Shark’s entry-level thermoplastic full face helmet – the Shark S600

The S600 is Shark’s current entry-level helmet. But even though it can be had for under $200, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise. As we show in our cheapest crash helmets section, there’s plenty of choice and great performing helmets to be had for well under $200.

The S600 might look a bit plain in comparison to some of the latest top end releases, but with a quick release shield, removable lining – and a Pinlock anti-fog insert in the box – as well as very good SHARP safety rating, the Shark S600 is shaping up to be a real contender – and not just against other entry-level helmets.

Note: the Shark S600 has been discontinued and rarely in stock these days. You might want to try the Shark Ridill instead (or take a look at our Top 10 full face helmets).

• Shark’s entry-level full face
• Thermoplastic shell
• Not Snell tested
• SHARP 4 Star rated for safety
• Pinlock anti-fog insert included
• Sizes XS-XXL
• 5 year Shark warranty
• Expect to pay $150-$200

Safety

Even though the S600 is the cheapest of Shark’s current range, it’s received four stars in the SHARP safety test which is a fantastic performance and only one star off the maximum five stars. It’s also been ECE 22/05 tested/approved so you can be confident the S600 will offer a good level of accident protection, should the worst happen.

Other features that contribute to overall safety levels are the fact that it comes with a Pinlock-ready shield (Pinlocks are great for reducing fogging and mean you shouldn’t be scrabbling around to see when things get misty) and it has the well-regarded micrometric locking mechanism to keep the strap locked closed.

Shark are our current joint second best rated crash helmet brand for safety and the S600 continues their trend for producing well made and safe helmets.

All in all, we reckon the Shark S600 is almost as safe as they come (though check our SHARP 5 star helmet section for the absolute safest helmets on sale).

Helmet Noise

Of the feedback that’s available, owners say the Shark S600 is very quiet. That’s possibly down to a few factors.

Firstly, the S600 has limited inlet and exhaust vents cut into the shell. If you have lots of vents (and some helmets have six or more) then they can let quite a bit of noise into a helmet, along with the fresh air. Because the S600 only has a couple of vents and therefore holes cut into the shell, it could mean less noise can get in.

Secondly, the bottom of the liner is quite a snug fit. That could keep out a fair bit of noise from coming into the helmet from below.

Finally, many of the owners of the S600 are new to motorcycling and this is typically one of their first helmets. As we know, helmet noise is very subjective so if you don’t have many other helmets to compare it to, it could give a slightly false impression.

That said, most owners were adamant the S600 is quiet so we’ve reflected that in our ratings below.

Ventilation

The S600 has just two vents in the helmet – one chin and one forehead vent. Both are operated by a toggle switch that works a bit like a light switch; so to open, you press the switch one way, and the other to close. They’re simple to operate – even in gloves – and there’s no complaints from owners.

The forehead vent routes air through channels in the EPS polystyrene lining through to the scalp and the warm/stale air exits the helmet via the exhaust vent that’s around the rear collar area at the base of the helmet – so no rear vents cut into the helmet shell that you find in more expensive models.

However, according to some owners, it seems these two small vents can struggle to feed all the air needed into the helmet.

In cold weather, the shield steams up easily because the single chin vent can’t pull enough air into the front of the helmet. Of course, fit a Pinlock anti-fog insert and that problem will disappear. And in cold weather you’re probably more interested in reducing air flow around your scalp to keep your head warm rather than getting ventilation into the helmet.

But, as we say, if you ride in colder weather, then get a Pinlock fitted and you should be fine.

However, the lack of ventilation can be a bit of an issue in hotter areas when plenty of cool air flowing around the helmet is more useful.

Shield

The Shark S600’s shield works well. It ticks all the important boxes and though there’s nothing massively fancy about it, it has some of the most important features – namely it’s quick release, reasonably optically correct and comes Pinlock-ready. Job done.

The ratchet on the shield is nice and firm and allows you to open it just a crack – something many of us like to do when we’re bimbling through town at low speeds. The shield itself has an opening tab front and left – which is probably the best place for it.

It has one of the best quick-release shield removal mechanisms around – press in a button on each side and the shield slides off (check the video to see it in action).

To find other helmets with quick-release shields, check our quick change shield section, (to see helmets with a range of important features, use our feature tags found above on the right sidebar).

Comfort

There’s no problems reported with the comfort of the S600. Like other Sharks, it features a sweat-wicking, fully removable and washable lining which owners say is very comfortable. As always, that’s dependent on getting the right fitting in the first place.

Looks & Graphics

Looks are pretty subjective but the S600 certainly doesn’t disgrace itself. It’s a reasonably basic, uncluttered design that’s available in the usual solid black & white, gloss and matt versions and Shark regularly update the range with other designs.

At the time of writing, the S600 is available in the Swag, Prime, Exit, Volt and Play graphics and you’ll find many of those dotted around this page. For the latest designs, you could visit the Shark website or visit our recommended retailers who’ll usually have a range that includes both recent and older graphics, often at reduced prices.

Video

A 5 minute look around the Shark S600 from this dude at Bikenation.

Other stuff – weight, fastener, build quality

The S600 weighs in at about 3.2lbs (1.45Kg) for the medium size which is about average for a full face helmet.

It has a micrometric (ratchet) fastener which are really easy to use and incredibly quick to release.

Build quality is reported to be very good.

Crash Helmet Buying Guides

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various guides - or have a look at our top helmet lists where we've got the top 10 rated helmets overall and best budget/safest/full face/flip-up/sportsbike/track helmets.

Alternatives to the Shark S600

Even though the S600 represents great value for money, there’s tons of competition at this price point. Take a look at the 4 star rated Scorpion Exo R410 which features Scorpion’s innovative air pump system as well as an optically-correct shield. For a little more money, you could get an AGV K3 SV too – that’s another SHARP 4 star rated helmet with a drop down sun shield and great ventilation. Both are worthy alternatives to the S600.

Definitely want a Shark?

Here you'll find all our Shark crash helmet reviews and previews including full face, flip-up and open face helmets.

Overall/Summary

The Shark S600 is a great helmet. Sure, it’s a bit basic and low on features, but for the price, you get a great performing helmet that does all the basics well and introduces you to Shark crash helmet ownership at a price that won’t break the bank.

It’ll probably appeal more to folks that are new to motorcycling – mainly because of that low price point – but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the rest of us checking out the S600 too because it’s a great helmet period.

Star Ratings