Helmet info with Jay Leno

[Kromm]

I just got this link (Clicky) off of another forum I am a member of (Pashnit). I thought it was very informative and decided to post it here to share with everyone.

 

[Old Michael]

Kromm, thanks for that.

I learned - you can drop it and you can paint it.

I'd been led to believe otherwise.

 

[S76]

Kromm, thanks for that. I learned - you can drop it and you can paint it.

I'd been led to believe otherwise.

Same here. Thanks for the link.

 

[TheAxeman]

That was pretty good. I'm usually a Shoei kind of guy but I may have to check out the Arai's at the next bike show and see what a custom fit feels like.

 

[OhioFJR1300]

great link. I have an Arai helmet, but I have never found a dealer that had all the different size cheek pads and knew how to fit it to my head.

 

[Scab]

Very good post. Thanks.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Kromm, thanks for that. I learned - you can drop it and you can paint it.

I'd been led to believe otherwise.

Gunny!

Excellent, thanks.

 

[TriggerT]

Outstanding info. I have a Shoei X-11 that has fallen off of my seat 2 or 3 times, so I thought it was done. Good to know that I should be able to get another season out if it.

 

[dcarver]

What a great post!

Of course, if you take a zero mph forward speed fall and your head is still inside the helmet when it kisses the concrete, even from 3 feet elevation..

the helmet is toast.

Somewhere, Kaitsdad has a great post on this when his pillion hit the concrete while dismounting the bike. He took the helmet apart and found inner liner compression.. :blink:

 

[bmwhd]

That was pretty good. I'm usually a Shoei kind of guy but I may have to check out the Arai's at the next bike show and see what a custom fit feels like.

Do it! If you live anywhere close enough to attend the Cycleworld shows this fall, the Arai-custom-fitter-guys will be there. It's so worth it.

 

[cougar8000]

What a great post!
Of course, if you take a zero mph forward speed fall and your head is still inside the helmet when it kisses the concrete, even from 3 feet elevation..

the helmet is toast.

Somewhere, Kaitsdad has a great post on this when his pillion hit the concrete while dismounting the bike. He took the helmet apart and found inner liner compression.. :blink:

+1

Once the helmet touches the ground there is a potential for it to develop a hairline cracks not visible to an eye. I would not use this helmet until I had it checked out by the manufacturer. The only exception to this rule would be if I am on the middle of nowhere and it is either use what I have or nothing at all.

Disclaimer. I have not been able to look at the link. But my comment above would stand regardless.

Here are the pictures from the post last year from one of our member that I borrowed his pictures.

What helmet looked like outside after the touch down. I believe it was from the seat height

Same helmet. view from the inside

 

[Shifter125]

Very informative, thanks for posting it. I have a couple Arai's, best fit for me by far. I haven't been able to get replacement padding at the dealer even though they will order for you if you know what you want. Online stores like motorcyclesuperstore.com have the various sizes. The cheek pads for instance, have the mm size printed on them. If yours are too tight / small, you can select a thicker / thinner set and customize your fit. Great lids.

 

[johnny80s]

Very informative. Thanks for posting this one!

 

[Bike Effects]

Kromm, thanks for that. I learned - you can drop it and you can paint it.

I'd been led to believe otherwise.

You can DROP it....not throw it off a cliff!

 

[dhalen32]

Kromm, thanks for that. I learned - you can drop it and you can paint it.

I'd been led to believe otherwise.

You can DROP it....not throw it off a cliff!

I think the circumstances of the drop must be qualified. What the Arai rep said made sense regarding the chances of the EPS liner being damaged without the weight of a human head inside. However, I also think a good visual inspection of the shell is in order before you assume that the helmet is okay to continue using. Any evidence of cracking would cause me to not wear it and purchase a replacement.

Painting a helmet depends upon what that shell is made from. For an Arai fiberglass (thermoset plastic resin) shell I agree that painting will likely do no harm. For an injection molded thermoplastic shell one would have to be more careful and determine whether the liquid solvent in the paint is compatible with the plastic resin used to mold the shell. Polycarbonate, a popular injection molded helmet material, can be severly compromised by chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. I have seen polycarbonate parts dissolve completely in the right solvent.

I think what the Arai guy told Jay can be considered gospel for an Arai helmet. For other manufaturers' helmets you should be more careful in assuming you can freely drop or paint them and experience no degradation in that helmet's performance.

Dave

 

[Old Michael]

Kromm, thanks for that. I learned - you can drop it and you can paint it.

I'd been led to believe otherwise.

You can DROP it....not throw it off a cliff!

You're killin' me Jeff.

You and Dr. Rich should take your comedy routine on the road - - - - TO HELL!

:lol: :lol:

 

[Kromm]

I too have always had a Shoei. This video has tweaked my interest in the Arai helmet line. Since I am due for a new helmet (mine is 5 years old ) and since I'll be going to the Cycleworld International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo later this year, I am going to talk to there reps there and see if I have been wearing the wrong size of helmet also.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Great video.

I've had a series of Shoei RF-1000 helmets for years and just switched brands. They aren't as easy to find, but if your head fits a Shoei, I HIGHLY recommend trying a Shark RSI, RSX, or RSR2.

WebBikeWorld article

Shark helmet US site