Shoei GT-AIR vs. GT-AIR II ROAD TEST | FortaMoto.com

[@davewhiting3296]

I've owned a GT-Air for about ten years and decided to upgrade to the GT-Air 2. It's a great helmet but the noise level increase with the visor open is unbearable. In Florida we ride with the visor open a lot so this is a deal breaker. I simply couldn't believe how much louder it is than the GT-Air. Even with ear plugs I found the intense rumbling painful at time. I've returned the GT-Air 2 and will keep my GT-Air until I can find something else.

[@rleon8339]

I've had this helmet for almost two weeks now. Nice all around helmet but the deal-killer for me is that the rear vents are passive and cannot be closed Therefore even with the front vent closed, air is still being drawn in. I rode in chilly air a few mornings and the top of my head was COLD. Others have complained about this too. Returning the helmet.

[@dv2045]

heya. is this helmet quiet? will a cardo talkpak fit in this helmet? thxs

[@purushful]

@@dv2045 i have the same question, excellent helmet. Did u end up putting a cardo in the gt air 2?

[@dv2045]

@@purushful heya. I did place the Cardo Slim. It barely fits.

[@johnwilmott8063]

Thanks for the comparison review. I had looked at the gt air 1, but opted for the ryd instead as it scored five stars in the sharp safety test. Don't know about the air 2, however i'd suggest it would want to be doing a little better on the safety star rating, as helmets costing less than half the price of gt air 2 can achieve a higher rating.

[@GeorgiaGrowGuy]

The original GT air is a really noisy helmet. I would never buy another one again, I own 2 of them (stupid me for buying for style before testing). Get a RF 1200 if you want a shoei, the difference in sound is huge. I suffer from tinnitus and I would never recommend a noisy helmet unless your ride is really short. The same goes for their modular helmet (I don't recall the name). My Scorpion helmets are much more quite than any comparable shoei. I ride with the shoei because I have more confidence in the safety. Cheers Fortamoto for you review, not trying to crap on it; just sharing an experience.

[@FortaMoto]

At the end of the day it is a personal thing and it definitely will vary per bike. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@AudriusN]

I see that noise is a very personal issue. I have a Qwest which was advertised as very quiet, but it is unbearable for me, GT-Air is much quiter.

[@ddimosthenes1]

Its all about helmets (riding) position against wind. Gt air serie its for upper (touring) riding position.

[@Jovi_97]

I think it’s decently quiet actually. But I would never ride without earplugs with any helmet anyway so I don’t think it makes a huge difference for me.

[@dv2045]

@@Jovi_97 heya. so the NXR/RF1200 is quieter than the GT2?

[@HarambeWasAHero]

@FortaMoto Is the GT Air 2 LOUDER than the GT Air 1, about the same, or quieter overall?

[@shaunrawson6555]

The GT Air 1 is so noisy it's insane

[@BoZhaoengineering]

Miss that the Netherlands roads. I still prefer the old GT air because it is universal to any Bluetooth headset. My Cardo smart headset is excellent and I keep the bottom on that old GT air.

[@tigerick7291]

I've never had a problem with my GT Air 1 reflecting wind! 😄

[@ckc5185]

Great vid as always! Love the music! What is it?

[@InegoMinblan]

So the material is closer more to fiberglass or carbon ? Not too heavy for such price point ? Still no results from Sharp test ?

[@c-claudel]

Shoei worked exactly on things i didn´t like at the GT-AIR! Sunvisor to short, Chinstrap, huge holes at the ventilation top (bugs can get inside the helmet) and finally no slightly open position for the visor, which the new one have now! For me, well done Shoei! Hope the overall quality is still on "shoei-level". Maybe in the future some improvements on the pinlock seals!? They are pretty thick on shoei helmets! I like them as thin as possible so you don´t notice them that much.

[@FortaMoto]

The GT-Air II is definitely still on Shoei level. I didn't really have an issue with Pinlock seals while riding, the helmet comes with a Pinlock Evo lens - which pretty much covers all of the visor.

[@TomerShtein]

Nice review. What about weight? Which one is lighter ?

[@leewatkeys9065]

Good review back to back. But which is best, white or brown sliced bread? 😀

[@rleon8339]

Were you saying you felt a cold spot on your head with the I or II?

[@dv2045]

In Revzilla forums the buyers seems to complain about the back airflow and the Sena system sucks

[@adamperkins3125]

Great video, I think the highlight was the part about buttered bread.lol

[@FortaMoto]

I figured it was a fairly honest way of describing the new GT-Air II. An improvement over the original GT-Air, but not life changing.

[@buulee1]

Which one is quieter ?? I use GT Air and isn't so quiet in comparision with my old SHOEI XR900

[@paulk9188]

I had a Shoei GT-Air but when I got a new bike, I got major buffering(Indian Chieftain) I switched to a Shoei RF-SR, much quieter, cheaper & just as good ventilation. Picked up the self tinting visor, & really liking it much more than the GT-Air.

[@Jovi_97]

What I got from this was that there is no big reason to get the new one instead of the old

[@ContextIQ]

Is the GT AIR 2 more quiet than the 1st version?

[@FortaMoto]

Marginally, I would say. Although it can differ per person, not every helmet fits everyone as tightly - which definitely makes a difference.

[@ContextIQ]

@@FortaMoto uhm ....thx for the initial response but that argument would also count for the first version of the gtair. As in the test the same person tried both ... what is than the verdict?

[@FortaMoto]

Like I said, it's only marginally quieter than the GT-Air I in my opinion.

[@ContextIQ]

@@FortaMoto Thx. Aa I do own the first version and am thinking about the 2nd. But would only do so if the noise levels would be lower or the same. Thx.

[@Doug_Morgan]

@@FortaMoto How about in comparison to the Neotec 2 that you tested?

[@badgerwatkins]

Airflow: Garbage. Anything less than ~50mph you just get a stagnate pocket of air around your mouth. Noise: Louder than the GTAir. Weight: Heavier than the GTAir. Sun Visor: Lighter than the GTAir to the point where it's basically pointless. Visor: In making it wider, they made it too flexible. Pushing down on the tab to latch the visor down DOESN'T WORK because the visor flexes and bows out on the other side instead of latching. You have to either grab the whole thing and slam it down, or press in the right side of the visor to line up the latch, and that only works sometimes. Last thing you need at freeway speeds is to have to be screwing around with a poorly designed latch! Shoei should be embarrassed to have ever put this out on the market in this state. If there were any original GTAir helmets still for sale I'd buy one of those over this in a heartbeat.

[@Banditmanuk]

We have just bought new GT Air helmets, not the 2. Our biggest reason for sourcing the older model is coms. The 2 has prep on the sides for a sena system that makes fitting the superior Cardo Packtalk bold very difficult. Why Shoei should link with one manufacturer for one coms system on a touring helmet is beyond me. They have fitted a ratchet fastening on the GT2 instead of the super safe double D on the the original. They have done away with the vent closure on the rear of the GT Air 2 meaning if it's cold and maybe you are short of hair, the venturi affect will still make your head cold. Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with the drop down sun visor on the original and when it's hot it remains sturdy enough to withstand Highway wind blast with the main visor up.