Shoei Neotech 2 Review
It is absolutely crucial to be able to find a good helmet if you enjoy riding motorcycles. There are many ways in which helmets will be able to protect you, all the way from if you get into an accident to simple things such as the wind. From when we were children riding bicycles to riding motorcycles now, it’s clear that having a high-quality helmet is one of the most important things you can do.
Shoei is a well-known helmet brand among motorcyclists for its professional, albeit expensive helmets. The Shoei Neotech 2 is an updated version of the previous model, the Neotech 1, and has been said to provide users with many top-notch features. There were some areas where people felt as though this product was lacking, such as the safety of the chin bar and the amount of wind noise that got in, but overall, most agreed that this is a safe, comfortable, ventilated, and durable helmet.
So, let’s check out the Shoei Neotech 2 in more detail to see if it’s something worth the investment.
Has 3 shell sizes
Comes in many different colors
Customizable cheek pads
Has a great weather shield
Provides many vents for ample airflow
Made of a strong fiberglass material
It is very expensive
Weighs 4 pounds
Doesn’t have the safest chin bar
Safety Features
For one, the shell is made out of a material called AIM, or Advanced Integrated Matrix. This is a special high-duty fiberglass material that helps to ensure the helmet will come in multiple different sizes. This one, in particular, is available in three shell sizes. This helps to make the helmet safer because it will fit you better, which means that you will end up being better protected.
The shell also has a liner that absorbs shock, which means that it will protect you in the event of an accident or collision. The fastener is made out of stainless steel, one of the most durable materials available on the market. Of course, it isn’t too much of a stretch to say that this is one of the most protective helmets on the market. It received a score of ⅘ from SHARP, which has some of the strictest rules.
The Neotech 2 also has a special shape that helps to protect your back, collar, and neck if it ever gets pushed back during an accident, which is a great additional feature to have.
But one thing that could affect how safe this helmet is is how well the chin bar can stay locked. This is important so that your jaw and chin can stay protected even in the event of a collision. There were tests that showed the lock only stays in place 70 percent of the time, which is not so well for a safety test. So, that might be something you’d want to consider or that you should keep an eye on when you purchase this product.
Helmet Noise
When you’re riding your motorcycle, there are tons of noises that you will be exposed to, including the motorcycle’s engine, the wind, and cars whizzing by past you. And because you’ll be on the road and driving at relatively fast speeds, all these noises will be amplified, which could cause you to face hearing loss in the future. This is why it’s important to make sure that you’re getting a product with as much protection against outside noise as possible.
Since the Shoei Neotech 2 is a modular helmet, it is not going to be one of the quieter options on the market, as modular helmets tend to be much noisier than full-face helmets. But considering the fact that so many people trust Shoe-i with providing them the best helmets on the market, perhaps it comes to no surprise that the brand has done everything possible to make sure that its customers get the quietest product possible.
But when reading the reviews, it seems that a lot of people have mixed opinions. There are some who said that the wind noise is not loud at all, and then there were others who were greatly disappointed. So it seems to be a matter of preference and opinion, depending on how loud you like for your helmet to be. And remember, it is always recommended that you purchase some type of earbuds to wear while on the road to protect your hearing because there’s only so much hearing protection that a helmet can provide.
As far as what the brand has done to ensure that there is little helmet noise, there are internal cheek pads and a noise isolator that work together to decrease the level of noise coming from the wind. The bottom of the bar for your chin has an integrated vortex generator, which is also supposed to help absorb some of the noise. But according to reviews, it seems that this product’s ability to successfully do this is average in comparison to other helmets.
Comfort
The one area that you might not be too pleased with is the fact that it is on the heavy side at 4 pounds, so this does have the potential to affect how comfortable the helmet is.
The shell comes in 3 different sizes, which is a major plus when it comes to helmets because there are many options out there that only have one size. This means that you will be able to find the perfect size for you without any issues. And if you find that the size you chose doesn’t fit exactly as you want it to, the brand comes with different cheek pads, which you can purchase and customize for your own comfort. And as always, it’s best to purchase a helmet from a reputable retailer with a good return policy just in case the size doesn’t quite work out for you.
Aside from being heavy, most reviews said that this helmet is plush and comfortable, making it a good option for you to wear while on the road.
Ventilation
In the back of the helmet, there is a large exhaust vent, which seems to be the standard for most helmets on the market nowadays. Stale air gets filtered out of this vent while fresh air comes in through the other vents. And overall, the vents provide lots of fresh airflow and are easy to operate, open, and close.
The one thing that some people mentioned as being a downside, however, was the fact that the visor cannot be cracked open for extra ventilation, which might not be so appealing for many riders. This is especially useful on those colder days when you don’t want to have cold air coming in, but you want to have a slight opening to ensure that the visor doesn’t get too fogged up.
Face Shield
The only thing that might be seen as a downside is that the visor can’t crack open, which could have been beneficial in such situations. Another thing to consider is that the helmet comes with a drop-down sun visor that is easy to operate and use. This sun visor provides UV resistance up to 99 percent, which will help to protect your eyes. It’s also wide and will give you a clear view of your peripherals. In all, we think it’s safe to say that the visor on this helmet is rather exceptional.
Appearance
Price
As you can tell from the wonderful reviews, products manufactured by Shoei have some of the most innovative and high-quality features on the market, so it all depends on how much money you are willing to spend on your next helmet. You can purchase this one on Amazon for $629, although the retail price is $699.
Key Features
It has 3 different shell sizes
Has customizable cheek pads for more comfort
Includes a pin-lock for anti-fog features
Has a safety rating of 4 stars from SHARP
Shell has a shock-absorbing liner for safety
Ventilation is easy to adjust even while wearing gloves
Bottom Line
The Shoei Neotech 2 is comes highly-praised. While it did include some shortcomings, most of the features it provided worked phenomenally and exactly as people expected. For example, the sun visor offers protection against UV rays and it has a Pinlock so it won’t fog up. In addition, the visor seals well to protect you from different weather conditions.
The helmet also has a shock-absorbing lining to keep you safe in the event of a collision. And another major bonus was that it comes in 3 shell sizes, which means you will certainly find the size you need.