Looking for a lid....ARAI

[dombaird]

Hi all, looking for some help, i have scoured the interweb and cant seem to find what i am looking for

does anyone have or know where i could get one

the dunlop brothers, Robert and Michael had a black and white ARAI with there names printed across the side, i dont know the model of helmet apart from it being an Arai

any help?
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DGB

[MCN]

B4UBy, Have a Shoofti at Revzilla.com first. (if you've not gone there before)

The Big Chap there reviews almost all 'decent' bike stuff.
Quite thoroughly/(anally ).
Impartially.

It's an American site but his Eengleesh is quite good.

If you can't work Google.

https://www.revzilla.com/

You are restricted to only buying stuff from one or two suppliers who have retail contracts with two main importers. Therefore prices aren't drastically different no matter where you go.


TranAm is one and the other's name escapes me.

Unless you find someone with a sales drive on or offer you discount.

Retail is supposed to be fckuked so where are the bludy discounts???
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[The Tot]

Here's a more helpful response than the above!

All the pro racers run an Arai RX-GPs or Corsair Vs depending on which part of the world you're from. I've got one in the Nicky Hayden stars and stripes colours and can comfortably say that it's the best and most comfortable helmet I've owned. I also own its predecessor, the Arai RX-7/Corsair.

Being that I have a round-shaped Asian head, most other lids are a bit of a struggle to size up properly, but Arai's top of the range lids work well for me. I've got a HJC Lorenzo Carbon RPHA10+ and whilst it's light, it is nowhere near as well built as the corsairs, nor is it comfortable over long journeys (much to do with fit) - Corsair is heavier but cuts through the air better.

I've done a few reviews of helmets on my youtube so feel free to take a ganders. - granted, Revzilla and SportbikeTrackGear are promoting their products, but I sorta do "what it's like to live with" reviews.

Given that the replacement for the Corsair V/RX-GP is about to hit the shelves, you'll be able to snag a good deal somewhere.

Cheapest I've found is here -

https://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/helmets/arai.html

OR

https://www.helmetcity.co.uk/categories/SHOP-BY-BRAND/Arai-Helmets/Arai-RX7%252dGP/

I paid £470 for my Hayden RX-GP rep at the NEC back in 2010 with a dark visor, and £375 for my Nakano Corsair rep at Hein Gericke back in 2007.

But all I have to say is try them on first! Because of the fact that the Corsairs are bloody expensive, most places don't tend to stock them! If you want to get a comfortable feel and similar fit, try a Chaser V for size at an Arai dealer, then buy the corsair off the internet. They fit is very similar. That said, my next lid might potentially be a Chaser because the liner is more comfortable (plusher but less moisture wicking). Can't be the top drawer feel and materials from blue chip arais though.

Unfortunately, the colour schemes are nowhere near as good now as it was back in 2008-2010! They always used to do an Edwards/Pedrosa/Hayden replica as well as good old Japanese racers (Nakano/Haga/Okada et al).

Top drawer kit and will last you well if looked after. All I have to say is look at Shinya Nakano's rear tyre blowout at Mugello in 2006 and you'll see why most guys would trust their head with Arai.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[MCN]

[The Tot]

No,

Man wants to buy an Arai. I tell him where to buy an Arai and give my first hand experience of what it's like to own one.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[RedPanda]

Do you mean brothers William and Michael? They both dropped Arai a few years ago so any replicas will be very old stock. There’s little point paying hundreds on a helmet when they’re only supposed to last 5 years after construction.

This is William’s current one and is very smart: https://www.williamdunlopracing.co.uk/william-dunlop-bell-helmets/

Re: Michael you can get a Shoei in the classic black and white: https://www.formotorbikes.com/shoei-nxr-michael-dunlop-replica

He has used Arai again this year but I haven’t seen any replicas and his lid has been ruined by Monster sponsorship.
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CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[MCN]

[The Tot]

OK, whatever!

If you want a custom spray job similar to the dunlops, you can try https://www.richartconcepts.co.uk/ a go. Granted his prices are about £400-£750 depending on scheme, but he's done a load of BSB racer's schemes back in the day - Rea & Crutchlow to name a few. Seen some custom jobs he's done for a few guys I know in London too.

However, if you want a current Dunlop replica,

Shoei NXR - Currently £100 off if you're a size S or XL

Depends what you want really, an Arai or a Dunlop Rep? But if you really want an Arai and you know it fits your head fine, pull the trigger. They last pretty well and everybody agrees that whatever scheme you have, you know you'll look like a total boss when you have a dark visor on it.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[P.addy]

Have you tried one on for size. At those prices it best be a nice fit otherwise it's a total waste of cash

[dombaird]

THanks all for the helpful responses

Yeah have tried a few for size, medium in size
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DGB

[Undinist]

Are these the Arais you had in mind?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/whyarai/5589076104/in/pool-thedunlopbrothersrip/
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[Undinist]

[MCN]

[Undinist]

I've bought an Arai RX-7 from Japan before, it was a good deal. (The carbon RX-7 is an even better deal - £1300 over there, compared to £2500 here.)

Sometimes they have paint jobs we don't get in the UK. The only difference in spec is you that you won't have a little ACU sticker on the back - and without the sticker your helmet is rejected by scrutineers at British tracks. (So you have to borrow a mate's helmet for the scrutineering, then race in your 'unsafe' helmet. )

Sometimes you can find obscure Japan-only helmets at Jap shopping sites like Rakuten and J Mart.

Just the other day I got a genuine Arai blue iridium visor for £50, which was only £5 more than my local dealer's price for a clear one. Postage was free and there was no customs duty. European shops usually want £65+.

I would caution against buying an Arai RX7 for road use, that huge exhaust on the top may be great for hot track sessions, but it's bloody noisy. Which I suppose makes very little difference on an unfaired bike, but if you've carefully chosen a flip-up screen for long, peaceful motorway journeys it can be a bit annoying that your megabucks helmet, supposedly 'the best', is actually a bit shit.

Here's the Jap Arai catalogue: https://www.arai.co.jp/jpn/topics/2015_catalog.pdf

If anyone likes this post, I'll let you off the karma if you chip in £50 towards my carbon open face:

https://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab257/eurostar2/arai2.jpg
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S