Helmet - alternatives to Arai

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Flux
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Flux »

I've still got an Rx7 for the road, but on track I now use an X-lite, which I'm very pleased with.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Mr Moofo »

Rockburner wrote: Fri Jun 10, 2022 3:35 pm I've had several Arai, mostly Qantums and Astros (mid-range?), but ended up with a Shoei recently because I needed a new lid and the Arai Quantic wasn't quite out yet.

It's ok.

I keep trying on the Shark Evo lids (I like the idea of flip-lid where the chinbar integrates 'cleanly' into the shell at the back), but each time I do they just feel like they're made of seriously cheap tacky plastic.
Shoeis are lovely quality - and oddly I can wear both Shoe and Arai with no issues. Mine only concern with my (old XR1000) was that the foam backed material completely fell apart even though it had been kept in a cover in the dark. It was 7 years old - but my Arais of the same era are still pristine.

TBH - I am not convinced that Arai have changed shape - all one form the last 30 years all seem pretty similar.

However - I am slightly in love with my BRG and White open face Davida - which is just beautifully made. Rubbish for over 90 MPH thought :thumbup:
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by KungFooBob »

The wife's new Roof comes with three different thickness slithers of foam that you can add to the cheek pads.

It's also in the box were the stickers that are compulsory in Fronch :)
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by cheb »

KungFooBob wrote: Sat Jun 11, 2022 11:30 am The wife's new Roof comes with three different thickness slithers of foam that you can add to the cheek pads.

It's also in the box were the stickers that are compulsory in Fronch :)
Did you translate that yourself??
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Stopped at Seastar Superbikes to look at helmets today, they stock AGV, Shoei and Arai, so that was a waste of time.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by IanB »

Yorick wrote: Thu Jun 09, 2022 11:21 am IIRC, John Kocinski loved Bell helmets. But another helmet Co. offered him mega bucks to wear theirs.
So he put their label on a Bell helmet :obscene-birdiedoublered:
Barry Sheene used a Bell Star with AGV stickers on for a while
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Bigyin »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sat Jun 11, 2022 4:04 pm Stopped at Seastar Superbikes to look at helmets today, they stock AGV, Shoei and Arai, so that was a waste of time.
Next time you are drifting through Norfolk a new place opened in Great Yarmouth recently (Superbike Warehouse) who stock LS2, MT, at the budget end as well as HJC, Arai, Bell, Simpson and i think Davide although might have been a different open face brand when i popped in last week
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Yeah, but it's in Gt Yarmouth, I'd need innovations to visit.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by slowsider »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:24 am Yeah, but it's in Gt Yarmouth, I'd need innovations to visit.
Gloves for webbed fingers enough of an innovation?
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Rockburner »

slowsider wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:43 pm
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:24 am Yeah, but it's in Gt Yarmouth, I'd need innovations to visit.
Gloves for webbed fingers enough of an innovation?
You mean mittens?
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

slowsider wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:43 pm
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:24 am Yeah, but it's in Gt Yarmouth, I'd need innovations to visit.
Gloves for webbed fingers enough of an innovation?
Poxy auto correct, inoculations not innovations
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Supermofo »

Can you imagine trying on a lid that'd been on a Yarmouth head!! I'm sure there's a HP Lovecraft story about that somewhere :lol:
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by mangocrazy »

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:33 pm Can you imagine trying on a lid that'd been on a Yarmouth head!! I'm sure there's a HP Lovecraft story about that somewhere :lol:
There would still be bits of skin sticking to the liner...
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Supermofo wrote: Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:33 pm Can you imagine trying on a lid that'd been on a Yarmouth head!! I'm sure there's a HP Lovecraft story about that somewhere :lol:
People from Yarmouth have squarer heads than the rest of the population, we proved this when I worked for BT, one of the apprentices was from Yarmouth and his head looked square, measurements proved this to be true, as he was 100% of the people we could measure from GT Yarmouth, 100% of people from GT Yarmouth have square heads.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by mangocrazy »

Bit of a tangent, seeing as the Fat Cheese has specifically excluded Shoei helmets from his consideration... BUT I just scored a new Shoei NXR for £250 from Mega Motorcycle Store in Swindon (mail order obvs.) For anyone wanting a cheap decent lid I'd suggest giving their web site a gander. Mine was the 'Philosopher TC1' (how do they dream up these names?) in black/red, but Marquez reps and others are also available for the same price.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

I'd have to try a Shoei on, but the last one I tried was instantly uncomfortable, not as bad as AGV, who seem to make helmets for people with long thin heads, my manly Germanic head won't fit in such Italian foppery.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Rockburner »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 3:14 pm I'd have to try a Shoei on, but the last one I tried was instantly uncomfortable, not as bad as AGV, who seem to make helmets for people with long thin heads, my manly Germanic head won't fit in such Italian foppery.
The Shoei I bought recently is 'just about' as comfy as an Arai.

Previous to that I tried a Shoei about 10 years ago and, compared to an Arai, the inner-liner material was so coarse and rough it felt like sandpaper. They've improved things since then.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Rockburner wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 3:32 pm
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 3:14 pm I'd have to try a Shoei on, but the last one I tried was instantly uncomfortable, not as bad as AGV, who seem to make helmets for people with long thin heads, my manly Germanic head won't fit in such Italian foppery.
The Shoei I bought recently is 'just about' as comfy as an Arai.

Previous to that I tried a Shoei about 10 years ago and, compared to an Arai, the inner-liner material was so coarse and rough it felt like sandpaper. They've improved things since then.
I'll have to try one, Seastars had nothing out in my size (large, for my massive brain) so I didn't try one on there, and I didn't want to be a load of hassle when I had no intention of buying a helmet.
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Anyone know how X Lite sizes and fit compare with Arai sizes and fit
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Re: Helmet - alternatives to Arai

Post by Supermofo »

Never had an X-lite but I'm the same size in Shark, Shoei, Arai etc

My brother is the same and he had a HJC before his current Shark so shouldn't be that much difference.