Shoei X-SPR Pro review | A quality race helmet with Neevesy's nod of approval

Shoei’s top of the range road and race helmet, replaced the X-Spirit 3 when it arrived in retailers Sep ’22. I’ve been wearing it for over a year on road and for track tests in the UK and Europe, in temperatures ranging from 4 to 40 degrees. It also has a custom paint job with my own design, by Rich-Art Concepts.

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How comfortable is the Shoei X-SPR?

I’m a medium and the Shoei X-SPR Pro fits well out of the box, but it features removable cheek pads if you want to customise the fit with thinner/thicker versions. The cheek and top pads are also adjustable to tilt the helmet, which is useful for forward vision in a race tuck. I’ve gone a stage further by taking advantage of Shoei’s Personal Fitting Service. They measure your head in a contraption reminiscent of the old Clark’s shoes fitting device and punch the numbers in a computer, where it suggests where to add or remove padding around the helmet. The whole thing takes around an hour and well worth doing. It isn’t something widely available yet, so keep an eye out on Shoei’s website for more information.

The washable fabric interior itself is soft and comfortable, even in searing heat with a sweaty head. The chin bar protrudes a long way, which keeps your face cool in the summer, but can be drafty in the winter. Thanks to its aerodynamic shape Shoei says the X-SPR Pro is stable at speeds in excess of 217mph. I haven’t been quite as fast, but it slices so well through the wind and it’s so stable you barely know it’s on. It’s also ready for an accessory hydration system (that I haven’t used_ and comes with a breath guard, chin spoiler and chin curtain.

What’s the visor like on the Shoei X-SPR Pro?

One of the most impressive features of the X-SPR Pro is its visor. The field of vision is excellent in all directions and the quality, durability and scratch-resistant nature of both the clear and black visors themselves are superb. The visor surface is flatter on this model to suit the use of tear-offs for racing. It closes in five stages and clips into place at the bottom, but it can be tricky to find the tab to unhook it open again, which can be frustrating when you need to do it quickly. There’s a locking tab to click the visor securely into place that can also be used to keep the visor cracked open slightly for extra ventilation. Using the quick-release mechanism is a piece of cake once you’re used to it, too and there’s a switch to disable the system to keep the visor in placed in case of an accident. A Pinlock Evo is included and works superbly with no leaks.

Is the ventilation any good?

I’ve worn the X-SPR Pro on some scorching road tests in southern Europe and the vents work superbly. The three on top of the head are particularly impressive, although the small switches can be tricky to operate. Double chin vents let lots of air flood in and is fed back out and away from your head through rear exhaust vents.

How noisy is the Shoei X-SPR Pro?

This is a lot quieter than Arai RX-7 racing helmets I’ve been using for most of my riding career. The shell shape, with its teardrop rear cuts through the wind with very little buffeting, but the X-SPR Pro isn’t as quiet as a more touring-focussed helmet, not has it been designed to be.

Is the Shoei X-SPR Pro good looking?

Looks are subjective, but I’m not keen on the X-SPR Pro’s design, particularly the way the visor goes into such a point at the sides, or its ‘droopy’ chin bar. The standard paint finish on a Shoei is flawless, but I have a custom paint job by Rich-Art Concepts. A design like this costs £950 and as always the finish is both exquisite and durable.

Is the quality of the Shoei X-SPR Pro good?

The Shoei X-SPR is the top of the tree when it comes to racing helmets and finished to perfection, but there are a few small things that detract from its premium feel. Opening and closing the visor is notchy and doesn’t glide smoothly as an Arai’s and the plastic chin vents can get wonky. The interior is superb quality, but it doesn’t have the sumptuous feel of an Arai.

Is it good value for your money?

Plain colours are the cheapest with designs adding a couple of hundred quid, making it pricey, but it’s on par with an equivalent Arai and HJC and cheaper than a Shark.

So what’s the verdict?

This is the first Shoei race lid I’ve owned since the late 80s. I’ve worn Arai RX-7s ever since, so it’s been interesting to make the comparison between the two big hitters. I’m not mad keen on the ‘Pac Man’ shaped visor, although to see out of it’s superb. I prefer the style of the GT-Air II touring helmet and Arai’s side pod design. Looks aside, the Shoei equals the Arai with the luxurious quality of everything from the interior to the smoothness of the vents and quick release visor mechanisms. It’s lighter – almost disarmingly so at first and it slips through the air more quietly and with excellent stability, which makes it easy to wear for long periods and less fatiguing, especially on track.

The venting is excellent, to the point it can be a little too chilly to wear in the middle of a UK winter. I’m generally a medium and the X-SPR Pro fits well out of the box, but I’ve taken advantage of Shoei’s fitting service. They added a few more pads inside for a snug, perfect fit, but I don’t think the interior quality quite matches the velvety plushness of an Arai. Mine also has a Rich-Art paintjob, which as always finished as well, if not better than a factory finish. Best of all when you see Marc Marquez consistently walking away from huge crashes wearing a Shoei X-SPR Pro helmet (and the previous versions) it gives you the utmost confidence and I’ve always felt as safe as houses wearing mine.

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