Founded by former professional racers, the French firm based in Marseille employs over 700 dedicated staff to ensure the highest level of quality of its produce. SHARK regularly launches new, groundbreaking designs with a focused ethos to push technical boundaries, assisted by a continual investment into innovation (8-10% of its turnover, in fact…). It was the first helmet brand to introduce integrated LED lights, with the SKWAL in 2015. The helmet helps boost the visibility and safety of its wearers by having its LEDs displayed either constantly, or flashing on and off. The eye-catching feature also offers a great way of looking cool! Another highly notable achievement for SHARK came in 2011 with the introduction of the EvoLine. The first flip-style helmet to be homologated as both an open or full-face design was unarguably ahead of its time.
Then in 2013 the iconic, highly distinctive, DRAK came to market. An aggressively styled open-face helmet with goggles and rubber face mask, it turns the heads of all who view it. The following year, SHARK launched the highly versatile Explore-R. Incorporating a removable peak gives the option to ride with goggles or visor.
For 2023, the brand-new SKWAL i3, as well as its forward-facing LEDs, also features the addition of intelligent active brake lights as standard. Designed without the need for a Bluetooth connection or wires, the industry-leading tech uses an in-built triaxial accelerometer to activate red LEDs on the rear of the helmet during braking. They flash three times a second during normal braking, and five times per second when braking harder.
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By continually updating the range with fresh designs, colour options, refinements and improvements, SHARK ensures every SHARK-wearing road rider and racer alike can enjoy the pleasure and freedom from riding in total safety.
All SHARK helmets are designed in France and overseen by the firm’s advanced Research and Development department. Each one of them is a product of the unique ‘Reverse Engineering’ policy – a strategy further evolved with the brand’s latest helmets featuring SHARK’s ‘Best Fit’ – developed following a campaign of 3D head shape scans by the brand. A perfect example of SHARK’s innovative philosophy, it uses the rider’s head shape as the starting point. Effectively, all SHARKs are made from the inside out. As well as this, the creative process also follows the ‘Designed for a Function’ motto. As a result, every line, curve and feature of the helmet must have a function and purpose which positively benefits the wearer.
Innovative features such as the ‘Easy Fit’ design to enable riders with spectacles to ride in greater comfort, removable and washable interiors, and linings compatible with SHARKTOOTH Prime – SHARK’s wireless and universal communication and entertainment system – are all beneficial features that underline SHARK’s aim to make a difference to the overall experience of the wearer.
Thanks to the connection of its founders, racing has very much been in the DNA of the SHARK brand. With vital importance placed on rider safety, it’s not enough to simply meet safety standards, the constant ambition is to exceed them. A clear example of this was underlined when the announcement was made that helmets were required to meet the international racing body’s FIM-dictated new FRHPhe-01 homologation ruling. SHARK’s response was to act quickly, becoming the world’s first brand to achieve the homologation, in all sizes in the new Race-R PRO GP FIM Racing #1 range.
Alban Rojas, SHARK’s research and innovation manager, said: “SHARK Helmets has been relying on motorcycle racing to boost brand development ever since its creation. We are very proud to be one of the first brands in the world to receive the new FRHPhe-01 homologation for our flagship model, the Race-R PRO GP FIM Racing #1.”
Teamed with the very best riders, including many from all the major world championship classes, SHARK naturally benefits hugely from feedback from some of the most demanding environments. This unbeatable information boosts SHARK’s relentless research and development programme across the whole range of helmets, improving the safety and performance of each and every SHARK sold anywhere in the world.
Alongside the support for professional racers, in 2019 SHARK signed a multi-year deal as title sponsor for the French round of MotoGP, resulting in the world championship event being titled the ‘SHARK Helmets Grand Prix de France’ held at Le Mans.
With a total of 25 helmets in the SHARK model range, there’s a helmet to suit every rider and budget – full-face, open-face, and everything in between. It doesn’t matter whether riders are looking for the top-of-the-range Race-R Pro GP, priced at £1049.99, or a full-faced Ridill, costing £119.99, there’s a choice for literally everyone.
TIMELINE
1989: SHARK founded in Marseille, France
1990: 1st motorcycle helmet to ever feature carbon fibre shell structure
1999: SHARK-supported rider, Carl Fogarty, wins his fourth World Superbike Championship (1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999)
2005: BSB Championship winner – Gregorio Lavilla
2007: Innovative EvoLine launched – flip-front, dual homologated helmet
2013: Launch of iconic DRAK
BSB Championship winner – Alex Lowes
SHARK has also had 75 World Champions – they achieved this in 2022 with Alvaro Diaz in the World Junior Supersport Championship
2015: World’s first helmet with integrated LEDs launched by SHARK – the SKWAL
2016: Jorge Lorenzo signs with SHARK
2018: A brand-new off-road helmet joins the range, the Varial
2019: SHARK introduces the first FIM racing homologated helmet for circuit racing – the Race-R Pro GP FIM
2019: SHARK-supported Scott Redding wins BSB Championship
2020: Launch of innovative EVOJET – open-face helmet with chin guard and visor one attached unit – and world’s first iridium visors certified for day and night use
2022: SHARK introduces the UN ECE 22.06 compliant Spartan RS. SHARK-supported Bradley Ray wins BSB Championship, and Jorge Martin achieves the top MotoGP speed record in Italy with 225.18mph wearing the Race-R Pro GP
2023: SHARK produces the SKWAL i3, the first helmet with integrated red rearward-facing LED brake lights
Sold in over 5000 resellers, across 77 different countries, SHARK Helmets are distributed by Nevis Marketing in the UK. To find your local authorised SHARK dealer, visit: www.nevis.uk.com or call 01425 478936.
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