The Shark Aeron GP has stunning looks and gorgeous quality, but I would buy the Race R Pro GP

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The first motorcycle helmet in the world to feature active aero, Shark’s Aeron GP sits at the very top of their range alongside the Race R Pro, and has been designed with the high speeds of MotoGP in mind.

The French firm have been at the forefront of helmet innovation, being one of the first to meet the enhanced FIM helmet safety standard in 2019, the first to gain dual homologation status on a flip-front, the first to integrate rechargeable LEDs into a lid, plus one of the pioneers of large aerodynamic spoilers for helmets.

Therefore, the Aeron GP’s patented A²S Adaptive Aero System comes as no real surprise from a manufacturer so keen to push the boundaries of technology.

The rear spoiler features two articulated flaps on either side which are then actuated by air pressure as the bike gains speed. The flaps both allow the Aeron to better direct the flow of air over the rider’s leathers when in a racing tuck, improving overall aerodynamics by reducing drag. They also mitigate what Shark call ‘flag effect’, which is when the wind catches and pulls the helmet when you turn your head, something which is exacerbated by having large fixed spoilers on a helmet. The flaps reduce this effect by allowing air to pass around them when the rider’s head is turned.

For many years, I struggled with the fit of Shark helmets. Back in 2007 I spent some time wearing an RSR but experienced extreme pressure on the forehead to the point where just 20 mins of riding would result in distracting discomfort and a red mark across my skin. This put me off ever trying another until very recently, when I discovered that I hadn’t been alone in this painful forehead experience and Shark had subsequently revised their fit. This led me to try a Race R Pro FIM, which I found extremely comfortable.

The Aeron GP is similar to the Race R Pro FIM in terms of shell shape and construction, as well as intended use.

I’ve done the vast majority of the 2100 miles wearing the Aeron riding my 2024 Ducati Monster SP all on the road – arguably not the right kind of bike that this lid was designed for. However I have also done short stints on the road riding a Kawasaki Ninja 650 too.

How comfortable is the Shark Aeron GP?

I’d say it’s 90% comfortable and I’m able to wear it all day. However, after an hour or so, I become aware of a hint of a pressure point developing on my forehead (which leaves a slight red mark behind on my skin when I take the lid off.)

Everywhere else, the fit and comfort is spot on, plus the Alveotech lining is plush and soft against my skin. It does a tremendous job at wicking away sweat, as even riding on the hottest days of the year on my extreme-heat-generating Ducati Monster, my head’s been pleasantly sweat free. The lining also dries really quickly too.

What is the visor like on the Shark Aeron GP?

Shark’s visors are the best. Not only are they impressively 4mm thick in the centre for added protection, but they’re also optically extremely clear, with no distortion in the periphery of the visor where it becomes thinner. The Aeron comes fitted with a clear visor that does not have provision for a Pinlock on account of it being a race visor (racers use special rubber sealed rain visors for racing) but it has been treated with an anti-fog coating which works extremely well and has so far completely resisted any fogging. How long that coating lasts remains to be seen.

The Aeron also comes with a dark visor intended for track use. Due to the thickness of the visor material this visor appears very, very dark and as a result I find that wearing it on overcast days negatively affects my vision. Both visors also feature tear-off posts, and you get a stash of five tear-offs included with the helmet. Intended to help racers keep their vision clear during long races, these plastic visor-shaped films stick on the visor and can be torn off by the rider when they become contaminated by bug splats, revealing a clear visor to see through below.

The other reason why Shark’s visors rock is because of the visor retaining mechanism. So simple, so easy to use – just push the pair of black levers down, push the centre button then pull the visor free. On the Aeron the retaining buttons are also anodised so look really cool and very high quality too. Why can’t all visors be like this?

How good is the ventilation on the Shark Aeron GP?

The Aeron GP has supreme ventilation – it’s probably the most effectively ventilated race lid I’ve ever used. It has four toggleable inlet vents on the front of the helmet at the chin, brow and two on the right and left-hand side of the crown. Then a pair of exhaust vents at the sides of the chin bar, and another two beneath the rear spoiler. On all but the warmest of days, I ride with the top vents closed as there’s no ability to adjust the level of airflow, they’re either open or closed, and I find that the chin vent (which is also either open or closed) does a good enough job of getting air into the helmet for general road riding. The chin vent also has a removable pollution filter, which I find reassuring even though I’m not quite sure of its efficacy.

How noisy is the Shark Aeron GP?

This is a race helmet so is not designed with any sort of concession towards sound-deadening in the same way a sports touring helmet or other road-biased helmet is. That said, out of all the race lids I’ve worn (and over the past 20 years I’ve predominantly worn race-style lids, hence why my hearing is now so bad!), I’d say the Aeron GP is above average in terms of reducing wind noise. I’d put that down to the smooth shell shape and also the built-in chin curtain as well as the tight seal from the interior padding around the base of the head.

Recently, though, whilst riding my Ducati Monster (which of course doesn’t have a fairing or a screen) I’ve detected a flapping noise when riding at very high speeds, which I originally thought was the free end of the chin strap (I’d got into the habit of not using the retaining push-button on the end of the chin strap because the Aeron’s chin strap is slightly short; you can just about loop it back on itself to secure it with the retaining button but it’s not easy, and definitely an issue when you’re wearing bulky base layers with high collars or neck gaiter.)

I’ve now ascertained that the flapping sound is actually coming from the Aeron’s active aero flap on the left-hand side, which I believe is being oscillated by turbulence at very high speeds whilst on my naked bike. I’ve not yet had a chance to try the Aeron at high speeds on a sportsbike to compare the experience.

Does it look good?

In this Zarco replica paintscheme, it’s one of the most complimented lids I’ve ever worn and seems to have universal appeal. All of my biking buddies love it, so does my young son, and even the checkout girl at my local shop told me how awesome it looks. I have to agree, the Aeron GP feels like a special lid and the active aero flaps are a real talking point too. In terms of the shell shape, it strikes a great balance between aggression without being excessively pointy. I like the fact that it’s still very much a rounded shell, albeit with a more modern look than compared with something very traditional-looking like an Arai.

What’s the quality like?

It’s full marks for quality, here. Every component – from the anodised metal D-rings on the chin strap, to the visor retaining mechanism and the visor itself, it’s all beautifully made. The lining is plush and technical while also benefitting from the technical Alveotech fabric taking care of wicking. It’s a really stunning lid. One slight blot on the copybook was the fact that I lost one of the tiny screws which hold the spoiler onto the back on the helmet, however this was replaced by an eagle-eyed Shark technician at an event I attended, who’d noticed the screw was missing.

Is the Shark Aeron GP good value for the money?

The elephant in the room here is the price. It’s an extremely expensive helmet, and that’s despite its absolutely top-notch quality, very reassuring protection, groundbreaking active aero, and also the fact that you get added goodies like a proper factory race bag to keep it in, plus a dark visor and tear-offs. The five-year warranty is also very reassuring. But when you consider that you can now pick up a Shark Race R Pro (essentially the same lid, with all the same goodies and warranty, but without the active aero) for £749, I’d say you’d have to be pretty serious about racing to justify spending the extra, either that or you just really enjoy having the latest, greatest thing – and there’s no shame in that.

As for whether you can feel the active aero working on the road, I have to say no, although I will say that the flaps do reduce ‘flag effect’ when turning your head. When worn on my naked bike, the Aeron also has a habit of lifting up slightly at motorway speeds, as air seems to get under the chin causing the whole helmet to sit higher on my head and meaning I’m constantly having to pull it back down into position. This is despite the Aeron fitting correctly – which, while we’re on the subject of fitting, as with all ECE 22.06 lids I’ve used, I have had to select a bigger size (M rather than S) than I did with ECE 22.05-rated lids.

So what’s the verdict?

Stunning looks and gorgeous quality, I enjoy wearing this lid a lot. But for road riders, it is an expensive luxury and I wouldn’t personally be able to justify the extra expense over say something like a Race R Pro GP.