Nolan N100-6
Reviewer: Jack Rydell
Overall:
- Safety: 5
- Comfort: 4.5
- Ventilation: 4.1
- Noise: 4.3
Pros:
- ECE 22.06 certified in both open and closed positions
- Internal sun visor — excellent tint depth
- N-Com Bluetooth integration — best-in-class comms
- Double D-ring retention system
- Comfortable for glasses wearers
- Made in Italy — excellent build quality
Cons:
- Heavier than Japanese modular competitors
- Ventilation below Neotec 3 standard
- N-Com proprietary — not compatible with other intercoms
- Intermediate oval fit only
Nolan has been making helmets in Bergamo, Italy since 1972, and the N100-6 is the brand’s flagship modular — a helmet that competes directly with the Shoei Neotec 3 and Schuberth C5 while offering its own distinct advantages, particularly around communications technology. After extended touring miles, here’s how it holds up.
Build Quality and Certification
The N100-6 is manufactured in Italy using Nolan’s Lexan Extreme Shell polycarbonate construction. It carries ECE 22.06 certification in both open and closed positions — the same dual certification standard as the Shoei Neotec 3 and Schuberth C5. The flip mechanism operates smoothly and locks positively in both positions. Build quality throughout is excellent — every component fits with precision, and the overall feel is of a helmet engineered to last.
N-Com Integration
The N100-6’s standout advantage over Japanese competitors is its N-Com Bluetooth integration. Nolan manufactures its own communication system, and the N100-6 is designed from the ground up to accommodate it — the speaker pockets, microphone position, and antenna routing are purpose-built rather than adapted from a non-comms shell. The result is the cleanest integration available in any production modular helmet. The N-Com B902 R system snaps into place without tools and connects with rider-to-rider intercom quality that outperforms third-party intercoms fitted to Shoei or Schuberth. The limitation is proprietary lock-in — N-Com is not compatible with other intercom ecosystems.
Internal Sun Visor and Comfort
The internal sun visor drops cleanly and offers a deep tint — particularly effective in direct low sun. The liner is plush and comfortable, with generous temple cutouts that make the N100-6 one of the better modular helmets for glasses wearers. Cheek pads are replaceable in multiple thicknesses for fit customisation. The fit profile is intermediate oval.
Noise and Ventilation
Noise levels at motorway speeds are good — better than most modulars, though not at Schuberth C5 levels. Ventilation through the three intake vents is adequate for temperate touring but will feel warm in sustained summer heat — the N100-6 isn’t optimised for maximum airflow. For year-round European touring this is an acceptable balance; for riders primarily in hot climates, the Shoei Neotec 3 ventilates better.
Verdict
The Nolan N100-6 makes most sense for riders who want integrated communications in a premium modular. Its N-Com integration is genuinely best-in-class, the dual ECE 22.06 certification is reassuring, and Italian build quality is evident throughout. Against the Shoei Neotec 3 it’s heavier and less quiet; against the Schuberth C5 it ventilates better and costs less. If communications integration is a priority, nothing on the market integrates as cleanly.