While I wear and review all styles of helmets, my personal choice has been the 3/4 helmet with a faceshield. I know it’s not as protective as a full-face but it’s what I feel most comfortable wearing.
Thanks to the rise in popularity of retro open face helmets like the Bell Custom 500 we reviewed on WRN, 3/4 helmets with a faceshield are getting more attention. They give those of us who want the fun of a retro open face more protection. Last fall Scorpion introduced the EXO-CT220, a 3/4 helmet that combines many features of its high priced competitors but at the budget price of just $149.99.
The main thing that attracted me to the Scorpion EXO-CT220 is the integrated tinted sun visor that comes with the face shield. This is my friend Leigh modeling the helmet. The tinted sun visor replaces your need for sunglasses and can be easily flipped up or down with a slider-type button on the left side of the helmet.The beauty of having an integrated sun visor on your helmet is that when sunlight conditions change you can easily adjust the sun visor up or down instead of having to stop and change out sunglasses or worse, riding in cloudy or dusk conditions while still wearing dark sunglasses. Leigh is riding a Honda Rebel, one of the motorcycles WRN recommends for beginners.
Venting is a must on any quality helmet and the EXO-CT220 has six vents in front, two of which are on the top, shown here, that can be opened or closed by pressing a button.
There are 10 integrated vents in the rear of the helmet for the hot air to escape, four of which are shown here at the top and at lower corners. In warm conditions, I never felt hot wearing this helmet.
Scorpion uses a KwikWick II branded liner made from antimicrobial fabric that keeps you cool in hot conditions and vice versa. I’ve always loved the soft liners in Scorpion helmets. Very comfortable on the face, and washable.
The faceshield on the Scorpion EXO-CT220 has no distortion, and it comes with an anti-scratch hardened coating. I havent gotten any scratches on my helmet with several months of use.
I really like that the EXO-CT220 is feels very light weight. My scale says it weighs just 3 pounds.
Besides the retractable sun visor, the “peak visor” also attracted me to this helmet. Its a plastic sun visor that you attach to the helmet in the same place the faceshield goes. My go-to helmet for a long time was a 3/4Arai SZ/Ram IIIthat is no longer made. I would find myself taking my left hand off the controls to shield my eyes from the setting sun. The peak visor solves that problem for me. Or so I thought.
The EXO-CT220 shown with the peak visor and sun visor in place.
There is one caveat I wasnt aware of until after I got this helmet. You can’t have the faceshield and the peak visor attached at the same time. The peak visor clips in to the same place as the faceshield. So the faceshield must be removed and then the peak visor attached. I was hoping for both. Since I don’t like to ride without some sort of face protection, this option didn’t work for me so I don’t use the peak visor at all.
I really like the versatility and options the EXO-CT220 offers me, but unfortunately, I developed a hot spot on my forehead after wearing the helmet after about 30 minutes. I was hoping the pressure there would dissipate once the foam liner settled in, but it did not. I found this same thing happening when I reviewed the first version of Schuberth’s womens helmet, the C3W.
I’ve learned after all my years of reviewing motorcycle helmets that not all helmets are going to work for you. Thank goodness for the different brands and the variety. If the versatility of this helmet appeals to you, it’s worth checking out because the price is great. The whole Scorpion line is known for offering high priced features at affordable prices.
While the Scorpion EXO-CT220 has advanced dual-density EPS foam core that meets DOT requirements, that is all the safety rating this helmets has—which for some riders at this price, is good enough. Leigh is wearing Indian Motorcycle Benjamin jacket reviewed here on WRN.
Helmet sizes range from XS to 3XL and colors offered are matte black, solid black (which is a gloss black) and neon. Again, the price for the EXO-CT220 is $149.99 and can be ordered online at ScorpionUSA.com.
The Scorpion EXO-CT220 is available in the popular neon color that helps with visibility on the road when riding your motorcycle.
Additional Info for Changing Out to the Peak Visor
While it’s easy to pop out the faceshield by pressing on the tabs on either side of the helmet the directions to install the peak visor were difficult to follow. I couldn’t find the arrows that were mentioned to line up the visor on the helmet. I fumbled and bumbled a bit, but finally figured out that you need to press the tabs to the open position on either side of the helmet, doing one at a time, and pop in the visor, then release the tab, which locks it in place. That is the key. I was not pressing the tab open, but rather expecting the visor to just pop into the side mechanism—and that is why I’m sharing this here. Once both sides are popped in, you simply lower the visor until it falls into the same depression on either side of the helmet that the faceshield does when it’s installed.
For me this is the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever owned. The first time I wore it I rode for 400 miles with no discomfort whatsoever, not something I would generally recommend doing with a new helmet unless you have prior experience with that helmet.
I am finding this helmet (in its tryout period) is mashing down my hair at the forehead, a precursor to a painful hot spot. I’ve had this happen with other helmets, but not Scorpion.Which 3/4 helmet do you use that does not press down on the forehead? I’d like to try that one myself.
One thing I know is that not all helmets work for all people. So if that’s the case for you, then you are right to try something else. I’ve had success with Arai and Shoei 3/4 helmets only. I don’t wear other brands. They’re a bit more pricey but you get the extra level of protection from these well-made helmets, as well as the extra level of fitment that’s favorable, I believe, with these two brands. These are the three helmets I’ve reviewed:Arai CT-ZArai SZ/Ram III Although no longer made, it speaks to features and quality found in other Arai 3/4 helmets.Shoei J-Cruise
Helmets with internal sun visors are not SNELL-approved, any of them. Neither are modular helmets. So price has nothing to do with the DOT rating only of this helmet. You might see ECE ratings on these types of helmets, but usually only on European helmets.
I have this helmet — just bought it in May — in neon yellow. I love it, especially the clear shield. It’s light; and airy. However, Im seeking a replacement from Scorpion, which they will do, because the internal sun visor kept getting stuck inside the helmet or fell off the internal tab on the left side of the helmet. There is some wind noise, but than i expected that with a 3/4 since i normally wear a full-face. The only other downside is it’s a bit difficult to one-handedly open the face shield if you want to speak to your riding bud at a red light. There are two tabs on either side of the bottom of the shield and you need to lift each tab in order to lift the shield. It’s hard to do it with one hand if the other is holding in the clutch. You usually do this with two hands simultaneously. Another good thing is if you’re riding in a group and you lose those behind you they can see your noggin in the distance and catch up.
The review was timely and gave me the information I needed. Their ads did not make clear if the visor could be used with the face shield, something I was interested in, and you answered for me. Also, I had a problem with a Nolan 3/4 I bought years ago. Felt great to try on, but got hot spots on my temples after 30 minutes riding, that never went away and I had to sell the helmet. So your comment on the hot spot was important, though I know different shaped heads create different fits. Something that is good to include, for folks like me, is whether the shield is 100 percent UVA/UVB protected. Many aren’t – even the tinted ones. I have a medical condition that requires it, and blogs often give incorrect info which can only be cleared up by asking the manufacturer. It would be great if you could include that in the future too.
For me this is the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever owned. The first time I wore it I rode for 400 miles with no discomfort whatsoever, not something I would generally recommend doing with a new helmet unless you have prior experience with that helmet.
I am finding this helmet (in its tryout period) is mashing down my hair at the forehead, a precursor to a painful hot spot. I’ve had this happen with other helmets, but not Scorpion.Which 3/4 helmet do you use that does not press down on the forehead? I’d like to try that one myself.
One thing I know is that not all helmets work for all people. So if that’s the case for you, then you are right to try something else. I’ve had success with Arai and Shoei 3/4 helmets only. I don’t wear other brands. They’re a bit more pricey but you get the extra level of protection from these well-made helmets, as well as the extra level of fitment that’s favorable, I believe, with these two brands. These are the three helmets I’ve reviewed:Arai CT-ZArai SZ/Ram III Although no longer made, it speaks to features and quality found in other Arai 3/4 helmets.Shoei J-Cruise
Helmets with internal sun visors are not SNELL-approved, any of them. Neither are modular helmets. So price has nothing to do with the DOT rating only of this helmet. You might see ECE ratings on these types of helmets, but usually only on European helmets.
Just the info I was looking for.
I have this helmet — just bought it in May — in neon yellow. I love it, especially the clear shield. It’s light; and airy. However, Im seeking a replacement from Scorpion, which they will do, because the internal sun visor kept getting stuck inside the helmet or fell off the internal tab on the left side of the helmet. There is some wind noise, but than i expected that with a 3/4 since i normally wear a full-face. The only other downside is it’s a bit difficult to one-handedly open the face shield if you want to speak to your riding bud at a red light. There are two tabs on either side of the bottom of the shield and you need to lift each tab in order to lift the shield. It’s hard to do it with one hand if the other is holding in the clutch. You usually do this with two hands simultaneously. Another good thing is if you’re riding in a group and you lose those behind you they can see your noggin in the distance and catch up.
Thanks for the valuable feedback, Fran.
The review was timely and gave me the information I needed. Their ads did not make clear if the visor could be used with the face shield, something I was interested in, and you answered for me. Also, I had a problem with a Nolan 3/4 I bought years ago. Felt great to try on, but got hot spots on my temples after 30 minutes riding, that never went away and I had to sell the helmet. So your comment on the hot spot was important, though I know different shaped heads create different fits. Something that is good to include, for folks like me, is whether the shield is 100 percent UVA/UVB protected. Many aren’t – even the tinted ones. I have a medical condition that requires it, and blogs often give incorrect info which can only be cleared up by asking the manufacturer. It would be great if you could include that in the future too.
We asked the manufacturer and the faceshield provides 100% UVA and UVB protection.