Scorpion Exo-Tech Evo Pro helmet Commuta in black / yellow

The new, ECE 22-06 approved, EXO-Tech Evo Pro is an upgraded version of the company's longstanding Tech Evo model which, in truth, is pretty much the same  helmet, but with a cheaper, plastic shell.

 

The helmet is what is known as a 'flip-over' helmet. This is not the same as a 'flip-up' helmet like the Shoei Neotec or the Schuberth C5. A 'flip-up' helmet is really designed to be ridden with the chin bar down. A 'flip-over' helmet is designed, by contrast, very much as a dual-purpose helmet. With the chin bar down you'll have a full-face helmet. Flip the chin bar to the back of the shell, and you'll have what is, in effect, a pure, open-face helmet. And that makes a helmet like this the ultimate in versatility. A 'flip-over' really is two helmets in one.

 

The flip-over mechanism works smoothly and without impediment. And as with the old Shark Evo, as you bring the chin bar from the rear position to the front one the main visor lifts automatically to allow the chin bar to clear it. You also get a locking button that will prevent the chin bar from being moved forward. 

 

The Scorpion comes with a clear visor, but you get a second tinted one in the box. There's nothing wrong with the visor, per se. It is quick and easy to remove and replace. But we are not talking about Class 1 optical quality here. The visor mechanism is also a little clunky. There are no detente notches in its operation. It's either open or closed. You also get a drop-down sun visor, but again its operation is lacking in finesse.

 

In the box, you do get a Pinlock. And it's the best one. It's a Pinlock 120 XLT. This is the both the most effective, and the highest visual quality, Pinlock you can get.

 

The helmet weighs 1650g in size Medium. That's not exactly lightweight, but it's about what you'd expect on any kind of flip-up or flip-over helmet. There's a vent on the chin, and another on the brow. These will do a job, but again there's nothing outstanding about the helmet in this respect. The chin strap is a micrometric one. Despite what Scorpion says in its blurb, we are not convinced that the Evo Pro is going to work well with glasses. You will need to check it out.

 

The interior is nicely enough finished, although we're not talking Shoei or Arai levels of plushness here. The other thing, of course, is that there is nothing that can done to alter the fit of the helmet. We can't change the headliners or cheekpads, although they are removable for cleaning. The helmet only comes in two shell sizes which again, in our world, is less than optimum.

 

We did see one YouTube review about the Evo Pro where they compared the helmet to the Shoei Neotec and the Schuberth C5. Bizarrely, given the somewhat arbitrary manner with which they allocate stars to features, particularly with regard to price, they rated the Scorpion more highly than both the Shoei and the Schuberth. But frankly to make a decision on this basis would be foolish. The EVO Pro is a good helmet, but it's not a high-end one.

 

Like the Shark, the EVO Pro is aimed at the urban, or short distance, commuter who wants to have the benefits of a full-face helmet on the open road allied to the benefits of an open-face inside the city limits. Of course, a helmet like this is going to work for anybody who wants this same flexibility. But the helmet is going to be relatively noisy, and so if you commute an hour or more into work, or if you do big miles on tour, the Scorpion won't be the best tool for the job.

 

Don't believe everything you read or see on YouTube. The Scorpion is no Shoei. Nor is it a Schuberth. It's a good helmet, but it is what it is. It's not what it's not!