shoei j cruise 1

Shoei J-Cruise II Helmet & Sena SRL2 Modular BT System Review

New for 2020

It seems spring is here, although most of us are hunkered down somewhere coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic. And while many of us are probably not getting in a whole lot of riding…there are exceptions and overall, where allowed, getting out for a ride is still a good thing. 

And if you can’t go riding or work on your machines, you can spend constructive time online…looking for new stuff to read, such as this updated review of the Shoei J-Cruise II & Sena SRL2 Modular BT System that was first published 3 March 2020; enjoy.

Introduction

Rick reviewed the original Shoei J-Cruise helmet in May 2013…and now we have the new for 2020 J-Cruise II offering, a helmet that has gone through some significant changes from the original version. The J-Cruise II remains a compact, aerodynamic offering but features even more innovative design and technology enhancements.

Virtually all the helmets personally owned or provided for testing and review over the recent decades have been full-face or modular flip-style although two open or three-quarter style helmets – the original Arai SZ-R (now the SZ-R VAS or RAM-X) and a Bell MAG-9 found a home on the helmet shelf some years ago. 

Returning to the present, it is a fact that even more of the (many) open face helmets on the market today have lots in common regarding design, build, features and quality with full-face helmets – not a bad thing when you think of it…

Rick stated in the original J-Cruise review that, “it’s basically a full-face helmet in an open-face shell…you give up the protection of a chin bar but there really aren’t any other compromises to be made.” That statement, almost seven years old, seems even more applicable regarding new generation open face helmets.

After my spouse picked up a Medium LS2 VERSO Mobile , the subject of a wBW review, I decided to keep refining the open face shopping list and by late fall two more Intermediate to Long Oval head-shaped helmets in size Large were added to the short list.

With Shoei announcing their 2020 products including the new J-Cruise II, one of the helmets on my short list, the bid was made to get one in White, Large. Once arranged, some sidebar coordination with the Sena rep resulted in the (new) Sena SRL2 for Shoei helmets being provided…and sometime later the white flaky stuff started falling and piling up! 

Shoei J-Cruise II Overview

In going back to an earlier paragraph, the Shoe J-Cruise II is indeed designed and built to a very high standard . It features a composite fiberglass shell, multi-part multi-density EPS liner, integrated smoothly functioning sun visor, and comfortable conforming supportive head insert and cheek pads.

Feature Summary (Compilation):

• Three quarter or Jet-style helmet with fiberglass composite shell
• Aerodynamic Enhancements – new spoiler and sleeker air intakes, Shoe claims a (significant) 43 percent decrease in side-to-side movement at higher speeds, a seven percent decrease in ‘lift’, and a slight reduction in overall drag
• Quieter – largely due to improved aerodynamics; less turbulence/drag = reduced noise while the updated interior liner keeps sound away from the user’s ears
• Better Ventilation – air intake is increased by 30 percent while the wide narrow rear exhaust vent moves 20 percent more air out of the helmet
• Main Face Shield – anti-scratch CJ-2 better seal against the shell, works to reduce intrusive wind noise (see quieter), new ‘slightly up’ or first position for better ventilation and defogging at low speeds and, Pinlock Evo compatibility (lens included)
• Internal Sun Shield – redesigned with new features, QSV-2 sun shield is 5mm or 0.2in longer than original QSV-1, deployment/retraction slider has distinctive easy to feel raised location housing, is larger and closer to the left side of the main shield, distortion-free, removes 99 percent of UV rays and, the visor can be ‘locked’ down
• Closure – new, stainless steel micro ratchet-closure chinstrap, allowing easy use of the chinstrap with gloves on (can be easier than double D-Ring design), a single D-Ring is retained for dismounted security
• Customizable – cheek pads designed to allow best fit/personalization (see Interior Section), with various sized/tailorable headliner pieces available and removable for cleaning
• BT Communications – both the Sena SRL and SRL2 modular kits fit and are specifically designed to work with the helmet providing all the well-known standard Sena features
• Colorways – five solid colors available – Black, White, Matte Black, Anthracite Metallic and Matte Blue Metallic, pricing is the same for all colors.

Helmet Box Contents:

The industry standard Shoei helmet box contained the J-Cruise II Large in White, housed in the standard SHOEI helmet bag, a plastic Service Tool, small bottle of silicone oil, two manuals – How to Use Your Helmet Properly and J-Cruise II User Manual (both multi-language) and two SHOEI decals. 

Consumers have five (solid) color choices for the Shoei J-Cruise II helmet:

• Anthracite Metallic, Matte Blue Metallic, Matte Black, Black, and White.

Exterior – Design, Build, & Finish

The Advanced Integrated Matrix (AIM) shell is formed of multiple high-quality composites and organized fiber layers; the combination provides excellent outer shell shock resistance with optimum rigidity. A characteristic or advantage of this composite form is reduced weight.

Four outer shell sizes are used – XS-SM, MD, LG, and XL-2XL , for perfect helmet range fitment and overall, a more compact piece.

An updated face shield (visor) mechanism (QRSA), along with a change of the window beading provides a better fit and better seal. The internal sun visor mechanism is improved and accommodated without sacrificing the thickness of the multi-part multi-density EPS inner shell with space provided by raising the forehead area of the outer shell a needed amount.

With continued use, I have gained even more appreciation for the updated face shield with its excellent coverage, the great eye port seal and a simple to use face shield mechanism, along with the smooth-running sun visor; everything works.

Paint & Finish

Finish of the outer shell itself is outstanding with the gloss White and thick clear coat providing a great first impression. Only one very small bluish blemish is seen on the right side; otherwise it’s perfect. Despite a few bumps over the review period, the gloss White is still looking as good as it did some months ago – it is one durable finish.

Not so perfect is the alignment of the back Shoei J-Cruise II decal and the DOT stickers is crooked – QC missed these. Relative to how great everything else is, this isn’t.

Helmet Shape

For the North American market, Shoei uses an intermediate oval shape that fits a large percentage of the population and in trying on other Shoei models that also use this shape, I was confident that the J-Cruise II would be a good fit and, it is.

Investing in the best helmet possible is just one of those things that need doing. And we are so well served regarding consumer demographics that it is pretty safe to say that no matter what your ‘best fit’ is, there is or should be something on the market to fit, in any style and virtually any price range as well (see my first comment above). 

Summary: Excellent. Less one little blemish, everything else regarding design, build, and overall finish is great and the longer the helmet is used, the more I come to appreciate how it all looks and works.

It isn’t unusual to see molded plastic or silicone trim parts on helmets, although most are not meant to be removed unless a limited replacement of minor parts is needed (where helmet shell or integrity is not involved). 

The J-Cruise II has some of these pieces, three to be exact – the left and right lower covers and a back center plate . These three become the ‘removed’ pieces to make room for the Sena SRL2 BT components.

Initial Rating – Excellent. Updated information, assessment, and overall rating data will be provided in the follow-up.

The center pad or headlining is a lightweight and comfortable 3D Max-Dry antibacterial and moisture-wicking material. The piece is easily removed for washing or replacement.

Removing the headliner for regular cleaning is indeed simple and one that doesn’t seem to add stress to any of the pieces. Regular inspection, cleaning and replacing of components is critical in maintaining the functionality of the helmet and the $$ investment.

For those who may have specific head fitment issues, Shoei offers an experimental service – the Personal Fitting System (PFS) , by appointment only at their California HQ. The objective of this service is to not address helmet size, but rather to enable fine-tuning regarding overall helmet fitment.

This article produced by Motorcycle.com sheds more light on the PFS.

Removable ear pad pieces formed of a shaped brushed material section with foam rounds attached (shell side) for the speaker recesses are installed forming part of the overall noise reduction strategy, particularly for around the ears. If speakers are to be installed the earpad pieces are simply removed.

Some documentation for the helmet identifies that these covers can still be used even after speakers are installed. But I see two issues here: (a) the speaker foam rounds themselves would severely restrict audio in covering the speakers and, (b) clearance for the ears could be an issue.

In acknowledging that some users may indeed want to retain the light brushed material covering between the speakers and their ears, the fact is that the foam rounds are plastic-backed and glued/stitched to the softer brushed material section – not exactly reusable.

A more user-friendly solution might be to use separate foam rounds for the EPS recesses, removed when speakers are not installed and make the larger earpad cover material sections reusable or add this layer as a drop-down on the headliner or foldable section on the cheek pad cover.

Clearance between the SRL2 speakers and the ears is just about right for great audio with some airflow clearance. As such, the provided spacers were not needed, and I have not added any thin liner material over the speakers as discussed above.

And speaking of cheek pads, they are well-shaped, well-padded, supportive and comfortable. They are also easily removed for access (like installing a BT system), cleaning or replacement. 

Again, some posted media references the fact that the thickness of the provided pieces can be customized through delayering… hard to believe as these cheek pads are covered and stitched…

But complete cheek pads are available in different thicknesses so that users can get the absolute best fit.

Longer-term use of the helmet is resulting in an even better fitting more comfortable interior with the conforming headliner doing an excellent job of coping with my head shape that, as identified in the Sena Momentum EVO review, sits between an intermediate and long oval…

Summary: Excellent. Well laid out and fitted between all the pieces – everything sits in place providing a welcoming encompassing fit and feel for the head. Housing of and placement for the Sena SRL2 speakers is about as perfect as one could want, at least for my listening posts.

Helmet Weight

The original Shoei J-Cruise in Large weighed in at 1610gr or 56.8oz (3.5lbs) about the same as many full-face helmets of the time. In seeing posted media weights between 1250 to 1350gr for the J-Cruise II it seemed the new model carried less weight than the original.

However, the Shoei J-Cruise II helmet provided for this review, on the Pelouze scales, came in at 1600gr or 56.4oz (3.5lbs), virtually the same as the original model. Another observation is that there is no sticker outside or inside with a weight listing – information provided with many new helmets today, including those carrying ECE certification information.

With the Sena SRL2 BT kit installed an increase of 96gr or 3.3oz is noted resulting in a final weight of 1696gr or 59.8oz (3.7lbs). Comparatively, the new Shoei J-Cruise II is on par with the original, but seemingly (subject to further open face data analysis) still a bit on the hefty side.

Time and use hasn’t resulted in the J-Cruise II losing weight…but it has validated the assessment that the helmet is well-balanced on the head and, that it doesn’t become a burden on the head, neck and shoulders after hours of riding.

Summary: Excellent. You might ask how a helmet that is indeed ‘heavy’ in relation to many other three-quarter style helmets gets this rating; simple – because it carries its weight so well and has not yet become a burden that must be borne.

Fit & Comfort

With a 59-60cm (Large) intermediate to long oval-shaped head, Arai has been my helmet and fit of choice for decades; and in trying on earlier rounder profile Shoei helmets I just couldn’t (literally) get my head wrapped comfortably inside them.

So, I was pleasantly surprised that in first trying on the J-Cruise II with its intermediate oval shape and then wearing it for a couple of days around the house and garage, and after the first short early winter ride, the initial impressions were all positive.

In having gone through a great many helmets over the years, some skepticism over the good vibes regarding initial Shoei J-Cruise II use remained; that was then, this is now, and the early skepticism is gone.

Fit of any helmet, no matter what it is used for is critical – proper fit provides optimal protection (as designed) with a balanced helmet distributing weight more evenly around the head, neck, and shoulders – another factor needing consideration.

The only observation so far is that the lower front shaping of the shell and liner is an appreciated encompassing feature but one that also tends to make putting the helmet on and taking it off a bit more difficult than experienced with the other short-listed helmets. 

Summary: Outstanding. Given heads and personalities, this is truly as subjective as objective, but I now know that full and appreciated use of a Shoei helmet is possible for this motorcyclist. Which just makes me want to try more of them…

Ventilation & Noise Levels

Ventilation.

The front intake consists of three vertical intakes (vice two on the original J-Cruise helmet) and Shoei claims overall air intake is up by 30 percent – a big increase. A unique feature allows each intake segment to be adjusted separately; Open = back; Halfway = mid; and, Closed = forward.

Opening any or all, of the three front top intakes can increase noise levels depending on cockpit and ambient environments, so the ability to adjust each frontal intake is a great feature, something always appreciated with my Arai helmets.

Vouching for the functionality and versatility of the three top intake pieces is easy; the approach works in spades to manage airflow, left, centre and right or all together. It is indeed over-engineered, but it works when facing cold, cool or warm temperatures – ‘hot’ isn’t on the radar screen, yet.

Internally, the J-Cruise II has four distinctive EPS inner shell air channels that provide maximum movement of air into, around and through the helmet for continuous air movement that can, of course, be modulated thanks to the three separately adjustable front intakes.

Shoei states that exhaust efficiency is also improved by 20 percent which is bound to make things better overall and the single-wide low-profile exhaust looks more than up to the job of handling the increased outflow – further use in warmer temperatures should tell the tale.

Air flow into, through and out the J-Cruise II helmet is very good related to the top intakes and rear exhaust for over and around the head air flow. And with three quarter helmets open when it comes to the lower area, coverage provided by the face shield and helmet aerodynamics is critical in considering protection, ventilation and noise.

Noise Levels

In not having used the original J-Cruise helmet my initial impression is that the J-Cruise II is a quiet helmet. Airflow and air pressure can be felt and heard against the face shield but much of it is positively redirected to the sides and bottom; wind tunnel testing pays dividends…

Some air does flow in under the bottom of the face shield, but it adds very little to the overall noise environment and does not put a chill on things. During these initial rides on the BMW F850GSA with its smallish windscreen (low position) ambient air temperature was 2C or 35F (wind chill not calculated).

A lot of air has flowed on to, around, over, and under the helmet since these initial statements were made. Overall, the J-Cruise II is indeed a quiet helmet, relative to its style and openness of course; design, build, and air management are obviously important aspects with Shoei.

Moving off with the face shield up or partially up is the (expected) noisy-with-rushing-air experience, but with the face shield down, there is minimal air pressure and lots of frontal protection even though the bottom of the helmet is still open to all intents.

Relative here is that the deep wide curved aerodynamic face shield functions like an insulating window when closed. Airflow is deflected while pressure is minimized, and noise levels drop significantly; and, virtually nothing in the way of roiled or disturbing air is felt along the bottom edges; its good, very good.

I have full face and modular helmets that are noisier on the outside and especially on the inside compared to the J-Cruise II, at least when used on the F850GSA Rallye (small short shield) and F850GSA Exclusive (larger wider shield). And one short ride on an un-faired motorcycle revealed how aerodynamic and quiet the J-Cruise II is overall.

Summary: Very Good to Excellent. It seems (in not having worn the original J-Cruise) that Shoei has been very diligent in providing excellent aerodynamics to address ventilation (high and low) while creating a truly quiet interior.

Face Shield & Sun Visor

Face shield.

The updated CJ-2 Face Shield System is 10mm longer than the original J-Cruise face shield and provides additional frontal wind and debris coverage. This 10mm increase comes distributed as an additional 5mm at the top and the bottom.

Also new is a slight up or ‘first position’ setting, serving as the initial release détente to provide extra airflow for cooling and defogging, appreciated when traveling at low speeds.

Even before the Pinlock insert (see below) got installed, coverage and functionality of the face shield had been well validated, especially the first position or unlocked setting that really does work for added ventilating/cooling/defogging airflow, at speed or creeping along in cool damp weather where fogging could have been an issue.

In use the heavier edged outward turned edge along the bottom of the face shield works extremely well, providing strength to minimize flex while functioning as an effective spoiler to deflect air pressure sideways, minimize turbulence and, reduce noise levels along the front of the helmet.

The edge seal is changed from a double-lipped shape to an airtight-sealed window style – this change is claimed to offer superior performance and durability and, a watertight seal along the top and sides of the helmet. In the event a better seal is needed, a light application of the provided silicone oil along the window seal beading can help.

Although the unexpected lifting of the face shield due to speed or wind gusts hasn’t been a major issue with other open face helmets worn, the potential issues and consequences are acknowledged; Shoei addresses things with a détente stop for the unlocked or slightly up position and a full shield stopper lock when it’s fully closed.

This left-side shield stopper (latch) features a small indent on the inner side of the shield that engages with a small tab on the lower plastic edge molding of the helmet; it takes a positive push outwards to disengage the lock and push the shield; simple, effective, totally functional.

With the shield stopper lock used for higher speed riding conditions, for most other riding conditions and with some frontal windscreen protection the face shield sits securely in the slightly up or unlocked position détente.

The CJ-2 face shield is Pinlock ready, but is not included in the kit. It is available from the Shoei Store (Pinlock evo, for Shoei CJ-2/CJ-2SP, PN DKS 105) and one was subsequently provided by the Shoei rep; thank you.

With the face shield removed and cleaned on both sides, everything is laid out on a lint-free surface. Using the included instructions as a guide it was a five-minute exercise to check layout, fit the lens, make sure it was fully seated/sealed and then replace the newly enhanced face shield back on the helmet – done.

Functionally, the Pinlock insert keeps the (primary) upper 60 percent of the face shield now completely fog-free, even in damp cool weather or when the wet stuff is falling; the difference in effectiveness is visually evident in being able to easily fog up the lower part of the face shield from the inside…the top Pinlock sealed section stays clear.

Shoei’s highly rated Quick Release Self Adjusting or QRSA mechanism makes easy work of removing or installing the CJ-2 face shield. The manual identifies three ‘hooks’ or engagement tabs that should be visually identified before first attempting to remove or install the shield.

To remove: support the helmet; open the face shield fully; pull the spring-loaded finger-tip-friendly spring-loaded trigger lever down and with a gentle wiggle, disengage the three ‘hooks’ or tabs; and, lift the respective side of the shield away. Repeat for the other side.

To install: support the helmet, lay the shield over the helmet in the fully open position, pull down on the trigger mechanism, align and push the three hooks or tabs into their spots, with the shield engaged, release the lever and check for proper engagement and movement.

A new Sun Visor (identified as the QSV-2 vice the original QSV-1) adds 5mm of coverage for better overall sun blockage or shade. Many sun visors are too short or too long – this one is just right for my face, providing clearance between the nose/cheeks and the visor; a factor to assess when trying on helmets with internal visors…

The sun visor lever or slider control sits on the left side just behind the face shield mechanism; low profile but easily reached. The slider itself is very positive in its action, taking little effort to lower or raise the sun visor.

It is, when needed, also removable. With the sun visor lowered, lift both small left and right recessed levers between the shell and the inner liner on both sides; once activated a distinct click is heard and the sun visor is locked down, facilitating access for removal/replacement.

Like the face shield, no distortion is noted when using the sun visor and its fog-free coating seems to work well. The sun visor insert piece is tested to DIN EN 1836 standard (link) and meets ANSI Z80.3-2010 standards for non-prescription eyeglasses.

Vision Assessment

The face shield with Pinlock and the sun visor work extremely well under all weather conditions – great coverage, solid feel, easy to adjust, and no flexing whatsoever. Aerodynamics of the face shield keeps a lot of oncoming moisture cleared and angling left or right also works with some airflow.

The sun visor covers the top 40 percent (approximated) of the face shield for encompassing glare mitigation, all without intruding on the nose or cheeks – great clearance; the left side slider control is easy to find and easy to use.

Summary: Outstanding. For a three-quarter helmet, the Shoei J-Cruise II has frontal coverage protection that (almost) equals some lesser full-face helmets – cockpit environments considered of course. In cold weather, air flow can indeed be felt along the lower edge of the face shield and bottom of the helmet, but not much – the full coverage aerodynamic face shield and precise fitting neck roll work together very (very) well.

Other Observations 

Chin Strap/Fastener – for the new J-Cruise II, Shoei moved from the double D-Ring solution to a unique micro-ratchet type chinstrap that is claimed to be (and is) adjustable even wearing thick gloves. When the ratchet is down or locked it is a very strong and secure fastening. To release the strap, lift the Red buckle lever up and the lock opens.

Helmet Standards – the helmet provided for this review is DOT (FMVSS No. 218) Certified. Globally the helmet has ECE 22.05 certification and other standards required for specific markets.

Face Shield & Sun Visor – both the shield and sun visor are claimed to block 99% of harmful rays. The CJ-2 face shield exceeds Z87.1 / VESC-8. The sun visor is tested to DIN EN 1836 standard and meets ANSI Z80.3-2010 standards for non-prescription eyeglasses.

Sena SRL2 BT System for Shoei Helmets

The Sena SRL2 modular system features: Bluetooth v4.1 (BLE w/EDR), BT intercom range of up to 1.6km 1.0mi, eight-way/group/universal intercom capabilities, audio multitasking, FM radio, music sharing, voice command, advanced noise control, Sena remote control support, smartphone app, firmware upgradeability, and water-resistant build.

Sena SRL2 Package Contents:

• Headset Main Unit
• Wired boom and thin wire microphones for open/flip and full-face helmets
• 2 x Microphone Sponges (Socks)
• 1 x Hook n Loop Fastener for Thin Wire Microphone
• 1 x micro-USB to USB-A Power & Data Cable (117cm or 46in long)
• Pocket Quick Start Guide, one each in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German
• Pocket SRL2 Certification and Safety Precautions References, multi-language

Sena SRL2 Harness Overview

The Sena SRL2 system is a small lightweight well-designed assembly with modular components tied together by left and right harnesses integrated into the BT battery module that fits into the (covered) compartment at the back of the helmet.

The right harness is for the (right) speaker, microphone connection and antenna housing cover while the left harness is for the (left) speaker and three-button control module, cleverly disguised as the left plastic cover. The kit should be simple to install; time to find out.

SRL2 Installation Overview

The Sena SRL2 compatibility guide for Shoei helmets can be seen below or accessed by scanning the QR code of the retail product box.

Guide from Shoei

UClear Motion HDX-V Bluetooth Helmet Audio System: Hands-On Review

The Quick Start Guide provided gives you sequenced visuals for installing the kit in two helmet types – Flip Up and Full Face, with the downloadable Users Guide providing both text and diagrams for increased detail.

References & Tools Used

The Sena SRL2 Quick Start Guide or full Users Guide (PDF), Shoei J-Cruise II Manual (PDF), the Shoei Service Tool – found tucked inside the J-Cruise II manual (a small flat-edge screwdriver with protective tape over its edge works to protect plastic pieces as well) and, a camera.

Basic SRL2 Installation Steps

1. Remove the left/right lower side black plastic covers – push the center tabs in towards the helmet and use the tool to leverage the cover-up and away (snap-fit, guide-slot pieces)

2. Remove the back center cover – push the tab firmly in towards the helmet and once disengaged, work the cover-up from the front and back (a center insert fits against the helmet shell) and remove the cavity foam

3. Pull the fitted earpads from the speaker recesses

4. Remove the headliner and cheek pads from their snap fasteners and lower edge inserts; mark, note or take pictures of things as needed for reassembly

5. Optional – face shield removal, per the J-Cruise II Manual, done to (a) see how it worked and (b) get it out of the way while working (minimize component stress and scratches)

6. Remove the SRL2 headset from its plastic holder and with the helmet in a work rest, lay the headset out at the back of the helmet – pieces are etched ‘L’ and ‘R’ to facilitate things

7. Align the (arrowhead-shaped) keyed boom microphone connector to its counterpart on the right speaker housing and gently push them together

8. Insert the right speaker and then the microphone into the respective grooves – tabs on the boom align to the grooves for a foolproof (and correct) fitment

9. Align and slide the right plastic piece (the antenna housing) into the corresponding grooves and snap the piece firmly into place

10. Align and slide the left plastic piece (the control module) into the corresponding grooves and snap the piece firmly into place

11. Route and carefully tuck the wiring along with the left and right plastic (insert) clips into place between the external and internal shell layers

12. Install the cheek pad pieces, starting at back, or front and once seated, click the two-per-side snap fasteners into place, check the wiring is not pulled/strained and tucked away

13. Harness wires on each side can be tucked out of sight between the soft silicone lower trim and bottom of helmet

14. Replace the face shield and make sure it is fully seated and functional

15. Admire handiwork, set-up SRL2 BT system (see below) and go riding…

Bottom line here – all the installation steps got completed without issue. Total time required was about 60 minutes.

Initial Configuration & Use of the SRL2 BT System

The Sena SRL2 BT system is based on the standard Sena architecture and firmware. The three-button control module is easy to use (heavy gloves use might be more difficult) and functions well detailed in the packaged and downloadable Sena SRL2 User Guide . As such, only some initial steps information is provided here – encouragement to ‘read the manual’…

Battery charging – if not done previously, access the small silicone cover on the back module, connect the micro-USB cable to an applicable charging point and wait for the Red (charging) of the small LED to go Blue (charged). 

Turning system On or Off – press the front (+) and middle controls simultaneously, “Preparing Headset” and the ascending tone sequence, then “Hello”. Repeat the button sequence to turn the headset off – “Goodbye” and the descending tone sequence is heard.

Device pairing – turn the SRL2 on, press the middle button for 12 seconds until high-tone double beeps and “Configuration Menu” is heard. Within two (2) seconds, tap the (+) button until the LED goes Red/Blue, multiple beeps will be heard and “Phone pairing”. Find the SRL2 listing on the device’s BT pairing list and initiate pairing, once paired “Your headset is paired” is heard.

Sena Smartphone App – there are lots of Sena Apps listed for both iOS and Android devices, but the (newer) Sena Utility App (current v2.5) is the listed and recommended general-purpose App to use with multiple settings and functions (shown below).

Summary: Outstanding. The Shoei/Sena collaboration results in what is an outstanding example of near-invisible integration blending style, form and function; other riders typically don’t even notice that a BT headset is installed…until the right-side mounted microphone is spotted.

All the initial positive observations about the new for 2020 Shoei J-Cruise II helmet are now well-validated based on continued use in both warm and cool climes.

Styling, aerodynamics, coverage, and comfort are standouts for this helmet and in use, its often hard to tell that this is a three-quarter helmet not a full face or modular; its coverage and functionality is that good.

Between helmet features and coverage and with a good high collar cool weather riding jacket worn, in many cockpit environments, coverage is almost complete regarding undesired chilling air sneaking in from the bottom unless the face shield is set to its first détente.

Helmet and BT system integration – where the desire for a custom design feature often leads to compromises and less than ideal results, the Shoei/Sena collaboration is a stylish seamless blending of form, fit and function; the whole system, less the low profile and very functional control module buttons is absorbed into the lines of the helmet; mission accomplished.

Bottom Line: First use of the new for 2020 Shoei J-Cruise II was positive and with this update its all still positive; no errors and lots of runs for a high score. I’ve been searching for ‘the’ three-quarter helmet solution for some time – this helmet ends the search. The Shoei J-Cruise II with integrated Sena BT headset is an outstanding helmet and is highly recommended.

• Updated design, features and styling – great solid looking helmet
• Build and component strength & functionality
• Excellent solid color finish & durable clear coat
• Face shield has outstanding aerodynamics, extended coverage, distortion free, positive locking features
• Sun visor with excellent coverage, distortion free, easy to use
• Optional Sena SRL2 BT system, easy to install, perfect fit, very functional
• Still a hefty open face helmet
• Frontal curve & close-fitting interior needs appreciating when putting helmet on and off 
• Slider control overlay piece not well fitted
• Manufacturer: SHOEI
• Price (when tested): $549.99 USD, typically $749.99 CAD
• Styles/Colors: Gloss Black, Luminous White, Matte Black, Matte Blue, Anthracite
• Graphics: none
• Sizes: 2XS (51-52cm), XS (53-54cm), SM (55-56cm), MD (57-58cm), LG (59-60cm), XL (61-62cm), 2XL (63-64cm) and 3XL (65-66cm)
• Warranty: Five years
• Review Date: First Look – December 2019 to January 2020, Updated May 2020

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Shoei J-Cruise: freedom of an open face helmet, comfort of a full face.

Page Contents

Shoei J-Cruise: open face 3/4 helmet full review.

The Shoei J-Cruise is a 3/4 size open face helmet .

It’s Shoei’s attempt to make a helmet that appeals to those who want an open face helmet but also want a bit more performance – improved head protection and improved weather protection than the average open face.

So Shoei produced the J-Cruise. It’s mostly aimed at high mileage riders and people who use their bikes every day such as commuter riders . People who want all the bells and whistles you usually get from a full face helmet but like the freedom and great ventilation you get from an open face helmet.

It’s been around for a few years now, so the internet’s full of people telling it like it is to live with the J-Cruise. As always, to save you the time, we’ve hunted down all those opinions and reviews to bring you this full review of the Shoei J-Cruise helmet.

Note: the original Shoei J-Cruise is now discontinued, replaced by Shoei J-Cruise II .

• 3/4 size open face helmet
• Shoei’s AIM composite fiber shell
• Four shell sizes
• Optically correct clear shield
• Great ventilation
• Medium oval head shape
• Micrometric fastener
• Pinlock ready face shield
• Expect to pay $400-$450

Best place to buy this Shoei crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the Shoei helmets pages at our recommended stores - each with excellent online ratings. If you buy from them, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

(more about helmet safety)

OK, the J-Cruise is an open face helmet, so you know it’s inherently not as safe as a full face helmet, right?

If you’re looking for the safest helmet , go for a well fitting Snell or SHARP 5 Star rated full face, not an open face helmet. Nuff said.

But if you really want an open face helmet, then the J-Cruise seems to be about as good as it gets. Here’s why.

Because it’s a 3/4 helmet, you get pretty well all the coverage of a full face except the front bit of the chin bar.

Which, yes, is kinda important when you’re looking at crash protection. But the Shoei J-Cruise uses the same helmet tech as many of Shoei’s full face helmets – that’s an advanced composite fiber shell Shoei calls AIM or advanced integrated matrix – backed by their multi-density polystyrene shock absorbing liner.

That’s the same helmet tech as they use on the GT Air II and on the Snell and SHARP 5 star safety rated Shoei RF-SR . So they must be doing something right, right?

Plus Shoei makes the J-Cruise in four helmet shell sizes covering fitment sizes XS-XXL. Not only will that mean you get a very well optimized and compact helmet for your head/body size, but it helps optimize for fitment, comfort and that means for safety too. Good work Shoei.

Of course the J-Cruise has been built to meet the same DOT safety standards that all helmets on sale in the US must have.

But above that, it’s not been independently safety tested by Snell.

But if we look over to previous SHARP data for AIM shelled helmets, that shows they score somewhere between 3 & 5 stars – and that’s the kind of safety range we’d expect from the shell of the J-Cruise, were it to be tested.

Of course, the best helmets have features that help you avoid testing its safety rating in the first place.

The J-Cruise has a Pinlock-ready, optically correct and very wide face shield to give you great vision of hazards in the first place; and there’s a drop down sun visor to keep things visible even when the sun’s low and strong.

So, except for the fact that your face is exposed like all open face helmets (meaning overall we have to give it a one star rating for safety), we expect the Shoei J-Cruise to give decent levels of protection – as long as you hit the sides and back of the helmet only, and not the front!

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise).

Interestingly, the vast majority of J-Cruise owners were happy with how lovely and quiet their J-Cruise helmets are!

OK, Shoei know a thing or two about making well-built, well padded and insulated motorcycle helmets. But it’s an open face for God’s sake, how can it be a really quiet helmet ??

Well, I guess part of it is because lots of J-Cruise owners are regular users of open face helmets, and it’s just that the J-Cruise is quieter than most of those. So relatively, it feels quiet.

I guess if that’s the case and you come to a J-Cruise from a life wearing half helmets, then you might not find it quite as mega quiet as open face riders do.

Also, most J-Cruise helmet wearers tend to ride faired bikes, so that’s going to protect you from the wind rush and buffeting you find on nakeds and sportsbikes – and hence make the J-Cruise feel quieter.

But it’s probably more than just a perception thing. Shoei used wind-tunnel testing to help make the J-Cruise as aerodynamic and noise-attenuating as possible. Plus there’s decent padding inside the helmet including thick (removable) ear pads that all contributes to making an impressively sound insulating helmet.

So – apart from the usual footnotes about helmet noise being entirely personal and subjective – we’ll class the J-Cruise as a really quiet helmet (because that’s what most owners say).

Just don’t expect to go ton-up on your Z1000 and expect to agree!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation).

Ventilation is another area where the Shoei J-Cruise excels. In fact we didn’t find a bad word said about it anywhere.

Of course, it’s an open helmet so you’d expect that massive space below the face shield to let air in (though it doesn’t so much – read shield section below).

And, if you need to, you can always raise the shield and let the air flood in.

But lots of open face helmets still don’t vent so well around the scalp because they’re solid with no ventilation inlets.

The J-Cruise on the other hand is designed more like a full face helmet. OK, there’s no chin vent for obvious reasons but that top vent allows air into the helmet shell, to circulate round the head then escape via either of the two rear exhausts or via a vent at the collar.

The inlet vent and both exhausts can be shut off using the large sliders, but if you’re riding somewhere hot, you’ll welcome what Shoei engineers have done because – according to J-Cruise owners – ventilation is great .

Open all vents fully up and the word from owners is that it lets in lots of air and keeps your head really cool. It’s good in rain too – though if it’s a prolonged downpour, you probably need to close things off.

But you’ll find ventilation excellent in the J-Cruise and, even in the height of summer, most riders report there’s enough air flow to keep your head cool.

(more about face shields)

The shield on the Shoei J-Cruise is a bit of a work of art.

Not only does it look kinda cool (OK, eye of the beholder and all that!) but it’s functionally very clever too.

The basics: it’s a super large shield that give a really good view of the road ahead as well as excellent peripheral vision . That sheer size of the view is one of the main reasons owners like the J-Cruise because, compared to a full face, the sense of freedom is fantastic.

It doesn’t come with a Pinlock in the box (shame) but it is Pinlock Evo ready, so you can buy a Pinlock anti-fog insert for $30ish and that’ll keep the covered area of the shield fog free in all conditions. A highly recommended buy is a Pinlock.

The shield is quick release to help with cleaning, and it’s a friction based shield meaning it doesn’t work on a ratchet, rather it smoothly moves from fully open to fully closed.

And if you do fully close it, it can lock in place using a small peg bottom left of the helmet to locate into a hole in the shield.

That’s kind of an old school way of locking the shield in place but it works, it’s simple, and it’s easy to unlock by pushing the shield slightly to the left when opening it to disengage the lock.

A few people find that a bit fiddly, but most find it OK.

Notice that unusual lip at the bottom of the shield? That’s actually a clever piece of design that’s there to reduce turbulence, noise and air ingress behind the shield.

And apparently it works really well too because several owners say it almost feels like a full face when you drop the shield down – because it keeps a ton of air and noise out when you do.

And the shield seal’s great too because quite a few owners reported doing some serious miles in the rain and the shield kept it all out.

And finally on the shield, Shoei says it keeps 99% of UV rays out. That’s great – though remember that all polycarbonate shields keep at least 95%+ of UV out, depending on the exact type of polycarbonate.

A couple of links you might find useful…

– Click to see all our open face helmet reviews – – Here you’ll find every sports touring helmet we’ve looked at –

(more about sun visors)

Sun visors are a fantastic addition to any helmet.

Not only does it give another 95%+ UV protection (in addition to the 99% given by the main visor) but they make riding in sun much more comfortable – and safer.

The sun visor on the Shoei J-Cruise is operated by the slider behind the left hand shield pivot (a great place to put it) and is entirely analogue.

That means, you slide it half way and the sun visor drops half way, with no detents.

If you want it back up, slide it back up (no spring loading or ‘retract’ button here).

Most owners love how it works, thought there’s the occasional person saying they found it tricky to find the slider and another wishing it came down a bit lower.

But they’re common issues with pretty much every sun visor so don’t let that put you off. Overall, owners of a J-Cruise love having their sun visor and find it works just great.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing).

Fitment of the J-Cruise is suitable for medium oval headshapes – that’s most of us in the West (but click the link above if you want more information about that).

The comfort lining is fully removable and washable like pretty well all helmets from budget helmets upwards. But in the J-Cruise’s case it’s made from more premium materials.

Shoei calls their comfort system Max-Dry, which essentially means it’s a moisture wicking material. But it is made from particularly comfortable materials.

The only fly in the ointment with the J-Cruise is that many owners say they felt it was very tight when they bought it. A few even returned it for a size larger… but not so hasty.

It seems most owners who thought it was tight and who carried on wearing it found their helmets broke in really quickly and became a great fit very quickly.

Others discovered that it was mainly the cheek pads that were too big (or maybe their cheeks had mysteriously grown in size over the years 🙂 ) so replacing the cheek pads with narrower pads (or trimming them down a bit) resulted in a much more comfortable helmet .

And if you’re a glasses wearer, a few owners said the J-Cruise is great for glasses and it’s really easy to put your glasses on – though you will need to put the helmet on first – and remove your glasses before taking it off.

Looks & Graphics

J-Cruise graphics – like lots of other Shoei helmets graphics – are pretty conservative. OK there’s lots of solid colors available – including a couple of hi-viz – but aside from that there’s only the Corso graphics (which are mostly solids but with a stripe) to spice things up a bit.

In some countries (including the US) you can get the Reborn flame helmet too – in either red or grey.

I think we’ve just about displayed all the designs you’ll find up and down the page. So if you’re interested in buying one – or checking out the latest prices – I’d love you to click through to our recommended stores below. Cheers.

Click above to drop onto their Shoei helmets pages or *quick view retailer T&Cs here .

Shoei J-Cruise Helmet Video

Here’s Shoei’s own 2m promo video featuring lots of swooping around on cruisers to a generic, royalty-free Coldplay style guitar track. Kinda shows you the main features tho.

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, glasses, aero, buffeting, build quality, warranty

In the US, the J-Cruise comes with a double-d ring fastener (in Europe it’s a micrometric fastener ).

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth system, the Shoei is definitely designed to accommodate one. There’s a couple of sizeable speaker cutouts inside the helmet and of course, a stack of room for a boom mic.

It’s a relatively weighty helmet, even compared to a full face helmet which average around 3.3lbs (1.5Kgs)- and it’s certainly heavier than most open face helmets at around 3.5lbs (1.6Kg). Having said that, most riders don’t have a problem with a helmet at that weight and a few even said it feels pretty light weight.

Aero performance is generally said to be great. Shoei went to great lengths to wind tunnel test the J-Cruise and that slight sculpting to the helmet shell as well as the aero lip on the bottom of the visor seems to have done the job. In fact a few owners said there’s really no buffeting – but then I guess that also depends on their type of bike and the speed they tend to ride.

Build quality is one area picked out by many owners as being excellent. It’s something Shoei’s known for though, so no surprise there.

Finally, all Shoei helmets come with a five year warranty – or seven years from date of manufacture – which is about as good as it gets.

Overall/Summary

The J-Cruise is a really impressive helmet. It’s got that excellent Shoei build quality backed by their 5 year guarantee. Owners find it amazingly comfortable, well ventilated and has lots of bells and whistles that make it a great helmet to live with – including excellent aero and face shield system (with drop down sun visor) in particular.

Yep, open face helmets give less protection than full face helmets. But if you accept that and want a high performance open face helmet with a shield system that gives you fantastic weather protection, then you really ought to give the Shoei J-Cruise a go.

Good Alternatives to the Shoei J-Cruise?

The Shoei J-Cruise is a difficult act to beat. But here’s a few alternatives – including modular helmets that offer the best of both worlds – that you might want to to check out too.

The Nolan N44 is a real alternative that’s even more flexible than the Shoei J-Cruise. You can have it in 3/4 config just like the Shoei but you can add the chin bar to give some face protection too. And it’s quite a bit cheaper than the Shoei.

Or how about the Shark Evo One 2 – that’s a modular helmet, but it’s one you can push the chin bar right round to the back of the helmet to give you a proper open faced helmet feeling. It’s SHARP 4 star safety rated and comes with a Pinlock in the box too.

The good ole Roof Boxer V8 does that ‘bar round the back’ trick too – and looks mega cool while it’s doing it. It’s SHARP 4 star safety rated too.

Star Ratings

Related articles more from author.

HJC RPHA 91 review: touring modular helmet with integrated bluetooth and adjustable sun visor.

AGV Tourmodular: AGV’s Top Touring Motorcycle Helmet: and it’s a good un.

AGV K6/K6S: high tech, comfortable sports-touring helmet.

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Review: Shoei J-Cruise Open Face Helmet

The most comfortable helmet i’ve ever worn.

If you’ve read any of my helmet reviews before, you know I’m a fan of open-face or ¾ helmets. They are not as confining as a full-face, but offer much more protection than a half shell helmet.

I recently got my hands on two new ¾ helmet styles from two of the leading helmet manufacturers: Arai CT-Z, I reviewed here two months ago, and the Shoei J-Cruise, (pronounced show’-ee), I’m writing about here. Both are premium helmets with price tags to match, but that shouldn’t stop you from considering the best protection for your head.

The J-Cruise is a new helmet in Shoei’s line-up offering the latest bells and whistles I like in a helmet. The J-Cruise predecessor is the J-Wing, which was produced from 2005 to 2012.

Part of what makes a helmet feel good is that you’re fitted to the right size. I measured the crown of my head and chose a size small. I knew when I wore it the first time that it should fit more snugly to my head. I could lift the helmet up from the nape of my neck, which is a sign of a poor-fitting helmet.

When I determined the helmet was just too big my options were to stop at my local Shoei helmet dealer to get measured for the right size or attend an upcoming motorcycle trade show where I knew Shoei would be attending to have them measure me. Fortunately, the AIMExpo in Orlando was the following week so I visited their booth and discovered I needed thicker pads.

A week later a thicker crown pad and cheek pads were sent to me. I replaced the crown pad in my small helmet that had a label of S9 on it, with the one they sent me labeled S13. A perfect fit! I didnt need to change the cheek pads. Switching the pads is very easy as they simply snap in. Shoei has different size crown and cheek pads for a customizable fit, so if the helmet just doesnt feel right, go get measured.

The J-Cruise comes in seven colors, the matte black one I’m wearing in the photos above, and the six shown below. The black and white helmets are priced at $499.99; all the others cost $530.99. Visit Shoei-Helmets.com to learn more about the J-Cruise and to find a dealer near you.

Related Articles Review: Open-face Arai CT-Z helmet Review: Scorpion EXO-CT220 Review: Bell Custom 500 Helmet

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全ての機能を凝縮した、革新のインナーサンバイザー・オープンフェイス

朝夕の眩しい陽射しや、路面や車からの反射光の眩しさからクリアな視界を作り出すこと、それは快適なライディングにとって重要な要素です。J-Cruiseには歪みの少ないすっきりした視界を可能としたスモークカラーの開閉式インナーサンバイザー「QSV-1サンバイザー」を採用。強い日差しから視界を守り、天候の変化やトンネルなどによる急な明るさの変化にも、レバー操作で簡単にインナーサンバイザーの開閉が可能。ツーリングなどで、クリアとスモークの2タイプのシールドを準備することなく、コンディションに合わせて視界を自在に可変できる革新的なオープンフェイスヘルメットです。

ALL COLLECTIONS

J-Cruise CLEAVE

ジェイ-クルーズ クリーブ

J-Cruise CORSO

ジェイ-クルーズ コルソ

J-Cruise PASSE

ジェイ-クルーズ パッセ

J-Cruise REBORN

ジェイ-クルーズ リボーン

J-Cruise STOLD

ジェイ-クルーズ ストルド

頭の一番大きな部分でハチ周り（周長）を測ります。その数値を目安に大まかなサイズを選びます。 しかし、ヘルメットは帽子とは異なり、ハチ周りだけではサイズを特定することはできません。 また、同メーカーのヘルメットであってもモデルによって同じサイズでも感じ方が違います。 ご希望のモデルを必ず販売店でご試着の上ご確認ください。

サイズ選びのアドバイスや頭部の計測をご希望の方へ

SHOEI TECHNICAL SHOP ではSHOEIヘルメットのスペシャリストが最適なサイズのアドバイスをご提供できます。 また Personal Fitting System のフィッティングサービスでは技術をマスターしたスタッフが専用の計測器により頭部を詳細に計測することも可能です。

SHOEI TECHNICAL SHOP

SHOEI TECHNICAL SHOPの 詳細はこちら

瞬時に開閉できるQSV-1サンバイザー

QSV-1サンバイザー

開閉可能なインナーサンバイザー装備。強い陽射しにもトンネルにも即座に対応。

高精度なインジェクション成型のポリカーボネイト製で、欧州サングラス規格「EN-1836」をはじめアメリカの「ANSI Z80.3」規格にも適合。強度や信号色の識別、歪みなど多くの要求事項をクリアしています。

サンバイザー使用時の視界 最適な減光とコントラストで見やすさは格別。朝夕の太陽が低いときの直射や、真夏の強い陽射し、照り返しに効果抜群。両面に曇り止め効果を兼ね備えたハードコートを施し、歪みが少ないばかりでなく、曇りにもキズにも強いサンバイザーです。 ＊写真はイメージです。

グローブをしたままで簡単に操作できる開閉レバー。節度ある操作感で、走行時の振動などで収納したサンバイザーが不意に下がることを防ぎます。

歪みも巻き込み風も抑えた新開発シールドを装備

最も歪みや映り込みの少ない曲率を追求して、「CJ-2シールド」を新たに開発しました。従来のCJ-1シールドより下方へと広がったシールド面は、部分的に表側と裏側の曲率や厚みを変えて、光学特性を高めたことにより、より一層自然でクリアな視界を実現しました。また、J-Cruiseのフォルムを造る上でのキーともなっている、シールド下端の独特のデザインは、下からの走行風の巻き込みを低減させるための造形です。

SHOEI社内風洞施設での実験風景

99％以上のUVカット率を備えた ポリカーボネイト製CJ-2シールド。 またシールドの曇り防止に効果の高い、PINLOCK® EVO lensの装着も可能 （PINLOCK® EVO lensはオプション）。

密着性を高めた独自のダブルアクション開閉システム

新たなシールドの採用と共にシールドベースも新開発とし、可変軸ダブルアクション機構をオープンフェイスタイプにも採用しました。シールドを下げると「ダウン＆プレス」で、シールドを窓ゴムにしっかり圧着。さらにウィンドウビーディング（窓ゴム）も2重リップ形状として密着性を高めました。走行風や雨の浸入を低減させ、風切り音の発生も抑えて、快適さと静かさは驚くべき高いレベルを達成しました。

窓ゴムは2重リップ形状でシールドとの密着性を高め雨風の浸入を防ぎます。

不意なシールド解放を防ぐシールドロック機構をシールド下端左側に装備。操作はシンプルで確実。シールド全閉でロックがかかり、左下部を少し押し開くようにすれば、簡単にシールドオープンできます。

シールドポジションは軽快な操作感をめざして全開と全閉の2ポジション。シールドを下げると、スプリングの力でシールドは窓ゴムに圧着します。

PINLOCK® EVO lens（オプション）

雨や寒いときの曇りから開放、オープンフェイス用pinlock® evo lens.

シールドの曇り防止に高い効果を発揮する、PINLOCK® EVO lensがオープンフェイスヘルメットに新たに採用（オプション）。走行時に最も気になるシールド上端付近の曇りを防ぐために、CJ-2専用PINLOCK® EVO lensは、シールド上端までしっかりカバー。さらに従来のフルフェイス用に比べ下方に約8mm拡大して、オープンフェイス特有の広い視界を効果的にカバーします。

CJ-2シールド用PINLOCK® EVO lensの視界 ＊写真はイメージです。

CJ-2シールド + PINLOCK® EVO lens

3DフルサポートインナーIV

内装生地は吸湿速乾性に優れたhygra®と肌触りの良い起毛のハイブリッド.

内装は脱着式で、高いホールド性と心地良いフィット感を持つ3DフルサポートインナーIVを採用。適度な被り深さで、包み込むようなフィット感と、頬までしっかりとホールドする被り心地を作り出しています。内装生地は吸湿速乾性に優れたHYGRA®と起毛生地をハイブリッドで採用。被り口には心地良い肌触りのために起毛生地を使用し、発汗の多い額や頬にはHYGRA®をレイアウト、快適な装着感を作りました。また、チークパッド上部には部分的にソフトタイプのウレタン（内部クッション材）を採用。メガネの装着/保持を容易にしながらも、頬との隙間を狭め内部への音の浸入を最小限に抑えました。

“HYGRA®”はユニチカ㈱の商品名です。

メガネを装着する付近のウレタンを柔らかいタイプに変更し、装着を容易にします。

耳元に装備しているイヤーパッドは脱着式で、任意にこの部分のスペースをつくることも可能。また、パッド取り外し後もベース部分のパンチング加工で音の反響を防ぎます。

風切り音の低減にもつながるエアロダイナミックスの追及

サンバイザーレバーの前方にエッジラインを形成するボーテックスジェネレーター。レバーが起こす風切り音を軽減させるための造形。

シェルと一体化されたエアロスポイラーやシールド形状など、J-Cruiseには随所にエアロダイナミックスを生かしたデザインが取り入れられています。 それらすべては、風洞実験によって検証を重ねられた造形です。走行中のライダーへの空力的な負担を最小限に抑えるとともに、煩わしく感じられる風切り音の軽減を実現しています。

滑らかさと空力特性の追求

確かな安全性とスマートなフォルム.

サンバイザー収納によるシェルの大型化や衝撃吸収ライナーへの影響など、ヘルメット本来の機能性や安全性を犠牲にすることなく、十分な衝撃吸収能力による確かな安全性を確保しました。そして一方では、空力性能を追及してデザインしたスマートなフォルムを追求。この2つの要素の融合はJ-Cruiseを形作る大きな特長です。 ヘルメットが振られず落ち着いた走行安定性は、高速域の安全性、快適性、疲労軽減に貢献します。長い距離・時間を走れば走るほど実感できる性能です。

マイクロラチェット式チンストラップ

ワンタッチ脱着。必ず2ヵ所のツメがかかる安全なオリジナルロックシステム.

チンストラップには、ワンタッチで脱着できるSHOEIオリジナルのマイクロラチェットバックルを採用しました。細かなラチェットなので微調整も簡単。そしてロック時には必ず2ヵ所のツメがかかる構造です。バックルのメインとなるラチェット部分は安全性と耐久性を確保するためにステンレス製を採用。さらにバックルのレバーは一定以上引き起こさなければロックが解除されない安全設計です。

ワンタッチ脱着。必ず2ヵ所のツメがかかる、安全なオリジナルロックシステム。

バックルのレバーは一定以上の開度にならなければ、ロックは解放されません。ストラップには、ヘルメットホルダーに対応するDリングを装備。

チンストラップについているDリングは、オートバイのヘルメットホルダーにヘルメットを掛ける際に使用します。

• ＊写真のチンストラップカバーは実際の製品と異なる場合がございます。
• ヘルメットがエンジンやマフラーなど高温になる部分に当たらないように掛けてください。
• ヘルメットをオートバイのヘルメットホルダーに掛けたまま走行しないでください。ヘルメットに傷がついたり、走行の妨げになったりする恐れがあります。

VENTILATION ベンチレーションシステム

アッパーエアインテーク後部にはサンバイザー収納部の換気機能も装備。

シンプルで高効率なベンチレーション、開閉操作のしやすさも配慮

今やヘルメットにはなくてはならないベンチレーションシステム。J-Cruiseでは開閉操作がしやすい、スライドカバータイプのアッパーエアインテークと、後部のアウトレットの2ヵ所で構成。風洞実験のデータをもとに形状やポジショニングを調整して、風切り音を抑えながらも低速度から体感できる高効率のベンチレーションを完成させました。

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Shoei J Cruise

The new Shoei J Cruise is the long-awaited successor of the 'J Wing' fitted with an integrated sun visor, wide view outer visor and improved ventilation system. Constructed using Shoei’s advanced AIM shell technology, composed of multi layered, multi composite and organic fibres designed for unmatched shock absorbency and optimum strength. The sun visor has been inserted into the shell without any impact on the EPS liner, maintaining the highest standard of safety. The wide view outer visor is equipped with a visor spoiler diminishing turbulence, air leakage from beneath the visor and wind noise. The superior ventilation system draws air from the front to back of the helmet, allowing the rider to ride in optimum conditions. Secured with a steel micro-ratchet system for easy operation and adjustability. Removable cheek and centre pads have been designed for easy care and the intercom ready inner completes the perfect urban helmet.

If you are looking for an urban helmet with extraordinary ventilation and lightweight shell, the Shoei J Cruise is the helmet for you!

Making superior quality motorcycle helmets since 1958, Shoei has become one of the most recognised and popular helmet manufactures in the world.

A brand synonymous with premium motorcycle helmets, Shoei has equipped champions of MotoGP, Superbike and MX1 with their high performance lids, and iconic bikers such as Marc Márquez, Matthias Walkner and Fabio Di Giannantonio all wear helmets from the Shoei range.

Shoei helmets are still manufactured in Japan by a team of dedicated and highly skilled staff. Attention to detail and hand work play a significant role in the production process, and all helmets must comply with strict quality control measures and the Shoei safety concept if they are to receive the Shoei stamp of approval.

Shoei premium motorcycle helmets are some of the safest, most comfortable and reliable lids available on the market today, and if you are looking to invest in the best, we invite you to view our collection today:

Shoei Full Face Motorcycle Helmets : Feel and enjoy the quality of a Shoei full-face helmet with the X-Spirit 3, the GT Air 2, the NXR 2, the Glamster and the Hornet ADV.

Shoei Flip Up Motorcycle Helmets: If you are heading off on a long distance journey, the Shoei Neotec 2 will provide a high level of protection without weighing you down.

Shoei Open Face Motorcycle Helmets: Combing a modern design with Shoei technology, the J-Cruise 2, JO and RJ Platinum R open-face lids are perfect for cruising and commuting.

Shoei Off-Road Motorcycle Helmets : Designed to keep up with the most extreme off-road bikers, the Shoei VFX WR looks as good as it performs.

You will also find a range of Shoei spares and accessories in the Moto-Central collection, and as we are a Shoei authorised dealer, you can be confident you will receive genuine goods.

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Shoei J-Cruise II Review

The Shoei J-Cruise II is the updated version of the J-Cruise helmet. The helmet has a particularly unique design and comes with advanced tech found in Shoe’s modular and full-face helmets.

You’ll find a better field of view because of the wider visor, which also protects you from the sun. Also, it allows you to fit the Sena SRL2 BT kit, which is almost invisible when installed, offering you great communication. If you need deeper insights, you can check the complete Shoei J-Cruise 2 review below.

Outer shell and design

Fastening method, ventilation.

You’ll find the AIM shell construction tech in Shoei’s J-Cruise II. The AIM construction comprises organic and glass fiber offering a flexible, strong yet lightweight structure. The Shoei J-Cruise II is an open-face helmet with the benefits of a full-face helmet.

J-Cruise II comes with four shell sizes: MD, LG, XS-SM, XL-2XL, and weighs around 3.76 lbs. So, it’ll fit almost every head size and is lightweight too. When it comes to the color options, you’re going to get black, matte black, white, anthracite, and blue. So, there are a lot of good options available.

The fact that the helmet is Snell M2020D approved and DOT certified talks for itself. Both these standards mean a lot when it comes to helmet safety. So, when you buy a J-Cruise II, you can expect supreme safety.

Inner lining

When it comes to lining, Shoei J-Cruise II completely justifies the premium price. The J-Cruise II comes with an easily removable skull cap and cheek pads. Also, you’ll find press studs used for positioning and hidden tabs that allow a clean and snug fit around the neck.

Every lining material is a blend of silky fabric, fleece, and waffle weave. The silky fabric helps reduce friction, the fleece offers comfort and warmth, and the waffle-weave helps in better cooling and airflow. Also, the bottom of the check pad comes with a vinyl finishing which keeps the water at bay while driving in the rain.

And if that’s not enough, J-Cruise II has a sheathed strap with removable fleece. So, you can wash it whenever you feel like it. However, you won’t find any quick-release cheek pads as it’s easy to open an open-face helmet. Based on Shoei J-Cruise 2 reviews given by customers, the lining offers decent comfort and protection to the user.

The J-Cruise II comes with a micro ratchet fastener that offers five adjustment positions. You can adjust it further using the standard slide on your chin strap. Now, how can you beat that? You can easily lift the release tab for releasing the strap. It’s quite similar to releasing the seat belt in an aircraft.

When compared to the Double D-ring method, this method takes a bit more adjustment. However, once you adjust it, you can easily do the fastening even while wearing those winter gloves. Also, if you wish you wear balaclavas or buffs, there are enough adjustments available.

The CJ – 2 visor offers three detents:

• Fully closed
• Four-fifths closed

With a J-Cruise II, you’ll get pin-lock mounts for CJ-2 Pinlock Evo Insert. However, you need to purchase it separately. Also, there’s an inner sun-visor (QSV-2) which is retractable and protects you from the halo effect. So, you can expect decent protection from the sun.

The J-Cruise II features water and windproof visor seal. It’s definitely better than the previous variant, as Shoei has redesigned the visor seal in this variant.

You may think, why would an open-face helmet require ventilation. But it’s quite important. It’s because when you lock the full-face visor, very little air enters the helmet.

However, you’ll find ample ventilation with this helmet. Three top vents offer a 3-position slide action: close, open, and midpoint. These vents work pretty well in coordination with the exhaust vent found on the back.

Sometimes, you may find a quick mist buildup on cold mornings. However, a pin-lock insert will help you deal with it easily.

For an open face variant, J-Cruise II is surprisingly quiet. What’s the reason? Well, it’s because of the chin spoiler and compound curves. So, if you keep the visor down, you won’t experience unnecessarily loud noises.

In case you partially or completely adjust the visor, there’ll be quite a lot of noise, obviously. However, if you consider my advice, wearing earplugs while driving will solve this problem. So, in terms of noise, you can rely on this helmet.

One of the most striking features of J-Cruise II is its ability to fit the SRL Bluetooth intercom system by Sena. So, you can stay connected with fellow riders or maybe your wife on the go. However, you’ll have to purchase the Bluetooth communication system separately.

Shoei has never disappointed us when it comes to helmets. And Cruise II is enough to prove that fact. It offers everything a bike rider needs, whether you’re on a small route or a large one. From safety, comfort, and quality to communication, Shoei J-Cruise II comes with it all.

And this is everything you can expect from a good helmet. So, if you’re looking for a premium helmet that protects you from impact, sun, and air and is equipped with the latest tech, you must opt for Shoei J-Cruise II. I hope this Shoei J-Cruise II helmet review was informative enough to help you make the right choice.

• The sun visor offers decent protection from the sun and also allows enough space for you to wear goggles
• The helmet offers great ventilation which makes it good for sunny days
• Some users find the helmet quite heavy and bulky
• The helmet is not as safe as a full-face helmet.

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Shoei J-Cruise II Men's Street Motorcycle Helmet

About this item

• The J-Cruise II, SHOEI's premium open-face helmet, features their latest technical advances to revolutionize the entire product design.
• The simplicity and freedom of the original open-face design has taken a leap forward with the addition of an inner sun visor.
• Further functionality and comfort is offered with a compact lightweight design and improved ventilation performance, in addition to SHOEI's uncompromised safety.
• The evolution of the J-Cruise II will enhance your riding experience.Features:Lightweight, AIM (Advanced Integrated Matrix) shell.A multi-piece / multi-density EPS liner allows for smooth passage of air, improving cooling performance.Easily removable shie
• Seven-year warranty from helmet manufacture date.

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Top Brand: Shoei

Product description.

Whichever comes first.Standards: DOT-218 Approved.Note: The SHOEI J-CRUISE II ships with a Clear shield and uses the CJ-2 Shield or QSV-2 Sun Shield as a replacement or upgrade.Refined and Advanced Design: With the J-Cruise II, SHOEI has updated the desig

Product information

Technical details, additional information, looking for specific info, customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the sound proofing, performance, fit, quality and safety of the automotive helmet. They mention that the clear face shield provides a quiet ride, the speakers work well and that the vents work well. They are also happy with comfort, weight and the sun visor.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the automotive helmet. They mention that it's a great product, has style, and the sun shade is easy to deploy. Some say that the size is smaller than they expected.

"...The padding is very well made you can tell the difference from cheaper helmets. It's a great fit and great for summer...." Read more

"...The main face shield is also well made , and you are very well protected from the wind...." Read more

"...in a Wind Tunneled-shaped, Ventilated Properly, Lightweight & finest quality using light weight materials...." Read more

" Great motorcycle helmet and super fast shipping" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the comfort of the automotive helmet. They mention that it fits well, has superb ventilation, and is properly ventilated.

"...I am very happy I chose this helmet,, it’s is perfect fit and comfortable with more sound proofing than I expected...." Read more

"... Comfort is better than any helmet I have worn in the past...." Read more

"...the helmet needs to be designed in a Wind Tunneled-shaped, Ventilated Properly , Lightweight & finest quality using light weight materials...." Read more

"...Its so comfortable and safe and I love the multiple visors / creal and retractable shade. If you’re looking, try this one. I think you’ll like it." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the fit of the automotive helmet. They mention that it fits perfectly. However, some customers report that the size is smaller than they expected.

"...This is a much lighter and more sound proof helmet and a beautiful fit ( providing you use the measure chart properly)...." Read more

"...It's a great fit and great for summer. Spend the money to keep your noggin safe." Read more

" Fits perfectly . Inner sun visor works great." Read more

"...I am shocked, I tell you, shocked that it actually fits and is COMFORTABLE!..." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the weight of the automotive helmet. They mention that it is made of light weight materials and is solid. Some customers also mention that the helmet is heavy.

"...Ventilated Properly, Lightweight & finest quality using light weight materials . The Interior of this helmet was you can see & feel the quality...." Read more

" Solid , lightweight helmet." Read more

"...This is a solid light weight helmet that is as safe as a 3/4 can be...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the performance of the automotive helmet. They mention that the speakers work very well, the field of view is great, and the helmet performed great in cool weather. The inner sun visor works great, the vents work well, and are smooth to operate. The sun shield is a big plus.

"Fits perfectly. Inner sun visor works great ." Read more

"...the air flow rocks, the integrated speakers (bought separately) work very well , and the field of view is great." Read more

"...lot of rain for the first two weeks with cool weather and the helmet performed great . Then the weather got hot and performance went to hell...." Read more

"...Everything on these helmets are smooth to operate, vents work well and the sun shield is a big plus.Highly recommend." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the sound proofing of the automotive helmet. They mention it's very quiet and doesn't strain their neck. The clear face shield provides a quiet ride.

"...The Clear Face Shield provides a quiet ride & to my surprise when I installed a previously used Blue Tooth Headset...." Read more

"...It is very quiet and doesn't strain my neck with unnecessary weight from a modular jaw-piece...." Read more

"High quality fits great low noise really nice with the Sena mesh Bluetooth system installed." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the safety of the automotive helmet. They mention that it is very safe and well protected from the wind.

"...The main face shield is also well made, and you are very well protected from the wind ...." Read more

"Great helmet and very safe ..." Read more

Customers like the sun visor of the automotive helmet. They say it's a big plus and keeps the sun off their face.

"...degree weather, the helmet kept me cool and the shade visor kept the sun off my face ...." Read more

"Fits well, sun visor is a great bonus " Read more

"...these helmets are smooth to operate, vents work well and the sun shield is a big plus .Highly recommend." Read more

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Shoei J-Cruise: freedom of an open face helmet, comfort of a full face.

Page Contents

Shoei J-Cruise: open face 3/4 helmet full review.

The Shoei J-Cruise is what’s known as a 3/4 size open face helmet . That’s an American term but it’s useful because the J-Cruise has more of a wraparound helmet shell and a larger visor than your typical open face helmet (or half helmet as they’re known in the US).

It’s Shoei’s attempt to make a helmet that appeals to those who want an open face helmet but also want a bit more performance – improved head protection and improved weather protection than the average open face.

So Shoei produced the J-Cruise. It’s mostly aimed at high mileage riders and people who use their bikes every day such as commuter riders . People who want all the bells and whistles you usually get from a full face helmet but like the freedom and great ventilation you get from an open face helmet.

It’s been around for a few years now, so the internet’s full of people telling it like it is to live with the J-Cruise. As always, to save you the time, we’ve hunted down all those opinions and reviews to bring you this full review of the Shoei J-Cruise helmet.

Note: the original Shoei J-Cruise is now discontinued, replaced by Shoei J-Cruise II .

• 3/4 size open face helmet
• Shoei’s AIM composite fibre shell
• Four shell sizes
• Optically correct clear visor
• Great ventilation
• Medium oval head shape
• Micrometric fastener
• Pinlock ready visor
• Expect to pay £270-350

Best place to buy this Shoei crash helmet?

Please click below to visit the Shoei helmets pages at our recommended stores . And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you - a massive THANKS! (it's how we finance the site).

 (more about helmet safety)

OK, the J-Cruise is an open face helmet, so you know it’s inherently not as safe as a full face helmet, right?

If you’re looking for the safest helmet , go for a well fitting, SHARP 5 Star rated full face, not an open face helmet. Nuff said.

But if you deffo want an open face helmet, then the J-Cruise seems to be about as good as it gets. Here’s why.

Because it’s a 3/4 helmet, you get pretty well all the coverage of a full face except the front bit of the chin bar.

Which, yes, is kinda important when you’re looking at crash protection. But the Shoei J-Cruise uses the same helmet tech as many of Shoei’s full face helmets – that’s an advanced composite fibre shell Shoei calls AIM or advanced integrated matrix – backed by their multi-density polystyrene shock absorbing liner.

That’s the same helmet tech as they use on the GT Air II  and the Ex-Zero – and on the SHARP 5 star safety rated Shoei RYD . So they must be doing something right, right?

Plus Shoei makes the J-Cruise in four helmet shell sizes covering fitment sizes XS-XXL. Not only will that mean you get a very well optimised and compact helmet for your head/body size, but it helps optimise for fitment, comfort and that means for safety too. Good work Shoei.

Of course the J-Cruise has been safety tested and given the same ECE 22.05 European safety stamp that all helmets on sale in Europe must have.

But above that, it’s not been (and won’t be) independently safety tested by SHARP or anyone else. That’s because it’s an open face helmet and if you’re serious about keeping your face/skull bones in tact and not spread down the A34, you’re gonna buy a full face, not an open face helmet. So they don’t test em.

But if you couple that ECE stamp with previous SHARP data for AIM shelled helmets which shows they score somewhere between 3 & 5 stars – then that’s the kind of safety range we’d expect from the shell of the J-Cruise, were it to be tested.

Of course, the best helmets have features that help you avoid testing its safety rating in the first place.

The J-Cruise has a Pinlock-ready, optically correct and very wide visor to give you great vision of hazards in the first place; and there’s a drop down sun visor to keep things visible even when the sun’s low and strong.

So, except for the fact that your face is exposed like all open face helmets (meaning overall we have to give it a one star rating for safety), we expect the Shoei J-Cruise to give decent levels of protection – as long as you hit the sides and back of the helmet only, and not the front!

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise).

Interestingly, the vast majority of J-Cruise owners were happy with how lovely and quiet their J-Cruise helmets are!

OK, Shoei know a thing or two about making well-built, well padded and insulated motorbike helmets. But it’s open face for gawd’s sake, how can it be a really quiet helmet ??

Well, I guess part of it is because lots of J-Cruise owners are regular users of open face helmets, and it’s just that the J-Cruise is quieter than most of those. So relatively, it feels quiet.

I guess if that’s the case and you come to a J-Cruise from a life wearing full face helmets, then you might not find it quite as mega quiet as open face riders do.

Also, most J-Cruise helmet wearers tend to ride faired bikes, so that’s going to protect you from the wind rush and buffeting you find on nakeds and sportsbikes – and hence make the J-Cruise feel quieter.

But it’s probably more than just a perception thing. Shoei used wind-tunnel testing to help make the J-Cruise as aerodynamic and noise-attenuating as possible. Plus there’s decent padding inside the helmet including thick (removable) ear pads that all contributes to making an impressively sound insulating helmet.

So – apart from the usual footnotes about helmet noise being entirely personal and subjective – we’ll class the J-Cruise as a really quiet helmet (because that’s what most owners say).

Just don’t expect to go ton-up on your Z1000 and expect to agree!

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation).

Ventilation is another area where the Shoei J-Cruise excels. In fact we didn’t find a bad word said about it anywhere.

Of course, it’s an open face helmet so you’d expect that massive space below the visor to let air in (though it doesn’t so much – read visor section below).

And, if you need to, you can always raise the visor and let the air flood in.

But lots of open face helmets still don’t vent so well around the scalp because they’re solid with no ventilation inlets.

The J-Cruise on the other hand is designed more like a full face helmet. OK, there’s no chin vent for obvious reasons but that top vent allows air into the helmet shell, to circulate round the head then escape via either of the two rear exhausts or via a vent at the collar.

The inlet vent and both exhausts can be shut off using the large sliders, but if you’re riding somewhere hot, you’ll welcome what Shoei engineers have done because – according to J-Cruise owners – ventilation is great .

Open all vents fully up and the word from owners is that it lets in lots of air and keeps your head really cool. It’s good in rain too – though if it’s a prolonged downpour, you probably need to close things off.

But you’ll find ventilation excellent in the J-Cruise and, even in the height of summer, most riders report there’s enough air flow to keep your head cool.

(more about visors)

The visor on the Shoei J-Cruise is a bit of a work of art.

Not only does it look kinda cool (OK, eye of the beholder and all that!) but it’s functionally very clever too.

The basics: it’s a super large visor that give a really good view of the road ahead as well as excellent peripheral vision . That sheer size of the view is one of the main reasons owners like the J-Cruise because, compared to a full face, the sense of freedom is fantastic.

It doesn’t come with a Pinlock in the box (shame) but it is Pinlock Evo ready, so you can buy a Pinlock anti-fog insert for £30ish and that’ll keep the covered area of the visor fog free in all conditions. A highly recommended buy is a Pinlock.

The visor is quick release to help with cleaning, and it’s a friction based visor meaning it doesn’t work on a ratchet, rather it smoothly moves from fully open to fully closed.

And if you do fully close it, it can lock in place using a small peg bottom left of the helmet to locate into a hole in the visor.

That’s kind of an old school way of locking the visor in place but it works, it’s simple, and it’s easy to unlock by pushing the visor slightly to the left when opening it to disengage the lock.

A few people find that a bit fiddly, but most find it OK.

Notice that unusual lip at the bottom of the visor? That’s actually a clever piece of design that’s there to reduce turbulence, noise and air ingress behind the visor.

And apparently it works really well too because several owners say it almost feels like a full face when you drop the visor down – because it keeps a ton of air and noise out when you do.

And the visor seal’s great too because quite a few owners reported doing some serious miles in the rain and the visor kept it all out.

And finally on the visor, Shoei says it keeps 99% of UV rays out. That’s great – though remember that all polycarbonate visors keep at least 95%+ of UV out, depending on the exact type of polycarbonate.

A couple of links you might find useful…

– Click to see all our open face helmet reviews – – Here you’ll find every sports touring helmet we’ve looked at –

(more about sun visors)

Sun visors are a fantastic addition to any helmet.

Not only does it give another 95%+ UV protection (in addition to the 99% given by the main visor) but they make riding in sun much more comfortable – and safer.

The sun visor on the Shoei J-Cruise is operated by the slider behind the left hand visor pivot (a great place to put it) and is entirely analogue.

That means, you slide it half way and the sun visor drops half way, with no detents.

If you want it back up, slide it back up (no spring loading or ‘retract’ button here).

Most owners love how it works, thought there’s the occasional person saying they found it tricky to find the slider and another wishing it came down a bit lower.

But they’re common issues with pretty much every sun visor so don’t let that put you off. Overall, owners of a J-Cruise love having their sun visor and find it works just great.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing).

Fitment of the J-Cruise is suitable for medium oval headshapes – that’s most of us in the West (but click the link above if you want more information about that).

The comfort lining is fully removable and washable like pretty well all helmets from budget helmets upwards. But in the J-Cruise’s case it’s made from more premium materials.

Shoei calls their comfort system Max-Dry, which essentially means it’s a moisture wicking material. But it is made from particularly comfortable materials.

The only fly in the ointment with the J-Cruise is that many owners say they felt it was very tight when they bought it. A few even returned it for a size larger… but not so hasty.

It seems most owners who thought it was tight and who carried on wearing it found their helmets broke in really quickly and became a great fit very quickly.

Others discovered that it was mainly the cheek pads that were too big (or maybe their cheeks had mysteriously grown in size over the years 🙂 ) so replacing the cheek pads with narrower pads (or trimming them down a bit) resulted in a much more comfortable helmet .

And if you’re a glasses wearer, a few owners said the J-Cruise is great for glasses and it’s really easy to put your glasses on – though you will need to put the helmet on first – and remove your glasses before taking it off.

Looks & Graphics

J-Cruise graphics – like lots of other Shoei helmets graphics – are pretty conservative. OK there’s lots of solid colours available – including a couple of hi-viz – but aside from that there’s only the Corso graphics (which are mostly solids but with a stripe) to spice things up a bit.

In some countries (including the US) you can get the Reborn flame helmet too – in either red or grey.

I think we’ve just about displayed all the designs you’ll find up and down the page. So if you’re interested in buying one – or checking out the latest prices – I’d love you to click through to our recommended retailers below. Cheers.

Click above to drop onto their Shoei helmets pages or *quick view retailer T&Cs here .

Shoei J-Cruise Helmet Video

Here’s Shoei’s own 2m promo video featuring lots of swooping around on cruisers to a generic, royalty-free Coldplay style guitar track. Kinda shows you the main features tho.

Other stuff – fasteners, audio, weight, glasses, aero, buffeting, build quality, warranty

In Europe, the J-Cruise comes with a micrometric fastener ( double-D ring in the US).

If you’re looking to fit a bluetooth system, the Shoei is definitely designed to accommodate one. There’s a couple of sizeable speaker cutouts inside the helmet and of course, a stack of room for a boom mic.

It’s a relatively weighty helmet, even compared to a full face helmet which average around 1.5Kgs (3.3lbs)- and it’s certainly heavier than most open face helmets at around 1.6Kg (3.5lbs). Having said that, most riders don’t have a problem with a helmet at that weight and a few even said it feels pretty light weight.

Aero performance is generally said to be great. Shoei went to great lengths to wind tunnel test the J-Cruise and that slight sculpting to the helmet shell as well as the aero lip on the bottom of the visor seems to have done the job. In fact a few owners said there’s really no buffeting – but then I guess that also depends on their type of bike and the speed they tend to ride.

Build quality is one area picked out by many owners as being excellent. It’s something Shoei’s known for though, so no surprise there.

Finally, all Shoei helmets come with a five year warranty – or seven years from date of manufacture – which is about as good as it gets.

Overall/Summary

The J-Cruise is a really impressive helmet. It’s got that excellent Shoei build quality backed by their 5 year guarantee. Owners find it amazingly comfortable, well ventilated and has lots of bells and whistles that make it a great helmet to live with – including excellent aero and visor system (with drop down sun visor) in particular.

Yep, open face helmets give less protection than full face helmets. But if you accept that and want a high performance open face helmet with a visor system that gives you fantastic weather protection, then you really ought to give the Shoei J-Cruise a go.

Good Alternatives to the Shoei J-Cruise?

The Shoei J-Cruise is a difficult act to beat. But here’s a few alternatives – including modular helmets that offer the best of both worlds – that you might want to to check out too.

The Nolan N44 is a real alternative that’s even more flexible than the Shoei J-Cruise. You can have it in 3/4 config just like the Shoei but you can add the chin bar to give some face protection too. And it’s quite a bit cheaper than the Shoei.

Or how about the Shark Evo One 2 – that’s a modular helmet, but it’s one you can push the chin bar right round to the back of the helmet to give you a proper open faced helmet feeling. It’s SHARP 4 star safety rated and comes with a Pinlock in the box too.

The good ole Roof Boxer V8 does that ‘bar round the back’ trick too – and looks mega cool while it’s doing it. It’s SHARP 4 star safety rated too.

More Helmet Options?

For more helmet buying options, click through to our Open Face Helmet Reviews , our Modular Helmets Top 10 and our Safest Helmets . Or jump onto our homepage to find lots of other ways to find a new helmet - just scroll down.

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