New helmet [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

slofox

18th November 2008, 15:03

AAAAuuuuugh...I just bought a new helmet on the interdweeb...using the plastic......which is already near full........how the hell I am ever gonna pay it off I don't know....probably go broke before I break my head open at this rate....:no:
BUT the original is loose, ergo unsafe....that's what comes of having a weird shaped head that doesn't quite fit either medium or large......damn! Maybe I should have had it read years ago..........:weird:

vifferman

18th November 2008, 16:01

Swatcha buy then, Mister, huh?

Didja try different brands'n'models, didja, huh?

slofox

18th November 2008, 16:37

Swatcha buy then, Mister, huh?

Didja try different brands'n'models, didja, huh?

Yeah I dicked around for a coupla weeks and tried on everything I hadn't already tried........the Arai seems to be the best fit for a weird head shape like mine....and I can get into a medium more comfortably than any other. The Raid II is an L - the M was just too tight, but now after six months and wearing a balaclava in the winter, the L is loose if I don't wear the friggin balaclava...moral of the story is DON'T wear a balaclava.....although I suspect it woulda got loose anyway on accounta the shell being just plain too big...ngngngrrrr.....anyway a spare won't go astray......or maybe somebody wants to BUY it from me......??? Like make me an offer I can't refuse......

vifferman

18th November 2008, 16:44

So didja buy an Arai?
There are two different helmet shapes - the "normal" Arai, and the Corsair shape, which is a 'long oval', like the Shoei helmet shape.

slofox

18th November 2008, 17:29

So didja buy an Arai?
There are two different helmet shapes - the "normal" Arai, and the Corsair shape, which is a 'long oval', like the Shoei helmet shape.

Yeah I bought the Arai......"chaser" is the model...(hope that doesn't conjure up too many chasers for me.....).
They told me that there are only two shapes available in NZ - the "European" shape and the "Asian" shape......whatever that means.......the one I tried was the "European" shape but I didn't buy it from where I tried it on. The one I have got is supposed to be the same....I hope.....

Marmoot

19th November 2008, 08:34

Yeah I bought the Arai......"chaser" is the model...(hope that doesn't conjure up too many chasers for me.....).
They told me that there are only two shapes available in NZ - the "European" shape and the "Asian" shape......whatever that means.......the one I tried was the "European" shape but I didn't buy it from where I tried it on. The one I have got is supposed to be the same....I hope.....

The correct terms for Arai are 3 different shapes. Round, Round-oval, and long-oval.
Not sure which one is for which type.

For a comparison, I fit RX7 and my brother fits Chaser type. We have same size (S 55-56), and when I once rode with his Chaser it felt 'pressurised' and I actually ended up collapsed and almost fainted due to restricted blood flow to the brain. True story.

Not sure about Arai Dealers' story about slightly different shaping based on the market (i.e., asian/japan, european and US). I personally think they're just trying to protect their distribution line and discourage online purchases.

HenryDorsetCase

19th November 2008, 08:45

So didja buy an Arai?
There are two different helmet shapes - the "normal" Arai, and the Corsair shape, which is a 'long oval', like the Shoei helmet shape.

thats an interesting factoid, thanks. I went out helmet shopping when I bought my last one and was fully prepared to buy Arai. Then I tried on Shoei and it fitted better so I bought it. I thought it was because I have a "Shoei shaped" head..... now I have another to try on. Having said that I think my brand loyalty may now be with Shoei.

I have had FFM, AGV and a bunch of different Bell helmets too but Im very happy with Shoei...

HenryDorsetCase

19th November 2008, 08:46

vifferman

19th November 2008, 09:00

I have had FFM, AGV and a bunch of different Bell helmets too but Im very happy with Shoei...
Same here - I'd had Star, FFM, several AGVs (never again!) and really like the Shoei. (I really liked the Arai too, but couldn't see why it was double the price of the XR1000).

CM2005

19th November 2008, 09:30

i have a suomy head

slofox

19th November 2008, 10:36

I would never buy a helmet or gloves online. I think that is stuff you need to try on before plunking down the cash. Its not a good deal if it turns up and doesnt fit or whatever.

I HAVE tried what I bought before ordering and I know it fits.........I am not that stupid....yet...

slofox

19th November 2008, 11:04

The correct terms for Arai are 3 different shapes. Round, Round-oval, and long-oval.
Not sure which one is for which type.

This is what I have read too....but the local shop selling Arai stated as i mentioned in my post above....I think he mentioned that one was parallel imported from some Asian source.....hence the "asian" shape.....who knows?
But he also said that the full range of shapes was not available in New Zealand - not sure which one is the default. But whatever the shape, it DID fit.......

slofox

19th November 2008, 11:05

i have a suomy head

I have an empty head..........

Marmoot

19th November 2008, 12:27

This is what I have read too....but the local shop selling Arai stated as i mentioned in my post above....I think he mentioned that one was parallel imported from some Asian source.....hence the "asian" shape.....who knows?
But he also said that the full range of shapes was not available in New Zealand - not sure which one is the default. But whatever the shape, it DID fit.......

So if I'm an Asian living here, should I buy here or should I import online? What if I happen to be an Asian with European head living in here? Or in an Asian country?

Whoa, a can of worm :)

slofox

19th November 2008, 14:45

So if I'm an Asian living here, should I buy here or should I import online? What if I happen to be an Asian with European head living in here? Or in an Asian country?

Whoa, a can of worm :)

Yeah. Buggered if I know what the dude meant...:buggerd:.....I reckon just get one that feels right..........

pritch

19th November 2008, 16:16

Whoa, a can of worm :)

Yeah but it has been that way for long time. Apparently us occidentals, caucasians, or whatever they're calling us this week, have rounder heads, asian heads are a longer shape.

Beware of buying Arai from an Asian supplier, unless of course you happen to be Asian...

Owl

19th November 2008, 16:28

So didja buy an Arai?
There are two different helmet shapes - the "normal" Arai, and the Corsair shape, which is a 'long oval', like the Shoei helmet shape.

I think you'll find the Corsair is a "relaxed round oval" vifferman. The Viper is "long oval" and they do an "intermediate oval" and "round oval" as well.

Warr

19th November 2008, 16:30

New helmets etc etc.. Have only just spotted this thread & all the permutations and why's and where-fores.

1. The only balaclava I use for winter riding is one of those thin 'silk'?? ones.
Good cause it stops the wind on any exposed neck bits and head still fits in the same helmet.
2. New helmet .... I hope you found one with the flick-trick internal sun-visor :)

My last Nolan is history, but John @ Boyds showed me the latest Nolan with internal sun visor. I think I will have one of them :) :)

HenryDorsetCase

19th November 2008, 16:30

Every time I see "long oval" I picture the Alien. Look at his head, thats a looooong oval all right.

vifferman

19th November 2008, 16:40

I think you'll find the Corsair is a "relaxed round oval" vifferman.
Huh. Well, that's just what I was told - obviously incorrect. In any case, I found the fit of the Arai Corsair and the Shoe XR-1000 to be very similar (well... at least equally comfy, for me).

1. The only balaclava I use for winter riding is one of those thin 'silk'?? ones.
Good cause it stops the wind on any exposed neck bits and head still fits in the same helmet.
And it's still pretty warm.
I find it hard to believe those "Silk" balaclavas are silk (unless it's just the name), although silk does come in "raw" and "polished" varieties.
Works anyway, although being follicly challenged, when I wear my balaclava I end up with marks on my gourd from the seams, even wearing it inside-out.
Anyway - how you doing, Warren? Healing up well, I hope.

slofox

19th November 2008, 17:11

The only balaclava I use for winter riding is one of those thin 'silk'?? ones.

Mine is "silk" too....and thin, But it still makes a difference to how the current helmet feels if I don't wear it...ie loose. And I wore it for the same reasons as you did Warr.........will think again next winter. Maybe with a better fit it will be OK......
Dunno about the visor bit....I wear photochromic lenses anyway which do the job quite well so far......otherwise I might get a tinted visor and become faceless......ht. ht. ht.

Warr

19th November 2008, 17:20

...............
Anyway - how you doing, Warren? Healing up well, I hope.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1816404&postcount=796

Marmoot

19th November 2008, 18:14

Yeah but it has been that way for long time. Apparently us occidentals, caucasians, or whatever they're calling us this week, have rounder heads, asian heads are a longer shape.

Beware of buying Arai from an Asian supplier, unless of course you happen to be Asian...

If my father was an asian and my mother was a caucassian, would I fit either or neither?

CHOPPA

19th November 2008, 22:13

Ive had around 20 new arais always top of the range, have just switched to the top of the line shoei and i wish i had of done that years ago!

Its so much lighter, the fit is very similar, but for racing there is so much more visability its unreal!

Shaun P

19th November 2008, 23:37

pritch

20th November 2008, 09:26

If my father was an asian and my mother was a caucassian, would I fit either or neither?

I understand your difficulty.

An ancestor of mine was part vulcan and I have to get a helmet with special cut aways for my ears...:innocent:

vifferman

20th November 2008, 09:28

Its so much lighter, the fit is very similar, but for racing there is so much more visability its unreal!
Yeah, I noticed that too, going from a string of AGVs to the Shoei - the visibility was so huge, it was almost like not being a fullface at all!

HenryDorsetCase

20th November 2008, 09:30

I understand your difficulty.

An ancestor of mine was part vulcan and I have to get a helmet with special cut aways for my ears...:innocent:

Dont think I wouldnt get cosmetic surgery for pointed ears if it was available. Ive already got the haircut.

Live long, and prosper!

Cajun

20th November 2008, 09:33

Yeah, I noticed that too, going from a string of AGVs to the Shoei - the visibility was so huge, it was almost like not being a fullface at all!

that interesting i found my agv ti-tech better than my shoei raid II

vifferman

20th November 2008, 09:36

that interesting i found my agv ti-tech better than my shoei raid II
My last AGV was an X-Vent.

slofox

20th November 2008, 12:50

So the new helmet arrived today........had ordered a Medium size.......no prizes for guessing they sent a Small......ngngngngngngrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmuttermutter dangflangabingbang....

pritch

20th November 2008, 14:35

So the new helmet arrived today........had ordered a Medium size.......no prizes for guessing they sent a Small......ngngngngngngrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmuttermutter dangflangabingbang....

I'm currently awaiting the arrival of a new helmet. Due in country today I'm told. I'll have to wait for Santa though...

I sure hope they do better with the size than that effort.

Cajun

20th November 2008, 14:38

i got my agv ti-tech from USA, here in 5 working days,

NZ importer had no mediums in any style in stock, in the ti-tech/gp-pro model

slofox

20th November 2008, 15:26

So the new helmet arrived today........had ordered a Medium size.......no prizes for guessing they sent a Small......ngngngngngngrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmuttermutter dangflangabingbang....

Well I rang the Co. (motorcyclegear.co) and they have organimised for the agent to drop the correct size into me here at the shop this evening....lucky the importer is based in Hammertown huh? So I give 11/10 for fixit skills....IF it turns up.....and 1/10 for getting it right first time skills......haha

captain_andrey

20th November 2008, 15:38

vifferman

20th November 2008, 15:43

I just got myself a shoei raid II, fits me great but a little hard getting on and off. Also got a tinted visor, weird thing, the replacement visor has 2 plastic 'rivets?', one on each side of the visor that seem to go right through the visor? does anyone know what they are for? (the visor that came with the helmet doesn't have them), can they be removed?
They are for race tear-offs. You can unscrew them, but it'll leave holes in the visor, which will whistle. (Could be interesting if you can play tunes by varying your speed...)

Mully Clown

20th November 2008, 19:38

They'll be for pinlock anti-fog inserts.

SARGE

20th November 2008, 20:09

im shopping around for a Simpson Bandit .. think i can find one in NZ????? :Oi:

slofox

20th November 2008, 20:38

OK - The Arai arrived right on time and I tested it out on the ride home. Points I noted:

1. The medium Arai looks quite a lot smaller than the large Shoei. (fancy that!)
2. Fit is more snug as would be expected.
3. The Arai visor remove and replace system is crap compared to the Shoei's......
4. The Arai is quite a lot quieter when riding - possibly due to better fit but definitely worth having. Much less low frequency wind roar when hunkered down on the tank with head in the slipstream over the windshield.
5. The Arai ventilation system is way better than the Shoei's. A lot less fogging and finer adjustment of gap if you want it opened a little.
6. The pinlock insert degrades vision more than I would like - it is NOT clear at all....

Overall I am happier with the Arai than the Shoei - mainly due to better fit.