Scorpion ADF-9000 adventure helmet review - I'd pick one over a Nexx X.Wed 3 but still love my Arai

8

I’ve had the privilege of testing a range of adventure helmets over the past few years, assisted in no small part by a 12,800 mile tour of duty on the Harley-Davidson CVO Pan America long-term test bike.

Star performers have included the Arai Tour-X5, NEXX X.WED 3 and Bell MX-9 ADV, but the most recent offering to grace my bonce has been the Scorpion ADF-9000. It sits at the top end of the range, surpassed only by the carbon version, and is my first experience of a lid from this established French manufacturer.

How comfortable is the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet?

The soft, smooth fabric that Scorpion use on the ADF-9000’s cheek pads lets it slip comfortably onto my head every time – and that always sets the scene for a good ride. The inner material has a honeycomb pattern that stops it from sliding around once in position, and the plush sensation against the skin makes it a helmet that’d I’d rather wear without a neck tube.

I’m usually a size M in motorcycle helmets and the fit is bang on, with a firmly cushioned interior that cocoons my skull without any identifiable pressure points. It almost feels like it would stay in place without the chin strap fastened – not that I’d recommend trying it.

That snug fit can be further enhanced by using Scorpion’s integrated ‘Airfit’ system. This allows you to gently inflate the cheek pads by pumping a small red button mounted in the chin bar with your thumb. I notice it most at the back corners of my jaw, where it applies just enough pressure to seal the gap. Each pad extends around the neck and up behind the ear, effectively preventing drafts and wind noise from creeping in.

At 1681g with Pinlock fitted, the ADF-9000 isn’t a particularly heavy helmet, but it carries its mass well all the same, with a neutral balance in use. I’ve spent many hours pottering along green lanes without any undue weight on my neck, and it was my helmet of choice for an ‘iron butt’ ride, where I covered over 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours without any issues at all.

It’s worth noting that I wear glasses, which slip in easily through channels in the upper cheek pad with enough vertical adjustment to get them sitting just right.

Is the visor of the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet any good?

Field of vision is first class, due in no small part to a cavernous eye port that’s big enough to wear goggles if you so choose. And I have done, on numerous occasions. The main visor appears distortion free, even at night with the included Pinlock 120 anti-fog insert fitted. Although it doesn’t have a lock to keep it closed, it stays firmly shut and doesn’t rattle or wobble when opened.

The detents on the hinge mechanism are secured with a tiny spring-loaded ball at either side, and this gives the visor a nice positive feel as you move it between each position, without any twisting or squirming. Even at speed, it’ll stay where you put it without snapping shut unexpectedly. I particularly like the fact that it has operating tabs on both sides, so you can open or close it with either hand.

• Related: Best anti-fog products for your helmet visor

Removal takes a bit of a knack, and it certainly isn’t as easy as some helmets that I’ve tried. The theory is that you line up an arrow on the visor with one on the hinge and pull, but in practice it takes quite a bit of force to get it free. Installation is the reverse of removal, however it’s virtually impossible without getting paw prints all over the place.

One thing that does bother me, is that after hundreds of miles of riding with the visor fully open, while I’ve been wearing goggles, it has acquired a couple of abrasion marks along the top edge from rubbing on the underside of the peak. The peak needs to be under force for it to flex enough to touch the visor, so I can only assume this has happened at dual carriageway speeds. The marks aren’t in my normal field of vision, even with the visor closed, so it’s really just an annoyance when looking at the lid when I’m not wearing it.

The ADF-9000 also has an integral sun visor, which is quick and easy to deploy or retract via a lever on the left side hinge. You need to be careful though, as I find it just grazes the tip of my nose as it swings down. Not really an issue for me, but worth bearing in mind if you’re blessed with a bigger proboscis than mine.

I also found the sun visor to have an odd, smoky appearance to it. I don’t know if this was an anti-fog treatment poorly applied or a protective covering, but after a few goings over with visor cleaner and a microfibre cloth it cleaned up crystal clear.

Does the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet have good ventilation?

Airflow is the weakest attribute of the ADF 9000, mainly due to it only having two small intakes on the top. That’s not to say they don’t work at all, and I’ve certainly not overheated in it, even on a sandy slog around Thetford Forest in 30° heat, but there’s not the ‘wind in the hair’ sensation of say, the NEXX or Arai. That’s most likely due to the exterior design, which doesn’t seem to channel the air in as efficiently, relying on the four exhaust ports to pull it through.

The chin vent fares considerably better, with a central cover that can be closed, open or removed entirely as conditions require. On the inside it has a switch to divert the airflow either straight at your face or up onto the inside of the visor, and it works well, also keeping both the sun visor and my specs condensation free.

The front vent can also be replaced by an action cam mount included in the box, which is a nice touch, but it needs to be screwed into place and with a GoPro fitted does block the intake somewhat.

Is the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet quiet and comfortable?

Thanks to the plush interior and close fit achieved by the Airfit system, the ADF-9000 is one of the quieter helmets I’ve tested. I always ride in earplugs anyway, but I haven’t noticed any localised wind roar, either around the shell itself or from the peak. I’ve fitted mine out with a Cardo Neo intercom and there is some apparent drop in audio clarity compared with other helmets, but I think that’s more down to the fact that the speakers sit behind flaps of fabric from the interior lining.

How does the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet look?

Almost all adventure helmets look cool, driven by the functionality of the design, and the ADF-9000 is no exception. It’s fairly heavily sculptured, but with curves rather than angles, which gives the shell an organic, aerodynamic flow. This particular livery, the Desert, has a factory team look to it, and I like that a lot.

Is the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet good quality?

There’s very little I can rail about in terms of quality. From the plush, executive level interior to the slick twin visor mechanisms and premium finish of the paint job, it’s a very well put together helmet. The only slight niggle I have, and this is very minor, is that even though they seem suitably robust, the inserts for the air vents look and feel a bit plasticky. I haven’t managed to break one or anything, they just lack a little finesse in my opinion.

Is the Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet good value for money?

When you take into account the build quality, fit and features, not to mention the 5-year manufacturer’s warranty, at £329.99 the ADF-9000 offers pretty good value for money. And the fact that some retailers have it discounted to less than £300, then it really should bear some consideration from anyone in the market for an adventure touring helmet.

Scorpion ADF-9000 helmet – the bottom line

Having never tried one of their helmets before, I’ve come away from this test with a newfound respect for Scorpion helmets. The ADF-9000 is a well put together lid, that fits comfortably and performs flawlessly, with some nice touches that set it apart from the competition.

It compares favourably with the X.WED 3, and if it was my money I’d be reaching for the Scorpion over the more fussy NEXX. A lack of an integrated comms option may put some people off, however if you prefer a third party system, like I do, then that shouldn’t be a problem.

It may not be quite as premium as exotic brands like Arai, Leatt or Klim, but it performs almost as well and costs a good chunk of wedge less.

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.