I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: helmets aren’t just safety gear anymore. They’ve become legit status symbols. Whether you’re rolling up to a Sunday morning coffee stop or hitting apexes at the track, your lid says a lot about you. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing. If you love the way your helmet looks, you’re more likely to actually wear it. And really, nothing ups your chances of surviving a spill more than wearing one every single ride.
That’s probably why brands keep pushing the envelope when it comes to race-inspired designs. The whole "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" idea? It doesn’t just apply to bikes and cars—it’s alive and well in the helmet world, too. If a MotoGP or WorldSBK rider straps it on, you can bet there’s a matching replica ready to ship with your name on it.
This is where the Nolan X-804 RS Ultra Carbon Replica Iannone enters the picture. It’s a helmet that’s equal parts function and fiery personality. If the name rings a bell, that’s because Andrea Iannone is no stranger to controversy and drama. Fast, flashy, unorthodox, and fiercely competitive, he’s one of those racers you just don’t forget. And this helmet? It’s supposedly a visual embodiment of everything he’s known for—loud graphics, racing DNA, and an edge that can only be as sharp as someone returning after a four-year ban.
The shell is layered with iridescent reds, oranges, and yellows wrapping around a shimmering carbon weave. The phoenix graphic, combined with Iannone’s number 29 and a whole lot of phoenix imagery. The whole thing sure is pretty dramatic, as it’s meant to symbolize Iannone’s resilience as a racer.
But maybe you’re not the type to rock fire-breathing birds on your helmet. I get it, I’m the same way. While I can appreciate the drama, my personal pick from the X-804 RS Ultra Carbon lineup is the Puro. No graphics, no fuss, just a clean gloss finish over that beautiful exposed carbon fiber shell. Some might call it boring. I call it timeless. Vanilla, maybe, but vanilla with a full race-spec shell.
Regardless of which design you go for, you’re getting top-shelf performance. We’re talking ECE 22.06 certification, track-ready aerodynamics, a Pinlock-equipped ultrawide visor, and Nolan’s NERS emergency release system—all developed from years of real-world testing in MotoGP and Superbike paddocks. It’s the kind of helmet you can wear to a track day or just to feel like a pro on your weekday commute.
So, whether you ride for the looks, the thrill, or both, the X-804 RS Ultra Carbon sure looks like a lid worth checking out. And if it helps you stay protected while turning heads (and you don’t mind forking up a hefty $1,000 USD), that’s a win-win in my book.
Source: Nolan
