Head-to-head · Best Motorcycle Helmets Under $300

Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS vs Scorpion EXO-R420

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS and Scorpion EXO-R420 score essentially the same (4.1 vs 4.1). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #4 in Best Motorcycle Helmets Under $300

Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS

4.1

2 sourcesall derived$160as of Aug 1

MIPS rotational protection plus ECE 22.06 and DOT certification on a dual-sport lid that streets around $250 and often dips to $200 makes the Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS the best budget adventure helmet in this group. RevZilla owners rate it 4/5 across 98 reviews, and reviewers call it the best balance for off-road and on-road riding among budget ADV helmets, plus the quietest budget adventure helmet tested under $250. The lightweight polycarbonate shell goes easy on the neck. A fixed peak and always-open vents are the main compromises, but as an affordable do-it-all ADV helmet from a major brand it has no real rival here.

Strengths

— MIPS rotational protection plus ECE 22.06 and DOT certification on a budget ADV helmet
— Lightweight polycarbonate shell, around 1500-1700 g, easy on the neck off-road
— Versatile dual-sport design with a peak and a full face shield for on- and off-road use

Watch-outs

— Fixed (though removable) peak, with no on-the-fly adjustment
— Always-open chimney vents let rain leak inside in heavy downpours
— Air can pass through closed vents at speed, chilling the face

$160 · Buy at blackhillsmoto.com Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Motorcycle Helmets Under $300

Scorpion EXO-R420

4.1

2 sourcesall derived$150as of May 26

Safety comes first with the Scorpion EXO-R420, one of the rare sub-$200 full-face helmets carrying Snell M2015 certification on top of the mandatory DOT approval. webBikeWorld rated it 4/5 and RevZilla owners 4.5/5 across more than 800 reviews, with praise for a genuinely deep feature set: EQRS emergency release, the EverClear anti-fog shield, the tool-free Ellip-Tec II shield swap and efficient ventilation. Snell-grade protection costs weight; at nearly 3 lb 14 oz this is the heaviest helmet here. For maximum crash certification at a low price, the EXO-R420 sets the benchmark.

Strengths

— Carries Snell M2015 certification on top of DOT, rare at this price
— Ellip-Tec II tool-free shield swap with a secure center-locking latch
— EQRS emergency cheek-pad release for safer helmet removal after a crash

Watch-outs

— Heavy at around 3 lb 14 oz for a size large polycarbonate shell
— Standard shield is not Pinlock-ready
— Shell can lift slightly at sustained highway speeds above 60 mph

$150 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS

The Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS is the dedicated dual-sport helmet of this group, the only one with a peak for off-road use, where the Bell Qualifier DLX MIPS and Scorpion EXO-R420 are street full-faces and the HJC IS-MAX II is a modular. Like the Qualifier it includes MIPS, which the Scorpion and HJC C10 lack. It is heavier and bulkier than the pure street lids but lighter than many adventure helmets, and it shares the budget-brand value of the HJC C10.

Scorpion EXO-R420

The Scorpion EXO-R420 is the safety-maximalist pick, the only helmet here with Snell certification on top of DOT, where the Bell Qualifier DLX MIPS instead offers MIPS and the HJC C10 carries the latest ECE rating. It is a pure street full-face, not an adventure helmet like the Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS or a modular like the HJC IS-MAX II. Its main downside versus the lighter Qualifier is weight, the price of its Snell-grade polycarbonate shell.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS	Scorpion EXO-R420
Type	Adventure / dual-sport	Full-face
Safety Rating	DOT, ECE 22.06, MIPS	DOT, Snell M2015
Shell	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate
Peak	Fixed, removable	—
Shield	Full face with peak	Ellip-Tec II, EverClear no-fog
Ventilation	Mouth, top and jaw vents	—
Closure	Double D-ring	Double D-ring
Dimensions	18 x 12 x 12 inches; 3.75 pounds	—
Weight	—	3 lb 14 oz (L)
Safety Feature	—	EQRS emergency release
Extras	—	Speaker pockets

← See the full ranking of best motorcycle helmets under $300