Arai - any good these days?

[Shaft]

Finally got to replace my aged Shoei Raid, as the liner has started to break down and I can't find a replacement.

It's been a pretty good lid, but there's a couple of Arais that appeal to me more than the latest Shoei range.

I haven't bought one since the late 80s, but I know there's a few Arai fan-bois here and I've read a few not so good reviews of late (breaking vents, self destructing visor ratchets, etc) so what's the skinny on the modern product?
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[andys675]

the raid equivalent is now called the qwest

you may have missed the big boat on cheap helmets as last winter there were loads of them on ebay, XR1100's will still come up cheap as they're discontinued try fc moto or helmet city

I got an arai rebel, its got some features making it more naked bike user friendly, basically a quantum ST with a few tweaks £270 for a 2014 design that was £500 in the shops

the vents are made to break off, if your head is sliding down the road you don't want a vent to snag on the tarmac and rip your head backwards
____________________
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[Doovy]

I love my Arai Chaser V much more than my Shoei XR1100.

Arai is so comfortable, like putting your head into a pillow. Very light and good ventilation. Smaller shell too and good looking.
____________________
Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[Fisty]

Ive now had Arai's for the last 15 years, usually the base models. None have ever gone wrong and the added bonus of being able to take them for a free service at the Arai stands is brilliant.

I have only just replaced my decade old helmet and that still fits like a new one!!
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[MCN.]

I absolutely only wear Arai and have done since 1996.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Another vote for Arai here too. Very comfortable even after a long ride. I would not switch either now to another brand.

[1198]

I ditched a 12 month old Shoei to put my head back where it's most comfortable - in an Arai.
The Shoei just felt, well, wrong. No disrespect to the brand, I just seem to haves head shaped to fit inside the Arai.

[Moo.]

I have to say... i was looking for an open face helmet, and after trying every brand under the sun, the only one that fitted was the Arai Freeway, which was also the most expensive...

Anyways, found one going cheap and its the best quality helmet i've ever seen. Never had an arai before, but if i put my hands either side of all my full face helmets and squeeze, they all flex slightly.

Try this on the arai, and even though its an open face, its strong as hell
____________________
A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Supermoto_Fan]

I prefer the look of arais but they don't fit like a shoei
____________________
Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[angryjonny]

Always wore Arais. Loved them. Had a condor and a chaser. This time round though I just couldn't find one that fit right. Ended up with a Shoei XR1100. Nothing else sat right on my head. I've always been told you either have an Arai head or a Shoei head. I have, apparently, had both.

[JP7]

I changed from Arai to Shoei a year ago. I had a trusty Arai Viper GT that I loved, but I just couldn't find a new Arai that fitted as well and I didn't really feel that their range had moved on much.

I then tried on a Shoei NXR, and once I had the pads custom fitted it felt amazing, like it was part of me. It's the best one I've ever had, it's so much quieter and lighter.

I'd love another Arai sometime, but Shoei wins the day for me at the moment.

[arry]

Wife's got an Arai Quantum - the visor mech is pretty fiddly and doesn't feel as sturdy as my XR1000; and one of the vents at the front lost its spring retainer after a handful of uses so the lid had to go back.

To be fair to them, they put it right even though it was over a year old, but still - on a £350 lid it just shouldn't be happening.

[arry]

[P.addy]

The most comfy lid I've worn is an Arai Chaser V... I fully intend on grabbing one in a discount at some point.

[Shaft]

^^^ Chaser V is what I'm most interested in, although there's a couple of designs of the Axces II I quite like.

[Old Git Racing]

Try both on, Arai and Shoei, it's the fit that matters not the name or graphics.

OGR
____________________
2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Shaft]

[stevo as b4]

I think for me when the time comes to get a new lid (apparently right away) then I'm going to make a shortlist of brands/models I like the look of and try them on to see what fits and feels decent quality.

I've had an Arai QF and it's been ok, but it does not feel really well crafted and solid, but then do any other brands? I've never tried or wanted to try a Shoei, just a personal preference thing really.

I'm going to look at the more classic and retro looking helmets from:
Bell, AGV, Arai, and Simpson.

If none of those in a colour and style I like fit me well, then fuck it, I'll just go and buy an MX helmet and goggles and live out my MX rider fantasies on my moped!

[angryjonny]

Arai helmets frequently perform surprisingly poorly in Sharp tests, in contrast to their reputation. Question is how reasonable and realistic Sharp tests are.

Hammond was wearing an Arai when he crashed his rocket car. In another helmet he might have died. Or, in another helmet he might still have his wedding memories and eyes with life in them.

Scientifically rigorous real-world testing would be considered inhumane, so just get one that fits well and hope for the best.

[Wednesday Biker]

Had an HJC before and now a Frank Thomas and never spent more than 80 quid.
Been good comfy helmets so I can't imagine an Arai not been any good at the prices they cost.

[Shaft]

Quick update.

Finally bit the bullet and headed down to Helmet City, Tatsfield.

I was actually slightly disappointed by the Arai, after the opinions voiced here - it didn't feel as instantly comfortable as I was expecting, it's quite heavy and the visor mech is as fiddly as they come.

I spent a good couple of hours wandering about, trying all the alternatives, with a decidedly confused look on my face.

In the end, I did go for this

https://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/zedheadchap/Chaser.jpg

If I'm honest, I chose it as the best of a bad bunch - nothing I tried on fitted me better, but it still didn't feel quite right, possibly because I'm so used to something else.

I'm hoping it will break in.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[struan80]

[mentalboy]

[P.addy]

I tried probably 10 different helmets, Bell Daytona and Arai chaser....However the Shark Skwal was very much the best fit and nicest feel. Not bad for under 200 quid.

[Mattaria]

After an Arai Rebel, where's the cheapest place to get them these days?