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Nexx X.G100R Racer: Retro cool full face helmet; now with added face shield.
First, Nexx introduced the X.G100. That’s a composite fiber retro helmet with a chin bar but no fixed shield. You can get a slightly weird external soft plastic shield held in place by snaps, and that’s fine if you like to try something a little different, but not if you’re riding serious miles.
The Nexx X.G100R (R for racer) is the next step in the X.G100’s evolution.
For the R, they added an extra shell size to the line up, which means both the X.G100 and X.G100R cover more fitment sizes (now from XS – XXL); they added an internal slider to let you close off the chin vent, and they uprated the interior lining (see comfort section below).
And – crucially – you can now buy an X.G100 with a permanent, articulating shield. Yay.
All in all, now you can look cool and, when posing time finishes and riding time begins, have a more usable and practical helmet!
At least that’s the theory.
If you’re thinking of buying one, here’s what Nexx XG100R Racer helmets offer, along with what owners think of their helmets when they’re using them on the road.
- Retro full face helmet
- Now with faceshield
- SHARP 4 Star Safety Rating (ECE helmet)
- Class 1 optically correct shield
- Composite fiber and full carbon versions
- Closeable chin vent
- Weighs 3lbs (1.35Kg) – that’s lightweight
- 2 Year Warranty
- Expect to pay:
- $390-$470 Composite
- $550 Carbon
- $390-$470 Composite
Looking to buy a Nexx X.G100R?
Please click below to visit the Nexx X.G100 helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Overall/Summary
Like the original X.G100, the R or Racer version is well put together, has a nice light weight shell and, with the addition of a face shield, now works much better as a real world helmet for modern day riding.
Of course, you’re probably going to buy one because of how it looks – which is why most owners bought their XG100Rs. But because it’s now been proven to offer excellent protection thanks to its SHARP 4 star safety rating (ECE version of the helmet), we expect it to do the business if you have a spill too.
Like most retro helmets, it’s fair to say it’s a bit of a compromise. Nexx has decided to do without head vents (and the chin vent isn’t the best) and that old style shield doesn’t give you all the utility of modern face shields.
But it is a comfortable helmet (if a bit of a squeeze for some) and it’s pretty quiet too. Overall it works very well for most owners and is available in a large range of stylish classic color schemes and graphics to match your tastes and your ride. It’s an excellent retro helmet that works well on the road and is easy on your pocket too – and is highly recommended.
Safety
(more about helmet safety)
The X.G100R is available in both full carbon and Nexx’s X-Matrix composite material. That’s a composite of pretty well every well-known hi-tech helmet material you can think of – fiberglass, aramid, carbon and organic fibers all forming a complex laminate.
Which should make for a decent and strong helmet shell.
We originally guessed it’d score around 3 stars in the SHARP helmet safety test, simply because every Nexx helmet to date has scored 3 stars.
But I’m delighted to be proven wrong – because it actually scored a very creditable 4 stars out of 5, making it joint safest Retro style helmet alongside the Simpson Ghost Bandit which scored 4 stars too.
But don’t forget, both those scores are on the ECE European version of both helmets (the Ghost Bandit is called the Venom over there) so we can’t be 100% sure they’re exactly the same helmet.
Having said that, it is of course DOT and ECE certified – and don’t forget that having a helmet that fits really well and is comfortable is just as important for safety as Snell certification or a high SHARP rating. So, if you’re unsure, follow our helmet fitting guide.
Having a good quality, clear shield is massively important in keeping you out of trouble in the first place – so that’s another tick in the box for the X.G100R over the old X.G100.
It’s also a wide shield to give extra good peripheral vision, and it’s secured with a double-d ring fastener. They’re fine, as long as they’re fully and tightly secured every trip. If they’re not, they can come off (unlikely but possible) although that goes for every type of helmet fastener, not just the d-ring.
Check out the review of the original X.G100 to find more details on safety.
Helmet Noise
(more about helmet noise)
One good thing about having a simple and round shell without many vent holes (see below) is that it should make for a slippery helmet that doesn’t create much turbulence and doesn’t have many places for external noise to penetrate into the helmet.
And from owner feedback, it seems that’s the case. They broadly rate it as a pretty quiet helmet – and certainly one of the quietest retro helmets we’ve come across.
Sure, if you ride fast with your head in the air and without ear plugs, you might not agree. But overall from owner feedback, it’s rated as a reasonably quiet helmet.
Ventilation
(more about helmet ventilation)
As per the original X.G100, there’s not much ventilation going on in the form of vents. Of course, with the original, there wasn’t a fixed shield in place so it was always going to be pretty windy in there – at least around your face.
There is a single small chin vent/slot in there and that does help with cooling a bit, but if it chucks it down in the old shieldless X.G100, you can get a mouth full of rain.
So, for the X.G100R, Nexx has put an open/close slider on the inside of the helmet so you can close it off; again, making the Race helmet more user-friendly and practical than the old helmet.
Still, if you’re looking for a helmet with great ventilation, according to XG100R owners, this isn’t it.
That chin bar vent does let in a trickle of air once you get a bit of a move on. But up top, there’s nothing – so if you’re thinking of riding in the sun, you’re going to be testing out that moisture wicking comfort liner quite a bit!
Face Shield
(more about shields)
The main difference between the old X.G100 and the R version is, of course, the addition of a face shield.
It’s a flat polycarbonate shield – Nexx mentions that it’s a Lexan shield but that’s just a manufacturer of polycarbonate so nothing to really write home about because all shields are polycarbonate.
The ‘flat’ part means that it’s not shaped – apart from being stamped then wrapped around the helmet when it’s fitted. Racing helmets tend to have flat shields because it reduces distortion and means you can fit tear-offs.
There aren’t any tear offs available for the X.G100R that we’re aware of, though there are various colored smokes to suit your helmet or your bike.
Nexx do advertise that the XG100 Racer has a wider-than-average shield, though we found at least a couple of owners disputing this. It doesn’t seem to be particularly narrow but they do say you can see the edges of the visor aperture in your peripheral vision.
If you live some where cool/rainy/humid, you’ll probably be needing an antifog solution on your shield. The shield on the XG100R does have a tendency to fog but thankfully there is an antifog insert available to keep misting to a minimum.
The ones available for the X.G100R aren’t the usual Pinlocks though, they’re by an Italian company called Raleri who make inserts for all kinds of sports goggles and visors as well as for motorcycles.
They’re sticky inserts so not located between pins – and we’ve not had any feedback on them, though because of their pedigree, we’d expect them to be pretty good.
Comfort and Sizing
(more about comfort and sizing)
The X.G100R is an identical fitment to the old X.G100 – that’s a medium oval fitment with a nice plush liner.
Having said that, Nexx has upgraded the lining with the R version (and retrofitted it to the old X.G100) and they both use Nexx’s X-Mart Dry moisture-wicking, anti-allergenic materials. That’s decent performance fabric and one that makes for a comfortable helmet lining.
It also features 3D padding for a closer fit and is fully removable and washable.
They’ve also added a nice retrotastic leather-look chin curtain to the bottom of the chin guard to keep out extra draft and noise (a bit).
There are a couple of niggles reported by owners though.
While it is generally a nice comfortable helmet for most, a few owners said they had to go up a fitment size to get the right fit.
And a few more said it can be a really tight squeeze once you’ve got the helmet on because the cheek pads can press in on your face a bit and make it quite a tight fit to get the helmet on/off.
And because Nexx only make the XG100 Racer in two shell sizes, a couple of owners reckoned theirs looks big on them, giving them a bit of a bobble head look. The two different shells cover sizes XS-M and L-XXL so I guess it might only be an issue if you’re at the bottom end of each shell size; so either a size XS or L.
Other than that, all good.
Looks & Graphics
Obviously, the looks of the X.G100R speak for themselves and you’ve probably read this far because you’re sold on the idea of a retro helmet but one with a few modern touches.
The graphics are important too – and Nexx has been busy creating some really rather nice paint schemes that really set off the form of the helmet.
There’s a great looking plain carbon version (carbons are about $50 more) but if you’re looking for a graphic version to set off your bike, the rest use Nexx’s X-Matrix lightweight composite shells.
Please visit our recommended retailer pages to check the latest graphics in addition to the ones you’ll find up and down the page here. Please use the links below to jump straight to their Nexx Helmets pages.
Best places to buy a Nexx X.G100R crash helmet?
Please click below to visit the Nexx X.G100 helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
Nexx X.G100R Video
Here’s a 4m video showing you around the X.G100R in plain gloss black and a pair of motordrome graphics.
Other stuff – fasteners, audio, glasses, aero, build quality, warranty
All Nexx XG100 Racer’s come with old school Double-D ring fasteners.
They’re not really designed to work with a bluetooth headset and there aren’t any speaker pockets or cutouts inside. Having said that, we have heard of owners managing to squeeze a headset in there and saying it works just fine.
Same goes for glasses. There aren’t any grooves inside to help accommodate the stems of your glasses but we’ve heard of owners managing it with different levels of success. It seems if your glasses have narrow stems then you should be okay, but if they’re thicker you might struggle.
The nice smooth shell shape of the XG100R seems to be a reasonably slippery shape as far as aero’s concerned, and we’ve heard owners saying it has the best aero of all the retro helmets out there.
Build quality is universally praised, which considering it’s not the most expensive helmet around is a great fete by Nexx.
Finally, all Nexx XG100R Racer helmets come with a standard 2 year warranty.
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Good Alternatives to the X.G100R?
You can find all our reviews of retro helmets here.
But if you’re after a retro helmet with a shield, there’s the excellent AGV X3000 which is an authentic-looking fiberglass helmet based on Agostini’s old racing helmet and comes with an articulated shield like the Nexx. Prices start where the Nexx leaves off.
Or there’s the Bell Bullet. That costs about the same as the Nexx, is SHARP 3 star safety rated and there’s a range of interesting shields available – including a bubble shield.
The Simpson Ghost Bandit might not look massively retro but we’ve added it because it’s a modern take on their classic styling. It’s a great helmet too with SHARP 4 star safety rating (ECE version), Pinlock shield with sun visor.
Looking to buy a Nexx X.G100R?
Please click below to visit the Nexx X.G100 helmets pages at Amazon and one of our recommended stores. And if you buy from either store, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).
