New helmet time
Discussion
A gust of wind managed to take out both by Bell carbon helmet and a pint of Peroni today. The helmet appears to have a pretty nasty crack underneath the top layer so it's probably best I replace it.
Question.... Are Arai helmets worth the extra cash? I've fancied one for quite a while now but it seems you need to spend at least £500 to get one with the bits I want/need... Like removable headliner. Any other brands to consider before I take the plunge?
I actually really liked the Bell M9; really comfortable lid and it has lasted quite well. I also appreciated it's lightweight and looks.
Main requirements are comfortable, light ish weight, washable (because I like a fresh smelling helmet... Ooo err) and something that will last. Something reasonably quite would be a bonus but not a deal breaker. Budget is about £500.
Question.... Are Arai helmets worth the extra cash? I've fancied one for quite a while now but it seems you need to spend at least £500 to get one with the bits I want/need... Like removable headliner. Any other brands to consider before I take the plunge?
I actually really liked the Bell M9; really comfortable lid and it has lasted quite well. I also appreciated it's lightweight and looks.
Main requirements are comfortable, light ish weight, washable (because I like a fresh smelling helmet... Ooo err) and something that will last. Something reasonably quite would be a bonus but not a deal breaker. Budget is about £500.
Where did it fall from to crack? I'd be a bit concerned if it did.
Arai's are really nice lids, but pricey, and lacking things like drop down sun visors and quick visor change mech's, it wouldn't put me off buying one though, have a look at the HJC RPHA, it has all the features you want and is around half the price of the equivalent Arai, they are a similar fit.
Arai's are really nice lids, but pricey, and lacking things like drop down sun visors and quick visor change mech's, it wouldn't put me off buying one though, have a look at the HJC RPHA, it has all the features you want and is around half the price of the equivalent Arai, they are a similar fit.
Ive had a couple of Arai and Shoei over the years. 25 years ago there was much less choice for a top quality helmet and the difference really stood out, as did the fit. You wanted "the best" you bought Arai or shoei, which had quite distinct different fits. Now each of them do helmets in their range to suit different head shapes.
These days there is so much more choice, and maybe 1/2 dozen brands who have a top of the range helmet that can match the Japanese on quality.
For £500 you could choose from Bell, Shark, Schuberth, HJC, AGV and all have a top carbon sports helmet in their line up (if thats what you want)
Id shop around, select a few with the features you want and go somewhere you can try them on for fit. Then once you now size/brand/model you can often find last years colour on offer somewhere for a big discount.
These days there is so much more choice, and maybe 1/2 dozen brands who have a top of the range helmet that can match the Japanese on quality.
For £500 you could choose from Bell, Shark, Schuberth, HJC, AGV and all have a top carbon sports helmet in their line up (if thats what you want)
Id shop around, select a few with the features you want and go somewhere you can try them on for fit. Then once you now size/brand/model you can often find last years colour on offer somewhere for a big discount.
Jazoli said:
Where did it fall from to crack? I'd be a bit concerned if it did.
It fell from a table about waist height onto a concrete floor and then rolled down a slope. It was a bit more than just a fall thanks to the wind.Here's a pic. The crack you can see feels raised when you run a finger over it.
https://ibb.co/cvBspS
shielsy said:
It fell from a table about waist height onto a concrete floor and then rolled down a slope. It was a bit more than just a fall thanks to the wind.
Here's a pic. The crack you can see feels raised when you run a finger over it.
I'd have expected it not to crack like that but I'm used to fibreglass lids that you can play football with and they would never look like that, like you say, definitely time for a new one.Here's a pic. The crack you can see feels raised when you run a finger over it.
I bought an Arai last year. I’d always had Shoeis as Arai never fitted my head. This time it was the reverse. I bought the QV Pro which is a sports touring design and it’s a really good helmet. Very comfortable (I’ve done 6+ hour rides and never felt any discomfort) good vents and a really good field of vison with the visor which has a pinlock which kinda sits in the visor rather than on it. The sun visor sits externally but doesn’t cause any problems. And the QV pro in Stint yellow (same as mine) has been reduced from £569 to £400 on sportsbike shop website.
But until you try it on you’ll never know which is best!!
(Edit: just checked the sportsbike shop website and it’s that price as it’s only in XS. Still I’d pay the full price again if I had to replace mine )
But until you try it on you’ll never know which is best!!
(Edit: just checked the sportsbike shop website and it’s that price as it’s only in XS. Still I’d pay the full price again if I had to replace mine )
Edited by martyn850 on Tuesday 1st May 18:39
Mortgage_tom said:
I second the HJC RPHA.
I wanted to splash out on an Arai or Shoei so spent the day visiting different shops to try them all on. But found the HJC RHPA 11 not only the best fit for my head, but high quality and very light. Its also a bargain.
I third the HJC RPHA. I bought a RPHA 11 and it’s the badger’s nadgers. I wanted to splash out on an Arai or Shoei so spent the day visiting different shops to try them all on. But found the HJC RHPA 11 not only the best fit for my head, but high quality and very light. Its also a bargain.
bozzy. said:
Mortgage_tom said:
I second the HJC RPHA.
I wanted to splash out on an Arai or Shoei so spent the day visiting different shops to try them all on. But found the HJC RHPA 11 not only the best fit for my head, but high quality and very light. Its also a bargain.
I third the HJC RPHA. I bought a RPHA 11 and it’s the badger’s nadgers. I wanted to splash out on an Arai or Shoei so spent the day visiting different shops to try them all on. But found the HJC RHPA 11 not only the best fit for my head, but high quality and very light. Its also a bargain.
Good fit and useful visor lock, the anti fog isn't great though, getting a pinlock.
PIGINAWIG said:
trickywoo said:
I’ve been seriously impressed with my shoei x spirit 3. Really quiet and stable. Light and comfortable.
Arai imo are really heavy now compared to the competition and haven’t been innovative for years.
Me and toxicnerve both have these too. Best lid I’ve ever had.Arai imo are really heavy now compared to the competition and haven’t been innovative for years.
trickywoo said:
Arai imo are really heavy now compared to the competition and haven’t been innovative for years.
Agreed. I've had ARAI's for years, but due a new helmet this year I had a look around to see what else is out there. I landed up buying a BELL RaceStar carbon with the fancy FLEX technology. It's a lovely bit of kit being light and very comfortable although not cheap. Ear plugs are essential as its much noisier than my ARAI lids and annoyingly I can't wear my in-ear headphones on the commute as there are no inner cut outs for them like the ARAI.
Edited by Mr OCD on Wednesday 2nd May 10:23
They have Bell Star (the road version) on offer at Helmet city, many colours down to £249 ...might have to get one myself
http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/bell-star-1/
http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/bell-star-1/
Mr OCD said:
Agreed. I've had ARAI's for years, but due a new helmet this year I had a look around to see what else is out there.
I landed up buying a BELL RaceStar carbon with the fancy FLEX technology. It's a lovely bit of kit being light and very comfortable although not cheap. Ear plugs are essential as its much than my ARAI lids and annoyingly I can't wear my in-ear headphones on the commute as there are no inner cut outs for them like the ARAI.
I remember changing from using an Arai RX7-GP to a Shoei NXR and then tried on an Arai RX7-V at the bike show and felt like I was balancing a washing machine on my head. I landed up buying a BELL RaceStar carbon with the fancy FLEX technology. It's a lovely bit of kit being light and very comfortable although not cheap. Ear plugs are essential as its much than my ARAI lids and annoyingly I can't wear my in-ear headphones on the commute as there are no inner cut outs for them like the ARAI.
bogie said:
They have Bell Star (the road version) on offer at Helmet city, many colours down to £249 ...might have to get one myself
http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/bell-star-1/
I looked at the star first, but the fit wasn't great. The race and pro star use different systems internally for a better fit. http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/bell-star-1/
Mr OCD said:
trickywoo said:
Arai imo are really heavy now compared to the competition and haven’t been innovative for years.
Agreed. I've had ARAI's for years, but due a new helmet this year I had a look around to see what else is out there. I landed up buying a BELL RaceStar carbon with the fancy FLEX technology. It's a lovely bit of kit being light and very comfortable although not cheap. Ear plugs are essential as its much noisier than my ARAI lids and annoyingly I can't wear my in-ear headphones on the commute as there are no inner cut outs for them like the ARAI.
Edited by Mr OCD on Wednesday 2nd May 10:23
And the drop-down visor ready is mickey mouse. It works but looks stupid and makes a lot (more) noise.
Edited by CAPP0 on Wednesday 2nd May 11:00
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