A new standard for helmets is arriving, ECE 22.06, and with it new helmets to meet the new, more stringent regulations. Two such examples have been announced and are due to be released soon, the Shoei NXR 2 and the Arai Quantic – both aimed at the premium end of the road-riding market. We’re going to check out the Shoei NXR 2 and see what makes it worth your money.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) 22.06 Regulations
ECE 22.06 takes over from 22.05 which is around 20 years old now, so it’s very long in the tooth. New helmets only need to conform with the new regulations from January 2024, although the new regulations were published in June last year. So what’s changed?
A major change is the introduction of new impact testing, with different speeds and an angled, or oblique, test that tests how a helmet dissipates energy. It is worth saying that the maximum impact speed is under 20mph, however it is also worth saying that impacts to the head directly are arguably unsurvivable if what you’re hitting isn’t forgiving. A car, for example, is designed to crumple so will allow for a higher impact speed that you could survive. The new testing also includes accessories that can affect a helmet, such as sun visors and intercoms.
The oblique test uses a bar anvil to strike the helmet at a 15 degrees angle, to allow for measurement of the rotational acceleration – as with all helmets tests the aim is to check how little the impact is transferred to the head or into a twisting motion.
A crush test is also present to check for deformation with about 10 stone loaded onto front, back and sides. In addition, a pellet is fired at the visor to make sure it doesn’t shatter or deform.
The Shoei NXR 2
The Shoei NXR 2 is, naturally, the successor to the successful NXR but the new regulations mean there are some significant changes, while maintaining what made the helmet great.
The most obvious difference you’ll notice will be the new venting and visor. Like before there is a chin vent, and three separate openings on the forehead, and a large exhaust vent (not closable this time around). Shoei claim increased airflow through the helmet, up by 50%, and crucially the vents are more easily operated with gloves thanks to their larger surfaces.
The new visor marks a departure from the design Shoei has used for a few years now, moving away from a small tab on the left side to a larger, more central tab that reduces the risk of visor warping (the old mechanism could be a bit stiff) and allows for a firmer, more reliable fit against the seal of the visor port. It’s worth saying Shoei helmets have some bombproof visor seals, so anything that can maintain this over a longer period of time is welcomed.
The new helmet is also a touch heavier than its predecessor, putting on about 100g (1423g) - for comparison a GT-Air II tips the scales at around 1500g, but this includes an internal sun-visor. The bump in weight for this NXR version is likely to compensate for the more stringent testing, as more volume and mass can be used to assist crash protection.
An AIM fibreglass shell remains the material of choice for Shoei helmets, costing more than polycarbonate rivals, but offering more flex in the event of an accident to improve impact absorption. That shell is also available in four different shell sizes, a surefire mark of a premium helmet – this allows for a snugger fitting helmet, as well as reducing the unwelcome ‘bobblehead syndrome’. A double D-ring is also present and correct, which will please the purists among us who can’t quite bring themselves to trust a ratchet.
Being at the lower end of Shoei’s helmets, this doesn’t include an option for an integrated intercom, however it does includes cutouts within the helmet to allow you to more easily and comfortably place speakers inside. Internally it also features a removable liner as before, alongside the emergency removal loops for first-responders to utilise.
Overall, if you're looking for a premium road motorcycle helmet that covers the basics well but don't need all the features of a touring helmet, or the lightness of a race helmet, the new Shoei NXR 2 could be a great contender. Plain colours start at £429.99 RRP, plain metallic at £449.99 and graphics will set you back £539.99, with the helmet due to be hitting retailers later this year in September.
If you need some expert advice, then you can have a chat online with us via web chat on our website. We’ve finally reopened with our café opening for takeaway at the weekends. If you’re a bit far from Stevenage, our online shop is alive and well, and taking orders for delivery. You can also check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £50 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365-day period – see our returns page for more details.
