Shoei Shoei GT-Air II Helmet

Fit is nice, with a good chinstrap release and tightening.
Vents and airflow is very good on the move, but not so much when at the lights.
Very stable at speed.
I bought the Matt black and it is holding up well to scrubbing bugs off it.
I have always bought Arai, but now Shoei is as favourite as Arai have always been for me

This helmet shines in all areas.

It’s much lighter than my previous full face helmet, while at the same time being much safer. It well exceeds the US DOT rating, as well as exceeding the much stricter European standards.

The aerodynamics are excellent. It glides though the air much slicker than my previous helmet, meaning less vibration and noise. The wind buffeting my head when following both autos and semis is so minimal it was only noticeable because I was looking for it. It also doesn’t pull or get louder when turning to look over your shoulder.

The outer visor is crystal clear with no distortion, and adjusts through the various settings with fluid, but firm and reassuring clicks. The included pinlock insert is a great addition, as it saved me from having to buy it separately. The inner tinted visor is also clear of any visual distortions, and operates with a smooth action on the slider, and locks in position.

Along with the pinlock insert, it also includes the removable chin curtain the preforms its role with no complaints.

The airflow is nice. The vents are very easy to find and operate with gloves and air flows nicely around the helmet when opened. The only issue I’ve noticed personally is that with the chin curtain installed, there is minimal airflow, and even with the outer visor up, my tinted inner one fogged quickly. Can easily be fixed by applying an anti-fog coating to it yourself, or simply sliding it up when stopped.

Another driving feature for me was being ready to accept the SENA SLR2 comms. It installed easily with the most effort coming from reinstalling the cheek pads. It doesn’t change the aerodynamic profile of the helmet, meaning no whistling or vibrations at speed which can increase noise inside the helmet, or potential weak points in an accident.

I should also mention it’s the most comfortable full face helmet I’ve worn. The pads are soft yet firm enough to ensure a snug fit. They also allow for good airflow within.

There are perfectly suitable more budget friendly helmets to choose from, but as someone coming from one of those I’d recommend splurging for this. It’s better in every way over my last one, and a purchase you won’t regret. This helmet has been out for a few years and has many reviews online to read/watch. I did quite a bit myself before sending the extra for this one. It beat out most other helmets in many areas (some others did have a higher “score” in specific areas), and was always at the top when it came to overall “scores”.

Some context: I ride a cruiser, and never really go any faster than the flow of traffic. I don’t ride with a windshield.

I just got back into riding again after laying off it for a few years. I’d been looking for a good full-face helmet for some time. Something light, well-made, comfortable, quiet, well-ventilated (if need be), with an internal sunshield, and with decent anti-fog capability. My previous helmets, when I used to ride both a cruiser and a standard, were a cheap BILT number and a no-name half-helmet.

The BILT was incredibly noisy at any speed above “crawl”, never felt like it fit right, and fogged no matter what I did unless I opened the face shield completely. It also had a habit of making my head whip back and forth in the wind at highway speeds.

The half-helmet was…well…a half-helmet. Light, but that’s about it. It most certainly wasn’t going to stop bugs from hitting my face, or rain (which stings at highway speeds), and it absolutely wouldn’t help me in a crash unless I only hit the top of my head. Considering the IIHS data showing the vast majority of reported motorcycle accidents include a strike to the chin/jaw areas, that was an issue for me.

After some research, I got the GT Air II. It feels light on long rides, doesn’t get pushed around by the oncoming wind, feels quiet-ish, has a few options to handle fog, is well-ventilated, and is pretty comfy.

Some notes: Some helmet brands are better for certain head shapes, but I don’t know the shape of my head. The size chart told me I needed a Large, so I got a Large. Unfortunately, I needed to also buy some 31mm cheek pads to replace the fatter ones in the helmet. If you buy this from a motorcycle store, you’re likely given the option to replace the cheek pads at purchase at no additional cost to you. This can save you $55-$60.

– All the vents are easy to open with one hand.
– The internal sunshield is easy to manipulate with one hand. It’s not on a spring-loaded latch, so it won’t wear out so quickly.
– The face shield can be raised only with the left hand, as the tab is on the left side of the bottom of the shield.
– The face shield has a “cracked open” setting for low-speed fog mitigation. It works. The ventilation elsewhere helps at higher speeds.
– I never bought the optional internal comms, so I can’t tell you if they’re worth it.
– I’ve read that Shoei didn’t submit the helmet for SNELL crash rating simply because it’s difficult to obtain a SNELL rating with an internal sunshield. Not impossible, but difficult. The comparable RF 1200, also from Shoei but without an internal sunshield or an optional integrated comms package, has a SNELL certification.
– This has a ratchet strap rather than a classic double-D-ring. Unlike the original GT Air, this ratchet strap was moved further forward to avoid sitting against the neck. I can attest that this does help, but it still feels a bit more restrictive against the neck.
– The field of vision is very, very good for a cruiser. That said, if you’re riding a sportbike in the tuck position, you might want the RF1200 instead, as it provides marginally better field of vision vertically.
– I haven’t had to install the pinlock face shield insert yet, but it does come with one, which is supposed to help with fog.

Overall, I like this helmet. I wish it cost less, but at least it was cheaper than MSRP. Even so, I would recommend trying it on at a store to make sure it fits your head shape. I recommend it for cruising and standards, but sportbike riders would likely want something tailored to that style of riding.

Good luck!