Arai Sucks

[Yeti]

Just a little rant to warn people who are thinking of buying an Arai helmet. I bought an Arai RX-7 Corsair Hayden Laguna Replica last year based on some very good reviews and the fit. Until today I've loved my helmet.

This morning I went to switch visors and a tab on the shield cover broke. Because it broke, the shield will not stay on the helmet making the helmet basically useless. (Good thing I have a car too or I would have had to duct tape the shield on.)

When I got to work I got online to look up the part . . . and found a dozen reviews/articles/rants where this has happened to other people too! I then called the store where I bought it (no, not BuyMoto, I didn't know about them then.) They told me the part is on backorder until late February at least!! In calling around to other places I've found that either so many have broken that demand has outpaced supply or that Arai is redesigning the piece and the new ones won't be out until then. No one is sure which but the shield covers are not available anywhere.

To me this is completely BS. I now have a helmet that is useless until late February, if then.

So, if you're thinking of buying an Arai you might want to think twice until they fix this problem.

[GPTECHMAN]

I have had several arais and have never had this happen. Call up the service pavillion, they should have the extra parts that you need.

[Dissident]

Hmm, I've seen that happen to someone else, but they went back to where they got it and the store gave em a new one and took the old helmet.

Parts breaking off while swapping visors is hardly exclusive to arai tho, either, nor are backordered parts. I'd much rather have an arai and know that if it happens anytime during the lenghty warranty that I am covered, vs. buying a cheap helmet and just being out of luck.

[Cyanide41]

I change out the shields on my RX-7 Corsair all the time and I have never had an issue! (knock on wood)

[Yeti]

I change out the shields on my RX-7 Corsair all the time and I have never had an issue! (knock on wood)

I've changed the shield many, amny times too with no problems. Until today. Googling for the part found a ton of people with the same problem.

I have had several arais and have never had this happen. Call up the service pavillion, they should have the extra parts that you need.
I've never had it happen before either. I have called EVERYWHERE for the part and EVERYONE has told me they're out of stock until late February. One person said it was because they can't keep them in stock. Another store said it was because Arai is resdesigning the piece due to it breaking so often. Either way I'm hosed and not happy about it.

I should also clarify something, I've only found this issue on the RX-7 Corsair. I don't know if other Arai's use the same piece or not.

[GPTECHMAN]

all arais have the same shield changing system.
Have you called the service pavillion? cause sometimes "everywhere" doesnt include them...they had every piece possible at the long beach show.

[mtex22]

Same thing happened to me. I went to cycle gear, they gave me a cover from a different helmet to use until mine came in. It did not match but it was useable.

[Yeti]

Same thing happened to me. I went to cycle gear, they gave me a cover from a different helmet to use until mine came in. It did not match but it was useable.

That's what I'm hoping is going to happen on my way home tonight! :thumbsup:

all arais have the same shield changing system.
Have you called the service pavillion? cause sometimes "everywhere" doesnt include them...they had every piece possible at the long beach show.

I didn't call the service pavillion. Trying them now.

[Yeti]

Ok. Just got off the phone with Robert at The Service Pavillion (http://www.theservicepavilion.com/index.html) and they're on their way via overnight!! Service Pavillion rocks!!!

GPTECHMAN, thanks!! :cheers:

[Termin8r]

Just an FYI - helmets are normally judged based on their level of protection, comfort, features, ventilation and aerodynamics. I'd say Arais don't suck in these areas. I miss mine.

[Yeti]

Just an FYI - helmets are normally judged based on their level of protection, comfort, features, ventilation and aerodynamics. I'd say Arais don't suck in these areas. I miss mine.
Normally, I'd agree with you. However, in this case a defective part rendered the helmet useless which makes protection, comfort, features, ventilation and aerodynamics irrelevant. I guess technically the title of the thread should have been "Arai Sucks at Making Shield Covers" :cheers:

[cbrsmurf]

I like helmets without those cover/shields at the ends of the visor... like my KBC :D

[Arnold_R1]

I like helmets without those cover/shields at the ends of the visor... like my KBC :D

Yeah, even the Suomy's have difficult visor changing system! I hated changing the visors on both my Arai and Suomy's that I just left the tinted one all the time.

The Shoei X-11 is by far one of the best helmets out in the market. :thumbsup:

[bex]

Yeah, even the Suomy's have difficult visor changing system! I hated changing the visors on both my Arai and Suomy's that I just left the tinted one all the time.

The Shoei X-11 is by far one of the best helmets out in the market. :thumbsup:

I agree.. I just use my other helmet when riding at night to avoid the fear of having to change my Suomy's tinted visor.

[spewmonkey]

Aria is at fault but it sounds like cold plastic breakage, do you store your helmet inside? or in a cold garage? Learned more than I need to know about plastic when I worked for TORO AG in El Cabong. Like plastic is never really melted (as in liquid form) in molding machines just at a temp where it can flow and that plastic changes it's structure at different temps along with Electron Beam cross linking and plastic formulas for different temps and applications. Fun job but kinda low brow and lacked challenge after 8mos.

Arai's are great helmets and Aria is a reputable company, send any broken helmet to them with and explanation of what happened I can almost guarantee you'll get a new replacement helmet sent back. Any company that's willing to trade a black market fake helmet for one of their real ones is on my list of companies that deserve my hard earned coin: http://www.fireblades.org/forums/vendor-seller-dealer-reviews/11082-arai-helmet-scam.html

[Yeti]

Aria is at fault but it sounds like cold plastic breakage, do you store your helmet inside? or in a cold garage?
Yeah, cold garage. It was probably the cold, who knows??

[deathblow]

The tab breaking can happen when you do not remove the shield properly. I have had many Corsairs and several Quantums, I broke my Quantum. After I learned how to change shields properly, I was dumbfounded to see how easy it really was.

It can happen pretty easily, and it has nothing to do with a bad patch of pods. There should actually be a class on proper shield removal and insertion :-p . Also, the silicon should be used on the shields which help with the process.

[Yeti]

The tab breaking can happen when you do not remove the shield properly. I have had many Corsairs and several Quantums, I broke my Quantum. After I learned how to change shields properly, I was dumbfounded to see how easy it really was.

It can happen pretty easily, and it has nothing to do with a bad patch of pods. There should actually be a class on proper shield removal and insertion :-p . Also, the silicon should be used on the shields which help with the process.
I know how to change the shield, I've done it enough times by now. When I bought the helmet Jen at Cycle Gear took the time to really show me how to do it right. It was just one of those things. It was cold so that may have contributed. I was also told by a couple of places I called that there was a batch of shield covers that were not up to spec.

Really, at this point my only complaint is that this part was so hard to find. Only one place had them out of the 9-12 I called. Luckily for me, they're also very, very cool and had awesome customer service. (Service Pavillion) I love my helmet otherwise (10 of 10) and am convinced that if I go down it'll protect my head, I just wish that part hadn't been so damn hard to find.

[sandogn]

It can happen to just about any helmet, you have to be really careful when messing with visors.

[Lost]

Also, the silicon should be used on the shields which help with the process.

So what your saying is that it needs to be lubed up before insertion? I see.... :lift:

[deathblow]

So what your saying is that it needs to be lubed up before insertion? I see.... :lift:

Your extrapolation and insight are unparalleled young jedi!

[zee]

Same thing happened to me with my Arai Rx-7 Corsair. I ordered the shield cover from Buymoto, but had to wait like 2 months to get them in. They were backordered also. I also store my helmet in the garage, in a closet, and it was a cold night. Some of my friends were going to go riding, so I wanted to switch visors for the night. My shield cover broke off, and I couldn't use my helmet. Had to borrow my bro's Arai helmet.

[Yeti]

Got the new piece today from Robert. The Service Pavilion rules!! :thumbsup: I think I'm going to bring my helmet inside for now on as much of a pita as that is.

[cbrsmurf]

It can happen to just about any helmet, you have to be really careful when messing with visors.

I have to disagree with you on that one. You just push two tabs down on the KBC and it pops out. To put a new visor in, you just kind of snap/push it in. It literally takes me 30 seconds to change out the visor on my kbc helmets.

[flare]

for a helmet in that price range, you'd think problems like this wouldn't exist. and it shouldn't. but as much as i love my arai, there are things that annoy the hell out of me. for example, that bottom black stripping... god, no glue could keep it on! *&X^#$!!

[spewmonkey]

for a helmet in that price range, you'd think problems like this wouldn't exist. and it shouldn't. but as much as i love my arai, there are things that annoy the hell out of me. for example, that bottom black stripping... god, no glue could keep it on! *&X^#$!!
With proper surface preparation (a little sanding and roughing of the two surfaces) I was able to keep them on but it only came off after 5 years of use and a couple of times in the shower to clean it. Still use it for track days at the Miramar Speed Circuit only cuz I don't have a cool Suomy.

[flare]

sanding huh? hm...

[triplestack3]

It can happen to just about any helmet, you have to be really careful when messing with visors.

+1

I've had to ring up spare parts for just about every brand of helmet

when it comes to protection, fitment, comfort, and ventilation, Arai is the shizzle! Shoei is not too bad either.