Helmets Shoei Air III/ Sena SL3

[BamaRider]

I can't say enough about this helmet. Yes, I'm biased, owning four Shoei lids. The GT Air, GT Air I, GT Air II, GT Air III, and 1 Arai. All are still in service and on my rack.

The Air III is expensive, and mine was purchased with the Sena, so add that. These units were designed for each other, with the Sena fitting perfectly.

All my helmets are outstanding, but the new Shoei is the quietest and most aerodynamic unit I've ever used, in addition to being a nice-looking lid. Fit and finish are 100%. All high-end helmets provide ample protection; what separates them is how they do it. The Air III fits typical Shoei, which means they are tight and clean; I've never had a hotspot with a Shoei. The reason this helmet is so quiet is due to the plush ear pads and other interior materials, and its slickness in the wind. Don't underestimate the value of a wind tunnel in the design phase.

I'm not much on modular helmets because they are heavy and noisy. The vents on the Air III work okay, but 90% of the time I ride with the main shield up, as the NT has nice wind control, allowing me to do that without much fuss. The sunshade is also nice.

The Sena is great, but it takes an alien to learn it. It comes with Harmon speakers, which, when combined with ultra-quiet Shoei, will blast your eardrums at 70% full volume. I can hear music, news, and voices, OK at 40%. Several factors come into play with sound systems. First, how well does your bike handle wind noise? Next is your helmet. How good is it? Lastly, are the speakers from Chinese brands, or are they of high quality, such as Sony, Bose, or Harmon?

I'm currently adding a GoPro to capture rides, in case I need footage for defense in court.⠀The Sena has a built-in port to connect to the GoPro, allowing me to record voice narration without any wires, and it works well.

I have pics, but the software said no dice, file is too big, and I don't know how to reduce it.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

I have pics, but the software said no dice, file is too big, and I don't know how to reduce it.

That seems strange. It was my understanding that this new forum software automatically reduced the file size of a photo as it was being uploaded and that this was no longer an issue.

Hopefully Mellow weighs in to sort you out because I am at the point where I am beginning to think that it might be time that I start looking in to what is available in new helmets. I always have a look at whatever anyone on here posts about a helmets so I would be interested in the photos and whatever else you think about your helmet.

 

[STRider]

Hey Guy, Glad you like your Air III and SRL3.

I'm enjoying mine with my Neotec3 as well. I really like the fully integrated design and the audio quality is exceptional, both in communication and music.

Things I dislike are the small buttons for control compared to the large jog dial on my 10S and that the battery is fixed in the helmet and can't be easily detached to bring in the house to charge. Otherwise, I think it's at least equal or superior to the 10S in every way.

But what's this built-in port for the GoPro you mention? I'm not aware of any hardware port, and only see mention of doing this with a Bluetooth connection. Am I missing a feature I didn't know it had?

 

[SMSW]

I have pics, but the software said no dice, file is too big, and I don't know how to reduce it.

I use iMazing Converter, a free app to convert files from .heic to .jpg and to reduce the size of the photo file. It works on Macs and PCs. Drag and drop the photo/screenshot to the app and it does the rest.

 

[BamaRider]

Hey Guy, Glad you like your Air III and SRL3.

I'm enjoying mine with my Neotec3 as well. I really like the fully integrated design and the audio quality is exceptional, both in communication and music.

Things I dislike are the small buttons for control compared to the large jog dial on my 10S and that the battery is fixed in the helmet and can't be easily detached to bring in the house to charge. Otherwise, I think it's at least equal or superior to the 10S in every way.

But what's this built-in port for the GoPro you mention? I'm not aware of any hardware port, and only see mention of doing this with a Bluetooth connection. Am I missing a feature I didn't know it had?

Yes, the buttons are impossible to use on the Sena with gloves on. My workaround has been my Garmin XT 2; it plays media if I can keep it connected. I haven't solved the problem, but I feel like I'm getting close.

Access the configuration menu on the SENA. Tap until you hear "GoPro," then access the Bluetooth on the GoPro and find the "Pair Device" option. It will then connect. I have a Hero 13. Now you have voice narration, nothing extra on the helmet.

 

[STRider]

Ah, Bluetooth, okay.

You wrote 'port', I think physical socket. I've got a Hero8 Black and a Hero5 Session. I'll check, but I don't think either support this BT connection, as the GoPro site seems to emphasize Hero13 Black in the instructions.

 

[STRider]

From the latest SRL3 User Manual:


Well, lucky me!

I didn't recall any mention of GoPro support in my manual (UsersGuide_SRL3_1.0.0_en_230512) , but then I downloaded the latest (UserGuide_SRL3_1.2.2_en_250319) and I found that.

I'll have to give it a try!!

 

[BamaRider]

From the latest SRL3 User Manual:


Well, lucky me!

I didn't recall any mention of GoPro support in my manual (UsersGuide_SRL3_1.0.0_en_230512) , but then I downloaded the latest (UserGuide_SRL3_1.2.2_en_250319) and I found that.

I'll have to give it a try!!

I'm still having trouble keeping my SL3 connected and have exhausted all avenues of configuration. My unit was one of the first on the market, and I believe the problem is the sena. The firmware update was of no help. I bought the helmet and a Sena from a local dealer and intend to ask for a replacement Sena.

The problem is not the phone, it has no trouble connecting with the Air II and the attached Sena II.

 

[STRider]

I'm still having trouble keeping my SL3 connected and have exhausted all avenues of configuration. My unit was one of the first on the market, and I believe the problem is the sena. The firmware update was of no help. I bought the helmet and a Sena from a local dealer and intend to ask for a replacement Sena.

The problem is not the phone, it has no trouble connecting with the Air II and the attached Sena II.

Is the connection problem you refer to with a GoPro to Sena SRL3?

Or between your phone and the SRL3?

Your message isn't clear to me on that point.

My Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra pairs well with my SRL3. The only oddity is when I first connect to a playing audiobook using Smart Audiobook Player, it will continue playing for about 5-10 sec, then pause momentarily and then resume playing a few seconds later. This only happens with this app and only upon initial connection.

Otherwise it's been rock solid for playing music and audiobooks, phone calls and rider-to rider intercom.

For me, the part that remains annoying is when I fold my Garmin zumo XT in the mix. It wants to be the central scrutinizer of all traffic with the Sena and at least for my requirements, fails miserably. When my kid and I go for rides, all I hear is about how my use of the zumo messes with our intercom experience. They'll hear dead air or similar when the zumo is feeding me voice directions and I have no override control and hear about it from my kid when we reconnect after the zumo's done.

But even when I'm alone and use the zumo, I don't particularly care for how it performs as the ring leader and use it purely for visual navigation, like the old days.