Schuberth C5

Safety

The Schuberth C5 motorcycle helmet is touted as their quietest helmet by Schuberth themselves. It is also the first Schuberth helmet that features P/J double homologation. The C5 offers Schuberth's evolutionary Direct Fibre Processing (DFP) construction. The fibres are blown into a mould and baked for an excellent (and safe) shell, and features carbon reinforcement. As the C5 was developed in a wind tunnel, the shell is ultra-aerodynamic for less head bobbing and, therefore, added awareness on the road with the quiet. Reflective areas maximise visibility in darker conditions, and the quick-release closure system is ultra-secure and adjustable. The visor aperture is ultra-wide for great vision with a V-lock sun visor that is impressively smooth, easy to use, and robust - a massive improvement and a great safety feature against sun glare.

Styling

The C5 offers a compact shape, unusual for a flip-up helmet, and an optimised acoustic design for low-level noise no matter the speed. The aggressive shell looks sporty, yet the C5 has all the features of a touring helmet with all the comfort you'd expect (and some!) A choice of five colourways (so far) gives a reasonable choice for most motorcycle colourways - with the old faithful plain white , and plain matt black goes with anything! The other colourways are Master Blue , Eclipse Red and Eclipse Blue . The positioning of the buttons and flip-mechanism are perfectly positioned for not only ease of use but look great and are subtle, yet not too subtle. Ideal. The colourways also work great when in the "CityPosition",, i.e. when open - it doesn't disjoint the design.

Comfort

It is a modular helmet, and the ventilation system is fully personalised for greater comfort but maximum airflow. The Coolmax interior is removable and washable, the new Schuberth customisation concept provides unparalleled comfort, and the closure system is a quick-release system. In addition, a new neck pad improves aeroacoustic performance (only about 85 dB(A) at 100 km/h on a naked bike). It also comes with a loudspeaker, microphone and antenna "Plug and Play" retrofit of communication systems based on the Sena 50S pre-installed and Bluetooth-ready with speakers pre-installed for superior comfort. Finally, as the C5 features P/J homologation, the CityPosition locking feature means a truly comfortable ride with the helmet closed or open.

Practicality

It comes with a loudspeaker, microphone and antenna "Plug and Play" retrofit of communication systems based on the Sena 50S pre-installed and Bluetooth-ready. In addition, the anti-scratch clear visor is extra-large. Furthermore, it offers an increased field of vision thanks to the new "CityPosition" and the "V-Lock" of the sun visor and anti-fog treated for an expansive peripheral vision. The Schuberth C5 also comes with a 5-year manufacturer's warranty. The CoolMax interior is fully washable. Cheek pads in different thicknesses are being released by Schuberth (no date confirmed yet).

Negatives

The cheek pads to change the fit of the C5 haven't arrived with us yet, and we don't have a due date. This would be no issue for some, but for those without the perfect head shape for a comfortable fit with a Schuberth, this could be a problem. All helmets are different. All heads are different. Schuberth may not be the comfiest choice for you. The built-in speaker system is fantastic, but this fits Schuberth's system only. You cannot use the speakers on any other system, so you would have to fit your own speakers in. Whilst this helmet is light for a flip-front helmet, it is still a flip-front helmet, and because of the mechanism, this will never be as light as a full-face helmet by the same brand.

Verdict

The Schuberth C5 is a fantastic helmet - there is no doubt about it. Ultra-quiet, P/J homologated with an integrated sun visor and CoolMax liner with pre-installed communication speakers. The choice of colours, while not extensive, is good enough to find something for most, and these are now available in all of our 30 stores nationwide and online .

Until next time, stay safe,

Alex