Comparison - Scorpion EXO-400 vs. Shoei RF-1000

[Roadstergal]

I've had a couple of helmets in the $100 range (Vega, HJC, Simpson), but the RF-1000 that I shelled ~$350 out for was definitely the nicest, in terms of lightness, aerodynamics, and fit.  I didn't like how easily the visor fogged, but a $13 Fog City addition took care of that.
I have heard a lot of good things about the Scorpion helmets, and as my Shoei has taken a beating in daily use (I'm not nearly as anal as I should be about helmet care), I went to the cycle store to give the Scorpions a shot.
They come in two flavors - a polycarbonate EXO-400 ($139), and a fiberglass/kevlar EXO-700 ($199).  I couldn't tell the difference, in fit or lightness.  I got an EXO-400.  Once nice thing about the Scorpions; the garish paint jobs cost the same as the solid colors.
My impressions of Scorpion vs. Shoei:
-Fit.  The Scorpion fits great.  That's an individual thing, of course.  But it's a little more snug than the Shoei; a bit much when I first put it on, but after 10 minutes, the helmet and my head got to like each other.  The strap has a nice snap closure to keep the free end from banging around; much better than the Shoei.
-Weight.  It's light.  It doesn't feel any heavier than the Shoei.
-Aerodynamics.  At least as good as the Shoei.  Nice and smooth.
-Ventilation.  Much better than the Shoei.  I have all vents on full with the Shoei; with the Scorpion, I close a few on cool mornings.
-Fog.  It's much better than the stock Shoei, worse than the Shoei + Fog City.  But I only get it to fog when I'm not moving.  When the bike is going, it's all good.
-Visor release.  Better than most, but I still have yet to find a quick-release for a visor that's truly quick or easy.  But I don't swap them out daily, so no biggie.

All in all, it's a lot of hemlet for $140.  It'd be a decent deal at a higher price than that.  I highly recommend it!

"Warhawk yellow" with mirror visor.

[aplitz]

My rf-1000 has the extra clip to keep the strap from flapping around.

[Roadstergal]

I have a clip on my Shoei, too, but it's not as easy to operate with gloved hands as the snap.  Or ungloved hands, for that matter.

[Jazzzzz]

MSRP on the solids should be around $20 less than graphics, at least it was on my -700.  When it comes in I'll post to this thread with a quick review.

[Roadstergal]

You're right, I just looked - on the 700s, graphics cost $20 more.  At Seattle Cycle (as here), they were selling the 400s for $139 regardless of paint (except for the solid red, which was $129?).

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Very cool! I'll have to check them out when I look for one (my first)  

[The Buddha]

Me and the shoei and the store parts manager got into a fist fight over the shoei vs Scorpion thing ... shoei and arai for years have peddled the theory that fiberglass helmets are better and kevlar is too hard and composite isn't right either ... balh blah blah ... then couple years ago they start making the 3 fiber mix, Kevlar, organic and composite ... and say that is the best ... so when every one was using composite and kevlar (WTH is organic ... my BR 16 was composite+kevlar) evidently fiberglass is better, but they use composite and kevlar and its the best now ... OK ... and scorpion comes along and they start using the same thing ... its composite, organic and kevlar ... Just FWIW ... scorpion 700 is about 4 oz heavier then the RF 1000. Not that you'd ever feel that ... unless of course Shoei is sponsoring your years house payments ... In any case ... $200 and extremely nice helmet ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[MR_PINK]

nice lid  

[gs500fromnb]

s'ok, i'll stick with my shoei  :lol:

[banner]

Is it quiet? i have this vega that is insanely loud...i'm going to go deaf if i dont' get a new helmet.

:lol:

[Roadstergal]

I used to have a Vega Daytona... both of these helmets were an improvement over it in almost every way.  I noticed weight more than noise, but there is some decrease.  But with any helmet I've tried, you're going to need earplugs if noise is getting to you.

[banner]

i think the vega is a bit too large for my head( i got it with the bike purchase). Over a certain amount of speed the wind noise is insanely loud. It begins to whisltle and howl like the devil; the wind comes in from the buttom of the back of the helmet. If i hunch my shoulders and my jacket covers the rear buttom of it the whistleing totally dies out.

The problem is when i wear earplugs i can't hear the engine noise and i really want to hear how the bike sounds...call me old fashioned but i want to hear the bike running when i'm on it.


New helmet time for sure.  :lol:  

Peace.

btw.
I did find a Shoei rf-1000 online for 359.00 It is some special version with "special graphics" I think other places have it for cheaper..but if the scorpion is a better helmet..i'm down

[RVertigo]

"Warhawk yellow" with mirror visor.

DAMN YOU!!  That's MY helmet!  And that's the Visor I want!   :guns:  :guns:

No...  I really like mine too...  Lucky me, it was the only thing that fit my head...  and nearly the cheapest thing in the store.

But!  If we ever get a Seattle ride together, you'll have to wear a different helmet...  Since I have no spare.  :nana:

[denman]

yep i like it , my hjc is geting old so the scorp is on my list for must have's.   thanks for the info.

[Roadstergal]

OK, one more test.  I did the last track day in the Scorpion.  I did this one in the RF-1000.  Never again... it just plain doesn't fit me as well as the Scorpion, and once you get into speeds above 100, it gets a shake that the Scorpion doesn't.  And the little wing-thing on the base of the back bumps the hump on my leathers, which makes it difficult to look up and through a turn like 3a at PR.  And as I've said, the venting isn't as good.  So, no more Shoei for me.

[The Buddha]

Yea one more shoei hater ... yea ...
POS those are ... totally over rated, and every one entirely seems to be all Angelina Jolie over it ... and I am like you morons ever not buy anythign off the infomercials on TV ... wake up and lick the fiberglass clowns ... poly carbonate is a better material ... and all I ever hear is how this guy crashed and rammed his head into a mail box or post office or whatever ... and he had a headache for 2 days and then was great ... I am like OK you need to repeat that with this helmet on ... maybe you'll have a headache for 1 day instead of 2 ... BTW that vent on top in the shoei ... noisy as hell and does nothing except lift it ... it needs a exhaust vent ... its got 2 intakes and no exhaust ... yea right morons    ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Chuck]

Yeah, I was shopping and I had to choose between a Scorpion (~$140) and an Arai ($400+).  I couldn't tell the difference, so I bought the Scorpion.  I'm quite happy with it.  They make a nice helm for a good price, but they really should sell a $400 version for those who prefer to spend more money.

[The Buddha]

You couldn't tell between the $400 arai and the $140 Scorpion ...  :lol: I could, the Arai felt plasticky and tacky and had these funky vinyl crap here and there and felt like my head was wrapped in a 70's vinyl sofa fold out wiht the thing folded closed with my head in it ...  :lol:
Cool.
Srinath.

[Roadstergal]

It's still a lot a fit question.  The Shoei fit a lot better than my old Vega.  But at speed, and under more G force than I'm used to on the street, the fit on the Scorpion is better for my fat head.

For you, the cheeks are too pushed in on the Shoei - for me, it's the opposite.  The cheeks and just underneath are a lot snugger on the Scorpion, so it doesn't feel like the helmet is being held in place by only the chin strap on the bottom.

[The Buddha]

Oddly ... inspite of crushing my cheeks, the shoei still moved around ... especially at speed. Anyway I am going back to Bieffe I think ... the new GPR yea ... I was just comparing the scorpion to arai, scorpion also didn't fit me at all ... but not 1/100th as bad as the arai. In comparison shoei was better than both. Bieffe is the best IMHO for my head type and preference for location of discomfort ...
Cool.
Srinath.