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Scorpion™ is, quite simply, the next wave in motorcycle helmet and protective gear design and manufacturing. Scorpion™ Helmets are engineered by some of the world's most sought-after helmet designers, with over 178 years of cumulative experience. And their wild, innovative graphic designs are created in hotbeds of extreme-sports creativity all over the world, from Europe to Southern California, to stay two steps ahead in this fast-moving field.
“We build every Scorpion™ helmet to some of the most rigid quality standards in the industry,” explains Sloan. “Whether you choose a Fiberglass/Kevlar™ Scorpion™ helmet or a Polycarbonate Composite Scorpion™ helmet, you’ll always know that it was designed and built by meticulous craftspeople, using the latest, most sophisticated technology, in one of the most modern, most cutting-edge helmet factories in the world.
Our state-of-the-art factory campus—“The Big Nest”—is the reason we can offer such amazing quality at such a reasonable price. Most other helmet companies farm out different pieces of their helmets to other companies—or just buy their helmets from another company and stick their own label on—, so they don’t control exactly how—or how well—they were made. We make everything but our street bike face shields in our own controlled environment—and even the shields are made very close by, in an equally advanced and controlled facility. We know it’s done right—because we do it ourselves.
How good is a Scorpion™ helmet? Well, I like to put it this way. What’s the difference between a $600 helmet and a Scorpion Helmet? About four hundred bucks.”
Don't trust us? Here is what JD Power had to say about the Scorpion. While Arai took top honors, look who else scored a 5 out of 5 score.
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Simply put, we're impressed with both the EXO-400 and the EXO-700 Scorpion models. The interesting part is, we really didn't expect much. Granted, we had read a few reviews prior to jumping on board, but for 6 months we didn't even give them a chance. After the 10th customer asked, "Where are your Scorpion helmets?", we decided to at least give them a look.
After the helmet arrived, we tore it apart, trying to find something that would scream, "See, it's what you had thought." From the minute we opened the box, we knew we were in for a pleasant surprise.
The helmet was enclosed in a very nice helmet sack. Unless you see thousands of helmets, you might not have the same impression. However, we have other helmets on our floor that don't come with anything but a foam bag. This is a very nice touch, and is a great way to make your customers have a good first impression.
The overall helmet finish was outstanding. Looking at the helmet in your hand, you would swear it was a helmet costing over $300.00. Is it a top of the line Shoei X-Eleven, or AGV TiTech? Not quite, but would we say it stacks up to the Shoei RF-1000 or Shoei TZ-R, costing upwards of $350, you bet. The paint is outstanding and overall finish is nothing short of impressive. We were hard pressed to find a single flaw.
The fully removable liner was also very nice and feels great next to your skin. The KwikWick material does an outstanding job of keeping your sweat away from your skin and keeping you cool when the heat rises. The liner removes from the helmet easily with a few secure snaps, and are available in a variety of colors and patterns for a customized appearance. Personally, we could care less what color our liner is,but we like that Scoprion offers their customers options. Options are always good, even if you never use them.
Another pleasant surprise was the visor. Both of the Scorpion models come with a clear anti-fog visor. Some companies don't even offer this feature, and those that do, charge over $40. They also offer all of their visor colors in anti-fog versions as well as standard non-treated versions. Our hats go off to Scorpion for including this feature standard. At the release of these EXO models in 2006, there were only a small handful of companies who offered anti-fog versions and those brands were upwards of $500 or more. Although it is becoming more common to see the anti-fog visors offered as standard equipment, it is nice to know that Scorpion was a pioneer in this area and was the first company to offer an anti-fog solution that really worked!
The most amazing thing is the fit is incredible! The shell shape seems to fit a wide range of head shapes, and most people get a great fit. The helmet just seems to be super comfortable, regardless of who's heads inside. One of the really nice things about the EXO-400 and EXO-700 liners is the ability to customize the fit. The liners are easy to remove and once you take them out, you'll notice you can un-snap the material that covers the foam in the cheek pads and remove a layer or two or more to get the fit you are looking for. Again, this is a feature often found on super-high-end helmets like the Arai Corsair and Shoei X-Eleven. No other manufacturer offers this feature in the price range that we know of.
So, what is the difference between the EXO-700 and EXO-400? We asked this ourselves the same question after comparing the two side by side. Well, it all comes down to the venting, and the shell material The EXO-700 has a slightly more aggressive vent system. In our evaluation, we found that the actual difference was minimal, but if you live in a warmer area, you might be able to feel the difference. Does this mean the EVO-400 doesn't vent? Not at all. We found that the EXO-400 vents better than all of the HJC models, and is right up there with many helmets costing over $300.
The EXO-700 is a fiberglass composite shell where the EXO-400 has a thermoplastic shell. Before you look down on this, remember, most of the HJC line is also manufactured out of this material as are most helmets under $200. The only downside to plastic is that at times, they can be heavier than a fiberglass version. In the case of the Scorpion models, we couldn't tell a weight difference by holding one in each hand. We put them on the scale and they are within an once of each other. When it comes to safety, thermoplastic does its job and does it well.
Focusing on the EXO-400 for a second. At $139.95, nothing comes close to this helmet value. If you're looking at a HJC, KBC or Icon helmet, you owe it to yourself to give the EXO-400 a strong look.
Conclusion:
If it sounds like we're hyping this helmet, well, we are. In our store, the only helmet we sell for under $200's these days is the Scorpion. After we walk the customers through all the advantages, and show how other helmets come up short, the helmet sells itself. It's that good.
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