I have loved my Schuberth C3 for many years, but the past year it started getting uncomfortable. Last year it was bearable, but the Mrs. and I just returned from a 1,000 trip and things just became too painful. At one point, it was causing so much pressure I thought I was going to get sick. I checked the liner/cheek pads and all were in excellent condition. Granted the original C3 was a round shape, but I had no issues until recently.

On on our way home we stopped at a Honda dealership that carried Shoei and I tried on the new Neotec 2...heaven! The Shoei is an intermediate oval, something Schuberth switched to on the C3 Pro and the C4. The shop only had one color in size M (ironically I wear a L in the Schuberth) so we waited to get back to Iowa and ordered from RevZilla...combo Fathers Day/early B-day present. Lid arrived and I had to transfer the H-D 20S Evo over...took some creative routing of things, but it’s all in nice and tucked away, better than the C3. I was a bit worried with the N2 having it’s own placement for a dedicated SENA comma unit and getting my stuff to fit (main reason I stayed away from a Schuberth C4 as there mic/speakers are preinstalled), but it all worked out well. I would have considered a C3 Pro, but they are getting harder to find and discounts weren’t that much different from the cost of the N2.

From a quiet/comfort standpoint, the Shoei is substantially more comfortable as the liner is more pillowy and covered more area...I’d also state that it’s just as quiet as the C3, if not a tad quieter. Air flow on top is much better - the Venturi vent on the back really helps to pull air through the helmet - something the Schuberth struggled with. Chin bar air flow is about the same with a slight nod to the Shoei. I was also surprised at how much easier it was to get glasses on with the Shoei. With the C3, I had to be careful what glasses/sunglasses (hey, I need my bifocals...I’m old) I would wear. I was shocked to find I could fit (albeit a little tight) my Oakley Flak sunglasses under it...and those puppies ar WIDE! With me having a new prescription, the helmet is going with me today to test out some new specs/shades...😎

Two areas the Schuberth still does better - face shield removal and ratchet strap. The removal on the C3 is just quick and simple, the N2 was awkward...I felt like I was fighting a 3-armed monkey...maybe just needs some getting used to. The chin strap, both of which are ratchet style, is easier to handle on the C3, quicker to latch/unlatch and more to hold onto when putting the helmet on or taking it off. However, the padding on the Shoei doesn’t move as much and allow the strap to dig into your throat.

With general around town and some highway riding so far, I’m pretty pleased with these the Shoei...but it will get a solid test next week when we leave for another 1k mike trip. That will be the real test, but I’m not too concerned. My only worry is the wife...she tried it on and said it felt better than her C3Pro W...fuuuuddddggggeeee...