arai helmets

[ghettorigged]

OK, I went to a shop and tried on 3 helmets - and Arai, a Shoei, and a Suomy. I really liked the fit of the Arai the best.

My problem is that they didn't have many to choose from and the prices were CRAZY. I expected them to be high but not quite that much.

Does anyone know where to find a better selection of Arai helmets online?
thanks

[Eightmarky]

From my experience, Arai is pretty much top of the line and you're going to have to shell out for one.  I did and I'm pretty happy with mine.  Once you know your size and style, try Chapparal or some of the other big websites listed in some of these posts.  Don't expect to find a huge savings though, just a little better price than the local dealer.   :mrgreen:

[BadBatzMaru]

yeah, i like mine a lot too. got it from an ebay store, i forget which one but was still pricey. just a bit cheaper than going to my local dealer.  if you can afford it, its worth it IMO

[pantablo]

worth every penny. Arai has a policy against online sales officially but you might be able to order from a brick and mortar store with an online store.

[snapper]

Make a trip to MA, Brockton Cycle has a BUNCH of Arai helmets.    They are pretty good prices too.  A friend of mine just bought an astral for 389.
:mrgreen:
If you look on their web site brocktoncycle.com you can see what they actually have in stock.

[The Buddha]

Arai and shoeii have been claiming they are the top of the line... in comfort, maybe, or in amenities, and may even be in looks and removability and cleanability... I just dont think they are universally the best... BTW My only shoei experience has been the RF900 I haven't even worn an hour, and the arai of my friend... Arai is light, shoei is lighter, arai is vented well, the shoei is OK, arai looks pretty and the shoei less pretty, but I believe the BR 16 I have is stronger than both... The arai's shell is so thin, and its made of fiberglass too, the BR 16 (Bieffe) is kevlar and thick... over strong... and in the street you encounter hard and heavy objects more often than you do on the track... The extra 2lbs or so... might also make a huge diff... But in the case of sliding under a car... a bieffe or a stronger helmet made from kevlar/carbon fiber is likely to work better than a softer race track oriented helmet... Just my .02.
Cool.
Srinath.

[werase643]

a Bieffe was the worst helmet i ever owned(15 years ago)...Srinath you on crack again??

helmets are about comfort and quality(safety)....if you get run over by a mack truck....you will probably die.....wearing any helmet.
wear what fits well and you can afford..... I like arai....lighter than shoei(crack again srinath???) but i can afford shoei

[goat]

I love my arai (astral-x). It was f$#@ing $400 but it was the only helmet I could find that fit me well enough to warrent paying for (I tried on anything I could find that was dot and snell approved).

I don't know if it would be worth the extra $$ for street riding if it weren't for the fit part, though. hjc is snell and dot approved too but they cost a lot less.

[The Antibody]

This site doesn't have arai, but it has some of the best prices around www.helmetharbor.com I have an Icon and like it very much.

 -Anti  

[Dandy D]

Just FYI. For my first helmet I looked at arai - picked myself up off the floor and moved over to the Icon mainframe. Here in Edmonton I haven't seen an arai for under $1000 CAD - yes 3 zeros!!! no mistake. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!?!  :guns:  :x I got the ICON for $399CAD (plus 7% tax)

Ride safe
Dandy

[snapper]

Maybe I should start a service.... I get the helmet at Brockton Cycle and ship.  lol!  
As for selecting your helmet... #1 is fit fit fit.  For me thats a biggie, as you all know I am a pinhead.  I am so limited in what will fit my peanut of a head!  Its a pain in the arse!  I have discovered I can go expensive or el cheapo kids stuff.  So I have done the expensive end.  Kills me to spend 450 on a helmet, but if it fits right I will do it.

I have a Suomy and a Shoei.  The shoei will be for the cold rides now because its stretched out a little from last years cold rides.  Its a hell of a lot quieter than the Suomy.  But the Suomy fits real well and the outter shell is a bit smaller than the shoei.  Shoei just needs to come out with one more shell size.  My xxs shoei is a like a medium shell or something.  I look like I freaking live bobble head!  But it has more padding than any helmet I have ever seen!   :lol:

But back to the arai- if you can call B.C. and pay for it.. We could work out a "pick up & mail".  Its not like Brockton takes the time to help you with the fitting or anything like Arai would like.  

[The Buddha]

a Bieffe was the worst helmet i ever owned(15 years ago)...Srinath you on crack again??

helmets are about comfort and quality(safety)....if you get run over by a mack truck....you will probably die.....wearing any helmet.
wear what fits well and you can afford..... I like arai....lighter than shoei(crack again srinath???) but i can afford shoei

Helmets are about fit... what you like may not be what is best for you, and what might be the right fit might cut of circulation to your head... what feels right sitting in a chair, may not work at all at 80 mph... and what works on the track might not work on the street... I picked bieffe for the fit... fomr 92-2002 I only wore bieffe... nothing else fit. There was the old bieffe somehting or other, then in 95 I bought a BR15 after trying over 100 at 10 different places, and in 2000 a BR16... Its not the comfiest, and its certainly not the best interior or amenities... but it fits and works right. No circulation issues, visibility issues, nothing... the right fit. Shoei and arai were just wrong... surprisingly in 2002 I managed to find a shoei that fit right... That aisde... bieffe, cos I have a bieffe head... however werase  :guns:  :guns:  :guns:  My bieffe will bash the crap out of you and your arai/shoei.
Cool.
Srinath.

[The Antibody]

You have a bieffe head. heh heh.

 -Anti  

[Roadstergal]

Ja, I had a Bieffe for track, but when I started riding, I noticed that it moved around on my head in the wind.  So I got a Daytona Vega - fits like a glove, and is Snell M2000 rated.  Works for me.