Review: Alpinestars Supertech R10
The all-new Alpinestars Supertech R10 (S-R10) helmet is the result of over a decade of research and development. The manufacturer has addressed numerous issues of helmet design, such as noise, comfort, protection, weight, fit, venting, face-shield mechanical function, and so on.
The results I witnessed from wearing the Supertech R10 verifies the success of this project. Alpinestars created the S-R10 with help from MotoGP race winner Andrea Dovizioso and current MotoGP racers Jorge Martin and Jack Miller—the last of whom has a fortuitous hearty history of helmet testing.
Design Features
The S-R10 is easily the quietest helmet I have ever worn. Unlike many riders, I do not wear ear plugs, preferring an unfiltered connection to what’s happening around me. Wind noise has thus always been a major issue for me.
The S-R10 addresses this problem with its aerodynamics. Among other things, the helmet features a row of air diffusers across the top edge of the face shield and directional winglets on each side of the helmet to reduce drag. This solution also reduces resistance that can cause neck fatigue and instability in buffeting winds.
The extended rear spoiler isn’t there just to look sexy. It is available in two different sizes—a shorter version for street riding and a longer one for the serious speeds of road racing.
Both spoiler versions are designed to pop off on impact to ensure uncompromised protection.
Another exterior improvement is the eye port, which is larger than on many helmets for improved peripheral vision. The face shield has a metal positive locking mechanism that snaps into position when the shield is closed.
The shield opens by pushing up on the centered release tab to unlock it, revealing the full lower edge for lifting it up. An additional benefit of the shield is that its lowest position provides substantial airflow that’s well below your eyes.
Comfort and Sizing
The helmet is very comfortable due to thoughtfully sculpted interior pads. NASA should consider the S-R10 to help astronauts sleep without strapping pillows to their heads. The S-R10 is basically a multi-directional cushion softly encasing the user’s head in every direction.
Ventilation includes closable chin and forehead vents, plus a ram air vent front and center on the chin bar. A slight downside of the chin vent is that it needs to be removed to open the duct, so you could misplace and lose it.
The S-R10 weighs 3.6 pounds. Its carbon-fiber outer layer helps keep the weight down, while also providing significant protection in concert with multiple layers of a UD carbon composite, a mix of glass and nylon fiber, and a fourth inner layer of aramid fiber.
The sizing is exceptional, but I verified it using only my own head. Here’s a hint—if you think a helmet is too small but you don’t develop a headache after wearing it for 45 minutes, the fit is perfect.
I tend to wear an XL size because I have a fat head by every measure, and the XL S-R10 fits me perfectly. Some helmets are shaped for round heads, but the S-R10 is more oval-ish, which should be best for most riders. This ensures there is no hot spot on your forehead.
Despite all these smart features, the detail I most appreciated is the S-R10’s masterful “A-Head” height and angle adjustability. The helmet rests on your head with a suspended inner pad that can be raised, lowered, or set at an angle if you prefer the helmet to rest with the front higher.
After an initial ride in the neutral position, I raised the front to fit higher on my brow. This feature alone sets the S-R10 apart from all other helmets.
The Supertech R10 helmet comes in a padded protective bag and includes an optional chin bar, alongside clear and tinted shields. The Supertech R10 Solid Helmet is available in white or black with an MSRP of $999.95. multi-colored versions have an MSRP of $1,199.95.