Shoei v HJC

[Balky001]

If it fits, Shoei are great. My first lid was an Arai and was well made and comfy but just didn't seem to fit at speed. The Shoei hugs my head as it should at all speeds. Defo try on but move around to see how it would feel with wind blast. I'd go for Shoei Raid personally

[chris8886]

hmmm, i couldn't afford an arai when i bought mine, but will be buying one next time as long as it fits properly.

Originally Posted by bluethunder

I have an Arai and a shark lid, I use my arai all the time now....Shark one will be used for track days.

I'd be using the Arai for trackdays, that's when you need the best lid you can afford.

The Shark would be relegated to when I did a spot of extreme gardening or maybe to stop me getting splashed in the face when I cleaned the loo. I won't wear Shark lids.

[Luckypants]

I have an HJC HQ-1 and love it. Comfy and light. I also crashed in my last one and whacked my head on the tarmac (see link in sig) and didn't feel a thing. Lid was toast.

Shoei - HJC - not even comparable. Leagues apart as far as development, build, quality control etc goes. Shoei make everything in house and quality control them prior to shipping. Hence I have never returned a Shoei in 4 years of selling them.

Arai build and then ship out to have parts fitted. Hence I see a fair few come back in saying bits have fallen off them!.

HJC ok if budget is tight..but Raid 2 would be the best spend.

[JediGoat]

I will reiterate my usual caution when buying a helmet online....

If you have been in shops trying on helmets (e.g. Shoei) then make sure the website you are buying from is stocking European Shoei. It's a common mistake people make - they try on a helmet in the UK then order one from overseas or get one when on holiday. Note that Shoei make four regional variations of their helmets - European, American, African and Asian, and the internal shape is different.

If it is a reputable UK company, then their should be no problem.

/end of lecture

Jo
P.s. Oh, and the other thing I tell all my customers - the £50 helmet that fits you is better than the £500 one that doesn't.

Originally Posted by shop_addict

P.s. Oh, and the other thing I tell all my customers - the £50 helmet that fits you is better than the £500 one that doesn't.

I can see the theory behind that but i would not want to wack my head down the track in the majority of £50 lids. Id say they would perform no better than a badly fitting top of the range lid by a longshot.

There is also no reason why a good quality lid wouldnt fit you.

Originally Posted by shop_addict

the £50 helmet that fits you is better than the £500 one that doesn't.

So find a £500 one that does fit. Unless you have a £50 head of course.

I've got a Raid II with the pinlock visor, both are great. Meant to take the visor out in the spring but never did get around to it because it's just so darn useful. Of course, that's Scotland...

[yorkie_chris]

I'm split between an arai condor and an XR1000.

The shoei feels quite snug, the arai is a little tight at the sides, do they "give" a lot?

My Condor has given very slightly in the 8 months/9000 miles of use it's had.