Shoei Neotec 3 - White

Great service from Sportsbikeshop as usual and thank you for the great advice. Really happy with the new Neotec 3 helmet, it's really comfortable and quiet for a flip lid helmet. Paired with the new Senna SRL3 makes a great combination.

Expensive but excellent. A bit fiddly getting the hang of raising the visor as a new technique is needed because of the locking tab, but no real issue. As comfortable to wear as Neotec 2 before it, maybe fractionally tighter but no discomfort after a few hours use. Ordered same size as Neotec 2.

PROS -- Sublime design and super comfortable helmet. Quietest modular I've used from the Shark Evo ES and Klim TK1200. Sun visor is really good and the flip mechanism is absolutely great for riding safely (and legally). Even though this is dedicated to the Senna sound system I found my Cardo Freecom fits perfectly stuck on the side which doesn't impede the sun visor switch (bit sceptical about sticking it on rather than hooking it in) - the Cardo 45mm earphones fit nicely on the indentions after a bit of messaging around. Vents seem good, but haven't used them on a hot sunny day yet...

CONS -- There's no transition visor with wider pinlocks (please Shoei make this happen). Pinlocks are way too much in your 20/20 vison and I found this impaired my field of view in heavy rainy causing too much mist beyond the pins forcing you to move your head far more than you want. Simple fix...

ALL in ALL -- Depends on your needs, depends on your climate. It's a premium helmet which comes with imperfections but all in all you get what you pay for. STRIGHT if SHOEI brought a new transition visor next year with wider pinlocks - if they done this... well, this would be the perfect modular helmet - please make it happen Shoei.

Amazing work from SBS

Paintwork and finish on this helmet is really good. You're in no doubt that you have in your hands a proper piece of kit. Its luxurious inside and all the vents open and close with a reassuring click. The flip up mechanism and visor lock is well thought out and easy to use. The top vent is surprisingly noisy when open for what is otherwise a very quiet lid and the front vent works well on a naked bike but on a faired bike there's not enough airflow to clear my glasses so the visor has to be kept open a notch. The visor has stepped openings which for me don't line up that well with want I need from them. The first open position is pretty much closed and the second is open by a full inch or two which is too much if you just want it open a crack, it is an annoyance rather than a deal breaker but it is one thing that Arai do better than Shoei, the other is making the liner easy to remove and replace. The Shoei lining is easy to remove but the press studs or poppers can be a bit more fiddly than their Arai counterparts and they don't appear as strong either, . I did not buy the intercom system that goes with the Neotec 3 because I have a Cardo Pactalk Edge. The Pactalk does fit inside a Neotec3 just as it did the Neotec 2 although the channel for the boom mic is on the right hand side of the helmet so cannot be used with the cardo without extending the wires. The mic will fit with some care inside the left cheek pad but it will need to be velcroed or stuck on as there is nothing to hold it. The Pactalk unit does have the be fitted a little further back than ideal because of the flip front but it's only slight. I have the largest of the Pactalk JBL speakers at 45mm and they do fit into the recess inside the helmet with a little care. Overall I am very happy with my Neotec 3

The fit and finish is excellent a quiet helmet with very good ventilation

I have had my Neotec 2 for 4 years and rate at 5 (excellent). I have given 4 (good) for the new Neotec 3 simply because it isn't a huge leap forward from the previous Neotec 2.

- Obviously top notch build quality and materials

- Modular mechanism perfect

- Top ventilation feels improved, but the chin vent feels less effective, even when fully open

- Helmet is quiet, but not noticeably more so than Neotec 2

- Sun visor larger and does block out more light, but it does now touch my nose due to increased size

- Narrower chin strap: I would argue that it is slightly more uncomfortable that the wider one on the previous helmet. Also, both my Neotec 2 and 3 are the exact same size, but the strap of the 3 is slightly shorter when fully extended making it only possible to fasten on the first 2 rachet notches ( could click 4 notches previously). Probably doesn't matter, but an observation all the same

Nevertheless I am very happy with this helmet. However if I was looking for lid and did not yet have a Shoei, I would get the Neotec 2 if they are reduced in price