Shoei Neotec 3 vs Schuberth C5. Which is best?

Okay, let me remove the suspense from a subject that is going to be hotly debated, I suspect, for many a year to come. I don't want anyone to think that I have gone all soft, or politically correct, but I can reveal the result of our deliberations now. And it's that the best helmet here is going to be the one that fits you best. That may sound like a bit of a cop out, and that's not normally the way we do things here at Motolegends. We are not afraid of taking sides, but hear us out.

Both of these helmets exist in the rarified atmosphere of the upper reaches of the helmet market. There are no turkeys here. The C4 can be consigned to history. Both these helmets do more or less the same job. And they are very similar. Obviously, Schuberth and Shoei are very different companies, and they do things their own way, but it should not surprise anybody that these two helmets are alike.

It is often said that modern cars end up being very similar to one another, as each manufacturer copies the other in an attempt to leap frog its competitors. Well, the Schuberth C5 borrowed a lot of design features from the Shoei Neotec 2. Shoei was aware of the C5 when it was designing the Neotec 3, so it should be of no surprise that there's not a lot of clear blue water between the two helmets.

There are differences between them, of course, and we will, in this review, aim to highlight all of them. We might even reach a position where we suggest that one helmet has more and better features, and facilities than the other. But why would that matter if, on you, said helmet is uncomfortable, moves around at speed, or doesn't give you sufficient room around the chin?

Remember, we are talking about the difference between something like a high-end BMW and a high-end Audi here. Both these helmets are excellent. Both are more than up to the job. Neither will let you down. Of course, you might be the biker who is driven by emotional attachment to a particular brand. Fair enough. Or it may be that the most important consideration for you is that the colour matches your bike. So be it. But if you are able to bring a degree of rationality to the purchase of your next flip lid, you would have to conclude that either is going to be good enough. Truth is, you won't find a better flip than either of these two.

And if you can accept this, then the key factor when trying to come to a conclusion about which to go for has to be fit. It is here, however, that there is perhaps the clearest blue water. And that's because the two helmets do fit differently. The Shoei is more oval. The Schuberth is more round. They both have changeable cheekpads and headliners for custom fitting, but these cannot fully overcome the fact that the two helmets start out with different internal shapes.

The only way you can work out which helmet is going to work best for you is to try them both on. Personally, I don't see the benefit of going for either of these helmets if you're not going to have them properly custom fitted. One of the reasons you pay more for an Arai, a Shoei or a Schuberth is that they offer the facility to have the helmet fitted to your head. And frankly, if you are not going to take them up on this, you might as well take pot luck, and go for a cheaper helmet from the shelves of your nearby megastore.

To visit our Schuberth helmet section, click here -

[MOMGEN]

I bought my C5 from Chris in November. I rode a perfectly adequate C3 for the previous 5 years.
The difference is like night and day and riding in it this winter has been a joy.
Thank you for being a brilliant store, Motolegends.

[wraymogg]

I agree with Chris with almost everything, but I must add my personal take since I own both and wear them quite a lot in different temperatures and conditions. However, my opinion mostly matters for cruiser and naked riders, since my helmet is always in the wind, no windshield whatsoever.

1. C5 is WAY quitter than N3 - the neck roll is interrupted in N3, and that's the end of story
2. The sun visor is better in N3 - it is bigger
3. The visor is better in N3 - bigger field of view, the pinlock adheres better, for some reason, also the closing sistem in C5 is HORRIBLE, you can never close it properly with one hand just from one side - the end click is a total failure, I ended up not opening the visor anymore, I just open the helmet from the bottom. The N3 is way better in this aspect, opening and closing the visor is perfect.
4. The front vents are WAY better in C5. First of all, there are 2 of them, and you can chose what to ventilate. Secondly the profile of the air distribution is better in C5, in N3 you can always feel too much in some spots. Thirdly, the N3 front vent system is a joke, is a total failure, you can never safely open and close it with thick gloves, it is the worst feature from the whole helmet.
5. The comm system is almost identical BUT, the C5 control is actually a remote, with it's own battery, so guess what? I run out of it and took me some time to figure out why it is not working anymore. Plus, it is annoying to listen all the time to "remote connected". However, the buttons on the N3 control could be more easy to differentiate. I cannot find the front one easily, so I guess is easier to operate the C5 with gloves, it's power button is in the back, and you can tell easier which button is which.

These are my personal differences, but mainly, both of them are awesome - the best flips on the market.

[DJPTEXAS]

For whatever reason, SHOEI always fits me perfect with ARAI a close second... I have tried many brands and these just work for me... good info !

[MickBla]

So far very happy with the C3Pro bought from you approx 2 years ago. After using Shoei lids for over 13 years before switching to Schuberth I fully agree that the quality of both brands' lids is on par. Just like you said Chris - the right fit is the key here! Best regards!

[stevejohnson]

15:47 comment is my exact circumstance, coming from a current Schuberth C4 XL the new C5 XL is enormous, the L is way too tight so I have this week bought a Neotec 3. I contacted Schuberth about the issue and it took them 2 weeks to respond without any wise words. As you have said Comfort & Fit is what trumps the decision. Great video as always.

[thepolishreefer]

Wow! What an excellent video indeed. So much info and information is outstanding.

I’m getting ready to take my motorcycle class next spring here in Michigan USA. I’m 53 years old and have ridin dirt bikes all my life growing up and ready for a street bike.

Also think I’m leaning forwards the BMW 900 GSA, just more affordable then the 1250 I want; beggars can’t be choosers. Haha

Thank you for such great information on helmets. What is your head and brain worth ya?

It’s funny Michigan just a couple years ago took away the helmet law and I see people riding on the freeway with zero helmet, which again is legal now in this state.

But I think man, just takes one fall.

Thank you again for such an outstanding and informative video about helmets and the ones I’m looking at before I purchase my new motorcycle.

As you guys say across the the pond….

Cheers and thank you.

And a super kick ass Pinball game. He was the best!

[PhatSimey]

Nice comparison, chap with the cap 🙂 I bought the C5 last year, and it's been great. Comfortable, and quiet(ish) although I always use ear plugs. Crack position works well, easier to open visor a little, then push down to the crack position (no drugs). Not overly keen on the visor tabs being off centre, Shoei design is better. My previous helmet was the Concept (the 1st gen of this flip lid), but I hadn't ridden for about 20 years so missed many iterations! The M size fits perfectly straight out of the box, so didn't need any tweaks. When you hold the straps apart to put it over your head, there is a creaky plastic sound, which I didn't notice when trying on the Neotec 3 a few weeks ago- just out of interest. The Neotec 3 did feel a little more solid too, and again seemed to fit well. BIG difference is the price, with Shoei being considerably more for both the helmet and comms, maybe as it's a new release? Having said that, would probably go for the Neotec 3 if money wasn't a concern.

[youcanthide]

Absolutely love your approach. Tons of valuable information in this video absolutely brilliant and thank you.

[Fernando]

You are absolutely right when you say that the fit is fundamental. The right fit for me is in general the shoei helmet design…so, in this case, the shoei Neotec III, but I also feel that the Schubert C5 besides being too tight …to the point that I got headaches after a while using it, - the truth is that, in deed, it is a quieter Helmet. Less wind trying to get in. So, I concluded that due to the more oval shape of my head, made me feel more comfortable with the shoei, but the Schubert is slightly better on wind noise canceling, if I can say that about wind protection of a motorcycle Helmet. Thanks for the useful and handful video. It’s very clear and explanatory ✌️✌️

[jimcfds]

Great honest video Chris. Please keep ‘‘em coming.

[ashole]

Much better than the first version that was up for a few mins last night 😂😂 I was one of 27 that got to enjoy it

[snickrologen]

Nice presentation of the two contenders I’m looking for!

[MurdoCamp]

Great review! Even better was the grammatical accuracy. 😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[jonathanrosenesq]

Great presentation . Chris should be on national TV. thanks

[ivanhoe]

This is a great well rounded comparison dealing with the facts and I agree, it all comes down to fit. Thanks

[alexhoyle]

Hi Chris, your review is spot on, I have just bought the Shoei Neotec 3 and it’s a great helmet, but it is prone to steaming up in cold weather and at slow speeds. Also the central visor locking button is almost impossible to open on the move with winter gloves on. Other than that I am very happy with the helmet.

[MarkJYule]

Great video review Chris. I have a Shoei "head" and the Neotec is on my get list. Might be visiting the relatives before the summer and I'm now considering a visit to get a custom fit - up in Scotland I've yet to find a shop that offers this.

[captainfishey]

Well said Chris and I've been in Schuberth lids since the C2. Also had Shoei full-face lids in the past. Will try and visit you when the C5 is up for renewal and coffee & Yorkshire Tea swings it for me

[simDIY]

It’s true. Love the C5 looks and prestige but my head does not want it. Own a Shoei since 13 years. The new Neotec3 my last one. Use it for commute and touring. Great piece of technology!

[reinistraidas]

I’ve been sticking with Schuberth since the C3. I’ve also gone through two C3 Pro’s and an E1. Sold the C5 after a season. The front chin vent cover went off and had to be replaced. The visor got slightly bent after regular opening it one handed by grabbing the left side (as opposed to the central part on Shoei) and wouldn’t seal properly any longer as it was bent. Then there was a squeaking plastic sound when pulling the cheeks apart when putting in on. Some more random plastic rattles and one of the cables at the rear comms unit slot came undone and I had to pry the cover open to reconnect. Some moisture got into the mic assembly during a rainy ride and the mic cracked for a few days until it properly dried out. In short, I might have gotten unlucky with the C5, but all these quality issues are simply too much and I’m switching to the Neotec. I’ve had the Glamster for a few seasons and it has held up really nicely.