Shoei Neotec VS Schuberth C3 - Impressions and Comparo

Had a Schuberth C3 (Large 58-59) and now the Neotec in Large (59-60).
For my head shape the Neotec feels smaller than the C3 what is great because the C3 felt a bit lose.

Neotec negative over Schuberth:
- Visor change a tiny bit bit more cumbersome
- Top vent when open very loud (much louder than C3 top vent, basically I can't use the top vent on the Neotec
but I'm very tall and this is maybe only me.
- More heavy
- Don't like the double D ring personally, takes me longer than the European micro ratchet system,
would be great if Shoei would offer both in North America.

Other than that the Neotec fits my head a bit better

Fly Racing Trekker and Shoei Neotec:

I bought Schuberth at http://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/?ObjectPath=/Shops/10207048/Categories
before and they are great, you pay net. Only issue is that EU helmets don't come with DOT approval and that's true for the C3 and I also
think for the Neotec.

OK, I am resurrecting an old thread here, hoping to elicit some comments from Neotec owners on the fogging issue, now that a few months have passed by.

First of all, before you tell me that I am making a big deal out of nothing: I am not a novice rider - and actually spent the better part of past two decades wearing various incarnations of Schuberth lids, before they changed the headshape for the C3. I have now spent good several weeks with my new Neotec and found the fog build-up to be a major difficulty. To put it bluntly, I have never experienced a visor fogging up so much.

Out-of-the-box, my new helmet just fogged incessantly, in any conditions. I installed the Pinlock, but found the solution unsatisfactory: it reduced the field of view by a lot. Beyond looking at the edge of the insert, a much more severe problem was night riding. A warning on the Pinlock insert in my Shoei box actually states that it s not approved for night riding because of low transmissivity - but that did not bother me as much as the multiple reflections. Any light source I saw at night blew up like a star, with halos all over, and I had a very hard time seeing the roadway. Ripped the Pinlock out.

For other solution, I tried the DeFogIt fluid. This worked very well to prevent fogging in moderate temperatures and humidity. But, yesterday I rode the whole day in high 50's F in light drizzle and the fogging was impossible to contain.

The culprit, in my mind, is the poor extraction of rider's breath. In the Neotec, I can smell my own breath and feel its heat when everything is closed down (hmmm.. no comment...) - something no other helmet ever did.

That small "step", which is supposed to allow a tiny crack of the visor, does not do any good: there is not enough opening created. Rising the visor to the first notch creates a humongous gap, close to one inch (!!!), with wind and rain just rushing inside - totally unacceptable. And this was with temperatures in the 50's; I shudder to think what happens when it gets here cold again.

So, anyone? What is your experience with this? Any solutions?

Hey Robert...I have had my Neotec for some time now and experienced a lot of varying conditions.

I initially reported, I think in March, that it fogged too easily. I didn't want to put the pinlock in because I figured that it would get worn prematurely during the summer season. But I had it with the fogging (all the way up to 50-deg F and <70% humidity) that I HAD to install it. Since that time, the helmet has never fogged up.

I work swing shift and my ride home around 2300, with the pinlock installed, is really not a problem. The asteroids and solar flares caused by the shield are easily ignored, and the pinlock does its job if called upon.

My biggest concern, now that it has gotten friggin hot lately, is that I'm not satisfied with the venting of the helmet. The ad said 243% better airflow than the Multitec (which I have not owned), so I thought massive air movement. No, not much at all. I'm flipping the visor up full at lights just to get some air. But once underway with the visor closed and chin/top/back vents open, the airflow still seems lacking. I know more flow = more noise, but the flow is kinda lame.

So all in all, with just these few nuances, I really like the Neotec. Fits my kind of head (whatever that may be) and has some great features (retractable sun shade is well worth it).

To answer your specific concern; yes, it fogs easily. I remedied with pinlock installation and have been happy with the result.

Edit to add that I thought of yanking the chin curtain to help extract the rider's exhalations, but decided that I liked the chin curtain during cold weather, and the pinlock worked fine once installed. Might be worth it to you to pull the curtain and see if that helps?

Thanks - Don

I just don't think the chin vent is worth a shit on this helmet. Everything else is good but the chin vent. Me no like PINlock either.

Old post, but what the heck: You don't have the pinlock insert installed upside down do you? They are asymetrical, and if I install it wrong side up, I'm looking through the edge of it (Different helmet). Did you ever get anywhere with the fogging issue?

I just ordered one (Black, Large) from http://www.biker-land.de/ to get the micro ratchet and because US sellers seems to be low or out of most sizes/colors I wanted. On the top web page you can select English, USD$$ and set up an account. They discount pretty well off list and they take Paypal.

Good price, I have used them to buy lots of stuff, no VAT, Euro 40 shipping (DHL Worldwide). If they have it in stock it gets here pretty fast.

Good luck.

Listed price includes 19% german VAT - this is taken off at check out as it is an export out of germany

OK, If you create an account with a login and password, the price listed when you log in shows the VAT removed. Just add postage and you are good to go.

...odd...
I don't have any more fogging with the Neo than any other helmet I've owned (about a dozen).
I don't care for Pinlocks either basically because the seem to restrict the peripheral view. That said, I think the periph on the Neo is best of any full face I've had. Half the time I don't even realize the chinbar is down.

Gotta agree with the chin vent deal though. It works, but vaguely and adds noise. So does the top vent as we know.

On my trip out east in April across heated desert and snowy mountains at sub-40 degrees I never really had a major issue with fogging. Buy I'm of the semi-chinless persuasion.

One of the most comfy and transparent helmets ever.
The interior material could be upgraded to Arai quality though.

I just returned from a 2000 miles trip with my Neotech. This is my 12th Shoei helmet which has included a Duotech, Syncrotech, and Multitech, and it is by far the best (and most expensive) modular I've owned. I did experience a problem with the faceshield. I had removed the shield for cleaning before the trip. About half way through the trip, the right side popped out while at speed. I stopped to reinstall the shield when I noticed that the trigger release mechanism was jammed by a small piece of broken tab. I pried out the broken piece and reinstalled the shield. I went the rest of the trip without raising the shield.... just opening the chin bar (or Face Cover as called in the manual).

When I returned last week, I called Shoei Customer Service and got a recording that they were at lunch from noon to 1:00 (okay, many places close for lunch). I called back later, and got a recording that they were closed for inventory and would reopen on Monday, so I sent then an email explaining the problem. I received a reply that day asking if I had installed the pin lock when I received the helmet. I immediately replied that I hadn't and that I was using it as it came out of the box. Got another email asking me if I was riding with the facesheild open. NO! Now I'm getting pissed! I told them that I expected a little more focus on getting my helmet fixed rather than trying to determine if I was at fault. Especially after paying a premium price for a helmet.

I received a reply today stating that they would replace the part, but I would have to ship them the helmet (from NC to CA) because the Face Cover (aka chin bar) could only be removed by a Shoei technician. So I asked them why the manual gives instructions for removing the Face Cover with a T20 Torx. I just want the damned part replaced even if I have to pay for it. Shoei makes great helmets, but their Customer Service sucks!:ddog

Morons! Just get it done you idiots!

Why not go to the dealer you got it from and let them handle it? Any reputable shop would help you instead of letting you deal with Shoei customer service.

Thanks for a great review and all the comments. I just received my new Neotec, Large, Black ordered from Germany (my combo was briefly out of stock in teh US when I ordered).

I got it from biker-land.de in one week. Now that there is a group buy here ($515 delivered, no tax) I guess I paid too much, but no more than Revzilla charges.

I did get a Euro model, so I have the ratchet closure device, which I like better than D rings, and no DOT stickers, which I don't care about.

My last new helmet was a Schuberth C3, size large (59-60). It never fit properly, leaving the dreaded "mark of Schuberth" on my forehead and causing paralysis after 30 minutes. I had hacked up the foam pretty bad to try and improve the fit, then ordered a new liner, all to no avail. I loved the other features, but never felt good about the fit. I was not unhappy when it was stolen a few months later, and I hope it is torturing someone else now, and that in a crash the compromised foam kills them.

Today when the Large Neotec came I was nervous about trying it on, but the fit is PERFECT. Snug, comfortable, no pressure points. Nice soft liner material. It is also quiet because it fits snug, especially in the ear pockets, which have removable ear pads where speakers will go. I know it will be noisier than some helmets in the wind with all the ventilation, but I wear earplugs so it is no a factor for me.

I am looking forward to being able to have a drink and a bite to eat without removing helmet, and to not scaring gas station cashiers in Germany when I walk in to pay with my credit card.

I also just got my Sena SMH 10 bluetooth headset, which I have been testing on my old Arai Quantum. It sounds great linked to my iPhone and Zumo 660. I cannot wait to get this setup on the Neotec and go for a ride. I plan to get Sena bases for all my helmets and swap the controller unit in when I ride. In the Arai, I am using the base with the speakers and the placement is so good that sound quality for music is excellent. I also bought a base with the earbuds option. I tried them with Etymotics and don't like the sound, but with a pair of custom molded in ear monitors it sounds great. Of course it is a pain to have to take them out when stopped and removing the helmet/leaving the bike.

** Edit ** So, I hooked up the Sena in the Neotec, with the speakers sitting as they come in the molded plastic ear cutouts in the Neotec. The sound is not as deep and resonant as it was in my very tight fitting Arai Quantum. I may put in the Velcro covered "mini-pillows" that Sena provide in their kit to space the speakers out closer to my ears as the sound will probably suffer at highway speeds. With the iPhone paired, I made a test telephone call and sound quality and volume was adequate for talking in a quiet environment. Will test again at speed.....

Helmet Porn: Couldn't resist, the new Neotec with the new Sena SMH10 headset, made for each other. Screw Schuberth.

I've got both helmets. While the Sena fits better on the Neotec, unfortunately music sounds much better in the C3. I think the Neotec's plastic lined ear cups are killing the bass.

lhendrik,

Curious to how you hooked up the iphone and sumo to the sena? I have the new neotec (i love this helmet) and a iphone and zumo665. I paired the phone to the zumo, but would really like to listen to pandora without repairing to the iphone directly.

On another note - how do riders control the iPhone with gloves on? any options?

thanks.

PS: Had the Schuberth for 3 hours - got headache - returned. Dealer took back and resold used.

I did nothing special to pair.

I have a Zumo 660 and an iPhone 4. I paired the Sena to the iPhone. It plays iPod music to the headset in stereo. It receives calls. I then paired the Sena to the Zumo. It relays GPS guidance and also MP3's from my SD memory card. It all seems to work fine. I didn't do anything special to make it work. When riding in the US I may hard wire a radar detector to the Sena....I do not use the intercom feature, as I have no riding friends

To control the iPhone I have used a Scosche remote control that has large buttons, but these days I don't like to mess with all that while riding as I have a tendency to crash when distracted.

Any special things I need to know to install and use the pin lock visor insert that came with the Neotec. I have never used one, and I will soon be riding in the European rainy season (January thru December:) and want to avoid killing myself on an Alpine pass when my shield fogs up.

I just bought a Neotec to replace my aging C2. Figured I get a C3, but apparently they changed the shape of the shell, because it didn't fit my head.

Anyway, the Neotec fits great. I had a ride to the dealer (175 miles each way) yesterday, and figured from the forecast I'd be riding in some bad storms, so Thursday night I installed the pinlock visor. No experience with them. Just follow the instructions. Pretty easy. And the best part, it worked great. I rode in regular rain the first 30 miles in the morning - no fog up, with the visor tightly closed. Then just after I left the dealer a little after 4:30pm, I rode through the worst stuff I've ever ridden through. I've ridden through many bad storms, including hail, but always punched through it in about 10 or 15 minutes. I was in this crap for an hour. About half the cars pulled off the interstate, and at times I was down to first gear just trying to continue making forward progress to punch through the front. The pinlock shield worked great. No fog up, no leaks with the helmet. The directions say not to ride at night with it, because light transmittance is only 80%, but it was near dark by the time I got home, and visibility was no problem.