We wandered into Henderson Racing Products a while back. They had just landed a big shipment of helmets, including some new models as well as a lot of new colours and graphics from Scorpion Helmets.
We do like new products and after a look at the range and a walk through HRP’s very extensive warehouse complex Mark offered us a demo Scorpion EXO GT SP-Air to ride with with for a month or so and give some honest feedback on it.
We gave it to our resident helmet fundi, stuck him on a bike and sent him out on his daily rounds and one or two bike tests.
Séan says:
I am particularly fussy when it comes to safety gear in general, but especially so when it comes to helmets. I have worked for and represented and sold various helmets brands for 20 plus years and have been on every course I was invited on or required to attend along the way. I have also done a lot of my own research and have sorted out the marketing speak from the facts over time.
Scorpion helmets have improved very significantly since their founding in 2001, as part of KIDO Industrial, who have been manufacturing motorcycle outerwear since the 1980. In 2003 they opened their first international office in California and launched the Exo brand. Claiming that “They exist to challenge the status quo of the motorcycle helmet industry”
Asserting their belief that quality, value, and profitability are not mutually exclusive and that their brand is more than just a logo, they have experienced phenomenal worldwide growth.
“It’s all based on quality, value for money, great styling and excellent comfort.”
The Scorpion Exo GT SP-Air comes with a whole host of extra in-built tech and bits.
Included in the box is the helmet with the original clear visor, a MAX VISION Pinlock as well as a smoked visor and a really good helmet bag for you to store your helmet in when you are out and about.
Inbuilt tech includes a dual visor system with an easy to use slider on the left side for the drop down sun visor. There are also slots down the inside to accept your sunglasses or prescription spectacles comfortably and the main visor has an easy to use locking mechanism front and centre.
The visor has a very smooth action, with various stage stoppers.
The mechanism is spring loaded, so it moves into the correct position to give a proper seal all around the visor when fully closed.
A well vented breath guard assists with air flow away from the visor and a chin curtain keeps out the chilly winds and reduces wind noise.
Two features I found really interesting was the pump system which inflates the cheek pads for a more bespoke fit. The balloons also keep your helmet more stable at high speed and reduce wind noise.
The other impressive feature is the fact that the Scorpion Exo GT SP-Air is Bluetooth ready.
Just clip it into the space provided on the left side of the helmet.
They have also included Emergency Quick Release cheek pad tabs, a great feature should the helmet need to be removed in the event of an emergency.
The Scorpion Exo GT SP-Air comes in three different shell sizes, XXS to S, the smallest shell sizes, M to L the next size up and XL to XXXL being the biggest shell.
What this does is make the helmet safer and more manageable.
Many brands use a one size fits all approachFor more info or to find your local stockist visit Henderson Racing Products.
Slipping my head into the Scorpion Exo GT SP-Air I was glad to find titanium double D rings on the chin strap. If its good enough for moto GP, its good enough for me.
The liner, (Kwikwick® 3), is soft and comfortable allowing my not insignificant ears to easily glide and unfold into the openings provided for them. The wick worked to keep me cool and dry during some of the hottest days we’ve experienced lately, especially during a recent bike test and photo shoot.
The visor action is really nice, smooth and positive.
The vents are easy to operate with a gloved hand, as is the visor and the visor lock mechanism.
The air pump for the Airfit system is easy to operate by sticking your thumb in under your chin, the release valve is right next to the pump, also easily operable.
Having tested the Scorpion Exo GT SP -Air during mostly very hot days I made sure every single vent was wide open, and I can verify that they work exceptionally well, to the point that I started getting two really chilly spots on the top of my head during an early morning run out to the West Rand. Wind noise? It is quieter than just about every other helmet I have ridden with. The aerodynamics keep it really quiet when riding in clean air, (no interference from a windshield), so it is great on naked bikes and its visor design, cheek pad design, chin curtain and breath guard really do abate the noise from buffeting caused by wind turbulence over and around the windshield.
At high speeds, I could really feel and appreciate the benefits of the wind tunnel designed aerodynamics, mostly so when riding naked bikes.
The design keeps your head stable even way north of the double ton on the speedo. I could hear the wind slipping around and over the helmet as a consistent muted whoosh. The Scorpion Exo GT SP-Air really does seem to cocoon your head and to round it off, it is a really good looking helmet as well and very comfortable to wear….
And we spend most of our daylight hours inside motorcycle helmets, so that is saying a lot for this helmet.
At the R8,600.00 mark retail, it seems like excellent value for money in anybody’s books.
For more info or to find your local stockist visit
