Shark Race R Pro review

I was a fan of race replica helmets and unique standout designs, but last year I had a change of heart. Many replica helmets were not my cup of tea, and also it’s commonplace to see race reps everywhere you go. Nowadays you see endless streams of Rossi, Lorenzo and Marquez reps, with the occasional Crutchlow rep thrown in for good mix. Being honest, I’ve been there and done that, and grown out of it, at least for the moment. This time it was essential to try a new manufacturer, with my previous two lids being AGV. I was less than impressed by the AGV Corsa, so it was time for a change. Enter the Shark Race R Pro.

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I had set quite strict criteria list as follows:- A good fit, I like my helmet nice and snug. Lightweight as possible (preference to carbon but not a dealbreaker). Quieter the better, but still with good ventilation and finally a Double D-ring fastening is preferable. After much deliberation, I finally settled on the Shark Race R pro.

Carbon shell keeps the Shark Race R Pro weight lightweight

Having a small head, I’m rocking an XS shell size, which fits nicely on the cheeks. Even after almost a year of use it still fits snugly, I can feel contact with the liner all around my head. Ears fit snugly, and for glasses users, there are no issues in tucking the arms in. The helmet hits the lightweight mark thanks to their “High technology Structure. Using Carbon – Aramid and Shark resin.” The XS shell weighs in at 1300 Grams, impressive. Complete with a Double D ring chin strap with a magnet to secure it.

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Ventilation and noise hinder each other slightly. A well-ventilated helmet will typically be quite noisy due to air is rushing in through the vents. This can cause the normal drone of wind noise, but also whistles. My experience with previous helmets sometimes a crackle from the wind coming through the inner pads and polystyrene.

Starting with ventilation, the Race R Pro has a high number of vents. A large adjustable front chin vent, an adjustable forehead vent, and two large open and closed vents on top of the head provide ample airflow through. There are exit vents drawing air out near the front and the back of the helmet.

Fog-free visor means no pinlock but also no fogging!

Using a fog-free visor, and with vent outlets pointing at the visor keeping the moisture and mist away. On the Ron Haslam day last year during the middle of summer, temperatures were in the high ’20s if not low ’30s. (Read more about my Ron Haslam day) Under my leathers I was cooking, at least my head was nice and cool. The liner is fully removable to allow for washing after hot days. Included is a removable breath deflector, I like it as it keeps some misting my glasses. It also has an adjustable chin curtain which varies the airflow around the neck and chin area.

Do lots of vents make a helmet noisy?

Normally yes, but there are lots of factors which go into this like the density of padding and routing and positioning of the vents. Previous helmets I have used even with earplugs have been loud, and the constant buffeting of wind noise was annoying at best. The Shark isn’t silent, you’ll never find a truly silent helmet, but the shark is quiet. Even at high speeds, it isn’t unpleasant, and with earplugs, it makes it bearable.

How can I stop my visor misting up?

Removal of the liner and cheek pads shows the recesses and cutouts to house Shark’s Bluetooth communications system SharkTooth. I’m pretty sure this area would accommodate speakers from other coms systems, although I haven’t tested this out for myself. Most systems these days use 43mm drivers, which is the same as the Sharktooth system so providing the external dimensions of the driver isn’t too padded they should fit.

The new Shark Race R Pro has even more aero!

The helmet has an aerodynamic device on the rear, which is commonplace nowadays on flagship helmets. There is spoiler centralised and just below the back of the head, with a slight funnel over the top helping with stability and reducing wind noise. At all speeds this lid feels well balanced and stable, there is minimal wobble or turbulence. The airflow weight is good, and so is the profile in a sense so that when riding the helmet isn’t lifting off trying to rip off your neck. It also isn’t being forced down compressing into your shoulders, the balance is just right.

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Visibility out of the Shark Race R Pro is excellent. The standard visor that comes is anti-fog and anti-scratch. Perfect as I sometimes carry both around with me in rucksacks to swap over if the sun disappears or the weather turns. Throughout the year I have rocked both clear and tinted visors, and as a test, I have run with race-style tear-offs too. The helmet comes with a quick-release visor mechanism which at first was tricky to get right; now it is a doddle to switch between visors. Once you learn the optimum placement to remove the visor it becomes second nature. The ratchet is on the firm side, which I like, being a glasses wearer when stopped at traffic lights it is common practice for my glasses to steam up, so having the visor open when rolling causes a draft to clear them. Over time the ratchet mechanism does slacken off and become looser, but it’s an allen key fitting to tighten it back up. I’d guess its just usage that slackens the fixings. Applying some locktite would probably solve this.

5 star sharp rated helmet

The Shark Race R pro comes with a 5* Sharp test, and whilst I have always been a sceptic of the Sharp testing (I won’t drone on here, but feel free to email about it), 5 stars is the maximum possible score on the scheme, which is much better than other helmets available.

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Downsides. Well, there are very little really, this has been my go-to helmet for the past year and the only complaint I have had is that one of the mouldings on the chin came loose. It looks like the bonding/glue failed, I just cleaned it back up keyed it slightly on the inside with fine-grit sandpaper and reattached it down with a little blob of silicone.

Inside of the visor seems to get dusty/dirty slightly quicker than previous helmets. Due to the fog-free visor system, some vents point directly at the visor. This can blow road dust on it, from the inside. Again, not a huge issue, every time I wipe the outside of the visor I give the inside a wipe too.

Available in matte black, gloss black (as mine), White and plenty of you hero racers replica such as Scott Redding, Jorge Lorenzo, Tommy Sykes, and that flying Frenchman Johan Zarco. RRP should be circa £470 for a Replica and £400 for a none rep, however, there is always plenty of deals about so shop around.

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