Shoei Neotec
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:36 am
I was looking at replacing my trusted Shoei Multitec, and with it being my 40th back at Christmas my lovely wife said I could buy a new helmet.
My Initial choice was to replace it with another Multitec, but I liked to idea of the drop down sun visor. So I had a look at the HJC SymaxII and the Schuberth C3.
I really wanted to like the Schuberth but the fit was just not quite right. The HJC was a good choice for the money. But then I seen that Shoei were bringing out New version of the Multitec, so I desided to hold off until it's release.
After reading and watching a few of the online reports on the Neotec I deside to go ahead a purchase it. I now £425 is a lot of money for a helmet, but I have always liked to buy the best helmet I could afford at the time, and I have liked the fit and quality of the Shoei's for a while now. I also took full advantage of it being my 40th birthday present!
Having now used my new Shoei Neotec on the commute to work for a few days now, and I would have to say the Neotec is defiantly quieter, plush and more comfortable than my Multitec.
The Neotec fits pretty much like the Multitec, but a little bit tighter around the cheek area, the new cheek pads are a more sculpted shape.I have felt no pressure points or discomfort were my glasses pass through. There is slightly more room in the chin area in comparison to the Multitec and the Schuberth C3 I tried on.
I have not had any issues with fogging of the visors, but I did have the Pinlock installed from the beginning. The drop down sun visor works well, sits low enough to give almost full coverage and does not interfere with my specs or hit my nose, I was also not aware of any distortion on the sun visor. The visor has positive indents that allow the visor to be held open at the various stages the smallest setting equals approx. 22m of an opening. There is also a new positive lock for closing the visor over completely that works better that the old Shoei lock on the visor side pod. One thing I did notice was if you close the visor down but did not push it to the lock position the visor sits about 1-2mm off which allow just a trickle of extra ventilation on to the visor.
The ventilation on the Neotec with all the vents open is probable the best ventilation I have felt on a helmet. This helmet will be good for the summer when the temps get higher as it really does vent well with all vents open.
All good new so far, however I seem to be getting the constant draft on the top of my head, and as it was 8°C today in sunny Scotland, that is a cold draft. No combinations of vents open or closed seem to eliminate it, although shutting all vents including the chin bar vent seem to reduce it slightly. One thing I did find with the chin bar vent is I seem to keep inadvertently closing it, probably due to it’s proximity to the flip mechanism lock, I thing this could have done with a more positive lock to hold it either open or closed.
Regarding the constant ventilation on to the top of my head, I have been in contact with the company who I bought my Neotec who have been in touch with Shoei ,and told me " the helmet is designed to give a constant air flow even when the vents are shut. This is a design feature rather than a flaw as there has been complaints in the past that their helmets are too air tight and stuffy."
I think they may need to look at this issue and possible do something like the Schuberth C3 with the 2 flaps of material to prevent drafts in winter from their top vent. (note. the reason I did not go with the C3 was the fit across the forehead)
To date I have found a solution by using my Windstopper cycling beanie, so I will just use this on the colder days.
The company I bought the helmet from has offered to take it back for a full refund, but I really like the rest of this helmet, so will more than likely keep it.
I don't know if I can mention the company, on this forum, I bought my Neotec from but there service and communication have been great with the added bonus of a 10% discount (can set a discount for this forum) were no one else was offering any discount. I also got a few freebies , an Oxford padded/lined helmet bag, pack of 3 Oxford neck tube things, a V sponge. Delivery was quick.
TAM
My Initial choice was to replace it with another Multitec, but I liked to idea of the drop down sun visor. So I had a look at the HJC SymaxII and the Schuberth C3.
I really wanted to like the Schuberth but the fit was just not quite right. The HJC was a good choice for the money. But then I seen that Shoei were bringing out New version of the Multitec, so I desided to hold off until it's release.
After reading and watching a few of the online reports on the Neotec I deside to go ahead a purchase it. I now £425 is a lot of money for a helmet, but I have always liked to buy the best helmet I could afford at the time, and I have liked the fit and quality of the Shoei's for a while now. I also took full advantage of it being my 40th birthday present!
Having now used my new Shoei Neotec on the commute to work for a few days now, and I would have to say the Neotec is defiantly quieter, plush and more comfortable than my Multitec.
The Neotec fits pretty much like the Multitec, but a little bit tighter around the cheek area, the new cheek pads are a more sculpted shape.I have felt no pressure points or discomfort were my glasses pass through. There is slightly more room in the chin area in comparison to the Multitec and the Schuberth C3 I tried on.
I have not had any issues with fogging of the visors, but I did have the Pinlock installed from the beginning. The drop down sun visor works well, sits low enough to give almost full coverage and does not interfere with my specs or hit my nose, I was also not aware of any distortion on the sun visor. The visor has positive indents that allow the visor to be held open at the various stages the smallest setting equals approx. 22m of an opening. There is also a new positive lock for closing the visor over completely that works better that the old Shoei lock on the visor side pod. One thing I did notice was if you close the visor down but did not push it to the lock position the visor sits about 1-2mm off which allow just a trickle of extra ventilation on to the visor.
The ventilation on the Neotec with all the vents open is probable the best ventilation I have felt on a helmet. This helmet will be good for the summer when the temps get higher as it really does vent well with all vents open.
All good new so far, however I seem to be getting the constant draft on the top of my head, and as it was 8°C today in sunny Scotland, that is a cold draft. No combinations of vents open or closed seem to eliminate it, although shutting all vents including the chin bar vent seem to reduce it slightly. One thing I did find with the chin bar vent is I seem to keep inadvertently closing it, probably due to it’s proximity to the flip mechanism lock, I thing this could have done with a more positive lock to hold it either open or closed.
Regarding the constant ventilation on to the top of my head, I have been in contact with the company who I bought my Neotec who have been in touch with Shoei ,and told me " the helmet is designed to give a constant air flow even when the vents are shut. This is a design feature rather than a flaw as there has been complaints in the past that their helmets are too air tight and stuffy."
I think they may need to look at this issue and possible do something like the Schuberth C3 with the 2 flaps of material to prevent drafts in winter from their top vent. (note. the reason I did not go with the C3 was the fit across the forehead)
To date I have found a solution by using my Windstopper cycling beanie, so I will just use this on the colder days.
The company I bought the helmet from has offered to take it back for a full refund, but I really like the rest of this helmet, so will more than likely keep it.
I don't know if I can mention the company, on this forum, I bought my Neotec from but there service and communication have been great with the added bonus of a 10% discount (can set a discount for this forum) were no one else was offering any discount. I also got a few freebies , an Oxford padded/lined helmet bag, pack of 3 Oxford neck tube things, a V sponge. Delivery was quick.
TAM
, so I went for a Nolan N103 (which turned out to be a fair bit cheaper as well) 