Before we get into the nitty gritty, we’ll give you a brief overview of the Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Helmet. The helmet is equipped with a FIM certified hard shell, which is available in matte black or can be painted in your favorite color.
The tough inner liner can be removed and easily washed or sanitized. It's really not a big deal to remove and replace this liner, as it's a simple process and only takes a minute to do so.
The liner is easy to replace and does not require any tools. The internal liner has a wicking design and the Air Vent ventilation system is fully adjustable. The air supply is plentiful, but we've heard complaints about excessive heat on long rides.
The helmet features two large main vents, one at the chin area and one at the brow with four exhaust vents along the rear.
This is the Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Helmet: a quality full-face motorcycle helmet with a removable, washable, and air-cooled shell. This type of helmet is lean, mean and meant to be seen, but that's not to say it's not a great choice for motorcycle travelers.
This review article will take you through the ins and outs of the helmet to help you determine if it’s the best helmet for you. Let’s get started.
Ratings
Comfort:
Visibility:
Coolness:
Ventilation:
Quietness:
Overall rating:
Specifications
Outer shell material : Composite Fibre
Shell size : XS-XXXL
Liner : EPS liner
Weight : 1.35 kg (3.3 lbs)
Pinlock : Pinlock Max vision
Strap System : Double D-ring fastener
Safety Ratings
DOT : Yes
ECE : Yes
SNELL : No
SHARP : No
FIM: Yes
Shape and materials
First of all, the helmet looks great on the pavement. It's light, compact, and won't weigh you down, especially when you want to tour in style.
The helmet is made from a sturdy plastic, and its open-face design means it's totally comfortable. The red outline is designed to allow ample airflow, and at the back, there are some vents to help keep you cool and comfortable.
Plus, the visor folds up and down without issue. While some may complain about the visor having too much plastic, it's a better alternative than having a light-weight, thin visor and a thick plastic air-cap.
The outer shell is made from a soft-touch plastic, and the hard plastic liner is replaced with an inner lining that comes with it when you purchase the helmet.
OVERALL COMFORT
Comfort and fit are two major aspects when considering a full-face motorcycle helmet. We've found that some companies pay more attention to these aspects than others, and the Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Helmet is definitely one of them.
Firstly, the Double D-Ring chin strap is incredibly comfortable and you can adjust the length. We really prefer it over some of the ratchet style ones we’ve tested in a lot of our reviews.
The D-Ring is made of platinum, so it certainly isn’t going to wear out anytime soon. While you can tighten it, we recommend going a little looser because you want to be able to move your head and still enjoy full freedom of movement.
Things I liked
Things I don’t like
The crown and cheek pads have a very snug fit, which is awesome, and makes it easy to wear the helmet for long periods of time, especially in hot weather. This is due to the wonderful Scorpio AirFit pump that inflates the bladder inside the helmet, allowing you to custom fit the helmet very easily.
Thus the helmet fits tight. We mean once you have it adjusted to your liking, it’s not about to think of coming off at any speed. The thick neck padding will keep you comfortable while keeping you protected.
At any point, the liner will last between 500 and 800 hours, which means that it can be blown out (by hand or using a special tool) for cleaning and to make sure all dirt is gone. To remove the liner, you simply unclip the two clasp hinges on each side, remove the liner, wash and simply reinstall it.
To replace the liner, simply unclip the two clasp hinges on the sides of the liner, remove it from the shell, and remove the liner and liner liner tray from the main shell.
VISIBILITY
The Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Helmet is also designed with full-face coverage, with a 7 mm thick polycarbonate outer shell. This face covering is a feature Scorpion helmets rarely offer, but they must if you're serious about using the helmet for air-cooled use.
The majority of air-cooled helmets have a removable liner, which is typically a full-face option, while those that require a hard shell generally have a removable liner and an integrated hardcover.
The full-face protector also means you get even more visibility. The Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Helmet has excellent sight lines, which is always great for full-face riding. The visor does not rotate, so all you see is the road in front of you and at that level.
The visor is adjustable in ½ inch increments which is quite nice. We do wish the detents were a bit stronger at speed, as the visor tends to lock back down at speeds of at least 40-45 miles per hour.
QUIETNESS
In our first impression test, the Scorpion EXO-R1 helmet's sound level was surprisingly quiet for this type of helmet. The helmet consistently produces between 98 - 100 decibels at speed, but for a helmet of this design, it’s to be expected.
The excellent liner drowns out any distractive noises in our opinion. Sure, it might not be as quiet as some of the super premium helmets we’ve tested before, but at this price point we’re not going to complain too much about it.
The helmet also has integrated speaker pockets which can easily accommodate a wide variety of bluetooth communication systems.
The visor seals quite well against noise, which is a big help.
VENTILATION
With Scorpion's unique design, the OE-quality foam is used at multiple locations. At the front of the helmet, a dual-density liner is used to maximize airflow.
The double-density liner will accommodate many different head sizes. The upper chin has been designed to redirect airflow away from the ears.
The active chin vent is easy to use and very handy. In fact, this chin vent can be activated on the outside as well as the inside of the helmet, depending on where you want the air to be directed to.
There is also another active vent along the top of the helmet. So there are only two vents on the helmet total. There are a total of four exhaust vents.
You might think this might not be enough, but so far it provides plenty of air thanks to the shape of the EPS liner. The EPS liner is aggressively grooved for maximum airflow.
The OE-spec holes for ear plugs are designed in a way that allows your earbuds to stay inside your ears without being restricted by the removable liner. The plastic shell comes in black and it is breathable and works well with the airflow channeled through the chin opening.
The 'T-04' sweat pad makes the overall experience more comfortable for long periods of time.
Your head might become warm over time, but even in extreme heat, we never experienced anything like a head wrenched in sweat.
SAFETY
The R1-Air is designed to be a track helmet first and foremost. That means fantastic safety for you. The helmet is DOT, ECE and FIM approved. The pinlock ready system comes with a clear visor in the box.
The EXO-R1 Air is the company’s first foray into the world of modular helmets, and the first one to be fully FIM (Formula One Management) certified. This means that the helmet you get when you purchase the FIM model is the same track produced model any racer would have.
FIM approved helmets are considered to be the ultimate type of helmet you can get, especially for the bragging rights as well as mega protection.
Emergency cheek pad releases are built into the helmet as well as a comfortable but thick neck pad which provides even more protection.
The rather innovative AirFit technology is worth the price of the helmet alone. It provides a way to custom fit the helmet without the need to call in a rocket scientist to help you adjust everything.
Conclusion
Honestly, the EXO-R1 Air is a fantastic helmet to add to your riding arsenal. It’s worth spending your money on. This helmet is highly recommended.
It has the performance you’d expect from a FIM helmet, the looks of pure coolness, and the toughness of any modern battle tank.
Where to buy this helmet :