Back in December, my Nolan N-02 helmet from five years ago finally gave up the ghost; the faceplate snapped in half when I put the fog shield into it.  since it’s been a cold winter, I pretty much needed an immediate replacement.  I had ordered up an HJC Sy-Max II, which is reviewed here, and which had serious issues as a helmet for winter riding.  Hence why I was using the Nolan again.

I stopped at the local Cycle Gear and picked up one of the few helmets that fit me — the Scorpion Exo-1000.  Normally, I like the flip-face helmets.  It’s easier to get them on and off, since I don’t have to remove my glasses, but there were none that fit me.  (Our local Cycle Gear is somewhat lame…but it was the closest place to ride to in bitter cold.)

Appearance:  the EXO-1000 is a full face helmet.  Mine is gloss black with silver S (in appropriate “nasty”-looking font) and silver highlights around the vents.  Scorpion looks to be copying the more expensive Arai and Shoeis in their design.  Overall, it’s a good looking helmet.

Fit:  It has an inflatable air collar to lessen wind noise.  I don’t know it this works, since the medium is tight enough on me that I don’t have to pump it up for a good seal.  Did I say tight, I meant tight.  The interior is comfortable…it’s just getting the bloody thing on and off that’s problematic.  There is an air skirt against the wind, but it’s not particularly effective — I still get air up through the helmet, but it’s not uncomfortable, as it had been with the HJC.

The EXO-1000 has an integral sun shield, as the Sy-Max II had, and is controlled with a little lever on the left-hand side just behind the visor.  The fit is good and it is dark enough to cut the New Mexico sun down to size.  The main shield can be swapped out for other shields with a quick turn of the knobs on either side at the pivot points.  It’s quite easy.

There’s a collection of vents — the usual above and below the visor, two at the top where the aerodynamic-looking elements of the helmet are, and one at the back that allows through flow.  All are simple snap open/ closed types, save the rear, which has a side to side switch.  All work easily.

Road noise is peculiar:  it is more quiet than the Nolan was, and much more quiet than the Sy-Max II (if you are getting the impression the Sy-Max II was a disappointment, you’d be right.  It’ll probably be a great summer commuter helmet, when I want the air to just rush right in loud and cold.)  However, the wind noise across the helmet is there…it’s muted, but the tone is unusual.  i wish I could describe it.  It’s not annoying…just there.  The helmet’s been warm enough this winter, save around the chin.  Chin wind coverage gets a C+ at best.

The helmet is DOT and Snell rated.  Style is on par with more expensive helmets — a 4 out of 5; comfort is good once the thing is on, but the process of getting it on or off is a pain in the ass — 4 out of 5 (and only because of the tightness at the neck); overall it gets a 4 out of 5, and would be improved by either loosening up the padding a bit at the neck (especially with the inflation system to counter it) and a better neck curtain for the winter.