Shark Aeron Review: FIM-Spec with Road-Focused Tech
The Shark Aeron is the French brand’s road-biased lid based on its top-spec racing helmet, the Aeron GP
* More comfortable than internally than the Aeron GP
* Probably the best visor you can buy
* Visor opening tab can be fiddly to find in winter gloves
I’ve been using the Aeron GP for over a year now, and have used the MotoGP-spec helmet on pretty much every ride I’ve been on. Adventure bikes (even a bit of light off-road), cruising with my girlfriend on the back and, of course, track riding have all been ticked off in the helmet. So when Shark announced the less track-focused Aeron, I jumped at the chance to test it, and I’ve been wearing it now for well over 3,000 miles on a mix of bikes and in every kind of weather imaginable.
What’s the difference between the Aeron and the Aeron GP?
The most obvious difference is the lack of a rear spoiler on the Aeron. It does have aero elements at the rear of the helmet, although not to the extent of those found on the Aeron GP. They follow the outline of the spoiler on the GP, although they protrude rearwards much less.
To make it a more usable, everyday kind of product, Shark went to town on the interior, bolstering the already comfortable GP with a new softer fabric lining.
From there, it’s all very much the same as the GP. The vents, shell, visor and strap closure system are basically identical. And that’s good, because on all those fronts, it’s a thumbs up from me!
You may also like to read our Shark Aeron GP review.
How is the comfort?
Like the Aeron GP I've been using, the Aeron takes a bit of bedding in, and the first time you pull it on the opening can feel a little tight. This will give way over time though - it took about a week of solid use for me.
once bedded in, the Aeron is noticeably more comfortable than the GP in terms of face comfort, and pulls at my stubble less than its sportier sibling does. I’ve loved my existing Aeron GP, and part of that is down to how snugly it fits my head. As much of this new lid, in terms of head shape and lining design, is the same, I’ve got no complaints. The only time I feel any discomfort is if I have the helmet pulled down over my face too far, and then, as with the Aeron GP, it can start to irritate my forehead - but it’s easily fixed by readjusting the position.
How is the ventilation?
With much of the design of this product being shaped by racers performing on-track testing, ventilation is a big part of what makes both the Aeron tick. On that front it’s all good news, as the frontal chin vents do an excellent job of feeding a stream of fresh air to my face. The top-mounted and brow inlets are also extremely effective, and even with a week or two of hair growth on my usually closely shaven head, I can distinctly feel the air flowing into the helmet. The only downside of this is that, if doing big motorway miles or track riding, it is possible to end up with two mucky little dots on my scalp which are surprisingly hard to wash off!
How is the noise?
For such an aggressive sports helmet, I don’t find the new Aeron very noisy at all. If you crank all the vents open, the volume understandably goes up, although with earplugs in, I’ve got no issues with spending big miles in the lid. Is the Aeron any quieter than the sportier Aeron GP? Slightly, but there isn’t much in it. I did a back-to-back test in them - same day, road, bike, weather and speed - and noticed that the road-focused lid produces slightly less of the low-frequency turbulent noise you get at all speeds. You also don’t get the distinctive ‘clacking’ sound when cornering or performing a shoulder check that you do on the Aeron GP. That is caused by the movable winglets opening and reducing drag. As this helmet doesn’t have them, the noise doesn’t occur.
And while I’m on the subject of those drag-reducing flaps on the Aeron GP, I didn’t find that the lack of them on this helmet created any undue stress on my neck - although I haven’t used the lid on track yet, which is likely where those elements come into their own.
And there is one other bonus of not having the expansive rear spoiler on the helmet, and it only becomes apparent when you ride with a pillion. If I’m using the Aeron GP, my girlfriend will, from time to time, clatter the spoiler under braking. With a few inches lopped off the back of the new lid, that situation is totally eliminated.
How is the visor?
Like the Aeron GP and the Race-R Pro that preceded it, the new Aeron has one of the most optically clear visors on the market. There is zero distortion whatsoever, and without a Pinlock - you get an antifog coating instead - to block your view, the wide aperture is a very nice window to peer out of.
Some may scoff at the lack of a Pinlock, although after a year of use with this visor system, I’m perfectly happy without it. I’ve ridden on the road through winter, and on track in summer heat (and rain in Portimao), and have encountered only very minimal misting in the coldest and rainiest conditions. When that did occur, it was just above freezing and raining on the M1. I cracked the chin vent open one click, and within seconds, it was clear again. It’s possibly the only factory-applied anti-fog coating I’ve used that genuinely works.
The visor mechanism on the lid is simple and easy to use. Flick the two little levers to the open position so they click. Give it a wiggle and away it comes. It’s one of the few top-line sports helmets on the market that allows you to swap out the visor straight away, such is the simplicity of it.
If there is one negative I have on the visor, it's the tab you open it with. It's quite small and sleek - no doubt to reduce the risk of it flicking open as you tumble through a gravel trap. That can make it a bit tricky to find in winter riding gloves.
Shark Aeron GP Verdict
All the best features and safety of the Aeron GP in a comfier and more usable package make this a bit of a no-brainer for those looking for a sporty road-riding lid. The face comfort is improved, the noise is slightly reduced, and with FIM accreditation, it’s up there as one of the safest lids on the market. I’m also not getting clattered by my pillion on the brakes quite so much, which is nice. What hasn’t changed are all the features that make the Aeron GP such a good helmet, like the ventilation, crystal clear visor, and sleek-looking design.
With a starting price of £699.99, it is a chunky investment, although it’s less than the comparable Arai RX-7 Evo (£799.99) and just as handy on the road and the track.
Find out more information on the official website.
You may also like to read our best motorcycle helmets feature.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
