Arai or Shoei ?????????

Message

HowardQ · #1 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:01 pm

In spite of the SHARP ratings I need to buy a new helmet and have got down to a shortlist of two. Arai Chaser and Shoei XR1000.
I know they did not get particularly good ratings from Sharp, but for as long as I can remember I have only ever had Arai or Shoei helmets. I’ve had my last Arai 7 years and it still fits perfectly, but I now feel like a change. Arai and Shoei helmets came out very well when Ride Magazine did some serious testing a couple of years ago, they did spike tests and crush/abrasion tests as far as I can recall. The Chaser was not actually around then but the XR1000 came out in the top three and highly recommended, sure Arai was in the top three as well.
Probably something to do with the Sharp ratings, but there are some really good deals on these two units at the moment, and have decided it will be one or the other. Both are great helmets, but I reckon the XR1000 may be a bit quieter, as Arais are not the quietest. Then again the Shoei does not seem to come down as low on my chin as an Arai does.
I am feeling a bit like a change, so may go for XR1000, but the old Arai has been really good, so wavering a bit.
The Shoei I have picked is a bit cheaper, but I like the artwork better on the Arai I have chosen, both prices are still well below list. If you want an XR1000 in a single colour for example, you can get them for less than £210, which is bloody good, the fancy ones are also down £100 on their normal list price of £330 or so.
Anybody got any views on these two helmets.

Firestarter · #2 Post by **Firestarter** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:35 pm

I've got the XR1000 - I'm impressed, but my only previous helmet was a cheapy FM job, so maybe not the best contrast!

It's all-day comfortable, and field of vision is quite good as well - not straining to look through the top 1/4 of the visor to see the road all the time. The pinlock gets in the way a bit, the edge of the insert interferes with my line of sight, but it's a minor problem.

I know what you mean about the chin guard - it doesn't come down very low, and it also feels quite close to my chin - so much so that my beard (short goatee) catches on the velcro strip for my breath deflector

. Still not as close as the Shark RSR that I nearly bought, though...

I've had it for 3-4 years now, and it's held up well, the lining is still chunky and hasn't flattened down too much, the straps are still in good condition and are fairly easy to get at - even through gloves.

On the noise, I wear ear plugs anyway, it's still a bit loud for me anyway. Noticably louder when cracking the visor open, but the plugs go in regardless.

£210! Spot on. Mine was ~£350, but I liked the paint job

Syltiz · #3 Post by **Syltiz** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:16 pm

I am surprised they both fit you, they appear to be very different shapes. I have always had Arais (ok - except when I had a Lazer but we wont discuss that) and I just cant get a Shoei to fit right on my head.

I have always preferred the Shoei artwork and even nowadays I still walk into motorcycle shops and try on the Shoeis in the vain hope that my head has changed shape

Gio · #4 Post by **Gio** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:14 pm

I've had 2 arai's, I'll never have another, to noisy and expensive and they chip far to easily.

I've gone back to AGV, they fit just as well and are cheaper.

Samray · #5 Post by **Samray** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:46 pm

I've an Arai/AGV shaped head too.

Loved the AGV altho it used to lift above 125 ish.
It certainly performed well in a crash (even above lift off speed) as the remains endorse.

The Arai is as good a fit but quite a bit noisier.

Falken · #6 Post by **Falken** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:38 pm

Howard, go for the best and most comfortable fit.
With the milage you'll do over the time you'll own the lid, it has to be comfort every time.

Besides, when you've got it on, you can't see the paintwork.

Falco9 · #7 Post by **Falco9** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:03 pm

I have 2 Arais, and 2 HJC's and for value for money the HJC takes some beating, light, well ventilated and with good visibility but.......................after a dozen rides it looked 3yrs old, with loads of little stone chips etc....

So I've bought a Shoei Z-One, they are now discontinued but at £85 brand new (god bless ebay)I couldn't resist. The finish is A1 and the helmet is superb with a nice deep chin guard and excellent ventilation as well as matching the blue of the T (soft I know)

Personally, sharp tests don't bother me, watching Nakano step off at 200mph and virtually walk away helped with my decison on what helmet to buy. After watching Karl Harris come off at Snetterton through the bomb hole a couple of years ago I told myself right there and then my next lid would be a Shoei.

Real world crashes show how a helmet performs not lab tests (IMHO)

F9

HowardQ · #8 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:40 pm

Thanks for the excellent feedback!
Unfortunately (?) with my (XL) head they both seem to fit well, so I can't use that to decide, although it's always been the way I've done it in the past. I reckon I will have to go back and try em both on a few more times, let you know which I decide on.
The best prices I've found on the helmets with the artwork I like are -
Shoei XR1000 at £239, listed at £330 - £350.
The Arai Chaser is at £259, listed at £350 plus.
So both prices are excellent.
Also found an XR1000 in plain colours for £235 with a free (£40) iridium visor (choice of 3 or selected tints), plus pinlock insert and the usual bag, which looks bloody good value to me. Will be going for one of the two above though.

Okamoto · #9 Post by **Okamoto** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:23 am

Hi Howard, I have both the same type of helmet (Arai astro r ...and xr1000 ) as you say the xr1000 does not seem to come down as far over the chin, mine is the same but you have to pull it down slightly when wearing it ...what I mean is it does not fall into place like the Astro r does if that makes sense, I think the Arai having a built-in wind deflector over the chin also makes it seem much lower.
I had to get a size smaller in the shoei but it fits nice and snug, I think it's lighter as well, the vents are as good as the Arai and the wind noise is about the same, but it's more comfortable to wear as it's more of a streamlined shape (this helps a lot on the tuono!) I tend to use mine when it's really sunny (if you can remember what that is!!) ...as it keeps my head cooler than the Astro.

I noticed that CMC Chesterfield have a sale on this weekend !! ..and only down the road from you eh....That's where I got mine from so I know they stock em, mite be some bargains

Hope this was of some use.
D.

Falco9 · #10 Post by **Falco9** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:27 pm

Hi Howard have you seen these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SHOEI-XR1000-HAYD ... 286.c0.m14

&

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shoei-XR1000-cryp ... 286.c0.m14

F9

HowardQ · #11 Post by **HowardQ** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:40 pm

Thanks for all your help, very much appreciated.
I had a longer session trying on both the helmets this weekend, and in the end decided against the Shoei, (although this was the one that looked most likely initially). After a load of trying on, I came to the conclusion that the L was just too small and the XL was just too big, so not being happy with the fit I ended up deciding on the Arai Chaser Chaser Force Red. I know my chosen colour scheme will not be everybody's cup of tea, but I wanted something a bit different from the norm.

http://www.racevisors.co.uk/images/prod ... 628633.gif

Ended up buying from XSMoto, who were well cheaper than any other showrooms or Internet dealers I found, (not many discounts on the Chaser, with it being a fairly new model), although some of the eBay stuff was tempting. Thanks F9, was thinking about the Hayden lid, before the Shoei fit problems.
Just got to wait for delivery now.
Thanks again for all your advice.

Falco9 · #12 Post by **Falco9** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:42 am

HowardQ wrote:Thanks for all your help, very much appreciated.
I had a longer session trying on both the helmets this weekend, and in the end decided against the Shoei, (although this was the one that looked most likely initially). After a load of trying on, I came to the conclusion that the L was just too small and the XL was just too big, so not being happy with the fit I ended up deciding on the Arai Chaser Chaser Force Red. I know my chosen colour scheme will not be everybody's cup of tea, but I wanted something a bit different from the norm.

http://www.racevisors.co.uk/images/prod ... 628633.gif

Ended up buying from XSMoto, who were well cheaper than any other showrooms or Internet dealers I found, (not many discounts on the Chaser, with it being a fairly new model), although some of the eBay stuff was tempting. Thanks F9, was thinking about the Hayden lid, before the Shoei fit problems.
Just got to wait for delivery now.
Thanks again for all your advice.

As previously commentated, the main thing about any helmet is the fit. You did right to take your time and make sure it was fine for you. I took a big risk buying my Shoei on-line but at the price I paid I was happy I could get my money back if it was the wrong fit.
IMHO the Chaser you have chosed looks great, it should last you for years, my M8 has a Arai quantum which is going to be carbon dated if he keeps it any longer (lol)

F9

Falken · #13 Post by **Falken** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:59 pm

Looks cool to me Howard.

Many happy miles.

HowardQ · #14 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:04 pm

Will have had my last Arai for 8 years in December, (nearly 40K miles), and it still fits almost as well as when I bought it. Actually I think the helmet lining is still the same, but my hair's certainly got thinner!
Nothing ever broke, no fraying anywhere, just a few stone chips from winter riding. Got bored with it more than anything, (plain white), the main thing I wanted was better ventilation. Will still use it, particularly on crappy roads in winter.

homertrix · #15 Post by **homertrix** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:29 am

Arai's come in two shapes, so the myth about arai head v shoei head is probably going to slowly disappear. Anyway XSmoto have some cracking deals, they seem to buy up lots of bankrupt or overorders cheaply and pass the savings on. It does mean that it can be a bit hit and miss when trying to find stuff. Anyway, you can normally get £65 quid off an Arai Chaser and £85 quid off a Shoei XR1000.

Tell you what though, even though the Viper is new this year, some retailers are already knocking off over £100! Bargain season is well and truely upon us!