Scorpion helmets do deliver great value in the SA market. We rode with the Scorpion ADX – 2 helmet for quite some time – and we need to point out that that helmet, quite literally saved a life.
In that helmet, we fitted the fully integrated EXO -COM blue-tooth system./ it’s great to be able to listen to tunes and chat to your mates, especially on those long freeways we often ride.
The Scorpion EXO ADX-2, EXO 520 and EXO 930 are all Smart helmets. The EXO COMM system is factory designed making installation seamless.
Installation:
Because the EXO-COM system is designed to be installed specifically into this helmet, it is actually pretty straightforward.
Just – Don’t do what we did – read the manual first.
The fact that they use the microphones built into the speaker housings means the system can work with full-face helmets and the convertible ones because there is no separate microphone for the chin bar.
There are large spaces for the helmet speakers.
There’s also a special pocket in the left side cheek pad that allows you to tuck extra cabling inside the cheek-pad to keep the installation all nice and tidy.
The hemet has wiring grooves and pockets to tuck everything away unobtrusively.
Just, read the manual dammit!
Installing the battery is simple, it slips into the holder that inserts into the back of the helmet just behind where the liner snaps in place.
Once it’s all in correctly, you don’t know that it’s there.
It all arrives in logical kit form for simple installation.
Four buttons are found on the control module and they are easy enough to find and actuate.
The center and rear buttons have a good feel with a strong click when pressed. The front button feels a bit “softer”, so your fingers know which button is which.
Scorpion also offers a phone app for use with the EXO-COM unit available for iOS and Android. While the device can be used without the app, there are several options you can access via the app like an equalizer setting, switching on/off voice answer, and voice prompts. It’s also used to adjust the level of noise canceling.
This is handled by a simple slider to increase or decrease the noise canceling effect based on how loud your bike is.
The App isn’t necessary for basic operation and is probably way above our pay grade, but it all works in a fairly straightforward manner and techy peeps will love it.
The EXO-COM can also pair with some other systems, so if your buddy has a different intercom system, chances are good that you can still chat.
There’s also a “universal pairing” option with which we paired with our Sena headset and it worked just fine.
One gripe we have on our old system is battery life.
Scorpion claims a 15 hour battery life.That seems pretty accurate when we work out the amount we rode between charges.
The battery is charged using the built-in USB-C port in the housing. Fitment is simple, so if you worry, you can always take along an extra battery for those longer rides.
Sound Quality:
Audio from the EXO-COM is great. Pair your phone, favourite tunes up loud and off you go. Volume and clarity is excellent, even at speed. Callers on the other end said we sounded very clear and didn’t realise that we were riding (Obviously with the helmet clipped shut).
The integrated microphones do a good job of canceling noise and you can adjust the noise reduction further through the app.
Distance performance was also pretty good – I reckon around eighty metres or so before Sean went quiet.
And that was great!.
The system works very well and sounds great as far as music and phone audio are concerned.
Best of the lot?
It integrates seamlessly into the helmet – so no chunky bits flapping on the side of your lid.
Nice.
We like!
Priced around R3700.00
Available at Scorpion helmet stockists.
