Buying a new lid

[cerberaperv]

Time for a new one. My thoughts were confirmed when I was on my last track day last week and had to tape the clear lens into the worn pods.

I`ve been recommended Arai as every biker seems to have one but I`ve never had an Arai as I feel that they are too light and suffer from excess wind noise.

My criteria is in priority order:

Has to have a quick release visor. I always go out with 2 visors- one clear, one black, and can`t stand anything fiddly. Click out,Click in, is what i require.
Has to be under £500 as I`m buying a 2nd bike.
Could do with trying on and not buying mail order. I live in the North West if it helps.
Would like Carbon or carbon effect as I like the pattern.
Need to be able to buy a dark visor with it, don`t want one of those internal slide down shades.

Any help and personal recommendations would be appreciated.

Oh and if anyone is selling a gsxr1000 K5 track bike get in touch! ;-)

[Mr Trophy]

Search for 261643974596 on eBay. I know the seller............

[cerberaperv]

nice but forgot to add my (head!) helmet size is small.

[bass gt3]

Never heard of Arai being accused of being too light!

Alternatively have a look at the Shoei X Spirit 2. Has a very good visor mechanism and Helmet City are doing some decent deals on some colours if you're not overly fussed.
As for the carbon, unless it's real, don't worry about the weave effect. Get a decent lid that fits you 100%

[cerberaperv]

Nice one.

Like the look of that one. Regarding the Arai, it`s personal preference as I`ve tried one on and I`d like to feel a bit of (protective) weight on my shoulders, not a brick though. Although I have heard a few complaints on the wind noise from them.

My current one is a black OGK so it must be at least 8yrs old! (this is not a green light for the safety compliance police ;-) )

[Schtum]

cerberaperv said:

Like the look of that one. Regarding the Arai, it`s personal preference as I`ve tried one on and I`d like to feel a bit of (protective) weight on my shoulders, not a brick though.

That's exactly the opposite of how things work. Weight isn't protective. You want a lid that absorbs and dissipates impact energy, not one that tries to batter any object that you might impact into submission. Also, light is good in that it doesn't place undue strain on your neck muscles on long rides and doesn't add to the weight of your head and the strain it puts on the rest of your body if you're unfortunate enough to crash. It's no accident that the shells of most expensive lids are constructed from lightweight materials such as carbon fibre and various composites.

[Schtum]

cerberaperv said:

Like the look of that one. Regarding the Arai, it`s personal preference as I`ve tried one on and I`d like to feel a bit of (protective) weight on my shoulders, not a brick though.

That's exactly the opposite of how things work. Weight isn't protective. You want a lid that absorbs and dissipates impact energy, not one that tries to batter any object that you might impact into submission. Also, light is good in that it doesn't place undue strain on your neck muscles on long rides and doesn't add to the weight of your head and the strain it puts on the rest of your body if you're unfortunate enough to crash. It's no accident that the shells of most expensive lids are constructed from lightweight materials such as carbon fibre and various composites.

[scorcher]

Have a look at the Xlite 802R Ultra carbon. Can be picked up for less than £300. tool less visor removal.......
http://www.x-lite.it/catalogo_15.jsp?iditem=296

[Ritchie335is]

I find HJCs visor removal a breeze.

[cerberaperv]

Thanks all.

I like the look of the X-lite carbon and this one below. The X-lite being £150 cheaper is swaying my decision at the mo.

http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/products/HJC-RPHA10-Pl...