Scorpion EXO-400, Hat-Trick Jacket, Icon Knee/Shin Guards, Twenty-Niner Gloves

porange · 08-19-2009, 09:23 AM

Sorry for the long title, it's just easier to review all my gear in one post/thread. Also keep in mind that I don't have any comparisons to make, so this is just how I view the only set of gear that I've owned.

Scorpion EXO-400

This helmet offers great protection being both SNELL and DOT approved. I could squeeze into a small but it crushed my head, a medium fits perfectly. It has forehead, chin and exhaust vents the outside but they seem kind of flimsy, and unless you look really close you can't always tell if they're open or closed. Most of the airflow from riding seems to come from underneath the chin, but even sitting at stop lights in 85 degree heat with the visor down it wasn't overwhelming. The visor by default is scratch-proof on the outside and fog-proof on the inside. I recently bought a mirror shield visor without those coatings and it fogged up with a breathy exhale, which never happened on the factory one. (side note, the mirror visor did not diminish night time visibility to an unsafe degree). And the visor quick-change system is a bit wonky but it works. It does have a breath guard, which is also pretty flimsy and doesn't seem to do a whole lot. The inside is very plush and comfortable, and the padding is removable for washing which is nice. There seems to be quite a bit of wind noise at 60+, but I couldn't tell you if that's more or less than normal. Overall, for $139, (how much I paid for it) I'd say it is an excellent helmet for the price.

Scorpion Hat Trick Jacket

I love this jacket. It might seem a bit pricey >$200 but it's worth every penny. The outside looks awesome and has reflective strips on the front and back for visibility, which is nice because it's a mostly (or completely) black jacket otherwise. The great thing about this jacket is it has 3 layers. The textile and mesh outer layer with CE approved armor in the elbows, shoulders and back allows for both airflow and protection. A second layer is a wind/water proof liner that also has a collar to cover a bit of your neck. I wore this once just to test it out on a cool night ride, and it definitely keeps the wind out, cannot attest for water but I'm sure it works. The last layer is a thermal liner. I haven't been able to test this layer yet but I can imagine it'll keep me warm well into the 40's if need be, very warm jacket with all layers in it. Two outside hand pockets, one or two inside breast pockets, depending on the layers you have in. Great jacket.

Icon Field Armor Knee/Shin Guards

I got these because I wanted to ride to work and I can't wear riding pants in a corporate office! I know I could have opted for over-pants but I like these very much. The armor is vented and allows for a decent amount of airflow, even when worn under jeans or other pants. They velcro around your calf in 3 spots, and once around the back of the knee. They are one size fits most, and I have pretty thin legs, but they stay up fine with boots. I've even worn them to walk around and grab a bite to eat and they aren't a bother, if not for being a little warm. Also, they fit underneath any pants I've worn them with which is nice. Cheaper than riding pants, but they obviously don't offer any hip/thigh protection. $65 for these guys, not a bad get.

Icon Twenty-Niner Gloves

Simple mesh gloves, no knuckle protection aside from a thin layer of gel. The palms are slightly padded and add a bit of comfort and they fit pretty well. They are vented but you really only feel a good amount of air if you angle the knuckle vents just right, but they don't get too hot so it's not a problem. They have a single velcro wrist strap that is pre-curved to prevent it from snagging or coming off, but this also can make them tricky to get off because it does not stay un-velcroed unless you hold it. They also leave creases on my hands after a few hours of riding, maybe I'm gripping too tight I don't know. $30 seems like a lot for these to be honest.

rexmitchell · 08-19-2009, 01:30 PM

We have another thread going about the scorpion helmets, they are pretty popular.

Ikeman · 08-28-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porange

Icon Field Armor Knee/Shin Guards

I got these because I wanted to ride to work and I can't wear riding pants in a corporate office! I know I could have opted for over-pants but I like these very much. The armor is vented and allows for a decent amount of airflow, even when worn under jeans or other pants. They velcro around your calf in 3 spots, and once around the back of the knee. They are one size fits most, and I have pretty thin legs, but they stay up fine with boots. I've even worn them to walk around and grab a bite to eat and they aren't a bother, if not for being a little warm. Also, they fit underneath any pants I've worn them with which is nice. Cheaper than riding pants, but they obviously don't offer any hip/thigh protection. $65 for these guys, not a bad get.

.

Hey Porange, thanks for the info.
I actually have these as well. I like the feel of these, but I guess I have skinny knees or something (33 waist, 34 inseam).. because these things tend to slide down a smidge which exposes a little bit of kneecap... agreed though, if wearing high-cutboots, they stay up..
Just a warning to potential buyers, if you run on the skinny side, these things may feel loose.
And you beat me on the price.. I paid like $70 for mine (i think)

porange · 09-08-2009, 11:39 AM

I've got skinny legs and the leg guards did tend to slide down; I'd find myself adjusting them at every other red light. I altered them and they fit great now.

What I did was take the 3 elastic bands that velcro around the calf, doubled over the fabric and sewed it up. So now the length of the elastic band between the two velcro sides is much smaller and allows for a tighter fit.

Ikeman · 09-08-2009, 11:43 AM

thx Porange.. that's a good tip.. I'll try that.

porange · 10-16-2009, 09:07 AM

UPDATE: 2 months later, temperature falling

Jacket: With both the thermal and wind-proof liners in, this jacket has kept my body and arms plenty warm at highway speeds in 40F degree weather. No visible wear n' tear yet.

Helmet: It has broken in a lot more, still very comfortable and snug. In the weather, air rushes in under the chin and chills the lower half of my face pretty good, have started wearing a balaclava underneath and that takes care of it.

Shin guards: These still slip down my legs if I walk around for periods of time. With boots not bad, with regular shoes it's downright annoying. They do a good job of blocking wind on chilly rides.

Gloves: As mentioned in the manufacturers description, these are hot weather riding gloves. They do nothing at all to keep hands warm, do not recommend for colder temps. Also, a couple of the little, rubber knuckle bits have started to come off, not detrimental to the structure of the gloves but still disappointing.

bdavison · 10-16-2009, 09:39 AM

I have a Scorpion Exo jacket too...its definitely becoming my favorite. Super comfortable, and its nice and bright with the yellow.

porange · 10-23-2009, 10:53 AM

UPDATE 2: Durability tested - lowside

Helmet: I don't think I hit my head, or at least not bad enough to tell so the helmet did it's job there I suppose.

Jacket: Saved my hide for sure. I didn't find any injuries on areas covered by the jacket. It's a little dirty but does not show much abrasion, still perfectly usable after a good cleaning.

Shin/Knee Guards: Shifted down my leg during the ride, allowed the pavement to take a little bit of my knee skin off. Undoubtedly without these the damage would've been worse, but I got some road rash nonetheless.

Gloves: Left palm split at a seam and I got some rash from that.

Overall: The helmet and jacket I recommend highly. They're comfortable, safe, durable, versatile and look good. The Icon gloves are pretty much garbage IMO, they started to fall apart in under 2 months from regular use, and did not offer much protection in a crash. The Icon shin guards I also cannot recommend, at least not for those with skinny legs. The elasticity does not last and they slide down your legs, unsafely. There have to be better leg guards out there.

PingTheServer · 10-24-2009, 10:49 PM

1) what happened?

2) what kind of gloves and knee/shin guards are you going to try?

porange · 10-25-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PingTheServer

1) what happened?

2) what kind of gloves and knee/shin guards are you going to try?

1) It was a 25 MPHish lowside going through a left turn, lost traction and slid out.

2) I'd definitely go for some thicker leather gloves, maybe ones that aren't specifically for hot weather riding. Maybe like these:

Joe Rocket Blaster 4.0 Gloves

And for my legs I like the idea of textile, armored over-pants. I realized that while my thighs and butt didn't get rashed or bruised, they very well could have and that would suck worse than just my knee.

mtk1210 · 11-29-2009, 01:18 AM

sales heads up

exo400's for $70

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com...400+69.95+SALE

rexmitchell · 12-07-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtk1210

sales heads up

exo400's for $70

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com...400+69.95+SALE

Saw this, I wish they were still giving away the 700's at cycle gear for that price.

robbie1 · 01-26-2010, 03:11 PM

I am having some difficulty with mounting my Garmin on motorcycle that I brought from this past week. Is there anyone out there who can help me with this situation? I am truly interested in the help. I live in Indianapolis. I am open for feedback.

porange · 08-26-2010, 12:56 PM

UPDATE 3: 1 year later

Helmet/Jacket: These are still going strong, if not a bit stinky from the really hot summer we had here in the Midwest. I have no qualms with the jacket; it doesn't appear to be coming apart anywhere so I can see wearing this for quite awhile longer. The helmet is getting dings and scratches here and there which is normal. The pads inside have loosened up quite a bit more, but it's not dangerously loose.

Gloves: I did end up purchasing those Joe Rockets I mentioned earlier and they've been great. Nice quality, not too hot in the Summer but they don't do a whole lot for you in the Winter.

Shin Guards: I stopped wearing these months ago. To me, they were far too hot and uncomfortable to wear in 90+ heat and high humidity. The elastic and Velcro was worn quite a bit after 8ish months, and every attempt to make them fit tighter only resulted in more stretching and loosening.

*I commute to work every day and ride for fun when I have time, so base 1 year of usage on that; it may be more or less than that other riders

08-19-2009, 09:23 AM	#1
porange Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,049	Scorpion EXO-400, Hat-Trick Jacket, Icon Knee/Shin Guards, Twenty-Niner Gloves Sorry for the long title, it's just easier to review all my gear in one post/thread. Also keep in mind that I don't have any comparisons to make, so this is just how I view the only set of gear that I've owned. Scorpion EXO-400 This helmet offers great protection being both SNELL and DOT approved. I could squeeze into a small but it crushed my head, a medium fits perfectly. It has forehead, chin and exhaust vents the outside but they seem kind of flimsy, and unless you look really close you can't always tell if they're open or closed. Most of the airflow from riding seems to come from underneath the chin, but even sitting at stop lights in 85 degree heat with the visor down it wasn't overwhelming. The visor by default is scratch-proof on the outside and fog-proof on the inside. I recently bought a mirror shield visor without those coatings and it fogged up with a breathy exhale, which never happened on the factory one. (side note, the mirror visor did not diminish night time visibility to an unsafe degree). And the visor quick-change system is a bit wonky but it works. It does have a breath guard, which is also pretty flimsy and doesn't seem to do a whole lot. The inside is very plush and comfortable, and the padding is removable for washing which is nice. There seems to be quite a bit of wind noise at 60+, but I couldn't tell you if that's more or less than normal. Overall, for $139, (how much I paid for it) I'd say it is an excellent helmet for the price. Scorpion Hat Trick Jacket I love this jacket. It might seem a bit pricey >$200 but it's worth every penny. The outside looks awesome and has reflective strips on the front and back for visibility, which is nice because it's a mostly (or completely) black jacket otherwise. The great thing about this jacket is it has 3 layers. The textile and mesh outer layer with CE approved armor in the elbows, shoulders and back allows for both airflow and protection. A second layer is a wind/water proof liner that also has a collar to cover a bit of your neck. I wore this once just to test it out on a cool night ride, and it definitely keeps the wind out, cannot attest for water but I'm sure it works. The last layer is a thermal liner. I haven't been able to test this layer yet but I can imagine it'll keep me warm well into the 40's if need be, very warm jacket with all layers in it. Two outside hand pockets, one or two inside breast pockets, depending on the layers you have in. Great jacket. Icon Field Armor Knee/Shin Guards I got these because I wanted to ride to work and I can't wear riding pants in a corporate office! I know I could have opted for over-pants but I like these very much. The armor is vented and allows for a decent amount of airflow, even when worn under jeans or other pants. They velcro around your calf in 3 spots, and once around the back of the knee. They are one size fits most, and I have pretty thin legs, but they stay up fine with boots. I've even worn them to walk around and grab a bite to eat and they aren't a bother, if not for being a little warm. Also, they fit underneath any pants I've worn them with which is nice. Cheaper than riding pants, but they obviously don't offer any hip/thigh protection. $65 for these guys, not a bad get. Icon Twenty-Niner Gloves Simple mesh gloves, no knuckle protection aside from a thin layer of gel. The palms are slightly padded and add a bit of comfort and they fit pretty well. They are vented but you really only feel a good amount of air if you angle the knuckle vents just right, but they don't get too hot so it's not a problem. They have a single velcro wrist strap that is pre-curved to prevent it from snagging or coming off, but this also can make them tricky to get off because it does not stay un-velcroed unless you hold it. They also leave creases on my hands after a few hours of riding, maybe I'm gripping too tight I don't know. $30 seems like a lot for these to be honest. Last edited by porange; 08-19-2009 at 09:26 AM.

08-19-2009, 01:30 PM	#2
rexmitchell I am the Vanilla Gorilla! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: THE ATX Posts: 10,667	We have another thread going about the scorpion helmets, they are pretty popular. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. When they bury me, I hope they bury me upside down so people I don't like can kiss my a$$ RIP Roy Waters--RIP Pat "IAMGUMBY" Taylor--RIP Richard "PerrySB" Perry

10-16-2009, 09:39 AM	#7
bdavison Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 1,336	I have a Scorpion Exo jacket too...its definitely becoming my favorite. Super comfortable, and its nice and bright with the yellow. __________________ Her profile said 5 11.....yeah lbs.

08-26-2010, 12:56 PM	#14
porange Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,049	UPDATE 3: 1 year later Helmet/Jacket: These are still going strong, if not a bit stinky from the really hot summer we had here in the Midwest. I have no qualms with the jacket; it doesn't appear to be coming apart anywhere so I can see wearing this for quite awhile longer. The helmet is getting dings and scratches here and there which is normal. The pads inside have loosened up quite a bit more, but it's not dangerously loose. Gloves: I did end up purchasing those Joe Rockets I mentioned earlier and they've been great. Nice quality, not too hot in the Summer but they don't do a whole lot for you in the Winter. Shin Guards: I stopped wearing these months ago. To me, they were far too hot and uncomfortable to wear in 90+ heat and high humidity. The elastic and Velcro was worn quite a bit after 8ish months, and every attempt to make them fit tighter only resulted in more stretching and loosening. I commute to work every day and ride for fun when I have time, so base 1 year of usage on that; it may be more or less than that other riders Last edited by porange; 08-26-2010 at 01:02 PM.*

09-08-2009, 11:39 AM	#4
porange Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,049	I've got skinny legs and the leg guards did tend to slide down; I'd find myself adjusting them at every other red light. I altered them and they fit great now. What I did was take the 3 elastic bands that velcro around the calf, doubled over the fabric and sewed it up. So now the length of the elastic band between the two velcro sides is much smaller and allows for a tighter fit.

09-08-2009, 11:43 AM	#5
Ikeman Squirrel Assassin Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northeast, Massachusetts Posts: 213	thx Porange.. that's a good tip.. I'll try that.

10-16-2009, 09:07 AM	#6
porange Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,049	UPDATE: 2 months later, temperature falling Jacket: With both the thermal and wind-proof liners in, this jacket has kept my body and arms plenty warm at highway speeds in 40F degree weather. No visible wear n' tear yet. Helmet: It has broken in a lot more, still very comfortable and snug. In the weather, air rushes in under the chin and chills the lower half of my face pretty good, have started wearing a balaclava underneath and that takes care of it. Shin guards: These still slip down my legs if I walk around for periods of time. With boots not bad, with regular shoes it's downright annoying. They do a good job of blocking wind on chilly rides. Gloves: As mentioned in the manufacturers description, these are hot weather riding gloves. They do nothing at all to keep hands warm, do not recommend for colder temps. Also, a couple of the little, rubber knuckle bits have started to come off, not detrimental to the structure of the gloves but still disappointing.

10-23-2009, 10:53 AM	#8
porange Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,049	UPDATE 2: Durability tested - lowside Helmet: I don't think I hit my head, or at least not bad enough to tell so the helmet did it's job there I suppose. Jacket: Saved my hide for sure. I didn't find any injuries on areas covered by the jacket. It's a little dirty but does not show much abrasion, still perfectly usable after a good cleaning. Shin/Knee Guards: Shifted down my leg during the ride, allowed the pavement to take a little bit of my knee skin off. Undoubtedly without these the damage would've been worse, but I got some road rash nonetheless. Gloves: Left palm split at a seam and I got some rash from that. Overall: The helmet and jacket I recommend highly. They're comfortable, safe, durable, versatile and look good. The Icon gloves are pretty much garbage IMO, they started to fall apart in under 2 months from regular use, and did not offer much protection in a crash. The Icon shin guards I also cannot recommend, at least not for those with skinny legs. The elasticity does not last and they slide down your legs, unsafely. There have to be better leg guards out there.

10-24-2009, 10:49 PM	#9
PingTheServer Master At Arms Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 104	1) what happened? 2) what kind of gloves and knee/shin guards are you going to try?

11-29-2009, 01:18 AM	#11
mtk1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 430	sales heads up exo400's for $70 http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com...400+69.95+SALE

01-26-2010, 03:11 PM	#13
robbie1 Registered Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1	I am having some difficulty with mounting my Garmin on motorcycle that I brought from this past week. Is there anyone out there who can help me with this situation? I am truly interested in the help. I live in Indianapolis. I am open for feedback.