I've been using the Shark Spartan GT Pro helmet for nearly two years and it's become my go-to full facer. It blends comfort with performance, makes it easy to fit an intercom and has impressed me a lot. Here's how I rate it in the key areas…
Fit & comfort
It's one of the comfiest helmets I have put on my head, with a liner that's nice and soft against my skin. It also fills the space around my cheeks and forehead nicely without any high-pressure areas.
The seal around the base of the helmet is great. An extra section of padding that runs around the bottom acts like a chin curtain that extends all the way round. When I look at the helmet before putting it on, it looks like my head won’t fit in the hole – though it does fit, obviously.
The only thing that disrupts this seal is when using the smaller chin curtain that's designed for use in summer. This allows air in around the mouth and it gets quite breezy even with the chin vent closed.
The Shark Spartan GT Pro also comes with a winter chin curtain that attaches over the summer curtain with velcro. I find this seals air out completely around the chin on colder days, and makes sure I don't suffer a runny nose.
With the winter chin curtain fitted, there are no gaps around the bottom for air to get in, and this adds to the all-encompassing feel this lid gives me.
Even with enough padding and cushioning to furnish a Dunelm store, this feels like a very light helmet. It is well balanced and the aerodynamics seem to help with this – I have never had neckache after wearing this lid.
Noise & aerodynamics
An added bonus from the tight seal and overall design is that on my bike, a Honda CB750 Hornet with the small accessory screen fitted, the Spartan GT Pro is a quiet helmet. Air that hits the helmet over my screen seems to disperse around it smoothly.
I have noticed a slight whistle at certain speeds, but it doesn't happen on every ride and I've not experienced it recently, so I can’t say what causes that. When it did occur I found that cracking my visor open a little stopped it.
I have found that fitting an intercom adds noise, as it does with most helmets.
Vision & visor system
One of the big things that has impressed me with this helmet is the vision I get from it. The eyeport feels big and gives me a lot of peripheral vision.
The visor mechanism itself grips the visor tightly, which I like. It means I can crack the visor open by a small amount and get a bit of airflow without the wind pushing the visor shut.
Looking at the helmet from the side, there are a lot of notches to seat the visor at different levels, however I don’t really feel those notches when lifting or lowering the visor. I can adjust it to precisely where I want, and it sits there comfortably.
As well as the normal visor, the Shark Spartan GT Pro has a sun visor. It has an anti-fog coating, which isn’t perfect but does keep the inner visor clear once I'm moving on cool mornings.
The coverage from the sun visor is so good that on a really bright sunny day, I have genuinely forgotten it is down. It covers most of the eyeport, leaving only a small band of light at the bottom.
One thing to note is that the sun visor switch, as with most Shark lids, is on top of the helmet. I find this awkward, particularly as the button itself is quite small. I have to reach up high and usually fumble around a bit before I find it. It is easier in the summer in gloves that give more dexterity, but I struggle when wearing thick winter gloves.
When operating the sun visor switch I have often caught a button on my intercom with my shoulder and it can be annoying when I hear a random beep from the intercom and don’t know what I've done.
Ventilation
Venting is good. When I open the top vent I feel air spread across the top of my scalp. This is very effective and on a summer's day this feels great.
There's an exhaust vent at the back of the helmet, between the spoilers. I have never tried opening this or closing it when I am riding as it is tricky to locate. Most of the time I just ride with it open.
I'm not as happy with the chin vent. The air doesn’t gush in, and I only feel a light breeze flowing up the bridge of my nose. Sometimes, when I haven't worn this lid for a while, I forget which way the switch needs to be to have it open because the airflow feels quite light.
If I need more airflow around my face I take advantage of the snug visor mechanism and just crack that open a bit. The only trouble with that plan is when it rains and I would ideally have the visor shut and sealed. Then I go back to flicking the switch for the chin vent until I think it is making a difference.
Intercom compatibility
For intercom users, I have attached a Cardo Packtalk Bold and a Sena Spider ST1 to the side of this lid at different time periods. There is room for the speakers of both of these manufacturers without them putting pressure on my ears.
It is a bit of a fiddle to get them installed though – mostly because of the need to hide excess cables. The Shark padding clasps don’t make for a particularly fun time (she says after witnessing her other half wrestle with them).
The rim around the base of the helmet is slim and allows for intercom clamps rather than needing to use sticky pads to attach the unit.
Fastening & Safety
Like most sporty full-face lids, the strap fastens with D-rings, which helps me feel like my helmet is secure on my head every time I put it on.
As you'd expect with a reputable name like Shark, the Spartan GT Pro is approved to the latest 22.06 safety standard and it comes with an ACU Gold sticker for track riding.
Verdict
I hope I've covered the practical side. Finally, I really like the look and style of this lid. The spoilers look very cool and add to the aerodynamic shape at the back. I have had very few issues, and this is my favourite full-face helmet. It’s very comfortable, quiet and has great visibility. Worthy of any biker’s kit cupboard.
