Shoei GT Air 2 Review

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Shoei GT Air 2 Review Review Facts

Investing in a good carbon fiber helmet might seem like a nuisance to you, but every motorcyclist knows that this is the most irreplaceable tool that you can have in your collection. Helmets will protect you in all different situations, including on windy and rainy days, and even for much more serious occasions, such as if you ever get involved in an accident.

On that note, Shoei is a brand known for its high prices but top-quality helmets. So it seems unsurprising that the Shoei GT Air 2 is one of the brand’s popular helmets with features such as a strong composite shell, many sizes, an emergency quick-release system, and plenty of ventilation for you while you’re on the road.

Of course, there were some areas where people weren’t as pleased, especially when it came to how the helmet did not score as high on the SHARP safety test.

Regardless, there are many reasons why some people believe that it is worth investing in the Shoei GT Air 2, so let’s find out what some of them are.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros

Has 3 different shell sizes

Made of strong composite fiber

Has plenty of vents for airflow

Includes shock-absorbing liner for accidents

Has an emergency quick release system

Includes noise-canceling ear pads to decrease helmet noise

Cons

Did not score high on SHARP test

Rather expensive

Advanced Features

The Shoei GT Air 2 has the ability to accommodate a Bluetooth system, more specifically, the Sena SRL2 Bluetooth system, which means that you can take wireless calls and listen to music. It has small speaker pockets that will be able to work with helmet speakers. While this might not be a dealbreaker, some people like the innovation that Bluetooth accommodation provides

Safety Features

When you make a purchase, the helmet safety rating is one of the most important features for you to consider. There are many different things that go into how safe a helmet is. This includes considerations such as its sizing, the level of protection it provides against the wind and other noises, and anything else that will keep your head and face shielded from possible collisions and accidents.

With the Shoei GT Air 2, you get a composite fiber shell, which is said to be a sturdy material for the outer. Because of this material, it can come in several different shell sizes. Being able to have the correct size is crucial in making sure that a helmet’s safety features will work to their maximum capacity. Wearing a helmet that is too small or too big could result in it not working as intended in a crisis or it could result in headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms that are also not safe when you’re on the road.

The shell has a shock-absorbing liner that will help to absorb impact and protect your head. In fact, this lining is made out of multi-density polystyrene, which is said to be able to absorb the shock at different rates depending on where the impact hits. This is an advanced feature that we hope you will never need to use, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

This helmet also comes with an emergency quick-release system, which makes it easier to take off and which will make it easier for paramedics to take off. Having this feature will decrease the likelihood of a paramedic potentially triggering or worsening a head injury because they will not have to pull and tug at the helmet to get it off.

In addition to all of that, it has a visor with Pinlock and the ability to open a little bit to prevent any potential fogging in colder weather. It is important to have a clear view of the road at all times for your maximum protection.

The only thing that might be considered a downside by some people is the fact that this product did not receive a very high score by the UK safety test company, SHARP. It received a score of 3 out of 5, which is not that great for the Shoei brand.

With that being said, the helmet has been approved in many different countries, including the US and Europe, and it passed safety tests by the ECE and DOT. So, even though it might not be the absolute best according to SHARP, it seems like you still have a pretty safe product on your hands.

Helmet Noise

Before we get into any information regarding the helmet noise, it’s important to state that you should consider purchasing a pair of motorcycle hearing protection earbuds regardless of which helmet you use. No matter what kinds of features a helmet includes to block out noise, you’re still going to deal with some, which could be damaging for your hearing in the long-term if you don’t do anything to protect yourself. There are many inexpensive and high-quality earbuds on the market that motorcyclists trust.

With all that being said, reviewers said that Shoei has greatly improved noise reduction with this product, which is a huge plus. The Shoei GT Air 2 is said to be more aerodynamic than its predecessors and includes noise-canceling earpads to help combat any additional noise.

But, one thing to note is that this product has better ventilation, which means that there is more wind to result in louder noise. However, helmet noise is something that has more so to do with your individual preferences.

Comfort

Comfort is also an important feature to consider when you purchase any helmet. This is because you need to make sure that it fits properly in order for all the safety features to work as best as possible. If you have a poor-fitting helmet, this could greatly impact your performance on the road and lead to poor protection in the event of an accident.

Thankfully, this is something that the Shoei brand considers with all of its products. This means that there isn’t much for you to worry about.

Some people say that the helmets run on the small side, which is why it’s important to purchase from a retailer with a good return policy. But if you find that the helmet isn’t quite comfortable, you can easily remove and customize the internal lining as you see fit so you can have the most comfortable experience possible.

The shell comes in three different sizes, which is a great innovative feature that not many of its competitors have to provide. And in addition to that, it comes in sizes XS to XXL, which means that you will certainly be able to find the right size to fit you.

If you wear glasses, it’s also said to be comfortable for that, too, because there are grooves in the lining that will be able to accommodate glasses.

As we said before, the lining can be removed easily for a more customized fit, but you also will be able to remove it for when it needs washing. And to make it even more comfortable, the lining is made of a moisture-absorbing material - Shoei's Max-Dry - which helps to absorb sweat from your face and head.

Ventilation

The ventilation is also said to be better than that of its predecessors, which is a pretty big deal because Shoei is known for having products with good ventilation. There is a vent on the chin as well as on the crown, which are both said to be easy to operate when you’re wearing gloves. They open and close with a slider and are larger than the vents you might find in older Shoei helmets, like the Shoei RF 1200.

There are also exhaust vents in the back of the helmet that stay open at all times to ensure that stale air gets filtered out.

In addition to all of that, you can also crack open the visor a small bit, which will help to get rid of any potential fogging in colder weather and to keep you cool enough in hot weather.

Having proper ventilation is key when you’re on the road, especially if you plan on traveling for longer distances. So, it is important to know that you’re getting a product from a brand that has always done well in this aspect.

Face Shield

As we’ve stated several times, the Shoei GT Air 2's visor is manufactured in such a way that it will prevent it from fogging up in cold weather. This seems to be an issue among many different helmets, which can be extremely dangerous when you’re out on the road and you can’t quite see what’s going on around you. It does this by having a quick release, which you can crack open easily to prevent fogging and misting, but you still will be protected from poor weather.

There is also a Pinlock anti-fog insert that will do the job instead, so you might find that you won’t need to open the visor at all.

In addition, the visor is wide, which will give you a clear view of your surroundings and peripherals. There’s a weather seal that you can use in poor weather conditions so you won’t be exposed to any rain, wind, or even snow.

This helmet also comes with a sun visor that covers more of your face and does not produce a wide line of sunlight towards the bottom, which means you won’t be as distracted. You can drop the sun visor down using a slider that’s on the left side, and it will allow you to adjust the position as necessary, so you will be able to leave it fully down or even halfway. There are switches on the inside that will let you lock the visor in place for easier cleaning, too.

Appearance

Shoei is known for having cool and sporty helmets, and the Shoei GT Air 2 is certainly not an exception. You do get a fairly wide array of options to choose from in terms of color scheme, including silver, blue, yellow, white, and black, as well as ones with different accents and designs. The brand’s logo is emblazed in different places and it overall has a standard appearance.

Price

Anyone who is rather familiar with the Shoei brand knows that their products are on the more expensive side. You will expect to pay several hundred dollars for any helmet that you choose, which can seem like quite the investment for some people, especially since there are plenty of less expensive options on the market.

However, thousands of people continue to turn to Shoei to purchase helmets despite their higher prices, so there must be something special about the different features the brand has to offer with their products.

You will be able to purchase the Shoei GT Air 2 on Amazon for $599, which is less expensive than it is offered for at other retailers but still might be on the too expensive side for some people, but luckily here we have also a selection of more affordable motorcycle helmets.

This is where personal preference comes in and where you need to determine how much is too much for your comfort.

Key Features

The shell comes in 3 sizes
The helmet itself comes in sizes XS to XXL
Comes with removable cheek pads
Comes with an emergency quick release system
Has shock-absorbing liner for collisions
Can have visor cracked open to prevent fog

Bottom Line

Shoei is known for producing great helmets at high prices. But that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering if you really want to make sure you’re getting a top-quality product out of the deal. Being able to stay comfortable, safe, and the ability to see clearly all around you is essential when it comes to choosing the right helmet. And it seems like these are all categories that the brand has conquered when manufacturing their products.

While there were some areas that people weren’t so pleased with when it came to the Shoei GT Air 2, many people could not help but agree that its top-notch safety features, comfortable sizing and lining, and the wide visor that provided the ability to prevent fog were necessary and made this a product worth considering.