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Arai Helmets

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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My son just bought himsel a new helmet--snell approved??
He gave back to me an old ARAI X75 helmet--full face--this helmet was given to me a few years back by my cousin in New York. I have never had it on because iwas not fond of full face helmets. I just tried it on and it fits but the material that is molded onto the helmet plastic itself seems hard(under the padding) is that the way they are made or is it just petrified--i think the helmet is 25 years old
 
If your talking about the stryofoam(sp?) then it is relatively hard, but a 25 year old helmet? Maybe it's about time for a new one? Just bought another HJC LT-20 off ebay, NOS for less than a $100. Same helmet from Chapparral is $242.
 
moto_dan said:
If your talking about the stryofoam(sp?) then it is relatively hard, but a 25 year old helmet? Maybe it's about time for a new one? Just bought another HJC LT-20 off ebay, NOS for less than a $100. Same helmet from Chapparral is $242.
Click to expand...
Dan I have a new hwlmet-2 years old--i am just wondering about this helmet--it is in good shape-- is there a reason why this helmet should be discarded or changed
 
Most helmets, even the 'expensive' ones, have a 5 year shelf life. After that, the material gets old, hard, and wont protect as well. My opinion, destroy it and get a new one.
 
moto_dan said:
If your talking about the stryofoam(sp?) then it is relatively hard, but a 25 year old helmet? Maybe it's about time for a new one? Just bought another HJC LT-20 off ebay, NOS for less than a $100. Same helmet from Chapparral is $242.
Click to expand...
Damn. And I just bought mine (solid color (black)) for $163 :( at a local shop (on sale).


-=Whittey=-
 
I'll have to admit that I wear a helmet with an unknown history and it is stupid for me to do so. I did try to replace it with a half-helmet but I can't stand the new one. Unfortunately for many of us monetary issues come before safety but anybody wearing a 25 year old helmet must have gotten their moneys worth out of it! You may as well be riding around with a paper bag over your head...

Helmets need to be x-rayed after every accident (including dropping them) but this will not tell the owner if the helmet is failing due to gasoline fumes (putting a helmet on a gas tank ruins it). Also, driving around with your spare helmet hanging from its strap will destroy it as will propping it up on the bike by jamming a handle bar end into it.

Steve
 
Arai Helmets

The soft polyfoam surrounded with cloth will deteriorete to the point of it crumbling to a dust like texture. The reasons it deteriorate are:

Sweat and oil from your head (main cause), ambient moisture, heat and the naturally occuring ozone that is airborne.

But your sweat and oil from your head accelerate the process of deterioration when combined with all the others.

To lengthen the life of the soft foam use a bandana or one of those pre-cut bandanas like they sell in JCWhitney or Dennis Kirk. Cost approx. $9.00 but will considerably lengthen the life of the polyfoam and cloth, and keeps it from getting stinky.

One more thing, when storing it away for the season, wrap it up in layers of news papers, put in cardboard box and seal box. Or buy some dessicant, bags filled with silica jel.
 
Re: Arai Helmets

master_dragon42 said:
The soft polyfoam surrounded with cloth will deteriorete to the point of it crumbling to a dust like texture. The reasons it deteriorate are:

Sweat and oil from your head (main cause), ambient moisture, heat and the naturally occuring ozone that is airborne.

But your sweat and oil from your head accelerate the process of deterioration when combined with all the others.

To lengthen the life of the soft foam use a bandana or one of those pre-cut bandanas like they sell in JCWhitney or Dennis Kirk. Cost approx. $9.00 but will considerably lengthen the life of the polyfoam and cloth, and keeps it from getting stinky.

One more thing, when storing it away for the season, wrap it up in layers of news papers, put in cardboard box and seal box. Or buy some dessicant, bags filled with silica jel.
Click to expand...

I guess i willjust use it as an ornament in the garage and go back to wearing my open face helmet--the styro foam in the ARAI feel like its made of concrete.
Thanks ALL for the input
 
An open face..I think I would like to protect that pretty face of yours scotty :))
 
saaz said:
An open face..I think I would like to protect that pretty face of yours scotty :))
Click to expand...
I have nothing to lose--never wore a full face. I understand they are better. Ill look for one on sale somewhere.
 
I have been recommended to replace a helmet every five or so years, by a number of people, including some who used to race motorcycles. On a similar note, I replaced mine this year with an Arai Signet GTR (~$450 at a dealer), and it is the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn. Great ventilation, light weight, and a nice lining. Its not even horribly hot here in MD with 90 degree days. I would recommend replacing your helmet if its more than five years old, but they are expensive and I pushed my last one for about 7 years. It depends on your opinion of their effectiveness and your need to protect your brain.
 
Somewhere around here I've got a magazine interview with someone at Shoei who states the helmets life is 5-7 years (just to confirm the 5 yr above)

All helmets sold in the US have a sticker in them with the month and year of manufacture. If you don't see that, don't use it.

That $100-400 is a lot less than you'll pay for gas over 5 years.

How much is your head worth?
 
I have a beautiful red white and blue Bell helmet that's about 25 years old. Paid $300 for it which was a lot of money back then. It hangs out in the garage and the wasps build beautiful nests in it. That's what its good for.
 
Helmet's

Helmet's

Hi
I think it was the May issue of Motorcyclist magazine that had the big write up and testing of helmets, I think if you guy's can get your hands on that months issue, READ IT. You also can forget everything you all thought you knew about helmets, as I found out, it's ALL wrong. Stuff like Snell rating? Used lid's? Fibreglass vs Poly shell's? The "I race so I need a super lid"? Forget about it! It IS a eye opener and will probably make all the guy's who bought really expensive helmets thinking that money get's you more protection, very angry! Find it and read it.
Keith
 
I recommend that article as well. There's a lot of food for thought in it. One of the main points of the article is that according to Harry Hurt (and many many others in the madical/safety arenas) as a result of a helmet meeting Snell standards it as a side effect transmits an amount of Gs to the noggin that is way above what is considered safe. The standards used in DOT testing, according to Hurt, are more in line with the vast majority of head impacts that occur in accidents, and the DOT helmets are allowed to be softer, and thus absorb more Gs in the majority of impacts. The harder Snell helmets are required to deal with a type of impact that seldom occurs in street riding, and even more seldom in racing. There's a lot more to it than that, but that's kinda sorta the gist of it. I'm sure this will cause outrage in some quarters but I think it's worth a read, there seems to be a lot of weight to what Hurt is saying. He was also featured in a similar article in Motorcycle Consumer News, but the Motorcyclist article seems a little more in depth. In any event a new helmet is a cheap investment considering what it protects, especially if a $90 Z1R will do the trick.
 
Bell Zepher

Bell Zepher

Bell is now selling it's DOT approved Zepher multi color and solid color helmets at Super Wal-Marts! for $77.80 but there is no support for these helmets or parts avaliable. :roll:
 
Do those cheap Zephyrs have the rigid EPS foam in the chinbar? For some reason, a lot of cheapo helmets leave this essential piece of protection out. Other than that, they'll protect just as well.

More money buys more comfort, less weight, less noise, better venting, and better graphics and finish. For me and a lot of people, HJC helmets are the sweet spot in value and features -- for less than $150, I can get a top-of-the-line HJC AC-11.

Shoei helmets are hella expensive, but I have to say they are a bit more comfortable, and they seem to feel lighter and smaller on your head somehow. I haven't had the money to actually ride with a Shoei on, but I've heard they are quieter.

Arai helmets are even more expensive, of course, but the few I've tried on have seemed heavenly, with a vault-like quiet.

If you think full-face helmets are uncomfortable, try a new one. They get more and more comfortable every year.

A few other factors to consider:
Black or dark colored helmets absorb A LOT more heat from the sun. If you'll be riding behind a fairing or in traffic, the "skull oven" effect is even worse. Darth Vader stays inside his space ship for this reason. I've seen some flat black helmets from Hardley-Ableson that have to be absolutely brutal in the sun. Good thing Hardley riders only have to make it to the next tavern.

Visibility is worth thinking about too -- my bright solid yellow HJC is easy to see and does not absorb heat. There was a guy at the rally with a bright safety orange Shoei that would be an even better color.

Be aware that you give up that extra bit of visibility with intricate patterns and less visible colors
 
I just bought a Scorpion full helmet a few weeks ago. I feel these are near the top of the line helmets at a medium price. It's fiberglass/kevlar with a nice removable liner. Very comfortable and light. They are relatively new and I betting the prices will rise in the future.

That said, if the liner is good in a helmet and it has not been left in the sun all the time it should have a life far beyond 5 years. The fiberglass is not going to break down from normal use and force you to toss it after 5 years. The helmet companies would like you to buy a new one though as often as possible. :)

And shortlid, you can get parts for Bell helmets on their web site.
 
The limiting factor for helmet life is the padding and cloth inside (the "comfort liner"), not the hard EPS foam. After enough wear and time, the padding just loses its ability to give a proper snug fit. For me, that's maybe 3 years at the most, but if you ride less, you might get a few more years out of the comfort liner.

At least the liner in my current helmet (HJC AC-10) snaps out for washing :-& . However, this is the third and last season for this helmet.
 
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