A new alternative to the Arai Corsair V/Shoei X-Twelve high-end race helmet continuum, the Schuberth SR1 exceeds the feature content of those two helmets while boasting Schuberth’s traditionally low noise levels. Oh, and some guy names Michael Schumacher contributed to its development.
Schuberth is a relatively small German helmet maker probably best known for its Formula One helmets and for making the flip-fronts every continental cop wears. It already makes full-face motorcycle helmets, but not the kind of incredibly light, highly-ventilated race-oriented helmet seen here.
The two numbers that are important here are the decibel level — 88dB at 62mph — and the weight — 1285g for a size medium. The SR1 is certified to the all-conquering ECE-R 22.05 standard, which helps explain why its’ ~500g lighter than a Snell-certified Arai Corsair V. The American standard is notorious not only for a history of controversy over how safe helmets made to it actually are, but also for making helmets unnecessarily heavy. 88dB is exceptionally quiet for a helmet with this much ventilation. For some perspective, that’s only 4dB more than notoriously quiet Schuberth C3.
That quietness is achieved, in part by the acoustic collar that you can see extending below the shell. It grips the neck tightly, sealing out extra turbulence that’s traditionally created in this area. Additionally, the rear of this collar is reflective for nighttime visibility without compromising the shell’s graphics or color scheme.
Like competitors, the SR1 uses an enormous chin vent and two crown vents to draw in fresh air, then drawing it through the helmet using the negative air pressure at the rear. Schuberth claims its experience in Formula One helps here. Unlike competitors, Schuberth has gone so far as to ensure that enough ventilation is maintained with all the vents closed and the acoustic collar fully sealed — as you’d ride with in cold conditions — that carbon dioxide levels shouldn’t build to the point where the rider could become drowsy or fatigued. It’s that kind of attention to pedantic detail that makes Schuberth unique among helmet makers.
Schuberth has further taken advantage of its wind tunnel to ensure that the SR1 is aerodynamically stable and doesn’t create any upward lift. A two-position rear spoiler allows riders to adapt the helmet’s aerodynamics to their specific riding position.
In addition to be being certified to the ECE-R 22.05 standard, the SR1 uses Schuberth’s Anti-Roll-OFF-System to prevent the helmet from rolling off the wearers head in a severe crash and to keep the chin of the helmet from impacting the chin or neck of the rider. Essentially composed of retention straps for the chin strap, Schuberth also claims AROS should keep the helmet from coming into contact with the rider’s chest.
The rest of the SR1 is relatively convential for this class of flagship helmets — Coolmax removable lining, multi-fiber shell, anti-fog visor etc, etc, etc — but it does come with one killer USP: it was developed, in part, by 7-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher. Indeed, Schuberth only recognized the need to create such a helmet when Schumi retired from cars and started racing bikes. Two years ago, he could be seen competing in German superbike races wearing a prototype Schuberth helmet that would eventually lead to what you see here: die Über Helm.
