Arai helmet

[Jim]

its ok as long as it doesnt have neon lights

or have a hotbodies slash-cut exhaust?

[Awesome]

So you're not interested?

[RyanNicholson]

i'm personally a big fan of my arai profile over the shoei rf1000 i had....it fits me better and just seems like a better lid overall. its been said a million times on here, but go for the better fit. thats what it really breaks down to when it comes to safety, esp if they are the same price.

[jennay]

I have the Arai Corsair. It's my first and only helmet, so I'm hardly an expert, but I will say that it's very comfortable and it has lots of neat little vents. Also, if I recall it's smaller and lighter than some of the less expensive Arais.

I know people have different financial situations, and as I've said, I'm no helmet expert, but why take the slightest risk with your brain? You only have one, and it's priceless. Plus, the cost of a good helmet spread out over five years is not that much, considering how much we all spend on bikes, insurance, other gear, etc. Out of all of that stuff, a helmet is the most important biking investment. Do you really want to look back after a head injury and think "Wow, if only I'd spent an extra few hundred, I might still be able to read/hold a job/not drool on myself?"

As for the five-year rule, I just can't believe that it's simply intended to get people to buy more helmets. If that were the case, helmet companies would just come out with more expensive helmets that were labeled as longer lasting -- these "long-wear" helmets could be cheaply manufactured from existing technology for an easy return. That hasn't happened, so there's probably something to the five year thing. I certainly see no point in taking the chance.

[Jim]

i personally dont buy the whole theory of a more expensive helmet will be safer for your head. If that was the case, then why bother having snell 2005 standards? i think the difference in cost is name brand, comfortable padding, and more air vents. i know that the more $$ helmets are alot lighter too and may fit your head better, but i think that's just about it. I want to try one of these better helmets though because my cheap one is junk and i'm up for the 'pepsi challenge' to see what the difference in expensive helmets does for me

[jmh992003]

Some told me that you cant always go by the snell rating either. Some HJC helmets have a snell rating but are actually plastic, and have been worn by the last 5 or 6 people at louden to suffer head injuries like a concussion or whatever. Therefore louded road race series requires use of a fiberglass helmet with snell ratings. So some of the cheaper helmets are not fiberglass.


at least I think its fiberglass, I could be wrong.

[jmh992003]

P.S. you can get a nice suomy in the 3-400 rnage that is fiberglass or composite.

[union]

i personally dont buy the whole theory of a more expensive helmet will be safer for your head. If that was the case, then why bother having snell 2005 standards? i think the difference in cost is name brand, comfortable padding, and more air vents. i know that the more $$ helmets are alot lighter too and may fit your head better, but i think that's just about it. I want to try one of these better helmets though because my cheap one is junk and i'm up for the 'pepsi challenge' to see what the difference in expensive helmets does for me

Some told me that you cant always go by the snell rating either. Some HJC helmets have a snell rating but are actually plastic, and have been worn by the last 5 or 6 people at louden to suffer head injuries like a concussion or whatever. Therefore louded road race series requires use of a fiberglass helmet with snell ratings. So some of the cheaper helmets are not fiberglass.


at least I think its fiberglass, I could be wrong.

The more expensive helmets are better. You dont have to buy the top of the line helmet to get good protection. You dont want the plastic helmets (polycarbonate) or something like that. You want a fiberglass or a composite type helmet. The difference is the plastic helmets can deform on impact and transfer more energy into your melon. The reason why they are cheaper is because they are easier to manufacture. Just poor some plastic in a mold and cure it. The fiberglass/composite stuff is a bit harder to manufacture so it cost more but the protection is much better.

[sanfelice]

The more expensive helmets are better. You dont have to buy the top of the line helmet to get good protection. You dont want the plastic helmets (polycarbonate) or something like that. You want a fiberglass or a composite type helmet. The difference is the plastic helmets can deform on impact and transfer more energy into your melon. The reason why they are cheaper is because they are easier to manufacture. Just poor some plastic in a mold and cure it. The fiberglass/composite stuff is a bit harder to manufacture so it cost more but the protection is much better.

According to the now-famous Motorcyclist article, the above is NOT true:

Motorcycle Helmet Design, Helmet Standards and Head Protection - Gear Box - Motorcyclist Online

Conventional helmet-biz wisdom says fiberglass construction is somehow better at absorbing energy than plastic. Something about the energy of the crash being used up in delaminating the shell. And that a stiffer shell lets a designer use softer foam inside - which might absorb energy better.

Our results showed the exact opposite - that plastic-shelled helmets actually performed better than fiberglass.

I hear the same b.s. about fiberglass over and over when reading various forums. The only reason I can imagine is that the helmet manufacturers have done a great job of spinning the data and ignoring the Motorcyclist article (which, has to be one of the best researched and investigative articles in any auto-related publication in decades). How can this be? How can the total opposite of the truth remain out there and people keep regurgitating it at the expense of safety? Gee, I wonder if money has anything to do with it... ???

(my apologies to Union - you just repeated the party line)

[union]

According to the now-famous Motorcyclist article, the above is NOT true:

Motorcycle Helmet Design, Helmet Standards and Head Protection - Gear Box - Motorcyclist Online

Conventional helmet-biz wisdom says fiberglass construction is somehow better at absorbing energy than plastic耀omething about the energy of the crash being used up in delaminating the shell. And that a stiffer shell lets a designer use softer foam inside謡hich might absorb energy better.

Our results showed the exact opposite - that plastic-shelled helmets actually performed better than fiberglass.

I hear the same bullshit about fiberglass over and over when reading various forums. The only reason I can imagine is that the helmet manufacturers have done a great job of spinning the data and ignoring the Motorcyclist article (which, has to be one of the best researched and investigative articles in any auto-related publication in decades). How can this be? How can the total opposite of the truth remain out there and people keep regurgitating it at the expense of safety? Gee, I wonder if money has anything to do with it... ???

(my apologies to Union - you just repeated the party line)

You can say what you want. The actual injury results at NHIS should speak for themselves. There is a reason why all the plastic helmets are no longer allowed in the race series.

[978chris]

You can say what you want. The actual injury results at NHIS should speak for themselves. There is a reason why all the plastic helmets are no longer allowed in the race series.

What about the weight alone?

My friend just bought one of those $180ish HJC helmets, and holy shit it weighs as much as 3 of my Arai's put together.

The higher weight/mass of the plastic has gotta count for something in a high speed crash, no? It's gotta pull your head around more I would think... I dunno I'm no physics or crash expert, just makes sense to me that more weight = more ouch.

[markbvt]

The plastic shell doesn't necessarily make the helmet heavier. I have a Shark with a plastic shell and it's a super-lightweight helmet... and it's also considered a very safe one. The design of the foam padding inside the shell is far more important than the shell material itself.

--mark

[akira700]

Union,

The results at Louden dont necessarily mean that cheap is bad and
expensive is good.

What the Motorcyclist test does show is that the
SNELL standard maybe chasing the wrong criteria that may not
actually be safer for you.

Anyway the test is a good read and thought provoking.

[union]

Union,

The results at Louden dont necessarily mean that cheap is bad and
expensive is good.

What the Motorcyclist test does show is that the
SNELL standard maybe chasing the wrong criteria that may not
actually be safer for you.

Anyway the test is a good read and thought provoking.

I never said cheap was bad and expensive was good. Testing things is nice but its only a test. Its like theory. Until its put into practice do you really know? There are a ton a variables that tests and testers may not anticipate.

Once again the real world results speak for themselves. If you want to take the risk then fine but I look to minimize my risk every time I get on my bike whether it be on the track or the street.

[Josephd14]

Don't get your mind set on on any one helmet, I really wanted a Quantum 2 but when I got to motomarket and Allen had me try the different ones on, it was the Profile that fit my fat head the best, the diferent models are shaped for different heads, I was not about to spend $600 on a Q2 that was not as comfortable as the profile for the same money.. Buy the melmet that fits you best, Don't ask wheat others think is cooler, its just being Trendy..

[Jim]

ya that's why I'm shopping for the Quantum-2, I tried on the RX7, Quantum-2 and Profile, and the Quantum-2 fit best. And the Shoei RF1000 fit fine too, which is why Im down to those models now.

[sanfelice]

Union, I am only repeating what I have read and taking at face value what Motorcyclist Magazine has written (albeit with great research). Do you have any other evidence to contradict what they are saying? NHIS banned one brand, did they not? They may have their reasons, I do not doubt any of that. But, I (and you..?) do not have any test facilities in our basements to conduct similar tests as has Motorcyclist in order to dispute their findings. In fact, what they did was very brave, as they probably pissed off MANY advertisers and lost shitloads of ad revenue, all based on reporting their actual findings (part of the reason I hold that article in such high regard). What I find so irritating is that even after that article people repeat the exact opposite of what they said, because a helmet's cost is supposedly a direct correlation to how "safe" it is. NOT true.

Again, you are correct on the basic point - I am taking a leap of faith by believing the article to be accurate. But I certainly put more trust in them than any particular helmet manufacturer's claims.

Having said all this, my next helmet is probably going to be a Shoei.

[Jim]

Having said all this, my next helmet is probably going to be a Shoei.

me too! Just gotta find a good price on eBay

[Jim]

gixxer one - pains me to say it but i like it better

alright one more then.

[union]

Union, I am only repeating what I have read and taking at face value what Motorcyclist Magazine has written (albeit with great research). Do you have any other evidence to contradict what they are saying? NHIS banned one brand, did they not? They may have their reasons, I do not doubt any of that. But, I (and you..?) do not have any test facilities in our basements to conduct similar tests as has Motorcyclist in order to dispute their findings. In fact, what they did was very brave, as they probably pissed off MANY advertisers and lost shitloads of ad revenue, all based on reporting their actual findings (part of the reason I hold that article in such high regard). What I find so irritating is that even after that article people repeat the exact opposite of what they said, because a helmet's cost is supposedly a direct correlation to how "safe" it is. NOT true.

Again, you are correct on the basic point - I am taking a leap of faith by believing the article to be accurate. But I certainly put more trust in them than any particular helmet manufacturer's claims.

Having said all this, my next helmet is probably going to be a Shoei.

Heres the thing and Im not arguing. The common denominator in the past serious head injuries at NHIS was the polycarbonate helmets. Coincidence? Maybe but I doubt it. I believe they are all banned now but I could be wrong. Why take the chance?

As for the Shoei. They make a good lid. Dont have your heart set on it. Get the one that fits the best. I went in the buy a shoei and came out with the arai RX7. Out of the 15 different helmets I tried on it fit the best.

[Puppet]

NHIS banned one brand, did they not?

LRRS (the racing org)...not NHIS (the track)... has banned all Polycarbonate helmets. They also will not a tech a helmet that is over 5 years old, although this is much more standard practice with other racing orgs and trackdays also.

Also note that next year the requirement for LRRS will be Snell 2005 (not Snell 2000)

In fact, what they did was very brave, as they probably pissed off MANY advertisers and lost shitloads of ad revenue, all based on reporting their actual findings (part of the reason I hold that article in such high regard).

Having said all this, my next helmet is probably going to be a Shoei.

I may be mistaken, and I'm too lazy right now to pull up all of the threads from when the article came out...however, if I remember correctly their finding were very much in line with their advertisers. (think parent companies...not just "paid for a page")

Having said all this, my next helmet is probably going to be a Shoei.

Shoei makes a great lid, although as said a few times. The one that fits will do the best job. I'm one of the one's who wears a "cheaper" helmet at the moment. I've been wearing the Scorpion EXO-700 for the past two seasons. I try the Arai's every time I'm in Motomarket...I've owned Shoei's previously, but right now I've found that the Scorpions fit my head the way I want. I also realize that the cost difference means that it's a little heavier and may have a few less features. However, I have hit my head with one and it's now hanging in the garage...I replaced it with the same helmet

[Honclfibr]

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...mets-lrrs.html

[sanfelice]

Shoei makes a great lid, although as said a few times. The one that fits will do the best job. I'm one of the one's who wears a "cheaper" helmet at the moment. I've been wearing the Scorpion EXO-700 for the past two seasons. I try the Arai's every time I'm in Motomarket...I've owned Shoei's previously, but right now I've found that the Scorpions fit my head the way I want. I also realize that the cost difference means that it's a little heavier and may have a few less features. However, I have hit my head with one and it's now hanging in the garage...I replaced it with the same helmet

Yeah, I think the Scorpion's most closely imitate the Shoei fit and finish; Arais don't fit my noggin at all. I tend to think the Shoei fits me better, although the price differential between that and the EXO is large. And, not to beat a dead horse here, but I believe the EXO-400 is plastic and the EXO-700 is fiberglass composite, correct? If so, maybe I would go for the plastic..

(side political rant: Shoeis are apparently still made in Japan while Scorpions are made in China. That may also figure into my decision).

[Puppet]

yes...the 400's are polycarbonate. The 700's are fiberglass/kevlar

[joeswamp]

...But, I (and you..?) do not have any test facilities in our basements to conduct similar tests as has Motorcyclist in order to dispute their findings. In fact, what they did was very brave, as they probably pissed off MANY advertisers and lost shitloads of ad revenue, all based on reporting their actual findings (part of the reason I hold that article in such high regard)...

Again, you are correct on the basic point - I am taking a leap of faith by believing the article to be accurate. But I certainly put more trust in them than any particular helmet manufacturer's claims.

Having said all this, my next helmet is probably going to be a Shoei.

I took that article with a grain of salt, as it was very similar to an article published around 1990 by Cycle (I believe). Remember: these guys are trying to sell magazines by stirring up controversy, if there really is some kind of conspiracy by Snell and the helmet manufacturers to make us less safe then that's big news.

Personally I trust Snell and the helmet manufacturers more than I trust a bunch of journalists with some second hand testing equipment. I have read that one reason Arai/Shoei/etc are more expensive is that they generally offer more individual shell sizes than the cheap guys and have to maintain more production tooling. I'm sure they spend a lot more on product development as well.

Now that I've owned a decent Arai for a few years I'd definitely buy another. It's extremely comfortable, lightweight, and well vented. Don't think I'd spring for a crazy expensive paint scheme though...