Should I purchase a new helmet

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:25 pm

Now, I know that manufacturers recommend a change every five years but I don't do much mileage. I've had my current Arai Viper GT since May 2007 so it's coming up for 6 years old but been on my head for about 30k miles. Not much really but for some reason I feel that it has got noisier last year (It was always louder than my old Quantum F that I used for 6 years)and I guess the lining could do with replacing (at least the parts that can be) however they are not cheap at £80 for the cheek pads and interior head pad. I can get a new (discontinued) Quantum St in white (my choice as it happens) for £300. Part of my reasoning for doing this now is that I never pay full price for a current model as they are an obscene price and if I don't do it now then the old stock will go very soon and I shall have to wait a few more years until the new one is discontinued.

Am I over thinking it. I tend to do that.

What say you, fellow helmet users?

kfrogzx7 · Post by **kfrogzx7** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:43 pm

I think definitely get a new one, I don't quite subscribe to the MoT ( http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ ) advice of 5 years, however I think 7 or 8 is probably enough.
I've started buying relatively cheaper lids more frequently recently and would highly recommend reading Sharp and particularly Webbikeworld reviews.
I used to have Arai's but now I adore my £150 Nolan N85 / 86.
See http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcyc ... 85-review/
It's light, comfortable, quiet, high spec and very well put together, i wouldn't go back to Arai now if you paid me.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:53 pm

In the past couple of weeks - I evaluated my helmets' ages and realised that my Shoei X-Spirit is around 8yrs old, and my BMW Carbon one - perhaps 7yrs old.

But - with 3 helmets in rotation, they've not had too much use - and I'm happy getting a bit longer out of each of them (might leave the Shoei down in south of England to use down there, mind).

I don't plan on scrapping the carbon-fibre wheels just cos they're a few years old either.

Al

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:55 pm

I've never tried a Nolan but not for any reason other than on the rare occasion I'm in a helmet dealers they haven't kept them, and although I have tried Shoei, and AGV; Shoei aren't too comfortable on me and I feel as though there is nothing covering the bottom of my head at the back and try as I might I just cannot get AGV's on my head at all and I've been trying since 1981!!! I 'so' wanted an Ago rep. Arai do fit me very well.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:59 pm

f90x wrote:I've never tried a Nolan .......

You wouldn't want to - now.............

Al

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:02 pm

Blackal wrote:
f90x wrote:I've never tried a Nolan .......
You wouldn't want to - now.............

Al

Yeah, she doesn't look too light, comfortable, quiet, high spec or very well put together...

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:08 pm

Someone bought one of these (on another forum I frequent) - in this "Le Mans" pattern.....

It gets a good write-up, and I do like the colours......

I must admit to being an Arai fan .

Al

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:19 pm

Blackal wrote:Someone bought one of these (on another forum I frequent) - in this "Le Mans" pattern.....

It gets a good write-up, and I do like the colours......

I must admit to being an Arai fan .

Al

I have to say that I quite like that but is it not a 'car' helmet?

Edit: it just looks like a car helmet. They do a saucy carbon one but I don't like the chin guard arrangement.

http://www.helmetcity.co.uk/bell-m5x-carbon-1954-gold/

jeznewsome · Post by **jeznewsome** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 8:52 pm

I have an M5X carbon (matt with Orange stripe) for purely aesthetic reasons on the Buells.

It looks cool and is very light, but as a helmet is is nowhere near as good as my Shoei........it's drafty and louder, it does't have a pinlock insert available, the visor needs tools to change it (though mine only wears a tinted visor for daytime use).

IMHO it's not an 'only' helmet ...... looks cool though!

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:22 pm

The life of an helmet mostly depends on the environment it is kept in. If you have cleaned yours after every ride, stored it in a cool dark place away from moisture then the life is extended. Sunlight, sweat, acid from bug intestines etc reduces the strength of the shell, degrades the liner and the shock absorbent material inevitably compacts. 30000 miles in 7 years is about time I would say. Like Al I have a few helmets in rotation that is stored as mentioned above. I don't expect to buy any soon. The boots though is a different story.

Bell does a custom fit where you get measured and fitted out. Choose carbon for slick racer lightweight look. The service starts at about a £1000 including helmet.

andy griff · Post by **andy griff** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:36 pm

Ty,

It appears that we have more in common than the best BMW model made

My Viper GT was bought for me in 2008, and I was pondering a new helmet for most of last year. Closer examination of the small tag by the strap revealed that mine was 'made' in 2007*.

I spent a lot of last year looking at models and having had 2 Arais was leaning that way. But... I just was not convinced by their marketing of the new pro shade which is their tale on a drop down sun visor. I just wasn't buying the argument that they refused to make an internal sun visor as it compromised the shell when everyone else was doing it and doing it well.

When you use the pro shade it looks and feels like a cheap bodge ( sorry if anyone has got one

). I think the game has moved on and Arai have not kept up.

I tried lots on - Shoei GT Air is nice but I went for the Schuberth S2 at the bike show. Its soon much quieter than the Arai, nice quality and £299 for the graphics version. When you look at Arais at £500 I think they are pricing on their name. No way is it a £200 better helmet.

I think the integral sun visor is a real safety plus when low light is about - no question.

So, I have turned away from Arai ..... and found a new way

* It may be just my cynical mind but Arai recommend that helmets are changed every 5 years - but only starting when the helmet is first used - this of course allows them to sell old stock with a full warranty. i never knew that a cardboard box had magical anti aging properties !!! So, the whole thing might be LOB anyway !

andy griff · Post by **andy griff** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:39 pm

PS

Ty, by my maths 2007 to 2015 is 8 years , not 6

popsky · Post by **popsky** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:13 pm

andy griff wrote: I think the integral sun visor is a real safety plus when low light is about - no question.

Totally agree Andy, I love the sun visor on my C3.

I don't know if you have had a Schuberth before but I found the sun visor to be very delicate, it's hasn't got an anti scratch coating so don't use any type of cleaning product, the best way is remove from the mounting and with clean fingers wash under running water, don't dry with any type of material but if possible use a hair dryer on cold setting.

Interesting comment regarding Arai not fitting an integral sun visor, a good friend of mine has been a Arai/Shoei rep and race service technician, so probably knows his stuff regarding lids, when I said I wanted a Schuberth partly because of the sun visor he said Shoei would never make that type of helmet cause it would impact the integrity of the shell, then they made the Neotech !!!

Fw190 · Post by **Fw190** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:15 pm

andy griff wrote:PS

Ty, by my maths 2007 to 2015 is 8 years , not 6

Hey Andy, that's F90X... not FW190... errr....

but that mistake aside, I reckon once you've used an Arai, it's a job to wear anything else..

cheers

Ty

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:15 pm

andy griff wrote:PS

Ty, by my maths 2007 to 2015 is 8 years , not 6

My error. A typo. It 'is' six years. I purchased it in May 2009 'not' 2007.

BTW. Who is Ty? I'm Steve.