Product Review: Airoh GP550 S helmet

Previous to the arrival of this Airoh GP550 S helmet, I’d worn the Italian brand’s ST701 for three-and-a-bit years. To be honest, I was a little reticent to change, because the ST701 already ticked all the boxes. It’s light, comfy, quiet and well made, and it’s still holding together perfectly well after God-knows how many kilometres I’ve racked up in that time.

However, I do prefer to change lids over every three or four years, and given the positive experience I’ve had with Airoh (I also have an Airoh Aviator 2.2 Six Days off-road lid), I thought it was time to update and see what else the company had on offer.

That search led me to the Airoh GP550 S – the brand’s top-shelf road racing lid – which is now my first choice for protection both on the road and track. And after living with this lid day in, day out for the past few months, here’s what I’ve learned…

Related reading:
Product review: Airoh Commander dual sport helmet
Product review: Airoh ST701 helmet
Product review: Airoh Aviator 2.2 Six Days

This Airoh GP550 S is incredibly light, weighing in from a claimed 1310g (+/-50g) for the smallest shell size, of which there are three. My large bonce demands the biggest of the three sizes, but it still weighs just 1465g (as measured with a set of electronic scales), which all spells an easier time for your neck muscles and, at the end of a long ride, less fatigue.

Whereas the Airoh ST701 has more of a sports/sportstouring focus, the GP550 S is a fully fledged race lid, and as such it has a number of key differences.

For starters, there’s no recessed, drop-down tinted visor as found on the ST701, but the GP550 S does come with a clear, scratch- and UV-resistant visor plus an additional smoke visor. And the back of the GP550 S flows into a prominent three-part rear spoiler, to aid aerodynamics.

The visor release system is different too, with each side secured by small plastic discs with flip-out levers that rotate to lock the visor in place. No tools are required, but it’s perhaps a little more fiddly than the ST701 system. On the upside, the visor itself is really well sealed when closed and can be locked shut too, while it also comes fitted with tear-off posts as well a Pinlock 70 anti-fog lens.

The Airoh GP550 S has an HPC (high performance composite) structure with a total of eight air vents: two on the chin, two either side of the brow, and two on top at the front of the helmet. It comes supplied with additional (and easily removable) upper and lower chin curtains, and also features the brand’s Airoh Emergency Fast Release system, which facilitates the fast and easy removal of the cheek pads in the event of a crash.

Available in matt black, gloss white, dark grey matt or any of a range of Vektor, Wander, Skyline and Venom graphics, my lid adopts the White Matt Venom scheme. It’s a really neat combination of matt white, matt black, and a carbon-look finish, topped off with striking fluoro yellow accents.

This lid is super-snug but it’s comfy – after the initial break-in period (about a week of regular use, for me), I’d say it’s now a perfect fit; it feels securely in place even at stupid speeds.

And that brings me to what I love the most about this lid – it’s just so damn stable, with as little buffeting as I reckon I’ve ever experienced in a lid.

I put the lid’s aerodynamics to the test at the recent national media launches of the new Suzuki Hayabusa and Yamaha MT-09, which were held at Phillip Island and 70 North (a private track near Gosford, NSW) respectively.

Even at the end of Gardner Straight, at an indicated 270km/h (give or take – my eyes weren’t exactly glued to the speedo!), this lid was rock solid, the blast whipping over and around it with barely any shimmy or shake.

And it stayed right where I wanted it to – none of that having the chin piece squashed up against your mouth, as you can experience with helmets that just don’t fit quite right.

For me, that’s the clear benefit this GP550 S has over the ST701, which itself was no slouch in the aerodynamics department. That rear spoiler obviously plays a big role in this respect.

A downside here is perhaps that this spoiler, a plastic component, may be prone to damage if you drop the lid (not that you ever want to drop a lid any time!).

No such qualms with the retention system, however, which comprises a good ol' Double-D buckle and strap.

But the build quality here is right on point. For a flagship helmet that costs a smidge under $700, I reckon it represents good bang for your bucks, and it compares well to other high-end and often dearer lids.

I haven’t yet assessed its ventilation in hot weather, though I have had to stop to close the vents on a cold day so I have no reason to think the system isn’t effective. The plastic tabs to open and shut the various vents work well and can be easily operated when wearing gloves.

And I haven’t yet had to wash the liner, but it is easily removable and said to be hypoallergenic (not that I’ve ever come across anyone who said they were allergic to their helmet liner, now that I think about it!).

So, three months in, I’m thoroughly happy with this Airoh GP550 S. Airoh may not be the first name that springs to mind when you’re thinking helmets, but this brand is well represented across enduro, motocross, trial, rally raid and road racing championships and its products speak for themselves. Next time you’re shopping around for a quality helmet, check ’em out for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.

RRP: $699.95
Sizes: XS to XL
Colours and graphics: Various (Venom Matt White shown)
Distributor: Moto National
Stockists: Call Moto National Accessories on 1300 885 355 or visit www.motonational.com.au