F###ing Arai

Just pulled my helmet out of its hiding place as it needs a new visor for crashfest, promptly ordered one then took off my old visor and my side pod pinged off AGAIN, always the same breaking point

Had two arai's over my biking years and gone through about 4-5 sets now, got a spare left side pod but its always the right that breaks and its £25 a pop for a set.

POS.

Off to buy a new helmet that ISNT an arai, to be fair I need one as it took a small scrape at Crashfest 2010.

Rant over.

Shoei! Never had a single problem with mine. Visor system works great, no stuff breaking off
Have to say, when I'm going to replace my current shoei, first helmet I'm gonna try will be a Bell. But that's just because I'm in love with the design.

Always fancied a shark:

Just looking at this made for riders of naked bikes:
http://www.sharkhelmetsuk.com/acatalog/info-483.html

Also fancy this:
http://www.sharkhelmetsuk.com/acatalog/info-450.html

Will take a look at Bell, not really wanting to spend more than £250 ATM.

Newer (FG-15 and later) HJC helmets are great as well and not too expensive.

The FG-15 (Helmet Ben Spier wore at WSBK) is the only helmet that really fits my head anyway

I feel your pain, especially for the price point, Arai has the crappiest visor changing system in the entire helmet industry. I've only every changed it once for the fear of it breaking off and those side pods are expensive. Give bell a try. They are making some great helmets, even there lower priced ones have nice fit and finish. They are a bit on the noisy side but I always ride with earplugs anyways.

If you're stuck & need to borrow a pod, I'm sure I have a spare right hand side one at home you can borrow.

It's for an Astro R/Viper GT type of visor (L type - I think??).

Let me know this afternoon & I can post 1st class tomorrow.

I have both a Shoei and an Arai. The Arai has been kept unused in it's box for more than a year because of the hard to change visor.
I spent an evening practicing on the Arai and after that I find it to be ok.

Even Nicky can do it

The shark helmets always look great, but i tried the r2r once, and it does not fit my headshape at all

One of my mates always had trouble with his Arai visor and poping off the R/H side pod, I showed him on one of mine how to do it and told him to take the helmet to an experienced Arai dealer, "Bike Stop" in Stevenage, they fitted some new parts to the visor mechanism and a side pod, problem solved, you can damage the visor mechanism with a few ham fisted attempts at removing/replacing the visor

Give "Bike Stop" a call (01438 317038) speak to John Duff if you can, tell him your problem and he will sell you what you need to sort it, easy

Spoke to him says he will get back tomorrow. Cheers.

Just dont think I will get the right one in time for crashfest, needs fixing anyway so may buy a pair of the £6 base plates just to be safe and grab a £10 spare from local shop.

You will all be glad to know, my toys are back in the pram (ish).

Found a UK supplier that had them in stock, also got some inner plates too just incase as per Russ's advice.

http://www.brandedbiker.co.uk/Arai-Helm ... White-3812

Got the visor too as it needed one, £88 later took the cheek pads out and gave em a clean too, MINGING.

Still getting another helmet when I get my SD(R).....

However the helpful lady and BrandBiker said for first 5 years of ownership you can take your Arai to any 5* arai dealer and get it serviced for free, I thought it was just at the NEC, worth knowing.

http://www.whyarai.co.uk/cgi-bin/arai_dealers.pl

I have always had arai helmets and love mine. It's cost me almost 900 but its worth it. I never had any problems taking off the visors. Takes me only seconds with no hassle. I actually just got back from my dealer with a new arai for my wife. I have tried on lots of different helmets and I haven't yet been able to find something that fits my head as well.
I do like the sounds of the shark helmet mentioned before but I haven't found a local place that stocks them. They are about the only ones I haven't tried yet. Anyone else try them and do they work as advertised for the naked bikes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YTHFTwwark

This guy makes it easy I must be all thumbs

Yah I have to say its always been that easy for me

I'm tempted by this one:
http://www.shark-helmets.com/product.php?modele=RACE-R PRO STINGER White Black Orange&sous_gamme=RAP&gamme=Sport/route&reference_modele=HE8520EWKO&langue=AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA - English

Despite breaking one of my pods in the past, I find changing the visor quite easy once you have the knack, can change my visor with the helmet still on my head. The silicon lube Arai provides helps but appreciate this gets wiped off easily.

Tried to find a youtude link of Phil Macallen during a TT pitstop where the mechanic couldn't get the new visor to fit, the helmet had to be changed and was taken off so quick it looked like Phil had taken a sharp upper cut.

Im a Medium

Interesting on sizes. I've had RX7's for a few years. Took a lump out of my last one falling off at Redgate. Went to the Arai stand at the NEC. The guys were really thorough. Turns out that I needed a medium shell size with the RX7GP even though the olderRX7 was the right size in a large.
Shows its a bit rash buying off the net assuming your choice will fit. I almost bought my GP on eBay. Turns out I would have ended up with the wrong one.

Arai. Never had any issues with them. I've seen other people struggle with them which is always good fun.
Fancy a shark Scott Reading rep myself.
Or maybe a Wayne Gardner replica as we're going to Almeria . . . did I mention some of us are going to Almeria in September?

I've had Shoei's for years. Tried on an Arai at a show a few years ago, and it was a good fit but was looking for a Roof daytona at the time so didn't go for it.

Got my latest Shoei (XR1100) beginning of last year. Tried on a few Sharks at the time of purchase. Wish I had gone for one of them. Better fit and half the price. I do remember that one of the models requires 1 size smaller (I'm normally a medium, but had to go for a small), but can't remember which it was.

*Edit* It was an RSI that required different size. Believe they don't do that one anymore though.

Found had very good reviews of helmets.

I think that must be what im doing

I have broken a few pods in the past and subsequently carry a spare set to the track and on long rides. The last set of pods I bought a few years ago came with some handy advice, don't use Windex or ammonia to clean your visor! The chemicals dry the plastic out causing the pods to break. Since then I haven't had any problems.

was about to throw my auld arai maverick in the skip the other day and rememberd this thread, took of the 2things on the sides plus the bits that hold them if anyone needs them let me know

Well my parts arrived today, watched the "how to fit an arai visor" a few times still aint got the knack but its on.....eventually.

Have had Arai the last ten years and putting the visor on and off a gazillion times without braking anything..........

Congratulations.