Shoei J-Cruise 3 Helmet Review | Open face jet helmet with ECE 22.06 certification

Date reviewed: January 2025 | Tested by: Steve Lamb | Price: from £549.99 | www.shoeiassured.co.uk

Despite the obvious compromise in safety over a full-face helmet, I’m a big fan of Shoei’s J-Cruise line of helmets, having previously used the previous model, the J-Cruise II.

I like the increased field of vision and extra mobility afforded by the lack of chin bar and so was keen to try the latest ECE22.06 certified model – the Shoei J-Cruise 3.

I’ve been wearing this helmet for a few months now, riding my own Honda NC750X, in a variety of conditions to see if J-Cruise 3 offers more than just a fresh lick of paint and re-certification over the old model.

Outer Shell

The J-Cruise is available in a range of colours and finishes to suit most styles and bikes. If you prefer a simpler look to your helmet, plain black and white, matt black (as tested) and matt metallic blue (as the Neotec3 tested here) and Basalt Grey, are all available at £549.99 (RRP).

If you want something a bit racier, then the ‘Whizzy’ scheme is available in four variations for £50 more. That does make this a £600+ helmet, which may well be more than you are willing to pay for an open face helmet, but it is great to see the J-Cruise getting some great schemes found on full face helmets such as the Neotech 3.

As you would expect, both from Shoei, and from this price point, surface finish and detailing are excellent. While the matt black scheme shown here doesn’t reflect a deep surface finish that maybe a gloss finish might, it still exudes quality and has some nice details such as the matt finish extending onto the vents and the white forehead logo being in matt vinyl – all supplementing that stealthy matte finish.

A word of warning, though, for the pickier among us – the matte finish is terrible for showing up greasy fingerprints, so if this bothers you, maybe stick to a gloss finish.

As per the J-Cruise II, the J-Cruise 3 comes in three shell sizes (XS – M, L, and XL – XXL) meaning that you don’t end up with an oversized shell and lots of padding, or even worse, an under padded shell.

The shell itself if constructed using Shoei’s AIM (Advanced Integrated Matrix) construction – a mixture of a fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) outer shell, laminated with multi-directional fibres, both organic (plastic) and glass fibre. What this means in practice is that much like the weave in carbon fibre, or the right-angled plies in plywood, you get strength in all directions, the shell is more pliable, rather than brittle, and weight is kept low.

Weight

Shoei claim 1400g for the J-Cruise 3 – mine even came with a sticker on the helmet declaring such - but my helmet tested here (a size Large) weighed in at 1,465g, a mere 15g heavier than the J-Cruise II, I tested here and some 400g heavier than a more traditional open faced helmet such as the Shoei J.O, which came in at just 1000g (though the comparison with other open face helmets is skewed somewhat by the 'jet’ design giving additional coverage around the cheeks and jaw).

While a jet helmet will never be as protective as a full-face helmet, if you are looking for the added conveniences of an open face design, then the J-Cruise 3 could well be what you are looking for.

While there is no doubt that the J-Cruise 3 is heavier than the outgoing model (come on though, it’s only 15g!), it does go to show that Shoei have worked to meet the more stringent EC22.06 requirements by strategically adding materials only where needed, rather than a broad-brush approach of add it everywhere and make an uncomfortably heavy helmet.

In use, the J-Cruise 3’s weight is indiscernible from other helmets I’ve worn, and its sleek shape avoids catching any wind blast or turbulence that can make helmets feel heavy, especially when turning your head or doing shoulder checks.

Ventilation

Ventilation is provided by three large, independently openable vents on the top profile of the helmet. Shoei have made quite a deal in the marketing around the J-Cruise 3 to say that ventilation is improved by around 70% - not a figure that I can empirically measure, but even without doing back-to-back tests, I could tell that the improvement is significant. Each of the three vents have three detent positions – open, closed and a mid-position, and each vent can be operated independently of the others, meaning that you really can fine tune the amount (and location) of the incoming air.

Shoei J-Cruise II (White) vs Shoei J-Cruise 3 (Black).

Much of this has been achieved by repositioning of the top vents to be in a more prominent position in the airflow, but also the vent openings have been reshaped to increase area.

To be fair, I never had any major issues with lack of top ventilation with the J-Cruise II, though I did get some fogging of the visor on particularly cold mornings, and that didn’t change with the J-Cruise 3. It’s to be expected and can easily be mitigated with the use of a Pinlock insert (the visor does come with pinlock posts to allow fitment, but mine wasn’t supplied with a Pinlock insert). Once up to traffic speeds any fogging soon clears, and the lack of a chin bar means that you a good flow of fresh air to keep the visor clear.

Visor

As has now become expected from most helmets, the J-Cruise 3 is equipped with a flip-down sun visor, as well as the main visor, and both are carry-over items from the J-Cruise II – great news if you are looking to upgrade from that helmet.

The QSV-2 sun visor is also used in the GT-Air 2, GT-Air3 and Neotec 3, so if you’ve previously had, or still have, one of these helmets, you can swap and change them over as necessary. It’s worth knowing that the QSV-2 is also available in Yellow for conditions when improved contrast is a benefit.

In use I found that, even with a combination of the main visor, sun visor and my own prescription glasses, optical clarity is superb, with no noticeable deflections or blurring. The sun visor also extends down sufficiently to avoid any light creeping in around the base. This will of course, depend on your face shape, but for me, it’s an excellent fit.

The main visor (CJ-2), performed well against the worst of the British weather when on test with no ingress of water from the top seal.

The main visor is incredibly easy to remove and install, with just two levers locking it in place, while the sun-visor can also be removed should you feel the need, though it’s easy enough to clean in situ and I never found the need to take it out.

As with J-Cruise II, the sun-visor is actuated via a slider on the left of the helmet, which while easy enough to use I must admit that I prefer the top mounted mechanism of helmets like the Shark Spartan GT, which allow actuation with either hand.

Lining

The lining of the J-Cruise 3 is very similar to that in the J-Cruise II, but that’s no bad thing - it’s a supremely comfortable and luxurious place to be with a soft fleece covering in areas that contact the face and neck and a free-flowing waffle-weave skull cap to keep your head cool on warmer rides.

The bases of the pads around the bottom of the helmet are coated in a water-resistant vinyl covering which will give some weather protection but I did find that, as there is still some lining material exposed, water does wick up from the exposed base when I used it in the rain. To be fair, it was hammering it down when I tested it, and I was purposely riding behind the spray from lorries to give it a good test, so in more moderate use, it shouldn’t be that much of an issue. The lining is quick to dry though and was ready for use the following morning.

The J-cruise 3’s lining is fully removable for washing (though some of the waffle-weave lining around the base is attached directly to the EPS lining so this can’t be removed for washing) and is secured firmly in place with clips and push studs.

It’s fairly straightforward to remove but can be a little fiddly to get back in place neatly. Patience and a couple of goes is key to success here.

Fastening

As with the previous model, the J-cruise 3 is fastened with a micro ratchet fastener, though the strap width has been reduced from 25mm to 20mm – not a huge reduction, and not something I noticed in use, but worth noting if you found the J-Cruise II uncomfortable.

The micro ratchet allows for five adjustment positions but, for peace of mind, it’s worth adjusting the straps using the adjustment slides to ensure that the ratchet is fully inserted when in use.

The ratchet release tab is simply lifted to release the strap, in the same way that aircraft seat belt releases and is easy and quick to use, even when wearing bulky winter gloves.

Ratchet fastenings do take a little more time and effort in setting up compared to a traditional double D-ring but once done, it makes for much quicker and easier fastening, while still allowing a range of adjustment for buffs or neck tubes on cooler days.

Fit

It’s always best to try on as many helmets as possible when choosing your own as we all have differing head shapes and nothing is guaranteed to fit comfortably, but for me, the J-Cruise 3 is comfortable right from the off in a size Large (I moved up a size a few years ago after finding mediums a little tighter then they should have been – I just assumed that was how they all fitted, so it’s worth trying on few sizes and not just assuming your head hasn’t changed).

The lining fits snuggly and the standard 35mm cheek pads gave me a secure feeling around the jaw (31, 35, 39 and 43mm pads are available from Shoei, so if you are struggling with fit, it may be worth seeing if your store has some stock of alternative size pads to try).

My only slight complaint is becoming a common thread with Shoei helmets and that’s the placement of large, rustling info labels on the liner at the back of your head (my J.O had the same). The one in the J-Cruise 3 is supposed to be stitched and glued in place, but the heat from my head soon loosened the glue enough for an edge to start to curl and leave a sticky bit on the label. It’s nit-picking, I realise, but this could so easily have been placed in a less vulnerable position.

Shoei J-Cruise 3 - Noise

When testing the J-Cruise II, I was impressed at how quiet it was for an open-faced helmet and the same goes for the Cruise-3 replacement. I always ride with earplugs in, no matter how short the ride, so that does a lot to reduce wind noise, but even at motorway speeds the J-Cruise 3 is very nice place to be, allowing me to listen to the radio and/or sing along as the mood takes me.

Unlike my Shark Spartan GT which whistles terribly with the visor open, the J-Cruise 3 remained silent in all combinations of open, part open and fully closed.

At speed, there is some white noise from the vents, probably as a result of the profile standing more proud from the surface of the helmet, but overall it wasn’t an issue and will vary from user to user depending on usual body position and what (if any) wind protection the bike offers.

Can I fit my own intercom to the Shoei J-Cruise 3

The J-Cruise 3 is designed to be fully integrated with the Sena SRL-3 Mesh Intercom which also fits the Neotec3 and GT-Air 3 helmets, but it is possible to fit your own intercom, if needed. Depending on the size of the unit you are using, you might need to play around with the position and fixing method, but there are plenty of flatish surfaces at the sides of the lid and there is plenty of gap between the shell and the EPS liner to get a mounting bracket securely fastened.

There is already a full review of the Sena SRL-3 which I fitted to my helmet, so I won’t go into details on that, other than to say that fitting was a bit fiddly, but overall easier than I expected (I’m a bit of luddite with intercoms and such, so didn’t really know what to expect). If, like me, you’re struggling to know what to do with the cables when reinstalling the cheek pads, there’s an excellent on-line video from Sena which takes you through it in detail.

I also tried my old basic Bluetooth headset that I use solely for listening to music from a dedicated MP3 player (remember those?) and found that while the speakers did fit in the (smaller than some) 42mm cutouts in the J-Cruise 3, they needed some hook-and-loop pads to hold them in place, as there is no lining in the cutouts for the rough backs of the speakers to stick to.

Three alternatives to the Shoei J-Cruise 3

Alternatives to an open face helmet don’t necessarily have to be other open face helmets – modular (or flip up) helmets give many of the benefits of an open face while also bringing some of the additional protection of a full-face helmet, without the constraints that the full-face design brings. These are, in our view, the main competitors to the J-Cruise 3.

• Arai SZ-R Evo – A new jet-style helmet, certified to ECE 22-06 and which brings all the technology of the range topping RX-7V. With prices starting at £529.99, this is another considered purchase, but worth considering for fit and comfort if your head shape doesn’t suit the Shoei. While it doesn’t come with an integrated sun-visor, it is compatible with Arai’s PRO shade (but this will push the price up further). 

• Shoei Neotec 3 - The natural intermediate helmet between the open-faced J-Cruise and the full-face Shoei GT-Air3, the Neotec 3 does it all, and is a firm favourite of BikeSocial’s John Milbank. Prices start at £589.99 for base black and white models.

• Shark Skwal i3 Jet – Some might see it as a gimmick, but in city ridings, the Skwals integrated LED brake lights could well be a game changer. It’s certified to ECE22-06, has an integrated sun visor and is intercom ready, but with prices starting from £219.99, much more budget friendly. BikeSocial Member Phil Kermeen recently reviewed that Skwal i3 full face – you can read his review here

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the helmets we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership

Shoei J-Cruise 3 - Verdict

Open face and jet helmets are not for everyone, and for some, the trade-off of protection vs convenience will never sway them away from full face helmets, and that’s fine.

For those where the added convenience that the open face offers is more important, comfortable, or even essential, then the build quality, safety standards and style of the J-cruise 3 should put this helmet towards the top of the consideration list.

The Shoei J-Cruise 3 is not a low-price helmet, but the price is reflected in the features available, the thought, design and development that has gone into every part of the helmet and the inherent feel of quality delivered to the wearer.

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