The X.R5R is the new top racing helmet from Nexx, on sale since late October 2026, and Plain Black Matt is its most stripped-back version. A matt black shell, red Nexx lettering on the side and at the back, a dark visor in the photo, nothing else. Under the paint it is the X-Matrix 2 composite variant of the X.R5R: about 1,475 g, four shell sizes, eight intakes and five exhausts, the new X-Race visor lock, a spoiler that extends by up to 20 mm without tools and a chin mount for an action camera in the box. Approved to ECE 22.06.

About the Plain Black Matt finish

Plain means exactly that: no graphic, no stripes, no number boards. The shell is painted in matt black, and the only colour is the red of the Nexx logo, which runs vertically down the side behind the visor and appears again near the spoiler and at the lower edge of the chin. Those small red touches stop the helmet from looking like a blank, and they suit red frames, red stitching on leathers or simply an all-black kit.

On the road, matt black is easy to live with. It does not show swirl marks, and fine scrapes blend into the surface. It cannot be polished, though, and anything abrasive will leave a shiny patch. Clean it with lukewarm water, a little mild soap and a microfibre cloth, and lift insect remains off after soaking rather than scrubbing. A black shell gets warm when it sits in the sun, so keep it in the shade between sessions.

What is new on the X.R5R

The X.R5R is not a facelift of the X.R3R. Nexx redesigned the shell, moved to four shell sizes instead of three, and developed a more compact visor mechanism with three intermediate positions and a locking system called X-Race, which holds the visor shut at high speed. The spoiler extension now slides in and can be lengthened by up to 20 mm without tools. Ventilation grew to eight intakes and five exhausts, including air channels through the cheek pads. And the helmet gained features usually bought separately: a 360° chin camera mount and straps to guide a hydration tube. According to the launch coverage, every plastic part on the helmet is available as a replacement.

X-Matrix 2 or X-PRO Carbon

Both versions share the shape, the four shells, the ventilation and the visor system. The carbon models save about 150 g and come with the higher-grade Pinlock 200 XLT and a racing bag. The X-Matrix 2 shell is a laminate of several fibre layers laid in different directions; Nexx also uses it on other helmets, the X.WST3 among them. Neither version is FIM homologated.

Four shells for seven sizes

Nexx builds the X.R5R in four outer shells: XXS-S, M, L and XL-XXL. That is one more than on the X.R3R, and it means sizes M and L each get a shell of their own, the two sizes most riders wear. The result is a helmet that stays compact on the head and does not sit high or wide. Nexx makes sizes XXS to XXL; we offer XS to XXL.

360° Custom Fit and glasses

The interior uses interchangeable pads, which Nexx calls 360° Custom Fit, to tune the fit around the crown and cheeks. The X-Mart Dry fabric comes out completely and can be washed. The instruction manual describes the helmet as suitable for glasses, which is not a given in a racing helmet. The cheek pads have an emergency release for first responders, and the shell carries night-vision reflectors.

Eight intakes, five exhausts

Fresh air enters through eight openings, including dedicated chin vents and the top vents, both of which can be closed. A further path runs through the cheek pads, an unusual detail that helps on slow laps and in traffic. Warm air leaves through five exhausts at the back. Behind the liner, the Air Cumbs chamber spreads the flow across the head. Nexx does not publish a ventilation test, so we describe the layout rather than rating it.

X-Race visor lock

The Recoil visor of the X.R5R runs on a mechanism that Nexx describes as smaller than before. It has three intermediate positions for fine control of airflow at low speed and the X-Race lock, which keeps the visor from being pushed open by wind pressure. The visor is prepared for tear-offs and comes with a Pinlock 120 XLT MaxVision anti-fog lens. A second visor is included, though Nexx does not specify its tint, and the dark visor in the photo should not be read as a promise.

Extendable spoiler

At the rear, the spoiler can be lengthened by up to 20 mm, by hand and without tools, using the supplied extensor. A longer spoiler helps keep the helmet steady when you are tucked behind the screen at speed; a shorter one suits a more upright position. You can adjust it at the circuit between sessions.

Camera, hydration and intercom

The X.R5R ships with a chin camera mount that rotates through 360° and locks in four positions, a cleaner solution than a stick-on mount on the side of the shell. Integrated X-Hidro straps guide the tube of a hydration pack to your mouth, useful on long stints and in endurance events. The shell is universal intercom ready for aftermarket systems.

ECE 22.06, briefly

Every new road helmet sold in the EU since 2024 must hold ECE 22.06. It adds impact points, speeds and an oblique impact test to measure rotation, and it checks the visor and fitted accessories as part of the helmet. The X.R5R Plain holds this approval; Nexx lists further marks for other markets.

What does not carry over, and other limits

X.R3R visors, Pinlocks and spoiler parts do not fit the X.R5R: the visor mechanism, the spoiler mount and the shell sizes are all different, and Nexx has not yet published X.R5R accessories. There is no sun visor. There is no FIM homologation. The helmet is brand new, so there are no independent tests or star ratings yet, and we do not quote a noise figure. A helmet bag is not part of the box contents we list.

In the box

• 1x helmet (X-Matrix 2 multi-composite, four shell sizes)
• 1x Pinlock 120 XLT MaxVision anti-fog lens
• 1x fitted visor + 1x second visor
• 1x spoiler extensor (tool-free, up to 20 mm)
• 1x chin action-camera mount; wind deflector

Specification

• Helmet type — Full-face racing helmet, rear spoiler with tool-free extension up to 20 mm
• Certification — ECE 22.06
• Shell — X-Matrix 2 multi-composite fibre, 4 shell sizes (XXS-S / M / L / XL-XXL)
• Weight — approx. 1,475 g ± 50 g
• Retention — Double D-ring with X-Lock magnetic strap holder
• Visor — Recoil visor system, X-Race visor lock, 3 intermediate positions, prepared for tear-offs, Pinlock 120 XLT MaxVision included
• Protection — Emergency cheek-pad release, night-vision reflectors
• Interior — 360° Custom Fit with interchangeable pads, X-Mart Dry fabric, removable and washable, glasses-friendly
• Ventilation — 8 intakes, 5 exhausts, chin and cheek-pad ventilation, Air Cumbs cooling chamber
• Comms & camera — Universal intercom ready, 360° chin action-camera mount, X-Hidro hydration-tube straps

• 1x helmet (X-Matrix 2 multi-composite, four shell sizes)
• 1x Pinlock 120 XLT MaxVision anti-fog lens
• 1x fitted visor + 1x second visor
• 1x spoiler extensor (tool-free, up to 20 mm)
• 1x chin action-camera mount; wind deflector