Scorpion EXO-R410 – the perfect budget crash helmet?

The new Scorpion EXO-R410 Air is a keenly-priced polycarbonate helmet that’s all about good performance without many bells and whistles. It aims to do the basics well without the fluff of fancy composite materials or drop down sun visors that many of its competitors seem intent on cramming in to their latest releases. But if it’s doing without the fancy stuff, it’s got to excel in the basics to make it worth buying.

Overall/Summary

The EXO-R410 largely delivers on its promise. It’s Snell certified (sizes XS-XXL) and scores a hefty 4/5 stars in the SHARP safety test and backs that up with decent build quality, some quality internals that make it a good fit and comfortable place to shove your head – as well as some of the best ventilation around.

It’s let down only slightly by the lack of noise suppression, which may be the result of such effective vents letting in more than just air. Overall, well worth a look and as long as you ensure it fits well, the Scorpion EXO-R410 should be a reliable and safe buy. Comes with a 3 year guarantee too.

Note: this helmet is now discontinued, replaced by the Scorpion Exo T510.

• Snell 2015 certified
• SHARP 4 star safety rating (out of 5)
• 3.4lbs/1.55Kg (about average weight)
• Polycarbonate shell
• Great ventilation
• Comfortable – with air pump system
  
• Not so great for noise suppression
• Quick-release, optically-correct shield
• Prices typically range from $100-$140

Safety and construction

The Scorpion EXO-R410 is a polycarbonate-shelled full face helmet. It scored a creditable 4 stars (out of 5) in the SHARP crash helmet safety test, which is a very solid performance and should mean the helmet will protect you in all but the most extreme circumstances.

The EXO-R410 is manufactured in two shell sizes – with sizes XS-M being covered by the smaller shell size and sizes L-XXL using the larger shell.  The fewer shell sizes used, the more chance you have  of the helmet looking either too large or small on your head (especially if you’re at one extreme of the fitment range).

There’s also an argument the more shell sizes produced, the more likely you are to have a helmet that has the optimal amount of shock-absorbing expanded polystyrene to crash helmet shell size – and that should make for a safer helmet. Given the EXO-R410 is only made in two shell sizes (many helmets are made in three or even four shell sizes) this could potentially compromise safety.

One big tick in the EXO-R410’s safety box is that there’s also EPS (expanded polystyrene) shock absorbing lining on the inside of the chin bar – which is pretty rare and something that more helmet manufacturers should consider. In an accident, chin bars can flex and having something to absorb the shock there is important too so good attention to detail there Scorpion!

There’s also Scorpion’s built-in emergency quick-release system, allowing emergency services to remove the cheek pads quickly and easily and make the removal of the helmet that much more straight forward. Hopefully it’s a feature you’ll never need to try – but it’s there should you need it.

Sizing

The Scorpion EXO-R410 is available in sizes XS to XXL and by all accounts, sizing is very accurate. Like the rest of the Scorpion Air range, it also has Scorpions own inflatable cheek guards that you can inflate to improve fitting if you find it’s a bit loose. It can be effective in tightening up the fitting and stopping any helmet wobble – though not many owners report being regular users.

Helmet Noise

As you’ll see below, one of the EXO-R410’s best features is it’s ventilation. However that comes at a cost. It’s a moderately noisy helmet – arguably because it has such great ventilation means that its noise insulating properties are compromised. It’s OK to use if you use ear plugs – which most of us do. But it is a little noisier than average.

Ventilation

This is one of the Scorpion EXO-R410’s strong points. It has a chin vent and double forehead vents and owners reckon both are very easy to use. They’re also unanimous in saying all vents let in a vast amount of air, particularly from the forehead vents, taking air over the head and out of the rear exhaust vents. These are probably aided by the wind-tunnel developed aerodynamics which pushes air towards the intakes and helps pull the air out of the rear.

To see other helmets with excellent ventilation, see our helmets with great ventilation section.

Shield

The shield that’s shipped with the EXO-R410 is optically correct and is secured by Scorpions’ own quick release shield system – called the Ellip Tech system. It’s very similar to Shoei’s quick release system in that you pull a tab down to release the shield at each side. Scorpion say it takes about 10 seconds to release the shield – which seems about right. Owners like it and say it’s a step up from Scorpions’ last system which suffered from teething problems.

The ratchet on the shield is positive to use with the only niggle being that the ‘cracked open’ setting is too large – it keeps the shield open about an inch whereas most of us like it to be about a centimeter to keep the wind out and the inside of the shield fog free.

On that note, the shield comes with Scorpion’s EverClear no-fog visor which owners think works pretty well except in the most demanding circumstances where it’s really cold/wet or where you’re stationery with no air flow.

Comfort

The EXO-R410’s interior is removable and washable and made from a sweat-wicking material. Users say it’s very comfortable and there’s no reports of any problems with the interiors – as long as the fitment’s correct in the first place. The interior has also been designed specifically with glasses wearers in mind so should accommodate most glasses’ stems without digging into the side of the head.

Looks & Graphics

You’ll find the current range of helmet graphics on this page (those available at the time of reviewing) but please click the links below to see the latest graphics available at our recommended partner retailers.

Like most helmets, the EXO-R410 is available in gloss white/black and matt black solid versions. But they also produce a range of sporty graphics as well as a couple of way out designs for folks wanting to project a more, well, mental image! The Hell Hound (see below) is covered in snarling cartoon dogs and the Underworld is covered in subtle skull graphics – if 50 skulls painted on a helmet can be described as subtle! There’s also the Orchid (right) which is probably aimed at the ladies and the Rad which looks like it’s covered in snake skin – albeit electric pink, blue or green snake skin.

Sporty graphics are the Sprinter, Slicer and Altus. We’ve done our best to cover the page in a sample of each for you to check out.

Video

Here’s Revzilla showing you round the R410.

Other stuff – fasteners, communicators, glasses, buffeting

The Scorpion EXO-R410 comes with a double-d as standard (easy to fasten and nice and simple) – and good if you’re planning to go onto the track.

The few owners who have fitted communicators to the EXO-R410 say there’s plenty of room to fit it with generous spaces for speakers.

A final point is that, probably because of its wind tunnel testing and design, the EXO-R410 is particularly good for buffeting when on the move. Several owners reckon that its noticeably easier to look over the shoulder or do life-savers in the R410 with little wind-resistance or wobbling because of air flow. That’s great to see in a helmet with such a low price point as it’s usually associated with pricer helmets like Schuberth.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Link-to-guides-page”]

Alternatives

HJC’s FG-15 is another 4 star helmet with excellent ventilation and is great value at a lower price point than the Scorpion. Alternatively, if you want a budget lid from one of the better known manufacturers, you might want to try the K3 SV from AGV. It’s SHARP 4 star rated like the R410, and has a built-in drop down sun visor. It’s slightly more expensive than the Scorpion though.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Scorpion-Cat-link”]