Here's why the Schuberth S3 became my new favourite helmet right from the first ride

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The Schuberth S3 is the German manufacturers first ECE 22.06 full face motorcycle helmet. It’s a sports-touring helmet so it should offer a happy balance of race derived features with the practicality and comfort of a touring helmet. But how does it stack up?

How comfortable is the Schuberth S3?

From the very first time that I pulled this helmet onto my head, it was immediately evident that this was a top spec lid. I had never had a Schuberth before, having always thought of the brand being primarily modular flip front style helmets, that weren’t really my bag. When the S3 was offered to me, I thought I’d give it ago.

I wear a small in most helmets and this is no different, the shape of the S3 shell fits so snuggly that it feels as though it was designed specifically for my head. There is absolutely no unwanted movement or pressure points causing discomfort or headaches.

The padding is really plush and hasn’t collapsed or given way at all so far, holding its shape perfectly. I’m not generally a really big mile rider, but I have worn this helmet for a three hour ride in one stint and at no point did I find myself counting down to when I could remove it. I’d go so far as to say this is the most comfortable helmet that I have had the pleasure of slipping into.

What’s the visor like?

The visor is crystal clear and comes with a Pinlock 120, which does a great job of preventing mist ups. Having been using this lid for commuting in all weathers, I have cleaned it a fair few times and it has not dulled or swirled at all, it’s still as crystal clear now as when it was brand new.

The field of vision allows for great visibility, however I find that as you might expect with this style of helmet, it’s a little high when bent over, riding a sportsbike like my Suzuki SV650S, in comparison to a more racy lid.

Changing the visor is really simple, all it takes is to slide the little release levers either side and open it all the way, until it pops off. And then do the reverse to replace it. Easy!

The drop down sun visor uses a slider mechanism on the side of the helmet. It’s easy to operate, even with winter gloves on. It provides welcome shade from the bright sun but I would prefer it to be a little darker as I still find myself squinting a little.

How good is the ventilation on the S3?

The ventilation in this helmet has been well thought out, with a vent on the top of the head and two vents in the chin bar. They pull plenty of air through the helmet, sometimes a little too much if you open them all the way in winter. Enough to give you a touch of brain freeze.

The top chin vent pulls air in and pushes it up and across the visor, which means that you never really have to worry about fogging.  A removable and replaceable filter makes keeping the chin vent clean a doddle.

How quiet is the Schuberth S3?

I noticed how quiet the S3 was in comparison to my previous Shark D-Skwal 3, it felt like when you close the doors on a luxury car and you notice the quietness from the sound deadening. I always wear earplugs when I ride, but having lost one while out on a ride, I opted to ride without them as a test (don’t try this at home, etc.) and I didn’t find that the wind noise was unpleasantly loud. My ears didn’t ring when removing my helmet at the end of the 60-mile ride.

I have the Sena SC2 intercom added to mine, which came with the mic and speakers already fitted, so all that was required was to clip in the control buttons and the power unit at the back of the helmet. These sit neatly in pre-set recesses, which are not flush to the helmet but they do look neat and are less bulky than other more universal intercom units.

Is it a good looking helmet?

Looks are quite a subjective thing, so opinions may vary, but I rather like the look of the S3, the lines of the shell give it a sporty feel, along with the brightly coloured design options. I have the Daytona Red variant, and I really like the colour blocks of the red, white and black.

Being a more practical sport-touring helmet, there’s no big spoilers or fins, which I wouldn’t complain at having; I quite like a helmet that wouldn’t look entirely out of place on the set of a sci-fi film. However, that said, for the everyday commute, I don’t miss them.

Is it good quality?

I have always ridden in helmets that are in the lower price bracket, and the difference in the quality is really noticeable. Not knocking the cheaper helmets at all, as we all have a budget, but this Schuberth is just built differently. You can see where the extra money goes, the paint finish is flawless and hasn’t shown any damage yet, and that’s with me accidentally knocking it into things when determined to carry all of my kit in one trip.

It feels sturdy, without being overly heavy at 1690g with the intercom fitted. The vents and sun visor slider are smooth to use but don’t feel at all flimsy. The padding feels dense, so you feel secure, and it has a good grip on your head, without being rigid or uncomfortable.

The chin strap is a ratchet type, which I personally prefer as I find the D-loop ones fiddly, especially if you forget to do it up before putting on your gloves.

Is the S3 good value for money?

There is no avoiding that this is not a budget helmet, at just shy of £400 in some outlets without intercom fitted, it’s a fair wedge of your hard-earned cash, but I am definitely convinced that it’s worth it. The extra financial layout means that you end up with a helmet that is not a chore to wear.

At that price point it puts it in competition with the likes of the AGV K6 S at around £320 and the Shoei NXR2 at around £450, depending on which design you choose.

So what’s the verdict?

The Schuberth S3 immediately became my favourite helmet, right from the very first mile I road in it. The difference in wind noise, comfort of the padding and ventilation was evident as soon as I hit the road. I’ll take some serious convincing to move on to another one.

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