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Arai Helmet Repair?

Discussion in 'Clothing, Gadgets & Equipment' started by Ambrose, May 22, 2021.

  1. I agree and reckon Arai has got a winner with the Quantic: sporty, tour-able, and the first lid to achieve the sexy 22-06 standard.

    I'll be keen to see how it compares to the forthcoming Shoei NXR2. But it appears the new Shoei won't be available until at least September.
     
  2. I’ve had both in the past and found them equally comfortable, but I definitely haven’t got a Shark head (queue the memes)
     
  3. upload_2021-5-23_15-40-3.jpeg Tr
     
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  4. Had the same happen to an RX7 on a hot day, seemed like the glue softened/melted?

    IIRC I used contact adhesive to stick it back.
     
  5. 20 years!!! I seem to recall that you should replace your lid every 4-5 so you've had a very good innings out of that.

    It's not just the shell but the lining, there are multiple layers of foam and polystyrene of different densities to absorb the shock on impact, not sure on a 20 year old Arai, but if you remove the lining the polystyrene is painted black and if you can see any white cracks it means it's been compressed and should be replaced - I know as an Arai guy checked mine at a BSB event and highlighted the cracks which is an indication that the shock absorbing material had been compromised.
     
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  6. My own view is that it's a bit like belts timing... the manufacturer's legal team will make them hedge in a very conservative way to avoid any nasty outcomes, but one man's 5 years and another man's 5 years might be the difference between a helmet worn every day in all weathers and 20k miles a year vs an occasional rider on high days and holidays...

    I agree with @bootsam that it's the EPS liner that degrades invisibly rather than the shell, and depending on your unique mix of head grease, sweat and cleaning regime / care for your helmet your helmet is going to last longer or less time.

    5 years for a critical safety item isn't unbearable. 20 years out of a helmet is astonishing but then if you're the high days and holidays guy, perhaps that's been a very forgiving 20 years. :)
     
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  7. I worked in a bike shop for some years, trained to sell Arai and Shoei and honestly every time someone tells me they 'don't have a Shoei head, or don't have a Arai head, I literally want to scream...... There are Shoei's that I can't even get my head in without pain, but there are another load of Shoei's that I've worn that are the most comfortable lids ever, same as Arai, have had a Arai Chaser for years, but always struggled with the Quantums. It's totally down to trying all the helmets and finding the model that fits and what suits your budget and styling, hence why I'm now wearing a X-Lite 803rr.

    Before anyone gets upset, I'm a big boy, I pay my money for things and you all do as well, just frustrates me that's all.

    I used to see people that had lids that were 10 years old, and while the age 'limit' is generally 5 years, that's driven by the fact that the white polystyrene style interiors go 'hard' and therefore limit their shock protection. Also, if there has been stone chips through the lacquer the UV will break down the shell material.

    So, I have seen guys with 10 year old lids that have been immaculately looked after, never used as a handbag to hold their gloves or phone/wallet or put on wingmirrors that look like they just came out the shop, likewise 1 year old helmets with frayed straps and absolutely trashed to the point where we advised it was binned.
     
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  8. Having done 10k km in India it's the second most dangerous motorcycling place on earth (after Pakistan IMHO, of the twenty pus countries I've ridden in). As a bloke who's hit his head a few times (mainly racing, but also bicycling) I'll be keeping the hats on my bonce. But given they're protecting what alcohol is damaging I'm probably peddling a hypocritical line!
     
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  9. in response to the "inner" and "outer" debate, although this will probably shake a few cages, with regard to the "inner" integrity/ useful life, it's obviously not seen by the current Regulatory bodies as critically as some might imagine, or they wouldn't have allowed the "one size fits all" helmet design where some of the Large/ Extra Large helmet sizes can result in areas having precious little "inner" in the first place!
     
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  10. I’ve a big fat head due to genetics so in the clear, I hope.:confused:
     
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  11. erm, no, like me, you would have the least protection if you chose a "one size fits all" type. I have two different makes that do this - HJC and LS2.
    The fact that SHARP has only existed since around 2007 and has now been finally adopted as a standard worthy of recognition, despite there already being at least two long-running, existing distinguished bodies, ( e.g. BSI and ACU) demonstrates that, what is and what isn't a good/satisfactory/(insert description) helmet is still a grey area (npi) and up for debate.
     
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  12. I have a Scorpion, AGV and a Schubert does this mean I’m off the hook?
     
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  13. I can't see Schubert resorting to this, but a search of the model of Schubert ought to reveal more. Some manufactuers might use 3 shells to cover 5 sizes.
     
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  14. SHARP was wide of the mark though as in the early days the testing regime resulted in £75 piss pots scoring as well as Arai’s. I know what I’d rather crash wearing, and indeed have.

    It’s an important starting point I guess but the quality of the build is what keeps the helmet fitting your head 2-3 years after you have bought it, the piss pots barely fit from day one. Kinda proven by the fact we are discussing a 20 year old Arai

    and I’m sure it’s stated but all the top manufacturers sell at least 3 shell sizes, 4 even maybe with Schuberth. Arai also have European, US, and Asian shells, to allow for the skull shapes typical to those types of people
     
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  15. I wasn’t saying SHARP was perfect, I was trying to say that a lot more investigation into the safety of helmets was and is needed. The man/woman in the street could still do with far more information as a result of testing. I’m not sure the exact testing that you’re talking about, but it was pretty clear to me that even early investigation was done from a safety point of view and involved testing areas that hadn’t been covered before. Each to their own but I would like to know what “wide of the mark “ or a “piss pot “ actually translates into, or if it could be proven that SHARP were singularly responsible for “piss pots “being introduced even!, but if SHARP decided that certain changes to helmets were safer as a result back then, then I for one, would believe them. As said, the purpose of having three shells for example, covering five sizes in most cases is nothing to do with accommodating skull variations throughout the world, it’s to do with saving money. Each size of helmet should be designed to accommodate that size of skull with the same safety approach in mind, regardless of how the end result might look, wouldn’t you agree?
     
    #35 Chris, May 24, 2021
    Last edited: May 24, 2021
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  16. sorry, I wasn’t clear, multi shell sizes, for each of the different ‘regional shapes’ normally.

    Sharps been a good thing longer term, things like Emergency services removable cheek pads, aerodynamic fixtures now have to be designed to come off in a accident to stop neck twist etc. It’s just that the first few years took a bit of reading between the lines. I think it was MCN who ran an article at the time claiming an ‘Arashi’ helmet was 5 star just like a Arai RX7, which is just really hard to understand unless purely based on a test score and without all the other periphery things like fit and finish etc
     
  17. I bet the 20 year old Arai looks the same as the current line up with the same technology - not really a great endorsement for Arai if you think about it.

    AGV K6 - superb.......
     
  18. 20 years old.....bin it!
     
  19. I'm quite sure the reputable manufacturers produce shells of differing sizes. The old Bell advert- 'ten dollar head / ten dollar helmet' brigade is of course a different story...
     
  20. Yes, of course they do, between manufacturers, I guess that’s what Phil was trying to say then.
     
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