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

[Gisser]

I mentioned it just to say polycarbonate isn't plastic to the guy that said it was ...

Of course, polycarbonate is a plastic.  Don't take my word for it, the Motorcyclist article (Re: Blowing the Lid Off) that informs your current thinking defined polycarbonate as a thermoplastic.  Last time I heard someone claim Lexan(tm) was bulletproof was in a TV stalker movie where a "security consultant" fired blanks at these miracle window panes in a devious plot to swindle a gullible Shannen Doherty out of her life savings paying for phony security upgrades.  American GI helmets, OTOH, are constructed of Kevlar.  But, your point is well taken, the onus is on the MC helmet companies to prove that laminated shell construction offers an advantage.  

[Badger]

Of course, polycarbonate is a plastic.

Saying something is plastic is just like saying something is metal, or that something is ceramic.  Mercury is a metal, but I'm not going to make a piston out of it (lead wouldn't work out so well either).  The heat tiles on the Space Shuttle are ceramic, but not the same stuff used to make your coffee mug.

The term 'plastic' describes the mollecular structure of a material.  Various plastics have vastly different properties.  Some are stretchy, some are brittle, some are adhesive, some are transparent, some are heat resistant, and some (in the proper application) are bulletproof.  You know what they make fighter plane canopies of?  Right...plastic.  Not the same stuff your Sit & Spin was made out of, though.    I don't think the Sit & Spin was engineered to react a specific way when hit with a 20mm depleted uranium shell.

American GI helmets, OTOH, are constructed of Kevlar.

GI kevlars have almost nothing in common with motorcycle helmets (other than the fact that you wear them on your head), and are not DOT approved for street use.  What I remember about my kevlar was that it was thick, heavy, uncomfortable, yielded fierce helmet-hair from the webbing, and always pushed down over my eyes when I was wearing my pack and firing from a prone position.  Bullet proof?  Sure. (although I never tested it).  Good for motorcycle riding...I would say no.  Not to dwell on the point...but you know what Kevlar is?  Right...plastic.  

[dbarile]

OK. So I interested in a new helmet. And the Scorpion looks like a good deal.

Now where do I find one?

[The Buddha]

OK. So I interested in a new helmet. And the Scorpion looks like a good deal.

Now where do I find one?

Good observation ... The EXO 400 will work plenty, as will Z1R or Icon or Fulmer ... fit and your preference of colors/graphics ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Badger]

OK. So I interested in a new helmet. And the Scorpion looks like a good deal.

Now where do I find one?

Not to state the obvious, but have you tried:

http://www.scorpionusa.com/wheretobuy.html

[dbarile]

Yes, I've looked there.

The price locally is not bad but they don't carry yellow and I'm a little leary about a special order.  Of course it does allow you the opportunity to at least try different sizes.

[RVertigo]

I special ordered mine...  

When it finally came in, I wore it around the store to make sure it fit like the other larges I tried on.

[rtcpenguin]

Yes, I've looked there.

The price locally is not bad but they don't carry yellow and I'm a little leary about a special order.  Of course it does allow you the opportunity to at least try different sizes.

Try:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/department.aspx?department=101&manufacturer=574&Division=1
or ebay--preferably the former.

[Badger]

Yes, I've looked there.

The price locally is not bad but they don't carry yellow and I'm a little leary about a special order.  Of course it does allow you the opportunity to at least try different sizes.

The Scorpion only comes in 2 shell sizes...the other sizes are achieved by the replacable pads (to size the helmet down).  If you special order and it doesn't fit right, get different pads (the shop may be able to swap them out for you right there) and voila!

Oh...the two shell sizes are:  one for L and XL and another for XS, S, and M.  So you may have a problem if you get a L and need an M, or vice versa.  I've had mine for about 2 weeks now and the pads (which were quite snug) are now fitting very well.  Take this into account when you try it on.

[RVertigo]

I've had mine for about 2 weeks now and the pads (which were quite snug) are now fitting very well.  Take this into account when you try it on.

+1

Mine fits better now than it did when I bought it...  It was a little on the tight side.

[rtcpenguin]

Every helmet I've tried has broken in over 2-10 hours. HJC AC-11 large hurt my cheeks when I tried it on, but it now fits perfectly.

[dbNnc]

I bought a Scorpion EXO-400 Saturday and it fits great. But has anyone found a good way to stop the wind up through the bottom front of the helmet? I read on another site the chin deflector doesn't do much good, so before I bought that and found out for myself it doesn't help, I wanted to see if anyone has a better solution. Stuffing a rag up in there sounds preferable to that whoosh right up into my eyes.

[Gisser]

http://www.accwhse.com/noj.htm#Quietriders

This is probably the best all around version:
$39.95 NOJ Quiet Rider Deluxe Shield Black

[Roadstergal]

Did you close the chin vent?

[dbNnc]

Yes, I closed the chin vent. My balaclava doesn't stop the blast, either. The only way I was able to stop the wind blast up through the bottom was to put my hand under my chin and block the opening. I don't have this problem with my Shoei RF1000. Comparing the two, it looks like the Scorpion is a little more pointed at the chin and the Shoei more rounded. I'm sure there are other aerodynamic reasons.

[Roadstergal]

It might be a size thing, too.  Ryan complained about that, but I don't have a problem with it; mine is an XS, and the shell is visibly smaller than his.

[dbNnc]

The Shoei is a large, and the reason I got the Scorpion is because the Shoei is too big, even with the 41mm cheek pads. The Scorpion is a medium. Live and learn; maybe the wind blast up my face will be nice in the summer. Otherwise, it's a comfortable helmet.

[RVertigo]

The chin thing helped with the wind blast...  It's only $8...  Or you can make your own.

Here's the thread I had on it:  Scorpion's Aero Skirt (The Chin Thingy)

There are some other ideas in there too...

[Chris861]

[dbNnc]

To follow up, my new Zero Gravity sport touring windscreen http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18873&start=20 cut way down on the air coming up through the front of the helmet. It's hardly noticeable now.