Shoei releases new RF1400 helmet

[advrider]

Shoei has a new street helmet on the market, the RF1400. As the name implies, it’s based on the popular RF1200 design, and carries on Shoei’s long RF line of helmets.

The RF1400 is Shoei’s lightest, most compact SNELL-approved full-face helmet, with several improvements over the RF1200. There’s no major flag-waving upgrade here, but it’s what Shoei does with the RF series. Improve it incrementally and regularly, and eventually you’ve re-invented your helmet line, and nobody even noticed. As per Shoei’s press release, “The process of improving is a constant evolution … the RF-1400 has evolved the pursuit of perfection to the next level.”

Leaving Darwinian hyperbole behind, what do we actually have here? The RF1400 shell was designed in Shoei’s wind tunnel facility, and manufactured from “Multi-Ply Matrix AIM+ shell.” That’s a mixture of fiberglass and other synthetic and organic materials. Shoei has four different shell sizes, so smaller heads can have a lighter helmet. Along with reduced wind resistance (less lift, less drag, less wind noise), Shoei says this is its lightest, most elastic helmet shell, for optimal impact absorption. There are six intake vents, and four exhaust vents.

As you’d expect, there’s a multi-density, dual-layer EPS foam liner, along with an emergency quick-release system and removable quick-dry cheek pads and other interior parts. Multi-layer cheek pads can be customized for a better fit, and other interior bits can also swap out for improved comfort.

The CWR-F2 shield is made through 3D injection molding, to make for distortion-free viewing. Shoei included “Vortex Generators,” which are supposed to improve aerodynamics and reduce wind noise. There’s a new center-locking mechanism that evenly distributes forces across both the shield’s base plates (something the competition needs to take note of). And, the helmet comes set up for the Pinlock EVO fog-resistant insert system, 10 percent larger for better lateral vision. That’s a pretty small-print bonus in the press release, but it’s actually a pretty decent upgrade. More viewing field is always better.

Shoei will offer the RF1400 in a wide range of colours, as always. In the US, starting price for the new helmet is $499 for solid colours, $599 for helmets with flashier graphics. The RF1400 comes with a five-year warranty. For more details, head over to Shoei’s website.

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