Shoei VS Arai

[Il Burlone]

Shoei RF1000 VS Arai RX7 Corsair

About $100 or so price difference but not all that much exterior difference. The Arai is SNELL the Shoei is not, Other than that I am oblivious to the differences. Yet I am attracted to the Arai. I want to find out if theres a plausible reason. I have been told they are more comfortable butI have not ridden around in either of them and I have never tried on the RF1000 actually. Hopefully you find people can help me. Floors all yours...

[eidian]

I love my RF1000. When I got my bike I tried on a few helmets and then tried on the RF1000 at a salesman's suggestion. I thought, "Oh sure, I look at the $150 helmets and you suggest a $480 one...I wonder why...". I tried it on anyways and couldn't believe how much better it felt than the other helmets. I bought it without hesitation and have never regretted it.

Later I went to a website and found out about the three position lever that lets you lock the shield in the closed position, open one knotch or normal (closed but not locked) and learned that the shields can be swapped out in less than a minute. I have the dark-smoke shield for the day and carry my clear shield in my backpack in case I end up riding at night. And of course the vents are great on the hot days of summer.

As for the Snell rating, the RF1000 has it:

[Il Burlone]

Thanks a ton I thought the RF1000 was not SNELL that's one thing that takes some of Arai thunder away. Did you put in a breath guard or anything or is that just straight up stock helmet (aside from the visors)

[bross]

I wear an RF1000 as well. I'm on my second one, the first one damaged in a crash. I won't buy anything else, they are the most comfortable helmet I have worn. Doesn't really matter the brand, just buy the helmet that fits you best. They are both good. Jodie wore an Arai Quantum/f for a few years and found it very comfortable. Her's got damaged when it fell off her bike and rolled across a parking lot. She's wearing a Shoei X11 now but said she likes the Arai better.

The Shoei RF1000 is one of the better venting helmets out there so that helps when it gets hot. I can actually feel my hair being blown around by the venting. Jodie's Arai was very hot with poor venting. The other thing Jodie didn't like about the Arai was the visor uses friction to hold it part way open, but there's not enough friction so the visor either gets slammed closed by the wind, or whipped up. The Shoei's use detents to hold the visor, so it stays where you want it. You can also "crack" the visor open just a smidge by using the locking lever, which works great on cold mornings to keep the visor from fogging but doesn't let alot of cold wind in like it does when it's open to the first detent.

Take your time trying them on, it took Jodie and I over an hour and half to settle on the helmet that fit right. Haven't regretted spending that time at all. I can wear my RF1000 for 10 hours a day and still be totally comfortable with it on, I never feel like I can't wait to get it off my head. Jodie feels the same way about her Arai. It just depends on what shape of head you have, as to which helmet will fit best.

[Il Burlone]

Originally Posted by bross

I wear an RF1000 as well. I'm on my second one, the first one damaged in a crash. I won't buy anything else, they are the most comfortable helmet I have worn. Doesn't really matter the brand, just buy the helmet that fits you best. They are both good. Jodie wore an Arai Quantum/f for a few years and found it very comfortable. Her's got damaged when it fell off her bike and rolled across a parking lot. She's wearing a Shoei X11 now but said she likes the Arai better.

The Shoei RF1000 is one of the better venting helmets out there so that helps when it gets hot. I can actually feel my hair being blown around by the venting. Jodie's Arai was very hot with poor venting. The other thing Jodie didn't like about the Arai was the visor uses friction to hold it part way open, but there's not enough friction so the visor either gets slammed closed by the wind, or whipped up. The Shoei's use detents to hold the visor, so it stays where you want it. You can also "crack" the visor open just a smidge by using the locking lever, which works great on cold mornings to keep the visor from fogging but doesn't let alot of cold wind in like it does when it's open to the first detent.

Take your time trying them on, it took Jodie and I over an hour and half to settle on the helmet that fit right. Haven't regretted spending that time at all. I can wear my RF1000 for 10 hours a day and still be totally comfortable with it on, I never feel like I can't wait to get it off my head. Jodie feels the same way about her Arai. It just depends on what shape of head you have, as to which helmet will fit best.

Covers most of it bross, cant thank ya enough. I am going to have to go to the shop this week sometime and try on a rf1000. The only reason I looked at Arai is I heard they were more comfortable. But it sounds to be more of a opinion thing, plus the fact I wont be wearing it for more than an hour and a half at a time almost assured. It's worth saving a few hundred.

[neebelung]

They're both top-notch helmets. Seriously about equal in terms of quality and safety reputation.

But they're SHAPED very differently. I love some of the designs of the RF1000, but it's too short for my head -- doesn't fully cover my chin. The RX7 on the other hand fits me PERFECTLY... so don't buy based on price... try them both on (with the assistance of a professional who can make sure it fits your melon right!) and decide from there.

[Il Burlone]

thanks once again neebelung, this is the second time ive seen you post and help me haha.

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by MStephan

thanks once again neebelung, this is the second time ive seen you post and help me haha.

Oh LMAO! I'll have to stop that... can't have anyone thinkin' I'm helpful or anything...

[Il Burlone]

I know what is this...some forum for answers! Wheres all the girls and guys calling me noob and telling me I suxxor and that their civic is way cooler if you just ignore the 50 stickers on it and the giant honda on the windshield because i wasnt sure what kinda car it was. Wheres those people!!! you helpful people make me sick!

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by MStephan

I know what is this...some forum for answers! Wheres all the girls and guys calling me noob and telling me I suxxor and that their civic is way cooler if you just ignore the 50 stickers on it and the giant honda on the windshield because i wasnt sure what kinda car it was. Wheres those people!!! you helpful people make me sick!

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude, don'tcha know the stickeerz make it FASTER?????

And that's not a wing... it's stadium seating!!!

[Il Burlone]

No the stickers are armor for the car...god you are useless. Alright heres how it works. The stickers protect the car from the proton waves created by the fluxuations in the core power of the neon tubes which cause a dimensional gateway in time thus letting the car actually fly. The 3 12 inch subs they have in the trunk are there to turn up or down to help control turbulence in this rift. Then the wing actually allows it to fly past every other car on the road and come out back to normal at the desired location....do I have to teach everyone....

[Il Burlone]

That was near sacreligous...I was in school for mechanical engineering for a year and have read multiple books on automotive engineering....I feel dirty

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by MStephan

No the stickers are armor for the car...god you are useless. Alright heres how it works. The stickers protect the car from the proton waves created by the fluxuations in the core power of the neon tubes which cause a dimensional gateway in time thus letting the car actually fly. The 3 12 inch subs they have in the trunk are there to turn up or down to help control turbulence in this rift. Then the wing actually allows it to fly past every other car on the road and come out back to normal at the desired location....do I have to teach everyone....

BWAHAHAHAHAAHAHHA... Oh dayum, that was Tuner BS at it's best!!!

Originally Posted by MStephan

That was near sacreligous...I was in school for mechanical engineering for a year and have read multiple books on automotive engineering....I feel dirty

LMAO! It's good to be dirty every once in a while...

[Jake '53]

The Arai didn't fit my oval head very well. I ride without a windshield and at interstate speeds the Shoei has some aerodynamic characteristic that are a little bothersome until you get used to them. Straight into the wind it stays on your head pretty comfortably but when you turn your head a little bit it can kind of snap you around. Other than that I've worn it for 500 mile days a couple of different times without any problems.

[bross]

Originally Posted by Jake '53

The Arai didn't fit my oval head very well. I ride without a windshield and at interstate speeds the Shoei has some aerodynamic characteristic that are a little bothersome until you get used to them. Straight into the wind it stays on your head pretty comfortably but when you turn your head a little bit it can kind of snap you around. Other than that I've worn it for 500 mile days a couple of different times without any problems.

I think that's called speed.

[Jake '53]

Originally Posted by bross

I think that's called speed.

Give me hard time dammit.

[Il Burlone]

Originally Posted by neebelung

BWAHAHAHAHAAHAHHA... Oh dayum, that was Tuner BS at it's best!!!



LMAO! It's good to be dirty every once in a while...

Oh darling I can speak tuner speech fluently so much so that I talked a guy into letting me race his civic against my oldmobile and I flattered him on it so much he believed his own BS and took the $250 bet and all I knew was I had a V6 and he had a V4 with extra weight from a stereo...I am good at what I do.

As far as being dirty darling... I won't even go there. But I do love it. But theres a difference between dirt and a tattoo. What I said is like a tick. It sticks in ya for a while. And I didn't get money this time....you better be happy with yourself. I blame you.

[Il Burlone]

Jake what's your helmet size? You happen to know what the measurement is around your forehead. Because I have a somewhat large head too and according to their charts Arai I would need like an XL in american size for Arai. Just wondering how it fit you exactly.

[zx14kaw]

Arai...... hands down they are way softer and lighter.

[Jake '53]

Originally Posted by MStephan

Jake what's your helmet size? You happen to know what the measurement is around your forehead. Because I have a somewhat large head too and according to their charts Arai I would need like an XL in american size for Arai. Just wondering how it fit you exactly.

I didn't go off the charts. Went down to the local Cycle Gear and tried on helmets until I found one that didn't rub on my forehead and still fit snugly enough through the sides. The XL Arai rubbed my forehead and was loose on the sides. The XL Shoei is the only one I found that fit right.