Shoei sport-touring RF-1100 helmet

Shoei took customer and dealer requests and then used its technology and experience of 50 years of building helmets to create the all-new sport-touring RF-1100 helmet.

The new helmet has a new QRSA (Quick Release Self-Adjusting) base plate system that improves on its previous QRBP system.

It also has a new CW-1 shield, which is both wider and taller than the CX-IV that it replaces. One shield fits all the sizes.

The all-new Snell M2010-approved AIM+ shell comes with a shell-integrated spoiler, and the Shoei engineers have made improvements to the ventilation system.

Shoei's shield-release and -attachment procedure is easy to use and tool-less. The shield's preset lever allows a rider to lock it down in racing conditions, or crack it open just slightly to allow for additional airflow while on the go.

The QRSA's most significant advantage over the QRBP is the patented new spring-loaded technology, which eliminates the need to adjust base plates for proper sealing. Every time the shield is lowered, the spring-loaded base plates pull the shield back to contact the window beading evenly, ensuring a wind and waterproof seal.  

In addition to being wider and taller, the CW-1 shield has the added bonus of filtering out 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays, while its three-dimensional injection-molding process is made to give distortion-free vision. The CW-1 has an optional pinlock system for tear-offs for fog-free vision for changing weather conditions.

The new CW-1 Pinlock lens is larger and extends all the way to the very top of the helmet's larger eye port, so nothing is obstructing the view from the eyeport.

The heart of any motorcycle helmet is its shell, and the new RF-1100 features an all-new Snell M2010-approved AIM+ shell complete with a shell-integrated spoiler. New shell-forming technology created during the development of Shoei's popular VFX-W motocross helmet gave  Shoei the ability to eliminate the plastic Aero Wing that was found on the previous model RF-1000.

This new technology has allowed Shoei to incorporate the aerodynamic advantages of a spoiler into the shell of the helmet, while maintaining consistent shell thickness to guarantee proper strength and weight. This shell-integrated spoiler works to reduce lift during high-speed riding, just like the spoiler on a sports car.

Instead of using foam padding to change the fit of the helmet, Shoei uses an industry-leading five shell sizes to ensure a custom fit for heads between the sizes of XXS-XXXL, which means you won't look like Jack In The Box's Jack when donning the RF-1100

The RF-1100 has an excellent ventilation system, and has a total of  three intake and six exhaust vents. Wind-tunnel testing revealed that the optimal location for exhaust vents is actually much higher on the rear portion of the helmet's shell than originally thought. Better ventilation and aerodynamic performance is achieved by separating the spoiler and exhaust vents. 

The exhaust vent holes have been relocated to take better advantage of negative pressure suction, dramatically improving exhaust ventilation. That allows cooling air to travel unrestricted through tunnels created in the EPS liner.

Inside, the 3D center pad and multi-layer cheek pads are fully removable, washable and replaceable.The center-pad is called 3D, because its components are three-dimensionally shaped to match the contours of a rider's head. It lightly hugs the crown of the head evenly, keeping the helmet comfortably in place, even at high-speed riding.

The RF-1100's multi-layer cheek pads are available in six different thicknesses to allow riders to further customize the fit. In addition, the liner features eyeglass channels and an integrated neck pad that block out wind noise. The RF-1100 also includes a removable breath guard and chin curtain. 

All the RF-1100s are made in Shoei's factories in Japan and are backed by a five-year limited warranty. There are many choices of color and design in the RF-1100 lineup. Prices are solids ($399.99), metallics ($419.99) and graphics ($499.99). Size XXXL comes in solid or metallic, with the price still TBA as of the time of this posting.