NEXX Helmet Review Part Deux

[MDFDWarrior]

In Part 1 of this series (NEXX Helmet Review - Part 1), I gave my first initial impressions of the NEXX X60 Ice helmet in Soft Black. I talked about the logical deductions from Thom's world of thinking which led me to trying an open face helmet from my all or nothing mentality of either wearing a Full Face helmet or none at all...

I also talked about what made the NEXX helmets stand out in the sea of competitors in this niche market segment. Styling, quality of design & materials, and attention to detail will separate the favorites from the masses...

Part 2 here will reveal some of my thoughts and impressions as I take the helmet for a real-world ride on the Warrior beast. After all, tree-stump pulling torque, acceleration, and warp-speed bombing runs should reveal any weakness of any helmets right?

I may also have a surprise at the end if anyone of you are interested and are willing to endure the entire article!

If not, read this and go on with your happy life.....
FANTASTIC!!! For all you folks who contributed to the overall financial success of Cliff Notes, you need not read any further. I love this helmet, and I am even considering getting another one or two...
For those interested in more detail, please read on....

On my way to and from one of our weekly CLC meets, I had an opportunity to wear the NEXX X60. I was able to ride in a variety of environments ranging from local urban roads with moderate to heavy traffic to the expressway at night time with very few folks around..

In the late afternoon, while the sun was still shining I headed to one of our favorite watering holes, JT's Porch. Riding in the local traffic, the helmet felt very nice! Light and airy, somewhat invisible feeling, as the field of view is almost as wide as the naked eye. You find yourself holding your breath or breathing irregularly with your Full Face to limit fogging of the visor? That is a non-issue with this one as I am sure it is due at least partially in the open-face design as well as the high-end material/optics of the NEXX visor. There was a little scratch on my visor and I was able to buff it almost completely off with some high-end professional grade plastic buffing agent I happen to have at the House of TORQ garage. The visor is plenty thick and rigid while retaining near perfect optical quality. I guess there is a reason why the replacement visors cost $50 compared to replacement visors of the $30 range for full face helmets...

Local riding felt great with the NEXX helmet. To me, it was the best compromise between wearing no helmet at all and wearing a Full Face. Yes, you can still hear the mighty wail and music of your custom exhaust, yet without the sharp, blistering hiss of wind noise. Oh the joys of motorcycling in the beginning years came flooding back to me! Did I mention I got a few thumbs up as well as stares and compliments? I am sure it was more due to the uniqueness of the helmet as opposed to my smashing good looks....

For those of you who ride with no helmet and glasses alone, you'll know the familiar feeling of the burning and teary eyes...the No-I-am-not-drunk bloodshot eyes...With the visor and this helmet, it's a non-issue. Sure you get a little tickle of the wind buffeting your nose where the visor ends, but you get used to that and quickly forget about it. Sure you can feel the airy caress of wind around your eyes, but not to the point where it gets irritated.

If there is one thing I should note for improvement it is the chin strap orientation. It straddles the underside of your throat as it goes directly across from one side to the other. However, the materials are so soft and the quality is so high, I barely felt it once I got going. The DD rings are an ease to use as well as the plastic snap fitting to secure the end of the strap. I had no problem doing so with my Icon gloves on. It was so comfortable, I didn't even bother to slide my visor up when I stopped at a gas station to fill up.

I was excited to see how the helmet performed on the highway. Yes the monster torque of the all-mighty Warrior, going from nearly zero off the toll to highway speeds. Surely anyone who have worn a open face or brain bucket will know what I'm talking about. The sudden g's of your bike happen to push your helmet out of alignment? Will the helmet start to push and float at warp speeds? My friends, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Let's talk about acceleration. I gunned it from the toll gate to merge onto the highway and the helmet stayed put. Yes, I can hear the glorious howl of my Rinehart duals, and no hissing wind noise in my ears. Yes, it is definitely not as quiet as a full face, but very much acceptable. At 55 mph, no worries! OK, let's do 75mph - no problem. 100 mph, still no problem! Even the visor stayed put! At about 125 mph, the helmet still stayed put as long as you stayed tucked. If you looked up at just the right angle, you would experience a little lift. Side to side movements were a non-issue and actually got a little more quiet when turned fully to the side for shoulder checks. Mobility and clearance is quite good, kinda like having nothing on....Oh and BTW, I should note that I don't condone high speed runs and staying within the speed limits is definitely advised. Come to think of it, the warp speeds were probably a figment of my blissful imagination...
Will I wear this helmet on an iron butt warp speed run? I'd probably opt for my full face. However, for the 99% of the time when doing all the other rides, this will be the helmet I reach for...

As I arrived at JT's, my visor, along with the rest of the helmet had collected their fair share of bug carcasses. No problem, warm water and a soft towel cleaned it right up without a scratch on the visor or the rubber coated finish of the matte black helmet.
A few friends and members of CLC had a chance to check out the helmet first hand and I got a few comments about how light it was. That's a good thing...

After the food and camaraderie we all experience and love about bike nights, we headed home. The slight tint on the visor was perfect to provide that mysterious, cool look, yet be clearly visible in the night time. Not dark enough for you? NEXX sells another visor with an even darker tint. Despite the open face, the helmet did it's job keeping my noggin' warm on the freeway ride home. And yes, aside from the State Trooper shadowing me on the freeway, I chuckled as another SUV drove directly beside me for awhile, keeping pace to stare...

Conclusion: Oh happy days! I love this helmet. Price is a little on the high side especially when you compare some full face helmets are less and in the same ballpark. Nevertheless, I like this helmet so much I am considering getting another one or two since NEXX has so many cool designs!

Now for the pleasant surprise. I was fortunate enough to receive a call from someone who indicated he is one of the owners of NEXX. I was impressed. I also was fortunate enough to find a dealer fairly close. As a matter of fact, I ended up getting mine from Tom Knowlton who runs The Scooter Warehouse in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Thru my phone conversation with Tom, he seems like a great guy - one of us who loves life and motorcycling. Although Tom doesn't know it yet, I'm gonna try to work out a deal exclusively for CLC members on these helmets if you all express enough interest. The only thing I ask is stay away from mine as I love it so much and it stands out as being unique! lol!

Thanks Tom and thanx NEXX for such a wonderful experience and product!

[BratmanXj]

Waiting for insurance to come through on my P.P.G. and then I'm in the market for something new.

[Tigz]

if there's going to be a group buy, then count me in. I was just about to order a Givi, since something seem to be in the works, then I'll hold off.

[social distortion]

Looks pretty cool with it on you noggin'......
Seems tro fit the bike well and a unique style too.....

[Darkside]

Dude!!! that is a sweet looking helmet. Like the "it was the best compromise between wearing no helmet at all and wearing a Full Face"...Ima look into this.

[Benzo]

WOW!
Great surprise Thom.
So the helmet is House of TORQ approved. I am in for sure. I would like to purchase 2 helmets right off the bat. Please keep us/me informed at to when we should purchase. Yeah the price of the helmet is not cheap, however i feel that the extra money spent is is for the exclusivity of the helmet. In my eyes thats money well spent. I hate having the same thing as other people.(except with the clc crew)