Gold on carbon is an old motorsport combination, and the Zero Pro Gold Matt uses it with restraint. The shell of this Nexx X.R5R stays bare matt carbon; the accent is a pale, champagne-toned gold that the product photo shows on the visor and on the fins of the rear spoiler. It is the most elegant of the six Zero Pro colourways rather than the loudest. The helmet underneath was developed for the track, and the feature that sets it apart from most rivals sits at the back: a spoiler you can lengthen by up to 20 mm without any tools, so the trailing edge suits the way you actually sit on the bike. The rest of this page follows that idea from the spoiler forward.

Why a spoiler you can lengthen

A racing helmet is shaped for one head position: chin down, eyes up, body tucked behind the screen. The trouble is that riders do not all tuck the same way. On a tall naked bike you sit more upright than on a supersport machine, and the air leaves the back of the helmet at a different angle. A fixed spoiler is a compromise for both. The X.R5R ships with a separate spoiler extensor that slides into the existing spoiler and extends it by up to 20 mm. A longer trailing edge cleans up the flow behind the head when you are low, which riders feel as calmer helmet behaviour at high speed and less buffeting when they look over the shoulder.

Fitting the extensor

Unlike the screwed extension of the X.R3R, the new piece pushes into place without a screwdriver; the manual shows the procedure on its spoiler pages. That means you can try both lengths in the same day: run a session with the short spoiler, slide the extension in for the next one and compare. Nothing in the box replaces the standard part, so you can always return to the shorter setting.

About the Zero Pro Gold Matt finish

The weave is visible everywhere, but under a matt lacquer it looks soft, almost like brushed graphite. A large ZERO lettering in a grey tone runs along the lower side and the Nexx logo is printed in white. Against that the gold accents read warm and expensive rather than flashy, closer to titanium coating than to yellow. In everyday use the matt shell forgives the light marks a helmet collects on a bike mirror or a garage shelf. Sun cream and skin oil, on the other hand, can leave dark patches where your hands usually grip; a cloth dampened with soapy water removes them. Do not polish and do not use solvent cleaners, as both change the sheen permanently. The gold-mirror parts are coated, so treat them like a mirrored visor and only wipe them gently.

A track day with this helmet

Nexx has thought about the day around the session. The rotating action-camera mount fixes under the chin, turns through 360° and locks in four positions, so your footage shows the track rather than the sky. Straps on the inside take an X-Hidro drinking tube, which lets you sip between sessions without taking the helmet off on a hot afternoon. Everything packs into the supplied racing bag. A universal intercom can be fitted if you want to talk to a coach or a riding partner, and the manual has a section on how to install it.

Gold Matt or one of its siblings?

All six Zero Pro colourways share the same shell, interior and equipment, so the choice is purely visual. Gold Matt is the one that works best with dark leathers that already carry metallic trim, or with bikes that have gold forks, wheels or anodised parts. Next to the Black Matt it looks warmer and more premium; next to the vivid pink or iridescent green it is far calmer. If you want a helmet that will not date quickly, this pale champagne tone is a safe bet.

Low sun and a gold mirror

A mirrored lens reduces glare from wet tarmac and from a sun that sits low over the track. It also lowers the light reaching your eyes, which is exactly why it must come off when the light fades. Carry the clear visor in your kit bag, and thanks to the Recoil system you can swap lenses in the paddock in less than a minute without any tools.

Light where it counts

The carbon version of the X.R5R weighs about 1,325 grams in the M shell, plus or minus 50 grams. The difference to a heavier sports helmet is felt most in the last sessions of the day, when neck muscles are tired and every turn of the head costs effort. The X-Matrix 2 version of the same model weighs around 150 grams more.

Air at speed and in the pit lane

Eight inlets and five outlets move air through the shell; the upper and chin intakes can be shut for cold mornings. Air also passes through the cheek pads, and an Air Cumbs chamber under the liner keeps it flowing even at lower speeds. The visor has three intermediate positions, so you can let in a little air at a standstill without opening it fully.

Four shells for a precise fit

The outer shell is made in four sizes: XXS to S, M, L and XL to XXL. Inside, the 360° Custom Fit system uses interchangeable pads to tune the fit, and the X-Mart Dry liner can be removed and washed. Nexx describes the interior as suitable for glasses. We carry XS to XXL.

Approval and safety details

The X.R5R is homologated to ECE 22.06, the current European standard with its larger number of impact points, oblique impact test and visor penetration check. A Peraluman double D-ring closes the strap, with a magnetic X-Lock holder for the loose end. The cheek pads can be pulled out by first responders with an emergency release, and reflective elements are built into the shell for night visibility.

What this helmet does not offer

It has no drop-down sun visor; the gold mirror on the photo is the kind of lens you would use instead, but Nexx does not say which tint ships fitted or as the second visor, so ask us if it matters. There is no FIM homologation. Tear-off strips are supported, but no set is supplied. No independent test or SHARP rating exists yet. Parts from the X.R3R, including its spoiler extension and visors, are not listed as fitting the X.R5R.

In the box

• 1x helmet (X-PRO Carbon, four shell sizes)
• 1x Pinlock 200 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
• 1x racing bag

Specification

• Helmet type — Full-face racing helmet, rear spoiler with tool-free extension up to 20 mm
• Certification — ECE 22.06
• Shell — X-PRO Carbon composite, 4 shell sizes (XXS-S / M / L / XL-XXL)
• Weight — approx. 1,325 g ± 50 g (M shell)
• 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 200 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-PRO Carbon, four shell sizes)
• 1x Pinlock 200 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
• 1x racing bag