Which Arai to get?
 

I'm all spolied for choice :) My Condor's old and a bit worn out, so I'm looking at spending maybe £350 tops on a new lid. I've got the ideal Arai head, and even if you don't buy the safety hype, I've not found a more comfy lid, so I've got no real reason to look elswhere (Wel, I wanted a HJC HQ1 but they don't fit).

But, I've got no idea which to go for now... I'm ruling out the Signet as it uses the older visor, I've got a pair of visors equipped with anti fog inserts which'll fit most of the current range, so I'd sooner get one of them.

Astro R's cheap now, you can get the ugly signature models and the nasty purply blue for about £220 and even the nicer finishes can be had for £250. I can get a plain black or white Corsair for £330. The Viper GT's got some nice features, and the Chaser too, both at around £250-£260.

Graphically, I really want a plain black one, or possibly the Phil Read Chaser in black and white- but as it's a new model it's expensive still. But whatever I get, I might end up getting resprayed anyway so if I can get a cheap ugly one that's fine.

So, any suggestions? It's churlish to complain but in that price range there's 4 different helmets and I don't know what makes one the better choice. An Astro R at £220 is a deal and a half though, even if it has graphics that were designed by a 5 year old :) On the other hand, I'll be wearing this lid till it gets killed or falls apart, so I have no objection to paying a bit more for geniune upgrades.

These prices are all UK lids with warranty btw, I'm not daft ;)

Ok this doesn't really answer your question but... tbh, what ever fits the best and look the nicest. I really wanted a Arai but when it came to try them on none fitted properly. Sadly my head isn't the same sort of profile Arai's desingers had in mind.

So reluctantly I tried on some Shoei's and two fitted like a glove. I ended up with a X-Spirit in Kagayama's colours (Siver and white) and I love it.

I have a plain black Astro R - cost £300 a couple of years back. Maybe its the signature not sure - but it has some sort of signature on the side of it???

EDIT: You are right Hovi - I thought to myself I missed the point after re-reading. The point being the Astro R has a plain black but I think it maybe the signature series (ugly one mentioned??) but the one wanted.

this is turning into "what arai have you got"......not............ "what arai should northwind get"

so......i have a quantum F

They pretty much all fit right :) The Chaser's a slightly different shape, that was obvious, but not in a bad way. The others are very close. And being Arais, they all look very boring ;)

Re: Which Arai to get?
 

Buy that one.
I've got a plain white* Corsair, paid about £275 a year or so ago and I absolutely love it, super comfy very light, not quiet though but as I always wear ear plugs when contemplating any trip that's not just town stuff it's not a problem for me.

*Plain black or white are commonly a useful bit cheaper than any of the tacky raceralike schemes which are usually horrible anyway, £50 or more difference isn't unusual, and the reason I always buy plain white lids as they're the cheapest and I'm mean.

You know something weird? The Astro R weighs exactly the same as my Condor, but it feels really light, because of the different weight distibution. I think the Corsair's barely any different. The Condor feels pretty heavy on the head too, as though all the weight's on the outside.

I do like the Corsair... I'm just not quite sure it's worth 50% more than the Astro R, which is also by all accounts a great lid. And I'm psychologically incapable of making a decision...

if you go for the astro R you wont be dissapointed. mines very comfy and the build quality seems good. it is quite noisy at speed and comes with the obligatory "i think ive broken it" arai visor change system. best lid ive ver had though!

btw does anyone know whether the Viper GT is the usual arai shape inside? i heard that they'd made it different from their other styles cos they were trying to steal market share from Shoei, but dunno if there's any truth in that.

If so i think i'm just gonna have to adjust my head for a Shoei fit cos they always seem to have nicer designs... :roll:

Not so much that I noticed...