Shark Spartan GT Carbon: A Year of Riding Review
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I’ve had the Shark Spartan GT Carbon now for a little over a year, and I’ve been riding with it through the cold winter months and what passes for a hot summer here in the UK. Over that time, I’ve been on two bikes: a Triumph Scrambler 1200 and a KTM Super Duke GT.
This article is based on the video by Average Biker.
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A bold carbon‑fiber sport‑touring helmet that delivers strong safety, integrated sun visor, and stylish looks—designed for riders who want flair and performance in one package.
- Integrated drop‑down sun visor—instant sun protection
- Removable, antimicrobial interior—stays fresh
- Quick‑release visor mechanism—tool‑free visor swaps
- Sharp carbon styling with SHARP 4★ safety—stands out
- Notably loud at highway speeds without earplugs
- Visor can whistle or fog when raised—some may find distracting
Fit
To be completely honest, the main reason I bought this lid is because it looks cool. The gloss black carbon fiber paired with the aggressive shape of the helmet—yeah, for me, it’s cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Now, in terms of fit, my head shape works with Shoei and Schuberth helmets. So if you’re coming from either of those, this one should fit you nicely too. Of course, try it on first.
While it’s made from carbon, it’s not particularly light. I can’t really tell the difference in weight between this and a standard helmet.
Visor System
The visor has a locking mechanism to hold it in place. You’ve got to press a button to lift the visor up, which I thought would be awkward. But actually, that hasn’t proved to be the case at all. You sort of end up pressing the button as you reach for the visor lip, and it opens first time—more or less every time. I rarely find myself fumbling for it.
Removing the visor is easy. You just turn the dials on each side halfway up, and it pops straight off. Handy if you want to switch between clear and tinted visors.
Internal Sun Visor
If you don’t feel like swapping visors, it does have a sun visor built in. That’s activated from the top of the helmet, which—fun bonus—means people think you’re waving at them when you slide it up or down.
Ventilation
I don’t find the helmet too cold in winter, and I think the chin curtain does a good job of keeping wind out. Unsurprisingly, it does get hot in the summer. The only vent I really notice making a difference is the one on the forehead. You open and close it using this large spoiler, which is super easy to find even with gloves on.
It gives a nice breeze once you’re doing over 50 miles per hour. But below that, I don’t really notice it.
A Few Niggles
Now, while I’m generally very happy with this lid, there are a few little things that bug me.
If you lift the visor all the way up, you get an annoying whistling sound when you’re going over 25 mph. That sound does go away if you lean your head forward, which probably suggests this helmet was designed for use on sports bikes.
But if you’re on a naked bike or any upright bike, it’s hard to lean forward far enough to stop the whistling—unless you want to impair your field of view and ride around in an unnatural position. I find the whistling so annoying that I’d rather keep the visor down, even in the summer heat.
Internal Lining and Reassembly
Another gripe: it’s really fiddly to put the helmet back together once you’ve removed the internal linings. So much so that I didn’t even bother doing it again for this video. But you only install an intercom once, so it’s not a deal-breaker.
Noise Levels
The worst thing about the Shark Spartan GT Carbon, though, is the noise. It’s quite a noisy lid.
If you’re on the motorway, I’d say it’s too loud to use comfortably without earplugs. Compared to my old Schuberth S2—granted, a famously quiet helmet—this one just doesn’t block sound nearly as well.
Source
That said, it actually encourages me to wear earplugs more often, which is probably a good thing.
Soundproofing for Different Rides
For short rides or city riding, the soundproofing is fine. And on motorways, it’s absolutely manageable—so long as you’re wearing earplugs.
If you’re not a fan of earplugs, then yeah, you should probably look elsewhere. Or better yet, start wearing earplugs. But that’s a whole different conversation.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Shark Spartan GT Carbon is a good-looking, well-ventilated helmet with a few quirks.
- It fits similar to Shoei and Schuberth lids.
- The visor mechanism is smooth and surprisingly intuitive.
- Ventilation is fine at higher speeds.
- It can get warm, and the visor whistles when fully open on upright bikes.
- It’s loud—too loud without earplugs on long rides.
If you’re someone who doesn’t mind wearing earplugs and likes a sporty, aggressive look, this could be a great option for you.
A bold carbon‑fiber sport‑touring helmet that delivers strong safety, integrated sun visor, and stylish looks—designed for riders who want flair and performance in one package.
- Integrated drop‑down sun visor—instant sun protection
- Removable, antimicrobial interior—stays fresh
- Quick‑release visor mechanism—tool‑free visor swaps
- Sharp carbon styling with SHARP 4★ safety—stands out
- Notably loud at highway speeds without earplugs
- Visor can whistle or fog when raised—some may find distracting
