Schuberth C3 lid review
by Andrew on Jun.16, 2009, under Andrew Dalton, Kit Reviews
I had heard a lot of good things about the Schuberth C3 and having ridden 600 miles in a day with the very noisy Carberg I decided to try out a Schuberth. I popped into Helmet City’s shop cum farm, where the guys let me put my soaking wet gloves on the heater. I tried out a range of helmets, but was advised by them not to buy a seriously reduced in price C2 as it had been on about 3,000 heads at shows and I tried it on and it did smell a bit! I bought a C3 flip up lid in matt black. The price was discounted but it is not a cheap lid.
However I wanted a number of features, the first was the drop down dark visor, secondly I wanted quiet, thirdly I wanted a helmet which was designed not to come off in crash. As a solicitor who spends all day dealing with serious motorcycle accidents I am all too well aware that just about any helmet will come off just about any head if the rider is unlucky. The Schuberth has two key features which resist this. The first is the chin piece sits snug to the chin and secondly the strap sits close to the throat. Having seen loads of expert reports as to why helmets come off, these Shuberths are said to be designed to avoid this particular problem. However, all lids have their engineering constraints, so no helmet manufacturer will ever be able to persuade me that their lids will stay on in every situation.
On riding for the first time in the Shuberth, it was a bit but not massively quieter than my Shoei Raid II. It was comfortable, quite snug and the noise reduction was most noticeable when listening to my sat nav and mobile phone. If you don’t have your lid wired full of gizmos and ride in earplugs the quietness really is not a big factor.
It was really easy to fit the Autocom head set neatly into the lid, with a little nick cut into the polystyrene lining to accommodate the shrink/heat wrapped connector for the autocom.
So would I recommend it? Yes, it is quiet, comfortable, the inner visor is excellent but it has one really annoyng habit. The main visor flops down at about 25mph. In urban riding in the summer I lift the whole front up, which looks a bit stupid, probably isn’t especially safe and has the potential to mess up my already fairly lived in face. If the weather is really hot, I use the Shoei, which for a supposedly top of the range Schuberth is a little poor.
June 30th, 2009 on 4:08 pm
Helmet City sent me some replacement pods, so now my visor cracks down at about 50. Better, but still not good. Helmet city very good, still unconvinced about Schuberths.
July 13th, 2009 on 1:47 pm
I am trying to decide if I should return my C3 due to the visor not staying up. It slams down from all the way open to all the way closed at low speeds. This is rather annoying specially when the weather is hot. It is a shame that they overlook something so important is making a truly comfortable helmet. Living In Illinois it costs me a lot in shipping from overseas. I made the mistake of listening to the dealer and not going off my old helmet when buying the new ones. My wives’s and mine were both too small by one size. I had great luck with the C1 but this visor issue is a bit much for such an expensive helmet.
July 14th, 2009 on 10:20 am
I am sending mine back to the factory. Yesterday in torrential rain (the skies really opened) and was raining so hard I could not see through my visor meant I could not have my visor up at all. The gap between the pinlock fog screen and the visor filled up with water vapour droplets. I really wish I had worn my cheaper Shoei Raid II.
July 18th, 2009 on 11:43 am
Hi,
I trashed my C2 yesterday which I have worn everyday for the last 3 years in all weathers. I had a crash on a motorway yesterday at about 60mph in really bad rain.
When I got up after sliding and rolling down the road the helmet had not come loose at all and the the locking device worked as if nothing had happened.
Afet this event no one can ever persuade me that Shuberths are no good, in fact I am off to buy a new one next week.
July 21st, 2009 on 9:01 am
It is stories like this that made me buy the Schuberth. It is now back with Helmet City who are sending it on to the importers, who will I am sure either fix the “slappy” visor or replace the lid. Ideally repair as the helmet has been customised a bit for me!I bought the helmet after a lot of thought as I had always bought plain full face Shoeis but really liked the drop down visor and reports of good build quality and good customer service. Any firm or company can make a mistake,it is when things go a bit wrong that you see how they look after customers. I certainly don’t think Schuberths are no good, I have a problem with one, but I am pretty optimistic that it will be sorted.
Good luck Dave, 60mph offs always hurt, but then again, you didn’t really need me to tell you that.
July 21st, 2009 on 10:28 am
Erm, bit embarrassed, Helmet City’s Ben called me. I have apparently put the pods on the wrong side (to save my embarrassment apparently the virtually identical side pods have a tiny L & R in them) and I offered to pay postage for my lid to be returned but they declined with good humour. Hopefully I will be getting my lid back tomorrow, so lets hope all is well with it.
July 21st, 2009 on 4:50 pm
Riding a flip up helmet, with the flip up, is the same as riding without a helmet on, it was NOT made
to be ridden in the flip up position, as a legal person, especially dealing with bike accidents, I am, ” surprised ” you not only do this, but also tell people you do,
would you ride with the strap undone ?
July 22nd, 2009 on 9:09 am
I certainly do not ride with the strap undone, but I am not going to lie on a blog and say I do not ride flipped up, especially in hot weather at low speed. I am well aware that if I hit the deck there will be significant rotational forces caused by the leverage of the flip up, and my chin will be as exposed as if I were wearing an open face lid. But I have seen any number of police officers riding with the lids flipped up, usually in town but also on the open road. By the same token, if you ride with your visor up you are asking for an eye injury, but I bet you do it.
And riding with the lid flipped up still protects the cranium, and the frontal zone of the brain, so I disagree with you that riding flipped up is the same as riding lidless. My jaw is exposed, granted, and the rotational forces are increased, but that compared to either heatstroke in 30 degree London heat or constantly lifting my visor (and thereby riding one handed frequently) as well as being distracted by the visor violently clunking down means I will continue to ride flipped up. Whatever you do on a bike there will always be risk.
July 23rd, 2009 on 1:41 pm
Just got my helmet back from Helmet City – not good news. I was reassured it was working fine and when I tried it the visor was sloppier than ever. I called Ben at Helmet City. He advised me that he had compared my lid against another Schuberth and they are all like this. I had checked this against another C3 at Hein Gericke and that resisted normally, not the sloppy collapse of this visor. Helmet City sell loads of helmets and loads of Schuberths and I am the first one with this complaint apparently, so lets hope the importers, Oxford, can sort it out.
August 10th, 2009 on 2:00 pm
Got my lid back, well packaged etc – and immediately the resistance to visor flop felt very much stronger. I was delighted when I got up to 70mph and the visor stayed up. At 80 with a cross wind it slapped down, but I can live with that. The visor vibrates a lot more than my Shoei when it is up, and I think the Schuberth is noticeably more quiet with the visor down, save for crosswinds which seem exceptionally noisy but I think there are some adjustments I need to make. I also give Helmet City a thumbs up. They remembered me when I came back with a problem and did not insist on me digging out my receipt. I am happy enough with my helmet, but not so much happier that I would pay the Schuberth premium again.
September 8th, 2009 on 4:10 pm
3 months ago I purchased a C2 after reading great reports of the lid and how quiet it is, I hate wearing plugs! It is quiet the only wind noise that is anoying is through the front vent I placed a bit of tape over it and I am happy, best lid so far. Love the secure flip front locking device, solid snap shut. Flip down sunvisor is poor though giving a very hazy outlook so I wear my BMF special bike sunglasses, these let you have the visor up on hot days and you will not gain any damage from bees or flies! Very much rate Schuberths. I thank you. Paul.
September 9th, 2009 on 2:31 pm
hi Paul, I am still far from happy with the C3 – as it has now gone sloppy in the visor again. On a different note, I will give you a bell about the Xenons for my wife’s car and my bike! Good to hear from you.
Paul runs car Concepts in Aylesbury, and deals with all the electrickery on my bike and had as many gadgets on his GS as I had on mine. He is a top lad and an excellent (and neat) autoelectrician.
Andrew
September 11th, 2009 on 10:30 am
Couple of things. I have a C2 and a few months ago the disc at the centre of the hinge just broke when I picked it up by the chin piece. Oxford wer about as much help as a chocolate firguard. Refused point blank to sell the offending disc, demanded that I send them the lid just before I was off on hols on the bike. happily I had an old C1 and discovered that the hinge was identical so I scavenged the offending disc from the C1. Took 5 mins and no more complex than changing the visor. Not happy with Oxford’s attitude at all.
Interesting point from “ex old bill” about riding with the chin piece up. The old people I have seen riding with the chin piece up have all been old bill.
Can’t bring myself to stump up for the C3 yet. Tried one on yesterday and they are very very nice but I think the C2 is also damn good and so will probably put off replacing it until next year when the price might have come down.
October 15th, 2009 on 12:14 am
I have C3 with sloppy visor. Even closed, latched and then pushed back, it still leakes… Are there any adjustments? Could it be there are differetn size visoros for different sized helmet shell? It really is a sloppy fit…
Also, my anti fog liner doesnt work either… In rain or even if I start breathing hard, it will fog up…
Any suggestions?
October 15th, 2009 on 9:08 am
I have kind of given up on the C3 – the most expensive lid I have ever bought, and I am now using my much cheaper Shoei Raid II as my every day lid. It is a real pity the sloppy visor issue has made what I think could be a really good lid into my least favourite lid. The only suggestion I can make Tom is that you check the visor size matches the helmet. Mine does and it does not leak at all. The only downside is the helmet is so well sealed (for wind noise) that with vents shut it will steam up.
Andrew
November 3rd, 2009 on 5:11 pm
I bought a C3 from Helmet City around a year ago, great service and no complaints with them. I have had exactly the same experience with the Visor coming down at fairly low speeds. It is SO annoying and dangerous. The helmet has gone back to the distributor on two occasions, each time taking over FIVE weeks to come back to me. On the last occasion they put a new visor on the lid which has improved it a little, but it feels like it will loosen up again. This is a MAJOR short-coming which spoils a good helmet.
I would add that I too have had droplets of water getting into the visor during bad rain. Which never happened with my old helmet.
I also suspect that there is a slight flow of air ‘leaking’ in through the flip mechanism; this results in my right eye watering / itchy nose! But this is a subtle problem – cant be sure if its the flip or the visor.
Unless we got a bad batch through Helmet City I’m surprised I haven’t heard more complaint’s about this model. All the reviews rave about how great it is, I remain disappointed.
November 4th, 2009 on 11:11 am
My C3 is now gathering dust. My Shoei Raid is now my daily lid and I am taking out the Autocom stuff to put in my Arai Tour X. I cannot just send mine back as it has had the lining snipped for the Autocom and has the same helmet stickers as our sponsored racer Jamie Wilkins, but I am mightily disappointed. I would happily do business with Helmet City again, but not Schuberth. Daniels experience is identical to mine.
November 8th, 2009 on 2:53 pm
I bought a C3 from Hein Gericke two weeks ago after deciding my 8 year old AGV X-Vent was now past it. I was excited about wearing it for my usual 55 mile Monday morning commute which turned out to be a pretty chilly one with low sun at 07:00.
My AGV X-Vent was fitted with an aftermarket clear visor which had an anti-mist coating and I never had a problem with it misting up.
The sun visor in the C3 was perfect for such early morning conditions where I set off before sun-rise and progressed in to low sun in front of me.
I found the C3 much quieter than my old AGV. Quite possibly it is lighter too, but in being quieter through the use of under chin wind and noise guards I believe this is a flaw for glasses wearers.
Normally, I don’t have to touch my AGV visor or vents for the entire trip, but the C3 I found was either too much air being blown in the front vent or not enough and everytime I stopped at a junction my glasses misted up instantly. I found the pin lock worked well, but at low speed I noticed the rest of the visor around it had misted up which was quite distracting.
For years I have felt extrememly happy to ride in any weather in my AGV, even enjoying heavy rain on occassions as I would be warm and snug in my wet gear.
But, all this has changed with the C3 as of my commute home in the early November dark and rain on Friday, which is not an unusual event for me.
I set off from work needing the front vent fully open to keep things clear, but as the M25 slowed down I had to crack the visor open to the smallest opening, just short of fully sealed shut, to keep air moving around my glasses. Alas, this then let rain in and the misting increased until I was faced with not being able to see where I was going and having to closely follow the car lights in front of me.
The helmet is great for those fortunate enough to not need glasses or whose eyes are compatible with contact lenses, but in shutting out the wind noise Schuberth have made this helmet unsuitable for riders who wear glasses, in my opinion.
I am now faced with having to spray anti-fog spray on my glasses and ride without the under chin wind and noise deflectors, or leave the C3 at home and use my old AGV whenever the weather forecast predicts rain.
November 9th, 2009 on 10:23 am
I don’t think it is just me that feels the C3 does not live up to the hype. I am not getting another one, ever! Like Neil in torrential rain the visor became really frightening. I think this expensive lid is going to go into the bin.
November 30th, 2009 on 9:25 am
I have a C3. One of the worst helmets that I have ever bought. The inner visor keeps falling out. The chin peices fall off or at best come away from their clips. The plastic on the chin is so thin, one tap and it falls apart. This product is truly appauling.
I too had problems with the pin lock steaming up.
January 20th, 2010 on 4:43 pm
Reading these reviews of the C3 makes pretty glum reading really, the helmet is a top tier item which ought to get a better write up than this.
Is it then, that the ability to have a design that allows a flip up of the chin, will always restrict basic functionality such as misting, visor flappyness all that stuff?
I want a helmet that is really quiet, and is also fully functional. Any suggestions? At this price level, it is an very expensive mistake waiting to happen.
Cheers
RW
February 8th, 2010 on 3:14 am
I am considering buying a C3…. ok I pretty much have my heart set on one as the supposedly quietest lid around, so it’s really great to see some real-life views and comments on the net. Keep it coming guys!
So why am I leaving a comment? Well, I was prettty disappointed with the ex-poloiceman’s note about the lid and impressed with Andrew’s careful and well thought out follow up. I have no gripes with the UK police at all, infact I’ve always found them to be really pleasant people whatever the circumstances but these kind of narrow minded comments about flip-ups being up etc are really for teenage scooter riders, not grown-ups please.
I’ve just been living in Brasil for 2 years where hardly anyone uses a helmet, or carries one on their elbow just to pop-on when the police are spotted. You can’t tell me that the RTAs I stopped at to assist would have looked the same if the riders had been wearing an open flip-up. I personally ften rode in Brasil with my flip-up open at low-ish speeds as it gives much better awareness, reduces fatigue and overheating and increases primary accident protection (i.e. not having one in the first place). Secondary protection (i.e. actually protecting your head against being hit) is, of course, reduced but it is important to accept that is part of the picture, not the whole answer.
Thank God for a blog that uses reasoned argument and experience above knee jerk policy quoting.
Best regards,
Jon
March 25th, 2010 on 11:45 pm
Thanks Jon. I deal with the Police most days and find them helpful and quite pro bike.That said, if I choose to ride flipped up, I’ll take the risks that go with it. I ride the most dangerous form of transport on the road, I know the risks I take. I do get a bit fed up with being constantly told the risks of everything. I know. I am a grown up who deals with the aftermath of motorcycle accidents, all day, everyday. I shouldn’t ride at all. Motorcycles are nasty dangerous things. At least it can’t be a midlife crisis, as it started when I was 18. I would rarely choose to ride flipped up. It is uncomfortable at more than 30mph and it does look a bit nobby, but if my head is hot and I am at urban speeds, I will ride flipped up. it doesn’t matter much now as my full face Raid II is the helmet I use every day. I still have not thrown the C3 away but I will when I clear out the garage. I am going to try one more repair on the visor but I will not ever buy a Schuberth again.
April 8th, 2010 on 7:43 pm
Read your review with interest, I’m currently on my second C3 after the first one failed with the sun visor jamming and eventually coming away all together.
I’m interested to know how the visor locks, I notice that when I close mine the left hand side is not as flush as the right side but with a little bit of force there is a click and the left side become flush, is this the locking mechanism?
Not 100% convinced that the lid will last if I am honest but now I finally have the autocom system working via bluetooth with my iphone (music, ipod, sat nav all in one) I will persevere until such time I need to replace it.
Rich
April 19th, 2010 on 7:48 pm
I had a Multitec from Shoei & fancied a change to a C3.
I have to admit that I am also quite disappointed with the C3 & have returned to my Multitec.
The C3 has a very flimsy feel to it & the vent on the top of the helmet has come loose on two occasions.
Despite the antimist ‘double glazing’ visor, the C3 still collects moisture rain or shine!
The fit is lovely & it is light, but if I could turn back the hands of time I would have spent the money on something else (I recommend you do!).
April 22nd, 2010 on 3:09 pm
Richard, sorry I can’t help you. My C3 is sat in a helmet bag gathering dust. The sun visor always seemed okay.I do not have an unusually large or malformed nose, and I always felt the sun visor was a bit too close to my nose and a minor off could result in my face becoming even more lived in. I still have half a mind to put a fibre washer on the visor mounting to see if the friction would help, but it is a bodge on an expensive lid.
April 22nd, 2010 on 3:10 pm
Geoff, I couldn’t agree more.
Andrew
May 9th, 2010 on 4:03 pm
Guys & Girls, thx for all the Schuberth C3 info – I was looking into one for ages but after reading all these ‘comments’, I opted for the CABERG SINTESI as it’s LEGAL to ride in the OPEN position, which should please our ‘legal friends’…
The SINTESI is much quieter than my Caberg Trip and a much better build. It also includes the ‘Caberg’ attempt to bring down wind noise by using a large Chin-Guard and close fitting neck padding – maybe not as comprehensive as the C3 but really works for me.
The flip-up SINTESI system is BRILLIANT – check it out for yourselves Guys, it is a simple ONE-PUSH “press and lift” system, which then locks up and is LEGAL to stay open while riding…! (I believe the first ever)… Then to pull it down it is simply ONE ACTION of lift & pull – NO BUTTONS to push to bring down. It locks in the open position automatically.!
It also has a great (internal) Sun Visor which can be adjusted to any level of vision and DOES NOT SLIDE DOWN on its own. The Chin Strap is really strong and has the EU quick release TENSIONER, which makes life real easy when you’ve got a Neck-Tube on for winter rides and you need a little more Strap length without having to actually adjust your chin strap, simply click the TENSION STRAP in 90%.
Plus the SINTESI styling is great to look at – all the above is dependant on the individual user – The SINTESI is a great Helmet until the C3 gets its problems sorted out and you can get them for less than £210. – Ride Safe friends..! and thx for this blog…it helps..!
May 15th, 2010 on 6:02 am
Great blog on the c3 – saved me £400 and a lot of hassle from buying one. Comments should be sent to Schuberth for comment.
June 9th, 2010 on 6:35 pm
Guys,
This riding with the flip up is an important UK issue.
The helmet is type tested only in the flip down position, if you ride with the flip up, the helmet is not type approved and therefore, legally, you are riding without a helmet fitted. Also with the way the insurance companies are keen to wriggle out of a claim, you may find your self without an insurance payout too.
Sad, but the truth!!
Colin.
June 10th, 2010 on 11:45 am
Colin, there is merit in what you observe, but the law on “wriggling out” of a claim if the rider has an improperly worn helmet is a bit more complex than your observation. As a rule of thumb, strap undone (and causative of injury) is 10%, no helmet at all 20 -25%. However if I break my leg riding without a helmet my lack of helmet is legally irrelevant. Potentially riding with a lid flipped could be a motoring offence. I say could because the law in not that clear, having been drafted before any one thought of flip lids. No higher Court has ever tested the point. Therefore, your observation is only partially true, but commonly held.
Andrew Dalton
Solicitor Advocate
July 1st, 2010 on 12:35 pm
What an interesting read! My 5 year old BMW System 5 lid is coming to the end if its useful life so I’m looking for a replacement.
I’ve looked at the BMW System 6 which seems to have good reviews, but wanted a comparison. The C3 seemed to fit the bill.
Having read this blog, I’ll probably pass on the C3 but does anyone have a review on the System 6 or suggest an alternative?
On another point. My System 5 is certified in the UK as a full face and as a jet lid. I thought this would make it OK to ride through town on a hot day flip up because my visor auto-closes at 5mph now it’s worn.
Apparently not, I got pulled last week!
The “Advanced vehicle inspectorate traffic cop” told me to I could only ride with the flip down. When I explained about the visor auto-closing, he replied that if a visor is fitted, it needs to work correctly and started suggesting my lid was not actually legal.
Suggesting removal of the visor, riding flip down and relying on my shatterproof sunglasses to complete the ride home (at 4pm on a very sunny afternoon) also failed to impress because the glasses “wouldn’t protect me from the dust and other hazards that could blow into my face”.
Realising this was a no win situation, I agreed to ride home with the flip and visor down. The call on his radio also helped bring the conversation to a close but it does highlight a very grey area as to what is, and what is not, deemed to be legal/acceptable/safe on UK roads.
July 1st, 2010 on 1:55 pm
We’ll have to see if anyone actually gets prosecuted, Farrel. I don’t use a flip up any more so it is a pity it can’t be me, but if there is a serving Policeman who wants to make an issue of it I could be persuaded to ride in front of such an officer with my lid up and refer it to the Divisional Court for a binding judgment. Just going to the Magistrates won’t do! Statements of the law by Police officers are more accurate than civilians but they are enforcement officers, not lawyers and most sensible coppers know this. Their legal knowledge is much greater than most citizens but it is not in the fine art of statutory interpretation but in the rather more practical trade of keeping the peace and detecting crime. I have had one or two learned debates by the side of the road with Police Officers, and thus far all have ended up good humoured but I am not afraid to tell a Police Officer they are wrong but when I have been banged to rights, my grovelling is quite shameless.
July 12th, 2010 on 11:20 am
I have a C3 and am very disappointed with it. In wet weather the water was lierally streaming down the inside of the visor and I had to stop. I returned it to the retailer (Hein Gericke) who sent it away to Oxford who said thay had adjusted it and it would be OK. It wasn’t; it still lets in water, especially if the chin vent is open.
However, now the neck guard is detaching everytime I close the flip because the clip has disengaged and the clip holder, a plastic piece that runs around the bottom edge of the helmet has split. I’ve taken it back again, and once again Hein Gericke are sending it to Oxford for their comments.
The inference here is that I have cracked it. I haven’t. As an observer for the IAM and a RoSPA tutor I look after my equipment. I wanted the flip helmet as it’s great when instructing, and you want to stop for a brief chat. My last Arai, a Quantum F, is still in good nick.
My advice, avoid the C3, it isn’t worth the money. I’m now trying to get my money back, and will look at one or two of the helmets mentioned in this blog. Well done guys, keep it up!
July 15th, 2010 on 2:50 pm
Hi,
I bought a C3 and found this site afterwards. I’ve just come back from a 3000+ mile trip into Europe with weather from torrential thunderstorms to 34c+.
Having read all the comments, I wonder if I’m really wearing the same helmet or whether I’ve just been lucky?
In torrential rain, its doesn’t leak. As long as the visor is securely locked down in its final ‘click’ position, it didn’t let in a drop even in a thunderstorm so bad we had to stop.
Nothings fallen off or broken (yet) Sun visor stays where you put it, I usually had it about 3/4 down so I could see the GPS and even over bumps it stayed put.
Visors stays open in whatever position I put it and in the heat we had I frequently rode at 50+ with it open – no slamming shut or dropping down.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but the only criticisms I have is that its not quite a all-day comfy as my old Arai; in the heat the semi-sealed nature means that you have to flip the front up to avoid feeling suffocated whenever I stopped and that you have to put up with the Schuberth ‘Inverse Mohican’ from the single centre padding!
July 21st, 2010 on 10:22 am
Hi Andrew, I have a C3 which I have been very happy with….. until the little plastic catch on the right side that you use to remove the visor snapped. I have been trying to get a replacement catch since April from Schuberth but they don’t seem to be able to provide a replacment. The one on the left works fine.
Regarding the rest of the problems reported, I have experienced none of them. Although the “inverse Mohican” effect may account for my premature baldness.
If you are throwing away your C3, I would be happy to have the right hand visor catch to repair mine
In the meantime, I am using my old C1 which has never given me a moments trouble either.
August 1st, 2010 on 6:51 pm
What interesting reading! Here’s my tale of woe regarding the C3. I bought one fro Hein Gericke in April. The left-hand sun visor clip snapped while I was riding with the visor up just as I was exiting a t-junction in town. The helmet went back to Hein Gericke, who sent it back to Oxford and returned it, with new clips and sun visor. within two weeks.
All was well for a while, apart from a few drops of rain entering through the top of the visor and the chin strap cutting cutting into my adam’s apple. (I hadn’t noticed this when trying on the helmet and just decided to put up with it.) Then last week I carefully cleaned the sun visor with a lint-free cloth. The anti-fog coating smeared all over the place and has remained smeared, resulting in an opaque sun visor. One reason for buying the helmet? The sun visor.
The Inverse Mohican is another problem, but not quite so spectacular as the Double Mohican left by the Shoei Multitec.
August 1st, 2010 on 6:53 pm
What interesting reading! Here’s my tale of woe regarding the C3. I bought one from Hein Gericke in April. The left-hand sun visor clip snapped while I was riding with the visor up just as I was exiting a t-junction in town. The helmet went back to Hein Gericke, who sent it back to Oxford and returned it, with new clips and sun visor, within two weeks.
All was well for a while, apart from a few drops of rain entering through the top of the visor and the chin strap cutting cutting into my adam’s apple. (I hadn’t noticed this when trying on the helmet and just decided to put up with it.) Then last week I carefully cleaned the sun visor with a lint-free cloth. The anti-fog coating smeared all over the place and has remained smeared, resulting in an opaque sun visor. One reason for buying the helmet? The sun visor.
The Inverse Mohican is another problem, but not quite so spectacular as the Double Mohican left by the Shoei Multitec.
August 2nd, 2010 on 7:34 pm
Like Keith I have had no problems at all. I bought 2 C3′s from the November NEC show 2009, did the iron but 24 hour ride, been to france, scotland. In total about 6,000 miles wearing the C3. The Helmet is brilliant. No issues with sloppy visors, bits falling off fogging up nothing. The autocom fits brilliant all in all a fantastic helmet and would buy another tommorow. I guess they have changed it somehow, perhaps changed factories or material suppliers.
August 4th, 2010 on 8:11 pm
Keith, pop me a stamped addressed envelope and you can have any part of the poxy helmet you want. I have now just totally given up with it. I hate it. Send a big jiffy bag and you can have the visor, the lining, whatever. It has had less than a thousand miles with my head in it and it is matt black. I cannot give the whole lid away as it is sign written and second hand but consumables you are welcome to. Better you have it mate than it goes into landfill. I used it today for 250 miles in the wet, it fogged, the visor started slamming at exactly 44mph, and it is the worst lid I have ever had, and I am old enough to remember the Stadium Achilles (if you are under 40 ask your dad!)
August 6th, 2010 on 12:06 pm
Andrew
My experience with the C3 is totally different to yours, or perhaps I’ve just been lucky. I purchased mine from Hein Gericke in Norwich last Saturday and so far I’m thrilled with it.
It’s much quieter than any other helmet I’ve ever used.
The visor will stay wherever it’s set from fully open to fully closed at any speed; I rode 25 miles home in a thunderstorm at 4 AM on Tuesday morning (I work nights) and there were no water leaks into the helmet with the visor fully closed, nor was there any misting of the visor at all while waiting at traffic lights or junctions.
My old AGV would have misted totally unless I’d opened the visor a little, letting in lots of water.
I do remember the old stadium Achilles but I think even that was better than the heavy old Kangol Gladiator that I had back in the mid seventies!!!
August 9th, 2010 on 10:43 am
There is hope then for the C3 and I hope I have just got a bad one. However, I really now hate the helmet. I have put my Scala Rider into my old and cheap Caberg, and put my autocom into my even older Arai Raid. I am not convinced about the noise saving, but it may be quiet for a flip lid – but not noticeably quieter than my Shoei Raid. Mike, I’ll have to ask my dad about Kangol Gladiators! I think there must be a rogue batch of these helmets because mine is shockingly bad, and I am not alone. Other riders seem really happy with them, and this seems to me to be the only logical answer but I have now officially given up on tis lid, as evidenced by my inviting people to request spares off it as I will never use it again.
August 18th, 2010 on 6:32 pm
I purchased my C3 my from Helmet City in May last year, and have been using it on my commute ever since.
Until it leaked in torrential rain. So badly that I couldn’t see through the visor and despite the intensity of the rain I was forced to ride with the visor up!!
I was so shocked at this event that I did some tests at home with a small watering-can to prove to myself that even with the visor fully closed it would leak. What I noticed was that as soon as the water ‘backs up’ to a certain point it then gets behind the black strip and then down the inside of the visor. In dismay at this major design flaw I took the helmet back to helmet City, who sent it off to Oxford for repair. After about 6 weeks the helmet was returned ostensibly having been repaired.
Since getting it back all seemed fine until early June when the same thing happened again while riding around the lake district. This time there wasn’t quite so much rain on the inside of the visor so I was able to continue in relative safety.
However, on a recent trip to the continent I was making good progress along a German autobahn when the heavens opened with the worst downpour I have ever ridden in. Despite the visor being fully closed the effect was like having a pillion put their hands over my eyes.
In view of this major safety feature I will be asking Helmet City for a refund as the helmet is clearly not fit for purpose.
Other observations. It may be slightly quieter than my previous Arai’s but it is not as comfortable for all day riding, it not as cool in very hot weather and the visor does not stay where it is put (unlike an Arai).
Steve
August 25th, 2010 on 2:06 pm
Andrew, sorry to hear about your problems with the C3. Were you at any time tempted to reject it as ‘not fit for purpose’ under the Sale of Goods Act?
September 2nd, 2010 on 10:51 pm
Andrew – we met at Bassett at one of the repats a couple of months ago, you’re firm sent me a load of free advice (and spent time on the phone explaining) after my better half was in an accident with an uncontrolled dog recently.
Looks like you not only saved us a lot of hassle with the free info regarding making a claim, but you’ve just saved us a whole lot more with the info about the C3! Thanks again, on both counts.
September 12th, 2010 on 6:42 pm
My God. So glad I found your site. Literally tommorrow morning i was due to ring Fowlers in Bristol to order my white XL C3 c/w Bluetooth kit. £ 710 quid you’ve just saved me….
I’ve had an HJC Flip up lid for years and its been great. Thought I’d upgrade to the Rolls Royce of flip up helmets – and so glad I haven’t!
Marcus
September 17th, 2010 on 9:52 pm
Interesting to read all of the above, as I have a System 6 that has disappointed me so much I was planning to get a C3 – not any more! My system 6 visor drops just as you all have described with the C3, the visor leaks in heavy rain and I wish I had stayed with my Multitech. I will be looking for a refund. I should add my brother has a System 6 and has exactly the same problems.
September 20th, 2010 on 11:28 am
I am a bit suprised not to have heard from Schuberths. There clearly is a problem wih at least some of their helmets, and I have to take the view that if some are so badly defective that people (like me) are throwing them away then I really do not want their product. I have given up on my Schuberth C3. Pehaps these “super flip lids” are too many design compromises, of wind noise, flip ups, safety, whatever! Mine does not work, and I have officially given up on flip ups. I have a cheap old Caberg that functions as a helemt for 35% of the price of a Schuberth C3. My Raid 3 is getting to the point where hygiene and safety require a replacement and I will be geting a full face Shoei with no clever trickery.
Andy, glad to have helped.
Paul, as a matter of law I don’t think I could have rejected, but the truth of the matter is I had kept trying, even packing out the visor with Wickes hose washers, which were a temporary fix but could not defeat the visor slap. My head is too important for a lash up and with winter coming in, with rain and dark nights I simply would never use the helmet again.
September 29th, 2010 on 1:18 pm
I was considering a C3, especially as it has the added attraction of the bluetooth comms system, but will now not get one thanks to all the comments here. I have been a firm believer that “you get what you pay for”, but apprantly not in this case. Such a shame, as my S1 has been near-perfect (it does get rain down the inside of the visor if I don’t clamp it shut carefully enough).
That leaves me looking for a helmet and a bluetooth intercom/mp3/satnav/radio setup that I can use with my Westone UM1 in-ear speakers. I tried the Autocom speakers in the helmet, but could barely hear it through the earplugs I feel are essential to minimise damage to hearing caused by constant wind noise. The Westone’s are brilliant, but I’d like a setup that isn’t hardwired to the bike and is pillion capable too.
September 29th, 2010 on 3:30 pm
Skids, I am going to start a thread on the blog for music producing hearing protection.
November 17th, 2010 on 9:56 pm
I have now thrown the lid away. I had a moments regret as £350 worth of helmet was sat in the bottom of the works bin, but I will never wear the poxy thing again, and I cannot off load it onto anyone. I could not have that on my conscience. I have a new Shoei Qwest (or soe such daft name) and so far it is proving to be an excellent lid. I’ll put a few more miles onto it and let you know how I get on with it, but so farI amm really pleased.
December 28th, 2010 on 10:13 pm
I am stunned by all the talk of the legality of riding with a helmet flipped up or not. All this talk of insurance and legality is sheer bull and technicalities. The bottom line is that if you wear a helmet in a way that it is not designed to be worn and you get hurt then you are an idiot. Sorry to be blunt but it seems you are really missing the point. I always wear full decent gear and in the middle of summer I get hot, but when I came off at 85, my fault, it all worked and I was lucky enough to hobble away. You can argue the rights and wrongs till the cows come home but ultimately an open flip lid in the wrong circumstances will probably break your neck.
January 3rd, 2011 on 8:32 am
Although I’ve not managed to find a suitable helmet yet, I have found the SENA SMH-10 bluetooth intercom system. I’ve tried it in store but need to try it on the bike (the dealer has 2 helmets fitted for this purpose). A Google search will reveal a very good review on WebBikeWorld if anyone is interested.
January 27th, 2011 on 8:33 pm
Skids – I like the Sena SMH-10 so much I’ve bought three (one for me, one for my better half, one for spare/pillion)
Fantastic piece of kit, I’ve never needed to use full volume, I can hold a phone call at 70mph crystal clear (in a caberg helmet!) and it talks to my satnav, music player, phone and other half on her bike – and knows which one I should be listening to at any given time.
March 2nd, 2011 on 11:12 pm
Guys please don’t give up on the C3 due to a couple of guys with issues.
Most people that are happy don’t feel the need to report it like the ones who have has issues
I’ve had many lids and the C3 is by far the best lid I’ve ever owned. It’s well made, the visor is super clear and the sunshade again very good quality. It’s quiet and I’ve had no issues with riding in rain
The visor holds up fine and fit and finish is better then the Arai and Shoei I have had before this.
March 2nd, 2011 on 11:13 pm
Oh yeah I have the SRS system and it performs flawlessly as well
March 10th, 2011 on 3:47 pm
I have the Caberg Justissimo and like the flippy bit and the sun visor, but it is VERY noisy and the inner is a bit uncomfortable, especially with autocom shoved in – bit better now speakers relocated to near the strap.
I think it’s good for the money, and aside from the noise, it is a good helmet for a tour, and yes in the baking heat of France through a town at 8mph I wore it flip-up.
I’m happy to spend more on a better helmet though – with flip and sun visor. I was looking at the C3, as an ‘executive’ replacement for the Caberg, with a better inner and less noise, but there are just too many poor reviews here for me to buy one without some reassurance the visor & mechanism has been redesigned.
Strange how reviews by M/C journalists all sound so positive… unlike the people here who have paid for one. hmm.
Does anyone know if Schuberg have addressed any of the faults mentioned here?
Thanks to Andrew and everyone here for making me think twice about parting with my hard-earned.
March 14th, 2011 on 12:08 pm
I gave an honest review of the Schuberth, and it is the only helmet I have ever thrown away before it wore out or started smelling. I have come to the view that there was a rogue batch as the two types of review cannot be of the same helmet. What would have helped in Schuberth saying to Helmet City “We know there is a problem with some of these lids, so any complaints, we’ll send a new one”
March 14th, 2011 on 12:15 pm
Hi Raj, maybe I and the others just got rogue lids but I am sticking with cheaper, quieter and more reliable Shoei Qwests.
March 22nd, 2011 on 5:01 pm
[...] Kit Reviews For those of you who have read the massive blog on my big disappointment with the Schuberth C3 (and it does not seem like I am alone) I am pleased to report that the Shoei Qwest is nowhere near [...]
March 26th, 2011 on 9:37 am
Must say I am suprised to read of the woes of C3 ownership.
I’ve had my C3 in Matte Black for some 18 months now.
Admittedly I don’t commute so it hasn’t had the use that Andrews would get but I have had no problems at all (that I can think of). Regarding the visor flipping down, I don’t ever recall it happening until silly speeds but normally I would flip it down myself as I am quiet attached to my eyes!!
I will test this though to see if “they all do that sir”!
March 29th, 2011 on 1:50 pm
Andy, I reckon there is a rogue batch, but as the Arabs say, “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” so I have bought a new lid to go with my shiny new Multistrada – and it is a shoei Qwest in red and black. Man alive that is a handsome lid. Especially with a black visor. Apparently my genuinely green polka dot on white helmet is not cool, according to my wife, my kids and unanimously amongst my colleagues. However on a sunny day we can have 8 or 9 crash helmets lying around the office so mine is easy to spot
March 29th, 2011 on 2:44 pm
I have had my silver C3 for about 3 months but only started using it about 2 months ago.
I bought mine from Hein Gericke.
I had to write to Shuberth because I was finding some part of the strap has been chaffing my throat and it’s quite painful.
They offered to replace the locking strap with a D strap for £60
Swimbo put a sleeve on the buckle for me as we thought it was this however it has turned out not to be the case today as it started again.
Whatever it is is quite sharp.
I almost think it is the protective strip with the edge of the velcro tab that may be doing it.
Anyway today on my way to an advanced rider lesson in the pouring rain.
Water was seeping into the helmet from the top and running down the inside front of the visor.
Making visibility near impossible for me.
I had to do the lesson with the visor up in the rain.
I love this helmet but so many problems.
March 30th, 2011 on 8:51 am
Well Dominic, it sounds to me like you love a difficult helmet. leaking, uncomfortable, chafing, expensive. What’s not to love? These problems in the rain seem like a product liability case waiting to happen. Schuberths are aimed at the high mileage serious user – who goes out in the rain. I just hope mine, yours (and everyone else who is unimpressed) represent one rogue batch.
March 30th, 2011 on 9:19 am
Good morning Andrew
Ahem…phoned the supplier who said, did you snap the visor shut…!!!! snap !
Forgot the visor had a snap connector at the front.
So that problem is hopefully solved.
And I am almost certain it is the velcro tab on the two pieces that go between the chin and the strap that somehow work loose and the edge of the velcro tab chaffs at my throat.
But never mind that, what about the indentation left on your forehead for about an hour when you remove the Shuberth, now is that not a mind bender !!!!
I do find that the strap had to be undone and only snapped onto the lock once otherwise I feel like gagging.
I have my trusty old Arai Rx-7xx which I love but have to wear ear plugs.
Off to Ireland in May and will be able to give you an in depth report on the shuberth then, if anyone wants it of course.
I was very interested to read your report on the Shuberth Andrew but I struggle to believe that a company would produce a faulty batch.
In today’s market place it’s as well that we have Arai and Shoei.
My wife loves her flip up Shoei.
I also once had a Stadium Achilles helmet in red with gold pin striping and removable nose piece.
Though I preferred my white Bell helmet.
In my thirty years of riding this Shuberth helmet is my first skid lid that has caused me a problem and at £449.99 we should not have any problems.
March 30th, 2011 on 3:45 pm
Seriously Dominic, is going to Ireland in that helmet a good idea? This probably won’t come as a suprise to you but ireland gets a lot of rain. And you will be doing a lot of riding. Please let me know if you do manage to sort out your lid. I gave up and threw it away. I have never had any problems with a helmet before either. Just the most expensive one I have ever bought.
April 13th, 2011 on 12:18 pm
Really glad I came across this forum. I have been looking at buying a C3, and nearly did, but reading some mixed messages on the internet left me in two minds. But this forum has just convinced me to rather spend my money on a full face and maybe later get a flip-up. There certainly are just too many complaints from what I can see to convince me about buying this. Consistency is a key requirement when it comes to quality, and I see no consistency here, which says it all! Sadly I need to start my search for a new helmet again…
April 23rd, 2011 on 9:08 am
Hi Andrew
This is an update on the C3 helmet.
Well I have been wearing the lid for a while now but I am experiencing some new problems.
This helmet is very poorly thought out and made.
Yes I feel fresh as a daisy after a hundred mile ride whereas if I wear my Arai RX7-XX I have to wear ear plugs.
On opening the vent on the top it is not very long before bugs manage to be sucked into the scoop and then deposited straight down onto your head where they do the dance of the seven veils upon your hairless head, Lovely.
It’s a good way to test yourself on how long you can withstand them pirouetting upon your head.
My next complaint is a bad one.
Where the vents exit into the helmet there is a molding with some shaped fabric at the front.
There is a thread somewhere about this molding.
Upon taking the lid off you are left with a depression in your forehead for about an hour.
We rode back from West bay in Dorset (a lovely gathering point for bikers) and I was in so much pain because of this molding I wondered if I was going to make it home before I had to stop and remove the helmet to relieve the pressure on my head.
And all this before the Ireland tour next month.
EBAY…..
April 27th, 2011 on 12:04 pm
Thanks Dominic – there is something odd going on with these lids. Some people love them, others (myself and you) hate them. My own experience is that European designed helmets fit my very Northern European headshape. I found the Schuberth comfortable but the slappy visor made it actively dangerous – a bit of a problem with an item of safety equipment. I wore the helmet so little (and my head is still covered by hair) that I did not experience the bizarre fly dance thing! Surreal. Anyway, I threw my lid away. I could not bring myself to sell it. I am very fond of my Shoei Qwests – I now have 2 and fancy black and red one with a dark visor which I use on the Mutley Strudel and a white clear visored one I use for working by the side of the road. The Qwest is no noisier than the the C3 and I would say on the GS the Qwest was a bit quieter. if only the Qwest had a drop down sun visor it wouyld be perfect for me, but helmets are a personal thing. If they don’t fit your head or catch a special windblast on your bike then they can become a complete misery.
April 27th, 2011 on 1:20 pm
Deon try the lid for yourself and take it for a test ride. Mine was pretty well a bag of spanners when it came out the box. The reviews here are mixed. Bear in mind people tend to get onto forums when they are unhappy as most people would have high expectations of a top end helmet. I did and the helmet was close to useless. I would not buy another Schuberth, but it did tick all the boxes on paper. I am still with the rogue batch theory but such a pricey lid should be perfect. I did get a very angry post from a guy in California whose post was so passionate and so angry we could not put it up, but the burden of what he said was that Schuberth representatives had told him the flippy floppy visor is some kind of safety requirement and not a design fault. That one is news to me. Nowhere in the EU regs is there any requirement for visors to automatically close at a given speed. And if this were truly given as an excuse, how would it differentiate between a naked muscle bike, a partially faired adventure tourer, a sorts bike and a full dress tourer?
June 14th, 2011 on 10:30 am
Hi Andrew.
I wish I’d read this blog before I bought my C3!
I’ve had mine for a short time now and only ridden a few hundred miles in it but it is driving me mad.
The problem I find is that it whistles very loudly when doing more than 50. This is regardless of the weather conditions and I make sure that the visor is closed fully. I’ve tried taping up the top vent, as the noise seems to come from there, but to no effect.
The other reviewers here do not mention whistling which suggests to me that I am doing something wrong or have a faulty lid.
I’ve tried Schubert customer services and they were very clear that they are not interested in the slightest.
Of course, I’m fishing for any help or advice here
Nick
July 4th, 2011 on 7:37 pm
Hi Andrew
I just bought a C3 3 weeks ago. Was going on a trip from Norway to Italy, and I wanted a proper helmet.
Helmet is ok, but I didnt test it in rain before we left, and I wish I had. It almost ruined the trip for me.
After 3 minutes in rain, it splashes in on me, visor fully closed. Drops come on the inside so I cant see…
Im returning it tomorrow, and I won`t have another one. I`ll have the R1 or another brand instead.
When I was in Germany, just starting the trip, I tride to contact Schuberth via mail, asking for help. Got a recipe, promising a quick response, but I still havent heard anything..The 10 day trip is over now, 6 days with rain.. Not good service..
Might NOT choose Schubert again..
Osmund
July 21st, 2011 on 4:57 pm
I’m going to have to join the group of people with bad experience with the C3.
On my K1300S with a fairly low wind screen, the wind came right in on the helment and I had major problems with water coming in through the chin vents. It didn’t even have to rain that much. I had to put duct tape over the chin vent (covering the small holes).
On my R1200GS with a much higher wind screen, water is not coming in through the chin vent, but is still dropping from to top of the visor at slow speeds (or stopping at a red light).
Also, I don’t find it so quiet as reviews say, unless I stand up on the foot pegs, or tug myself well under the wind screen. Neither is a comfortable position on longer rides
I also bought the bluetooth (the SRC System) headset to connect to my Zumo 660, but this as another unhappy story.
As Nick, I also tried to contact Schuberth customer service (by mail), but haven’t gotten any reply either.
All in all, I don’t have too good experiences with Schuberth products/service.
Jesper
July 24th, 2011 on 12:07 am
I bought a C3 this year to replace my Multitec as I liked the idea of the sun visor.
Wish I hadn’t bothered, the slack visor dropping down at even low speeds is infuriating and dangerous.
I haven’t had any problems with rain getting in but my pinlock just won’t seal properly.
July 25th, 2011 on 9:00 am
Hi Alan. My initial view that I just had a rogue lid. However the problem seems rather more deep seated than this. I have tried an AGV Stealth, which has a drop down sun visor. The visor stays up at any speed. it is a lot noisier than the Schuberth but a helluva lot better than my Schuberth – which is now landfill somewhere.
July 25th, 2011 on 12:00 pm
Jesper, Osmund and Nick, my apologies for not posting sooner. I would like to pretend it was a more glamourous reason than my forgetting my password!
Nick in England and Wales your remedy, if you don’t mind a modest level of hassle is the small claims court but you will need an independent person to confirm the faults in the helmet or a video or something similar showing the problems. For my Norwegian Friend, Osmund, first of all I offer my sincere condolences for the national tragedy your beautiful country has suffered. I am of Nordic origin too, and our countries seem to have their fair share of crazies with guns.
The same problems seem to keep coming up, and they all seem to be the moving parts of the helmet. My helmet has now been thrown away.
July 28th, 2011 on 12:25 am
I appear to have solved the problem with my visor, not completely but a definate improvement.
I took my side pods off and removed the ring with the toothed section on it. I gently pulled the toothed parts out from the centre and on refitting everything the action is definately better.
My GSA does cause a fair bit of buffeting but I can now ride along at 40mph with the visor staying up (mostly).
What I have noticed is that the last click isn’t very positive and that if I leave the visor on the second last click it stays up much better.
I also took one of our ER5′s for a wee run today and the visor stayed up till about 50 mph before closing which I can certainly live with.
The pinlock however really doesn’t fit properly even with the pins turned fully in there is not a proper seal and it catches on the rubber strip every time I raise the visor.
July 28th, 2011 on 9:22 am
Hi Alan, I tried various bodges (a bit galling on a £400 + lid) and they worked for a while, so I’ll be interested to hear if this is a permanent fix. However whichever way we look at it, you should not need to do this to a £40 lid, let alone a £400 one.
August 1st, 2011 on 10:51 pm
Was going to replace my RX7 and her Quantum F with C3′s – not now, not after so many poor reviews. So thanks for the blog, saved me a packet, even though the C3′s are down to just above £330 each now. Seems good value, but I’m sticking with full face Quantums.
Loved Dominics scenario with the pirouetting fly dance, I’ve still got the tears in my eyes from laughter and not from the gaps in the visor or flip front!
I’m ex plod too, patrolled inner city with original BMW system helmets in late 80′s – would never think of riding at speed with flip front up, but while wearing full leathers and sat behind barndoor screen of R80RT on hot days, I do recall raising the front flip albeit at very slow speeds while prowling…sorry, patrolling. Must admit, hated the BMW helmets, so don’t know why I even considered the C3. Mind you, have you ever tried riding in a hailstorm with an open faced everoak without goggles or a visor, jeez, sting?? even the barn door didn’t help…(all before PPE and H&S) and I used to have a Cromwell,(1976) not one of the crappy Kangols!
Enjoy what’s left of the summer season all. Cheers.
Gary Mc
August 2nd, 2011 on 1:26 pm
Hi Gary. I am glad the boys in blue are taking a sensible stance. I have lost count of the amount of job bikes with job riders I have seen, flipped up. Open face Everoaks? My grandad told me about those. Proper Police motorcyclists rode in Lewis Boots, riding breeches, a regular blue tunic and a white open face lid. None of this fancy Dan goretex and body armour. I am a child of the 70′s, when coppers were burly ex military types with a big stick and shirtsleeves, not paramilitary social workers. The attrition rate for bike coppers in the 70′s must have been eyewatering. Teflon coated tyres (Avon Speedmasters anyone?) and protective gear made out of wool. The old bike coppers, real men, chasing ton up boys. That’s enough waxing lyrical, save for one time I tried to outrun a police officer on foot when I was about 12, raiding my local tip for bits of push bike. He jogged along next to me, told me he had left the Royal Marines less than 2 years ago, he could keep this up all day, but if I didn’t immediately stop running, he would get quite grumpy and give me a proper slap. I stopped.
August 10th, 2011 on 5:15 am
Pretty interesting take on a fix for the weak visor detents… Will try and see if it works:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16588976&postcount=160
August 13th, 2011 on 5:17 pm
I ride approx 15k miles per annum and for the last 2 years wore a black Nolan N103. No issues at all other than I now have a white bike (VFR1200F) and I wanted a white helmet to match.
I purchased the Scuberth C3 about a month ago mainly because it was marketed as the quietest helmet but also because it had the ratchet neck strap adjuster. I was also interested in the Multitec but was put off by both the ring neck strap and the fact that the lining does not detach for cleansing.
So far I am very pleased with the C3 in most respects but during a recent heavy down pour I found that my neck tube got soaked.
I have never experienced this with any other helmet and since that day (about 1.5 weeks ago) it has not rained when I have been riding.
I would be interested to hear if anyone else has this problem or was this a one off freak event?
Cheers,
Steve.
August 14th, 2011 on 8:39 pm
got my schuberth c3 two weeks ago having problems with pain to the ears and water ingress from top of visor.
my head measures 58cm, helmet size large 58-59. has any one else had the problem of the linning irratating the ears or am i not giving the helmet anougth time to bed in.
August 26th, 2011 on 3:24 pm
i wear glasses so i bought the C3 because i thought it would be more convenient to put on and take off without removing my glasses. Unfortunately i find that without the visor snapped closed in the rain it leaks on the inside and if it is closed it steams up very quickly. To stop the steaming up with the visor closed i need to open the front chin vent but this is even worse because it directs the water spray directly to the inside of the visor making it impossible to see.
In short, this would be an excellent helmet if it weren’t for the visor issues which in my opinion make it extremely dangerous to use in wet weather.
August 26th, 2011 on 4:43 pm
I tried something similar Johnny, with fibre washers and plastic washers. It just increased the speed at which the visor slapped down, sometimes I could get up to 60mph without the visor slamming down violently. Luckily, I love my Shoei Qwest. The difference in riding pleasure that a helmet makes is huge. The Qwest is imo clearly quieter than the Schuberth and there are spectacle arm groove indents for spectactle wearers, but as I don’t wear glasses I cannot say if they are any good.
September 8th, 2011 on 8:30 pm
Hi All,
Have had my C3 for 9 months now and used most days but have only just been caught in proper downpours in the last few days. Managed about 10 mins this morning before inside started fogging up. No water made it in though until i pulled up at the lights and then it started leaking, visor was fully clicked down too. As others have stated, the sun visor (which had been a big selling point) is hazy unless methodically cleaned regularly whether used or not.
One other thing i’ve noted is that the visor seems to collect road dirt in a way i’ve never noticed before with other helmets. Cleaning the visor before going out is part of my morning routine now.
Anyway, not much use in contacting Schuberth going by the comments above. Think i’ll make do until i can justify writing off £400 odd quid in 9 months!
Great thread though – i thought it was just me till i came across this. Thanks – Rob.
p.s black electrical tape along the bottom of the pinlock insert helps it fog up less. To be fair to Schuberth, i’ve done this before on a Shoei lid too. Just shows that the more money you spend does not necessarily mean a better lid in this case unfortunately!
September 26th, 2011 on 2:53 pm
My first flip-front was a Caberg ( very noisy ), then the Caberg replacement flip front model (still very noisy, then a Shoei Multitech flip front ( virtually as noisy as the Cabergs ) so I’ve been seriously thinking about the Schuberth C3. However, I’m put off by the visor dropping reports and I’ve been wondering … what about the flip section ? Does this remain up or does it drop down when it feels like it ? Are there intermediate holding postions ? As I only ride with the flip section down when it is cold or rainy, I won’t mind the visor closing itself, but I really don’t want the flip section to be dropping when I want it to stay open.
I’d be very grateful for comments.
Thanks
Terry
September 26th, 2011 on 3:15 pm
Hi Terry – I never rode with mine up at more than about 20mph but it stayed up at those sort of speeds but it was getting pretty uncomfortable with wind drag on an R1200GS screen. The flip stays up, the visor doesn’t in my experience.
September 29th, 2011 on 4:21 pm
Hi Andrew, thanks for the info – I’ll have to try one on and shake my head around a bit ;<)
Terry
October 3rd, 2011 on 9:19 am
Ride in it Terry. It feels nice on in the shop and a bag of spanners on the road!
October 15th, 2011 on 10:54 pm
Ok so my fix didn’t solve the visor problem completely and it was still flipping down when I least wanted it too.
So I had another attempt at rectifying the problem and this time it’s sorted for good, the visor mechanism is now as positive as my Multitec and does stay open at any speed (tested at 70+mph on a private road)
What i did this time was to insert a small piece of plastic into one of the cutouts below the teeth on the inner ring.
Initially I filled both holes but this gave too much resistance and made it almost impossible to open the flip front.
I also solved the ill fitting pinlock by cutting up a rubber band and placing a small piece between the pinlock and pin on each side, absolutely air tight fit.
As you previously stated Andrew I shouldn’t need to be bodging these things on a £400 helmet but I can now live with this lid for another year after which point I’ll probably be going back to another Multitec (As the DSA and many police forces have already)
November 21st, 2011 on 1:46 pm
Thanks all for the comments – off to the NEC Wednesday and was going to but the new C3 – not now though, will look form something else – So much for Schuberth it seems from the responses they are not interested