Arai Condor nearing its end... - SV650.org

northwind · 06-01-07, 01:26 AM

I got this Condor about 3 years ago, and since then it's been used daily... Only about 20000 miles on it but because so many trips are short it's worn a little faster than you'd think. Fit's still good but the lining's falling to bits, and the cheap Arais aren't as servicable as the top notch ones.

I'll really miss it... It's been all-day comfy, it survived 2 decent sized knocks in crashes with just a few scratches and still tested out fine at Arai, it's not too noisy... The weight's OK too, and it's great in bad weather. Good finish on the outside as well, it's scratched but then I did whack it off Knockhill at 70mph, then again at 60 and 50

Lots of people don't like the visor mechanism, because it feels like you're killing it when you use it- but I've changed visors hundreds of times on this one and it's always worked fine, just feels bad.

I still seriously dislike Arai's vents, I think they're ridiculously fiddly and overcomplicated- using them with winter gloves isn't so easy, and the visor vents are just plain daft- cut into your field of vision, make the visors expensive, and don't do anything that the brow vent in my old HJC did (much simpler). The wee lock on the visor's a joke too IMO. In fact, all of my actual gripes are centred around the visor.

But, that's really my only beef. I'm very likely to buy Arai again, most likely a higher model (Signet GT, maybe, HG are clearing stock)- it wasn't that cheap but it's lasted more than twice as long as my HJC, didn't cost twice as much, and it's still perfectly wearable- I'm going to patch it up for a spare. The HJC was dead when I replaced it...

Obviously it helps that I have the classic Arai Head

You can see the chips in the side in this pic- that's all that it has to show for that 70mph getoff, and it did take some hits. It's also been bounced a few times through incompetence

But like I mentioned, I had it checked by Arai and they passed it despite taking abuse that would make most people scrap their lids- I would have probably replaced it if I'd not had the option to check it out.

06-01-07, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

You can see the chips in the side in this pic

Of the tank?

My Arai was the best and it survived a couple offs too - I want another! - Got an HJC, BMW & carbon composite AGV but nothing is like my Arai.

northwind · 06-01-07, 07:16 PM

That's my spare tank, thoughtfully precrashed by a nice gentleman on Ebay

It was mighty handy having you around in the pits that day to tell people that my bike isn't usually a smashed up, grafitti'd, smoking heap of ****.

06-01-07, 07:56 PM

ARAI's are king IMHO

it takes 18 hours to make an RX7 (corsair) each one is hand built & every part of the lid has been marked by every person who has fitted a part, there is approx 15/16 litres of air flow per minute & it is made up using something called SNC ( structural net composite) this acts just like the wire mesh you get in buildings embedded into the concrete. By using SNC you can make the crash helmets incredibly strong.

Different arai's have different construction methods the RX 7 which is the top lid has snc others like the viper gt use CLC (complex laminate construction)

all the crash helmets are made of polycarbonate + various other materials.

the official uk importer for arai are phoenix distribution. if you buy an non uk spec crash helmet then you have real trouble getting any spare parts for it as europe, asia & americas use different shape arai crash helmets & different colour schemes.

phoenix will inspect you arai using a high power magnefiging glass (not an xray as most people think) if you drop it or have a crash. they do this free of charge also they will replace the chin strap once free as well.

YOU MUST ONLY USE WATER OR SHIFT PRODUCTS TO CLEAN YOUR ARAI & ARAI VISOR this is very important, using anything else including any other visor cleaners like auto glym etc will rapidly decay your arai's plastic's & vents & visor in the end causing things to break & snap off.

northwind · 06-01-07, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hall13uk

the official uk importer for arai are phoenix distribution. if you buy an non uk spec crash helmet then you have real trouble getting any spare parts for it as europe, asia & americas use different shape arai crash helmets & different colour schemes.

phoenix will inspect you arai using a high power magnefiging glass (not an xray as most people think) if you drop it or have a crash. they do this free of charge also they will replace the chin strap once free as well.

Also US Arais are built differently with a stiffer shell to pass the SNELL tests, which exaggerate stiffness over absorption.

Didn't know that about the magnifying glass... I thought the point was to find out if the inner shell was deformed?

06-01-07, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

Didn't know that about the magnifying glass... I thought the point was to find out if the inner shell was deformed?

yes they will also check the inside, for any indents

northwind · 06-01-07, 08:29 PM

Ah, from the head side then. I'd got the impression that it was impacts from the outside causing hidden deformation between the shells that they looked for. Interesting stuff.

Incidentally, Hein Gericke are selling off old stock Signet GTs for £230 currently, in black only. I'd have snapped one up but the visors aren't L-type so I'd need to get another black one and a pair of inserts, pushes the price way back up

06-01-07, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

Ah, from the head side then. I'd got the impression that it was impacts from the outside causing hidden deformation between the shells that they looked for. Interesting stuff.

Incidentally, Hein Gericke are selling off old stock Signet GTs for £230 currently, in black only. I'd have snapped one up but the visors aren't L-type so I'd need to get another black one and a pair of inserts, pushes the price way back up

yes the visors are different what do you mean by inserts??

mattSV · 07-01-07, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

Ah, from the head side then. I'd got the impression that it was impacts from the outside causing hidden deformation between the shells that they looked for. Interesting stuff.

Incidentally, Hein Gericke are selling off old stock Signet GTs for £230 currently, in black only. I'd have snapped one up but the visors aren't L-type so I'd need to get another black one and a pair of inserts, pushes the price way back up

Signets are a good lid - I bought two (one for me, one for MrsMatt) when Crescent had them half price at their open day in 2005, which was nice

northwind · 07-01-07, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hall13uk

yes the visors are different what do you mean by inserts??

Fog Cities or similiar...

06-01-07, 01:26 AM	#1
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Arai Condor nearing its end... I got this Condor about 3 years ago, and since then it's been used daily... Only about 20000 miles on it but because so many trips are short it's worn a little faster than you'd think. Fit's still good but the lining's falling to bits, and the cheap Arais aren't as servicable as the top notch ones. I'll really miss it... It's been all-day comfy, it survived 2 decent sized knocks in crashes with just a few scratches and still tested out fine at Arai, it's not too noisy... The weight's OK too, and it's great in bad weather. Good finish on the outside as well, it's scratched but then I did whack it off Knockhill at 70mph, then again at 60 and 50 Lots of people don't like the visor mechanism, because it feels like you're killing it when you use it- but I've changed visors hundreds of times on this one and it's always worked fine, just feels bad. I still seriously dislike Arai's vents, I think they're ridiculously fiddly and overcomplicated- using them with winter gloves isn't so easy, and the visor vents are just plain daft- cut into your field of vision, make the visors expensive, and don't do anything that the brow vent in my old HJC did (much simpler). The wee lock on the visor's a joke too IMO. In fact, all of my actual gripes are centred around the visor. But, that's really my only beef. I'm very likely to buy Arai again, most likely a higher model (Signet GT, maybe, HG are clearing stock)- it wasn't that cheap but it's lasted more than twice as long as my HJC, didn't cost twice as much, and it's still perfectly wearable- I'm going to patch it up for a spare. The HJC was dead when I replaced it... Obviously it helps that I have the classic Arai Head You can see the chips in the side in this pic- that's all that it has to show for that 70mph getoff, and it did take some hits. It's also been bounced a few times through incompetence But like I mentioned, I had it checked by Arai and they passed it despite taking abuse that would make most people scrap their lids- I would have probably replaced it if I'd not had the option to check it out. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

06-01-07, 07:16 PM	#3
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	That's my spare tank, thoughtfully precrashed by a nice gentleman on Ebay It was mighty handy having you around in the pits that day to tell people that my bike isn't usually a smashed up, grafitti'd, smoking heap of ****. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

06-01-07, 08:29 PM	#7
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Ah, from the head side then. I'd got the impression that it was impacts from the outside causing hidden deformation between the shells that they looked for. Interesting stuff. Incidentally, Hein Gericke are selling off old stock Signet GTs for £230 currently, in black only. I'd have snapped one up but the visors aren't L-type so I'd need to get another black one and a pair of inserts, pushes the price way back up __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

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06-01-07, 07:56 PM	#4
hall13uk Guest Posts: n/a	ARAI's are king IMHO it takes 18 hours to make an RX7 (corsair) each one is hand built & every part of the lid has been marked by every person who has fitted a part, there is approx 15/16 litres of air flow per minute & it is made up using something called SNC ( structural net composite) this acts just like the wire mesh you get in buildings embedded into the concrete. By using SNC you can make the crash helmets incredibly strong. Different arai's have different construction methods the RX 7 which is the top lid has snc others like the viper gt use CLC (complex laminate construction) all the crash helmets are made of polycarbonate + various other materials. the official uk importer for arai are phoenix distribution. if you buy an non uk spec crash helmet then you have real trouble getting any spare parts for it as europe, asia & americas use different shape arai crash helmets & different colour schemes. phoenix will inspect you arai using a high power magnefiging glass (not an xray as most people think) if you drop it or have a crash. they do this free of charge also they will replace the chin strap once free as well. YOU MUST ONLY USE WATER OR SHIFT PRODUCTS TO CLEAN YOUR ARAI & ARAI VISOR this is very important, using anything else including any other visor cleaners like auto glym etc will rapidly decay your arai's plastic's & vents & visor in the end causing things to break & snap off.