For the last six months, I’ve had the NEXX X.VILIJORD ZERO PRO as my go-to modular adventure lid for all things adventure, open road and even the daily commute. It goes without saying, that I’ve now welcomed this handmade Portuguese helmet to my helmet lineup and have been impressed with how it stacks up against the elements and the competition.
We’ve made our first impressions of the X.VILIJORD and we’ve dived deep into how NEXX manufacture their helmets, but with a few months quite literally, on my head, what do I think the X.VILIJORD offers riders for the long haul and is it worth its price tag?
It’s 2024 and the market is flooded with helmets and in particular, a lot of affordable ones. Whilst being happy about more affordable helmets entering the market and being put through the same DOT and new ECE 22.06 safety tests, top-of-the-range helmets stay top of the range in my books. You may be asking the question, if all helmets go through the same safety tests, then why should you still consider buying a “premium” helmet?
While the safety of a helmet used to be the beginning and the end of all helmet purchasing conversations and also the main determining factor of whether a helmet was premium or not, today this is no longer the case. Today’s determining factors of whether a helmet is a premium helmet or not have to do with shell weight, material used, ventilation, aerodynamics, noise insulation, fit and finish, and what kind of extra features the helmet has to offer.
We know the X.VILIJORD is packed with features; an internal sun visor, accommodation for intercom fitment and speakers (NEXX X-Com), pin-lock ready, one-piece headliner, action camera mounts and an extended clip-on peak. A mouth full I know, but it just goes to show that NEXX have kept vloggers and adventure riders in mind and again the X.VILIJORD is a modular helmet, so add that to the already long list of features.
On the head, the X.VILIJORD in a size medium weighs a respectable amount considering the fact that modular helmets are a little heavier than normal adventure helmets. With the Zero Pro being part of the X.VILIJORD’s carbon range it brings the weight down to 1650 grams and with its aerodynamic shape and flexible peak this NEXX acts and feels like a much lighter non-modular helmet when the speeds pick up.
With NEXX helmets having a neutral oval internal shape it allows for varying head shapes to suit the shell, even my medium-sized work colleagues Dave and Harry fitted perfectly into the Zero Pro. The X.VILIJORD isn’t the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever worn as the interior isn’t thickly padded like what I’m used to, but it’s not uncomfortable either. Where it scores some points back is on the finishing of the interior and on this test helmet the orange stitching and extremely good insulation from the chin and neck curtain. This winter I could swear this is the best insulated and warm helmet I’ve ever ridden with and it also cuts out plenty of wind and road noise. This is one of my favourite qualities of the X.VILIJORD.
I’ve heard and watched a few overseas journalists complain about the visor and ventilation of the X.VILIJORD and I have to somewhat disagree. Yes, in summer if you don’t open the chin and head vents and also the rear exhaust vents it can get a little toasty so just keep everything wide open in summer. As for winter, however, this has been the best-insulated helmet I’ve ever tested. You close a vent and it shuts, unlike most and if not all other helmets that I’ve tested. Even the visor shuts out all wind from entering the helmet and you do feel an immediate change in ventilation from one duct to the other as you open them.
My most annoying pet peeve about most adventure helmets that I’ve owned especially my Bell MX9, which is still in my opinion the best budget adventure helmet you can buy. The Bell lets in dust for nothing and the vents cannot be closed so goggles are a must for adventure group rides. On the other hand, the X.VILIJORD works like a treat, ok you have to deal with very little ventilation if you want to keep the dust out, but if you take the lead or ride solo you can do so without any issues or any need to carry moto goggles.
Open road riding is also a treat with the flexible peak taking all pressure off the neck and keeping those wind Tourette’s at bay. I did try taking off the peak but this gets rid of the X.VILIJORD’s modular functions and I didn’t find it necessary for the tar road rides between adventure trails.
Just like other premium brands on the market (Arai, Shoei and Schuberth) the NEXX X.VILIJORD is a helmet for those who want to travel with a little less road noise, have all the creature comforts and have a helmet that matches the quality of the latest high-quality motorcycles on the market. NEXX has thought of it all, from designing, building, fitting, riding and servicing.
To sum up. The NEXX X.VILIJORD ZERO PRO helmet is a quality modular helmet with all the bells and whistles that you can think of. It is lighter than its peers and the overall fit and finish are excellent. It is obvious that a lot of thought went into its design.
At a recommended retail price of R11,895, it compares very favourably with its premier quality peers. If you are in the market for a new modular helmet then NEXX and the X.VILIJORD ZERO PRO should be on your shopping list as it gets a big thumbs up from us.
NEXX X.VILIJORD ZERO PRO
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