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Scorpion Exo-520 Air motorcycle helmet review.
Scorpion has always done a good line in lower priced helmets that perform. The old Scorpion Exo T510 was a great example. Low price, highly rated for safety and owners generally liked it a lot. Except, that is, for how noisy it was. Other than that, it was a cracker and was great value for money.
But all good things must come to an end.
So too with the T510 – now replaced by this helmet, the T520. A bit sleeker, a bit more sculpted and, predictably, a bit more money.
Less predictable though is that they’ve accompanied the Scorpion Exo T520 with a version called the ‘Smart’. That’s the same helmet but with Scorpion’s own comms unit ready plugged in.
Well actually it’s a Uclear-developed comms unit with a Scorpion logo on it. But the point is it’s ready integrated into the T520 and ready to go. Which is handy.
So, if your interest has been piqued by the Scorpion Exo T520 helmet, then read on for tons of information about what it offers – and what owners think of theirs – to find out if it’s worth you buying one.
- Polycarbonate Full Face Helmet
- T520 Smart = integrated bluetooth
- Sun visor
- Everclear coated faceshield
- Airfit pump-up cheek pads
- Double D ring fastener (US)
- Glasses grooves
- 5 year warranty
- Expect to pay $199-$220 (Exo Com $375)
Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo-T520?
Please click below to drop straight onto the Scorpion Exo-T520 helmets pages at our recommended store an 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).
Scorpion Exo T520 Exo Com Helmet
The T520 Exo Com is the same helmet as the regular T520 but with Scorpion’s Exo-Com bluetooth communicator ready-fitted. Or at leaset the mic, speakers and wiring’s already fitted, though you’ll have to slot in the controller and the battery pack when you receive the helmet. Other than that, it’s ready to go.
The Exo Com bluetooth unit itself is made by Uclear and has a similar spec to their Motion 4 Lite headset.
That’s a bluetooth 5 mesh headset designed to accommodate up to four riders. In the scheme of mesh headsets that’s really not many riders (most mesh headsets have a theoretically unlimited number of connections though most limit it to something like 16).
If you’re only wanting to connect to just a few riders, that should be fine though.
It offers around 15 hours battery runtime and 800m range. It’s IPX5 waterproof and should connect to your phone/mp3/GPS etc. So if you’re after an out of the box bluetooth solution, it could well work for you.
For reference, the Exo Com version of the T520 costs about $170 more than the regular version but if you were to buy the Exo Com seperately you’d pay around $190 at the time of writing, so it’s only a small saving buying it ready fitted – though it does save you the hassle.
And the few owners that we came across reckoned it was a decent system for their needs with good sound quality, intuitive controls and a pretty good app too. Alternatively, you might want to check out other integrated bluetooth helmets we’ve looked at or communicator-ready motorbike helmets.
Safety
(more about helmet safety)
Overall, Scorpion helmets have a reasonable reputation for producing some well protecting helmets. And the Exo T520 looks like it has the right ingredients too.
It’s made in 3 shell sizes and it’s got a multidensity shock absorbing liner (just like your Arai’s and Shoei’s have).
OK it’s a polycarbonate helmet which basically means it’s got a tough plastic shell. But if you’ve been following our helmet reviews for some time, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not going to look after your skull because several polycarb helmets have been Snell certified and their UK helmets have scored maximum ratings when tested by SHARP.
In fact, the outgoing ECE version of the Scorpion Exo 510 scored 4 stars for safety when SHARP tested it a few years back – that’s just dropping one star.
And the fact that a relatively cheap helmet like the T520 is made in 3 shell sizes is good for safety (as well as meaning fitting and looks and weight will be better optimized). Of course, keeping your helmet safely in place and being able to see out of the shield are pretty important too.
To that end, Scorpion’s fitted the T520 with a double-d ring fastener (they’re safe) and really gone to town with the visor system too.
Not only do you have a drop down sun visor for when the sun’s dazzling, but the main shield’s optically correct for reduced distortion.
That faceshield’s Everclear antifog coated, plus the sun visor’s coated too – so you should have a clear view on all but the coldest, wettest or most humid days.
And finally, Scorpion’s fitted the T520 with quick release cheek pads (EQRS) which make removing the cheekpads that bit easier. Hopefully you’ll never need to put them to the test but if you find yourself upside down and confronted by paramedics, it could make the difference between a neck injury or not.
We don’t know exactly how well the Scorpion Exo T520 will protect you in an accident yet of course. But it is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified and if/when Snell or SHARP tests it in on their test rig and publish the results, we’ll let you know on this page.
Helmet Noise
(more about helmet noise)
Helmet noise was one of the areas that let down the old 510 Air helmet. So surely Scorpion’s got that nailed and made the T520 a nice quiet helmet?
Short answer seems to be probably not.
OK we came across several owners who reckon it’s fine. But we also came across more owners who say it’s not.
Several reckoned it gets really loud above 50mph – which is fine I guess if you’re a scooter rider or slow commuter. But a few owners said it gets properly loud at highway speeds and above.
And if you ride fast, we’ve found reports that the helmet can vibrate too. Never really come across reports of a helmet doing that before.
As to why it can be noisy? Some folks seem to think air and noise is somehow getting in on the left hand side around that sun visor slider.
Of course, if you use some decent ear plugs (as is always advised) you’ll probably be OK. But if you’re looking for a quiet helmet and are a high mileage type, it seems like you’d probably be best avoiding the Scorpion Exo T520.
Ventilation
(more about helmet ventilation)
Scorpion’s made the ventilation on the Exo T520 simple and glove-friendly.
The chin bar vents are operated by a single central glove-friendly slider that opens a pair of vents letting air into the helmet and onto the rear of the shield.
Same up top, with a single large slider that opens a big top vent (actually 4 small vent holes in the shell underneath that large plastic cover). From there, air passes through the helmet and into ventilation channels cut into the helmet liner, then out of that single always-open rear exhaust vent.
And owners seem to think it’s all pretty effective, passing a reasonable amount of air into the helmet as well as venting well onto the back of the shield to help with demisting.
Shield
(more about face shields)
Of course, air alone won’t vent enough to stop the shield fogging up if the conditions are bad.
Usefully, Scorpion’s now added a ‘cracked open’ position on the shield to let a bit of air in while you’re riding. That’ll help.
But the shield on the T502 is also Everclear antifog coated which should stop it fogging in all but the most humid, cold or wet weather. The shield on the Scorpion T520 is about average size, but it is optically clear so you shouldn’t see any distortion when you ride.
A couple of useful links…
– Safest helmets: Snell/SHARP 4 & 5 star helmets –
– Great value motorcycle helmets –
It also has a shield lock on there so you can ride along knowing it won’t pop open when you turn your head. And whereas some shield locks are properly fiddly to unlock and open, the word is that the T520’s lock is pretty easy to find and unlock with one hand.
The shield mechanism on the T520 is Scorpion’s Ellip-Tec II system which means the shield pivot should pull the visor back against the seal when it’s closed to keep air and water out.
Does it work? Well, we’ve heard from owners who say it’s great as well as owners who say theirs let water in, so I guess it’s a mixed bag. Probably about average for a helmet at this price point.
It’s worth noting that despite most of the photos on this page showing tinted shields, all T520’s are delivered just with a clear shield (smoked shields are extra).
Sun Visor
(more about sun visors)
There’s a handy drop down sun visor on the T520 too. The slider’s fitted just behind the left hand main shield pivot which is a reasonably handy place to locate it and means the bottom edge of the helmet’s free to mount a bluetooth controller if you’re looking to add your own.
The sun visor doesn’t drop down the lowest we’ve seen which might annoy some folks. But it certainly will keep the worst of the sun out if you get caught out, and it does add an extra layer of UV protection when you’re riding.
Usefully, Scorpion’s coated the sun visor with an Everclear antifog coating too which is something not many makers offer.
Comfort and Sizing
(more about comfort and sizing)
Inside the helmet, Scorpion’s added pretty well everything you should look out for in a motorcycle helmet.
First up, the basics. It’s a fully removable and washable liner. It’s also moisture-wicking and antibacterial (called their KwikWick II liner – basically, Scorpion likes to name everything!).
They’ve also added EQRS or emergency quick release cheek pads in there, so if you have an accident, the idea is paramedics can pull the red tabs at the bottom of the helmet and slide out the cheekpads without aggravating any injury.
There’s also glasses grooves inside the helmet, designed to let you slide your glasses in there without them digging into your head. And we heard from a few owners who reckoned the T520’s great for glasses, so it seems to work well.
The liner in the T520 and T520 Exo Com are the same, which means there’s speaker pockets inside the standard 520 which should accommodate most speaker systems. So that’s all good.
But the main feature inside the T520 is probably the AirFit system. Essentially, it’s a tried and tested system you’ll find inside all Scorpion’s AirFit helmets where there’s an air bladder located behind both cheekpads. These bladders can be inflated by pressing a small rubber bulb inside the chin bar that inflates and pushes out the cheekpads to tailor the fitting a little and tighten up the inside of the helmet if you find it a bit loose. There’s also a release valve next to it.
It can be helpful if you’re riding fast or the helmet padding loosens over time, in which case you can pump up the airfit to tighten things up and stop the helmet lifting.
Most AirFit helmet owners don’t seem to use it very often but a few owners certainly find it useful and like the system.
It’s also widely regarded as a very comfortable helmet, which is key, meaning it’s good for long hours in the saddle so should work whether you’re commuting or touring.
Overall then, Scorpion’s fitted pretty much everything you can find inside a modern helmet into their mid-price T520 helmet.
Looks & Graphics
Scorpion usually sells their helmets in a ton of different graphics, and the T520’s no exception.
If you’re after a graphic version, there’s the Golden State, Factor, Nama Sushi, Fasta, LeMans, Cover, Shade and Laten designs available. And if you’re a MotoGP fan, Fabio Quateraro’s a Scorpion helmets rider and you can get a Quateraro Replica in the T520.
Strangely, if you’re after a solid helmet, there’s only a matte black helmet available – so no black, no white, no other solid/plain colors, just matte black. Weird.
If you’re after the T520 Exo Com, then at the time of writing it’s only availabe in matte black too. If it or the regular helmet comes out in any other colors, you should be able to click the links below to drop straight onto their Scorpion Exo T520 pages to quickly see what’s available and any deals to be had.
Best places to buy a Scorpion Exo-T520?
Please click below to drop straight onto the Scorpion Exo-T520 helmets pages at our recommended store an 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).
Scorpion Exo T520 Video
Here’s a quick 13m look around the Exo T520.
Other stuff – fasteners, bluetooth, weight, warranty
In the US, the Scorpion Exo T520 is fitted with a double d ring fastener. They’re a bit more fiddly than the micrometric fastener used in Europe, but they’re trusty fasteners that shouldn’t let you down – as long as you check it’s done up tightly each ride.
If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth headset to your T520 then you should be fine. Obviously if you’re looking for a quick out-of-the-box solution, then you might want to consider the 520 Smart Air which comes ready to rock with an Exo-com kit (mostly) pre-fitted.
If you have your own set, then there’s speaker pockets in the helmet and space for a microphone and wiring. There’s also space to attach your controller to the outside of the helmet, so you should be good to go. The Scorpion T520 isn’t the lightest weight helmet out there. In fact it’s pretty heavy for a full face helmet, averaging out around 1.6Kg (3.6lbs). Still, even though it’s a smidge heavier than your average full face, no one we came across found it a problem (it’s still lighter than your average modular helmet). Finally, Scorpion covers all their helmets with an excellent 5 year warranty which is just about as long as you can get.
Overall/Summary
The Scorpion Exo T520 is a great full face helmet at a really good price. Just a shame about it being noisy. It has a ton of features for the money: EQRS, Pinlock, optically correct visor and sun visor to name a few. And lots of owners love their helmet.
Plus if you’re looking for a lower cost helmet with bluetooth already fitted, then the 520 Smart Air might well make a lot of sense. The only fly in the ointment is that, like its predecessor the outgoing 510 Air, a few owners found theirs noisy. Not all, but some owners found it noisy, whistly and a few reported it even vibrates at high speed. Which won’t be a problem if you’re a slower rider or looking to use it for steady commuting where it should be a great value, useable helmet. But I guess the main probem here is that you won’t know if it’s going to be a problem for you on your bike until you’ve ridden in it – at which point you can’t return the helmet. Which is a shame because in every other respect, the Scorpion Exo T520 is a great helmet. [xyz-ihs snippet=”Link-to-guides-page”]
Good Alternatives to the Scorpion Exo-T520?
We’ve got lots of other ways you can find your ideal full face helmet. You can check out our Top 10 full-face crash helmets list to see our best rated helmets or head over to our Smartish Filters pages and zoom in on helmets with your ‘must have’ features.
You can browse through all our full face crash helmet reviews as well as our safest motorcycle helmets page where you’ll only find helmets that are Snell certified or SHARP four or five star rated – so you’ll know you’re wearing the best protection out there. Finally, check out our helmet gallery to find a lid that takes your fancy.
If you’re after particular suggestions, you should check out these helmets below – all great helmets with excellent safety ratings.
The HJC C70 is another polycarb helmet with sun visor. But the HJC’s SHARP 5 star safety rated (ECE helmet) and cheaper than the Scorpion so well worth checking out.
If you must have a Scorpion, the ST1400 is a great value sports touring helmet. It’s available in composite and carbon fiber versions so it’s light weight and it has a sun visor and EQRS too and is SHARP 4 star safety rated.
AGV’s equivalent is the AGV K6. It’s a bit more expensive but it’s a carbon/kevlar helmet that’s SHARP 5 star rated (again, that’s for the ECE version).
Finally, if you want to go more premium, the Arai Regent X is a fiberglass full face that’s Snell certified and SHARP 4 star rated. Comes with a Pinlock and it’s designed to be easy to get on and off.
Looking to buy a Scorpion Exo-T520?
Please click below to drop straight onto the Scorpion Exo-T520 helmets pages at our recommended store an 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).
