Schuberth C5 Five-Month Review & Easy Fix for Visor Drop
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Five months ago, I was in the market for a modular helmet, and I decided on the Schuberth C5. I think that the Schuberth C5 and the Shoei Neotec 2 are very, very similar helmets, and in the end, I think it comes down to personal preference.
I wanted to talk about the pros and cons of having this helmet, the C5, now for five months.
When choosing a modular helmet, there are so many factors to consider. Comfort, features, safety ratings, and of course, personal fit. After spending five months with the Schuberth C5, I’ve developed some strong opinions on its performance, particularly in day-to-day riding and addressing a common complaint. Based on my experience, here are three key, perhaps unconventional, takeaways about this helmet:
- Its venting system is truly exceptional, providing a level of airflow I didn’t know I was missing.
- While it has a known issue with the visor dropping, there’s a simple, inexpensive fix that completely resolves it.
- The comfort of the chin strap can vary dramatically depending on whether you’re riding or sitting as a passenger.
Let’s dive deeper into why I chose the C5 and how it’s performed over the past five months, as well as how to fix that visor drop issue.
This article is based on the video below:
Why the Schuberth C5?
As I mentioned, five months ago, the decision came down primarily between the Schuberth C5 and the Shoei Neotec 2. Both are highly regarded modular helmets, offering premium features and quality construction. The comparison felt very close on many fronts. However, there was one specific point that tipped the scales for me: the chin strap.
When trying on both helmets, I found that the chin strap on the Shoei Neotec 2 really pressed on my Adam’s apple. It was extremely uncomfortable during the fitting process. With the Schuberth C5, I had no problem with that discomfort when I was trying it on and mimicking a riding posture. This difference in comfort was the deciding factor for me right there in the store.
While subjective, a helmet’s fit and feel, especially around the chin strap, are critical for long-term comfort on rides, and the C5 felt right for my riding position.
The quietest touring helmet money can buy, kitted out with all the features you expect for those long days in the saddle.
- Modular flip up chin bar
- Drop down sun visor
- Space for integrated comms unit
- Many colorway options
- DOT certified, with ECE in EU
The Pros of the C5 After Five Months
After five months of using the Schuberth C5, several aspects have really stood out positively. These are the features and characteristics that have made riding more comfortable and enjoyable for me.
Phenomenal Vents
The venting on this helmet is truly phenomenal. There’s a main vent located on the top of the helmet. I honestly don’t know how I lived before I had this vent. When I open that vent up, you can just feel all the cool air rushing down on your head. It’s incredibly effective at providing ventilation and keeping my head cool, which is so important, especially on warmer days or during slow-moving traffic.
There’s also a vent located just below the visor. This lower vent is super excellent for clearing your visor when it gets foggy. A foggy visor is a significant safety hazard, and the ability to quickly and effectively clear it with the airflow from this vent is a huge plus. The performance of both these vents has genuinely impressed me over the past five months.
Quieter Than Expected
I also think that this helmet is a little quieter than the Shoei Neotec 2. Noise levels in a helmet can vary greatly depending on the rider’s bike, windscreen, and riding position, among other factors. I had heard from some people that they feel vibration and buffeting with the C5 at higher speeds. However, based on my experience across different bikes, I actually feel like this helmet has less buffeting and vibration compared to the Shoei Neotec 2, which is the other helmet I extensively considered.
This contributes to a more stable feel at speed and helps reduce fatigue on longer rides. It’s worth remembering that helmet performance regarding noise and buffeting is highly dependent on your setup, so trying a helmet on your specific bike is always the best approach if possible.
Easy Modular Button Access
The button to open the modular front of the helmet is located on the chin bar, right in the center. It opens easily and smoothly. This is crucial for a modular helmet, as you want quick and hassle-free access to lift the chin bar when needed, whether you’re stopped at a light, getting fuel, or chatting with someone.
Superior Sun Visor Placement
I still think that the access to the tinted sun visor on the C5 is a way better placement than on the Shoei Neotec 2. The slider for the internal sun visor is located on the lower edge of the helmet shell, near the left cheek pad. It’s super easy to access with my left hand while riding.
This is a significant convenience, allowing me to quickly deploy or retract the sun visor as light conditions change, such as riding in and out of shade or tunnels. I’m currently not pulling the sun visor down because I’m wearing my Flying Eyes sunglasses, which I also love, but that’s a topic for another time.
Chin Strap Comfort (While Riding)
As mentioned earlier, the chin strap comfort was the primary reason I chose this helmet over the Shoei Neotec 2. When I am riding, I have no problem with the chin strap pressing on my Adam’s apple. It sits comfortably and securely without creating pressure points that would become irritating over time. The ratchet mechanism on this chin strap is also super smooth and easy to operate, both when fastening and loosening the strap.
These pros highlight the aspects of the Schuberth C5 that have genuinely impressed me during my five months of ownership and riding. The comfort features, ease of use, and effective ventilation contribute significantly to a positive riding experience.
The Cons of the C5
While the Schuberth C5 has many positives, there are a couple of points that I’ve found less ideal over the past five months.
Chin Strap Discomfort (As a Passenger)
The reason I chose this helmet was specifically because the chin strap didn’t press on my Adam’s apple when riding. However, I did have to ride as a passenger with my husband one time. I guess because my posture is not as good when I’m a passenger compared to when I’m the one riding, the chin strap was pressing so heavily on my Adam’s apple that it was almost completely unbearable to wear for the duration of that ride. This was a surprising and significant discomfort. So, something to keep in mind if you ever anticipate wearing this helmet as a passenger – definitely try it on and see if that’s a problem for you in that posture.
Chin Strap Pull Tag
While the ratchet mechanism itself is smooth on the C5, I do think that the Shoei Neotec 2’s pull tag on the chin strap is better. The C5 has a very small red tag that you use to release the ratchet. While I am able to take it off with no difficulty, I do think that it would be a lot easier and quicker to grab in general if the pull tag was a little longer or more substantial. It’s a minor point, but something I noticed in comparison.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: The Visor Problem
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – the thing that everybody complained about after I posted my initial comparison video, and which I actually was not even aware of at the time I bought this helmet. This is the fact that the main face shield, the clear visor, comes down on its own at certain speeds.
Yes, that is a problem. It wasn’t an issue when I first started riding and perhaps wasn’t going as fast, but fairly quickly, it became an issue. The speed at which the visor comes down seems to depend significantly on the bike you’re riding and its aerodynamics, particularly the windscreen.
For instance, on this RT (BMW R1200RT) that I’m riding today, the visor consistently came down at 52 miles per hour. My husband’s GS (BMW GS model) is different; he only had issues over 65 miles per hour with the visor dropping.
When I was riding a Honda NC750 in Israel, I rarely had any problems at all; I think it happened only once or twice, specifically when I got over 70 miles per hour. So, the specific speed is variable, but the problem of the visor dropping from its open position due to wind or buffeting is a real characteristic of this helmet for many riders and on many bikes. It can be frustrating when you want to ride with the visor slightly or fully open for ventilation at speed.
The “$1.70 Fix”
Here’s the best news for all you viewers: I have found a fix for the visor dropping problem! The solution is incredibly simple and will cost you about $1.70 to fix. Since implementing this fix, I have had no issues with the visor coming down on its own anymore. To fix the visor drop, you need these rubber O-rings. The size that worked for me is 20 by 2 millimeters.
I actually purchased a whole pack with various sizes because I was trying to figure out what was the best one, experimenting to find the right fit and thickness. But I did look on eBay and found these specific sized O-rings for $1.70, including shipping, so it’s a super cheap fix. You really only need two of them, one for each side of the visor mechanism.
The process to install these O-rings is straightforward and only takes a couple of minutes. First, you need to remove the visor from the helmet. To do this, you push these little tabs up on either side of the helmet, located near the visor pivot point. Once those tabs are pushed up, when you tip the visor back, it just comes right off the helmet mechanism. Set the helmet aside safely.
Now, take the visor itself. There is a raised lip or edge on the part of the visor that attaches to the helmet mechanism. You’re going to take one of your 20×2 millimeter O-rings and simply slip it right around this raised lip on the visor. Work it into the groove so it sits securely around the circumference of that lip. You do this for both sides of the visor.
Once the O-rings are in place on both sides of the visor’s attachment points, the visor is ready to go back on the helmet. Align the visor mechanism with the corresponding slots on the helmet shell. You’ll need to ensure the tabs you lifted earlier are still up. Then, simply push the visor back into place until it clicks securely. Wiggle it slightly to make sure it’s seated properly on both sides. Then, push the tabs back down to lock the visor into place.
And that’s it! Super easy. This simple addition of a small rubber O-ring on each side of the visor pivot point adds just enough friction to the mechanism to prevent the visor from being easily pushed down by wind pressure alone.
Results and Caveats of the Fix
After applying this fix, you’ll immediately notice a difference in the visor’s movement. One thing that you’ll notice is that it has a little clicking sound when you open or close the visor, moving it between its detent positions. However, I have ridden multiple times with this in place, and this clicking sound is not distracting while riding.
It’s a small audible cue, but it doesn’t interfere with riding or communication. The visor is still very easy to move when you intentionally want to adjust it. You will also hear that clicking sound when you pull the modular front of the helmet down or raise it, as the main visor moves slightly during that process.
The nice thing about this fix is not only that it prevents the visor from coming down accidentally in the wind, but it also makes the visor’s detents, or notched positions, feel even more secure. This means you have a lot more variability and confidence in leaving your visor open at various levels, whether it’s just cracked slightly for airflow or open halfway. Each notch feels more positive and holds its position firmly, which is a great bonus improvement derived from this simple fix.
Full disclosure, I just recently did this fix. As of the time of this video, I have only been using the O-rings for a short period. Therefore, I do not know how long this will last. I don’t know if these rubber O-rings are going to deteriorate over time due to exposure to UV light, temperature changes, or wear and tear from moving the visor.
I also don’t know if the slight clicking sound or the feel will eventually bug me later on. However, for now, the fix has completely resolved the primary issue of the visor dropping unexpectedly, and that has significantly improved my riding experience with the helmet.
If any of you have done this fix before, perhaps with the C4 or C5, please let me know how long it lasted for you and your long-term experience. Also, if any of you do this, please leave a comment to let me know how it works out for you!
Overall, my five months with the Schuberth C5 have been largely positive. It’s a comfortable helmet with excellent ventilation and features that suit my riding style. While the dropping visor was a frustrating problem, the simple O-ring fix has completely alleviated it for now, making it a much more enjoyable helmet to use day-to-day. The main remaining potential issue for me is the chin strap comfort if I ever need to ride as a passenger again. But for riding myself, which is what I primarily use it for, it’s proven to be a great choice.
The quietest touring helmet money can buy, kitted out with all the features you expect for those long days in the saddle.
- Modular flip up chin bar
- Drop down sun visor
- Space for integrated comms unit
- Many colorway options
- DOT certified, with ECE in EU
