Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon Review: Quietest Race Helmet Available

The Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is a new sport-race helmet from the brand Scorpion. It is the successor to the Scorpion EXO R1 Air Carbon. 

At Kings Motorcycle Gear, we test all the helmets out on the road to find out if statements made by the manufacturers are true. 

To make these reviews, we put a lot of time and effort into these reviews with just one goal: to give you guys an honest review based on facts instead of opinions and marketing language.

But, the main question I will answer in this review will be: Is this the best full face motorcycle helmet for you? Let’s find out!

Scorpion EXO R1 Air Carbon Features

EXO-R1 EVO Carbon Construction & Sizing

The R1 EVO Carbon is made out of Carbon fiber, which is the best quality material helmets are made of. Carbon helmets are usually the lightest helmets available, but more on the helmet’s weight later in this review. 

The helmet comes in 6 sizes and three outer shell sizes, which is a good amount of shell sizes. But, of course, the more outer shell sizes a helmet has, the better. 

A helmet with more outer shell sizes looks better and more compact but is also safer.

SIZE	HEAD (IN)	HEAD (CM)
XS	20 7/8 – 21 1/4	53-54
SM	21 5/8 – 22	55-56
MD	22 7/16 – 22 13/16	57-58
LG	23 1/8 – 23 5/8	59-60
XL	24 – 24 3/8	61-62
2XL	24 13/16 – 25 3/16	63-64
3XL	25 9/16 – 26	65-66
4XL	26 3/8 – 26 3/4	67-68

But how does it do if we take a look at its competitors? If we compare it to its competitors, we see that it scores the same number of stars as most of the helmets we mentioned at the beginning of the review. 

Thanks to more outer shell sizes, only the Pista GP RR and Racestar DLX did better with 4,5, and 5 stars. So a solid start for the EXO-R1 EVO Carbon, but how did it do on other criteria?

EXO-R1 EVO Carbon Weight

We move on to the helmet’s weight, which is important. A lighter helmet prevents fatigue in the neck and improves the riding experience. 

When we weighed the EXO-R1 in size M, the scale indicated 3.1 lbs which is an excellent result. 

Newly designed helmets with the 22.06 certification are heavier than the older 22.05 certified helmets. 

This is because more material is used to pass this test. Most helmets weighed between 3 to 3.5 lbs grams and earned four stars. 

However, the two helmets are lighter, and the most interesting result is the Roof RO 200 Carbon, which only has a weight of 1104 grams and is the lightest helmet we have ever weighed. 

The most disappointing result was the Airframe pro, with a weight of almost 1700 grams, resulting in just 1 star. So again, a solid result by the EXO-R1 Evo Carbon.

EXO-R1 EVO Carbon Face Shield

We move on the face shield with the material and weight out of the way. The face shield of the EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is a good quality 2D Visor that is anti-scratch treated, and pinlock lens prepared. 

The visor offers a wide field of view, and the 2D shape ensures that the view doesn’t distort, which more curved visors sometimes do. 

This is a feature we see on a few other high-end racing helmets. The Pinlock Lens is also included in the box and is a 120 Max Vision Vision Pinlock Lens, which we like to see. 

This pinlock lens ensures that your visor never fogs up while riding. Another nice extra you get when you buy this helmet is the extra free dark smoke visor, which is a nice bonus. 

If we add everything up, we see that the helmet by Scorpion earns an outstanding 4.5 stars for the visor part. 

And if we weigh in the competition, it did very well and is at the top with the Racestar DLX and X-SPR Pro and defeats all the other competitors on this part. So very well done by Scorpion.

EXO-R1 EVO Carbon Road Test

And now that we are done in the studio, let’s see how it performed on the road.

EXO-R1 EVO Carbon Wind Noise

Let’s start with the noise isolation of the helmet. When testing the helmet on the road, we had a wind speed of about 120 and a riding speed of 130 kilometers an hour. 

The decibel meter gave us an average of 96 decibels which is an incredibly good result. This 96 decibel is the best score we have ever measured when testing helmets, so the Scorpion EXO-R1 Evo Carbon can proudly call itself the quietest helmet available. 

If we compare it to the competition, we see that it comes out on top thanks to its extraordinary result, followed by the Shoei X-SPR Pro with a result of 99 decibels. 

We must remember that these are all race helmets, so the focus when designing these helmets is not on the noise, making the result even stronger. 

Shoei X-SPR Pro Ventilation

When we tested the EXO-R1 EVO, the temperature outside was 5 degrees. 

The temperature inside the helmet was 2 degrees hotter than the outside temperature, earning the helmet a steady three stars. 

If we compare this to its competitors, it ends almost at the bottom of the list. 

Only the RO 200 Carbon and X-803 performed less with a 3 degrees difference. 

Other results worth mentioning are the Icon Airframe and Bell Racestar DLX, which were 1 degree cooler inside the helmet and earned themselves five stars for the ventilation.

Shoei X-SPR Pro Comfort 

We have arrived at the only subjective part of this review: comfort. 

For this part, we lean on our test rider’s more than 15 years of riding experience. 

He has tested all the helmets we have mentioned so far, so he can make the comparison like no other. 

The inner lining of the R1-EVO is Scorpions Kwik Wick 3 liner. This is a removable, washable, moisture-wicking, and anti-bacterial liner. 

Our test rider said that the R1 EVO Carbon felt average but nice while riding compared to other high-end helmets. 

It didn’t feel like the Shoei X-SPR Pro but it was still comfortable. This earns the EXO-R1 EVO Carbon 3 stars for comfort. 

If we compare this to its competitors, it again scored okay but ended relatively low on the list. 

The only helmet that earned five stars and is at the top of the list is the X-SPR Pro. Almost every other helmet earned a great four stars for this part. 

We have to discuss one more part before looking at the total overview, and this is the features. 

The EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is tested according to the new ECE 22.06 certification, which is becoming mandatory. 

A Unique feature you sometimes see on helmets made by Scorpion is Scorpion’s Airfit System. 

On the inside of the chin bar, you have a big red button, which allows you to inflate the cheek pads on either side. 

And the small push button next to the big red button lets you deflate the cheek pads. 

This unique system ensures a snug fit when the cheek pads start to feel loose. 

The R1 EVO is also prepared for a communication system thanks to speaker pockets and has a cut-out in the inner lining so riders with glasses can put them on easily. 

If we add everything up, it earns three stars for the features part! If we compare this to its competitors, we see that it does great. Four helmets did better, which is par with the Bell Racestar DLX. 

So a great result by EVO Carbon once again, and now that we are done with the road test, let’s look at the final score! 

Now that we have covered every part, we can add everything and get a total overview for the final score. 

The R1 EVO Carbon earned four stars for the material part because it is made of carbon and comes in 3 outer shell sizes. 

Because it weighed 3.1 lbs it earned a great four stars for the weight. And for the visor, because it is a pinlock lens prepared, which is included in the box, you get a free dark smoke visor.

Regarding wind-noise levels, it scored an extraordinary five stars thanks to an outstanding result of just 96 decibels, making it the quietest helmet we’ve tested.

Features and Benefits

Features	Benefits
Carbon fiber construction	Provides lightweight and strong protection
6 sizes and 3 outer shell sizes	Ensures a comfortable and optimal fit for riders of different head sizes
Wide field of view	Offers clear and unobstructed vision for enhanced safety and comfort during rides
Anti-scratch and pinlock lens	Prevents scratches and fogging of the visor, ensuring optimal visibility in different weather conditions
Extra dark smoke visor	Provides an additional option for riders to customize their helmet and protect their eyes from the sun’s glare
Quiet performance	Reduces wind noise and fatigue during long rides
Airfit System	Allows riders to customize the fit of their helmet, ensuring a snug and secure fit for optimal protection and comfort
Meets safety standards	Provides peace of mind knowing that the helmet meets or exceeds safety standards set by DOT, ECE 22.05, and Snell M2015 certification organizations, ensuring top-quality protection

My Likes and Dislikes

There are many things I like about this helmet. For example, it’s lightweight and a comfortable fit. The helmet is well-designed and looks great, and the aerodynamics are excellent, with no helmet buffeting even at high speeds. I also like the helmet’s ventilation system, which provides good airflow and keeps me cool.

However, I must point out a couple of things that need improving. The helmet noise levels are high, especially at higher speeds.

I also noticed that the visor doesn’t seal properly, allowing wind and noise to enter the helmet. I was also disappointed with the quality of the helmet, it is not as durable as I had hoped.

FAQ

How many shell sizes does the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon have?

The Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon comes in 6 sizes and three outer shell sizes, which is a good amount of shell sizes. 

Of course, the more outer shell sizes a helmet has, the better, as it looks better and more compact but is also safer.

How much does the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon weigh?

When weighed in size M, the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon weighs 3.1 lbs, which is an excellent result. 

Compared to its competitors, the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is one of the lighter helmets, most weighing between 3 to 3.5 lbs.

How quiet is the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon?

The Scorpion EXO-R1 Evo Carbon is the quietest helmet available at the moment, with an average of 96 decibels when tested out on the road, even when exposed to high windspeeds and riding speeds of 130 kilometers an hour.

What are the features of the face shield?

The face shield of the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is a high-quality 2D Visor that is anti-scratch treated, and pinlock lens prepared.

It offers a wide field of view, and the 2D shape ensures that the view doesn’t distort, which more curved visors sometimes do. 

In Conclusion

The Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is a new high-end racing helmet recently introduced by Scorpion as a successor to the Scorpion EXO R1 Air Carbon. 

The helmet is made of carbon fiber, the best quality helmet material, and has six sizes with three outer shell sizes, which is a good amount. 

The helmet’s weight in size M is 3.1 lbs, which is an excellent result. The face shield is anti-scratch treated, pinlock lens prepared, and offers a wide field of view with a 2D shape. 

The helmet performed outstandingly well in noise isolation, with an average of 96 decibels, the best score ever measured in testing helmets. 

Overall, the Scorpion EXO-R1 EVO Carbon is a solid and reliable helmet that competes well with its high-end racing helmet category peers.

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