Nexx X.R3R Helmet Review: Bridging Track and Street
Sebastian Staelens
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An FIM-rated street helmet for sportbike riders? Color me cautious but I was excited to try out the Nexx XR3R.
As a street rider who also enjoys racing, I’m always looking for a lid that can balance comfort and quiet with light weight and aerodynamic performance. Wearing a racing helmet on the street is liable to throw a headache my way, but wearing a street helmet on the track is a recipe for disaster.
The Nexx XR3R might just bridge that gap.
I picked up the XR3R X-Pro Carbon version while in Europe and put it through its paces with street runs and track sessions, both in European winter and Thailand’s hot and humid tropical summer.
What immediately impressed me about the XR3R is its solid construction. Available in both Nexx’s standard X-Matrix (fiberglass, aramid fibers, and carbon reinforcement) construction and a lighter, more expensive X-Pro Carbon (full carbon fiber). The shell feels robust despite its light weight. The overall build quality is excellent, with precise stitching and tight seams that reflect meticulous attention to detail.
I was also able to confirm with Nexx that while only one specific model of the XR3R (the PRO FIM EVO) carries the official FIM certification for racing, all the other colorways and variants of the XR3R are built to the same exacting standards. The Carbon version I use regularly now also has the same full carbon fiber shell as the FIM variant. But mine, and the other composite variants, simply didn’t go through the testing process to get the FIM sticker.
Now this lid is packed with fancy “features” you can read about on the product page to your heart’s content, so I want to focus this review on what those features actually deliver for us riders.
Standard 
|
Carbon 
|
$549.99
| $749.99
|
|
|
- Ideal for street and track
- Quiet, snug, and comfortable
- Removable rear spoiler
- Wide viewport
- Passed ECE 22.06, with an FIM version
- Full carbon fiber shell for reduced weight and better impact proteciton
- Ideal for street and track
- Quiet, snug, and comfortable - with adaptive crown system and cheek pad inserts for custom fit
- Removable rear spoiler
- Wide viewport
- Passed ECE 22.06, with an FIM version
One thing I should say up front is if you’re not familiar with Nexx, they are a relatively new helmet maker based in Portugal, but all their helmets are completely produced in Europe. Unlike many helmet manufacturers who build in China, just to slap the sticker on in the EU and say “We’re European!”
Let’s get into it.
What to Love
There is a lot to love about the Nexx XR3R, especially when it comes to weight, visibility, ventilation, comfort, and safety. This lid’s blend of track-ready performance and street-friendly comfort will make you rethink what you need – and expect – from a helmet.
Weight and Aerodynamic Perfection
One of the Nexx XR3R’s most impressive attributes is its featherweight design, particularly in the carbon fiber variant, which tips the scales at just under 3 lbs (1350 grams). This makes it one of the lightest helmets in its class, and the benefits are immediately noticeable, whether you’re carving corners on a track day or logging hours on a cross-city ride. The reduced weight minimizes neck strain and reduces rider fatigue, letting you stay focused and comfortable for longer stretches.
What I love about this helmet’s lightness, however, is that it doesn’t come at the expense of comfort – which I’ll go into more detail on later. The light weight is down to Nexx’s X-Matrix 2 composite shell—comprising multiaxial fiberglass, 3D organic fibers, aramid, and carbon reinforcement—which gives excellent impact dispersion (needed to pass ECE 22.06 and FIM in the PRO FIM EVO variant) without much weight.
For context, the weight of the full carbon fiber version (1350g) even edges out some of its closest competitors (all figures +/- 50g depending on helmet size)
- Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Carbon: 1380g
- KYT KX-1 Race GP: 1400g
- Shoei X-SPR Pro: 1450g
- AGV Pista GP RR: 1450g
- HJC RPHA 1: 1450g
- Alpinestars Supertech R10: 1540g
Now are you going to feel an extra 100g? Maybe not, but especially for longer street rides, fatigue from a heavier helmet does build up over time.
But weight distribution is also a major factor in how the weight is felt, and after six months of riding in this lid in all conditions, I can say the XR3R feels perfectly balanced: no sense of being top-heavy or unstable. Much of that may also be down to the aerodynamics, which the Nexx team I’m sure spent painstaking hours in the wind tunnel to get just right.
The XR3R excels in this area, exceeding my expectations for stability and drag reduction. Nexx boasts that the XR3R is weightless at 160 km/h which they’ve achieved with some impressive aerodynamic black magic sorcery, eliminating buffeting and pressure pushing the helmet into your face.
I tested the helmet at speeds exceeding 250 km/h, and the stability was superb. No excessive pressure or buffeting was noticeable when popping my head out of tuck heading into braking zones.
Visibility: A Wide-Open View for Any Ride
Eye ports always seem to be a trade-off for track helmets. Thin eye ports are an acceptable trade-off for more safety on the track, but once you hit the street they make zero sense. Inhibiting your ability to see the traffic around you vastly increases your chances of a crash, negating any safety benefits you get from a bit of extra EPS foam. Maintaining that situational awareness of traffic was something my outgoing Shoei X-Fourteen was not great at.
The XR3R again breaks the mold here, with even the FIM-rated version of this lid featuring a panoramic visor with 225° horizontal and 85° vertical field of view. You get a Pinlock in the box to keep fog at bay, and posts for tearoffs. The Carbon and FIM variants ship with both smoked/colored face shields and clear ones. Switching visors is a breeze, with a simple tool-less mechanism allowing for quick changes between clear and tinted options.
Everything about the visor and the eye port feel as premium as a Shoei or Arai as well; the visor detents are deep and hold the visor open at different positions, even at speed. The visor also has a locking mechanism to hold it down when you’re ripping it on the… track, of course.
Nexx also makes a fuss about their “anti-vibration rubber visor plate” but I have to say they deliver – the visor seals down tight, which is not only helpful for keeping wind noise at bay but it contributes to a feeling of stability in the helmet so you have one less thing distracting you at extreme speeds.
Ventilation: Keeping a Cool Head, Even in Thailand
Nexx has nailed the ventilation on the X.R3R.
Six adjustable intake vents on the chin bar, forehead, and top of the head feed into large channels in the EPS foam creating a strong pull of air over the top of your head, aided by the sizable exhaust vents being right in the airstream by the spoiler at the rear. And the vents are easy to operate with gloves on, a detail often overlooked.
By the way, that spoiler? It can be easily removed with just three screws – no adhesive keeping it on permanently.
I had a chance to thoroughly test the ventilation in Thailand; if you haven’t ridden a sportbike in 40°C+ (104°F) with 100% humidity, just know that you’re gonna get wet. Unless you’re wearing the XR3R.
The moisture-wicking X-MART Dry padding paired with a super breathable mesh at the crown worked incredibly well at managing heat and moisture, keeping my head cool up to those blazing temps. That mesh at the crown was noticeable for the airflow it created, allowing air coming through the vents to flow between my head and the EPS.
This works together with the air channels in the EPS to provide excellent ventilation, I never noticed the helmet being wet or moist with sweat even after being stuck in rush hour traffic in Chiang Mai. The entire liner is removable and washable of course, making it easy to keep things fresh.
That said, the vents feel oddly cheap for a helmet of this caliber. I will go into more detail on that later.
Safety: Certified to the Max
Lucky for me, I didn’t crash in this helmet and was unable to put its certifications to the test of reality. But it’s worth mentioning that the Nexx XR3R, in all its variants, passes the latest ECE 22.06 regulations for European helmets which introduced new tests for high-velocity impacts, rotational forces, and low-speed drops. It’s also DOT-certified, making it street-legal in the USA.
As I mentioned earlier, there is even an FIM-rated variant – FIM being the highest safety certification helmets can pass, derived from racing requirements used in MotoGP and other major motorcycle racing leagues.
But the best part is the cheapest XR3R, which is less than $600, is almost exactly the same as the FIM-rated variant which is $800+. The only difference is in the shell’s materials – the FIM-rated helmet is full carbon fiber, whereas the standard XR3R is a mix of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and “3D organic fibers”.
Nexx went beyond the certifications to design practical safety solutions as well, like a five-layer EPS foam for better impact absorption (two-layer is the industry standard) and an emergency strap system that allows medical personnel to quickly tear out the cheek pads and remove the helmet with minimal neck movement.
All this adds to peace of mind for track days, spirited rides, and daily commutes alike. Stay safe out there.
Durability: This is NOT a Cheap Helmet
The XR3R initially impressed me with its build quality, but it’s hard to tell without significant use how well that construction will hold up over time: especially with rigorous track use.
After six months of regularly riding in this helmet, it’s apparent to me that it will take a LOT to wear down this helmet. The visor shows no signs of wear (Nexx says it’s “anti-scratch”), the visor mechanism holds up fine with no indication of wear, and the hinge still works perfectly after swapping out visors multiple times a week.
The liner has held up well and seems like it will last the lifetime of the helmet, with no signs of premature wear and tear. The padding hasn’t deformed and holds its shape and cushioning even after breaking it in.
Every Nexx helmet (including their new X.Wed3 ADV helmet) has this kind of build quality and durability, in my experience.
Comfort, Customization, and the Magical Chin Strap
Fit is a tricky tightrope to walk in a sport/track helmet: you want a lid that’s snug when you’re hitting the track, but you also don’t want to feel like you’ve forced your head into a vice grip just to go across town for lunch.
What I love about the XR3R when it comes to fit is they allow customization with extra foam inserts included in the box for the cheek pads. Slide a few extra in for the track, and take them out for casual rides. The liner also features an adjustable strap at the top of the helmet letting you adjust how high/low the helmet sits on your head. Even after long sessions on track or on spirited street rides, the X.R3R remained comfortable, with no pressure points, discomfort, or neck strain.
The XR3R has an intermediate oval fit, so it should fit most Western riders immediately, though the adjustable liner will help if your head shape doesn’t fit this lid right out of the box.
The final little thing I love about the XR3R: the magnetic chin strap lock.
This helmet has the classic and time-tested double-D ring chin strap, but what truly sets it apart is the magnetic X-Lock buckle, admittedly one of my favorite features. This innovative system replaces the traditional mechanical button found on other helmets, making the final fastening of the chin strap incredibly easy, even with gloves on. Simply bring the two ends together, and the magnets effortlessly guide them into place with a satisfying click.
Now let’s get into my gripes with this helmet…
What Not to Love
I have a few, admittedly minor, gripes with this helmet. Overall I find this is better than most track helmets for track riding, and better than most street helmets for street riding – it really does bridge the two domains in one high-quality package. That said:
Flimsy Vents
While the XR3R’s shell construction exudes premium quality, the plastic vents fall short in comparison. They’re functional and provide effective airflow, but they lack the high-end feel you’d expect from a helmet at this price point. Competing helmets like the HJC RPHA series feature more robust, polished vent designs that better match their overall build quality.
They’re easy to open and close with a gloved hand, but they just don’t feel solid.
Cheek Pad Locks
Unlike the conventional button-click system used by most manufacturers to lock in cheek pads, the XR3R employs a slide-in design that can be somewhat challenging to get used to. Might be part of their design philosophy around emergency release pads, however.
Fiddly Visor Lock
The visor’s double-locking mechanism provides excellent security, ensuring it stays closed at high speeds. However, operating it with gloves can be a bit tricky.
It’s important to keep in mind this is a track and spirited street riding helmet. So when I say it’s quiet, I’m comparing it to similar lids. If you’re looking for a touring helmet, this one might not be it.
Comparisons
AGV Pista GP RR
The AGV Pista GP RR is a track-focused juggernaut with FIM certification, making it a favorite among professional racers. While the Pista GP RR offers comparable aerodynamics and safety certifications to the XR3R, it falls short in terms of versatility. The AGV excels on the track but sacrifices street-friendly features like ventilation tailored for stop-and-go traffic or a liner designed for extended comfort.
The XR3R, on the other hand, bridges the gap between track and street. At 1350 grams, the XR3R carbon fiber model is slightly lighter than the Pista GP RR’s 1450 grams, reducing neck strain on longer rides. It also boasts a wider field of vision, thanks to its 225° horizontal and 85° vertical eye port, which gives riders better peripheral awareness. For riders seeking a helmet that performs on the track but doesn’t compromise on daily practicality, the XR3R edges ahead.
- 100% Carbon fiber
- 4 shell sizes
- 100% Max Vision Pinlock (120) included
- Anti-scratch face shield
- Patented visor lock system
Shoei X-15
Shoei’s new X-15 (known as the Shoei X-SPR Pro in Europe) is another FIM-certified contender designed for serious track riders. Known for its excellent build quality and aerodynamic stability, the X-15 holds its own at high speeds and is a formidable upgrade to the X-14. However, at 1450 grams, it’s noticeably heavier than the XR3R, which may lead to more fatigue during extended use.
In terms of visibility, the XR3R offers a more expansive field of view, providing a critical advantage for riders who prioritize situational awareness. While the X-15’s fit is solid and comfortable, it lacks the same level of customization found in the XR3R, such as adjustable cheek pads and the adaptive crown system. A Shoei service center might be able to get you that custom fit, but it’s not a DIY job.
- Aerodynamic shell reduces drag and lift.
- AIM+ material ensures strength and impact absorption.
- Enhanced ventilation with 7 intakes and 6 outlets.
- Lightweight, compact design with 4 shell sizes.
- Hydration system and cheek pad cooling included.
Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Carbon
The Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Carbon is one of the XR3R’s closest competitors in terms of weight, coming in at 1380 grams. It shares the XR3R’s focus on lightweight construction and aerodynamic efficiency, making it a strong contender for track enthusiasts.
However, the XR3R takes the lead with its X-Mart Dry liner, which offers superior moisture-wicking and comfort compared to the Scorpion’s more basic interior padding. The XR3R also edges ahead in ventilation, with a more sophisticated system of six intake and four exhaust vents that keep riders cool in extreme conditions. The EXO-R1 Air Carbon is an excellent helmet for its price, but the XR3R’s additional comfort and customization options make it a more compelling choice for riders who split time between the track and the street.
- Lightweight, strong TCT-U shell.
- Advanced ventilation with ram-air system.
- Pinlock-ready UV-protective face shields.
- Custom AirFit and washable liner.
- Bluetooth-ready, EMT-friendly cheek pads.
Alpinestars Supertech R10
The Alpinestars Supertech R10 is a newcomer to the premium racing helmet market, designed exclusively for track use. Its focus on aerodynamic efficiency and advanced safety features makes it a solid pick for racers, but its weight—1540 grams—puts it at a disadvantage compared to the featherlight XR3R.
While the Supertech R10 excels in stability and safety, it lacks the street-friendly versatility of the XR3R and the supreme build quality. With its adjustable fit system, X-Mart Dry liner, and Pinlock-ready face shield, the XR3R also offers features that cater to both performance-focused and practical riders. The XR3R provides excellent value for those seeking a high-performance helmet that doesn’t feel out of place on city streets.
- Lightweight carbon composite shell.
- Aerodynamic spoilers reduce drag.
- Wide 220° vision with Pinlock lens.
- 11 ventilation ports for airflow.
- Custom fit and emergency cheek pad release.
A Marriage of Street and Track
The Nexx XR3R is perfect for the rider who wants a high-quality helmet for both street and track but doesn’t want to shell out for two lids. Nexx somehow managed to compromise essentially nothing for street or track use while making a helmet that competes with pure street helmets and pure track helmets. Genius.
Oh, and Nexx cut out speaker pockets in the EPS foam so you can easily slide in a comms unit, like the Cardo Freecom 4X I’m using.
Keep in mind that Nexx also includes a 5-year warranty with every fully-European-made helmet they sell, a testament to their confidence in their manufacturing standards.
Check out the regular and Carbon variants at the links below – and there are several more colorways if you search Nexx XR3R on Revzilla or Amazon. And you can pick up the FIM variant here.
Standard
|
Carbon
|
$549.99
| $749.99
|
|
|
- Ideal for street and track
- Quiet, snug, and comfortable
- Removable rear spoiler
- Wide viewport
- Passed ECE 22.06, with an FIM version
- Full carbon fiber shell for reduced weight and better impact proteciton
- Ideal for street and track
- Quiet, snug, and comfortable - with adaptive crown system and cheek pad inserts for custom fit
- Removable rear spoiler
- Wide viewport
- Passed ECE 22.06, with an FIM version