Helmets Shoei Neotec vs Schuberth C3

[Blue One]

Recently at the Edmonton Motorcycle show I was able to try on both the Shoei Neotec and the Schuberth C3.

I was pleased that Shoei has finally dropped the "Never in a Shoei helmet" attitude regarding drop down internal sunvisors.

As far as I'm concerned these sunvisors are a necessity, after so many years of being blinded at certain times of day and locations,it will be a welcome change.

They both fit well, but to me the Shoei fit better, I have always felt I have a Shoei head as their helmets always feel best to me.

I think the Schuberth would be the quieter helmet but that is kind of a non issue for me as I ride 99.5 % of the time with my visor cracked just slightly for airflow over my face.

That makes even a quiet helmet noisy and it doesn't bother me as I ride with good quality custom molded ear plugs.

Any thoughts ??

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/44422/ITEM/Shoei-Neotec-Modular-Helmet.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/35889/ITEM/Schuberth-C3-Helmet.aspx

 

[SteveST1300]

I think you have to buy the best helmet you can in a price range you can afford but it must fit right and be comfortable. I had a Schuberth C2 and loved it I wouold lave a C3 but it is just so expensive. I think they are both good helmets. I will be trying them on at the MC show this weekend. I have not seen the Shoei in person yet.

 

[SupraSabre]

I was hoping that Shoei would offer either bluetooth support, or better mounting of ear and mic for communication systems!

One step at a time, I guess! :

 

[John Anthony]

I got a C3 last year and once I got it tweaked a bit (a little snug around my ears), it's been a great helmet.

John

 

[simon_h]

whereas I hate my C3 with a venom. It's just about to go back for its third warranty repair, it mists up in pretty much all conditions, in the rain the front vent spits water onto your face and if you have the visor open at the minimum setting it spits water on to the inside of the visor - mix this with the already foggy visor and you'll be able to see that it's lethal in the wet. The warranty repairs have been - the top vent leaked air and whistled when shut and the other two have been to do with the earphones on the SRC stopping working. After doing about 30k miles with it in the past year...it feels cheap and flimsy...for a helmet that cost well over ?700, this shouldn't be the case. I had an Arai before that and will return to Arai once I have justified a fair amount of usage after the expensive outlay on the C3.

 

[Blue One]

whereas I hate my C3 with a venom. It's just about to go back for its third warranty repair, it mists up in pretty much all conditions, in the rain the front vent spits water onto your face and if you have the visor open at the minimum setting it spits water on to the inside of the visor - mix this with the already foggy visor and you'll be able to see that it's lethal in the wet. The warranty repairs have been - the top vent leaked air and whistled when shut and the other two have been to do with the earphones on the SRC stopping working. After doing about 30k miles with it in the past year...it feels cheap and flimsy...for a helmet that cost well over ?700, this shouldn't be the case. I had an Arai before that and will return to Arai once I have justified a fair amount of usage after the expensive outlay on the C3.

Sorry to hear of your negative experience with the C3. Most people seem to like Schuberth.

My experiences with a C2 however were not good, it was heavy and I didn't like the way it fit or the way the visor operated.

As a result I sold it almost as quickly as I bought it.

The C3 is supposed to be much better, however since I like Shoei so much I see a new Neotec in my future.

 

[TRNewtown]

My last several helmets have been Shoei's and I am currently using a Shoei RF1000. I wanted to move to a flip-up helmet so I rode down to the RevZilla showroom in Philadelphia yesterday to try on some flip-up helmets. First the bad news - the Shoei Neotec will not be offered in a 3XL, which is the size of my RF1000 and the size of my head.

I tried on the Schuberth C3 in a 3XL and it fit perfectly after removing a wind skirt that was velcroed on to the chin area. I have been thinking about buying a C3 for about a year now and with the Neotec not offered in my size, I took a deep breath and bought the C3.

Rode home wearing the new helmet and noticed a few things:
- Love the drop down sun visor that can be operated while riding with gloves on.
- After hearing about how heavy some flip-ups can be, I was happy with the C3's relatively light weight.
- Without wearing ear plugs the helmet was a little noisy, but not more so that my RF1000. It should be fine with ear plugs.
- The pinlock visor worked as advertised and the visor did not fog even when I was stopped in traffic on a cold day.

So after one day and 30 miles I am happy with the Shuberth C3.

Tom

 

[JCB]

Yesterday I ran down to the bike shop to try a C-3 and they only had it in 2xl. So head'en to the Maryland bike show next month and maybe they will have a larger size. The guy at the bike shop did say something about the Shoei Neotec coming out. The only thing I hope my Scala G-4 will fit on either one of these instead of adding $399.00 neck ring.
I was kind of leaning toward the Hi-viz but the Shoei won't have that color.

I'll let you know.

Jay

 

[JCB]

I am happy with the Shuberth C3.

Tom what color did you get?

Jay

 

[Blue One]

Yesterday I ran down to the bike shop to try a C-3 and they only had it in 2xl. So head'en to the Maryland bike show next month and maybe they will have a larger size. The guy at the bike shop did say something about the Shoei Neotec coming out. The only thing I hope my Scala G-4 will fit on either one of these instead of adding $399.00 neck ring.
I was kind of leaning toward the Hi-viz but the Shoei won't have that color.
I'll let you know.

Jay

They have brilliant yellow, while not Hi Vis it would probably be close to the same.

 

[Blue One]

My last several helmets have been Shoei's and I am currently using a Shoei RF1000. I wanted to move to a flip-up helmet so I rode down to the RevZilla showroom in Philadelphia yesterday to try on some flip-up helmets. First the bad news - the Shoei Neotec will not be offered in a 3XL, which is the size of my RF1000 and the size of my head.

I tried on the Schuberth C3 in a 3XL and it fit perfectly after removing a wind skirt that was velcroed on to the chin area. I have been thinking about buying a C3 for about a year now and with the Neotec not offered in my size, I took a deep breath and bought the C3.

Rode home wearing the new helmet and noticed a few things:
- Love the drop down sun visor that can be operated while riding with gloves on.
- After hearing about how heavy some flip-ups can be, I was happy with the C3's relatively light weight.
- Without wearing ear plugs the helmet was a little noisy, but not more so that my RF1000. It should be fine with ear plugs.
- The pinlock visor worked as advertised and the visor did not fog even when I was stopped in traffic on a cold day.

So after one day and 30 miles I am happy with the Shuberth C3.

Tom

Wow Tom, that is one huge head You must be very smart

Too bad the Neotec is not coming in your size.

 

[ST_Jim]

Darn! The Neotec doesn't come in blue - I won't be color coordinated!


In fact, it looks like they're dropping Royal Blue from their whole new product line. Not even in the FF Quest, RF1100, or X-12. I would have to get a Multitec...

Maybe Anthracite?

But mainly I just have a problem believing it's really worth $600 to me. Maybe I'll just run my RF1000 another year - it's only seven years old...

 

[TRNewtown]

Wow Tom, that is one huge head You must be very smart

Too bad the Neotec is not coming in your size.

Mensa has not asked me to join their club - yet.

It would have been nice to have the Neotec as an option. I am thinking about sending Shoei a note including a picture of all my old Shoei helmets lined up with me wearing a new Schuberth helmet. I would ask that they forward this picture to the pinhead Shoei executive who decided to limit the number of available sizes of the Neotec.

 

[Blue One]

Mensa has not asked me to join their club - yet.

It would have been nice to have the Neotec as an option. I am thinking about sending Shoei a note including a picture of all my old Shoei helmets lined up with me wearing a new Schuberth helmet. I would ask that they forward this picture to the pinhead Shoei executive who decided to limit the number of available sizes of the Neotec.

Might be worth a try .

I might have spoken to the same pinhead at Shoei North America who maintained that Shoei would NEVER build a helmet with a drop down internal sunvisor.

 

[EASt]

I always said that if Shoei offered a helmet with a drop down sun visor, I'd buy it. VIDEO

Guess it's time to put my money where my mouth is.

 

[Cable]

Bought my c3 in Sep last year then a week later it went back to the shop and I have seen it 4 times since then but never come home!
Waiting for decision on whether I getting my money back or not.

I would be interested in the shoei if it didn't have a pin lock

 

[redst05]

I seen this at the IMS this past weekend.. I am now in love with it.. If it is half as quite as they tell me I will be super happy! Now I just need to come up with the $$$

 

[userzero]

I see a Neotec in my very near future.

My only problem is what color should I choose. I let my girlfriend choose the color of my last jacket, and I regret not having bought the hi-viz instead. Now I think I'll buy a hi-viz mesh jacket next summer but then the yellow Neotec will not match the hi-viz jacket. Decisions, decisions...

 

[SteveST1300]

Simon does yours have a pinlock installed?

 

[blueSTormer]

I use the C3 with the new bike because of the bluetooth (another story). I have a Shoei head (RF series) and the C3 is a little rounder and a lot closer to the face, so it takes a while to break in. But now I'm very happy with it. I would have bought the Noetec if I didn't have to deal with BMW's proprietary practices.