The 2013 Schuberth SR1 Motorcycle Helmet
The Schuberth SR1 sport and race helmet, the newest helmet in the Schuberth line-up, is considered the company's masterpiece. The Schuberth SR1 was designed with input from F1 racing legend-turned-motorcycle-racer Michael Schumacher, who close Schuberth helmets over a decade ago. When Schumacher began motorcycle racing in 2006, a new helmet was designed for him, and that helmet served as the prototype for the Schuberth SR1.While the Schuberth SR1 is designed as a sport helmet, it has many features that the regular street rider will appreciate. First and foremost are the helmet's safety aspects. The outer shell is made from a lightweight, fiberglass-reinforced, duroplastic matrix with carbon fiber, and the inner shell uses a complex, multi-zone EPS foam for optimal shock absorption. All combined, our Schuberth SR1 size-large helmet weighs in at just over 1500grams, making it one of the lightest full-face helmet in the market. The Schuberth SR1 uses three shell sizes: XS–S, M-L and XL-XXL.
The patented Anti-Roll-Off System (AROS) not only ensures that the helmet cannot roll off of your head when the double D-ring chin strap is correctly secured, but it also reduces the risk of the helmet's chin section coming into contact with your chin, neck or chest as the result of an accident.
When I first looked at an Schuberth SR1, I thought there would be no way my head would fit into what looked like a very small opening, but with a firm pull, the soft cheek pads gave way and allowed my head to squeeze into the helmet. Because it is a racing-style helmet, it is quite snug, but once on, it is extremely comfortable. Race helmets are generally tighter than touring helmets, but the snug fit also helps to reduce wind noise.
Schuberth helmets are well known for their quietness. Schuberth has designed the world's second quietest wind tunnel, able to generate winds of 240km/h. This wind tunnel enables Schuberth to accurately measure the noise level inside a helmet. One of the main factors in decreasing wind noise is eliminating air entering the helmet around the neck area. The soft cheek pads of the Schuberth SR1 curve in at the bottom to help seal out wind. In what might be construed as a step backwards, the Schuberth SR1 also has small windows on the sides of the helmet that can be opened if you wish to let more noise in. For instance on the road you might want them closed and you would still hear surrounding traffic. The ear openings were recommended bu Schumacher, so that he could better hear any race competitors around him. Removable ear pads are included to further insulate from outside noise. Schuberth claims a maximum noise level inside the helmet of 88 dB(A) at 100km/h. I can't attest to the dB level, but I can say that the helmet is likely the quietest I have ever worn.The wind tunnel also aided in the design of the helmet's aerodynamics for peak performance. The Schuberth SR1 has a small built-in chin spoiler to increase down force at high speeds, and a two-position rear spoiler to help reduce lift and drag.
Full-face helmets can be sweltering in the heat of mid-day in Thailand. On of the most welcomed features of the Schuberth SR1 is the amount of airflow through the helmet. It has two adjustable vents on top, and two chin vents. On chin vent directs airflow up inside the visor to help keep it clear (the SR1 comes with an anti-fog pinlock system), and the second chin vent adjusts to direct air either to the face or cheeks. This allows a whopping 10 liters of air per second at 100km/h to enter and exhaust out of the helmet. That can make a big difference riding in tropical Thailand. In addition, the washable cheek pads and inner liner are made of quick-drying Coolmax microfiber.
The eye-port is wide for excellent peripheral vision, and the polycarbonate face shield has a Class 1 optical rating for practically distortion free vision. Changing the face shield is done using a simple push-button release system. In addition to the clear face shield, light-tint, dark-tint and mirrored shields are available. (The tinted shields are “officially” illegal in Thailand).
