Arai Lids

[vt6]

Anyone own an Arai Condor, if so what are your experiences of them? Half decent or is it worth paying that bit more for a corsair or viper etc?
I've not tried one on yet just getting opinions on them before i go shopping.

Cheers

[Blau Zedong]

Had a Condor since they first came out. Can't fault it other than the visor change mechanism is an aqquired taste and it's possible to snap lugs on the side plate untill you get the hang of it.
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[Gazdaman]

Tried one on in Heine Gericke. Beautifully comfortable. Just couldn't quite justify £200.

Gaz

[vt6]

I'm happy to spend 200, i've got a shoei xr1000 atm its ok but i fancy a change. I've had a look at the upper range of arai's is the extra $$$ worth it, not quite sure i could cope with spending 450 on a helmet lol.

[Faldo]

I have a Viper GT. It is comfortable, but quite noisy, especially with the visor up.

TBH, I'd go for the cheaper one if I were you. I paid 100 odd quid for the AGV I have, and would probably prefer it to the £400 Viper if it wasn't too big.

As for the visor change mech, I struggled like mad the first time, but once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of piss.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[The Tot]

Go for one which you feel the most comfortable with and not the one with the best colour scheme - I got a corsair and i have to constantly wear ear plugs to prevent further hearing loss. The condor/chaser/Viper GT are very good road lids and exceedingly comfortable.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[MattHirst]

I had a condor and it certainly did its job in my accident back in june. I am looking at getting another bike come the spring and i will definatley buy another condor, without even hesitating.

But like the titmeister said, try on loads of helmets (trust me, the folks in the bike shop won't mind) and get one that fits you the best and is the most comfortable on your head.

I see so many people that buy £400+ shoei's because they have a tarty paint job and they literally 'fall' onto their head because they are so big. Remember, you can't see your helmet when your riding so whats it matter if you look like a retard. Just ride where nobody knows you
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[Knacker]

https://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/Squeaky_86_2007/n1018467724_172833_6177-1.jpg
Arai Condor Stellar Silver = £225
Black Visor = £45
Having a helmet that feels as good as it looks = Pricless
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[stinkwheel]

I have one. Very comfortable.

They cut the end of the chinstrap on my one a bit short which has lead to it fraying near the press stud. Might want to watch that.

They ought to be giving you a warranty card and service record with an Arai helmet. It has come to my attention that a certain popular high street motorcycle clothing emporium may have been involved in paralell importing of Arai helmets from overseas. These may not carry the same level of warranty from the manufacturer. Apparently more of an issue with the top-end arais.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Knacker]

I heard something about a batch of viper GT's that let in water

£500 lid and its as waterproof as a siv
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[MattHirst]

Probably the visor mechanisms were installed incorrectly thus the visor won't make a seal properly (with the seal that runs round the edge of the window or whatever you want to call it)

But my condor had holes in the polystyene where the vents were, so maybe people that spent £500 on helmets were to scared to come off, so they went so slow that water went in the vents
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[the grim reaper]

I moved away from Arai as I found that the Shoei X-Spirit fitted me, unlike the rest of the Shoei range. It's a lot lighter, a lot quieter and also a lot colder!

[edit] forgot to mention, the visor mechanism is a joy to use and no sidepods makes it a lot quieter. I can change the visor with the lid on.

Cheers

Grim
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[veeeffarr]

I have a Viper, crap, been in the shop for repairs more than I've worn it.

[x_BikerChick_x]

We know!! We sorted it for you!

The point, however, is that with a helmet of that quality and price, on the rare occassion that a fault does occur, the aftersales is brilliant and the problem is always remedied with no cost to yourself!

Ensuring that the fit is right though is definately the most important bit!! If a Viper doesn't fit, but a Condor does, go for the Condor.
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~ I don't want to have it all, I just want to have enough ~

[chris-red]

I have a Coursair RX7, it is awesome, I got it for £400 with 2 pin lock inserts chucked in. I've had it 2 months now and not had a problem I bought a visor (Genuine Arai dark visor) for I think £30/35 delivered from www.racevisors.co.uk and it came with a free Arai visor bag. It's a lot of money but a massive step up from the TiTech I had before it. The finish is far better and it is lighter, the vents on it actually work, which is a first on any helmet I have tried. The pull down chin gard is a great idea that works and it looks the tits.

I ride at least 12k miles a year so I will get the use out of it. I wasn't intending to buy a lid that dear but I tried it on and loved it the other models felt nowhere near as nice.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[The Tot]

Chris, how deaf are you now that you're riding with the corsair? They're silly loud!

Needless to say if you want a corsair, wait until next feb when the RX7GP comes out (or whatever they call it here) - That way prices of the old Corsair will drop - I've seen them for £350 at some retailers which is a bargain price for such a good lid - noisy mind!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[chris-red]

[fourten]

I'm quite anti-Arai mainly due to the Visor system. I have a Shoei XR-1000 and the visor system on that is just piss easy. Whereas on the Arai the visor itself feels brittle, it's a big fiddle to take on and off and feels like your snapping it when you eventually get it to click on and off...

But that's just me- I switch between tinted and clear quite a fair bit so the visor system is hugely important to me.
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[chris-red]

Like any visor system the Arai just takes getting used to. Getting it off can be tricky but I can still change it in 15 seconds or so. No where near as fast as my AGV though I could do that in about 5 seconds
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Knacker]

Why would you ever need to change visors lol


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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[chris-red]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[veeeffarr]

[The Tot]

Visor change mechanisms are indifferent. I really DID NOT want an arai purely for the visor change - but the comfort of the liner and fit was more than enough to sway £375 into my nakano rep - unfortunately, a good lid, but slightly ill fitting lid has been consigned to spares (shoei XR1000). Both lids have their benefits but for me and long distance comfort, it has to be the arai every time... no more aches around the temples where hair gets caught... at least they come with a chin guard as standard and Hein Gericke in edinburgh actually took their time to size the lid correctly for my head - which J&S didn't do for my shoei.

With practise, anybody can get a visor changed on an arai... just depends how forceful you are.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism