Shoei GT-Air Helmet
4.7
5
29
29
Quiet, Comfortable, Stylish
I have ridden with this helmet for approximately 1,000 miles now and I am thoroughly satisfied. I am most impressed with the aerodynamics of this helmet. I ride a naked bike with no windshield or flyscreen so my head is basically hanging out there with no wind protection whatsoever. Compared to my Shoei Multitec and other less premium helmets, the GT Air cuts through the wind blast like a hot knife through butter. On top of that the helmet is also incredibly quiet. I estimate it is at least 30% quieter than the Multitec. I believe this is a result of the excellent double gasket seal around the visor and the tight fit around the base of the helmet. Overall the helmet is very comfortable and after about 10 minutes with it on it feels as though it's a part of me and I'm not even wearing a helmet. Also, the fact that it comes with a pinlock insert and has an internal sun visor is just awesome.
The styling of the GT Air is also superb. The aerodynamic shape does wonders for functionality as well as the looks. I have the red color and it is absolutely a head turner.
I do have a few minor gripes with the GT Air though.
There are currently no tinted visor options available for this model. While the internal visor is an awesome feature, I would still like to have the option of putting a tinted visor on the helmet (mostly for looks).
The chin strap is slightly less comfortable than other Shoei helmets I have owned. Not bad though.
I was misled by the fact that the model name had the word "Air" in it and assumed this helmet would vent really well. In my experience I feel practically no air coming through the top vent with or without the rear exhaust vent open. The front chin vent does an okay job but nothing more. I think "Air" in the name refers more to the aerodynamics of the helmet than air venting.
The GT Air is only DOT certified, not Snell. This could be a deciding factor if you are looking to use this as a track day helmet.
Overall, I really love this helmet and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet, comfortable and stylish helmet with premium quality materials and construction. The price is certainly a bit high but when you're out on a long ride it is absolutely worth it for the great lasting comfort.
May 14, 2013
Great Helmet
Mozilla has super fast shipping, receive it in 2 days.
Helmet fits great a bit tight at first, I wear a size large but after few days of commute to work it brake in and fit perfit. Had a Bell Revolver EVO Helmet great looking helmet but it was loud, Shoei GT-Air is a much quiter and lighter helmet.
I would recommend this helmet to everyone if price is not the issue. You get what you pay for, money well spend.
May 13, 2013
Quiet and light
This is probable the best helmet that i have purchased. I rode with it on a few times around town, then a twelve hour trip up to the Ozarks. Pressure is even all around my head and it wasn't a focus of the ride. I was reminded when taking it off and putting it on that it is tight getting in and out. Probably why it is so quiet. My Sena com fits fine and i am enjoying having a high end helmet.
May 13, 2013
You get what you pay for, and you have to pay to get this helmet
Very pleased with fit and comfort. Recommend you order a new shield with the helmet, as I it often happens I dropped mine while getting gas right on the shield. Didn't break but marked the shield pretty good.
May 13, 2013
Very solid non-race helmet
I have an X-12, which I absolute love - it is great for the track. However, I wanted to get another helmet for street use. At first I tried cheaper helmets, and then went back to Shoei. After a lot of deliberating, it was between the GT Air and the RF1100. They are very similar helmet, but the GT Air:
1. Fits slightly tighter - as you've probably seen from other reviews, the GT Air sizing is almost in-between the typical Shoei sizes. However, that's good for me - the RF1100 felt a little loose after wearing it for a bit, so the GT Air feels better.
2. Has the built-in sun visor - this is a cool feature, because I don't need to change visors... I can ride with the clear one (yay night riding) and still block out the sun when I need to.
3. Has a smaller chin bar "height" - with the RF1100, when I would look behind me, my chin would hit my shoulders and get in the way; with the GT Air, the chin clearance is higher, so it feels better to look behind me... this was a big deal for me.
4. Feels slightly heavier - that's the only downside, the helmet feels just a tad heavier than the RF1100, which makes sense since it has the additional modular visor.
Overall, this seems like an excellent choice for street riders. It has decent air flow (huge vent on the top), and is quieter than the X-12. I am pleased.
May 13, 2013
Awesome helmet
Expensive, but worth it. Best helmet I have ever owned.
May 8, 2013
Great all around helmet with great features
I ride a sport bike and a cruiser and I commute - so I'm riding almost every day. I needed a helmet that did well in the tuck position with aerodynamics but vented well in the upright position as well. The other feature I need in all my gear is, less equipment to carry on the bike. Also, since I commute, I prefer a helmet with a fully removable washable liner.
So I loved the features on this helmet especially the built in smoke sun shield (this is the shoei dark smoke by the way). That way I don't have to carry an extra shield somewhere.
The pinlock defogging shield is also nice but I wear glasses and commute both during the day and at night so this is less useful for me (since you are not supposed to wear the pinlock insert at night). But it does help a lot with the shield not fogging up.
The airflow is good. Not as good as the QWEST but still good.
This helmet shines, in my opinion, with the aerodynamics. I have been riding with it in some pretty heavy Texas crosswinds and my head does not buffet around much at all. Same with head checks - no real buffeting. This is/was a problem with the QWEST.
It is also quite light and really darn quiet. It's lighter and quieter than the QWEST.
Fit - I like my helmets to fit more like a race fit (fairly tight). I wear a Small in the QWEST and a small in this one but this one does fit a bit more snugly than the QWEST does in the head shape department. The cheek area fits the same.
Now comfort and safety - The lining is really really great. Very soft and comfortable. Much nicer than the QWEST lining. And I really think the emergency release cheek pads are a very nice touch and honestly another "at the top of my list" features that sold me.
Please note: this is only DOT certified (right now at least). Just wanted to point that out even though Anthony mentions it in the video review and it is clear in the product details.
April 29, 2013
snug and quiet, but surprisingly less "AIR" than expected
Although the title is "AIR", it fails to live up to that. Still flows wonderfully with all vents open, but not nearly as much as the NAME would dictate. Don't get me wrong, I love the helmet, it's just not what I expected. That being said, it is far more quiet than I would have anticipated and the design allows me to look over my shoulder at higher freeway speeds without having to tuck my chin, if you know what I mean.
Everything is very easy to operate with thick Gerbings gloves, and the vents have a nice CLICK to let you know they've moved, which can be a challenge on some helmets.
I've been riding with it for about a month so far, but have yet to even notice anything negative to say about it, other than the fact that it's a bazillion bucks... but you get what you pay for, and this will be worth it when it needs to be.
April 17, 2013
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