The Breakdown
Pros
Cons
wBW readers and fans of modular helmets everywhere will note that the original Shoei Neotec was introduced in 2012, and since its introduction it has rightfully earned and maintained its reputation as one of the best modular helmets around. In fact, earlier this year we selected it for our recommended modular helmets guide.
The Neotec gave riders exactly what they would have expected from a premium modular produced by a top-class brand like Shoei: exceptional build, great ventilation, an internal sun visor, and good ergonomics.
An act like that is tough to follow.
Still, the Neotec II does so with experienced confidence and easily earns a place as one of the segment leaders.
The Neotec II is new for this year, and while it’s easy to assume that it’s an evolution of the aging Neotec, most of the helmet has been rethought or upgraded. According to Shoei, the Neotec II is quieter, more comfortable, and features improved aerodynamics. You can (and should) reference our original Neotec review for comparison purposes as I don’t have an original Neotec handy for proper side by side.
Pricing for the Neotec II ranges, from $699 for single-color to $799 for something with graphics.
After a few weeks of riding, these are my thoughts on the Matte Deep Grey Shoei Neotec II.
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Exterior Appearance & Finishing
From an aesthetic perspective, the matte finish on the tester I have here looks great. As you would expect from Shoei, the finish is top-notch. You won’t find any eggshelling, wraps at the seams, or variations in the color. The finish is even and uniform on every surface of the helmet.
The only splash of color on this colorway is the orangey-red chinbar release lever. Otherwise, it’s monochrome all around.
Compared to the original Neotec, the updated version is sleeker, with fewer lines and edges to disrupt them. Notably, the “forehead” partition is gone, and the upper vent is more distinct – looking a bit like a hood scoop – while the rest of the helmet is smoothly contoured and finished.
Other visual differences between the two:
- The chin vent is black and noticeably smaller compared to the color-matched vent on the Neotec
- The rear of the helmet is again streamlined, with the curve from front to back extending somewhat lower than the original
- The rear vent is more stylized, better flowing with the lines of the hemet
Personally, I think the Neotec II looks significantly better than the Neotec (which itself wasn’t a bad looking helmet).
Colorways
You can get the Neotec II in eight solid colors and three graphic versions. The solid colors are black, white, matte black, anthracite metallic, matte deep grey, light silver, matte blue metallic, and wine red.
The graphic versions are the Excursion TC-3 (yellow), Excursion TC-5 (grey/red/black), and Excursion TC-6 (white/red/black).
Finishing Quality
As mentioned earlier, the quality of the paint is quite good. It’s uniform throughout. However, the matte deep grey version I have here is already showing some blemishes.
I managed to scuff the paint doing I’m not sure what, as I haven’t dropped the helmet or hit anything that I’m aware of. A layer of clear coat may have prevented the scuff in question, but I suppose I’ll never know what caused it in the first place. Bummer.
Matte finishes are notorious for being more fragile than their clear-coated compatriots, so it’s hard to be more than a touch frustrated over the appearance of the white mark on the chinbar. Considering the light use the helmet had received up until that point – with barely 150km of seat time in it – I’m concerned that longevity of this colorway may be an issue.
The Neotec II will get plenty of use this summer, so I’ll post an update at the end of September and see how the finish has held up.
Fit & Comfort
The Neotec II fits a little snug. In his original Neotec review, Rick commented that the interior shape was “neutral to a T”, and I’d have to say the same thing about its predecessor. Most people will find the Neotec II comfortable to wear.
I haven’t noticed any pressure points while wearing it. It wraps firmly around my head and chin, but not to the point that it is uncomfortable. The helmet feels secure, moving and staying in position with my head as I rock my head backward and forward, left to right.
With the SRL integrated, the Neotec II weighs 4.2lbs, which is near the bottom of our 272 helmet comparison… and nearly right on top of the original Neotec.
Airflow & Venting
The chinbar vent is dual purpose: it brings airflow into the helmet to keep you cool, and it also keeps the visor free of fog. I haven’t had the ability to ride the Neotec II in wet weather (yet, Calgary is living in a drought at the moment), so I’m unsure of how changes in humidity would impact the system’s effectiveness. I will update the review when I have an opportunity.
The air brought in from the chin vent is directed towards the exhaust port – locked open. The top vent also routes via the exhaust. The chin vent is either open or closed, but the crown vent has three positions: open, somewhat open, and closed. With the vents closed there is a small but tangible reduction in road noise.
Pleasantly, air from the chin vent does not land directly on the eyes and avoids eye irritation- something I’ve experienced with other helmets.
Micro-Ratchet Strap
Shoei is using a micro-ratchet strap on the Neotec II. Unfortunately, I was never able to get the micro-ratchet strap as comfortable as I’d like. As a result, it always sort of pressed into my neck whenever I was looking down. At first I thought it was how I had it set up, and so I tried reconfiguring the lead given to mechanism, but I was only able to make it less uncomfortable as opposed to eliminating the discomfort entirely.
This is the only downer to the Neotec II. If this were a double-D ring I don’t doubt that it’d be perfectly comfortable. As it is, the micro-ratchet strap is an annoying but tolerable pain in the neck.
Also worth noting is that, so far, I’m the only person that’s tried it on to express said discomfort. Perhaps I’m an anomaly?
Fit
The rest of the helmet fits like a glove, as I’ve mentioned already. I can wear the Neotec II a long time without feeling neck fatigue, in part because the interior comfort system does an excellent job managing pressure.
The fit is unchanged with the addition of the SRL- the earpieces and microphone blend right into the overall design of the helmet and do not intrude in any way.
Noise
What really impresses me about the Neotec II is how quiet it is. It’s quite good for a modular.
The liner seals firmly against your head and chin, and the liner and interior comfort system work well together to keep unwanted sounds and vibrations out. There’s no whistling at speed, though wind buffeting is noticable (as it is on any helmet). Compared to the Vemar Sharki I reviewed last month, the Neotec II is considerably quieter inside.
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Visibility
The viewport on the Neotec II is functionally identical to the original; the Neotec II is perfectly fine with respect to visibility, granting its wearer an expansive field of view. I do not feel my visibility while wearing it is at all restricted, and that extends well into my peripheral vision as well.
Face Shield
The face shield – the CNS-3 – is UV blocking and is a high-quality piece overall. It moves throughout its range of motion smoothly and feels secure doing it.
Optics are also quite good, with minimal distortion or haze that I can discern. Fact is, it’s a solid piece that does its job. You won’t notice that it’s there, which is kind of the point.
Pinlock Visor
A Pinlock EVO visor is included if you want to add it to the face shield.
Integrated Sun Visor
The built-on QSV-1 sun shield is one smooth operator. The left-side mounted slider – in the same spot and of the same design as the original Neotec – slides easily, with no sticking. Near the top of the range it will stay in whatever setting you leave it in, or it will snap to its uppermost position.
The visor provides ample sun protection, with 90% of the visible area shaded. Only about a fifth of my vision – the bottom left/right periphery – is unshielded.
In-Helmet Audio & Communication Via the SENA SRL
Both SENA and Shoei have been marketing the integration of the SRL for the Neotec II quite heavily. The system is designed to integrate seamlessly into the Neotec II, offering an aesthetically-pleasing way to listen to music, take calls, or use your smartphone’s navigation.
The SRL has a lot of functionality and shortcuts to learn- I’ll go into more depth in its dedicated review. Here, I’ll touch on how it works with the Neotec II.
Installation Tips
Installation of the system is easy – taking about 10-15 minutes the first time you do it – and the finished product looks great.
As the SRL is designed for the Neotec, the buttons look as if they always came with the helmet. There are no bulky control units on the side of the helmet, or any other visual indicator (aside from the microphone) that you’ve installed anything at all.
SENA has a handy installation video that makes the installation process a snap. I recommend following it vs. floundering about yourself.
Using the SRL
The left-side mounted buttons are easy to operate, though the process is somewhat clunky with gloves. SENA has various voice commands built-in; you simple say “hello, SENA” to get the AI-party started.
I prefer a more tactile approach and was able to learn the three-buttons positioning on the Neotec II quickly. The result is a system that is very intuitive to use when making simple adjustments, such as raising/lowering the volume or taking incoming calls.
Speaking of taking incoming calls, it’s a one-touch gesture to do so: when your phone rings, pressing the center button on the SRL will answer the call.
One thing to note: the pairing process is less intuitive than you’d think when looking at the quick guide.
- The guide calls for you to hold the center button for 12 seconds. After about 10 seconds, the intercom will announce pairing mode.
- Continue holding the center button for another 2 seconds, at which point the intercom will announce configuration menu.
- At that point, press the + button and the helmet goes into phone pairing mode.
I must have spent 10 minutes trying to get the helmet to pair before I discovered that “pairing mode” isn’t actually the mode to be in if you want to pair your phone.
Sound & Microphone Quality
Once you have everything paired up, using the SRL via your phone is like any other Bluetooth speaker/headset. The SENA Utility app allows you to configure the various settings of your SRL (things like audio compensation, multitasking, etc.).
Sound quality of both streaming audio/navigation and phone calls is pretty good. Calls are mostly clear at city speeds, and the person on the other end will hear you. Most people I talked to were genuinely surprised when I told them I was doing 30 – 50 mph on my motorcycle.
Streaming audio sounded surprisingly good considering the background noise of the bike, wind, traffic, etc.. The Neotec II is well-sealed with minimal air flow through the chinbar and visor port, the result of which is a good environment for in-helmet audio.
Well, as good of an environment as in-helmet audio gets, anyway.
However, at highway speeds, buffeting against the helmet drowns out the audio from the SRL at all but the highest volumes. Tucking into the slipstream improves this noticeably, and at city speeds, the audio quality is acceptable. You lose most bass tones when you’re moving quickly, but that is also true of any in-helmet intercom system.
Negative experiences with the SRL are limited to small things:
- There were a few instances where my phone lost connection with the helmet, once requiring me to pull over and re-pair the SRL to my Galaxy S8. The re-pairing situation only happaned once in the two-dozen drips or so I used it on.
- The SRL mouthpiece is always in place and sometimes it gets in the way. The chin protector often hits the microphone while being raised and lowered.
Overall, SENA’s SRL is the obvious companion to the Neotec II. It’s easy to install and asks for no aesthetic tradeoff. It sounds good and enhances the ride.
In Conclusion, the Neotec II is a Comfortable & Feature Rich Flip-Up Helmet
When your floor price is $699, it’s reasonable to have high standards. That’s a fair investment in your comfort and safety, and for that money, the Neotec II doesn’t disappoint.
Long-term durability of the finish may not be the best, but that’s also somewhat expected from a matte colorway. I’ll post an update at the end of the season to see how the finish has weathered.
All told, Shoei put out a truly excellent helmet in the new Neotec that offers its wearer the best in modular design and technology. It is a high-quality package that riders will enjoy and requires few compromises. The notable caveat here is the micro-ratchet strap, which is better than it was when I first got it but not as comfortable as the typical double-D (for me, anyway).
It’s price competitive with modular segment leaders and will be good option for a lot of riders. If you are currently shopping for a Klim TK1200, SCHUBERTH C4 or C3 Pro, then the Neotec II should also be on your list.
Disclosure: Shoei and SENA provided the Neotec II/SRL free of charge for my review.
Pros
Cons
Specs
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Great review!
I agree that the micro-ratcheting chain strap is a pain — literally! Partially because it pulls against the front of my neck, right above my Adam’s apple. And partially because the strap is exposed where it touches my neck. The two lengths of padding between the strap and my neck don’t extend far enough, leaving the center of the strap unpadded. Plus, the strap incorporates lots of hard pokey bits made of metal, plastic, and hard rubber that the two lengths of padding don’t do much for.
That echoes my experience. The way I’ve gotten around it is by pulling the strap as far forward as possible and putting a small bit of cloth underneath. It’s not the most comfortable I’ve worn, but it’s resolved the issue and made long-distance riding possible. I’ve put ~600km on the helmet since I acquired it and found that “hack” did the job.
Shame to do it on a $700 helmet, but considering the rest of the package…
I agree with you both on the ratchet strap and it being some what uncomfortable. I’ll try the work around you mentioned for some more comfort.
Also, I ordered my Sena SRL back in April and still waiting on it, what a shame guess Sena had some issues with it and has resulted in delayed shipping from Revzilla where I also purchased the Neotec II. Love the Helmet and man it is sure a lot reduces outside noise, much better than my current lid-HJC Sy-MaxII. Ride Safe! P.S. Nice write up review!
I’ve been able to really enjoy the Neotec II after considerable tinkering with the strap. I think that those of us with more prominent adams apples are the ones feeling the pain, so to speak.
I have about 500 miles so far with my Neotec II / SRL combo. I’m not having the chinstrap issue discussed, and find it an incredibly comfortable helmet, better than my original Neotec. I love the integration of the SRL into the helmet with only one desired change. The battery should be removable so you only have to bring it inside for charging instead of having to bring in the entire helmet. It would also be better if it had an easier to plug in connector. Micro USB can be difficult to plug in while lifting the little rubber cover and managing the position the helmet. Is it worth the $1,100 total investment? For me, it’s an unqualified YES!
I agree re: the battery. However, counterpoint: if they make the battery removable, I bet it would impact the water resistance of the unit. Considering that it can be exposed to water due to where it sits at the rear/base of the helmet, I’m glad to trade off a bit of convenience for sake of all-weather ridability.
Speculation on my part, though.
After another 500 miles, all the while communicating with a riding buddy or listening to music, I’m even more impressed with this combination. The Neotec II has gotten even more comfortable with additional miles, and I’ve had absolutely no problem hearing music played over the SRL even at extra-legal (I’ll deny it under interrogation!) speeds. Of course, your motorcycle has a lot to do with this too. I ride a BMW R1200RT which is exceptionally quite behind the fairing and windscreen, but I’ve had no problem on my 1996 Interceptor either. I did learn not to set the audio boost to “on” as it only appeared to reduce bass response without any benefit.
You do realize that the micro-ratchet chin strap does have some adjustability to it? There’s not a huge amount but you can get some additional slack.
It certainly helped with my Neotec 2 fit.
Oh yes, trust me, I’ve tried.
Retired my Multitec Shoei & bought at end of March 2018: Neo Tec 2,XL White.Yep,glad for adjustment on chin strap, getting use to finding right ratchet spot, the snug fitting with padding & chin curtain keeps noise level very low. The visor has a lip on the top which rests on a rubber seal around the top of opening,a gunnel for rain, a good feature as well as a pinlock,breath deflector & sunvisor Also Shoei adds an extra 2 years of shelf live when helmet is bought in year made: read the manual so instead of 5 yrs you get 7 yrs. Thxs to various reports on all modulars,think this Neo Tec is money well spent. The sena stuff maybe get later.
Why would shelf life hurt a helmet? A helmet isn’t being used or exposed to the effects of the sun sitting in a box. I’m pretty sure these recommendations refer to a service life, not a shelf life.
I have heard racing regulations go by a shelf life, but how else would they do it? There’s no way of proving how long you’re actually been wearing the helmet.
I have a question hopefully someone can answer. can a person use ear buds with the Sena system, instead of the helmet speakers?
No. The SRL is an integrated unit – the speakers are attached.
The metal chinstrap made this helmet unusable and a no purchase for me. I so wanted to buy this helmet, wore it 10 minutes in store. Then I forgot, I hadn’t fastened it. OWW! PAIN! Digging into my adam’s apple. Even loose it hurt. I had my wife try it on, same thing, she was panicking saying “get it off” not being able to find the release.
Shoei lost my business on this one.
I have never been a brand loyalty kinda buyer and prefer to judge each purchase by the merit of the product. Still, 5 out of 5 of my latest helmets were Shoei, because of fit/features/function. I still wear a GT-Air but the 5+yr old Neotec is getting pretty beat up. Neotec II was the 1st I considered but eliminated as soon as I saw how the Sena integration precludes the use of any other system. I like my Uclear on the left side and action cam on the right. Neotec II won’t let me mount either, forcing me to buy an over-priced mediocre system is a big NO-NO.
Schuberth integrates SENA crap too, but at least they leave the helmet sides clear to mount other BT devices. AGV’s new Sportmodular is integration-free and super lightweight full carbon, which is looking better and better.
With GT-Air II having the same problem, when it comes time to replace my GT-Air, Shoei will cease to exist in my gear closet. Shame.
Others have had no problem mounting Sena 20S to the spot for the SRL controls
Kudos to webbike world for publishing the pros and the cons on all m/c products. Here is my Canadian peso’s worth.
Vlog issue of mounting the cam well, I preferr not even to
have an ” intercomm connexion”; as I ride in solitude and it
gives me perspective on issues.
Perhaps if I were to go into vlogging my rides then there are work around solutions to connect a cam to a helmet see Sena Prism with a clasp slip on to the under rim area of m/c helmet.Maybe it will or won’t work. No product is 100%.
The chin strap clasp for me is not an issue as a snug hold beats a rattling around skid lid on the ground which may twist your head off if not secured snuggly.Yes,it took awhile to find the happy clasp zone; using your fingers in
tight space should come naturally !
Protective gears’ sole purpose is reducing the severity of an injury. Ear plugs are protective which I use.
The shoei manual for a NeoTec 11: states that in the year of purchase i.e mine 2018, OEM will extend its warranty
for another 2 years; hence instead of 5 years the buyer is
given 7 years. Shelf life vs warranty are two different
concepts
The manual indicates how to find the year of construction on the inside of helmet; one removes the washable lining then on a decal sticking to the helmet is the info! So,I hung on to my receipt for the NeoTec 11, purchase in 2018
My NeoTec 11; is excellant in the wind stream especially
when I turn my head sideways; comes with a pinlock; which sold seperately by m/c dealers costs a dear penny. Also,the breath shield is useful as well as the chin curtin and the neck roll padding helps to keep a lot of wind out !
Close helmet vents during cold weather my noggin is warm: hot weather, open vents with the modular flipped up, so cool;yes the dark sliding face screen is great in sunny times when dusk starts then dark screen is slide into helmet storage space & modular helmet clear screen is employed.
My only con is that all m/c helmets have a life span regulated and mandated by different gov’t sanctioned
groups that using scatter gun approach to the viability of
the brain bucket . 10 TO 12 years would be a better
range then the arbitrary tests and evaluations which no
one group uses all tests to give the legal sanction of use.
One thing I found interesting when Jim and I visited SNELL: a helmet from 30 years ago still passed many of their modern tests. There’s a myth that you only get 5 years from a helmet- you can get longer if it’s cared for well.
But I think that’s a topic for another day 🙂
A helmet indoors for 30 years isn’t suffering the damaging effects of the sun.
Have to disagree about the noise levels, mine is super noisy and unusable without earplugs. The padding has loosened up noticeably as well.
I think it’s important to be relative. Compared to other modulars I’ve worn, the Neotec II is relatively quiet (the C4 Pro even moreso). Compared to the GT-Air II, the Neotec II might as well be a wind tunnel.
Long time, first time.
I’ve had the Neotec 2 for about 500 miles now. I’ve only worn Shoei because they just kinda always fit my head and I became somewhat of a helmet snob. I figured the minor things that bothered me in the store would sort themselves out once the helmet broke in. Couple things:
1) the ratchet neck strap is a nice idea, but it presses against my throat too much. The aft mounting position of the AGV sport modular was why I didn’t pursue that option, and it’s only marginally better on the N2. The ratchet is covered by a rubber sleeve that adds to its bulk. It’s more comfortable without it. The problem is the secondary straps that prevent the main strap from swinging forward are too restrictive. This is likely more of an issue for me because my neck does a straight line from my chin to my Adam’s apple. Instead of more normal people having an arc or bend.
2) The sun shield needs to come down another 1/2 to 3/4 inch. It’s REEEEALLY annoying how a $700 helmet has such a lame design flaw.
3) The head shape in this helmet is narrower that my Qwest. Removing the liner, there is an odd flat section above the ear and forward towards the temple and then a step down to the jaw foam and ear cup. Two days ago my head was throbbing but I couldn’t pinpoint from where until I started massaging my head. I thought it was the check pads but it was the foam. I used my thumb to compress that weird step and make the foam a more continuous shape above the ear. Problem solved.
4) trying to install anything other than the prescribed Sena comm system is terrible. Speaker holes don’t fit the old speakers, the routing for the boom mic is too small, blah blah blah. And I have to mount the unit further back around my head so accessibility is worse.
5) chin curtain hits the front of my chin just enough to drive me insane. Any stubble amplifies this.
What do I like? Well, it’s a Shoei so the fit and finish is superb. The mechanism is a super clean design (but do we really need a big red thing on the front? Come on, man). I like how far the check pads wrap around my face when the face is up. Airflow is fine, comfort is good. Noise is what it is. No weird suction or wobble issues.
But I’ll be honest, the helmet market is absolutely saturated with options for a $700 helmet to have not-picky issues like this. Most of this has work arounds, but again, I think there is a lot of quality to be had out there at a lower price point.