The on going Helmet debate

[Josephd14]

So what you think Arai or Shoei RF-1000 For all around cost/quality

[OreoGaborio]

I prefer the one that fits my head.

That said, i had/have an RF1000 & i like/liked it alot. It's slightly banged up so it's been retired to back-up race lid status.

I'd like an Arai eventually. Next time I need a helmet I'll probably go get fitted for one.

[stevecbr900rr]

Both,... I have to say i got the Aria Vector for christmas nice Helmet fits and feels great, then i got the Shoei X-Eleven last week and i can't believe how nice the thing is... much better quality than i thought. I have 2 RF-1000s and i'm real happy with them so i'm leaning at the moment to the Shoei's. When i get some road time in on the Vector i'll let ya know for sure.

Hey Joe... you should try the Soumy Spec R-1 went riding with virtaulbong he had one, real nice helmet. I liked it so much i bought one. Look at IMotorcycle Store before you buy they have great prices. You have to call or email they can't show the prices for stuff or they get in trouble. But the X-Eleven i bought was everywere else for 623.00 with them it was 492.00. There really cheap with all there stuff. And as i just read on your other posts your gonna need to save a few bucks.

[Currently]

I had an Arai Quantum "fitted" to my head ... worst money I ever spent.

I hated that helmet with a passion.
Finally traded it for a pair of P103 Dainese pants.

The first Shoei X11 I put on ... couldn't believe the fit and the quality.
That is the helmet that fits my head perfectly. Right off the shelf.
Feels just like it was molded just for me custom. No tight spots, just a
nice even pressure all around. I now got two of them and getting another
black one this spring.

That Arai was sized one size bigger and they just put pads into the damn
thing until it fit. It felt like a cheap patchwork quilt. One spot tight, the
other loose ... I just hated it.

It ain't the price either, I tried the Arai RX7, beautiful helmet but I feel like
I am trying to put a bottle cap on my head. It is true what they say, if you
have a Shoei head ... get a Shoei helmet. If you got an Arai head, get that
helmet. I got a friend that has a Z1R and loves it, fits perfectly. Whatever!

[stevecbr900rr]

"It felt like a cheap patchwork quilt".

[ma71t]

I have an Arai head.... dirtbike and street jsut picked up the new "Tommy Gun" in black for $480 from my super top secret confidential hookup.....my main thing with lids is the fit and you gotta have removable liners.... i friggin hate a stinky helmet...... and a paint job with guns is always a bonus!!!

[Punjistick]

I ultimately went with the RF-1000 since it fit me better and was easier and quicker to change shields than the Arai's.

Plus hands down Shoei's have better graphics. Imo.

[stevecbr900rr]

Shoeis graphics can't be beat...by far the best. Soumys are good to but some of them are just to out there. Flowers and shit.

[a13x]

Arai Quantum/f, like a orgasm for my head.

Plus my Arai has the best graphics.





Plus my old Arai saved my life.

[stevecbr900rr]

Saving of the cranium always a good thing.

[Currently]

Yeah ... those graphics don't count ... they are one of a kind you
special artistically connected bastid! : (that is the envy speaking)

+10,000 for any helmet that saves a life!

[a13x]

Yeah ... those graphics don't count ... they are one of a kind you
special artistically connected bastid! : (that is the envy speaking)

+10,000 for any helmet that saves a life!

ahhaa and -10,000 for drunkdrivers!!

[xxdcmast]

Now see you gotta understand that ARAI is the 800 pound gorilla per say. People already expect them to be the best and so they are the best. Wether or not this is true is debateable. I have had both arai and shoei and they both worked well. I have yet to crash in my arai and I hope I dont but i am sure both will protect my canteloupe fairly close to the same.

After that its all personal prefference.

[SVRACER01]

i cant pick one. my street lid is a Shoei X-11 and my race lid is an Arai Quantum

[union]

I prefer Arai. Its not because of the name of the graphics. Those always come second in picking a helmet. The fact is the arai is the one that fit my head the best. The Shoei which I wanted over the arai when I was buying a helmet just didnt fit right. I dont think you should buy a helmet just because of the name given all other factors like safety rating is the same. If it doesnt fit right then its useless.

[RandyO]

my current helmet is a Shoei TZR, and my last helmet was an Arai signet

they are both the same headshape cause the both fit me perfect, the Shoei is a newer helmer and slightly lighter, I don't know if it's lighter materials or because it's a slighly higher cut around the neck, I have more range of motion with the Shoei, the Shoei also has similar periferal visiblity

with every thing I've said, I still prefer the Arai for 2 reasons

1, it's much easier to get my eyeglasses on & off thru the larger Arai shield opening

2. I much prefer the Arai shield change system I especially dislike putting a smoked shield on the shoei, it's figity lining up the latch

[LuvDog]

Like most people have said... which ever fits your head.

From my experience with the 2

Shoie - Quieter, Better shield change mechanism

Arai - Lighter, better ventilation

[richw]

Never had an Arai

Always happy with the Shoei's I think my rf1000 has great ventilation

[benVFR]

I've been pretty happy with Both.

I had two Shoeis, an RF-900 IIRC, which didn't fit right cause I was clueless and no one helped me. Then I had a Z-2 which fit quite well but it did kind of "wear out" after 10k miles or so as the seals & springs for the visor stopped working as well as they did when new.

Now I'm happy with my Arai Profile, which probably fits the best.

I would say the Shoei is better in cold weather. The chin vent on the Arai is never really fully closed.

[FNG]

Josphd,
I have a shoei and it is a great helmet. I was in SKY cycle in Lunenburg and they have a few Shoies and a few Arais that a couple years old but still new. They are marked way down, I think they are at about 30 to 50% off list too.
Lee

[SSearchVT]

Arai for me because it fits my head... Both helmets are excellent choices for protection - find the one that fits you better...

[Josephd14]

Josphd,
I have a shoei and it is a great helmet. I was in SKY cycle in Lunenburg and they have a few Shoies and a few Arais that a couple years old but still new. They are marked way down, I think they are at about 30 to 50% off list too.
Lee

I haven't been in there in a while, i'm not a huge fan of that shop.. Maybe I will take a look though, fortunately for me both helmets fit my dome rather well.. I know that both offer abundant prtection, I was interested to see what people thought about wind noise, wieght, and quality of moving parts of the helmet, i'm leaning shoei only because I used to have a RF-900 that I let go with my last bike, and I loved it.. Thank you all for the helpful info..

[FNG]

I haven't been in there in a while, i'm not a huge fan of that shop.. Maybe I will take a look though, fortunately for me both helmets fit my dome rather well.. I know that both offer abundant prtection, I was interested to see what people thought about wind noise, wieght, and quality of moving parts of the helmet, i'm leaning shoei only because I used to have a RF-900 that I let go with my last bike, and I loved it.. Thank you all for the helpful info..

I am not a fan either but with motorcycle gear you have to buy it where you can find it unless you want to drive miles or buy stuff with out trying it on.
Lee

[TheIglu]

Joe, take the chance and go to MotoMarket. Those guys know their shit. You may pay a little more, but you will get the best helmet for your noggin.

Never owned a Shoei. I am on my second Quantum F.

Here was the first:



I literally landed on my head from a nasty highside.

I'll be purchasing a Quantum 2 this year.

[stevecbr900rr]

The only experience i have is with the Shoeis. The Arias i got this winter so i can't give any opinions as of yet. But the reason i got a couple is because so many people swear by them,...i had to get one. Plus the fit and the softness of the interior just got me. Plus the protection factor is great. I feel the shoeis are on this same level though. The Shoeis are great on the sliding levers for the venting they feel firm and don't have that fall off feeling if you move them to hard. The chin lever snaps closed and open nice and firm for me thats the one i use the most. Plenty of air move through mine from the chin and from the top... the X-Eleven i just got has twice as many vents as my RF1000s so that one should be even better. Noise all i have to say is what noise...very low in this department. The sheilds have easy releases and are very secure when moving them up and down no sloppyness and they seal well around the opening. I had a KBC piece of crap,... whistled around the opening no matter how much i tried to adjust it. Anyway the Arias shield comes off easer and quicker than anyother helmet ive had or tried,...and theres been a few. I have an OGK and that helmet is really light it doesn't feel like your wearing anything and for me the Shoei is just as light or a tad heavier but still feels really light. The size for me is great too,... it looks like im wearing a small but i take a medium. It seems i get better peripheral vision because the helmet seems more fitted and theres alot more shield. I have to say with all this said even though i don't have alot of road time with the Aria. I think it's a good helmt too. You can't go wrong with either. One more thing try the Soumy if it fits it's a real nice Helmet too. Thats all i will ever wear from now on is Aria,Shoei,Soumy,OGK no more OGKs after this one though,...to much money shipping from overseas plus the cost of it...forget it.