Helmet - alternatives to Arai

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Thanks for all the answers so far, keep them coming, I looked at an HJC 20 years ago and it was as nice as an Arai, can't remember why I didn't buy it.

[Supermofo]

I lied mine is a Spartan Carbon, not a GT. Think I paid £280-300ish at the time. Any way I really like it.

https://www.helmetcity.co.uk/shark-spar ... -skin-dws/

[The Spin Doctor]

My thinking is that modern helmets are so much better than they were 40-odd years ago that there's little to choose between them in terms of safety. Fit and security on the head, then finish, is my criterium these days.

It's worth looking at the SHARP tests - Arai and Shoei rarely top the safety ratings. The usual explanation is that they are built to pass the US Snell testing methodology that tests the helmet penetration with a sharp spike, something we're unlikely to encounter in real life, and thus the shell is too stiff, and passes too much impact force to the skull.

[Yorick]

In about 1996 I bought a Foggy rep Shark. Fuck it was loud

Took it back next day and demanded a refund as it was not "Fit for purpose "
I stuck by my guns and got a refund.

[Skub]

My thinking is that modern helmets are so much better than they were 40-odd years ago that there's little to choose between them in terms of safety. Fit and security on the head, then finish, is my criterium these days.

It's worth looking at the SHARP tests - Arai and Shoei rarely top the safety ratings. The usual explanation is that they are built to pass the US Snell testing methodology that tests the helmet penetration with a sharp spike, something we're unlikely to encounter in real life, and thus the shell is too stiff, and passes too much impact force to the skull.

I certainly get the need for independent safety tests,but they won't highlight either fit or comfort. While the fit aspect is easily sorted,comfort is very much individual and not really testable. Comfort will certainly have an impact (ha) on safety though. If a lid bothers you,it's a distraction.

[The Spin Doctor]

I certainly get the need for independent safety tests,but they won't highlight either fit or comfort. While the fit aspect is easily sorted,comfort is very much individual and not really testable. Comfort will certainly have an impact (ha) on safety though. If a lid bothers you,it's a distraction.

Absolutely... which is why I said "fit and security, then finish".

I - sort of - assumed that comfort would be part of determining fit.

A helmet can definitely be comfortable - and not fit. Having bought an otherwise beautifully comfortable helmet with over-sized (for me) cheek pads that made me bite my cheeks all the time (I ended up opening them up and trimming out some of the foam), I made that mistake with the replacement of going up a size. Cheeks were fine but the crown turned out to be too big once the helmet had bedded in a bit.

I sorted that with some judiciously attached bits of the foam under the liner, trimmed from a mouse mat!

One of the most comfortable and best fitting helmets I ever bought was a Suomi. Unfortunately, the finish was sh!t. The paint was so soft a couple of days use had deep scratches all over it. The visor likewise had next-to-know anti-scratch coating. I took it back after a week's use. The dealer wasn't happy but eventually returned it to Suomi "for assessment" and a week or two later I got a refund on the credit card. I never did discover if it was a faulty batch of if they were "all like that, Sir"...

The best budget full face lid I've owned in recent years was a Nitro - ACU-approved, Arai-shaped, very comfortable AND good fitting. It was my track lid, since I use a flip for training.

[KungFooBob]

I wouldn't shit on a Nitro if they were on fire.

There's a story that... Back in the day when we did away with the kite mark and adopted the EU standard... you could have a helmet tested anywhere in the EU.

If you wanted your unsafe helmet to pass, you had it tested in Spain.... like Nitro did.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I had a Nitro, it felt comfortable in the shop so I bought it and used it for a trip to the Ardennes, it was hideously uncomfortable after an hours wear, it gave me head aches as it was too tight across my forehead, and I was stuck with the bloody thing for a whole weekend of riding.

[dern]

I've used Scorpion helmets for the last couple of years. I have a carbon Exo R1 Air and an exo-1400 carbon. They're very light, cleanable and really happy with them.

[Skub]

I too have an arai shaped head, but am now using a Scorpion.
If it's good enough for Quatararo, then they should be ok for the likes of you and me!

Probably a good indicator,since if the helmet bothered Fabio he'd take it off and throw it away during a race.

[Deadpool2]

What Taipan said. I used to buy Arai's and now have a HJC. Its 90% of the comfort for a lot less money. The only thing I dont like is the mechanism they use to keep the visor open, but then I have had Arai's for over 20 year's so I just have to get used to something different.

[Bigyin]

Somebody who raced at the TT put Premier stickers on an Arai, can't remember who.

I recall Iain Duffus used a plain white Arai at the TT but had Vemar stickers on it as he normally had a Saltire flag design on his helmets .

Arai released a Saltire paint job shortly after on the Astro R which I bought straight away

I must have a weird shape as Arai and Shoei both fit me well. I can’t wear AGV though as they press on my forehead badly. I have worn Shark in the past which were comfortable. I also have a cheap Box flip front I bought as a temporary use helmet when I started instructing but it’s a horrible hateful uncomfortable POS and lasted about a month and hasn’t been used since

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Somebody who raced at the TT put Premier stickers on an Arai, can't remember who.

I recall Iain Duffus used a plain white Arai at the TT but had Vemar stickers on it as he normally had a Saltire flag design on his helmets .

Arai released a Saltire paint job shortly after on the Astro R which I bought straight away

I must have a weird shape as Arai and Shoei both fit me well. I can’t wear AGV though as they press on my forehead badly. I have worn Shark in the past which were comfortable. I also have a cheap Box flip front I bought as a temporary use helmet when I started instructing but it’s a horrible hateful uncomfortable POS and lasted about a month and hasn’t been used since

That's who it was Vemar not Premier stickers.

[Skub]

So.

What are we buying then?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

So.

What are we buying then?

Nothing yet, I need to try stuff on, I want ideas of what to try, so far we have HJC and Scorpion

[Skub]

My son, who is an Arai shaped head, moved onto HJC. He's always said that his current HJC (bought from J&S in a sale) is lighter, quieter and far nicer to use than his Arai.

I love the Alien flicks,so this would be cool. Still £500 tho....

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/541239

[Skub]

The Crashlow rep isn't bad either,plus it's only £281

https://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.sf/?c ... c8QAvD_BwE

[singlesman]

Another HJC convert after many RX7 Arai’s.
Better fit and quieter. (RPHA-11.)
Wish I switched ages ago but too much of a helmet snob!!!

[Skub]

Another HJC convert after many RX7 Arai’s.
Better fit and quieter. (RPHA-11.)
Wish I switched ages ago but too much of a helmet snob!!!

Are they sized similar to Arai. Is a medium in HJC same as an Arai medium?

[Deadpool2]

Are they sized similar to Arai. Is a medium in HJC same as an Arai medium?
[/quote]

That's what I found on the two models I tried the Rhpa 90 and 11