After 5 long years with my previous helmet, a Shoei XR1100, I thought it was time to make a change.
Since I had just purchased my naked KTM Superduke 1290R I wanted a helmet that was quiet and aerodynamically stable to avoid any turbulence from the lack of wind protection on my bike. The helmet I decided on was the Shoei GT Air. (As you could probably tell from the title!) I have covered around 1500 miles with the new helmet and feel it’s about the right time to give my honest review on how the helmet performs.
Before I go into too much depth about my opinions I will give you a brief on the specifications and features of the Shoei GT Air.
Specifications
Helmet type – Full face
Material - Organic fibre and multi-composite fibre layers
Weight – 1465g
Style – Sports/Touring
Shell sizes – 3
Price - £419.99 (Plain) £499.99 (Design)
Features
QSV-1 Sun visor system - The Shoei GT Air is equipped with an internal sun visor that flips up and down using a lever on the side of the helmet. The visor will block out 99% of UV rays and is anti-scratch and anti-fog coated. The front portion of the helmet which houses the sun visor is reinforced so no compromise is made to the helmets shell integrity.
Aerodynamic design – Shoei have done rigorous wind tunnel testing which has contributed to the shape of the helmet which aims to decrease noise levels and increase comfort for the rider. The spoiler on the rear of the GT Air helps keep the riders head stable while traveling at speed, reducing strain on the neck.
Ventilation – Lower ventilation position guides air onto the visor to reduce misting. The top intake which is adjustable to 3 positions, maximizes the airflow into the helmet. The rear vent allows the air to escape the helmet to provide clean airflow.
Emergency Quick Release System (E.Q.R.S) – When the red tab is pulled the check pads can be easily removed from the helmet, allowing the whole helmet to be removed from the head safely and quickly in case of an emergency.
Fully removable interior – The complete lining of the Shoei GT Air is removable to allow easy cleaning of the cheek and center pads. The cheek pads come in a range of sizes to provide a helmet with a perfect fit.
First Impressions
Ok so starting from the beginning, the first thing I noticed about the GT Air, compared to other helmets I have tried is that its a very snug fit, as all new helmets should be. However with the helmet aimed at sports touring, there seems to be extra padding at the bottom of the helmet to create more of a noise isolating seal when the helmet is put on. Don't be put off by this, when you first try the helmet on it may feel like it won't go on, but persevere and over time it gets easier while still providing an excellent fit. If you are wondering if the helmet will fit your shape of head, the GT Air and a lot of other Shoei helmets tend to be a more narrow fit, while Arai will fit more round shaped heads, however with the custom cheek and center padding on the GT Air, at Bike Stop we can do our best to get that perfect fit!
Living with the GT Air
Enough about the fit, how is it when you are riding? Shoei have done an excellent job with this helmets riding characteristics. The first major thing I noticed compared to my old Shoei XR 1100 was how quiet the GT air is, even on a naked bike sitting on the motorway, ok so I still need ear plugs for the motorway, but I believe there isn't a helmet on the market that will block all wind noise out.
The GT Air is also is very stable sitting on the motorway, I don't feel any strains and my head isn't getting blown around. The wind tunnel testing proving effective here! Since one of the purposes of the helmet is for touring, there are so foam pads by the ears which pop out to make room for intercom speakers if that's something you would like to install within the helmet. Again a small feature but it makes life so much easier if you would like to be social and talk to your riding buddies.
The biggest feature I have found useful, from a convenience point of view and a major safety point of view has been the integrated drop down sun visor within the helmet. The biggest annoyance I have had with helmets is riding when the sun is shining straight in my eyes, this at times can be quite dangerous, but luckily on the GT Air with one movement of a lever, an internal sun visor drops down allowing me to regain that all important vision! With most other helmets you would have to stop and change visors, which is considerably more hassle, not to mention having to carry around a spare visor with you. Having the internal sun visor also has its other uses when not riding in direct sunlight, during the warmer times I find it quite refreshing to ride around town with my visor up but with the sun visor down, this blocks most things from getting in my eyes but provides great ventilation at lower speeds.
Would I recommend the GT Air?
For most riding I would say yes. The Shoei GT Air provides great comfort, great protection and great features for riding on the road, the helmet comes in many patterns and colours to suit most peoples tastes. If you would like a quiet comfortable helmet, you need not look further. However if you are looking for a track helmet to do any high speed riding, I would recommend looking at the Shoei X-Spirit 3 or the Arai RX-7V, these utilise stronger shells and provide better venting for long days on the track. If you feel I have not answered a question you may have, or would simply like to know more about the Shoei GT Air, or indeed any helmets Bike Stop stock, please don't hesitate the contact one of the team on +44 (0)1438 317038 or comment below!
