By Mark
We like design here at Stay On The Black, very keen you might say. I’m sure that’s evident from the Concept Motorcycles area we have and, whilst we’ve received a few jackets or helmets, it’s mostly dominated by motorcycles.
This is fine, not a problem, I mean what can you do with a helmet really? Well step forward Schuberth, right now you’re probably thinking ‘a flip up helmet’ right? Wrong, step forward Schuberth with the incredible looking S2.
Just look at it! Nothing you stick on your bonce should have the right to look that good. But it does, I don’t think I’ve ever said ‘wow’ on viewing a motorcycle helmet but I did when I saw this.
The design looks superb, whilst it has the elements on there you would expect, the air vents, the visor – critical that bit – they are elegantly fitted, they don’t look ‘stuck on’ they seem to have been thought about.
It looks like it belongs on the track, but this is Schuberth we’re talking about and they have of course gone the extra mile.
Schuberth say the helmet is designed to be an all-round helmet and is the world’s first motorcycle helmet with two integrated antennas for optimised Bluetooth and radio reception.
The helmet also has an integrated sun visor, taken from their touring helmets, a weight of around 1.450g (depending on size) with a shell made of a special composite material of structural fibreglass sandwiched in a special woven matrix.
The S2’s ventilation system has been created from Schuberths research in its own wind tunnel and their experience from Formula 1. Schuberth say even on a long ride, the rider’s head will remain significantly cooler, mainly due to the spoiler at the rear of the helmet which conceals two ‘powerful’ air extraction vents.
The reduced pressure at the back of the helmet creates an air siphoning effect pulling more air through and providing the rider with increased cooling. The air intake on the top of the helmet has three different settings including fully closed and the air ducts inside the helmet have also been extended allowing a larger area to be ventilated and cooled.
Even the chin vent has been thought about, at 100kms per hour they say over ten litres of fresh air will flow through the helmet and around the rider’s head.
The lining, as you would expect, uses materials like Coolmax and Thermocool and is fully removable and washable, interchangeable cheek pads should ensure a good fit, a removable acoustic collar and a Micro-lock retention system on the chin straps.
The integrated sun visor, something I can testify comes in very handy, is based on racing helmets and is designed to follow the line of the bridge of the nose with more coverage in the eye area. Both sides of the sun visor have an anti-scratch coating and Schuberth say the lever is easy to use, even while wearing gloves.
Sound wise Schuberth say you can expect 85 dB/A at speeds of 100km/h.
So the big question, what does it cost? Well it looks stunning, on paper it makes all the right sounds so don’t expect it to be cheap. The S2 goes on sale at the beginning of March and starts at £449.99, not the most expensive but it may make some of you wince.
It’s on my Christmas list though that’s for sure! It looks stunning and, on paper, ticks all the right boxes…now if they’d only send us one to test we could tell you if it does what it says.
