A year with the Shoei X-spirit III
I’VE BEEN USING Shoei’s flagship race helmet since its release in 2016 and I’ve covered thousands of miles on the road and hundreds on track. Occasionally I’ll test a different helmet yet each time I slip the X-spirit III back on it’s a reminder of how good a helmet can feel.
It’s really light, at 1400g, and fits my head almost perfectly, so it’s all-day comfy even at motorway speed. The lining is removable but it isn’t the plushest. It wicks sweat away like no other though and on top of that, it’s still in tip-top condition.
The shell design is an obvious — and drastic — evolution of its predecessor, the X-spirit II (which I also used extensively). The aero spoiler is exaggerated and there are some detachable plastic wings that seem as much a styling exercise as functional components. In spite of their flimsy looks, they’re tough though. They’ve taken their fair share of knocks and scrapes in vans, cars and planes and there’s no damage.
The vents are a complete redesign though. I struggle to use the top and forehead ones with gloves on but the two chin vents are easy and very effective. Even on a roasting-hot trackday, it still sucks enough air through to keep me cool.
The only negative is the noise. It’s a lid made for the racetrack, not the road so sound-deadening materials are at a minimum (hence the low weight) and the aero gubbins also generate noise. At the correct angle, tucked in a racing crouch behind a fairing, it’s perfect... but in the real world, on a normal bike, the wind hits it in a way it’s not designed to handle. So you’ll definitely regret it if you forget your earplugs.
After two years of use, the visor mechanism still feels crisp and positive, as does the removal system — because, like the rest of the helmet, it’s a topquality item. A result of designing to a standard, not a price. A truly excellent helmet.