New Helmet time......

[catso]

My old Arai RX7 XX has been a great Helmet, 'part of me' for a long time but, (like it's owner ), it's getting old, past it's use-by date. I've had it around 7 or 8 years and although it's not been dropped it is showing some battle-scars and the inside is starting to look 'shabby' so I was thinking that it is time to 'retire' it.

So what to replace it with? well I looked at and tried on virtually all the 'known' brands, weighing up the safety, looks, weight, features, fit, price etc over and over in my mind,....... I finally decided on this;



An Arai RX7 Corsair, effectively an updated version of my old one and visually very similar - no contest really!

So what's changed? well there are a couple of extra vents on top, the vents seem to flow more air, it's got a slightly 'softer' inside feel on my head so it's a little more comfortable, (especially when new), the chin spoiler whilst not so long has a flap under it that seals the base a little better and the opening is a little smaller, (harder to get my big head in and out of), but most importantly it's quieter, much quieter - the only real criticism I had of the old model was the excessive wind noise; above 50-60mph it was really noisy, painfully so at higher speeds, so much that it was essential to wear earplugs.

Now I was told that the Corsair is much quieter so as a test I tried it out yesterday (for the first time) without earplugs and was amazed, sure at *cough* 'higher' speeds it still gets a little loud in there, loud but bearable.

This did create another problem though - I was hearing mechanical noises that I normally miss, noises that got me thinking that the bike was 'broken'

But overall I know I made the right choice, (again), I'm not an adventurous Helmet buyer, I have owned an AGV (it was cheap, I was poor), I have owned a Shoei (it was too tight & too small to get on but, conversley, too big when on), otherwise only Arai.

I love most things Italian; food, wine, women, clothes, coffee, cars and above all bikes but I like my Helmets Japanese.

Arai RX7 Corsair, overall design not changed for years but still the best, yes it's expensive - but worth every penny.

The King is dead, long live the King.........

[uriel]

Love mine. After reading reviews I was expecting it to be much noisier than it turned out to be.

[mel]

Horses for courses, personally I've got a Quantum shaped head but Arai are the only helmets I'll buy

[randlemarcus]

Just to play devils advocate for a minute, there's a new design Corsair coming out this year, so your new new toy is terribly passe, darlink

[amare32]

Nice lid, very stealthy.

For me, Shoei fits my head the best so I bought this a couple of weeks ago. Managed to get £120 off the normal price so I'm happy. Decided to spend a little more on the Vemueluen X-Spirit as I love the design

All I need now is to collect the Gixxer and then I'll be a happy camper

Pics below

[Sossige]

Very nice amare32, I'm looking at the Shoei XR1000 as my lid. Seeing the second of two possible designs in the week, with a view to buying then.

[catso]

randlemarcus said:

Just to play devils advocate for a minute, there's a new design Corsair coming out this year, so your new new toy is terribly passe, darlink

But it'll probably be as radical as the last 2 or 3 redsigns, ie a new type of vent switch or mildly different interior design - wouldn't want to get radical on us now would they.

[RedBull]

I just bought a new Shoei X-Spirit too. I got the silver Kagayama replica limited edition for £350 and am well happy with it. Beware that not all Shoei models fit the same though: in one bike shop I was told that the XR1000 (which I was also considering) and the X-Spirit fit differently. Tried an XR1000 and found it tight across the forehead, but the X-Spirit fits perfectly. And yes, before someone says it, they were both the same size
Apparently the X-Spirit is more liek an Arai fit, and is certainly every bit as comfortable as my Quantum E was (I was well overdue a change of lid )

[catso]

amare32 said:

Nice lid, very stealthy.

For me, Shoei fits my head the best so I bought this a couple of weeks ago. Managed to get £120 off the normal price so I'm happy. Decided to spend a little more on the Vemueluen X-Spirit as I love the design

All I need now is to collect the Gixxer and then I'll be a happy camper

Whilst I'm not into fancy helmet paintjobs, (I owned a white helmet once! & I did consider the silver/grey Arai this time but otherwise all Black) that Shoei is nice but the problem I have with Shoeis is that they seem to be too loose when on, which is odd because I have a big (XL) head and can struggle to find a helmet big enough in some makes.

But they do say that you either have an 'Arai' head or you don't, so I guess I'm an Araihead - Oh well I've been called worse.

[Biker's Nemesis]

catso said:

My old Arai RX7 XX has been a great Helmet, 'part of me' for a long time but, (like it's owner ), it's getting old, past it's use-by date. I've had it around 7 or 8 years and although it's not been dropped it is showing some battle-scars and the inside is starting to look 'shabby' so I was thinking that it is time to 'retire' it.

So what to replace it with? well I looked at and tried on virtually all the 'known' brands, weighing up the safety, looks, weight, features, fit, price etc over and over in my mind,....... I finally decided on this;



An Arai RX7 Corsair, effectively an updated version of my old one and visually very similar - no contest really!

So what's changed? well there are a couple of extra vents on top, the vents seem to flow more air, it's got a slightly 'softer' inside feel on my head so it's a little more comfortable, (especially when new), the chin spoiler whilst not so long has a flap under it that seals the base a little better and the opening is a little smaller, (harder to get my big head in and out of), but most importantly it's quieter, much quieter - the only real criticism I had of the old model was the excessive wind noise; above 50-60mph it was really noisy, painfully so at higher speeds, so much that it was essential to wear earplugs.

Now I was told that the Corsair is much quieter so as a test I tried it out yesterday (for the first time) without earplugs and was amazed, sure at *cough* 'higher' speeds it still gets a little loud in there, loud but bearable.

This did create another problem though - I was hearing mechanical noises that I normally miss, noises that got me thinking that the bike was 'broken'

But overall I know I made the right choice, (again), I'm not an adventurous Helmet buyer, I have owned an AGV (it was cheap, I was poor), I have owned a Shoei (it was too tight & too small to get on but, conversley, too big when on), otherwise only Arai.

I love most things Italian; food, wine, women, clothes, coffee, cars and above all bikes but I like my Helmets Japanese.

Arai RX7 Corsair, overall design not changed for years but still the best, yes it's expensive - but worth every penny.

The King is dead, long live the King.........

Good write up, I've used the RX7 since they first appeared, I also use an Arai SV for track days.

[Graham]

Well I popped out to the local bike shop to maybe pick up a pair of boots or gloves and came back with this



I chickend out on the 49.99 helmet it seems even my head is worth more than that.


Interestingly the guy in the shop was saying they only have to pass the euro standard these which is a lot easier than the old British standard, and that there is supposed to be a sliding scale euro ncap stylee comming in soon, but at the moment with the euro only standard its pot luck !!!

Oh yes I also bought a pair of nice and simple leather gloves... I dont fancy looking like robo cop !


I went for a nice simple silver Helmet as that the colour as my car racing lids

Cheers

G

[Rawwr]

Weird, I went from an RX7-XX to an RX7 Corsair, too. My XX was black but my Corsair is the Edwards Laguna in yellow. Also have a Nolan N94 Stoner replica which is comfy but I rarely use it.

[IsMad]

Graham said:

Well I popped out to the local bike shop to maybe pick up a pair of boots or gloves and came back with this



I chickend out on the 49.99 helmet it seems even my head is worth more than that.


Interestingly the guy in the shop was saying they only have to pass the euro standard these which is a lot easier than the old British standard, and that there is supposed to be a sliding scale euro ncap stylee comming in soon, but at the moment with the euro only standard its pot luck !!!

Oh yes I also bought a pair of nice and simple leather gloves... I dont fancy looking like robo cop !


I went for a nice simple silver Helmet as that the colour as my car racing lids

Cheers

G

Snap, except mine is black
I am looking forward to the results on the helmets, it will make interesting reading I think, will see how many of the 50 quid specials are just packaging.

[slim_boy_fat]

Sossige said:

Very nice amare32, I'm looking at the Shoei XR1000 as my lid. Seeing the second of two possible designs in the week, with a view to buying then.

I use an XR1000, plain black and i got it for £160.

Must be the best value lid out there, its proper light weight and very comfortable. Only thing i would say is it can be a bit noisy so worth getting the extra wind guard.

[rsv gone!]

catso said:

This did create another problem though - I was hearing mechanical noises that I normally miss, noises that got me thinking that the bike was 'broken'

On the very odd occasion I ride without earplugs, I always think the same.