New stuff!

[Matt K]

Well, I finally broke down and bought my arai signet GTR... I know it's stupidly expensive, but I like it so much more than anything else I 've tried on. Stupid arai not selling their crap online, who do they think they are? Anyway, I took a quick ride with the new hat and my new Teknic lightning one-piecer. The suit is a little tight, but after onlyu like 15 minutes on the bike it's already starting to loosen up where it needs to, for the most part. And now I'm all color-co-ordinated (except for my red gloves and grey sneakers, that is, I still haven't got boots)

[wastedincome420]

Originally posted by Matt K
Stupid arai not selling their crap online, who do they think they are?

Yeah I just heard about that after talking with RandyO. I share the same opinion on this as he does....which is.....Its a good thing because it forces you to go to a local dealer and get properly fitted

[TheIglu]

Yeah, but when I want to buy a nice smoked shield for my Quantum F online, very few places carry accessories because they can't carry the helmets.

What it boils down to is that it is a good move by Arai for safety of their customers; bad move by Arai because more people will not want to go running around town finding one and get a lid that won't fit right anyway.

[Matt K]

yeah, see, my evil plan was to go try them on at motomarket untill I figured out what size I want, then go buy it online. I guess the local shops probably love that Arai isn't sold online anymore...

[lee955i]

Personally, I think it's a bad move (businesswise) for ARAI. I've seen there marketshare raise DRAMATICALLY over the last couple of years because of their availiability and their (reasonable, but still expensive) online pricing. I think those days are over. The sad thing is that I have a Quantum head and am now on my 4th. I simply refuse to purchase another one at the exorbitant prices the local dealers want, then shell out sales tax on top.
When I needed a lid just for track duty last year, I bought an AGV X-Vent. Quality protection for sure but not as polished as the Arai, nor as comfy, but for 20 min. sessions, I don't even notice it.
I'm currently in a search for my next street lid so when I do need one, i'll know what non Arai to get.
Cheers, Lee S.

[RandyO]

you just have to fine the right dealer... I paid 325 for my signet, at a dealer, comperable to what online vendors were selling them for, and I got it right with the right shape (I have a signet head) size and thickness cheekpads the first time...

in my opinion a poor fitting helmet is more dangerous than no helmet at all cause its going to cause you to get in an accident. it's one thing for a pillon to have a poor fitting helmet, but its another dangerous one for the rider

[Hinesy]

I agree with you Lee, I think it's a business move. I don't think the move away from online sales was aimed so much at safety (which is admittedly not a bad side benefit) I just think they were trying to preserve pricing.

With a bunch of new online sources coming into the market they probably disliked the price reductions that would have to emerge. The local dealer gets pissed because everyone is trying helmets on at his place and then buying for less from a bulk wholesaler online. It's good for the dealers and it keeps Arai from having to offer sale prices to give them a chance. I guess they prefer high-end brand recognition over greater volume, which I can't really criticize on a business level either. Clearly people will still buy them and they retain their top shelf status.

I just wish I could afford one, but Shoeis have always been that much cheaper and they're still very high quality imho.

It will be interesting to see if Arai has to lower prices or change its positioning (like offering a greater range of mid-priced helmets) to keep up with all the new competition. There are no shortage of respectable lids out there these days that didn't exist even five years ago. Helmets seem to be one of the most competitive areas of the gear market today.

[SilverSurfer]

I dig my Arai Signet, though I absolutely HATE the shield mechanism and the side covers that pop off when I'm sitting at a light! Arai isn't on my list of next helmets if they're going to artificially pump up the price.

My next helmet, provided it fits correctly, is a Roof Diversion:

[oreo_n2]

figures, a helmet as gay as you!


actually, i was looking at them, but they dont have DOT or snell approval yet right?

[SilverSurfer]

No, they're not DOT approved, I'm not sure about Snell. They have passed all of the European safety standards. That's good enough for me.

BTWFU.

[Hinesy]

Would look great with your bike SS. I'd like a Suomy Bostrom rep or one of their Duc model lids...

[twrayinma]

stop kidding yourself, hinesy... NOTHING would look good w/ stuffer's bike.

[Hinesy]

This is what looks good, and is most commonly found with Sean's bike...

[oreo_n2]

doesn't it need to be DOT to use on American roads?

[twrayinma]

Originally posted by Hinesy
This is what looks good, and is most commonly found with Sean's bike...

Originally posted by cookiebitch
doesn't it need to be DOT to use on American roads?

and how would you determine whether or not she was DOT?

[SilverSurfer]

Originally posted by oreo_n2
doesn't it need to be DOT to use on American roads?

Legally. I'm not concerned with legality, just safety of my noggin.

[twrayinma]

much as i hate to defend SS, if those beanie lids can get a DOT sticker (fake or not), then the roof lids should be <i>just</i> fine.

obligatory SS slam: he's just gonna pose with it anyway, so it doesn't matter if it's legal or not!

[SilverSurfer]

Originally posted by twrayinma
stop kidding yourself, hinesy... NOTHING would look good w/ stuffer's bike.

As opposed to your ride, Timmay?!

[twrayinma]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahhahahahahaha!



i don't care... that's too funny.

[RandyO]

You can always get the same fake DOT stickers that the harley riders put on their scull caps

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by RandyO


A man with a gun is a citizen
A man without a gun is a subject

Ok, I've been seeing your tagline for a while now, and I can't take it anymore, I gotta ask: How does having a gun make me a citizen? I ask this because I don't have a gun, clearly making me a subject, a paeon, a nonparticipant. I am somewhat frustrated by this and wish to obtain citizenship. When I get my gun, how am I supposed to use it to excercise fully my democratic rights? Should I shoot those who don't vote the same way I do? Or is it only the politicians I'm supposed to whack?

Please advise, I need to know how big a gun I'm going to need here...

[RandyO]

the right to bear arms is a basic human right and everybody should have a rocket launcher in their garage

[beet]

i can sell ya
its the american way

[beet]

$$$$$$ allso the american way

[Hinesy]

Originally posted by RandyO
the right to bear arms is a basic human right and everybody should have a rocket launcher in their garage

Hopefully those who do will have accidents cleaning them and do us all a huge favor...