A lid question for you...

[The Simster]

Just had a chat with Ben on the phone and we were discussing lids and when to change them...

I have an Arai Quantum E which is just over five years old. It's been looked after, never dropped and I wondered whether it was time to get a shiny new one or would it do for a while longer.

There are plenty who would argue that my skull does not contain much in the way of valuable contents, but I'd rather look after those few cells that are still functioning!!!

:h

 

[Supabird1100]

Seem to remember.........

reading somewhere that polycarbonate lids are affected by sunlight and lose their strenghth after about 3 years. Stickers, paint etc. also have weakening properties.

I think Arai will do a free check on a helmet at their roadshow wagon that attends the race meets during the year.

Steve:yo:

 

[Samster]

I normally change lids when they begin to feel a bit 'loose'.........i.e. when the padding loses it's ability to grip your head and face nice and snuggly.............in the past this has been roughly every 3 years although I've now noticed that when I remove and wash the internals of my Shoei it feels as good and snug as new when i put it back on.............

I'd consider a change after 5 years............especially with Ally Pally coming up!

Supa's right about sunlight as well as paint and stickers - although this would depend on how often you ride.............

Get yaself one of the new Simpson's....................they're the biz............

 

[PsychoBikerBen]

reading somewhere that polycarbonate lids are affected by sunlight and lose their strenghth after about 3 years. Stickers, paint etc.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but I'm sure polycarbonate lids are those cheap & nasty old things that have the seam down the middle i.e. those cheaper plastic bargain basement ones.
I think the Arais and more expensive lids are made of sterner stuff.I'm sure most modern lids have carbon kevlar composites in their construction.

 

[Samster]

Yeah that rings a bell with me too..................all new Arai's are guaranteed for five years and are made with an advanced super fibre shell construction..............nice but they don't fit my head!

Anyone ever worn a KIWI lid? They were well dodgy. So were AKITOS and LAZERS. I had a Lazer once and I did a life saver and the fookin' visor ripped clean off - scared the shit out of me - thought I'd been shot!

 

[Wolfie]

LOL sam you had mate but their aim was a little off.

5 Years for arai, had mine checked last year after i had gone down, come back with an all clear, the side pod took the damage.

Fookin thing still leaks water in like every helmet i have owned. But apart from that i like it.:beer: :beer: :beer:

 

[D.S.]

Geezas, had my Arai Quantum F 3 years.

Had it checked at Valencia GP last November and they gave it the all clear, although I got some new cheek pads 'cos the others were a bit tired (apparently!!!) and they were right, lid felt like new again.

 

[Bubba]

Just changed me AGV XVent, (Dropped too many times for me liking), for a OGK Aeroblade. Must admit to being dead impressed with it.

 

[Fodder]

Just my 2 cents worth........Given that if you are going to 'nut' something directly at anything approching 30mph or over you will wave your brains bye bye, I only bother to replace mine when the lining has self-destructed or I can no longer get a replacement visor.

 

[PsychoBikerBen]

You should re-name yerself as

"Cannon Fodder":}

 

[birdinflight]

Arais............

the bike group that we belong to had Ted King from Phoenix Distribution Uk come to talk to us on the manufacturer of Arai and all things pertaining to them. Phoenix are the sole distributer and importer of Arai in this country. Ted is the technical and saftety advisor for BSB, WSB, and I could go on.

Yes, Arai will check your helmet at their stands at the bike races and also you can replace your cheek pieces to give it that new feel. No reason to change a helmet if it is sound inside and out.

Get it checked!

 

[cbrlover]

Helmet Life

:lick:

The life of a helmet is 5 years if not dropped etc.

I value my few brain cells so I buy a new one every year.

I then use the new one in he Summer, and the older ones in the winter.

I never keep a helmet longer than 3 years, and NO I don't buy crap....usually spend 150+

Jeff



:yo:

 

[Bubba]

Pass the canopener

Need worms in this!

Did anyone see the helmet review in MCN, (Or was it RiDE??), a while ago?? Seemed that you dont need to pay a massive fortune on yer lids. In fact there was several that passed all the tests with flying colours that are Sub ?100.

My AGV cost me ?200 and I was impressed with it. My OGK on the other hand cost me ?135 and its a better lid than the AGV, (Lighter for one so thats not a bad thing, is it?). So you could be buying crap at ?150+.

 

[PsychoBikerBen]

I wanna get me one of these

The real McCoy:lick:

Better start saving though cos they ain't cheap over here:B

 

[Bubba]

Are they legal over here now then??

 

[PsychoBikerBen]

The one I desire isn't

Cos of the so called limitations of periferal vision.The helmets are designed for motorsport and thus for forward viewing only i.e. drag racing & track racing.

Simpson have now made a few road legal version than conform to our safety but the visors are bigger thus not giving that ultra cool raperound 'sunglasses' look.

I for one will be sticking with the origional type as it is sooooo cool - that's why I like em so much.
All Simpsons comply with 'Snell' regulations & I guess that being an American product and selling loads over there that Simpson never really thought about getting their helmets certified by British safety standards until now.

 

[Bubba]

I'll keep an eye out for some at Ally pally then. Wont be allowed on just yet, only had me OGK for a few months now but will be handy as "Reference"