Arai RX7-V - What a mess

[jhoneyball]

obscene said:

Am I literally the only person in the world who likes the Arai visor design and sidepods? Takes 2 seconds to change a visor once you learn how to do it. Never had a problem in 7 years of owning them.

How do you get the pinlock to seal properly? those little black mounting pins are a horrible design kludge, and once they decide to come out, all you can do is scrap the visor.

[Rick_1138]

I have had a fair few helmet brands, an old shoei Gardner rep (first helmet on srambler) an FM motocross helmet, then an OGK aeroblade, then a Arai Corsair, and when i bought my CB100R i got a shoei X-spirit 2 as part of the deal (£400 instead of some £690!)

Its was a world of difference to the Arai, better visor system, comfier and quieter but no heavier i found.

AGV's dont fit my head so no Rossi rep.

[obscene]

jhoneyball said:

How do you get the pinlock to seal properly? those little black mounting pins are a horrible design kludge, and once they decide to come out, all you can do is scrap the visor.

Pin locks are the same for every lid, no? That said, that is a crap design. Mine semi work.

[SAS Tom]

I had a look at the RX7V today and wasn't particularly impressed either. It's still heavy, doesn't fit me that well and doesn't feel very special. I prefer the old model to be honest.

The side pods are clever and hopefully will mean less retards break them.

I was really impressed with the X Spirit 3, it looks much better in person and has good features. The fit is spot on for me too so I think I'll go for one of those at some point. With a transitions visor it'll be a perfect every day helmet.

[Mr2Mike]

obscene said:

Am I literally the only person in the world who likes the Arai visor design and sidepods? Takes 2 seconds to change a visor once you learn how to do it. Never had a problem in 7 years of owning them.

Only takes a few seconds to get the visor on and off on my Shoei X-Spirit 2, so I don't think Arai have that particular niche cornered.

[bennyboysvuk]

I quite liked my Astro-J Arai that I crashed in about 10 years ago. I only owned it for 6 months though...and yes the visor mechanism was abysmal.

I had a Shoei XR1100 that lasted for for 5 years, but it was the noisiest lid I've owned and the design of the lower back part of it actually stopped me from turning my head due to rubbing on the collar of my leathers when I was leaning forward and tilting my head up. It gave me headaches after an hour's riding until it was properly broken in, which took 6 months. I realise I've not really got a Shoei shaped head.

So now I'm back in an Arai, but an Axcess 2...still with the terrible visor mechanism, but the lid seems uber comfy.

[FunkyNige]

obscene said:

Pin locks are the same for every lid, no? That said, that is a crap design. Mine semi work.

I bought a new visor for my Arai and the pinlock holes are in a different place to the previous visor

[eddd1e]

Must admit my last 3 helmets have been Arai's, but I think I will be going for the AGV Corsa or Pista next. Much lighter, easy change visors and better build quality.

[jhoneyball]

Just got new visor and pinlock (both clear) for my AGV Corsa (I bought it with the wonderful LCD visor, which is great for summer, but a little dim for nightime riding). The mounting pins for the pinlock are WAY better than on my RX7GP. Kindof game-over really for me

Also fitted a Sena 10C to the Corsa yesterday. Interesting.

[catso]

I've been using Arai RX7 helmets for several years now, I'm on my 3rd and have never had any problems with visor changing or the side pods.

[abarber]

catso said:

I've been using Arai RX7 helmets for several years now, I'm on my 3rd and have never had any problems with visor changing or the side pods.

Nor me, but the Shoei system is leagues easier and quieter at speed. I'll probably pick up another sub £400 RX7-GP when I need a replacement.

[Gunk]

I usually wear a Shoei Multitec, but I tried on a Quantam ST pro yesterday at the NEC and thought it was a really comfortable, well finished helmet, the Shark Race Pro Carbon by comparison was awful, really tight to get on and pressed against my forehead even in a larger size, it must just be an odd shaped shell.

[catso]

abarber said:

catso said:

I've been using Arai RX7 helmets for several years now, I'm on my 3rd and have never had any problems with visor changing or the side pods.

Nor me, but the Shoei system is leagues easier and quieter at speed. I'll probably pick up another sub £400 RX7-GP when I need a replacement.

OK, not tried a recent Shoei, only one I ever had you had to remove a plastic screw from each side to swap the visor, plus despite being tight to get on was a sloppy fit on my head whereas the Arai fits fit a glove (or rather a helmet).

Agree on Arais being noisy though, I never used to wear earplugs until I started with Arais, never felt the need before but with the Arai it's bloody painful without...

[spareparts]

Schuberth C3 Pro including Pinlock for £350 at NEC to replace the one that saved my noggin

[Wildfire]

Got a Shoei XR100 and it is noisey, but the fit is great, the visor mechanism is also great. I can switch visors with the helmet still on. But the rear spoiler thing is a pain and I have had it catch under my leathers and bad handle (before I got my Kreiga), had 2 of them and will probably go for the NXR or (if funds allow) the X-Spirit III.

My brother is an Arai fan and I have just bought him a new Chaser V for Christmas, I tried them on out of curiosity, the XS is too small and the S is too big. Guess I just don't have an Arai shaped head. But I was surprised by the weight. Compared to my XR1100 and SR1 it was really heavy.

[Tall_Paul]

I have an Arai Axces II which is mega comfy, but my next helmet will be a Shoei NXR, kept for touring/summer riding (I use the Arai for commuting/everything at the moment) espcially if Sena make a 10U for it. They're so light it doesn't feel like you're wearing a helmet, and they're suppose to be fairly quiet. My Arai is anything but quiet!

[WaferThinHam]

crofty1984 said:

My girlfriend refuses to have an Arai helmet because the font makes it look too much like "Anal".

Me think the lady doth protest too much.

I have a Shoei shaped head. Although I had an RX7GP for a bit. Cut into my forehead after 100 miles (not really the helmet's fault) Looks awesome in the Jonny Rea colours, visor change was predictably daft, however it did stop me turning into a vegetable when I crashed in it. Took multiple impacts well.

I now have an X-Spirit 2 (McGuinnes rep, it was very cheap, even got him to sign it when he was at a bike dealer near me) and love it. Had an XR1000 prior to my brief foray into Arai.

[J B L]

Tall_Paul said:

I have an Arai Axces II which is mega comfy, but my next helmet will be a Shoei NXR, kept for touring/summer riding (I use the Arai for commuting/everything at the moment) espcially if Sena make a 10U for it. They're so light it doesn't feel like you're wearing a helmet, and they're suppose to be fairly quiet. My Arai is anything but quiet!

I wouldn't recommend the NXR for touring. I've currently got one and it's very noisy with all the vents around it.
It's a great, comfy helmet inside, light enough but really creates its own turbulences. I have used my old Raid 2 to commute this morning and it was definitely quieter.

The good lady is getting me an HJC IS-17 for the Christmas as the inside of the Raid is really tired now.

[Rawwr]

I use ear plugs with all my helmets so noise has never really been an issue.

[J B L]

So do I but if you have found earplugs that completely cancel out wind roar, I'm all ears (ahthangyou).

Though I'm going through one of these pack with all type of plugs. Already found some better than the ones I used to use.