SHARK’s revolutionary Skwal i3 lets you be seen. Right here’s how…
Shark Helmets has constructed up a strong status over its 30-odd years within the sport. The French agency began out small, and over time has established itself as one of many greatest names within the sport, regularly pushing the boundaries, nipping, tucking, growing, and innovating to create an in depth vary of lids that riders wish to put on.
One in all its newest innovations is the Skwal i3, a significantly intelligent little bit of equipment which blends a correctly protecting ECE 22.06 helmet with some futuristic patented expertise to assist make you extra seen out on the open street.
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THE TECH
The built-in lively LED brake gentle on the rear and white LEDs up entrance are a natty answer to the age-old downside bikers face… Not being seen. It’s cleverly carried out, too, with no wires or Bluetooth, as a substitute counting on a built-in triaxial accelerometer to activate the brake gentle everytime you decelerate. To assist make it clear what you’re as much as, the brakes will flash thrice per second beneath regular braking and 5 instances per second beneath laborious braking.
MODES
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You may select the way you need it work, too, with three totally different modes to select from. You may have the white LEDs on on the entrance and the pink LEDs on the again continually on, with the good brake lights flashing while you apply the anchors. You may also set it up so the white LEDs on the entrance and pink LEDs on the rear flash, with the good brake lights flashing while you’re braking. Or you possibly can decide to have the white LEDs on the entrance and pink LEDs on the again turned off, with solely the good brake lights flashing while you hit the brakes.
CHARGING
It’s not a very hungry beast, so if you happen to’re used to sticking your comms unit on cost you then’ll haven’t any bother with the Skwal i3. Whack the USB-C cable into the mains and also you’ll solely want to attend for 3 hours to have 12 hours’ battery life forward of you. That’s loads for even the longest day within the saddle. There’s additionally a ‘Sleep’ mode which kicks in mechanically after a few minutes of no motion and helps to protect the battery. After that, it’ll flip itself utterly off after 24 hours, too.
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CONSTRUCTION
It’s constituted of a Lexan-injected Polycarbonate shell – and most significantly, it exceeds the most recent ECE 22.06 necessities for brand spanking new helmets. Meaning it’s properly as much as the job of protecting your noggin secure, ought to the worst occur, and you find yourself buying and selling blows with the Tarmac.
VISION
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It’s kitted out with one other of SHARK’s patented improvements. A brilliant-quick and straightforward no-tool visor elimination system means that you can whip out the Class 1 anti-scratch visor (with Pinlock 70) in a flash. There are additionally some Pinlock pressure adjustment pins; a correct visor locking system; and an built-in anti-scratch and anti-fog solar visor.
COMFORT
SHARK is famend for creating snug helmets, however to take issues even additional and ensure yours matches excellent, it’s been laborious at work on a 3D head scanning marketing campaign. The result’s ‘BEST FIT’ by SHARK, which it reckons provides ‘a novel second pores and skin really feel’ because of its textile interior and multi-density EPS padding. Sounds good to us. There’s additionally area in there for some 40mm audio system, and as with all SHARK lids, it’s appropriate for glasses wearers, too, with area on your spectacle arms in simply the best spot.
FANCY ONE?
Beginning at £239.99 for the bottom mannequin, there’s a whopping 13 color schemes to select from. There’s loads of sizing alternative, too, with availability from XS proper by to XXL. If you wish to know much more, go to: www.shark-helmets.com
FIVE MINUTES WITH…
R&D Supervisor, SHARK Helmets, Christophe Fontana
Why did you determine so as to add a brake gentle to the Skwal?
“The unique Skwal was launched in 2015 and boasted a world first in boosting rider visibility with the inclusion of built-in LEDs within the helmet. By no means content material with the established order, we determined to take lively rider security one step additional with the ‘clever visibility’ of the Skwal i3.”
How lengthy did it take to develop?“We began from scratch for this undertaking. Primarily based on safety and high-end functionalities we left room for improvements all through the 30 months of growth.”How does it work?
“Identical as on a smartphone, the sensor embedded within the helmet detects each deceleration. So, when the rider is braking, the software program understands the bike’s behaviour and the rear brake gentle flashes to warn and enhance the visibility.”
