As a matter of full disclosure, I need to confess that I’m typically not a full-faced helmet type of rider. But when faced with a ride where the high was about minus 5 degrees Farenheit, I figured it would be a good time to test the protective features of the new Scorpion EXO-400.
I adjusted the breath deflector around my nose, cinched the chin strap and off we went. And thank goodness our first 10 miles was a loop back to our starting point, because by the time we got back to the vehicles, I was looking through a pinhole. The ice buildup on this helmet was unmatched by anything I’d ever seen – and that was even with several stops to scrape and heat the helmet over the warm engine. Buildup was particularly glacial at the top of the shield. Thank goodness again that I had a spare helmet, otherwise I would have had to call it a day.
On closer inspection, I think I know why it happened. There’s a seal on the top of the lens that appears to be a wind barrier of some sort. While this thin, rubbery plastic has vent holes, it would only take a little bit of ice to seal it up tight. Also, the vent holes above the eye port were covered by the shield, which also likely contributed to the problem. The next time I wore it, it was in 30 to 40 degree temperatures, where fogging would not be an issue. In the few times I wore it, the paint started to chip around the eye ports.
There are some plusses with this helmet. The shield has a no-tools, quick-release function for changing to an electric or street lens. Test it before you buy; one of my releases was sticky. It also has the drop-down sunshield. It has a sporty look. And, other than the fogging, it was a comfortable fit for me. But to be a good, cold-weather helmet, I’d have to do some more experimentation.
