Shoei RF-1000 Motorcycle Helmet Undeniable Comfort

I don’t know what it is about Shoei helmets, but for my head size and shape, they just fit me perfectly. If you can’t tell, I am a big fan of the brand, so let’s take a look at the RF-1000 and see if it upholds the Shoei reputation.

In this day and age of high gas prices, skyrocketing inflation, and major layoffs, most motorcyclists are lucky to own one quality motorcycle helmet let alone several so when you are parting with your hard-earned money, you want to make sure you get a good helmet that will last for a long time. Unlike many of the high dollar brands that have a couple of gimmicks or selling points, the Shoei RF-1000 is just a quality helmet that is designed to fit a high percentage of riders very well.

“The RF-1000. Protection, at its technological best.”

Shoei Fit and Function

The RF-1000 is the latest in the RF series that Shoei has been building on for years. The RF-1000 has a new aerodynamic design that was bred from hours of testing in the wind tunnel to make it cut through the wind like a knife through butter.

The RF-1000 also incorporates Shoei’s proprietary helmet shell technology that is known as AIM. AIM stands for Advanced Integrated Matrix system and ensures that you will have a strong outer shell to protect your helmet in the event you go skidding down the road.

The helmet is outfitted with the Shoei CX-1V face shield that uses Shoei’s proprietary Quick Release Base Plate (QRBP) system. This visor system works really well and is the same unit found on the Shoei X-Eleven helmet that we reviewed previously.

The liner is a quality piece that has removable cheek pads that will allow you to customize the fit to your individual head size as well—a very nice feature on a very nice helmet.

Shoei Wind Noise and Function

Shoei helmets are designed in a wind tunnel to give you a helmet that will feel great on the motorcycle and keep the wind noise to a minimum. I am not much of an engineer, but one press release I read about the RF-1000 claims that they have been able to reduce drag by 24% and have achieved an 18% reduction in lift on this version of the RF helmets versus previous versions. I don’t know if this is fact-based or not, but I can tell you that the Shoei cuts through the air nicely and is a quiet helmet, so I would have to say they got it right.

The helmet is nice and light coming in at a hair over 1600 grams or around 3 lbs 9oz, which makes it a very light helmet, in my opinion. The weight doesn’t matter as much to me as does the way it feels on the bike. I have ridden some very light helmets that “felt” heavy on the bike due to poor design, and then I have ridden some heavier helmets that felt like a feather going down the road.
 
It should also be mentioned that the Shoei RF-1000 carries both DOT and Snell certifications for the USA riders and ECE 22.05 and ACU Gold certifications for the Euro riders. A sure sign of quality.

Shoei RF-1000 Appearance

One thing you can always expect from Shoei is a very high-quality paint and graphic package. Appearance is personal, so you will have to find the right combination that suits you, but you can be assured it will be a quality job on the Shoei.

The model I tried was the Shoei Diablo Model, and the graphics are way cool. I lean towards the matte black, and carbon fiber look, and this design incorporates that look but with a little bit of pizzaz added in a cool graphics package.

Shoei RF-1000 Venting

Venting and cooling are essential. It would seem that the wind tunnel work is paying off as this helmet did very well in the cooling arena as well.

Some helmets try to be too gimmicky in this aspect, and while they might look good, they don’t work that great. The chin vent on the RF-1000 flows a ton of air, which is directed up onto the visor to keep it clear on those humid summer mornings.

The simplistic design is consistent when you move to the top of the helmet, and the top vents are also simple but effective. Incoming air is vented directly into the helmet, through the liner and down on to the riders’ head. It is then exhausted out the rear of the helmet along with the excess heat and moisture.

It should be mentioned, even though it is common sense, the RF-1000 is a quiet helmet, but the noise increases significantly when the top vents are open. This is no different than most helmets and shouldn’t come as any surprise. I will trade a little noise for a vent system that flows a ton of air, and the Shoei RF-1000 does not disappoint in that department.

“The venting system on the Shoei is very simple and very effective.”

Shoei RF-1000 Visor

I already mentioned the visor system, but it should be noted that the RF-1000 uses the CX-1V visor design. I found the CX-1V to be a great visor that functioned well. It was clear with very little if any noticeable distortion and is rated to block nearly 100% of the UV rays. It wraps around the helmet nicely and fits against the helmet very smoothly and securely.

The RF-1000 also includes Shoei’s three-position lever on the left-hand side of the helmet, also taken from the X-Eleven. When in the topmost position, the lever locks the visor in place to prevent it from blowing open at way-too-fast highway speeds. Flip the lever down, and the visor cracks open just a touch to allow quick de-fogging or a bit of ventilation. It has seven detent positions to allow you some flexibility in airflow and operates firmly and feels like a solid unit that will endure a long time.