who both produce fully rotating chin bar modulars.

The chin bar mechanism on the Max 3 seems to work well. It unlocks and pushes open without any fuss and auto locks when you firmly push it back down.

Just don’t do it while on the move if you want to make it to the end of the ride – always pull over before opening or closing your chin guard.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The HJC CL-Max 3 has a fully removable and washable liner. HJC liners are usually great – they’re serviceable and comfortable. And while they’re not the last word in comfort, they’re usually more than comfortable enough and made from quality materials.

hjc-cl-max-3-gallant-helmet-grey-orange-side-view — Grey/Orange CL-Max 3 Gallant

The lining on the CL-Max is made from HJCs SuperCool material which is essentially an anti-microbial moisture wicking liner – with the cool referring to wicking sweat away so your head feels cooler. It’s not particularly fancy but it does the job.

Several CL-Max 3 owners said their helmets are all-day comfortable so they’re great if you’re taking a long run cross state.

One common issue worth being aware of is that a few owners said they felt the padding in their CLs was a bit uncomfy at first – because the cheek pads press in a bit too firmly, squashing your cheeks.

If you buy one and find the same issue, there’s a few remedies. Firstly some owners said they had to go up a size – so maybe if you’re between sizes and not really sure which size to go for, we’d suggest opting for the larger size when you order.

Though when you receive your helmet, make sure it’s a nice firm fit when you try it on.

Alternatively, if you think it’s just fine apart from the cheek pads, you can buy different size cheek pads from HJC to tailor the fit.

However, it might not really be an issue as a few owners said theirs wore in pretty quickly and isn’t an issue after a week or two.

One great thing about the CL-Max 3 is that it comes in sizes up to XXXL which is a reasonably rare larger size.

You can find other helmets that come in extra large sizes here.

Looks & Graphics

At the time of writing, HJC offers the Flow in five colorways, the Gallant in four colorways as well as the usual range of solids – black, white, anthracite and silver.

Scroll up and down the page to get an idea of the designs available (we’ve covered all these graphics) and if you’re interested in buying a CL-Max III, please click through to our highly recommended store partners using the links below.

HJC CL-Max III Video

Here’s a quick 3 minute look around the CL Max III from the guys at J&S.

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

The CL-Max 3 comes with a standard double-d ring fastener. They’re not as easy to use as a micrometric fastener but they’re not bad once you get the hang of them and they’re easy to tie up securely.

The old CL-Max 2 was designed to work with a specific bluetooth kit only. HJC has dropped that with the Max 3 so there’s no longer a panel on the helmet for you to slot one specific comms unit in.

hjc-cl-max-3-solid-titanium-helmet-side-view — CL-Max 3 in titanium

That’s undoubtedly a good move because many of us have a comms unit we know and trust and want to take it from helmet to helmet. There’s large speaker pockets inside the CL-Max 3 and a large enough flat panel on the side to take a range of bluetooth kits.

We heard from owners of Cardo PackTalks and Senas – including the 10S – who said they found it easy to fit their bluetooth sets to the CL-Max 3.

As mentioned, the Max 3 isn’t the lightest of helmets. In fact it’s one of the heaviest weighing in around 4lbs or 1.8Kg. Having said that, that’s only around 4 ounces heavier than the average weight of a modular helmet. And while some owners say it feels heavy, others reckon it’s light weight when you’re riding.

If you need a helmet that’s easy to wear with glasses, the CL-Max 3 has been designed to fit glasses stems. And like many modulars, it’s easy to put your glasses on by opening up the chin bar to fit them.

hjc-cl-max-3-flow-motorcycle-helmet-hi-viz-black-side-view — Black/hi-vix fluo green Flow CL-Max 3

Overall build quality of the Max 3 seems to be fine for most owners. Yeah they take into consideration the fact is a lower price helmet – so you probably don’t expect the best materials and finish – but it’s broadly seen as a well built helmet with a good level finish for the price.

And if you plump for a Max 3 as your next helmet, it should come with a decent 3 year warranty.

Good Alternatives to the HJC CL-Max 3?

OK, the first helmet you should check out is the CL-Max 3s stablemate the HJC IS-Max II. It’s got that tried-and-tested chin bar, plus the UK version was SHARP 4 star safety rated. It’s got all the great features of the CL-Max 3 but good ventilation too.

The AGV Numo Evo ST is more expensive than either HJC, but it’s highly rated for safety too and has an easy micrometric fastener and has been designed to be worn with the chin bar up too if that’s your thing.

OK, it’s a lot more money, but the top of the range AGV Sport Modular is a carbon fibre flip-front that’s been designed to work with sports bikes. Lots of great features and a wonderful helmet.

Finally, the Bell SRT is a fiberglass and Snell certified modular that comes with 5 year warranty. It’s another modular that’s as happy on a laid back or leant forward bike too.

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Star Ratings

AGV Sport Modular motorcycle crash helmet review

Page Contents

The World’s 1st 2nd Sports Modular Crash Helmet: the AGV Sport Modular

It’s billed by AGV as the world’s first sports-modular (flip-front) helmet. OK, that’s not entirely true, because Schuberth’s C4 flip-up helmet got there first. Still, it’s great to see helmet makers pushing back the envelope – and with the rise and rise in popularity of flip-up crash helmets, the world’s definitely ready for more sportsbike-focused modular helmets.

AGV say the Sport Modular offers the same level of safety protection as their top of the range sportsbike helmets, including the SHARP 5 star rated Pista GP-R.

And even though the Sport Modular is a full carbon fiber helmet with a 5 layer shock absorbing EPS liner – that’s some bold claim!

So, let’s take a look at what the AGV Sport Modular helmet offers.

Modular helmet designed for sportsbikes
Full carbon fiber shell and chin guard
SHARP 4 Star safety rated
3 shell sizes
5 density EPS
Integrated sun visor
Class 1 optically correct shield
Double-D ring fastener
Pinlock anti-fog insert included
3.25lbs (1.45Kg) – light for a modular
Sizes XXS-XXXL
Expect to pay around $880

Looking to buy an AGV Sport Modular?

Please click below to visit the AGV Sport Modular 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).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

When you’re looking at the safety of modular helmets, there’s two things you have to consider (apart from getting the fitment just right) – and that’s the helmet shell and the chin guard.

agv-sport-modular-mono-carbon-black-motorcycle-crash-helmet — Chin guard fully raised – on the Sport Modular Mono Carbon Black

AGV certainly know how to make a safe motorcycle helmet (check our list of the safest helmet brands to see how safe). They’ve been making bike helmets since 1947 and make helmets for some of the world’s greatest motorcycle racers (including the GOAT himself!).

The Pista GP and its successor, the Pista GP-R are the only other full carbon helmets they’ve made to date and they’re both top (5 star) rated for safety by SHARP.

Well, in 2018 the UK SHARP testing labs got their hands on the European version of the Sport Modular and it was awarded four stars out of five. That’s a great result, but probably not quite the one AGV were after. IT also wrong-footed much of the press; loads of motorcycle websites still carry the story that the SportModular WILL be awarded a 5 star rating from SHARP.

Obviously, with the SportModular being a flip-up helmet, we also want that chin guard to stay firmly locked during all impacts – in the lab as well as on the road.

SHARP testing tracks the number of times a chin bar comes unlocked during testing, and in the case of the Sport Modular, they scored it a 97%, meaning the chin bar came unlocked once during testing. Again, I think that’s pretty good – not perfect, but I’d be happy buying a Sport Modular with that score.

With chin guard testing, AGV has done amazingly well over recent years. Of the three modular lids tested by SHARP since 2012 (and before the SportModular), every one remained locked and closed during all impact tests in the labs. That’s very unusual indeed and only Nolan can boast the same success rate.

Plus, AGV has introduced their patented visor lock system (VLS) which is there to reduce the chance of accidental openings too.

So it’s all looking up for the safety of the AGV Sport Modular. And of course once it’s released, it should be DOT certified too.

Like all helmets designed for the track, it’ll have a double-d ring fastener (in the case of the Sport Modular, it’s a nice titanium job).

agv-sport-modular-hi-viz-motorbike-helmet — Hi vis Sport Modular

Of course, the fact that the SportModular has a lightweight carbon shell (reports are it’ll be under 3lbs or around 1.3Kg in weight which is incredibly light for any helmet, never mind a modular) is great for safety. It means there’s less impact inertia which means less strain on the brain and the neck during an accident.

There’s also a class 1 optically-correct shield for extremely clear vision and a wide shield aperture for improved peripheral vision.

There’s no EQRS emergency quick release system unfortunately, but that’s about the only safety feature missing from the Sports Modular so we’re hopeful it’s going to offer great accident protection if things go REALLY BAD!

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Like an increasing number of helmet makers, AGV designed the Sport Modular in the wind tunnel. They say that’s resulted in a shell that’s incredibly slippery with reduced buffeting and that gives zero lift at motorway speeds.

But they also say it’s helped make the Sport Modular particularly quiet.

Sportsbike helmets are notoriously noisy – the quest for light weight and superb impact performance is often at the cost of noise reduction.

And of course flip-up helmets are generally noisier than full face helmets any way.

But aside from the great aero capabilities, AGV say they’ve engineered a pressure-free fit, designed to reduce helmet noise.

Well, looking at comments and reviews from around the web, there’s a massive range of opinions on the noise level inside the Sport Modular. Some people say it’s deafeningly loud while others reckon it’s almost whisper quiet; with lots of people comparing it to their last helmets. It looks like most folk’s opinions are dependent on what helmets they’re used to wearing and their riding style. So, if your current helmet is really quiet, expect the SportModular to be on the noisy side, and vice versa.

Overall then, we’re gonna rate the SportModular as about average for noise. Which, for a sportsbike-oriented modular helmet, is actually good going. That’s because sportsbike helmets tend to be louder than the average helmet, and so do modulars – so to combine the two and make a helmet that’s about average for noise suppression is a job well done!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

There’s a single chin vent in the chin guard, a single crown vent and a single exhaust vent in the shell of the SportsModular.

But it’s often not the number of vents – it’s how well they’re designed that counts.

AGV use a system that they’ve called IVS or Integrated Ventilation System.

What that means is actually pretty conventional: all the external vents direct air through the helmet shell, through channels in the lining and onto the head. Although, with a helmet with an integral sun visor that sits right where you need the vent channels to sit, it’s a bit more of an involved process.

agv-sport-modular-aero-carbon-red-motorbike-helmet — Front view of the Aero Carbon Red Sport Modular

AGVs other modular helmet that also has an integral sun visor – the AGV Numo Evo – vents very well, so it can be done. But unlike the Numo Evo, the Sport Modular positions its single vent centrally and directly above where the retracted sun visor sits, making routing of the vent around the scalp potentially very tricky.

Which is probably one of the reasons it’s resulted in a helmet that’s got reasonable ventilation, but not the best.

If you ride somewhere that’s regularly hot, then you might want to try one of our best venting helmets instead. But if you ride in more temperate places – and don’t spend a lot of time on the track – the ventilation on the Sport Modular should be OK. And with the included Pinlock, you shouldn’t have problems with your shield misting up either.

Shield and Sun Visor

(more about shields)

If you’re after a helmet that works with your sportsbike, then you need a particularly effective shield system.

By that, I mean it’s gotta give masses of vision both vertically and horizontally. Vertically for when your head’s down in a racing tuck and horizontally so you can see who’s sliding up on the inside to throw a block pass on you!

With the SportModular, AGV reckon they’ve designed-in a 190 degree horizontal field of view – the same as the human eye’s visual range. Owners agree that it’s got an amazingly wide field of view – which has gotta be a very good thing both on and off the track.

Of course, both the main shield and the sun visor are anti-scratch and the main shield is Pinlock anti-fog ready and a Pinlock is included in the box..

The main shield is also quick-release for fast shield-swaps and it’s class 1 optically correct to virtually obliterate shield distortions (not that they’re a problem for most of us with our more standard shields).

And like most track or sportsbike focused helmets, there’s also a shield lock (front center, directly above the chin vent) to keep the shield firmly closed as you ramp up the speed (or when you hit the gravel trap!)

cycle-helmet-carbon-white — Side view of the carbon white SportsModular showing full extent the chin bar raising

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

The chin guard on the Sport Modular has a metal opening mechanism, designed for maximum strength and to minimize the chance of it opening in an impact.

And like the rest of the helmet shell, the chin guard is made of carbon fiber. Now, that’s pretty unusual because most modulars with hi-tech shells still tend to have polycarbonate chin guards to keep costs and weight down.

To date, AGV have an excellent reputation for making modulars with safe chin guards that resist opening under impact. And that’s pretty well continued with the Sport Modular, because during SHARP testing they scored 97% for the chin guard, meaning – if my math serves me well – the chin guard unlocked only once during 32 impact tests.

OK, so it’s not perfect, but it’s very near and is actually a great result in comparison to most brands’ tested chin guards.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

AGV advertises the SportsModular as an incredibly light weight helmet. Well, that’s kinda true in that it’s very light weight for a flip-up helmet, but because modulars are generally heavier than full face helmets, it’s actually about average if you compare it to the typical full face.

Their website says it’s about 3lbs (1.35Kg) but that must be for the smallest sizes because for a large, it’s more like 3.2lbs (1.45Kg) – and it’ll be even more for the larger sizes.

Of course, figures on paper don’t really matter too much in comparison to how a helmet feels – and overwhelmingly owners say it feels really light weight when they’re wearing it.

Less weight is going to help with making a helmet more comfortable over longer rides and actually contributes to safety too if you did have an accident.

Inside the Sport Modular, there’s a removable/washable lining of course. But what’s interesting about the Sport Modular’s crown pad is that there’s a warm and a cool side – one for the winter and one for summer riding!

The winter side has a Shalimar fabric lining – that’s an AGV fabric that’s comfortable and warms up quickly.

agv sportmodular tricolore motorcycle helmet side view — Subtly-striped Sport Modular Tricolore

Whereas the summer, cooler side uses a material called Ritmo – apparently making for a cooling, moisture wicking and anti-microbial lining.

That sounds like a great idea and is sure to be one that’s copied by other makers in the coming months.

There’s also a removable noise and wind protector together with an anti-water treated Nubuk fabric neck roll.

One thing that’s worth noting is that several owners commented that the double-d ring strap is mounted too far back, pulling into their throats and making the helmet uncomfortable. In fact, in our research, that’s probably the single biggest deal breaker for most owners. So be warned – if you do buy a Sport Modular (in fact if you buy any helmet online) you need to make sure you can return it without any fuss if it turns out the strap is uncomfortable for you too.

As always, all our recommended retailers offer no quibble refunds/replacements:)

All in all, there’s been a ton of thought and design lavished on the inside of the Sport Modular and owners universally say it’s a plush feeling, comfortable helmet that’s good for long hours in the saddle.

Looks & Graphics

There’s only a few variations of the sports modular helmet out at the moment – and there may never be too many because AGV are keen to show off that gorgeous carbon fiber weave as much as they can, so that limits the number of designs they offer.

Having said that, beside a few variants on the plain lacquered raw carbon versions, there’s also a hi-vis version, a plain white ‘aero’ version and a classy Aero Carbon Red version of the Sport Modular (see the top photo) – as well as the Tricolore with it’s subtle Italian Trocolore breaking up the carbon weave. Nice.

To find any more designs released since we wrote this article – and find the latest deals on the AGV SportModular, please click through the links to the AGV helmets pages of our recommended retailers below.

Best places to buy an AGV Sport Modular helmet?

Please click below to visit the AGV Sport Modular helmet 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).

AGV Sport Modular Video

Other stuff – glasses, aero, communicator, warranty

AGV have made a glasses-friendly interior on the SportModular, so you should be able to slot the arms of your glasses in without fuss and ride without them sticking into the side of your head.

Of course, the Sport Modular is a sports helmet that needs to work on the track too. Which means it needs to be stable and aerodynamic, and not be prone to buffeting. Well the good news is that AGV has done a good job here because riders from nakeds to track missiles report that the aero performance of the Sport Modular is excellent, with exceptional high speed stability and minimal buffeting.

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth kit to your SportModular, there are speaker pockets in there so you should be good. We’ve seen Sena owners say their kit fitted really easily but if you’re looking to add a communicator that needs to grip to the bottom rim of the helmet, you might find that the sun visor slider gets in the way as it’s low down on the left.

All AGV helmets come with a minimum 2 year warranty – extendable by registering your helmet with AGV within 60 days of purchase.

Overall/Summary

There’s undoubtedly a real place for innovation in the modular helmet market and the sportsbike and track-capable AGV Sports Modular flip-front helmet is definitely in a new category of helmet – taking on the new Schuberth C4 at its own game.

Its got a glorious full carbon fiber shell and chin guard along with a massive view port, cool/warm liner and, for a flip-up helmet, it’s light weight, and will appeal to a host of sportsbike riders who love the convenience of a modular helmet but who want the safety of a full-on track-helmet.

And the Sport Modular has been SHARP 4 star rated which, along with its 97% rated chin guard (see safety section above), means it should give excellent impact protection too.

Owners say it’s mega stable, is really comfortable to wear and the shield system works really well. Some owners report that the chin strap is mounted too far back; and the ventilation and noise suppression are about average.

But if you’re after a modular helmet for your sportsbike and you’ve got the money to spare on this premium-priced AGV, then – one or two niggles aside – the Sports Modular could well be the helmet you’ve been looking for.

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Good Alternatives to the AGV Sport Modular

We’ve gotta mention the only real alternative to a modular helmet for sportsbikes here – the Schuberth C4. It’s not as light as the AGV but it’s got a massive viewport too, along with integrated comms and 5 year warranty.

If you’re not riding a sportsbike, but want a SHARP 4 star rated* modular that’s cheaper than the SportModular, then check out the Shark Evo One 2. That comes with a Pinlock in the box too (*original Evo One was tested/rated).

Or for an even lower priced option, there’s the 4 star safety rated HJC IS MaxII. That’s exceptional value for money and has an integral sun visor too.

For other great alternatives, see our top 10 flip-up helmets list.

Looking to buy an AGV Sport Modular?

Star Rating

Scorpion Exo Covert: low-cost open face helmet badassery.

Page Contents

Review of the Scorpion Exo Covert motorcycle helmet.

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

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

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

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

Polycarbonate shelled open face helmet
Removable plastic face guard
SHARP 3 star safety rated (ECE helmet)
Drop down sun visor
Antifog coated visors
D-Ring fastener
5 year warranty
Sizes XS-XXXL
Expect to pay $210-$299

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo Covert?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo Covert 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).

Overall/Summary

So is it worth buying a Scorpion Exo Covert?

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

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

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

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

scorpion exo covert ratnik phantom helmet side view — Scorpion Covert in 3/4 config (kinda) with ultra dark visor

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

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

Although the DOT Covert hasn’t been independently safety rated by Snell, if we look back at the stats of how well ECE Scorpion polycarbonate helmets do when they’re safety tested, we can see that of the seven Scorpion polcarb helmets tested in the UK by SHARP to date, they score an average of just over 3 stars out of 5.

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

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

That’s because that face guard doesn’t really offer impact protection. The helmet’s DOT certified but that face guard doesn’t really offer much protection – in fact with the ECE helmet its been certified as NP or non-protective, because it’s there just to give weather and dirt protection, not impact protection.

So don’t buy a Covert for facial protection because it’s not gonna give you much. If you want that, buy a full face lid.

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

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

You can actually remove that part and ride with it as a half helmet, but if you do it don’t look too great (see pic below) and it becomes even noisier and windier.

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

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

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

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

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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

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

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

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

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

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Ventilation’s good. There’s a surprise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

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

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

A couple of useful links…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So probs a helmet to avoid if you’re still learning then. If that’s you or you’d prefer a helmet with a good wide face shield, you might want to check out our helmets with wide shields pages instead.

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

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

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

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

It clips off easily using a couple of tabs, one on each side. And there’s a couple of locating magnets on each side to help align the tabs when you’re putting the chin piece back on.

Nice touch that – with a couple of owners saying they make it super easy to get the chin guard back in place.

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

That said, it’s fairly unanimous that it works and looks best in its openface config.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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

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

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

Just make sure you order from someone with a decent returns policy who’ll refund with no quibbles (like our recommended stores – see below).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looks & Graphics

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

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

Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo Covert?

Scorpion Exo Covert video

Here’s a 2.5m video looking around a matt black Covert.

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

In the US the Covert comes with a solid double-d ring fastener. In Europe, the Combat comes with a quick and easy micrometric.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finally, the Covert comes with a very generous 5 year warranty. Yay!

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Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo Covert?

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

scorpion exo combat gloss white side view — Gloss white Covert

First up, there’s the good old Shark Drak which is the most direct comparison with its face mask, though the Drak comes with goggles instead of sun visors.

And there’s a nice clutch of Simpsons to look at too – including the modular Mod Bandit, the Snell certified Outlaw Bandit, and the highly rated Ghost Bandit (SHARP 4 star safety rated in UK). All these have that distinctive Simpson cool look too.

If you like that look but want something for around the same price as the Covert, the Biltwell Lane Splitter is worth a look.

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo Covert?

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Star Ratings

Practical, badass modular helmet: Simpson Mod Bandit

Page Contents

Simpson Mod Bandit modular helmet review.

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

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

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

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

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

Modular helmet
Choice of composite or carbon shells
3 shell sizes
Fitment sizes XS-XXL
Pinlock-ready shield (not included)
Excellent comfort
But a bit noisy
Integral sun visor
Double-D ring fastener
Expect to pay:
- Composite fiber $470
- Carbon $680

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Overall/Summary

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

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

simpson mod bandit helmet gloss white front view — Here’s the gloss white Mod Bandit. Note all helmets are supplied with a clear face shield

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

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

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

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

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The Mod Bandit is DOT rated in the US and ECE if you buy one in ECE-land (that’s Europe and Oz mainly).

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

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

Outside of that, only the Outlaw Bandit has been Snell tested/certified by any independent safety testing dudes, so we can’t really know for sure if it’ll live up to the best protecting helmets out there.

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

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

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

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

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

simpson darksome carbon matt black top view — Top view of the carbon fiber Mod Bandit showing top air vents

OK, onto other stuff to look out for on a helmet that helps with safety: there’s a drop down sun visor to help stop you getting blinded if you’re caught out by the sun. The main shield is nice and wide according to owners and it’s pinlock antifog-ready so, if you live somewhere you’re likely to suffer from fogging, pay an extra $35 or so and you can fit a Pinlock antifog to keep your vision clear.

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

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

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

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

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

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

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

A couple of useful links…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shield

(more about shields)

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

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

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

The standard shield comes with Pinlock pins but there isn’t a Pinlock antifog insert supplied free in the box, which is a bit disappointing. But if you suffer from fogging, spend an extra $35 or so for the Pinlock and you’ll not regret it.

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

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

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

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

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

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

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

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

Chin Guard

(more about chin guards)

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

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

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

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

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

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

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

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

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

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

Looks & Graphics

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

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

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

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Simpson Mod Bandit Video

Here’s a nice 2m30s video showing you all around the Mod Bandit.

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

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

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

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

All Simpson helmets come with a basic 1 year warranty.

Good Alternatives to the Simpson Mod Bandit?

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

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

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

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

The Budget alternative to a Mod Bandit would have to be the polycarbonate Biltwell Lane Splitter. It’s got an optically correct shield and comes with a 2 year warranty (along with a pocket full of notes you’ve saved from buying a Mod Bandit!).

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

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

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Star Ratings

Biltwell Lane Splitter: a retro-cool but basic polycarb helmet

Page Contents

Biltwell Lane Splitter retro motorcycle helmet review.

California-based Biltwell make just two full face helmets: the very retro Gringo and this very Simpson-inspired Lane Splitter.

The Lane Splitter’s aimed at road riders who want a mega stylish helmet but with a nod towards practicality. For that last point, it’s got a lockable clear visor, chin vents, double d ring strap along with some of the weather (and road) protection you get from a full face lid.

I say ‘some’ because you’ll have noticed those big chin bar vents? Well, they’re always open, so if it’s raining hard, let’s just say you won’t go thirsty.

Which gives you a hint at what the Biltwell Lane Splitter’s about.

Maybe don’t go expecting the last word in helmet performance or to be up there with some of the latest, non-retro full face helmets on the market. Because if you do, you might be disappointed… and missing the point.

The Lane Splitter’s more about offering a cool-looking and aggressive retro helmet that hits a sweet price point in the market for folks not necessarily wanting an all-singing all-dancing full face. But they do want it to look stylish.

So, now we’ve done the digging here’s the lowdown on what you can expect from the Biltwell Lane Splitter.

Polycarbonate full face helmet
SHARP 5 star safety rated (Maximum)
Double-D ring fastener
Optically correct shield
Always-open chin vents
3.1lbs (1.4Kg) – about average
2 year warranty
Expect to pay around $249-$299

Looking to buy a Biltwell Lane Splitter?

Please click below to visit the Biltwell Lane Splitter 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).

biltwell lane splitter silver metallic motorcycle helmet front view — Front view of the Lane Splitter silver – those front vents are huge and always open

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The Biltwell Lane Splitter has a polycarbonate ABS shell with what Biltwell call a urethane chin bar. Again that’s a plastic chin bar.

But don’t worry, polycarbonate and plastic helmets are some of the most rugged and best protecting helmets around. Essentially, it’s less about the material used but how well the helmet’s designed and manufacturered that seems to be the most important part (read our definitive guide to helmet safety).

If you buy your Lane Splitter, it’ll be both DOT certified (US) and ECE certified (Eu). Which means it’s met some pretty intense safety standards to ensure it’ll do a decent job in protecting you.

Biltwell Lane Splitter SHARP 8_5 ms test result — 8.5 m/s test results for the ECE Biltwell Lane Splitter courtesy of sharp.dft.gov.uk

And the great news is that early in ’22, the UK’s independent helmet safety testing labs took seven shop-bought Lane Splitters, pushed them through their 32 impact tests and awarded it maximum marks for safety. That’s a 5 star safety rating!

For a basic, reasonably priced polycarb helmet, that’s really very good going and means if you do have a spill, the Biltwell Lane Splitter should give as much protection as any helmet out there.

biltwell lane splitter factory motorcycle helmet side view — Side view of the Biltwell Lane Splitter Factory. Other side carries the graphics (see top picture)

OK, it’s fair to say that there is more to helmet safety than just a protective shell – and with the Lane Splitter, you won’t get more advanced safety features you might with some other helmets – stuff like proper anti-fog inserts or EQRS (though the shield is treated with their own anti-fog coating).

What it has got is an EPS polystyrene liner to absorb shock impact, a double-d ring fastener to keep it on your head and that shield is optically clear with a peg style lock to keep it closed.

But that’s about it. Like I say, reasonably basic.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

OK, there’s a decent amount of padding inside the Lane Splitter plus it’s got a reasonably aerodynamic and smooth round shell.

But it’s also got always-open front vents in the chin bar and there’s mesh near the ears for speaker pockets.

On the road, most riders tend to find the Lane Splitter a bit noisy. Not deafening, just a bit noisier than most helmets. So if you’re looking for a helmet that’s quieter than most, you should probably check our quietest helmets pages.

And always make sure you wear a decent pair of ear plugs when you ride.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

biltwell lane splitter helmet in gloss copper side view — Fantastic Gloss Copper Lane Splitter. If you want ventilation round your head, open your shield!

Yep, you can see the ventilation on the Lane Splitter just by looking at the pictures. Or at least you can see most of it.

Those cool-looking chin bar vents are exactly that – very cooling for the bits of your face that sit behind them. And they’re cooling whatever the weather because they’re always open and there’s no way to close them off.

Which is fine if you live somewhere that’s always hot, but not so much if you live somewhere that gets a winter.

A couple of useful links…

– All our Retro Helmet Reviews –
– After a cool-looking helmet? –

Mind you, if you’re after a helmet to keep your head cool too – and not just your face – then the Lane Splitter’s maybe not such a good bet there…

biltwell lane splitter rusty butcher helmet rear view — Rear of the Rusty Butcher colorway. Says it all really…

There’s a slightly bizarre setup of ventilation grooves cut into the EPS lining and running front to back towards a rear exhaust vent, but without any front vent to let air in!

Not unless you keep the shield open anyhow.

It’s a slightly weird setup that we’ve really not seen before.

There will be some head-venting going on as some air will be pulled through by the exhaust and from around the head, but the word is that it’s not great for keeping your head cool. Face yes, head no.

Oh, it’s worth mentioning that those chin vents are not so great if you live anywhere there’s loads of bugs or rain because, according to owners, those vents will let the lot through. Yuk.

Shield

(more about shields)

That faceshield does all the basics reasonably well – it gives you some dirt and rain protection – and being a polycarb shield it’ll give you 95%+ UV protection too.

Biltwell have made it optically-clear as well, and a few owners have said it gives a nice, undistorted view of the road. They reckon it gives a nice wide field of vision too which is always good for shoulder checks and general all-round awareness of what’s on the road.

biltwell lane splitter flat red retro motorcycle helmet side view — Flat Red paint version – plus better view of the hole-and-peg shield lock

Other than that, it’s a basic sort of shield.

It’s fastened onto the helmet with a couple of cross head screws so if you want to swap it out for one of the several tint shades available, you’ll need a screwdriver.

Plus, like many shields that rely on screw fasteners, it can come loose and that means it’ll struggle to stay open and drop shut when you don’t want it to. In fact that’s one of the main bugbears from Lane Splitter owners.

Some say the detent when it’s fully open isn’t strong enough to keep the shield up either. And others reckon it comes loose too often. Either way, sounds like you’ll need to keep on top of the tightness of those screws to keep it working right.

There’s a simple peg locking mechanism to keep the shield shut – you know the type – a small (brass) peg sticking out of the helmet that sticks through a corresponding hole in the visor to keep it closed.

biltwell lane splitter flat black motorcycle helmet front view — Gloss Flat black version.

Well, it works OK to keep things shut but apparently it takes a certain type of knack to open it again without pushing your helmet up and across your face. Some folks have got the knack, others haven’t and say it’s a pain to use.

There’s a couple of other niggles that’re worth knowing.

The seal against water ingress ain’t that great, with a few riders saying it leaks when it’s raining. Also, it’s possible it needs handling carefully because a couple owners reported it scratches easily, even though it’s an antiscratch shield – could be that there was a slightly sub-par batch out there?

Again, the face shield will do its job if you’re just after something to give you a bit of protection from time to time. But it’s not the all-singing, all-dancing kind of shield you’ll get on some of the best rated helmets out there.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

The Biltwell Lane Splitter is widely thought of as a comfortable helmet with a nice quality internal comfort lining that includes soft, moisture-wicking material. It’s fully removable and washable too, using velcro tabs to secure it in place, and it features speaker pockets in case you’re wanting to fit some sort of comms unit in there too.

biltwell lane splitter rusty butcher helmet interior view — Inside there’s a comfortable liner with double-d ring fastener

Having said that, a few riders have said the cutaways for speakers are a little too far back to place them right over your ears. I guess that might slightly depend on how your head’s laid out too – but on the plus side there’s plenty of external surface to side- or rim-mount your bluetooth controller on without any problem.

On the whole, sizing seems to be about right, so just measure your head then order the correct size helmet. That’s as long as your head’s not too long or round shaped, because the Lane Splitter is a kinda neutral shaped helmet – which should mean it’ll fit lots of people’s pretty well.

If you do find the fit’s not quite right for you, worry not because Biltwell does sell different sizes of cheekpads so, if it’s only slightly out, you can always tailor the fit by swapping pads.

biltwell lane splitter helmet safe-t yellow side view — If you wanna be seen, the Safe-T Yellow Lane Splitter is a good bet

Looks & Graphics

There’s a stack of nice retro-style colorways available for the Lane Splitter; most of em unusual solid colors that perfectly suit a retro ride. There’s flat reds, flat tan, a lovely gloss copper as well as some subtle metallics like silver, titanium and bronze. Oh, and that gloss blood red’s to die for.

There’s also a couple of hipster graphics like the rusty butcher and the plain black factory. But there’s sure to be more colors available – some old, some new – if you click through to our highly recommended stores below (thanks!)

Best places to buy a Biltwell Lane Splitter?

Biltwell Lane Splitter Video

Here’s a 4m video (starting where he gets to the meat of the review) of a dude taking the Lane Splitter for a first 2h ride.

Other stuff – weight, aero, build quality, chin curtain, warranty

The Lane Splitter weighs in around 3.1lbs (1.4Kg) which is lighter than your average polycarbonate helmet but not mega light. Still, it’s light enough for one or two owners to say it feels light weight on the move and that’s all that counts.

Aero seems to be decent with folks saying it doesn’t lift at speed, though there are a couple of comments that turning your head sideways when you’re getting a move on can give a bit of air resistance due to the chin bar sticking out.

biltwell lane splitter bronze metallic retro helmet rear view — Photo doesn’t quite catch the subtle colour of the metallic bronze lane splitter

Even though it’s a relatively basic lid, lots of owners comment that it’s well built helmet that uses nice materials and has a quality finish to the paintwork. All important factors when you buy a new helmet so well done Biltwell.

Finally, the Biltwell Lane Splitter comes with a 2 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

Most folks really like their Lane Splitters because they looks so damn cool and don’t cost the earth. Which is a winning combo in most people’s books.

It’s a great helmet for cruising around but with the kind of protection you get from a full face. In fact, it should give you better protection than most full face helmets because it’s been awarded a maximum 5 star rating by the boys at SHARP in the UK so it’s a serious piece of kit.

Having said that, if you’re after a helmet that offers a ton of noise suppression or a watertight faceshield – then you might want to look elsewhere, because owners say there’s a few niggles going on – mainly regarding that face shield it has to be said.

Overall though, Lane Splitters come at a really competitive price point and, like many retro helmets, half the reason to buy one is gonna be because of the looks. And with its super aggressive retro style and dynamite range of colorways, it’s definitely a great helmet to be seen with. And now Biltwell has been proven to offer excellent protection, the Lane Splitter has just surged up our rankings and is well worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new full face helmet on a limited budget.

Good Alternatives to the Biltwell Lane Splitter

Retro helmets are becoming more and more popular – and better and better quality. I mean, why have a dull old regular lid when you can have something that better suits your ride and your style. So here’s a few of the standout helmets we’ve reviewed:

biltwell lane splitter rusty butcher helmet worn — Here’s how you’ll look wearing the Rusty Butcher Lane Splitter…

Of course we’ve gotta start off with a Simpson because they’re the guys who began this style of helmet. And the Simpson Ghost Bandit is arguably the pick of the crop if you’re after a helmet that works like a modern helmet on the road. The Ghost Bandit has a quality face shield system, drop down sun visor, it’s SHARP 4 star safety rated (EU version) and has a Pinlock ready shield. It’s a quality modern helmet with Simpson’s famous retro style.

Bell’s Eliminator comes in fiberglass or carbon shelled versions, has an optically correct shield with ProVision antifog as standard. Looks mean too.

If you’re after a retro helmet that works with goggles, the Bell Moto 3 is the original 1970’s motocross lid made modern. It super comfy and comes with Bell’s 5 year warranty.

And we’ve gotta finish off with another Simpson – this time the Snell Certified Simpson Outlaw Bandit. It’s a fiberglass helmet with a nice wide face shield that’s got all that Simpson cool while being all day comfortable to ride in.

Looking to buy a Biltwell Lane Splitter?

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Star Ratings

A great value carbon fiber/composite sports touring helmet.

Page Contents

Scorpion Exo-ST1400 sports touring motorcycle helmet review.

The Scorpion Exo-ST1400 is Scorpion’s top flight sports touring full face helmet. It comes in a couple of variants; one in carbon fiber and the other in what Scorpion calls TCT (see safety section below for more info) though only the carbon version is available in the US at the time of writing.

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

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

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

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

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

Sports touring full face helmet
Carbon and composite shells
SHARP 4 star safety rated (EU version)
EQRS
Drop down sun visor
Light weight
Scorpion Airfit pump
Double-d ring fastener
Pinlock Max Vision antifog included
5 year warranty
Expect to pay: $390-$450 (carbon version)

scorpion exo-st1400 carbon top view — Matt carbon ST1400

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo ST1400?

Please click below to visit the Scorpion Exo ST1400 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).

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The Scopion Exo-ST1400 is available with either a carbon fiber or what Scorpion calls a TCT shell.

At the time of writing only the carbon version seems to be available in the states, but we’ll talk about both helmets here because it’s quite likely that both will become available eventually and they’re functionally the same helmet and share similar constructions.

In fact, reading between the lines, it seems the carbon fiber version of the ST1400 is actually a TCT shell with a top coating of 3K carbon fiber rather than a full carbon fiber helmet.

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

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

Scorpion exo-st1400 antrim grey white carbon helmet side view — If you’re after some subtle colors, this one’s the ST1400 Antrim

Scorpion produces the ST1400 in three shell sizes which is great for safety and for optimizing fit/looks.

If we look at the available safety testing data, a few Scorpions have been certified by Snell including the R2000, the R410 and the R420. But at the time of writing, not the ST1400.

In Europe, of the most recent four fiberglass ECE certified Scorpions tested by SHARP – including the R710, T1200, GT3000 and 700 – they scored an average of 3.25 stars out of five.

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

Well, in 2019 SHARP tested the Scorpion Exo 1400 Air (the Eu equivalent of the ST1400) where it scored a very solid 4 stars out of a maximum 5, meaning it should give a decent level of impact protection if the worst happens.

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

We’re not entirely sure whether the two helmets are 100% comparable, but we include it as it might give you some food for thought if you’re wondering about the safety of the ST1400.

scorpion exo 1400 Air 8_5 MS SHARP impact test result — 8.5 m/s impact test result for the Eu equivalent of the ST1400, the 1400 Air

But there’s more to the Scorpion Exo-ST1400 safety than just facts and figures.

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

And it’s got a tall/wide face shield to give good all round vision. Couple that with the fact that you get a Pinlock antifog ready shield in the box toether with a Max Vision Pinlock and you shouldn’t ever have your vision obscured by condensation, like ever.

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

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

So it’s great to see Scorpion has made some good efforts to add extra safety features into the ST1400.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

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

Unfortunately, looking at folks’ thoughts and comments around the web, it seems the Scorpion Exo ST1400 is a bit of a noisy helmet.

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

Using the air pump to press the lining in a bit can help but we wouldn’t recommend buying an ST1400 if you’re after a really quiet helmet.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

The ventilation config on the ST1400 is pretty conventional. There’s a single central chin bar vent with two positions – and up top, a twin crown vent operated by a single slider, again with two positions.

Scorpion exo-st1400 hi viz yellow antrim carbon helmet side rear view — Hi viz rear view of the ST1400 Antrim showing rear exhaust and spoiler

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

So far, so average.

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

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

A couple of links you might find useful…

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

Shield

(more about shields)

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

scorpion exo-st1400 gloss carbon frontview — Gloss carbon Scorpion ST1400

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

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

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

Out of the box, the ST1400 comes with a clear shield with an Everclear no fog coating to reduce fogging.

But what’s great is that Scorpion includes another Pinlock ready shield too, together with a Max Vision antifog insert in the box. So if you’re troubled with a fogging face shield, worry no more because if the Everclear shield isn’t quite up to the job, then the Pinlock will sort you out in all but the most extreme conditions.

Sun Visor

(more about sun visors)

There’s also a drop down sun visor incorporated into the Scorpion Exo-ST1400 which in our book is a great feature if you’re the sort of person who really doesn’t want to be swapping shields from tint to clear all the time.

scorpion exo-st1400 carbon side view — Side view of matt carbon Scorpion ST1400 with sun visor fully dropped

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

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

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

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

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Inside the Scorpion Exo-ST1400 you’ll their Kwikwick3 lining which is a removable and washable hypoallergenic liner that’s designed using materials that’ll wick sweat away from your head.

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

Scorpion exo-st1400 hi viz antrim crash helmet side view — Side view of the ST1400 Antrim with yellow highlights

But should you find the helmet doesn’t fit quite right or starts to move around over time, worry not. The ST1400 uses Scorpion’s Airfit system where there’s a small inflatable bladder behind each cheek pad that you can inflate by pressing a rubber bulb behind the chin bar.

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

Which shouldn’t be a massive problem because it sounds like the lining on the ST1400 is mega comfy with loads of people saying it’s soft and cosseting and great for all day rides.

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

Looks & Graphics

OK if you’re going for the carbon version, in the US (at the time of writing) there’s the plain gloss or matt carbons. Or if you want a bit of paint too, there’s the Antrim colorways in either hi viz yellow or grey.

There’s a few others available in ECE countries including the Carbon Pure red or yellow, the Esprit blue or grey as well as the Grands which come with either blue, white or orange highlights.

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

For the latest colorways, please check out our recommended stores below.

Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo ST1400?

Scorpion Exo-ST1400 Video

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

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

All ST1400s come with a double d-ring fastener. Old school but effective.

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

Most owners of Scorpion ST1400 Airs say it feels somewhere between light and crazy light! It weighs in somewhere between around 2.7lbs (1.2Kg) and 3.1lbs (1.4Kg) depending on size and helmet shell – but either way both helmets fall into our lightest helmets categories and owners say they feel light weight when you’re wearing them.

Scorpion exo-st1400 matt carbon helmet rear view — This view of the matt carbon ST shows both the great aero and the EQRS tabs underneath

That sculpted shell seems to do a great aero job too because lots of riders say there’s very little buffeting from the ST1400 and it feels super aerodynamic, even at high speeds.

The Scorpion Exo-ST1400 comes with a class leading 5 year warranty.

Overall/Summary

There’s no doubt about it; the Scorpion Exo-ST1400 is a class act.

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

It’s light weight too and should give all-day levels of comfort for medium oval heads. And Scorpion has a decent reputation for making helmets that score pretty well when safety tested too. In Europe the 1400 Air (as it’s called over there) scored a very solid SHARP 4 star safety rating (maximum of 5).

It’s not the quietest helmet but if you’re looking for a sports touring full face and like to get value for money – as well as a sweet looking helmet – then the Scorpion ST1400 is well worth checking out.

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Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo-ST1400?

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

First up and a bit more money than the Scorpion is the Arai Signet-X. It’s a Snell fiberglass helmet that’s rated for comfort and ventilation and comes with a Pinlock. It’s best suited to longer oval head shapes though.

For around the same money as the ST1400 is the Shoei RF-SR: a Snell certified full face with excellent build quality, comfort and aero that makes for a fantastic all-rounder helmet.

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

Finally, if you decide you don’t want to spend as much as these, Scorpion’s polycarbonate R420 full face is superb value. It’s Snell certified too, comes with an antifog shield, EQRS and is comfortable and reasonably quiet.

Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo ST1400?

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Star Ratings

A look over the AGV X3000 retro full face motorcycle crash helmet

Page Contents

Retro helmet, great quality, Ago heritage. The AGV X3000.

The AGV X3000 is AGV‘s recreation of Giacomo Agostini’s early 70’s racing helmet. And like most modern retro helmets, it’s designed to give you all the look, feel and kudos of a lid from those halycon days but with some of the latest tech and features that make modern helmets safer and easier to live with.

Like the Bell Bullet or Biltwell Gringo – to name a couple of other recent retro helmets – most owners are gonna buy the X3000 for the looks, and probably to match their retro rides in their retro garages. But it needs to offer more than just looks for the modern rider to use it on more than just the very occasional retro ride.

Fiberglass shell
Ratchet shield
Leather/suede removable lining
Three shell sizes
DOT (US) and ECE (Eu) certified
Integrated shield head vent
3.1lbs (1.4Kg) – slightly lighter than avg
Sizes XS-XXL
Prices range around $250+ (plain) to $700 (Ago)

Looking to buy an AGV X3000?

Please click below to visit the AGV X3000 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).and Amazon. And if you buy from either,

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The AGV X3000 is a retro helmet but it uses modern helmet tech. Which means there’s no reason why it shouldn’t give good protection to the modern rider.

But there’s only been one retro helmet we know of so far that’s been independently tested by anyone other than DOT or ECE – and that’s Bell’s SHARP 3 star rated Bullet.

Having said that, the X3000 is both DOT certified and ECE tested/approved, and we also know that AGV has a fantastic track record of making safe helmets and is (at the time of writing) our 2nd safest helmet brand.

The X3000 uses AGV’s latest fiberglass helmet forming tech and is made in 3 shell sizes and expanded polystyrene (EPS) shock absorbing lining sizes – like many of their regular helmets.

agv-x3000-motorcycle-helmet-matt-grey-side-view — Matt grey X3000 showing dummy shield snap (one on the left actually closes the shield)

Couple that with the fact every AGV fiberglass helmet that has been SHARP tested having scored either four or five stars when safety tested by SHARP… and we can’t think of any reason to suspect that the retro X3000 is going to give anything less than decent impact protection.

It’s secured on the head using typical racing double-d ring fasteners. And there’s a nice large anti-scratch shield to give a decent view of the road ahead as well as good peripheral vision.

So while the AGV X3000 looks a whole heap of 1970’s, we’d expect it to give a large slice of 21st century protection. And because no AGV helmet has scored below a four star SHARP rating since the earliest years of the scheme (out of a staggering 27 tested helmets!) we’re going to give the X3000 a four star rating for safety too.

And if Snell or SHARP tests it in the future, we’ll let you know on this page as soon as they do.

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

The word from AGV X3000 riders is that it’s above average for noise suppression.

It’s less aerodynamically streamlined than most modern helmets (a couple of owners said the aero isn’t that great and quite a bit of air gets up inside the helmet) which means there’s going to be more wind resistance and noise. But there’s also very little in the way of fins, vents and spoilers sticking into the air flow creating noise.

agv-x3000-ago-1-retro-crash-helmet-rear — Rear view of the iconic Ago 1 Agostini replica (the one the AGV logo’s based on)

There’s also a decent amount of EPS and lining inside the shell and a neck roll to stop wind and noise getting inside the helmet from below.

So what does that mean for helmet noise? Well, some folks reckoned it’s noisy over 45mph. But more riders say it’s somewhere between OK to quiet at legal speeds.

Could be they expected an old-looking helmet to be really noisy or it could be that riders wearing an X3000 are more likely to be riding an older bike, so taking things steady? Or of course it could be that AGV’s made a pretty quiet helmet!

So, if you buy one, expect it to be about average quietness (and buy a decent pair of ear plugs) and you shouldn’t go far wrong – and you might even be pleasantly surprised!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Unlike the originals, most retro helmets try and include some form of ventilation in there. That’s partly because most modern riders expect their helmets to perform a lot better than in the old days – and partly because we’re much wussier than they were!

The X3000 has some cunning vents slotted into the top of the shield. These match with vent holes in the helmet shell and direct air through the shield, through the shell and into the helmet, venting air through channels in the polystyrene liner and onto the scalp.

It’s not the most comprehensive venting system we’ve ever seen but it’s a neat solution and keeps that classic helmet shape intact – and brings air into the helmet in a wide strip from the forehead to the back of the head.

The word from owners is that the top vent works OK. It’s not the best venting helmet for hot summer days but generally it keeps you cool enough.

Thankfully, that skinny chin bar lets a stack of air in underneath the helmet and keeps your face and neck cool.

Note that to open the forehead vent, you remove a rubber cover (much like you still have to in their latest racing lid the Pista-GP R!). Of course, most of us are gonna lose that once it’s out – but AGV has made a little pocket inside the helmet for you to stick the cover in, which might give us a fighting chance to keep it safe. Nice touch that.

agv-x3000-ago-retro-helmet-front-view — Front view of the Ago 1 showing that nice large racing shield that gives a ton of vision

Other than that, there isn’t a chin or crown vent. Guess there has to be some compromise to looking this classy and authentic!

Shield

(more about shields)

That shield is (almost) as basic as it looks.

Of course it’s anti-scratch like all shields have to be these days. And because it’s on a race-inspired helmet – and one with a thin chin guard at that – it gives a large view all round. That includes when your chin’s on the tank looking down a straight. That should work pretty well because it’s got a bit of a cut-away on the bottom of the chin guard which AGV legend says Ago asked for in the original racing helmet so he could get his head tucked in more.

And like shields of old, it needs a 24 piece socket set to get it off. Actually, that’s not true – but it does take a bit more fiddling with to get it off than modern quick-change shields, and needs you to remove another rubber bung and wield an allen key to whip it off.

Unlike shields of old, there’s a decent gasket around the shield hole to keep out rain and air – and the shield can be locked closed using the stud on the bottom left of the helmet. To unlock and open, just push up on the tab on the shield.

The X3000’s shield also works on a ratchet so you’ll find plenty of fixed positions for the shield inbetween closed and fully open.

agv-x3000-motorcycle-helmet-red-white-side-view — This one’s the X3000 in red/white

Just don’t expect the X3000’s shield not to steam up if it gets cold/wet/humid – because it will.

There’s no Pinlock or other anti-fog insert for the X3000 (at the time of writing at least). But then you’ll only be wheeling out your Gold Star or classic Kwak when it’s fine and sunny won’t you, so your helmet won’t see any of that inclement weather nonsense anyway.

Downsides? Well, a couple of X3000 owners we found complained that the face shield whistles a bit at lower speeds. But that’s about it.

Many were surprised at how easy the visor is to get used to and how well it works considering it looks so old-school (again, maybe low expectations worked in the X3000’s favor here). Plus a few more loved how much vision the shield gives you – especially horizontally.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

AGV X3000s are designed to fit medium oval head shapes. That’s most of us in the West, but if you know you’ve got a rounder head shape, then make sure you buy from a store that’ll let you have no-quibble returns/exchanges (like our recommended retailers below).

Having said that, there seems to be a bit of a dispute going on because quite a few owners think it’s more longer oval than that. So I guess if you are a longer oval headshape and want to wear an X3000, it might be worth trying one out.

The 3000 is made in three helmet shell sizes – that helps with getting the sizing spot on as well as making a helmet that looks better when you’re wearing it.

If you’re looking to order one, the opinion out there is that it sizes quite small – so you might need to order one that’s larger than your usual helmet size. So we recommend you check our helmet fitting guide then order a size up if you’re on the cusp between two sizes.

And if you’re usually a medium, the good news is that AGV makes the X3000 in both MS (56cm) and ML (57/8cm) versions to help you get the fit bang on.

agv-x3000-gloria-retro-crash-helmet-rear — Don’t know who Gloria was/is but this design’s named after her!

But if it’s not quite perfect when you get it, you can swap out the cheek pads for thicker/thinner pads so you can get the fit just right.

Quite a few owners found their X3000 to be tight in the cheeks when they first tried it on. If that’s what you find, don’t worry because most say it breaks in pretty quickly and fits nice and snug in no time.

And if it doesn’t, you can swap out the cheek pads for thicker/thinner pads so you can get the fit just right.

Inside, you’ll find a removable/washable lining that includes both genuine leather and a suede-like fabric for that totally retro feel inside and out.

The early word is that if you get the sizing right and it’s right for your head shape, then it’s a comfortable helmet with no problems found so far.

Looks & Graphics

The most expensive version of the X3000 is that Agostini replica (the one on the top picture) – the one that they tell me the AGV helmets’ logo is based on (though it’s back-to-front if it is!).

Note some X3000s are called just that while some are called ‘Super’. The only difference is the paintwork – no difference other than that.

If you’re thinking of buying an X3000, there’s plain/matt black versions as well as a gloss white and matt grey. The Supers have some simple classic paintwork and then there’s the multi-colored Gloria and that classic Agostini replica, the Ago 1 – though if you want to look like Ago, AGV has only made 3000 of the Ago 1s so you’d better get a move on.

As always, to see the latest graphics and deals at some of the most reputable online stores around (we continually check their 3rd party ratings to make sure they give great service) then click the links below. Cheers!

Best places to buy an AGV X3000?

Please click below to visit the AGV X3000 helmet 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).

AGV X3000 Video

Here’s a decent 6.5m video showing you round a couple of X3000 Supers.

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

Because they’re an (albeit old-style) racing helmet, the X3000 comes with the obligatory double-d ring fastener.

If you’re after using a bluetooth headset with your X3000, you might want to think again.

There are reports of owners fitting Sena and Packtalk headsets to their X3000s – so it is possible. But there’s no earphone cut outs inside – and you don’t want to go hacking about with the EPS lining as that’ll compromise safety.

So you’ll really have to do without a comms unit if you buy an X3000. Which shouldn’t be too much of a bind – it’ll give you that properly authentic retro riding experience after all!

agv-x3000-super-motorcycle-helmet-black-white-side-view — The AGV X3000 Super – if it’s called super, it’s simply down to the graphics

Because it’s a fairly basic fiberglass helmet, the X3000 is pretty light – weighing in somewhere between 2.9-3.1lbs (1.3-1.4Kg) depending on size.

And as is often the case with an AGV, the quality is reported as being good – better than some of the other retro helmets built to a lower budget. Various comments include the materials feeling high quality and the paint’s finished to a high standard.

If you buy one, expect it to come with a 2 year warranty (what’s up AGV, think it’s not going to make it past 2 years?!?)

Overall/Summary

If you’re after a retro racing helmet that’s as authentic as you can probably get, then the AGV X3000 is a pretty good bet.

It’s got the great heritage of being made by the original manufacturer while having a decent sprinkling of modern materials and features thrown at it to make it that bit more usable than the original.

The word from owners is that it’s a damn good helmet without any major faults.

It’s reasonably quiet, the face shield works well (though could suffer from fogging if you’re looking to use it anytime other than sunny days) and we’d expect it to give excellent protection. It’s well built too so should last and continue to look the part for years alongside your shiny retro ride.

There’s quite a few retro helmets out there to choose from. But the word from owners is that the AGV X3000 is one of the best retro helmets – it looks the part when you’re posing and plays the part when you’re riding. It’s not cheap, but then style never was. Well worth a look.

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Good Alternatives to the AGV X3000?

After a decent retro helmet? Then check out these bad boys…

The ‘original’ retro is probably the Bell Bullet (if we can call it that!). It’s been SHARP 3 star safety rated, it’s comfortable with good ventilation, weighs about the same as the AGV but it’s a heap less money.

So too is the composite fiber Nexx XG.100 which is even lighter than the Bell and AGV, though it doesn’t have any vents.

The real budget retro is the Biltwell Gringo – that’s a thermoplastic shelled helmet. But note, it’s DOT certified only – so if you’re outside the DOT-Zone (i.e. the US) it won’t be legal.

Looking to buy an AGV X3000?

Star Ratings

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