ScorpionEXO R420 Full Face Street Motorcycle Helmet
Whether you are buying your first helmet or just want a second bang-around helmet, the ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet is going to be an ideal choice. Scorpion manages to produce a protective and quality helmet that comes with several nice features while also keeping the price point affordable.
TLDR: ScorpionEXO Motorcycle Helmet
Stylish, aerodynamic, and vented full-face helmet.
- What is it: full-face motorcycle helmet
- The Good: cool graphics, aggressive shaping, ventilation
- The Bad: clear shield, not camera friendly, no pin-lock shield
- The Verdict: quality, styling, and affordability
ScorpionEXO
The ScorpionEXO brand is under the company name Scorpion Sports Inc (SSI), which is a subsidiary of Kido Sport. SSI was established in 2003. Kido Sports was established in 2006 after Kido Industrial separated the motorcycle helmet division from the rest of the company. Kido Sports has two factories that make motorcycle, ski, and snowmobile helmets. Those factories are in Qingdao, China, and Gimpo, Korea.
SSI has its headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, CA. It’s called the Big Nest and is 86,000 square feet with 600 people working there. It makes the facility is so big, as SSI does all of its helmet engineering, manufacturing, testing, packaging, and shipping in-house. The company claims they have a combined experience of 178 years. If that impresses you, great. It just sounds like marketing speak to me. In 2007, the company opened a supporting distribution facility in Louisville, KY.
While the company started with helmets, they have since expanded the product lineup to include shorts, pants, and gloves for men and women.
The Specs
- Price: $157.29
- Size: XS-3XL
- Color: 15 design options
- Weight: 3.81 lbs
- Shape: intermediate oval
Safety and Protection
The ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet is SNELL M2015 (XS-2XL only) and DOT-approved. This is huge for me. I don’t really care about the DOT approval. The standards for claiming DOT approval are essentially pointless. However, the SNELL approval means something. Not only is this helmet safety rated, but if you check out the reviews, it consistently performs as expected, saving countless people from horrific and severe head injuries.
If you are like me, you question cheap helmets. I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for. So cheap helmets on Amazon shipped from China sketch me out. I don’t trust the seller or source enough to believe the helmet will protect my head. You don’t want to find out that the helmet doesn’t up to snuff the hard way.
This helmet also comes with emergency pull tabs for emergency medical response personnel. These tabs are pretty much standard on motorcycle helmets these days. I wouldn’t buy a helmet without them because they make helmet removal significantly easier, reducing the risk of further injury while getting treatment.
Cool Features
The ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet has a polycarbonate shell. Underneath the shell is a multi-layer EPS foam. The engineers at Scorpion have designed it to maximize impact dispersion. That means that when your head hits the pavement, the shock waves get spread out to minimize their effect on your brain. The shape of the helmet is designed to be aerodynamic. If you ride a sport bike, you’ll appreciate this because it reduces the amount of stress on your neck.
There are two shell sizes (XS-MD, LG-3XL). This is kind of low and can result in some of the sizes feeling a bit like a bobblehead. However, two shell sizes is to be expected for an entry-level helmet. Because the venting air channels are in the top of the helmet, it helps keep you cool while also maintaining control of the noise levels.
My Experience
I love wearing this helmet. It’s comfortable, breathable, and looks great. I love the graphics, and they have lasted throughout the years of me riding in this helmet. I also really like the aggressive and angular shape of this helmet. When I get in the tuck-and-run position, it cuts through the air perfectly. The semi-oval shape fits my head nicely, and I never deal with hot spots.
The Pros
I love the speaker pockets in the ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet. What’s nice about them is they are built into the internal construction of the helmet. This sinks them down so the liner is more streamlined with less bulk on your ears. They are also underneath the liner, so I never have to worry about the speakers getting caught up on my hair when taking my helmet on or off. (This has happened with other helmets, and it is annoying)
The lightness of this helmet is surprising. At the price point, you would think it would be bulky and heavy. Nope. It feels streamlined on my head and comfortably light. When you compare its weight, it is actually pretty close in weight to some premium helmets.
As a motorcycle rider in Florida, the venting in this helmet is a lifesaver. There is a huge vent in the chin, one in the top of the helmet, and another in the back. If you pull out the liner, you’ll see this huge channel in the helmet’s construction that connects the forehead and back vent. There are times when I can actually feel the airflow.
Plus, if you look at the shape of the back of the helmet, it’s designed to suck the air out of the helmet. There’s a lot of science to it, but essentially, the air flows over the top and back of the helmet. When it comes off the point, it “pulls” the air out of the helmet vent as it moves away from the helmet. That encourages the air to move through the channel. The chin vent is also really nice. I never have to worry about this helmet’s visor fogging up.
The Cons
My biggest complaint about the ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet is the center locking mechanism for the visor. I hate it. I wish it were off to the left side. My other helmets are all off to the left. My hand naturally goes there and finds nothing. Because of this, I spend more time fumbling around every time I want to open my visor. Then it gets more frustrating when I go to close the face shield. It never fully locks into place on its own. It will close but leave a crack. I have to kind of slam it shut to prevent this from happening. It’s not enjoyable.
The helmet comes with a clear face shield, but if you’ve ever bought a helmet before, this shouldn’t be shocking. It’s a part of buying riding gear. You should have to buy your own aftermarket face shield. I bought a gold mirrored one, and I love it.
Scorpion claims the cheek pads allow for easy on and off of most common styles of eyeglasses. I wear glasses; they do not work with the helmet. It sucks for me, so I wear contacts when I ride.
My other complaint is that I can’t put an action camera on the chin. It doesn’t sit right, and won’t attach the way I need it to. Plus, I mount it there, I lose all of the benefits of the chin vent.
The Verdict on the ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet
Do I think this is the best helmet in the world? Of course not. Am I happy I bought it? Absolutely. It’s a great entry-level helmet for anyone looking to buy their first helmet. I bought it because it was affordable, had some nice features you don’t normally find at this price point, and looked cool.
I love the graphics on the ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet. I typically wear the helmet when cruising around town or going out on date nights with my husband. It’s comfortable, lightweight, and breathable. It is perfect for summer weather riding. When this one wears out, I would be happy to buy another one. That is if they have one with cool graphics. Some of the newer designs aren’t as appealing to me. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t like it.
Comments on Other Reviews
“I only suffered a super small circular bruise on my right cheek. Helmet kept my skull safe the way the helmet looks is ridiculous it took a beating and saved my life. Visor was scratched really bad but saved my face it was removed by paramedics and the helmet itself suffered scratches along the back right side and front bottom chin side and the top of the helmet with the air duct system was smooshed from impact. So if you?re asking is this helmet worth it? My answer is yes. This helmet will save you from brain damage or even head trauma. So do what?s right and buy what will actually protect you. So thank you guys for making this helmet you guys saved my life.”
“This helmet protected me in an 80mph highside in 2018. I had no concussion or brain damage despite a number of broken bones requiring an airlift. I now keep it as a trophy in my garage.”
“During the crash I smashed my head the asphalt on the left side and skidded that way for a short while before falling into a ditch. I got up immediately (with daisies) but had I not been wearing the helmet I could have received much worse injury. “
Normally I comment on reviews because I want to correct the statement made by other reviewers. However, I think these reviews speak for themselves. The ScorpionEXO R420 full-face motorcycle helmet may not cost a lot, but it does the job. Ultimately, that is what matters. Wearing a full face motorcycle helmet is like wearing a pair of shoes. The same pair isn’t going to work for everyone. One person can try on a helmet and think it is the worst thing on the planet. Someone else will try it on and think it’s the best thing ever.
When reading reviews, take them with a grain of salt. Some people do not know about head shape or shell sizes. This leads them to misguided buying activities where they are unhappy with their purchase. Your best option is to try on a helmet you want and wear it for a bit. You’ll know whether it’s right for you.
FAQs
Are Scorpion helmets any good?
Scorpion helmets are decent helmets. They outperform other helmets at their entry-level price point. You can also find several nice-to-have features that you find on more expensive helmets.
Does the ScorpionEXO R420 have Bluetooth?
Scorpion helmets do not come with built-in Bluetooth. However, they are Bluetooth-ready, so you can easily as a Bluetooth communicator to your helmet.
Who makes Scorpion helmets?
Scorpion helmets are produced by Kido Sports, who owns the brand. The company also owns Everclear face shield brands, Kwikwick liners, and AirFit Liners.
How much does the ScorpionEXO R420 solid helmet weigh?
The ScorpionEXO R420 helmet weighs 3.81 pounds.
Are Scorpion helmets noisy?
Scorpion helmets can be noisy. Because they are priced at an entry-level price point, they lack some of the features that make other, more expensive helmets quieter. However, Scorpion helmets outperform many other comparable helmets in its class.
