Nexx X30 V Core Helmet Review

Nexx X30 V Core Helmet Review Summary

Review Summary

Pros

Cons

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The Nexx X30V is an updated version of the Nexx X30 (review) helmet reviewed on webBikeWorld in 2011.

The X30V is an unusual design; it’s a cross between a flip-up and full-face helmet.

The front visor rotates like a flip-up.

But a narrow chin bar is integrated with the shell, which theoretically adds structure and increased protection.

The X30V redesign has eliminated the top vents and also now allows the face shield to be opened separately from the rotating visor.

Also, the side attachments for the rotating visor have been modified slightly from the original. Otherwise, the X30 and X30V helmets share a very similar design.

This will be more of a webBikeWorld “Quick Look” than a full helmet review, because the Nexx X30V is very similar in many regards to the Nexx X30 reviewed on webBikeWorld in 2011.

In that review, we described Nexx as a relatively new motorcycle helmet manufacturer. Nexx said that their helmets are made in Portugal in an ISO9001 certified manufacturing facility and sold in over 40 countries, including the U.S.A.

The X30V meets both ECE 22.05 (when sold in Europe) and DOT (U.S.A.) safety standards.

The original X30 was additionally homologated as an ECE full-face helmet, according to Nexx and we assume the same can be said for the X30V (although this has not been confirmed).

Like the X30, the X30V has a unique one-piece helmet base system that includes a narrow chin bar across the front. The rotating visor snaps into this chin bar to form what is likely to be a more robust protective shell than most flip-up helmets.

The X30V improves on the most controversial feature of the X30; the face shield can now be operated separately from the rotating flip-up visor.

However, the X30V eliminates the top vents found on the X30, although this may not be as much of an issue as one might think.

The Nexx X30V: Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality

The Nexx X30 we reviewed in 2011 had an excellent quality paint finish. That helmet was an orange metallic that looked beautiful.

The X30V comes in a narrower (but not more restrained) palette, with white, matte black and a brilliant neon yellow or orange the only colors available. While not confirmed, it seems that the X30V is being superseded by the new Nexx X40 (Preview), albeit at a much higher list price.

The orange metalflake on the X30 we reviewed had what we called a “flawless” surface finish, and the powerful neon orange finish on this X30V could be similarly characterized.

Although it does not have the metallic look, the orange is really, really bright and, as is typical for this color, not accurate represented in these photos because the camera just can’t seem to capture “neon” hues.

Suffice it to say that this has to be one of the most visible colors you will find in a motorcycle helmet!

The overall quality seems a bit higher than we remember from the original X30, although that helmet is long gone from our inventory.

There aren’t many moving parts on the X30V, what with the top vent system having been eliminated, but it could be said that also makes the helmet simpler to operate.

The single large chin vent opens with a “V” shaped button in front, although that button has a somewhat “flabby” feel without a good detent. It works though, and that’s what counts.

Just below the vent button is another that releases the rotating flip-up visor. It has a firm feel in its travel, without much play. The face shield has a solid feel, so no problems there.

The liner is nicely padded and seems better than the original X30, although again, it’s difficult to remember. Like the Nexx X30, the X30V gets a good score for overall good build quality.

Score: The Nexx X30V rates an “Excellent” for the paint, overall finish, quality and liner. See the ratings scale in the summary table at the bottom of this page for a description of the rating system.

We estimated the X30’s internal shape and fit as “mostly round … that tends towards neutral”. Again, not having an X30 on hand makes it difficult to compare, but that description fits — if you’ll pardon the pun — the X30V to a “T”.

The shape is comfortable and it should fit a large majority of head shapes, but narrow or “long oval” heads might want to look elsewhere.

One characteristic that the X30V shares with the X30 — and something we distinctly remember — is the “abbreviated” shell size.

The internal length from front to rear is short; this X30V is a size large and everyone who wears a size large and who tried this helmet mentioned the close fit. That narrow chin bar is…right there.

Apparently the shell dimensions have not been changed from the X30, which probably makes sense because if they were going to completely redesign the shell, they would also have made an entirely new helmet (one would think).

This X30V is a size large and it fits about like a tight large should, with the exception of the shortness mentioned above. The Nexx size chart lists a large as a 59-60 and that sounds correct to us.

The helmet liner and padding actually feels pretty comfortable, with no hard edges poking through. So if the X30V fits you and you can deal with the short internal length, then you’ll probably like it.

Like the X30, the X30V fits some types of eyeglass frames, especially the Randolph Engineering Aviator sunglasses (review) with straight temples.

One more feature inherited from the X30 is the shallow (nearly non-existent) ear pockets, which make it a bit difficult to fit speakers.

Bottom line on fit? We’ll call it a “Neutral” for purposes of categorization, but the X30V tends towards slightly round.

More information on helmet fit can be found in the webBikeWorld Motorcycle Helmet FAQ page, along with the chart that lists the helmet weights of webBikeWorld reviewed helmets and also by shape on the webBikeWorld Motorcycle Helmet Shapes page.

And don’t forget that choosing the correct helmet shape is crucial for both comfort and safety!

Score: The Nexx X30V gets a “Very Good” for comfort and fit and sizing, which runs true. But the slightly smaller internal dimensions may not work for everyone.

Nexx X30V Face Shield, Eye Port, Visibility and Internal Sun Visor

Probably the major difference between the X30V and the X30 is the inclusion of an independent face shield on the former. The X30 was over-the-edge quirky because the face shield was permanently attached to the rotating visor.

You want air? Rotate the entire flip-up visor upwards.

That design was too much for some and, to be frank, fairly universally panned.

The X30V is much more conventional in this regard and the clear face shield rotates through four detents while the flip-up visor is still in its locked position.

The face shield doesn’t have a first defogging position, but the single chin vent is efficient enough to compensate…although the face shield can be opened just slightly and the bottom edge will rest on the gasket to allow a bit more air to flow through.

The rotating flip-up visor then is released via a single center button; hook the thumb underneath and pull the visor upwards.

Don’t forget, the narrow chin bar stays there! The tendency is to try and rotate the visor up from underneath, and nothing happens because the chin bar does not move.

The system feels much more conventional, although that’s a matter of relativity, because the chin bar makes it quite different from most other flip-ups. The chin bar probably helps provide better impact protection, although we haven’t seen the data.

It does seem to add strength to the shell structure, which can be notoriously weak and flimsy in most flip-up helmets.

Nexx doesn’t make any claims about anti-fog treatment on the X30V face shield. The face shield does seem to fog quicker than other types, although once underway, the efficient chin vent seems to clear things up in fairly short order.
The vent isn’t as effective in eliminating fogging, however, when the rider is sitting behind a fairing.

The eye port gasket on this X30V seals completely against the face shield and no water leaked through in our “leak down test” — just like the X30. Since the X30V has no top vents, this might be a good helmet for riding in the rain.

The internal sun visor is a “simple is better” solution; it rotates down with a vertical slider on the left-hand side. It’s about average in terms of its coverage and if it rotate downwards about another 20 mm or so, we’d be more enthusiastic.

It does seem to have good optical qualities, however.

Overall the visibility out the eye port is about average, although the side visibility is very slightly hampered by the angle of the plastic molding on the rotating flip-up visor.

We don’t remember the X30 but the X30V isn’t as bad as we thought it might be.

In fact, the vertical visibility may even be just slightly better than average, but this may be due to the short front-to-back distance, which places the face shield that much closer to the rider’s eyes.

Score: The Nexx X30V gets a “Very Good” rating for visibility and the eye port, rotating visor and face shield assembly.

Not much can be said here — the chin vent works well because it’s centrally located, relatively large and directs the air through clear vent channels into the helmet. But there are no top vents or exhaust vents on the X30V.

In reality, this may make less of a difference than one might think, because most motorcycle ventilation systems are fairly pathetic anyway.

The weather has been around 40 F since the X30V arrived, so it’s not possible to know how it would work in hot summer weather.

Score: A difficult rating due to the non-existent top vents. The chin vent works well, however.

Nexx X30V Sound Levels

The missing top vents have one advantage: the air flows smoothly over the top of the X30V and it’s quiet up there, especially when riding behind a fairing that directs air at the top of the helmet.

This can be a major cause of helmet wind noise, so the smooth top shell of the X30V helps in this regard.

Otherwise, the helmet is fairly quiet, but the short-ish shell size means that some wind and noise can enter from underneath the helmet. The liner fits closely to the ears because there are no ear pockets, and this helps deaden the noise also.

So overall, we’d rate the X30V as quieter than average, but it could be even quieter if it had a deeper shell with more padding around the neck roll.

Note that our helmet evaluations are a combined effort of several riders over time on different types of motorcycles with and without windscreens.

Evaluators wear correctly fitted, high quality ear plugs (even when evaluating motorcycle intercom systems).

Always protect your hearing when riding a motorcycle. See the wBW Earplug Reviews for more information on choosing and wearing earplugs.

Note also that perceived noise levels will vary, depending on the individual.

Noise can be caused by many factors, including helmet fit, the type of motorcycle and windscreen, wind speed and direction and even the rider’s clothing.

For more information on helmet noise, visit the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Noise page.

Score: We’ll give the Nexx X30V an “Excellent” rating for good noise control.

Helmet Weight

The Nexx X30 (review) we reviewed in 2011 was size XL and weighed 1649 grams; reasonable for this type of helmet.

The X30V shown here is a size L and weighs 1607 grams, and that seems consistent and about what we expected.

The X30V shell feels very solid, helped no doubt by that chin bar “strap”. 1607 grams is somewhat lighter than the median weight of 1633 grams.

And since the X30V currently sits as number 76 out of exactly 200 helmets reviewed to date, the weight is just about on par with its ranking also.

The weight feels evenly distributed when riding with the helmet but its shorter shell dimensions make it feel lighter than it is.

Some weight comparisons include the SCHUBERTH C3 DOT (review) in size large at 1603 grams; the Caberg Duke (review) in size large weighs 1633 grams and the Nolan N-104 (review) in size large at 1741 grams. The HJC Sy-Max III (review) in size large weighed in at 1778 grams.

The lightest flip-up helmet ever reviewed on webBikeWorld and one of the lightest motorcycle helmets in the world is the Lazer Monaco (review) weighing in at 1406 grams in size large.

Note also that all of the helmets reviewed on webBikeWorld have been weighed and the weights are available on the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Weights page, along with a chart that lists the helmets by weight and shape on the wBW Motorcycle Helmet Shapes page.

Score: The Nexx X30V gets an “Excellent” rating for reasonable weight with good balance.

Miscellaneous

The X30V uses a “Micro-Metric” quick release chin strap that works reasonably well for this type. The helmet meets DOT safety standards in the U.S.A. and ECE 22.05 in Europe.

The chin strap padding is long enough and nicely padded. The helmet has a two-year warranty in the U.S.A.

Fitting an Intercom to the Nexx X30V

Intercom fitment on the X30V can be a bit of a problem. The molded region around the bottom of the helmet feels like it has the secondary neck roll piece glued inside, making it difficult to slip a metal intercom mounting bracket between the shell and the EPS liner.

But the angular shape of the shell around the lower portion of the helmet also makes the stick-on approach difficult. It will depend on your intercom type and design; smaller is better in this case.

Conclusion

The Nexx X30V is definitely an improvement over the original X30, especially now that the independently operating face shield has been incorporated into the design, which was one of the major drawbacks of the X30.

The helmet feels solid, especially for a flip-up “type” design, but the internal shape and dimensions are tight for some head shapes. If it fits you, it’s comfortable; otherwise, the short front-to-back distance will be a real issue.

It’s unclear how much longer the X30-series will remain in the Nexx helmet lineup, now that the Nexx X40 (Preview) has been announced…although the X40 is still “vaporware” in the U.S.A. as of the date of publication of this review.

And, the X40 is likely to cost much more than the X30, perhaps by as much as a factor of two.

The X30V also seems expensive for what it is. The build quality and finish only goes so far; the still-quirky design will probably mean that this helmet will find a limited audience.