Helmet feels like it wants to fly off!

[julianb]

This is driving me nuts,

everytime I get up to around the 80-90mph mark, my helmet, an Arai Astro R, feels like it's going to pull my head off, to the point that I have to slow down purely because I can no longer concentrate.

Is this normal, or is the helmet a little to loose? In which case how much to re-pad it, and who's the best person to see to do it.

Might sound a bit of a numb question, but us old, retired MX'ers never went anything like this fast on a bike!!!


cheers

Joolz

[shot2bits]

It's loose - may sure your chin strap is tight as well... It's not normal...

[julianb]

Bugger it. Thought as much.

Ah well, it's either a re-pad or buy another lid.

[shot2bits]

Do make sure the chin strap is tight though as any helmet would start to come off at 70mph + without securing it under your chin...

[dern]

Is this a new lid? If it's an old one then the lining will compress down with use, especially in this weather. I found if I washed mine in the shower working baby bath into the lining washes all the sweat out. Make sure you work out all the foam and then let dry outside and it'll all fluff up again. You shouldn't have to rely on the chin strap to hold it on at speed and if you do it's bound to feel pretty uncomfortable.

[julianb]

Nah,

chin strap is fine. The padding is just not quite snug enough. I gather Arai do a range of padding sizes. What I need is expert adviceon the fit. Getting a bit paranoid about it to be honest, and the fact that I may have wasted 300 quid!


J.

[Parakitamol]

It's way too loose, it should not move at speed regardless of your chin strap.

Who sold it to you? I would say that is a rubbish service, I'm pretty sure that all Helmet companies & distributors offer training to their stockists so they can fit correctly when selling.

Take it back & complain. If not, get a new one that does fit properly, regardless of cost.

[remal]

I found my Aria started taking off my head at at about 110MPH when on trackdays in my kit car. no roof or windscreen so pretty mush the same as being on a bike.

would that also be loose helemt fit?

Edited by remal on Saturday 22 July 18:49

[Parakitamol]

Probably but I would say it's important in a car but not critical like on a bike. Also Arai do 3 sizes of cheek pads so you've got some scope - also try pulling the liner out & washing it - makes a big difference.

[julianb]

Thanks, guys,

I'll see if I can get some different cheek pads.

[dern]

remal said:

I found my Aria started taking off my head at at about 110MPH when on trackdays in my kit car. no roof or windscreen so pretty mush the same as being on a bike.

would that also be loose helemt fit?

Possibly but a common complaint in kit cars. Mine was fine with an aero screen but people with well fitted lids said they got helmet lift in my car. It seems to come down to where you sit in the air flow with an aeroscreen as much as anything else.

[taz666]

If you go to any mojor biking events ie race meets, the NEC bike show etc, then some helmet manufacturers will help you out with the fit of your helmet by putting in extra padding, or even tell you if its the wrong size.

[julianb]

CHeers,

this needs sorting - bike's being serviced on Monday, at the same dealer I bought the helmet from. I think I'll have a chat about it with them.

[momentofmadness]

julianb said:

CHeers,

this needs sorting - bike's being serviced on Monday, at the same dealer I bought the helmet from. I think I'll have a chat about it with them.

Yep good call - that is what I'd do as they should have helped / advised you when you bought it.

Got my first lid from a Hein Gericke shop and the guy pulled / pushed / turned my head to check the helmet was ok (Well I think that is why he did that )

[Steve_T]

Parakitamol said:

It's way too loose, it should not move at speed regardless of your chin strap.

Who sold it to you? I would say that is a rubbish service, I'm pretty sure that all Helmet companies & distributors offer training to their stockists so they can fit correctly when selling.

Take it back & complain. If not, get a new one that does fit properly, regardless of cost.

I agree. Arai provide detailed training for their retailers, so you shouldn't have to put up with this.

Steve.

[number 46]

You should get the fit checked, it should be very snug and you should be able to feel the inside padding 'against' you head all over, but not so tight that it is pressing you head. The helmet should not be able to be pulled of your head if you lift it at the back. You should be able to get a finger between the strap and you chin, so the strap should not be completely hard/tight against you chin. its best to find a make that fits rather than going with a make because it is expensive or fashionable, the fit is absolutely critical to protecting your head. I have an Astro-R bike lid and car racing lid as Arai are the only helmets that fit my head. Have you pulled the little chin spoiler down on the front of the Astro, that helps the air flow/lift efeect at speed. One thing with the Astro is that the wind noise at speed seems worst than any of my previous Arais.

[julianb]

Yes, the Astro R does seem very noisy. I don't think the fit is very good, I'll check against some other sizes when I collect the bike from service today. I'll take it up with the dealer, but I don't think it will do an awful lot of good. I'm a little disappointed that they didn't take more care with the helmet fitting, but at the end of the day, when the chap says, "how does that feel", I'm relying on experience of these things that I just don't have yet.

Learn by your(expensive)mistakes!

[julianb]

Well, as I thought, the dealer couldn't give a monkeys. I kicked up a bit of a stink though, being somewhat disappointed in their attitude, and made the point that they advised me on the fitting in the first place! Think I might take this up with whoever is responsible for distributing Arai helmets in the UK. It just is not good enough. I am so tempted to tell you who the dealer is, but that's dodgy ground!!!


J.