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Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 16:18
by GIXXER KID
Well after my little front flip into a ditch ive decide it would a good time to get a new lid.
ive always had shoei's but fancy an arai as they feel comfier.
thing is i can get a good deal on a shoei at damerells as i bought the bike from them. just thought id see what people prefer and what the ups and downs to each helmet is.
Adam.
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 17:01
by scorcher
Arai's comfortable but noisy ( seems to be the general consensus,but i have nothing to compare mine to!). I also think the visor system is crap.A lot of other helmets seem to have better ratchet systems and are easier to shut and open. Shoei's don't fit my head proper so have never had one.
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 17:32
by GIXXER KID
yeah sounds pretty much the same as what ive heard.
crap visor.
noisy.
but then people say this is purely because they design them for race use first, then just chuck them out for road use so you dont get all the comforts of low noise and practicality.
i find the shoei fits perfect but the cheek pads collapse after a few months, only shoei i have that fits on the cheeks is too tight on the crown.
think its going to have to be an arai unless somewhere is willing to fit cheek pads from a small into a medium for me haha
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 17:58
by gazaR1
had arais all my life,but last one i got is new lever type visor an its f...ing rubbish,every time you change it i think the pods are gonna break,stick to shoei's m8
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 18:14
by TLS-Moose
Always had Shoei's (well, once I'd swapped from Bell's and one AGV) until the latest helmet which is an Arai and the first one I ever tried that fitted. I won't have another - the next is likely to be another Shoei. The Shoei visor system is far superior to the Arai - as said it always feels like youre about to break something when trying to remove/refit the visor. Noise wise, there is very little difference - the more external vents and add-on platsic you have, the noisier it will be. The RX7RR's are designed for racing first and foremost hence are better ventilated yet more likely to be noisy - the lesser models with less ventilation hardware are likley to be quieter. This will apply for Shoei's too.
For most helmets with removable padding it is possible to buy the pad kits separately, so there is no reason why you cant customise the fit of your helmet.
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 19:52
by tomr6
I've always had OGK's since a mate of mine got sponsored by them and Hizzy wore them.
Came off at pace a few years ago, alot of broken bones including clavicle into 27 pieces. Landed on me head and never even lost conciousness.
First thing I bought was another OGK lid and I've stuck with them ever since.
Its just horses for courses mate

Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 20:42
by GIXXER KID
never tried an ogk lid, where sells them? lol
with me its been shoei as ive always had them on deals from damerells (who dont sell arai) but ive always felt like arai fit better,
now im stuck with what to go for lol.
i tried pretty much every helmet in george whites and none seemed comfy after trying the arai, but that may of been me being biased as i wanted an arai haha
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 21:39
by Scotty
You've as good as answered your own question - go with what fits and is comfy. I've worn Arais for the last 24 years, for me Shoeis just aren't comfortable, too much pressure on my forehead. If it fits you properly, buy it. Then spend time learning how to change the visor without breaking anything...

Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 21:42
by deej
hahaha as i said to you on sunday its got to be a arai, the visors are easy enough to change once youve done it a few times, the pads dont give like a shoei and they have better paint schemes than a shoei too
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 22:40
by ninja1981
tomr61 wrote:I've always had OGK's since a mate of mine got sponsored by them and Hizzy wore them.
Came off at pace a few years ago, alot of broken bones including clavicle into 27 pieces. Landed on me head and never even lost conciousness.
First thing I bought was another OGK lid and I've stuck with them ever since.
Its just horses for courses mate

im an ogk man myself,had a fast off where i to went head 1st and it held up fine,visor is solid and pads are good,pgh in torquay used to sell them but now i think fleabay is the safest bet and over the years they have gone down in price too.

Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 23:17
by jason
you either have an arai shaped head or a shoei one...they are very different fits.
Unfortunately I have an arai shaped head which is annoying as I switched from arai's to shoei in utter dispair at their appalling visor change system and fragile side pods.
the guy who designed the arai visor changing system should win the "chocolate fireguard" award for bad design.
they are simarly noisy, of similar quality but the shoei has an infinately superior visor change system. different fits though, you will be one or the other.
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 30th, '11, 23:30
by GIXXER KID
jason wrote:you either have an arai shaped head or a shoei one...they are very different fits.
Unfortunately I have an arai shaped head which is annoying as I switched from arai's to shoei in utter dispair at their appalling visor change system and fragile side pods.
the guy who designed the arai visor changing system should win the "chocolate fireguard" award for bad design.
they are simarly noisy, of similar quality but the shoei has an infinately superior visor change system. different fits though, you will be one or the other.
i find they both fit snug, but then each model of arai is a different shape and same with shoei. so some will fit and some wont, ive found my shoei's fit on the crown but go lose on the cheeks or fit on the cheeks but are too tight on the crown, only way around it is a medium with small cheek pads but thats just hassle lol
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 31st, '11, 06:54
by billinom8s
I had a shoei lid years ago, liked it. Tried arai lid when due replacement but like Jason said, you either fit one or the other.
I wouldn't have an arai as you pay alot for the name. Yes they have a posh Rep but its just advertising.
I have been using ogk for he last 10 years and think they are great. I couldn't tell you if they are noisy or not as I always wear ear plugs. I can tell you though that they are comfy and well made.
Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 31st, '11, 08:16
by KEVW666
Hi i thought i would throw in my two p worth.
Over the years i have had all sorts from shoei, shark agv and even a nitro at one point but still cant find any that are as comfy as an arai so totally bias i would say go for an arai . But like others have said get some ear plugs and spend some time practicing the visor change (they should give a free training course with each one sold

).
But try a load on as the best for you is not going to be the same as everyone else.
It may just be i have an odd shaped head ha ha

Re: Arai or Shoei
Posted: Aug 31st, '11, 15:16
by frazzle
if its between arai and shoei then id go for shoei as they fit me better.
i have HJCs and an AGV which fit perfectly and the HJC i had stood up brilliantly when i went over a car and landed on the visor.