The time has come where I need to bite that financial bullet and get a new lid to replace my 2011 Arai Quantum. I’ve tried on a few different brands and models and I now know I want to stick with another Arai, either the Quantum ST (now discontinued) or the Quantum ST Pro. It’s a helmet that fits me well and I find really comfortable, although I will readily admit there’s a certain amount of brand loyalty and label snobbery involved too! My only real issue is that I can’t stand any of the latest designs. I think that if I’m going to pay out over a week’s salary for a new helmet, then I should at least like the damn thing.
I’ve had a look on Arai’s American site and there are some designs that I do like. However, I have no idea if I’m actually looking at the same models that are available in the UK as Arai has rather unhelpfully given them all different names. So, part one of my question to you (hopefully?) knowledgeable lot is: is the US model Signet-Q the same as the UK model Quantum ST? It LOOKS the same. The description SOUNDS the same. But is it?
My second question is probably far more important and a bit less superficial: are the US models ok to use here? In other words, are they legal for road use and can I also use them on track? I know they use the DOT safety standard, but that means f-all to me and I don’t know how it equates to our own safety ratings. I don’t want to be in a position where I have an extremely pretty helmet that I then find out I can’t use.
(I think I’m getting far too sensible in my old age and I’m actually trying to do a bit of research for once, rather than my usual, buybuybuy, here’s my credit card technique of gear shopping :-0 )
Janey, Luckily i have been quandering the very same decission, Like you i’m a Helmet snob i love Arai lids, they fit perfect and the sound deadening is the best i’ve known. I too am not a fan of the UK designs of the RX7 GP. So i started looking abroad, I didn’t look as far as the US but more Europe wide, I spoke to Arai and they told me if i purchased an Arai Lid abroad ARAI UK would honour any Warranty work, all of ARAI’s lids pass the same stringent testing regardless what country they are sold in, The problem with a “NON-UK” Lid is that it won’t have the ACU Gold sticker on the back allowing you to use it on track, But…Arai actually sent me 2 gold ACU stickers for my future purchase free of charge, so if you do buy one give them a shout and they will send you one so you can put it on the back and then it will be perfectly fine for UK track use, Also, the best thing about ARAI is that the shells and internals are all the same sizes accross the range and as well designs, so if a UK Small fits you then a USA Small will fit, This also means that you can try your size over here knowing you don’t have to worry if an american one will fit or not. also the cheek pads are interchangeable so if it needs slightly tweeking you can ask ARAI for a bigger or smaller cheek pad to get the lid to fit perfect.
Spain has some fantastic Arai Designs, i’m looking at the Tito Rabbat Replica which is only available in Spain.
LoL, actually contacting Arai directly about this should’ve really been my first action, shouldn’t it? Luckily, you’ve done all of the hard work for me! Aria seem to do a couple of different fits if I’ve read up correctly: the ‘‘long oval’’ (eg, the Quantums) and the ‘‘round ovals’’ (eg, the Chaser models and the, I think, RX ranges. which explains why my RX-7 doesn’t fit me as well as my Quantum).
I think I’ll copy you (imitation and flattery and all that :-)) and get in touch with Arai directly to get some clarification on what’s the closest equivalent to the UK models. Plus if I can blag a couple of stickers too, then so much the better.
They are really helpful, i emailed them through “Why Arai” http://www.whyarai.co.uk/ and they replied within a few hours. They can’t get the lids for you which is a shame but they will help in any way they can should you buy outside the UK. Not sure about the shell shape as i’ve only ever used the RX7-GP as they fit me perfect, they have now got a new shell shape out at the moment (R75 Shape) which is a bit more aerodynamic so not sure if that will change the fit or not.
I’ve not bought one yet as they have brought out a new RX7 call the RX7-V and i’m waiting until the race reps come out in those as they are only solid colours for the moment. Arai can’t tell me what designs will be available in the UK, so i’m hoping they bring out some good designs and i won’t have to go abroad, but f they don’t i’m more than happy to go abroad to buy a decent design
It’s a shame its not real Carbon, it’s just a Carbon paintjob, but then again, i’m not that wealthy i can spend £2,500 on a full carbon Arai RX7-GP anyway
I have only had my arai lid about a year and a half and I find it to noisy ,my hjc is a lot quieter ,in fact it got to me so much jetstreams ride on saterday was the first time in 15 years I have ever used ear plugs.
I don’t have anything to compare to but I think the Chaser is quite noisy. The Quantum ST with the chin flap is supposed to help but I didn’t feel any difference at all.
Also I was chatting to the bloke at Infinity and he said I would probably fit better in an asian lid. I’m not sure if he meant an asian Arai but he insinuated that those fit differently.
I also remember someone else getting a Japanese import Arai because it fit them better than the UK ones. I suspect the US ones might be different too?
Without reading the whole post.
I brought my first Arai in the USA, same style as the one in a shop here.
Only difference was the cost was a lot cheaper!
EU regulations is the problem with a crash helmet from the USA, where I did my CBT they questioned as it did not have the kite marks, stamps whatever. But they did decide that Arai would not have different safety standards to UK. But in the event of an accident could be a different story. Second note I prefer my Arai to my Shoei helmet.
@Blu, Arai are all identical internally. I have had it from ARAI themselves that they are all identical, an RX7-GP bought in England will be identical to any RX7-GP accross the world. He possibly meant another Asian Manufacturer like HJC or Shoei. I find that when mine gets a bit noisy i remove all the Linings and take them all off the sponges and put them in the washing machine, i give the sponges a bit of an airing and they seem to fluff out and fit a lot tighter and cure the Noise issue, i tend to do this every 2-3 Months.
@Nic, As above really, they are all made to exacting standards, the only difference is the Stickers they put on the back of them to meet each areas criteria, but this can be got round by contacting ARAI who will send out the correct safety stickers for the rear of the helmet for the country you reside in. (they done this for me so i know 100% this is correct)
I’ve just spoken with Arai UK and quite frankly they were useless. The woman I spoke to hadn’t a clue about the different head shapes, models, specs and so on. The only thing she did say was that I wouldn’t be able to use a US lid over here because they use different testing standards and oh, I wouldn’t be able to use it on track, either.
How come you ended up with the nice helpful rep who sent you freebies, Sam? What did you offer them?
Nic - I have been politely informed that I have an Arai head too. That’s fine with me as they are the best lids, of course :-D.
I actually prefer my cheaper Quantum to my eye wateringly expensive at the time RX7 as it’s so much quieter and fits me better. Long ovals and all that.
lol, that’s really bad. i’ll see if i can dig out the emails and who i spoke too. They couldn’t have been anymore helpful if they tried when i contacted them. the person who i was in contact with really knew his stuff.
I can’t find the emails, thought i kept them all but obviously i didn’t.The person who i spoke too said that all the shells are identical accross the world, so every RX7 Shell is the same and every QUANTUM shell is the same, he also said an entry level ARAI design is just as safe and meets the exact same standards as a top of the range RX7-GP, the only differences between the shell designs are fitment shape and sound deadening (A £600 RX7 will be much quieter than the £300 QUANTUM). He even said they would happily service it and repair it if it had any warranty issues so that goes to show there is no differences as they wouldn’t be able to get the bits would they?
I get what you’re saying about an RX7, for example, being the same fit and spec’ no matter which country you buy it from. Though Lord knows why anyone would want one in orange. LoL. I’m being awkward and trying to find out if the models sold in the US of A that have a different name to what’s available over here are actually the same model, just marketed differently. The spec’ reads like they’re the same, but that doesn’t mean that they are.
And yes, my cheaper lid really is quieter than the mutts RX7.
@ Marmablade wish I had know this 7 years ago!
At least now I can say you learn something new everyday!
Ho well next trip, I will be getting a new Arai!
Pin can we go to the USA please?
I’m glad I’m successfully distracting you from real work today! The Vector that you’ve shown had the same rear vents as the UK Chaser V. Whereas I think that the Signet has the same vents and long oval headshape as the UK Quantum:
i love Arai lids, they fit perfect and the sound deadening is the best i’ve known. I too am not a fan of the UK designs of the RX7 GP. So i started looking abroad, I didn’t look as far as the US but more Europe wide, I spoke to Arai and they told me if i purchased an Arai Lid abroad ARAI UK would honour any Warranty work, all of ARAI’s lids pass the same stringent testing regardless what country they are sold in, The problem with a “NON-UK” Lid is that it won’t have the ACU Gold sticker on the back allowing you to use it on track, But…Arai actually sent me 2 gold ACU stickers for my future purchase free of charge, so if you do buy one give them a shout and they will send you one so you can put it on the back and then it will be perfectly fine for UK track use, Also, the best thing about ARAI is that the shells and internals are all the same sizes accross the range and as well designs, so if a UK Small fits you then a USA Small will fit, This also means that you can try your size over here knowing you don’t have to worry if an american one will fit or not. also the cheek pads are interchangeable so if it needs slightly tweeking you can ask ARAI for a bigger or smaller cheek pad to get the lid to fit perfect.
