Arai helmet dealers

[Falko]

Looking for dealers in central MA that have a decent selection of arai. I need to replace mine this winter as it is getting up in age. i'm looking at the rx-q and profile.
thanks for any help.

[old timer]

I THINK Motorsports International in Auburn carries them...make a few phone calls .

[DoubleRGirl]

if you know which one you want i have a wholesale account and could probably get you a good price

[whynot]

Be sure to check the manufacture date inside the helmet, or some have the date label on the strap. I've seen some new helmets on the shelf that are a year or more old. They're usually fresh at Seacoast.

[Spooler]

Iwas at motorsports international a couple weeks ago, they said they don't keep arais in stock but they do special order them

[Expat]

Iwas at motorsports international a couple weeks ago, they said they don't keep arais in stock but they do special order them

+1, none on the shelf there!
Duncanmoto??

[Falko]

Thanks, all. I'd like to try on before i buy to be sure i get the right size/fit. From reading the arai site, rx-q and profile have two different fits, close, but different. my current helmet is a quantum f, anyone speak for fit comparisons between it and the two i am looking at?

[Karaya One]

Drive down 84 - Manchester Honda in CT

Motomarket in Acton stocks quite a bit of Arai.

[Sheppo]

DuncanMoto and he's a Sponsor of NESR

[Karaya One]

Be sure to check the manufacture date inside the helmet, or some have the date label on the strap. I've seen some new helmets on the shelf that are a year or more old. They're usually fresh at Seacoast.

Why is a helmet that has been on the shelf for over a year bad?

[whynot]

Not that it's bad to start with, it's just that helmets have a shelf life (lots of discussion and opinions on this). I go with a max. life of 7 years from date of mfg. Of course if you crash the helmet before then you might replace it anyway, or get sick of the color or design, you might get rid of it before 7 years.

Once I bought a helmet mailorder, it was already two years old, sort of NOS.

Why is a helmet that has been on the shelf for over a year bad?

[hondarider102]

Duncan moto, if you don't want to travel that far Wagner Motorsports in Worcester has them

[Karaya One]

Now I'm confused.

The first post said within one year is fresh, and that seems to be a good helmet. But now seven years is OK?

Was your two year old helmet OK?

I imagine the helmet company using technology to lengthen helmet life in case it doesn't sell within a few seasons so it doesn't have to be destroyed and they can make a profit.

So - what is acceptable helmet shelf life?

[whynot]

Sorry to confuse! I'm saying that I like to buy a really new helmet so that I can get maximum life out of it, and the most value for the money. So if I were to get a helmet that's been on the shelf for two years, then I'd use it for a max. of 5 years. When I shop for a helmet, I want the date of manufacture to be recent, like within a few months, so that I can get 7 years out of it.

[Karaya One]

Seven years out of a helmet???

You are a cheap bastard!

[whynot]

Seven years out of a helmet???

You are a cheap bastard!

[old timer]

Call me a skeptic but , a ' shelf life ' on an inaminate object that is just worn , as opposed to say a football helmet that is battered , just sounds like a money maker for the manufacturer...

Just my opinion...

[union]

Call me a skeptic but , a ' shelf life ' on an inaminate object that is just worn , as opposed to say a football helmet that is battered , just sounds like a money maker for the manufacturer...

Just my opinion...

OT you know that underwear you have with all the holes in it? Think of the helmet like a piece of clothen. Over time sweat and just regular usage break down the interior so its no longer as affective as it should be.

[Karaya One]

I have heard and understand about how our sweat and such can break down a helmets liner. I spent some time with an Arai tech years ago at the Javitts show and it was an interesting conversation.

But to complain about the "freshness" date of a helmet in the box on the shelf I don't understand at all.

It's not a tomato. And the helmet manufacturer is most likely quite aware of storage and time issues with regards to their helmets technology.

Of course, I have had to deal with people who have refused to buy a tire that was over three months old and gave me incredibly lame excuses as to why they are in the right about this so product dates issues are no stranger to me.

[union]

I have heard and understand about how our sweat and such can break down a helmets liner. I spent some time with an Arai tech years ago at the Javitts show and it was an interesting conversation.

But to complain about the "freshness" date of a helmet in the box on the shelf I don't understand at all.

It's not a tomato. And the helmet manufacturer is most likely quite aware of storage and time issues with regards to their helmets technology.

Of course, I have had to deal with people who have refused to buy a tire that was over three months old and gave me incredibly lame excuses as to why they are in the right about this so product dates issues are no stranger to me.

Only place I could see it really mattering is if youre racing. Im sure Sto see it all the time since he is next to the tech garage. They check the dates on the helmets. If its over a certain age then they wont pass it. You could lose some lifetime out of the helmet if you get an older one. For me its not an issue since I test out the effectiveness of the helmet to resist pavement before it gets too old.

[benVFR]

Not that it's necessarily a factor for many here but IIRC SCCA also checks helmet dates at their events.

It's not necessarily that wearing the helmet damages it.. I think the crushable foam liner just degrades over time. Just about everything does.. exposure to oxygen, etc..

The foam is a petroleum product just like plastic, etc.. so I think we do overemphasize the whole issue.

My Arai is 5 years old for 2011... it's going to be hard to go spend $500 to replace it when I'm not riding as much as I used to.

[Karaya One]

I understand the racing aspect, as they expect the technology to improve over time, plus a helmet that has been hanging around / being raced with for several seasons may have had an impact or two.

My Quantum is now 6 years old, looks and feels great but I wear flip-ups now for my last two helmets. And those I replace every three. I'm due this season and really wish Arai made one.

But helmet freshness dates when it's still in the factory box? I don't get it.

[Manny]

I understand the racing aspect, as they expect the technology to improve over time, plus a helmet that has been hanging around / being raced with for several seasons may have had an impact or two.

My Quantum is now 6 years old, looks and feels great but I wear flip-ups now for my last two helmets. And those I replace every three. I'm due this season and really wish Arai made one.

But helmet freshness dates when it's still in the factory box? I don't get it.

Well dealers discount them, presumably for a reason other than graphics. Lots of the deals on arai you see online will be for helmets with a stamp manufacture date that is 18 months or more old.

[bostongixxer]

If you want a precise fit, go to DuncanMoto. They will measure and fit you correctly.

[Karaya One]

Well dealers discount them, presumably for a reason other than graphics. Lots of the deals on arai you see online will be for helmets with a stamp manufacture date that is 18 months or more old.

Michelin discounts too on overstock or discontinued. But the tires are still perfect. Arai / Shoei / HJC etc face the same issues. The warehouse still has quite a few Vectors left and the Vector 2 is coming. Do they dump the old Vectors in the dumpster because the new one is coming?

Closeout sell to anyone who wants in. This is how Michelin works, and I imagine a helmet company is the same way.

So - why is the 18 month old helmet bad? I see a lot of people talking helmet freshness but not a really decent reason about why it is important to a street rider.