Schuberth Concept flip-up helmet in an intensive touring test

Before setting off on our twelve-day tour test through Scotland, Ralf from Feelgoodreisen, who planned the route, warned us: changeable weather, long stages and genuinely challenging situations awaited us in the far north. On a roughly 2,000-kilometre round trip starting from Edinburgh, focused on the NC500 with selected detours, the journey was beautiful but also intense. The new Schuberth Concept was worn both by my female riding partner in size S and matte black, and by me in size L and Tracer Red, alternating between an adventure bike, the Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro, and a crossover machine, the Triumph Tiger Sport 800. The weather offered the full spectrum of Nordic conditions – from drizzle to dense fog to sunny stretches with double-digit wind gusts. Daily rainfall, mostly wet roads, temperatures between 8 and 18 degrees, and many hours in the saddle provided ideal conditions to put the new helmet, complete with the mounted Cardo Packtalk Pro communication system, through its paces.

The helmets were worn daily for several hours over daily stages of between 180 and 250 km, and were specifically tested for touring suitability. The focus was not only on comfort and protection, but above all on the everyday efficiency of the installed features under real conditions.

The Concept – available exclusively at Louis – positions itself below Schuberth's premium helmets, but adopts key construction principles, such as the aerodynamically optimised design or the special shell with ECE-R 22.06 certification. Despite its modular character, the helmet remains acoustically restrained. The noise insulation isn't quite on the level of a C5, but it's absolutely sufficient for touring use. Even at brisk motorway speeds or in crosswinds, the noise level remains moderate – a clear advantage on long stages. The fit is typically Schuberth: neutral, rather narrow in the cheek area, but without uncomfortable pressure points. The inner padding feels firm at first, but adapts pleasantly to the head after a short break-in period. Even after days of use, no pressure marks remained, which speaks to the quality and ergonomics of the interior. The chin strap with ratchet closure can be adjusted precisely and remains reliably and comfortably in position even with frequent putting on and taking off. Both the rather elongated head shape of the female tester with helmet size S and the rather round head shape of the tester with helmet size L got along well with the helmet's cut. People with a more extreme head shape need to go for the C5; the optional individual-fit head pads are reserved for the premium class and are not available for the Concept.

The ventilation of the Schuberth Concept works reliably, though the operation requires some getting used to, at least for the forehead vent: unlike many other helmets, the "open" position of the control points forward, while "closed" points backward – anyone who has previously ridden other models (such as the C5) will need to adjust briefly. When set correctly, the upper ventilation provides a noticeable flow of air to the forehead and top of the head without creating unpleasant draughts. The chin ventilation is somewhat more subdued by comparison and, in the wind shadow of taller windshields – as with both Tiger models – its effect is often limited.

Under real conditions with rain and daytime highs of 10–15°C, the ventilation proved adequate but not outstanding. No reliable conclusion can be drawn from the Scotland test regarding summer temperatures. The P70 Pinlock system reliably compensates for possible weaknesses in air circulation by providing fog-free vision.

The large field of view of the Concept stood out positively in the test – especially given the changing light conditions in Scotland with fog, rain and low-lying sun. The standard Pinlock 70 visor proved to be an effective anti-fog system that reliably ensured clear vision even in damp weather or while stationary with the helmet on. The integrated sun visor can be operated quickly via a slider at the bottom edge of the helmet and covers a large part of the field of view. It never appears too dark or hazy and remained scratch-free even after twelve days of intensive use. A detail that is often overlooked in everyday use but proves its worth on long tours.

The UA certification of the Concept (as the first helmet in the world) is a practical addition for anyone wishing to retrofit a communication system. It ensures that the structural integrity of the helmet is maintained even with accessories mounted – such as the Cardo Packtalk Pro. A special feature that builds trust and eliminates the usual uncertainty associated with retrofit solutions.

Integrating the Cardo Packtalk Pro into the Schuberth Concept requires a bit of finesse. The supplied clamp is only partially suitable for the helmet, since the shell is compact around the lower edge, but the rubber trim attached there prevents the clamp from being pushed all the way into the helmet. The adhesive mount proved to be the more practical and, above all, more durable solution in the test. Inside, the speaker and microphone can be positioned well – the designated recesses fit precisely, and there is enough room for cables without causing pressure points.

In operation, the system is thoroughly convincing: voice quality, range, operation and battery behaviour leave hardly anything to be desired. The new position sensor with crash detection thankfully stayed unobtrusive in the background, while the automatic shutdown during longer breaks saves energy. When you put the helmet back on, the system activates immediately and re-establishes connections to your smartphone or fellow riders. Particularly pleasing was the stable connection in rain, wind and varying speeds – no crackling, no dropouts, no connection losses over medium distances; only narrow valleys or rock faces caused brief connection interruptions when distances got too great.

Listening to music, navigation and intercom ran in parallel without interfering with each other. The sound is clear, and the microphone can be positioned easily even with a wind deflector fitted – however, when closing the helmet, care should be taken that the gooseneck microphone doesn't shift, as this can impair speech intelligibility. This is because the microphones used are highly directional. If the arrow marked on the microphone head doesn't point towards the mouth, the otherwise impressively effective noise cancelling won't work.

The Schuberth Concept presents itself, under the harsh demands of daily touring, as a comfortable, practically designed touring helmet with a high-quality feel. The fit convinces with long-distance-suitable ergonomics, the field of view is large and the sun visor is integrated in a way that suits everyday use. In terms of noise insulation and wearing comfort, the helmet remains pleasantly unobtrusive over long stages – a real plus point, especially in changing conditions. Hot days will likely make the wearer of the Schuberth Concept sweat. The ventilation system basically works reliably but requires some getting used to in operation, and shows weaknesses in chin ventilation under certain aerodynamic conditions, such as behind a tall windshield. Overall, the Concept ranks only in the middle of the pack when it comes to ventilation.

Together, the duo of Schuberth Concept and Cardo Packtalk Pro proves to be a mature, everyday-suitable combination for high-mileage riders and touring fans. Integrating the communication system succeeds with a bit of effort and is sensibly supported by the UA certification. Anyone looking for a functional touring helmet that doesn't push unnecessary bells and whistles on you, but still offers a modern, well-thought-out basis for long days on the road, will find what they're looking for in the Schuberth Concept – not uncompromisingly high-end, but consistently solid and clearly touring-oriented.

Is the Schuberth Concept comfortable to wear even on long daily stages? Yes – the interior padding is pleasantly firm and shaped to avoid pressure points. Even after several hours in the saddle, no unpleasant pressure marks occurred during testing. The helmet hugs the head snugly without pinching – a sign of well-executed ergonomics.

How well does the noise insulation of the Schuberth Concept perform at motorway speed or in windy conditions? The aeroacoustics are noticeably optimised. At moderate speeds, the noise level remains pleasantly low, especially on touring bikes with a windshield. With the visor open or in strong crosswinds, the noise naturally increases – but never to a bothersome degree. Compared to other flip-up helmets, it's a pleasantly quiet performer.

Can the sun visor of the Schuberth Concept replace a tinted main visor? Not completely – but it serves its purpose well. The mechanism is smooth and can be operated even with gloves on. The tint is pleasantly neutral and sufficient for typical light conditions on tour. In low sun, however, additional sunglasses may be useful.

How well does the Schuberth Concept work with communication systems like the Cardo Packtalk Pro? Very well – thanks to UA certification, the helmet is explicitly approved for retrofitting communication systems. The internal channels and recesses accommodate the speaker and wiring without any issues, without anything pressing or shifting. Only with the microphone should you exercise a bit of care when closing the helmet.

Can the Schuberth Concept legally be ridden in jet mode? Yes – thanks to P/J homologation, the Concept is approved both as a full-face and as a jet helmet. This means the chin section can be ridden open on the road without losing approval – making it particularly flexible for urban riding or stop-and-go situations.