Fans of the Schuberth C3 were understandably excited when the company announced the arrival of the next generation, the Schuberth C4. While the older model was high-quality in its own right, the newest version takes every component to the next level.
Whether you’re a tourer or a sportbike enthusiast, you will love and appreciate the care and attention to detail that went into the Schuberth C4. Everything from the safety of the mold to the visibility of the flip-up visor is crafted to perfection, making this one of the best helmets on the market.
Adding practicality to its design, the Schuberth C4 also comes with some high-tech features. Schuberth paired with Bluetooth maker Sena to incorporate hands-free calling and listening from inside the helmet. Now, you can finally bring your motorcycle gear into the 21st century.
While we could continue to gush about the Schuberth C4 and its impeccable build, let’s dive deeper into the components of this world-class helmet.
Ratings
Comfort:
Visibility:
Ventilation:
Quietness:
Specifications
Outer shell material : Fiberglass
Shell size : XS - XXXL
Liner : ShinyTex Fast-Drying and Antibacterial
Weight : 3.6 Pounds
Pinlock : Inc
Strap System : Micrometric Fastener
Safety Ratings
DOT : Yes
ECE : Yes
SNELL : No
SHARP : 3 Star Rating
Shape and materials
When picking out your Schuberth C4 Helmet, you’ll notice that it comes in both a basic and a pro version. Both options are similar, but as you can imagine, you get a few upgrades by going for the Schuberth C4 Pro helmet.
First, the comfort level is enhanced, thanks to a softer interior and a more plush neck roll. You also get bigger pockets for the speakers, which helps you hear better while on the road.
If you’re willing to spend an extra $100 or so on the Schuberth C4 Pro helmet, it should be worth the added expense. There is also a carbon-fiber version if you want to cut down on the overall weight without sacrificing structural integrity.
Part of the reason why the Schuberth C4 is so highly regarded is because of its construction process. Schuberth has developed a proprietary molding system called Direct Fiber Processing (DFP). During this procedure, a spool of glass fiber is cut into different pieces by a robot, then blown into the mold. Resin is added, and then the whole thing is compressed at high heat. The result is an excellent-fitting and highly safe helmet.
Another reason why riders of all kinds like the C4 (and Schuberth in general) is that the shape of the helmet is relatively generous. Whether your head is round or narrow, you shouldn’t have any problems fitting into the Schuberth C4. Also, it comes in a variety of sizes from extra-small to XXL, so there is no excuse for not finding the right size.
We’ll get into more details below, but rounding out the rest of the construction on this modular helmet is a ShinyTex liner and a full-view flip-up visor. The liner is awesome because it’s both antibacterial and moisture-wicking. It’s also excellent for sensitive skin, so keep that in mind if you tend to rub against most other helmets.
The visor on the Schuberth C4 is incredible, offering a full degree of visibility while you’re on the road. The whole thing is anti-fog, so you get a clear vision regardless of the weather outside.
Things I liked
Things I don’t like
Overall comfort
Riding with the Schuberth C4 is a highly comfortable experience. There are a few specific features that ensure you feel great when you’re on the road, whether you’re taking a leisurely drive or touring.
First, the neck roll is soft and plush, creating a tight seal that cushions your head. As we mentioned above, the ShinyTex liner is also gentle on your skin, ensuring that you don’t get any rashes or other skin conditions while riding. The liner is also removable and washable, so keeping it clean and fresh is highly convenient.
Once you find the right size for your head, you will appreciate the way that the Schuberth C4 feels. Whether it’s your first ride or your hundredth, the comfort will always be top-notch.
Visibility
Because this modular helmet is made for touring, it comes with a high-class visor. The viewing capacity for the Schuberth C4 is fantastic, with a wider screen to allow for better peripheral vision. You don’t have to worry as much about blind spots with this helmet, making it ideal for all kinds of riders.
The Schuberth C4 also comes with a sun visor so that you don’t get blinded by road glare. There is a slider mechanism on the bottom left of the helmet to control this piece.
Also, since this is a flip-up model, you can lift the visor easily, either while riding or when stationary. There are opening tabs on the bottom of the visor on both sides for added convenience.
Quietness
Having a quiet ride experience is another area where the Schuberth C4 excels. However, to get the full benefit of this helmet, you need to upgrade to the Schuberth C4 Pro version. That being said, the Basic C4 is still decent at noise prevention in its own right.
Part of the reason why a quiet ride is so vital to Schuberth is because of the integrated Bluetooth technology. There’s really no point in adding speakers and a mic if you can’t hear what anyone is saying while you’re on the road.
To put the quietness into numbers, the Basic model rides with an average of 85 decibels inside. This is much better than most other helmets, further making the C4 a high-quality purchase.
Ventilation
Unlike other models, the Schuberth C4 only has two vents - one in the chin and one on the top of the head. Both of these vents are adjustable, allowing you to maximize or minimize airflow as you see fit.
For the upper vent, a slider controls the three positions you can keep it in. For the chin vent, it works by pressing, not by sliding. For some riders, this mechanism is much more convenient, since you don’t have to worry about pushing the vent in the wrong direction while riding.
Best of all, you can open both vents to the maximum setting without getting drowned out in road noise. Obviously, the helmet won’t be as quiet as it would with less ventilation, but it’s not overwhelming. Feel free to listen to tunes while getting maximum airflow.
Safety
Although elements like Bluetooth integration and a wider visor are nice, they shouldn’t be at the expense of a helmet’s safety. Fortunately, Schuberth maintained high-quality manufacturing standards for the C4, making it both versatile and rugged in the process.
One of the best ways to measure the safety of a new helmet is to see what the experts are saying. Thankfully, SHARP was able to test the C4, giving it a rating of three stars out of five. While this isn’t the best result possible, most helmets rarely crack the three-start mark, so it’s not exactly surprising.
One component that the C4 excels at is the chin strap. With other helmets, the strap can come loose in an impact, which can cause the helmet to fly off in a collision. As you can imagine, that is a less-than-ideal scenario.
With the C4, however, the chin strap stayed fastened in every crash test. Other Schuberth helmets have a 98% safety rating for this strap, but the C4 has 100%. Thus, you can feel extra confident that your helmet will stay on when it’s supposed to.
Another reason why the Schuberth C4 is safe is because of the direct fiber processing we mentioned above. According to the company, this construction process ensures better impact absorption. Inside, the EPS foam liner is segmented, enabling each piece to work independently, shifting the impact across the whole helmet more efficiently.
One potential issue with the C4 is that it’s a relatively compact design, which means that there is less material to protect your head. However, it seems that the pieces that are there are better than average, so you shouldn’t have a reason to worry.
Conclusion
The Schuberth C4 is a testament to precision German engineering. It feels like each component of this helmet was expertly crafted to work as well as possible, making this model seem superior in virtually every way.
We really like the Bluetooth integration, as it adds a modern touch without sacrificing safety or practicality. Also, because the speakers were built into the helmet, the manufacturers made sure that this is one of the quieter models on the market, which only adds to the value.
Finally, we appreciate that you don’t have to upgrade to the Schuberth C4 Pro helmet to get the best features and benefits. While you do get some awesome extras, the Basic helmet is more than sufficient for your riding needs.
Overall, the Schuberth C4 is one of the best helmets we’ve seen.
Where to buy this helmet :