How long should an Arai last?

Originally Posted by Jabba

I'm not a helmet snob and so buy a new £100 - £120 lid every year or so.

I figure that a year-old £100 Shark will offer better protection than a 4 or 5 year old £4-500 lid regardless of make.

They all passed the same tests when new, and new is always a more comfortable and pleasant place to stick one's napper

I don't put too much faith in 'the same tests'. Those tests are a minimum standard, and I'd rather put my head in a £300 Shoei than a £50 FM, regardless of the fact they both have EC22.05 written on them.

A £5k Kia has passed the same type approval tests as a £70k S-Class Mercedes, but I know which one I'd rather be sitting in in an accident!

Mike

Well surely the helmet manufacturers would have the sense to use a UV protective coating unless they needed built-in obsolescence to boost their profits.

Come to think of it why doesn't all the plastic on modern bikes become brittle and shatter after 3 years after being exposed to all these hazardous chemicals and UVs.

Originally Posted by mburnstead

A £5k Kia has passed the same type approval tests as a £70k S-Class Mercedes, but I know which one I'd rather be sitting in in an accident!

Yeah, me too......... but that's an extreme example. Helmets are not really that much different. You are paying for the name, features and a sometimes classier interior on the higher priced brands.

The point is aften made that the safest lid is the one that fits the best. I fail to see how a more expensive lid that fitted correctly when new will fit as well as a newer more reasonably priced lid.

Did you see the Ride test last year? A £100 HJC and the £200 Shoei Raid II came joint first in their protection tests. They gave the verdict to the Shoei because of a more pleasant "feel" but that was before HJC dropped their RRP from closer to £200.

Buy Arais and Shoeis if you can afford them, but do it because you want to and not because you believe that they will protect you better just because they cost more.