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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 15, 2017 20:52:09 GMT
So, my last 4 lids have been Arai. And since they introduced the stupid levers to change the visor, the last two ended their useful life after the side pods broke when trying to change the visor. It seems that at around 5 years, the plastic gets too brittle to withstand the force.
My current lid has just suffered the same demise and the pods are NLA from Arai.
I love Arai, and would never skimp on a lid, but this is honestly programmed obsolescence from Arai, and their prices have been rising over the years and my wages haven't, so I am looking at alternatives.
So, is there a close rival to Arai safety, comfort and quality but without the bulit in obsolescence? I have had Shoei in the past, but they were never as comfortable as an Arai in my opinion.
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Post by neilf on Oct 16, 2017 10:17:58 GMT
I used to have a "Shoei" head and Arais never seemed to fit me properly. However, the last Arai I tried one fitted nicely. Maybe it's worth trying s Shoei again Clipper; the visor changing mechanism is a piece of piss to use as well.
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Post by Droog on Oct 16, 2017 10:18:59 GMT
I have always favoured AGV. I've had cheaper lids also when money was tight but when I can I have opted for a good quality AGV (around the £350 price range) and I have never been disappointed. My advice would be to go to a store that has a wide selection in. Try on everything and when you find something you like, go online and buy it cheaper. Unless the store will do you a good deal. Some of the cheaper non brand name lids I have had over the years have been excellent. Good fit, quiet and made of the right materials. If you are used to high end Arai helmets you might have been spoilt with certain features but in my opinion, they are far too expensive and they trade on the old guilt trip of pay our exorbitant price or you are skimping on safety.
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Post by neilf on Oct 16, 2017 10:25:11 GMT
A Shoei saved my life in 2001, so I tend to go with what i know works ;-)
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 16, 2017 13:55:55 GMT
When it comes to saving lives, I think that anything with an ACU Gold status should be good enough.
I had an impact with a car wearing a 100 quid FM helmet and that saved my face, and possibly my life, but it was noisy, uncomfortable and ugly!
But what frightens me about "no name" brands is the lack of spares and service, not the lack of safety.
I might do what Droog suggests, because I have only ever bought the FM, one Shoei and the 4 Arais. Never even tried on an AGV.....
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Post by pantah on Oct 17, 2017 6:59:49 GMT
"My advice would be to go to a store that has a wide selection in. Try on everything and when you find something you like, go online and buy it cheaper."
Sorry but if we all used shops as a fitting room then bought from cheaper outlets who have tiny overheads then there would be no shops left unfortunately.
Unscrupulous behaviour to be honest. Or in banzai speak, a cunt's trick.
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Post by neilf on Oct 17, 2017 8:52:18 GMT
My best buy was a Scott Russell replica back in 1999 (the Yamaha/Suazuki version, not the one he used for his days at Kawasaki). I brought it from Carnells in Birmingham (remember them?) and they had it marked up as £300, the same price as a plain one. When I took it to the counter and it came up as £390 on the till; so I walked the staff member over the shelf that I got it from and it was clearly labelled as £300. The look on his face was priceless and the grin on mine said it all. He tried to fob me off with some story about how "he had priced the helmets on the shelf and his manager was going to tare him a new one... blah, blah, blah!" I wouldn't budge and his manager, who had to be called over, let me gave it for £300 :-)
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 17, 2017 9:46:02 GMT
"My advice would be to go to a store that has a wide selection in. Try on everything and when you find something you like, go online and buy it cheaper." Sorry but if we all used shops as a fitting room then bought from cheaper outlets who have tiny overheads then there would be no shops left unfortunately. Unscrupulous behaviour to be honest. Or in banzai speak, a cunt's trick. Pantah, We have created a capitalist society. It works (despite its flaws and victims). I moved abroad for work, (it was that or be fired when the European economy went tits up), then when I moved back to Europe last year my employer, knowing full well that I had no other choice, cut my salary by almost 10%. So my spending power is now lower than it was in 2012, my last full year working in Europe. Now I am supposed to feel guilty about buying online? Some people will always shop at high end retail shops, those who don't have to count the pennies, don't want to wait a week for delivery, want a personal and one to one "service" for aftersales care and warranty etc. those are the target customers for traditional showrooms. I am a poor cunt (in 1st world standards) if I have to be labelled as one to save 100 greasy Euros, go ahead, I won't take offence! |
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 17, 2017 9:50:34 GMT
My best buy was a Scott Russell replica back in 1999 (the Yamaha/Suazuki version, not the one he used for his days at Kawasaki). I brought it from Carnells in Birmingham (remember them?) and they had it marked up as £300, the same price as a plain one. When I took it to the counter and it came up as £390 on the till; so I walked the staff member over the shelf that I got it from and it was clearly labelled as £300. The look on his face was priceless and the grin on mine said it all. He tried to fob me off with some story about how "he had priced the helmets on the shelf and his manager was going to tare him a new one... blah, blah, blah!" I wouldn't budge and his manager, who had to be called over, let me gave it for £300 :-) My last lid was quite a good deal. A Kenny Roberts replica Arai Astro, ex display model knocked out cheap from a UK shop, can't remember which one now. I keep scouring ebay just in case I see any similar deals, but I haven't seen any heavily discounted Arais for a while. An RX7 race replica Arai now retails at over 1,000€ in Spain... no chance I can pay that. |
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Post by Droog on Oct 17, 2017 13:13:28 GMT
"My advice would be to go to a store that has a wide selection in. Try on everything and when you find something you like, go online and buy it cheaper." Sorry but if we all used shops as a fitting room then bought from cheaper outlets who have tiny overheads then there would be no shops left unfortunately. Unscrupulous behaviour to be honest. Or in banzai speak, a cunt's trick. Then they can close. I don't care. I will just buy online. I have no loyalty to any shop or brand. I buy what I want when it suits me for the price I'm prepared to pay. I don't owe any cunt a living! |
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Post by paulg on Oct 17, 2017 14:23:29 GMT
Ive had a couple of whoppers in HJC's...Cheaper than Arai (like, nearly half the fucking price) and they fit me well. Although they're loud and they don't fit quite as well as an Arai. Depends on whether you think that's worth the extra £200 or so...
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Post by paulg on Oct 17, 2017 14:25:39 GMT
Also, with regards to the shop/online thing, there's no chance in hell I'd be buying a helmet online. Ive seen what the delivery guys are like with parts at our shop.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 17, 2017 14:53:02 GMT
I should add I suppose that I commute Mon - Fri all year round (except maybe a few weeks in January / February when it can get icy), about 45 miles per day (from one side of Madrid to the other) so it needs to be a fairly sturdy quality lid, and if the liner is at least washable on the front cheek cushions, better.
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Post by beefus on Oct 17, 2017 15:50:50 GMT
I’ve got a Shoei GT-Air, which is great, and a Schuberth C3 Pro....great for touring, and I wear it most of the time, I like the flip-top feature.
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Post by pantah on Oct 17, 2017 15:53:17 GMT
I've no problem with buying online but using shops to get the fit right is just taking the piss. That's just my opinion likes.
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