Caberg GP01 Review: FIM-Spec at a Budget Price Tag

Caberg has just pulled the wraps off its most focused helmet to date – the GP01 – and it's arrived with all the right paperwork to make even the most cynical racer raise an eyebrow.

Not only does it meet the latest ECE 22.06 standard, but it also bags FIM Level 2 homologation, meaning it's rubber-stamped to use in MotoGP, WorldSBK, and the Endurance World Championship.

That means we’re looking at a lid that’s been pushed through the ringer in terms of impact testing, rotational force management, and penetration resistance. And crucially, it’s passed.

The GP01 is a full carbon affair, meaning it’s lightweight and strong, exactly what you want when the stakes are high. But despite its racy credentials, Caberg hasn’t forgotten about road riders. There’s space for an intercom, a Pinlock-ready visor, and aero work that should keep buffeting to a minimum at speed.

To find out how the new lid performs, I’ve been testing it for the last couple of months, riding a variety of bikes and in varying weather conditions. I also used it for a new model launch, which is where some of the images of the helmet have come from.

Caberg GP01 Review

I’ve never tested a Caberg lid before, and always had them down as a maker of budget helmets for new riders and those looking for a bargain. That changed when I saw the press release for the GP01, a snazzy carbon fibre track-ready lid. While I may not be capable of taking on the best in MotoGP and WorldSBK, the GP01 is, and it boasts a few other standout features to boot.

First impressions count, and on that front, the Carberg gets a big tick. It comes in its own padded travel bag (always a nice touch with a lid like this) and has a Pinlock in the box ready to go. You also get a sticker kit, a clear and tinted visor for track riding, and pins for tear-off strips, which are sold separately.

The first ride in a new lid is never its comfiest moment, and the Caberg was no different. It took about a week of consistent use to get the lining in tune with the shape of my head. I’m a medium in pretty much every type of lid, so I went for the same with the Caberg and I’d say I judged it right. Any bigger would mean lateral movement, and any smaller would be painful to wear. The GP01 comes in sizes from extra small to large.

Once it’s on, the GP01 is a nice place to be. It’s relatively airy with the visor down, and I have around three fingers of space between my face and chinbar. The lining of the helmet is on the sporty side of things, meaning it prioritises moisture wicking over velvety plushness, but if I’m wearing it for an hour or less, it's perfectly comfortable.

At speed, the GP01 stays nice and stable. It’s not easily caught out by crosswinds and seems to cut through the air well. The closure system on the GP01 comprises a nice gold anodised double D ring, which is cushioned by a nice soft strap to prevent any irritation.

My size medium GP01 weighs 1,350 grams, which is about on the money for a helmet of this kind. IT does, though, feel much lighter than that, and even when comparing it to another brand helmet (that also weighs 1,400 grams), the Caberg still feels significantly lighter. Even on the Tracer 7 press launch, other journos commented on how light it feels.

How does it handle longer days in the saddle

I recently took the Caberg on the 2025 Yamaha Tracer 7 press test, taking it out of its comfort zone a little. Track helmets are designed for short stints on the track, with breaks in between. The Tracer launch would mean I’d be wearing it for the best part of six hours, which is a very different kettle of fish. Overall, it performed well, with one comfort-related issue arising at the very end of the day.

It centres around the brow of the helmet, the section that sits across the forehead. The padding here became quite sweaty by the end of the day, and soggier it got, the less support it provided. That meant as time went on, I could feel the hard Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) shock absorbing layer beneath. It led me to continually having to adjust the angle of the helmet to get some respite. This was only evident for the last hour and a half or two hours of the ride, and it’s worth noting that I was wearing the lid for almost six hours solidly.

Should you be the kind of rider who takes more regular breaks, you’ll probably never encounter the issue. And as helmets are very personal items (in terms of how they fit riders' heads), you may never encounter the issue at all. It’s also worth noting that I had no issues with the rest of the internal comfort. No tight spots, no pinchpoints and no tension headaches.

How is the ventilation

The ventilation system on the GP01 comprises two large air inlets on the top of the shell, four rear extractors, and two chin vents. There is also a large rear spoiler which features air intakes designed to reduce turbulence - they don’t flow into the interior of the helmet, though.

With all the vents open and when riding in nearly 30 degrees, the airflow seemed okay, but not as good as the ventilation system on the Shark Aeron and Aeron GP, which I’ve been using for the last year. I can distinctly feel the difference between vents closed and open, although I don’t experience a jet of cooling air to my face from the chin vents, and instead, the air seems to churn in around the chin curtain. I removed the chin curtain halfway through the day and felt much more comfortable thanks to more airflow. The chin vents seem quite small when compared to other track lids I’ve used, which I think is limiting the airflow.

It’s a similar story with the two vents mounted on the top of the shell - there is airflow coming in and flowing through the lid, which is adequate. It is worth noting that the two top vents have nice big tags on them, which makes them easy to find and operate. I’ve also tested the GP01 in some torrential rain and never experienced any water ingress from the vents or the visor, the latter of which seems to be very well sealed.

What is the visor like

The visor aperture of the GP01 is very large, and when riding in a fully tucked position, it’s shaped in such a way that I can see clearly up the road, and without any obstructions from the upper part of the aperture. The chinbar of the helmet is slightly more visible at the bottom of my field of vision, meaning I have to glance down to see the clocks.

I’d say the clarity of both the clear and tinted visors is good. There are helmets on the market that provide more optical clarity, but the Caberg’s visor is the best of both worlds type scenario, in that there is no distortion to note and a good level of clarity. The visor closure system features a kind of two-part ratchet, with a few steps when nearly fully closed (which allows you to crack the visor open up to 25mm and hold it there) and then a smooth movement all the way to fully open. The visor latch takes a few rides to get the hang of, as you have to press the silver button on the chinbar of the lid to unlock it before opening the visor. It might be tricky in thick winter gloves.

Cabergs GP01 press release claims that the “visor fastening mechanism has been designed for quick and easy installation”, although that’s not quite what I found. It took me around 10-minutes to swap out the visor the first time I did it, and while that does improve the more you carry out the task, I still find it fiddly, and it seems like I’m putting too much pressure on the visor when installing it. I also checked through all the documents that came with the lid and couldn’t find any instructions on how to remove and reinstall the visor.

As you’d expect, the Pinlock works well when the weather is chilly and wet. And I’ve even got away with riding without it in rainy, and slightly chilly weather without suffering any visor fogging, which is a bonus.

How is the wind noise

As mentioned at the top, I’ve ridden a variety of machines while using the GP01, and on all of them, I’ve had the same experience: quite a lot of wind noise, but not unpleasantly excessive. I wear earplugs when I ride, but I can still detect more turbulent noise than I have with other, smoother-shelled helmets.

Caberg SOS Medical ID - NFC tech that could save your life

The GP01 brings with it a neat feature made possible thanks to Near Field Communication (NFC). It’s the same kind of tech that allows you to make contactless payments, although on the Caberg, it has a much more important use. It allows emergency first responders to scan the section on the rear of the helmet with a mobile device, instantly giving them access to your medical information and emergency contacts. It’s a neat feature, and one that could save precious seconds when you need it most. If anything, I kind of feel that Caberg hasn’t made a big enough deal of the decals on the lid. I’d prefer a big arrow with the words “SCAN HERE IF I’VE CRASHED PLEASE!” emblazoned on the shell!

Caberg GP01 verdict

When you look at available FIM-spec lids on the market, the prices vary widely. The Shark Aeron GP FIM starts at £999.99, while the Arai RX7 EVO FIM starts at £799.99. The Caberg, which costs just £399.99 (plus shipping), stands out then as an absolute bargain in the segment.

From club racers to trackday riders, it opens up the world of top-spec lids at a much lower price point than its competitors. The added security provided by the NFC SOS technology is an added bonus. Granted, I did have a couple of niggles with the comfort and ventilation, although both of those points might not be an issue for many riders who have a different headshape. It’s always worth getting to a dealer to try a helmet before you buy, and that remains the case with the GP01.

In short, the Caberg GP01 is a great looking and well performing helmet for day-to-day use and track riding. More than any of those points, though, it offers phenomenal value for money and lots of top-spec features. I’ll likely not be reaching for it next time I’m heading out on an all-day ride or tour, although it will be getting taken out again when the scenario suits it.

You can find out more about the Caberg GP01 on the official website.

You may also like to read our 2025 Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 7 GT review (which is where some of these images came from).

Static images: Drew Irvine

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