Scorpion EXO-700 Helmet Review
April 8th, 2010The last helmet I purchased was an HJC CL-12 in the summer of 2001. It went *so* well with my ride at the time, a 1988 Gold Wing 1500. Not.
My ol’ HJC is gettin’ a little gamey inside, plus, protective gear does have a shelf life. Anything that’s protecting me from becoming an uncommunicative bed-ridden sack of meat is a thing that needs to be changed out every so often, in my opinion at least.
So, let’s see… There are $500 helmets, and there are $100 helmets. I can’t spring for the former and I just don’t trust the latter. Finding a good mid-priced lid with good features and that looks good is a heady task. I believe I succeeded with my recent purchase of my Scorpion EXO-700 ‘Predator’ helmet.
| I was considering, at the end, the EXO-400 model, a Sparx (primarily cuz I dug the graphics) and a Bell. The contenders, left to right: | ||
Bell Sprint Mako |
Scorpion EXO-400 ‘Tsunami’ |
SparX-S07 Platinum |
In the spirit of patronizing local businesses, I shuffled down to my nearby dealership to see if the had one of these. Alas, they carried HJC, Arai,Shoei, and some no-name helmet I’ve never heard of. They could however order me one at a price that was pretty spot on with prices I’ve seen on the intertubes.
Turns out, alas, that the helmet I decided on that day, the Scorpion EXO-400 Tsunami in black and red, was sold out or unavailable in my size. The sales fellow recommended that I consider the EXO-700 instead, as it was an exponentially better helmet than the 400. Ordering a 700 through their supply chain, however, would have run me $250. Before plunkin’ down two and a half Benjamins, I wanted to do a little research.
Well, the salesman was spot on. I’ve read a number of reviews from users at various sites and while the EXO-400 is a fine helmet at its price-point, the EXO-700 was superior in comfort, features, and quality. But it came at a higher price than I was expecting to spend.
Of the700 models, I had decided on the Predator style. I ride a swinging ‘02 Honda VFR and want to wear a lid that at least looks somewhat in the ballpark like my scoot. I narrowed my choices down to the exo-700 Predator in Black/Red or the Silver/Red. I decided on the Black / Red one. And I found a great price on one in my size from a seller on Amazon.com. $208 including free shipping.
Fit / Finish
The Scorpion exo series of helmets I’m told have a very similar sizing/fit compared with HJC helmets, and I agree with this. The Large size exo 700 provides the proper snug yet comfortable fit all around my noggin. Helmets should be just a tad tight to get on at the beginning but comfortable when your head is properly inside the helmet.
I am also very satisfied with the external quality of the EXO-700 Predator. The graphics are very sharp (crisp) with no flaws. The control parts of the ventilation ports are mostly good, though the front lower open/close ’switch’ doesn’t have a distinct click as the other ports.
Once my bean made it inside the helmet, it was snug as a bug in a rug – and if you’re like me and have chubby cheeks, they’re going to be even chubbier. The cheek pads are full, so your cheeks will get a little smooshing as a result.
Features
The interior padding is removable and washable, a great feature that you should consider. The visor is renown in resisting fog, and the venting system is well engineered to suck the warm air out the back (assuming, of course, you have the rear/top vents open to accomplish this.)
I can’t offer any opinion regarding noise either way. The Scorpion EXO-700 is probably one of the quietest helmets I’ve worn, but then again, I’ve never worn an Arai. I’ve had a few Shoeis and this Scorpion isn’t any louder than a mid-level Shoei, in my opinion. In a follow-up post I’ll provide more thorough results regarding wind noise.
Summary
Excellent value for the money – if you can find a graphic that you like. Plain color Scorpion EXO-700 helmets are available, too.

Scorpion EXO-400 ‘Tsunami’
SparX-S07 Platinum
















