Shoei Neotec 2 Review - Flip Front Virgin

Gavla04GS

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I have recently been gifted (owt for nowt, give Gav a shout) a 2 year old Neotec 2 as the previous owner has got himself a new lid.

It fitted my noggin and at zero pence I can dip my toe in this new fangled flip-front methodology. The only people I knew, who wear flip-fronts have big white BMWs and I have met them whilst helping with their enquiries, during a roadside chat.

I am a huge Arai fan, owning a race rep RX-7V (Schwantz fan) and a Tour-X4 as it was heavily discounted (ahead of X5), plus, both colour schemes match my bike.:love:

This mornings commute started at 0730 and 13 degrees so lid on, visor open, (Still cant ride with my face exposed) and a neck tube on for draft exclusion). No issues what a great lid.
Bit of sunlight present, so dropped the internal visor, genius!! Main visor open still.

Out of Yarmouth and up to NSL speeds and what a great compromise, security of a full face lid and air flow ensured for comfort and sunlight dealt with (plus I looked steely and cool) as sun visor down.

Lucky me, I encountered rain shower over the last 5 miles, so after working out why my face was stinging, I closed the main visor. Now thinking its got dark quickly, I lifted the sun visor and ta-dah, vision restored but no stinging face.

Other points to note, the sun visor is easy to operate with a gloved hand, familiarity with the location of the operating mechanism will improve with time. Weight was no noticeable issue, but I am an oaf so just get on with it. Noise was no noticeable issue as I wear ear plugs. I also wear prescription gegs 👓 to drive and no issues there.

In summary, I am a convert to the idea. Its straight into service as my winter lid, no visor changing admin to feck about with and when the time comes to replace my Arais, a Neotec 3 is much higher up the list ignoring the discounted one at SBS and Infinity.
 
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Welcome to the new world Gav. I've been a fan of "Modular" (flip-front) helmets for years, my latest being a Neotec2 with Comms, previously being a fan of Arai and the BMW range of "System" helmets.

The Neotec is the best helmet I've ever owned.

My Schuberth C4 flip front helmet was a similar RRP to my Shoei and is definitely the worst helmet I have ever owned.
 
Have had a couple of Neotec helmets ( 1 & @) over many years..they are a very good helmet and once you become familiar with the helmet I'm sure you will grow to like it even more

The flip front design is particularly useful when travelling (customs etc) as well as filling stations

I currently have a Schuberth C5 which IMHO is also very good
 
Original Neotec here and looking for a 2/3 in the new year. I lose count of how many times I flip it up when in 20/30’s limits. A great summer helmet and doesnt steam up or let in rain during extended wet riding. Mine is probably 6/7 years old and the visor lifting and chin piece locking is as snickety smooth as the day I bought it.
 
Neotec 3 is much higher up the list ignoring the discounted one at SBS and Infinity.
Hmm, SPORTSBIKESHOP do a 10% discount for blue light card holders too. I’ve just booked a try on of this helmet in the Leeds shop.
My wife asked earlier this week what I would like for Christmas. My current AGV is around 10 years old now so perhaps a new helmet.
 
Had my Neotec 2 for a couple of years now and am very impressed with it, the drop down sun visor is brilliant and no leaking around the main visor when it’s raining as some others have reported, I dropped it once and watched it bounce all the way down a marble staircase in Germany but despite this it only has one chip!!
Only gripe i have is it would be nice if it were possible to just have the visor open a crack rather than shut or at it’s first open position. This was possible with my old Shoei qwest that had a little switch on the locking mechanism to allow this.
 
I only wish the sun visor on my Neotec2 was a little bit "deeper" so it properly covers my nose, I believe the Neotec3 is an improvement on this as it comes down a little lower.

Other than that one minor gripe, the Neo2 is quiet, comfortable, dry, well ventilated and the best I've owned to date.

I'm reluctant to swap out to a Neo3 just yet as I would have to replace the comms and have them adapted to provide a 3.5mm female DIN jack for my UE monitors instead of helmet speakers. I reckon it would be quite a bit of money to upgrade. I could always go back to using my Sena 20S on the outside and save a wedge on the integrated comms.

EDIT: £965 for a Neo 3 in white with integrated comms and pinlock at Helmet City, plus an added cost to modify the comms on top.......I think I'll stick with my Neo 2 !
 
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I’ve had a Shoei Neotec 1, 2, and now I’ve just upgraded to the Neotec 3, clearly I’m collecting them like Pokémon.
Each one’s been better than the last, but my one gripe (as already mentioned) is that the visor still doesn’t have that “cracked open” position. You know, the one that keeps you cool without turning your eyeballs into bugsplats.
 
EDIT: £965 for a Neo 3 in white with integrated comms and pinlock at Helmet City, plus an added cost to modify the comms on top.......I think I'll stick with my Neo 2 !
wow thats some money, I don't have any helmet comms and have no rush looking at prices like that. besides, who wants to be phoned whilst riding.
 
wow thats some money, I don't have any helmet comms and have no rush looking at prices like that. besides, who wants to be phoned whilst riding.
When the 3 came out every dealer rushed to sell the 2. Grabbed a 2 for a third of price from Motolegeds (price match +10%off). Frankly I couldn't get on with the helmet even after the custom fit. Sold it after few months when Vines had a sell on the System 7 Evo (just over £200 with an old trade in and 50%off), noise was the main issue (no different from the old System 7) and the fact the visor hasn't got the “cracked open” position. Also the 7 is actually 2-1 helmet. Take off the chin piece and you have an open face helmet. Was brilliant in 30+ heat.

I only have a speaker in the helmet which is connect to the phone via a lead. Old school, only use it for navigation.
 
Original Neotec here and looking for a 2/3 in the new year. I lose count of how many times I flip it up when in 20/30’s limits. A great summer helmet and doesnt steam up or let in rain during extended wet riding. Mine is probably 6/7 years old and the visor lifting and chin piece locking is as snickety smooth as the day I bought it.
Me too
Still on the original one too
 
Loved my Neotech 2 when on fully faired bikes but now I have a supersport, I've found it much noisier than my carbon Shark Spartan lid which was designed for naked and semi-faired bikes. More aerodynamically suited with less wind turbulence noise. Just have to remember to wear my ear plugs if using the neotech which is by far the most comfortable fitting lid I've owned.
 


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