Cheep Shoei and Arai sales on trade me

[imdying]

hmmmm. you live in a strange land...

Oh that's comedy gold that is

[Katman]

The customer is not always right.

And I never suggested they were. The secret is to find out how to nicely let them know they're wrong.

But, I'll reiterate the fact that, without my customers my business has nothing - it would not exist. If more bike shops realised this there'd be a whole lot less pissed off customers.

[PrincessBandit]

hmmmm. you live in a strange land...

What a classic. Nearly sprayed my coffee all over the keyboard.

p.s. Balu is very happy with his Shoei, I'm very happy with my Shark, and I still have my FFM sitting on the shelf awaiting the day it might ever be required again. Gotta go with what fits well and makes you feel confident that if the unthinkable happens you can rely on it to do it's job, regardless of the logo/graphics/brand etc. (Cool does not necessarily equate with safe, and I wouldn't want a Shoei multitec unless they were the only think on offer and they were compulsory - just think they look weird, but thats only my opinion).
**PB now runs away to hide**

[Marmoot]

hmmmm. you live in a strange land...

Obviously one of them is yellow and the other is brownish.
Not very european-like. Perhaps more from the orient?

[boomer]

Obviously one of them is yellow and the other is brownish.
Not very european-like. Perhaps more from the orient?

they look a lot like the Europeans I've seen Marmoot....!!

[Marmoot]

they look a lot like the Europeans I've seen Marmoot....!!

hmmmm. you live in a strange land...

[Owl]

Fair enough but how do you know? It seems to me the only way you can be sure is if you buy them from an authorised dealer. If this guy was so up front why can't you visit him to try the helmets on. Why does he have to hide behind trademe if he is so genuine??? Just a thought.

You can’t try the helmets on because he doesn’t stock them Jono! He has them drop shipped directly from Hong Kong to your door.
As for authenticity, I took the liberty of deconstructing my (niao’s) helmet over the weekend and checked for the Arai markings on the inside of the shell. They’re there and only visible when the EPS liner is removed. I also gave it the axe test (it took a beating) and then cut the shell in half. Everything stacks up as it should with triple laminated construction and aramid reinforcing.
This helmet was not serviceable before I destroyed it!!!

[Big Dave]

This helmet was not serviceable before I destroyed it!!!

But It would have been way funnier if it was.

[Owl]

But It would have been way funnier if it was.

Funny for some Dave, but complete stupidity from where I sit.
I'm not that keen to prove a point!

[Big Dave]

I've seen them after they have been cut open - never done it though - have visions of half a helmet and a circular saw flying through the air.

[Owl]

Hacksaw much safer!

[Big Dave]

Hacksaw much safer!

No torque.

[Owl]

No torque.

Sure you're not Tim the toolman Taylor? You could rig something with a Rocket III starter motor!

[HenryDorsetCase]

Fuckity Fuck.

this whole "different shapes for different markets" thing has bitten me on the arse.

I got the August Two Wheels at the weekend and on p105 there is MY NEW HELMET. An ad for an Arai Vector with the 1983-84 (pre Rothmans) Freddie Spencer colour scheme. (the Rothmans one has darker colours and the Blue on top rather than red) Above it is a Schwantz replica.

So I rocked into my local emporium yesterday morning saying "Want"!!!!!! like a two year old.

They have a Schwantz rep, which I tried on, and which fitted me at least as well as my current helmet (Shoei Raid 2) which is the most comfortable-est helmet I've EVER had. I'll take it, I said, but you have to get me the Spencer colourscheme.

No worries, they'll call me back.

The call came and its "Sorry, no can do".

This is where it gets odd. Apparently in NZ we get one version of Arai helmet: European from memory. And in Straya they get a different market spec (US?) which is different models, different paint schemes etc. What they are advertising in Straya is a VECTOR. What I tried on in the shop is a CHASER. Confusingly, both are available in Schwantz rep, but only one is available in Spencer rep. That Straya gets the Spencer rep (US market) is perhaps not surprising I suppose, but I am majorly pissed off.

Ive rung Peter Stevens in Melbourne to check price and availability, but I am very reluctant to mail order a helmet. Basically it becomes a $1000 ornament if it gets here and doesnt fit.

GAH!

Anyone tried on a Vector?

[imdying]

Yus, I have a friend with an Arai Chaser/Vector/whatever the hell it's called... the NZ fitment and the US fitment, both in medium, both fitted his swede find. He tried it on here, I brought the unusual colour scheme back from the states, job done. Totally ghey it wasn't available locally, but that's life.