Shoei X-SPR Pro Marquez 8 TC1 helmet

The Shoei X-SPR Pro is the brand's race helmet. It's the helmet worn by their sponsored riders in series like Moto GP, WSBK and BSB. It is designed specifically for track riding, although it is clearly going to appeal to sportsbike riders.

 

Most Shoei helmets are constructed with what is known as an AIM shell. The X-SPR Pro has an AIM+ shell that is formed using a super-hard, sixth outer layer that serves to further protect against penetrations.

 

Obviously, the helmet has been extensively wind-tunnel tested. The shape of the shell was very much formed in the wind tunnel, which also accounts for all the spoilers and aerofoils. Apparently, the helmet's good for well over 200 mph, which is good to know as you are barrelling down the A272 on your way to Loomies on a Sunday morning, of course.

 

The helmet is ECE 22-06 accredited, but it is also FIM approved for international racing. It weighs just under 1500 grammes in size medium. That's pretty light, although there are probably lighter helmets out there. The helmet comes in four shell sizes, and that's important because the larger the number of shells, the better, in general, the chances of getting a good fit.

 

Venting is always important when you're racing; and accordingly Shoei has made the X-SPR Pro well vented. But what has to be borne in mind is that the venting on this helmet is designed to work most effectively when you're leant forward over the bars. It won't work anywhere near as well if you're on an upright bike.

 

On the chin, the lower vent feeds air into the cheekpads. The cheekpads are aerated to allow the rider to better feel the benefits of this. The upper vent is designed to demist the visor. There are three adjusters on the brow that feed four channels in the eps. You get lots of holes in the eps to maximise the cooling effect. There are two exhaust vents at the sides. Hot air can also escape through the rear spoiler.

 

The visor on the X-SPR Pro is interesting. It's basically the same visor as the Shoei NXR 2, except for the fact that it is equipped to take tear offs. This visor has as large a surface area as you'll get on pretty much any race helmet. It's also particularly tall, meaning that you will still get a good view down the track when you're tucked in behind the screen. On the edge of the visor there are what are known as Vortex Generators that help with the smooth flow of air around the helmet's shell.

 

Now because of the possibility of a visor opening, or becoming detached in an accident, the helmet has two separate safety devices. Little red switches in the visor mechanism prevent the visor release mechanism from operating. But you also get a locking slider at the front of the visor. This will prevent the visor from raising, even at 200 mph, but what we love is that when you push the slider into the 'lock' position when the visor is open it creates a brilliant 'crack' position. Hopefully, we'll get this on other Shoei helmets in the future. It's what everybody wants, and what everybody complains about on Shoei's other helmets. The helmet comes with a 120 Pinlock; and it's a particularly large one, meaning that when you're wearing the helmet, it's almost impossible to see the Pinlock's outer edge.

 

The helmet fastens by means of a double-D ring. The cheekpads can be removed in an emergency by means of a set of EQRS pull straps. The chin bar has been designed to take a hydration system. And you get two different chin curtain systems. There are earwells to take speakers, although this might be considered a strange helmet for a comms. system, unless you need someone to tell you your lap times!

 

Obviously, there's no drop-down sun visor with the X-SPR Pro. You can get a whole range of tinted visors for it, but if you're going to miss a sun visor you might consider Shoei's photochromatic, Transitions visor that darkens in bright sunlight. But at over £200, it's not cheap.

 

If you're going to spend this much money on a helmet, you really owe it to yourself to get the fit right. 

 

The only way to get a perfect fit is to go for a the new PFS fitting (Shoei Personal Fitting System). And that's because getting the fit right on the X-SPR Pro is much more complicated than it is with most Shoei helmets. The head liner comprises six separate pads, each of which can be removed and repositioned. All of these pads can also be made thicker, by adding specially shaped foam pads. Some of them can be made thinner by peeling off layers of the foam padding. The system offers an unparalleled level of customisation. But it's complicated.

 

Because of this new system, you cannot simply buy different thicknesses of headliner in the way that you can with most other Shoei helmets. You can, though, still get different thicknesses of cheekpad for the helmet. The standard cheekpads come in a 35 mm thickness, but you can also get them in 31 mm, 39 mm and 43 mm sizes. There's no charge for these, by the way, when you buy a new helmet.

 

Interestingly, the cheekpads can be adjusted in the helmet to raise the front of the helmet, for when you are tucked in behind the screen, but still need to be able to see down the track. This gives the helmet what is, in effect, a 'race' mode and a 'road', mode.

 

Obviously, the X-SPR Pro is not the only premium, race helmet on the market. In the past, an Arai helmet was the first choice for many, although that was perhaps when there were fewer choices. But these days you've got Bell, AGV, Shark helmets and others. But some of these helmets still only come in two shell sizes, and none of them offers the ability to create a bespoke fit in the way the X-SPR Pro does. In this particular respect, it's in a league of its own.