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Shoei X-12 Helmets

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Read More about the Shoei X-12...

Welcome to our 2010 detailed breakdown of the brand new Shoei X-12 Race Helmet. Now, right out of the gates, the Shoei X-11 has been a staple for a handful of years. The big changes that came to this helmet were when they upgraded it to the Snell 2010 Standard. For those of you that don't know about the Snell Standard, it is a higher degree of certification from a protection standpoint than the basic DOT or even the ECE 2205. It's slightly different. It handles different types of forces and impact. A lot of times, for track day riding or racers, you have to be Snell-Certified for the helmet that you're wearing.

So basically, they've upgraded to the Snell 2010 from Snell 2005. It does add a couple of ounces in reinforcement and the outer shell of this helmet, so it's going to be a hair heavier than the last year's model, which is the X-11, which was a staple for so long. But what you're going to notice, right out of the gates - I'm going to put both of them side to side. It's a similar shape, but it's also improved. It's slightly different. The rear wing is completely different for added downforce, for aerodynamics and stability. It's also built to be even better at not buffeting and even easier at not catching the wind when you're doing some head checks on the track. This is a race replica helmet. This is Shoei's top end helmet. 

So $584 for the solids and you're going to be at $699 for the graphics. Come in four models for the graphics, five different color schemes for the solids. You're going to notice that if I flip to the top, the ventilation configuration - it's in the same places. So basically, you have a back diffuser open and close. You have a front chimney that's going to be open and close. You have brow venting on this guy, which the X-11 had, which is open and close. You also have a chin vent system. You're going to notice as I flip this guy around... Actually, I'm going to go to the back and just show you straight on what the difference in the look is as well. It's more aerodynamic. It's more streamlined.

Differences in the shells: The shells are going to be five different sizes, whereas for this guy it was three or four. So what they're basically doing is for each size you go up, they're only giving you enough shell or enough material to keep the weight down, but to also keep the helmet fitting your head. So as you go up in sizes, the shell shapes change. So if you're in the small, you don't need the same amount of material, the same amount of weight as a medium helmet needs. So it keeps it lighter, keeps it more aggressive, keeps it more comfortable. Think about this helmet: $700 helmet for a racetrack or a racer or someone doing a track day. Long distances, long time on the track, in the tuck. This guy needs to be as light as possible, as ergonomic as possible, and as comfortable as possible.

Shape on this guy: It's going to be a slightly improved shape, slightly more ergonomic fit. They are continuing to improve the product over the Shoei X-11, but it's still going to be a medium oval. Whether you're in the solid, whether you're in the graphic, same shell shape. Now, one of the big features on this helmet is that the original Shoei X-11 was, I believe, the CX1 visor, which both fit the X-11 and the RF-1000. In the Shoei X-12, you're going to have the CW1, which is completely new and completely improved for this year. It also will take a pin-lock system. A lot of people are starting to move towards pin-lock for anti-fog. That's a whole another video in itself, but there is a pin-lock shield available for this system.

What you're going to notice is it's a bigger periphery by a couple of millimeters on each side. As I spin it, you're also going to notice - and this is one of the big features with the Shoei X-12. It's also on the RF-1100 for this year, but - it's the quick-adjust, self-ratcheting system. Now, what that means is that you still have all the great range of motion and different notches for opening and closing this guy. But what you're going to notice, as you get down to the last notch, there's this spring-loaded hinge here. When it comes down...

Come in tight for me here. I want you to see right here. That spring is going to suck the face-shield back and push it against the gaskets, complete a better seal around the exterior of the helmet, along the bottom, along the top. Think about hitting the rain in this helmet. Rain is coming down the top of the helmet. The tighter the seal, the better at the top to keep any of the elements out. Basically, that gasket is going to get pressed on by the springs and it's going to keep tension. Something that won't wear out over time and something that's going to hold up really, really well.

As I flip this guy over, you're also going to notice that the guts have relatively remained unchanged. They're Shoei's high-end guts for this helmet, fully removable, fully washable. There's a chin curtain that's included here. But you notice this red tab. This is a quick-release, emergency cheek-pad system. If you go down the track, God forbid, if you're out cold, or if the EMTs need to attend to you, whether you're on the road or on the track, somebody needs to get this helmet off of you fast. What they're not going to want to do is wrestle with it to get it over your cheek pads and get it off your face. Pulling these tabs quickly ejects the cheek pads. They pull right out from around your face, and then the helmet slides right off the crown of your head. So it's their emergency safety feature. It's a race feature built into this helmet.

Like I mentioned, we have a handful of solids. We have a handful of graphics for this guy. This is a big step up. This is top end. This helmet is designed to go right up against the Corsair 5 from Arai, or go right up against the Belstar helmet. This is the Shoei X-12, Snell 2010 Standard. A bunch of new features on this guy. Better ventilation, better face shield, better shape and design, different shell shapes along with the sizes, or different sizes that correspond with the different sizes of helmet, fully adjustable. Check it out at revzilla.com/shoei-helmets.