The sports bikes that enthusiasts ride on the road are a lot closer to MotoGP machinery than a C-Class is to the Mercedes Lewis Hamilton drives every other Sunday. As a result bikers are used to having every accessory and every bit of kit labelled 'derived from Grand Prix' or 'developed on the race track'.
But not every motorcyclist wants to ride the wheels off his bike for 45 minutes, and then stand around all hot and sweaty while scantily clad nubiles fling themselves at him (Well, we do, but not many get offered the opportunity).
So some of us ride a little slower than Mr Lorenzo and Mr Rossi but we ride a lot further, which is when factors such as all-day comfort and convenience come into play.
Which is why it's a bit of a relief when Shoei introduces a new motorcycle helmet that is not a race replica, and does not have FIM scrutineering stickers on the side.
COMFORT AS A PRIORITY
Shoei says the GT Air was developed with the sport touring rider in mind, with comfort as a priority, and with convenient, practical features.
For instance, the outer shape was refined in the wind tunnel to minimise wind noise; its most noticeable design features are the indentations on either side of the crown, representing an aerodynamic and safety element.
They're accentuated by a slight bulge at the front of the head that houses a built-in retractable inner sun visor without compromising the safety integrity of the shell (The FIM does not allow sun visors, retractable or not).
Retracting sun visors aren’t new - Schubert has had them for years - but this is the first one on a full-face Shoei and, with typical attention to detail, its lever mechanism is on the left side (so it can be operated without taking your right hand off the throttle) next to the visor, well out of the way of any after-market intercom systems.
Once again, the FIM does not allow intercoms, but many touring pillions - quite rightly - insist on them, if only to tell the rider to slow down!
KEEPING YOU COOL
The GT Air uses the same CNS-1 visor as the sports-style Neotec helmet, with the same convenient pinlock mounting system. The visor conforms to EU standards for sunglasses and provides more than 99 percent UV protection.
But where the GT Air gets its name is by keeping you cool with two adjustable upper air intakes, one adjustable lower intake and a rear exhaust port right where the air pressure is lowest - literally sucking hot, sweaty air out of the helmet.
FIM regulations require that the retaining straps shall be secured by D-rings, and have done since helmets were invented; the GT Air, on the other hand, has a convenient stainless-steel micro ratchet strap with steel interlocking mechanism, which produces less wind noise than the loose end of a D-ring strap and can be easily operated with one hand.
The GT Air even has an emergency quick release system (also found on Shoei's XSpirit2 and VFXW helmets) that would never pass FIM scrutiny but might just save your life one day.
At your local bike shop; recommended retail starts from R6750. Yes it’s expensive. How much is your head worth?