It’s been more than two decades since the motorcycle helmet manufacturer Nolan first introduced its N100 flip-up helmet in 1998. Now, Nolan has come a long way and has improved upon the design that led to the N101, N102, N103, N104 (Evo), and now N100-5. The Nolan N100-5 motorcycle helmet is considered the upgrade version of Nolan’s most successful N104 modular helmet. Funny thing is, the Nolan N100-5 is the long-awaited successor, and it is not called the N105 but is named the Nolan N100-5. But, if we put that aside, the helmet comes with some serious features that will amaze you. That’s for sure! Here, we are going to discuss the key features of the Nolan N100-5 modular motorcycle helmet and review it against its predecessor the Nolan N104 helmet.
Let’s find out if the Nolan N100-5 is really the successor of the Nolan N104 or just an update with some minor improvements. Also, we’ll tell you where this helmet stands among other best modular motorcycle helmets.
Nolan N100-5 Consistency Helmet Review
The Nolan N100-5 is the new top-of-the-line modular helmet engineered by Nolan. Its key features include Nolan’s Lexan technology in its outer shell, which offers maximum comfort and performance, the Air Booster technology for ventilation, and an internal sun visor with 4 different positions. In short, this is the helmet for daily commuters who stop for gas and traffic lights and flip-up to talk when necessary.
Shell Design & Protection
Nolan has used the same Lexan Polycarbonate shell with the Nolan N100-5, which is already used with the Nolan N104 EVO helmet. It is said that the Lexan technology of Nolan is superior to ordinary thermoplastics. This addition made the outer shell more compact than before, ensuring better aerodynamics and aesthetics. This compactness comes in two shell sizes for a better fit for each size. The inner EPS liner is fixed to the LEXAN polycarbonate shell. With this, Nolan has almost eliminated the creaking sound that comes while putting on a modular helmet.
One thing that makes the Nolan N100-5 stand out in the category of modular helmets is its elliptical motion chin guard. Generally, motorcyclists complain about the bulkiness of modular helmets, while using in an open position. But, Nolan has overcome this with its innovative chin bar rotational system.
Nolan’s N100-5 is equipped with a Dual Action chin guard opening system. This system facilitates the smooth opening of the chin guard with a single hand, even with your motorycle gloves on, thanks to its center button mechanism. When you push the button to open the chin guard, you will notice that the chin guard is moving in an elliptical trajectory. This motion allows the total size of the helmet in front to be as minimal as possible. Once you’ve raised it to the top, you can lock the chin bar by using a small drive on the left side. This locking mechanism allows you to ride with maximum safety even at high-speed. Besides, a stable chin guard at the top will offer less drag and wind resistance.
The good thing is that you won’t be fined for riding in a flipped-up position because just like its predecessor the Nolan N100-5 is a P/J ECE 22.05 approved motorcycle helmet. You know what that means, right? It means the helmet is completely legal with the chin piece in both the open and the closed positions.
Face Shield & Visor
The Nolan N100-5 helmet is equipped with the Ultra-wide face shield, which offers a large field of vision. Before the Nolan N100-5 helmet, it was the Nolan N104, which offered such a massive field of vision but Nolan used the same face shield in the Nolan N100-5 motorcycle flip-up helmet. That massive field of vision will ensure you cover more area while riding on the roads. This modular helmet is suitable for both winter and summer motorcycle riding. Touring riders who need protection from harmful UV rays can take the benefits of Nolan’s Vision Protection System (VPS) with UV 400 nanometers protection. This VPS inner sun shield can block harmful UV rays whenever needed. The lens is scratch-resistant and fog-resistant. The VPS lens is molded from LEXAN and positioned inside the helmet.
The helmet offers a Pin-lock fog-resistant inner visor, which ensures your field of vision isn’t compromised due to thick fog and you have a clear field of vision while riding. In comparison with the Nolan N104, the peripheral vision is almost the same, except the UV 400 Protection, which is certainly an advantage with the Nolan N100-5 helmet. In short, the sun visor and the Pin-lock fog-resistant inner visor both are optically good for riding. One will have the benefit of getting both visor types in a single helmet.
Ventilation & Noise Levels
The Nolan N100-5 has Nolan’s exclusive Air Booster Technology, which ensures the optimal ventilation where a motorcyclist needs it most. First, let’s talk about the forehead vents where this Air Booster Technology resides. The upper ventilation system has two intake vents that allow cool air inflow through the forehead inlet inside the EPS and passes through the top area of the head. The forehead inlets are quite wide and will allow cool air to pass with a slider that can be adjusted even with a gloved hand. Credit goes to the glue that Nolan incorporated in this helmet, allowing riders to channel with a gloved hand and in wet conditions.
Once cool air passes through the inlet, the existing hot air is exited from the rear extractor that’s integrated into the spoiler itself, to regulate the airflow inside the helmet. The slider used to channel the air inflow can be beneficial in winter and summer riding where one can adjust accordingly. Also, you can avoid unnecessary noise by channeling the airflow.
Its predecessor, the Nolan N104 has the same ventilation system except for the number of vents to maintain airflow inside the helmet. It looks like Nolan considered providing the same ventilation system technology by keeping the noise as minimum as possible. Because, given the forehead ventilation, the channeling vents of Nolan N100-5 make it very easy to have optimal airflow by maintaining the noise level as low as possible.
However, the lower chin vent is exactly the same as it is in the Nolan N104 motorcycle helmet. The air intake chin guard vent allows cool air to pass inside to its face shield.
Inner Comfort Level
The LEXAN outer shell, scratch-resistant face shield, and the Pin-lock Ready anti-fog insert aren’t the only features that make the Nolan N100-5 popular among touring riders.
This modular helmet consists of several other features that make it one of the best modular motorcycle helmets on the market. One of the top features is its inner comfort liner, which is a ClimaComfort liner with channels.
The cheek pads are totally washable and removable. These single-block cheek pads are completely eyewear comfortable and accommodate eyeglasses.
This padding, which is inserted in the Nolan N100-5, is made of a micro-perforated double density fabric that not only dissipates sweat but also offers greater comfort to the rider in different climate conditions. And the good thing is that you can remove the cheek pads anytime and wash accordingly.
According to Nolan, the N100-5 has a removable and washable neck roll, which also has reflective inserts ensuring you are completely visible at night or in low-light conditions. But, this neck roll is much more than that. One can adjust the neck roll according to your riding position.
If you are riding in summer, you can just dismantle this neck roll to circulate more airflow during hot, sunny days.
Extra Features
For additional safety, Nolan equipped the N100-5 helmet with the Micro lock, double lever chin strap retention system.
Apart from this, it facilitates the pre-installation N-Com Communication System. It isn’t included with the helmet and you have to purchase it separately if you want a Bluetooth for your motorcycle helmet. But, the speaker pockets are already available and perfectly integrated into the helmet.
Nolan N100-5 Video Review
Final Verdict:
| Safety | |
| Airflow | |
| Comfort | |
| Noise | |
| Value |
In a nutshell, the Nolan N100-5 is a very versatile helmet that can be placed on a list of the top 10 modular helmets (if there is one).
This helmet is engineered with all the features that one requires to ride in the countryside or in urban environments in different climate conditions. Plus, it comes in numerous designs and prints. If you decide on the Nolan N100-5 helmet, then you won’t need to keep another helmet.
The Nolan N100-5 is a mid-range modular helmet, which is suited for most riders, especially touring riders. The above review indicates that this helmet is certainly good value for the money.
Nolan N100-5 Helmet
Pros: Air Booster Technology, LEXAN polycarbonate shell, VPS w/ 400 UV Protection, Clima Comfort Liner
Cons: Size runs too small
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