SHARK HELMETS
Celebrating 30 years of innovation and pushing the technical boundaries of helmet design
Boosted by over 30 years of experience, French brand SHARK Helmets has become one of the world’s leading helmet makers. Founded by former professional racers, SHARK designs helmets that guarantee high levels of performance and safety. It’s no surprise that SHARK is the choice of helmet for riders all over the world as well as World Champion racers, including Jorge Lorenzo and Johann Zarco.
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES
SHARK’s ethos is always to push the technical boundaries and they actively invest a percentage of their profits into innovation every year.
The first to launch many innovative designs, SHARK were the first brand to introduce a helmet with integrated LEDs, the SKWAL. Launched in 2015, the SKWAL (now available in an updated version, SKWAL 2) offered riders the choice to ride with the four LEDs either permanently on, blinking or off, increasing their visibility in adverse conditions and let’s not forget, looking cool. The EvoLine launched in 2011, was the first helmet to include an innovative flip design which was dual homologated as an open face and full-face helmet. Who could forget the distinctive DRAK? Launched in 2013, the DRAK is an aggressively styled and iconic open face helmet with goggles and rubber face mask. In 2014, the Explore-R was introduced, a helmet that incorporates a removable peak, and the option to ride with either goggles or a visor. Continuously updating the range with new design and colour options, refinements and improvements, SHARK delivers on its promise of ensuring every SHARK-wearing biker and racer can enjoy the pleasure and freedom of riding in complete safety. Every SHARK helmet is designed in France and overseen by the Research & Development Unit. Each SHARK helmet is designed according to the principle of ‘Reverse Engineering’, this is when the user’s body shape is the starting point – effectively, they’re made from the inside out. During the design process, the motto is: ‘designing for a function’. This means each line, curve and feature on the helmet has to have a function and serve a purpose which positively impacts the end user. Select helmets include a number of innovative features, such as the Easy Fit for glasses wearers, removable and washable interior linings and the inbuilt compatibility with SHARKTOOTH Prime – SHARK’s wireless and universal communication and entertainment system – which all make a difference to the overall experience for the rider.
RACING AND BRAND DEVELOPMENT
With racing in the DNA of the brand, a strong importance is placed on rider safety at SHARK and it’s not enough to meet the safety standards set, the aim is to exceed them. When it was announced that helmets were required to meet the new FRHPhe-01 homologation required by the FIM, SHARK was the first brand in the world to achieve it – and put forward all sizes in the range.
Alban Rojas, SHARK Helmets Research & Innovation Manager, said: “SHARK Helmets has been relying on motorcycle racing to boost brand development ever since its creation. We are very proud to be one of the first brands in the world to receive the new FRHPhe-01 homologation for our flagship model, the Race-R PRO GP FIM Racing #1.”
Working with top riders across varying championships, SHARK benefits from the feedback of the helmets in some of the most demanding environments. This direct feedback aids the company’s relentless research and development of the whole range.
The advances and changes developed through racing activity helps to improve the performance of every single SHARK helmet sold across the globe.
As well as their support for professional racers, this year, SHARK also signed a three-year deal to be title sponsor for the French round of the MotoGP, making it the ‘SHARK Helmets Grand Prix de France’ for the next three editions taking place at Le Mans in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
‘SHARK Helmets has been relying on motorcycle racing to boost brand development ever since its creation’ SHARK Helmets Research & Innovation Manager, Alban Rojas