Bought this helmet after watching all the reviews and tbh regreted it immensely. The helmet has all the features I need, looks cool and is affordable (tho the sun visor fogs easily, the "coating" is not effective). The problem with this helmet is the wind noise... I bought the size M and have exactly 58cm head circumference so that size should be perfect and snug. However through the gap between the left cheek pad and the neck, only on the left side there is a lot of wind noise, it's deafening. I think the problem is in the design of the cheek pad support so they could fit the proprietary scorpion comm system. I wish I waited or just bought exo 710 and forgot about the drop down sun visor.
Yeah, the wind noise is almost unbearable!! I too have the 520 air and I hate it. I had the exo 500 air and I loved that helmet so it got the 520 thinking it would be as good if not better. Out of the 30+ years I've been riding this is the first helmet I've worn that I have to use earplugs with. If you ever ride fast than 50 mph I would AVOID this helmet!
Thats really unfortunate since that helmet is super quiet for its price. The problem with so many people having issues is that they did not properly install the inside layers. Just google it, place it in the right order and position and have fun with a quiet helmet..
This channel seems to respond to many comments! Well, in 'bout a week I'm going to have to decide between this and Icon Airform. Any advice is welcomed! Have a good one
I've not worn an Airform so I can't give a comparison on experience, but the Scorpion is the more practical of the two helmets. The Pinlock visor insert, anti-mist sun visor and switchable vents are all big benefits over the Airform. The main attractions to the Airform are price, the aggressive appearance and the D-ring strap fastener, which many prefer to the micrometric system in the Scorpion. Thanks for getting in touch and I hope that helps you make the right call. Cheers, Tony
Greetings from the United States! Thank you for this review, I believe this will be my next helmet (and a huge improvement from my GMAX from 2011) :) Cheers!
I cannot recommend this helmet, i just bought it in matt black and in size M. The windnoise is ridiculous starting to whistle and blow loudly just besides your ears from around 60km/h and getting louder. Even a cruise for 30min had my ears hurting as if i had been blasting loud music on headphones for too long
It's possible, but it won't clamp over the section where the Exo-Com mounting sits. You'd need to clamp the Freecom just in front of that, or use a self-adhesive pad to stick it on top of the Exo-Com mount. Cheers, Tony
I've just had a look at fitting a 20S Evo and it will fit, though I think it'll be a neater installation if you use the glued surface mount rather than the clamp. The 20S Evo speakers fit neatly in the helmet recesses. Thanks for getting in touch and I hope that helps. Cheers, Tony
If you're stuck then I'd suggest getting into a shop to compare them and see which suits you best. I can't recall any noise issues with either helmet, but so many other factors affect the noise you experience while riding that I don't think it's fair to get involved in which helmets are noisy/quiet, unless there's a glaring issue. Cheers, Tony
Avoid at all costs! This helmet produces noise, it takes all surrounding noise and compresses it into a high-pitched noise. After many years I recently got back on to a motorcycle and bought this helmet after being recommended at the shop. I couldn't remember any of my old helmets this noisy but I shrugged it of being my age and these days everything sounds loud. But the fact was that even after shorter trips, with ear plugs, I just felt so damned tired and my ears rang for hours, to the point I almost gave up riding....until I tried a new helmet (which didn't score particularly well in noise tests I've seen) but the difference was night and day! I'm back enjoying riding again! tl;dr Don't buy you want to stop riding due to noise
Maybe you could tell me other helmet brand and model you mentioned? Because I tried exo 520 today and it felt way more comfortable than k1s, but can't test it fully until spring. So I really need to make tough decision
Quite a few folks land in that position. Sorry, we can't help you with the decision because we don't get the R420 here. Hope you make the right call. Cheers, Tony
The Exo-1400 Air is lighter, has superior venting and comes with two visors (one is the tinted, track-only visor). But the 520 is a decent choice as a first helmet so there's no need to go up to the 1400 unless you want to. Cheers, Tony
It's a higher spec than the Exo-491 with a better comfort lining, superior ventilation, Airfit cushions to tweak the fit around the cheeks, easier comms integration and a Pinlock insert in the box. I hope that helps. Cheers, Tony
Does anybody experience screech sound effect? Like going 90kmh it starts screetch just where my forehead is. When I look up to the sky, the screech sound multiplies. Is this normal?
what about buffeting at high speeds? I ride a 2008 Hayabusa the link is below i laid it down last year but I was wearing a AGV k5S size ML. I wear medium in Scorpion helmets. i measure 58cm on the dot . I use to own a Scorpion exo R710 and it was wobbly after 120mph. the AGV k5S was noisy with a whistling noise and the shield could not lock when i crashed the shield flew off as soon as i hit the ground. Thats why i have been looking at this helmet. ua-cam.com/users/shorts7QkQsMa1uOg?feature=share
Sorry, high-speed testing like that isn't part of the normal routine for us. We'll head to the track on occasions to test a race helmet, but this didn't fit that bill. I hope you find what you're looking for. Cheers, Tony
Bought this helmet after watching all the reviews and tbh regreted it immensely.
The helmet has all the features I need, looks cool and is affordable (tho the sun visor fogs easily, the "coating" is not effective).
The problem with this helmet is the wind noise... I bought the size M and have exactly 58cm head circumference so that size should be perfect and snug. However through the gap between the left cheek pad and the neck, only on the left side there is a lot of wind noise, it's deafening. I think the problem is in the design of the cheek pad support so they could fit the proprietary scorpion comm system. I wish I waited or just bought exo 710 and forgot about the drop down sun visor.
Yeah, the wind noise is almost unbearable!! I too have the 520 air and I hate it. I had the exo 500 air and I loved that helmet so it got the 520 thinking it would be as good if not better. Out of the 30+ years I've been riding this is the first helmet I've worn that I have to use earplugs with. If you ever ride fast than 50 mph I would AVOID this helmet!
I saw a lot of videos but everyone is saying that it is more quiet than the agv k3 so it should be pretty decent.. now idk whats true or not hahaha
Wait so exo 520 air is good?
I used pieces of cotton to fill the gap behind the left cheek pad on my k3 but it is still a bit loud without the wind blowing in my ear.
Thats really unfortunate since that helmet is super quiet for its price. The problem with so many people having issues is that they did not properly install the inside layers. Just google it, place it in the right order and position and have fun with a quiet helmet..
This channel seems to respond to many comments! Well, in 'bout a week I'm going to have to decide between this and Icon Airform. Any advice is welcomed! Have a good one
I've not worn an Airform so I can't give a comparison on experience, but the Scorpion is the more practical of the two helmets. The Pinlock visor insert, anti-mist sun visor and switchable vents are all big benefits over the Airform. The main attractions to the Airform are price, the aggressive appearance and the D-ring strap fastener, which many prefer to the micrometric system in the Scorpion. Thanks for getting in touch and I hope that helps you make the right call. Cheers, Tony
Greetings from the United States! Thank you for this review, I believe this will be my next helmet (and a huge improvement from my GMAX from 2011) :) Cheers!
I cannot recommend this helmet, i just bought it in matt black and in size M. The windnoise is ridiculous starting to whistle and blow loudly just besides your ears from around 60km/h and getting louder. Even a cruise for 30min had my ears hurting as if i had been blasting loud music on headphones for too long
@@TheSurroundification damn it i juist bought it
@@ricardohoyos2343 Glad I came here first to read the comments.
@@TheSurroundification do you use ear plugs?
@@brunopombo8579 no, but then i havent with my old helmet and it was better there
Would it be possible to fit a Cardo freecom with clamp on this ?thanking you...
It's possible, but it won't clamp over the section where the Exo-Com mounting sits. You'd need to clamp the Freecom just in front of that, or use a self-adhesive pad to stick it on top of the Exo-Com mount. Cheers, Tony
Thanks Tony,much appreciated..
Would I be able to attach the SENA Bluetooth system with this helmet since you said that it is designed for the Scorpion's Exo-Com unit? Thanks!
I've just had a look at fitting a 20S Evo and it will fit, though I think it'll be a neater installation if you use the glued surface mount rather than the clamp. The 20S Evo speakers fit neatly in the helmet recesses. Thanks for getting in touch and I hope that helps. Cheers, Tony
How is the sound noise level vs the r420?
Apologies, but I've no way of commenting as the R420 helmet isn't available in this country. Cheers, Tony
I can’t decide between HJC F70 and scorpion 520 exo, which one is the best, main criteria is the noise.
Thank you !
If you're stuck then I'd suggest getting into a shop to compare them and see which suits you best. I can't recall any noise issues with either helmet, but so many other factors affect the noise you experience while riding that I don't think it's fair to get involved in which helmets are noisy/quiet, unless there's a glaring issue. Cheers, Tony
Can you recommend this over the HJC I71? Thanks!
They're pretty similar so I'd recommend the one that fits you best. Cheers, Tony
Thanks Tony! Going ahead with the 520 today
Avoid at all costs! This helmet produces noise, it takes all surrounding noise and compresses it into a high-pitched noise.
After many years I recently got back on to a motorcycle and bought this helmet after being recommended at the shop.
I couldn't remember any of my old helmets this noisy but I shrugged it of being my age and these days everything sounds loud.
But the fact was that even after shorter trips, with ear plugs, I just felt so damned tired and my ears rang for hours, to the point I almost gave up riding....until I tried a new helmet (which didn't score particularly well in noise tests I've seen) but the difference was night and day! I'm back enjoying riding again!
tl;dr
Don't buy you want to stop riding due to noise
Maybe you could tell me other helmet brand and model you mentioned? Because I tried exo 520 today and it felt way more comfortable than k1s, but can't test it fully until spring. So I really need to make tough decision
Exo 520 Air vs Exo R420 - what's better?
The Exo R420 hasn't been made available in Europe, so I don't have any experience of that helmet to be able to pass on. Sorry about that. Cheers, Tony
420 has no internal sun visor
@@mewanksta11 the 520 also comes with the pinlock visor. But my question is, which one would you go with?
@@ericc8895 520 only because of sun visor which I need, only thing is the communication system plastic hole on the side of the helmet is ugly
Bruh I can’t decide between this and the r420
Quite a few folks land in that position. Sorry, we can't help you with the decision because we don't get the R420 here. Hope you make the right call. Cheers, Tony
Hi Tony! Which one would you recommend between this evo 520 (ece 22.06) and the D’Skwal 3?
Hi, I'd be happy with either of these helmets and would choose the one that fits my head the best. Good luck with the choice 😊 Cheers, Tony
I would avoid the evo 520 at all cost it's so noisy you will want to quit riding
Can it be used with glasses ?
There's no dedicated channel so best to try with your specs in advance. Thanks for getting in touch. Cheers, Tony
@@sportsbikeshop thanks for the info.
Hi! Great review thanks!
I was wondering if it is worth it to go with the EXO 1400 over the EXO 520 as a first helmet ? They seem really similar...
The Exo-1400 Air is lighter, has superior venting and comes with two visors (one is the tinted, track-only visor). But the 520 is a decent choice as a first helmet so there's no need to go up to the 1400 unless you want to. Cheers, Tony
@@sportsbikeshop thank you very much for your answer ! I think I will get the 520 then, and save the 80€ difference
Is this better than EXO-491?
It's a higher spec than the Exo-491 with a better comfort lining, superior ventilation, Airfit cushions to tweak the fit around the cheeks, easier comms integration and a Pinlock insert in the box. I hope that helps. Cheers, Tony
Does anybody experience screech sound effect? Like going 90kmh it starts screetch just where my forehead is. When I look up to the sky, the screech sound multiplies. Is this normal?
Maybe your visor isn’t properly fitted? Sound like wind noise to me
@@atomic9183 I took it off and attached it again. Still prevails.
what about buffeting at high speeds? I ride a 2008 Hayabusa the link is below i laid it down last year but I was wearing a AGV k5S size ML. I wear medium in Scorpion helmets. i measure 58cm on the dot . I use to own a Scorpion exo R710 and it was wobbly after 120mph. the AGV k5S was noisy with a whistling noise and the shield could not lock when i crashed the shield flew off as soon as i hit the ground. Thats why i have been looking at this helmet.
ua-cam.com/users/shorts7QkQsMa1uOg?feature=share
Sorry, high-speed testing like that isn't part of the normal routine for us. We'll head to the track on occasions to test a race helmet, but this didn't fit that bill. I hope you find what you're looking for. Cheers, Tony