Classic Style With Modern Construction - Nexx X.G100 Racer Helmet Review

[MotoNews]

Published in: Gear

Gone are the days of compromising safety for a vintage look. We’re starting to see a good selection of retro-inspired helmets that meet current safety standards, and the Nexx X.G100 Racer is a good example.

Right out of the box, its glossy graphics and 2.7-pound weight tell you Nexx is producing a high-quality helmet. The X.G100 Racer comes in a number of variants, from a purist solid to vintage-inspired graphics, all sharing the same visor, padding, and X-Matrix shell composed of multi-axial fiberglass with carbon reinforcement.

Diving in, the dry wicking, soft, suede-like padding and houndstooth fabric liner promote the retro styling of the helmet. The removable lining is secured tightly in the rear with plastic edging between the shell and the EPS liner, and up front with Velcro, leaving no seams or pressure points on the forehead. There are no speaker pockets in the EPS liner for a communication system, which may be a negative for some, but the helmet is honestly too beautiful to attach a parasitic unit to the side of it, anyway. Maybe a note to the Portuguese manufacturer that an integrated comm system would be a solution.

The large cheek pads are also not contoured, but they do mold nicely to your cheeks and ears to form a comfortable fit without the typical cheek biting. Plus, the entire back of the cheek pad and side of the EPS liner is Velcro, allowing for fine tuning of the padding placement.

The fit of the Racer is a true intermediate oval with two shell sizes (for XS–M and L–XXL). The helmet has a nice appearance and shape without looking like a “bobble-head.” The chin strap is nicely finished in the same suede-like material as the liner and utilizes a traditional double-D ring buckle. An additional note on fitment: I found the chin strap to be set a little farther back which may press into the jugular slightly. There are a couple of other manufacturers who, again for me, are similarly consistent with this strap placement.

Vintage inspiration is not without its limits. I found the helmet a bit noisy despite a good fit around the neck and removable chin skirt. The visor is not Pinlock-ready nor can it be removed from the helmet without using a screwdriver. The Lexan polycarbonate visor fits within the recesses of the shell nicely but does not have a very tight seal along the edges, thus the culprit of the wind noise. The visor has three strong detent positions, working well for additional ventilation in the first positions without compromising eye protection. The operable vent in the chin bar is attractive with shiny metal mesh, but it does not bring in a great deal of air flow nor are there any exhaust ports in the shell.

I’ve logged 1,000 miles in this helmet in multiple weather conditions with few complaints. The look is beautiful. The light weight and lack of physical turbulence make for comfortable long rides. The chin bar is larger than some retro-inspired helmets, which adds to the Racer’s unique look but can impede a quick glance down at the motorcycle’s gauges. Despite having minimal ventilation, the plush, suede-like insides kept my head cool and dry on a 90°F day.

Priced comparably to the competition, and with many graphic combinations, this is a great helmet for those wanting a vintage look to go with their café racer, naked bike, or vintage machines. Yes, there are less expensive bare bones helmets out there, but with the Nexx X.G100 Racer you are getting safety, weight reduction, and interior and exterior quality finishes.

NexxNorthAmerica.com

MSRP: $430 | DOT FMVSS 218 Certified | Available in two solids and eight graphics 

• PROS:

• Quality finishes
• Light weight
• Minimal air buffeting

• CONS:

• Noisy around visor shield
• Low air flow
• No speaker cut-outs

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