Schuberth C4 Review

The main shell is a composite fibre, which has an excellent deep shine. The sleek profile was developed using Schuberth’s 12m-long wind tunnel which generates wind speeds up to 190km/h.

Modular (flip) helmets are always going to be heavier due to the mechanism required. However, at 1620g, this is a weighty contender. While testing, it never resulted in a strain on the neck muscles, you definitely know you have this helmet on. The model we tested was a Basic, but Schuberth also boasts a Pro model and a sub-1500g Pro Carbon. A medium, in this configuration, weighs 1707g, with the SC1 Bluetooth intercom installed. This compares to 1691g for a medium Shoei Neotec — the C4’s main rival, with its intercom system fitted.

As you would rightfully expect from a helmet at such a premium price, the fully-removable lining is very soft and comfortable. It is the plushest liner we have encountered on a helmet so far. It even extends to soft material which goes inside the chin stop.

The C4 has a ratchet-type chin strap fastener, which is quick to use and gives a secure fit every time (once you’ve adjusted the buckle to suit your neckline). A fabric tag on the clip makes it ON YOUR HEAD SCHUBERTH C4 Without doubt, a premium German-made modular helmet, the Schuberth C4 is aimed at touring and sports riders. John Allsopp measures this modular lid for size easy to pop open, even with gloves on.

You should always try any bike kit for size before you buy it. I found the C4 to be an extremely good fit. The neckline is also quite high, so the helmet doesn’t tend to get in the way of bulky jacket collars or rucksack straps.

We found ventilation was an issue with the C4. While the extending two-stage top vent absorbs a decent amount of air, the chin vent (open or closed), is easy to operate but didn’t clear misting effectively. This even resulted, at speeds up to 30mph, in some fogging of the Pinlock 70 that the helmet was equipped with.

There is no breath deflector, and airflow feels more directed up to the brow, which would be a benefit for summer riding and, to be fair, at over 30mph the lid has a good movement of air inside. Obviously, in hotter weather, you could get plenty more air when riding by opening the chin bar and raising it. Unfortunately, the C4 is not dual-homologated, so legally in the UK, it needs to be in the closed position when riding. I do expect people to ride with the chin bar raised, but when I tried it, the mechanism had such a free movement that it tended to drop back down.

There are six stages with the visor’s ratchet. It is possible just to crack the visor open, but the mechanism does feel rather cheap. Despite this, it seals well when fully latched down, preventing any water from running inside during the rain, and is very easy to remove and replace for cleaning. The aperture is extensive, giving good peripheral vision, though the lower edge of the aperture seems quite high, so it’s not as large a view of the world as it might be.

The integrated sun shield is easy to operate from the left lower edge of the lid but, again, fogged easily in the conditions we tested in. While the wind-tunnel design suggests this could be one of the quieter lids on the market, and the well-enclosed neck skirt certainly helps, the Schuberth C4 is still a helmet that needs earplugs. All modular helmets will tend to be louder, but in this configuration, it’s far from the noisiest design on the market.

PROS: Really luxurious liner; Good visibility with a wide aperture; and it’s relatively quiet for a modular helmet CONS: Price, weight and fogging (on test) PRICE: £449.99 RATING: 4/5 VISIT: www.bikerheadz.co.uk