Arai or Shoei

[Bunks]

I'm not too sure what to do so could do with the views of the might .org! I have chosen two helmets, an Arai Viper GT Banda Black or Shoei XR1000 voyager black. I like the design of both. Both have 3 stars in the SHARPS ratings. Both are available for £300. Both are pictued below. Both of them seem to fit well. So do any of you own one of these? Any good or bad points?
http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/images/thumb_VIPERBANDABLACK.jpg (javascript:popupWindow('http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/popup_image.php?pID=84&image=0&osCsid=f5fd8159c4d2bd2a2bb13574bccf8e64'))http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/images/thumb_voyagertc5.jpg (http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=9_20_27&products_id=33&osCsid=f5fd8159c4d2bd2a2bb13574bccf8e64)
Thanks Bunks

[FG1]

I have an Arai/Shoei head but have always gone for Shoei because of the visor mech. It is so much quicker and easier to swap Shoei visors. The Arai sound just scares me.......

[Scoobs]

Buy the one that fits the best. I don't like Shoeis but only because they don't "feel" like they cover enough of my chin. Arais fit me better.

Either choice is good though.

PS Like the designs.

[RichT]

I found both really good fits... I'm a bit inbetween sizes in the Shoei... Med is good, but a wee bit tight and the Lrg was spot on right now... In the Arai it was more clear cut and I am a Med. I also prefer the shape of the Arai's.

Out of those two designs I prefer the Shoei, but either are good lids.

[hovis]

Buy the one that fits the best. I don't like Shoeis but only because they don't "feel" like they cover enough of my chin. Arais fit me better.

Either choice is good though.

PS Like the designs.


wot he said


the arai looks betterer IMO

[Stig]

I'm not too sure what to do so could do with the views of the might .org! I have chosen two helmets, an Arai Viper GT Banda Black or Shoei XR1000 voyager black. I like the design of both. Both have 3 stars in the SHARPS ratings. Both are available for £300. Both are pictued below. Both of them seem to fit well. So do any of you own one of these? Any good or bad points?
http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/images/thumb_VIPERBANDABLACK.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/popup_image.php?pID=84&image=0&osCsid=f5fd8159c4d2bd2a2bb13574bccf8e64'))http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/images/thumb_voyagertc5.jpg (http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=9_20_27&products_id=33&osCsid=f5fd8159c4d2bd2a2bb13574bccf8e64)
Thanks Bunks

I have the Arai GT Viper lid. I like it.

[Shellywoozle]

I like my Arai, the Shoei was out my price range til I saw it at Bikeshow for less than I paid for my Arai !

Shoei didnt fit me well. It's all personal choice and how it fits your bonce.

Arai looks smaller and less chunky IMO

[cb5_keith]

I have an Arai/Shoei head but have always gone for Shoei because of the visor mech. It is so much quicker and easier to swap Shoei visors.

+1 so quick if changing from tinted to clear etc.
Also i find it has very good ventilation in the summer, and warm enough in winter
Comfortable padding, especially if you wear glasses, they fit in easily
ALSO, a nice rubber cup thing at the back so rain doesnt go right down your neck!
I love my XR1000 :cheers:

[fizzwheel]

I've had both, not much to choose between them, The Arai seems slightly lighter and has a bigger space to look through.

However I wont be buying another Arai, the paint finish is awful it looks like its done alot more miles than it has, Whereas my Shoei still looks new and its done twice the milleage the Arai has.

I'd echo the others advice, buy the one that fits your head best.

[G]

I have the shoei XR1000

I bought it because it fitted nice, the pads were positioned very well which allows glasses to fit pretty much as normal and held in tight. The visor mech is very good.

My biggest issue with it is, the noise, I find mine stupidly loud even with the vents shut. I did my DAS with a £50 CBT which was just as comfortable and alot quiter.....just didnt have the funky mechanisms.

I'm not sure if I would buy another one.

[wyrdness]

I use Shoei, as I like to swap visors and their quick release mechanism is excellent. I also know which size Shoei I take, so I can order them online (usually much cheaper than shop prices).

I have heard from other people here that Arai's after sales service is second to none and some people won't buy anything but Arai because of that.

They're both really good lids and you can't go wrong with either. You pays your money and you makes your choice.

[Dangerous Dave]

I'm not too sure what to do so could do with the views of the might .org! I have chosen two helmets, an Arai Viper GT Banda Black or Shoei XR1000 voyager black. I like the design of both. Both have 3 stars in the SHARPS ratings. Both are available for £300. Both are pictued below. Both of them seem to fit well. So do any of you own one of these? Any good or bad points?
http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/images/thumb_VIPERBANDABLACK.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/popup_image.php?pID=84&image=0&osCsid=f5fd8159c4d2bd2a2bb13574bccf8e64'))http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/images/thumb_voyagertc5.jpg (http://www.bikersbargains.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=9_20_27&products_id=33&osCsid=f5fd8159c4d2bd2a2bb13574bccf8e64)
Thanks Bunks
Ignore the SHARP rating, it has been proven to be incorrect and the people behind SHARP have openly admitting to misinterpreting the data.

As for which helmet to go for, try them on and go for the best fitting after all it is a safety item. I personally rate both Arai and Shoei having had both, I just find that certain Arai's seem to fit me better.

[Bear]

Both are good lids, and will do exactly the same job. The reason I'd go for the Arai is the aftercare. If you damage your lid you can send it off to them free of charge to get it assessed for damage, which has saved me the cost of a new lid twice after crashes. The visor mechanism is easy once you're used to it, and I prefer it to the ratchet system of the Shoei. At the end of the day it's personal preference.

[Bunks]

However I wont be buying another Arai, the paint finish is awful it looks like its done alot more miles than it has, Whereas my Shoei still looks new and its done twice the milleage the Arai has.




Thanks for that. Is the paint thing a common problem? Anyone else with the same problem with the finish, did you take it back to the shop??

Just interested to see what the shop said.

Bunks

[Bunks]

I have the shoei XR1000

I bought it because it fitted nice, the pads were positioned very well which allows glasses to fit pretty much as normal and held in tight. The visor mech is very good.

My biggest issue with it is, the noise, I find mine stupidly loud even with the vents shut. I did my DAS with a £50 CBT which was just as comfortable and alot quiter.....just didnt have the funky mechanisms.

I'm not sure if I would buy another one.

Anyone else think there noisey. It's impossible to tell things like that until you buy one :(. Thanks to all of you for the advice its very helpful :).

Bunks

[Dangerous Dave]

Thanks for that. Is the paint thing a common problem? Anyone else with the same problem with the finish, did you take it back to the shop??
Never had this problem with my Arai, the previous race rep looked as good as new after two and a half years until I crash tested it. My current Arai RX7 is plain white and continues to look like new.

Anyone else think there noisey. It's impossible to tell things like that until you buy one :(.
The more vent you have the more noise there will be, whether open or not. The Arai Corsair and Astro used to share the same shell, only the RX7 Corsair was a little louder due to the added vents on the top.

[Biker Biggles]

You wont go far wrong if you go for the best lid you can get to protect your head,and go for earplugs to protect your ears.Dont let the noise they make affect your decision on the lid.