Topic: Not Another Arai for Me: Grrrrrrrrrr...

[burmashave]

I'm gonna contact Arai and see what they say. There isn't really a good way to epoxy the cover on, and it seems that there's a chance that the prob lies in the base component that holds the cover on. The base has an interesting capture mechanism for one of the cover tabs. I've never seen anything quite like it.

Thanks for all the good suggestions, though. I will prolly be in the market for a new one next season.

[Ecosse]

just had to add my surprise about the mixed views of the arai. always figured they were the top deal. i do know as far as fit is concerned that it's an individual thing. for the money arai charges i would think even after 7 years (no excuses) it would at least hold together.

i had a shoei, the next to top model but since superseded, and loved it. but being a medium it gave headaches after an hour.

got an hjc ac-12. great price and fit. doesn't fog and is light enough for me. i thought about the version with the sun visor but couldn't get one to try. only thing i hate is that i look like a darn bobble head. freakin snell standards!   

[andy750]

i had a shoei, the next to top model but since superseded, and loved it. but being a medium it gave headaches after an hour.

I dont think that the fault of the helmet... ..a larger size will fix your problem..then again maybe not 

[Ecosse]

i had a shoei, the next to top model but since superseded, and loved it. but being a medium it gave headaches after an hour.

I dont think that the fault of the helmet... ..a larger size will fix your problem..then again maybe not 

  yeah, for once in my life i was disappointed by my big brain. i woulda bought another shoei but this hjc came at a good price. my old one was a nice plain white and a perfect place for my '59' sticker. my new one is a tad flashy.

[DarkRider]

at least the FS-10 can be gotten in flat black lol

[burmashave]

I had to track down a customer service number for Arai because the number isn't on the site, and their electronic registration system does not work. I talked to a very helpful customer service rep, and he believes that I need to replace the side covers. He said that the attachment tabs on the covers may look intact; however, when they break off, they can break off cleanly making appear that they are O.K.

So, I ordered a pair of covers for $15 plus $3 for shipping. That's not bad; however, I'm concerned about color matching. He said they had a slew of colors in the grey/silver category. I think we narrowed it down to the right one, but we'll see.

I'll repost when I get them.

[heffay]

I had to track down a customer service number for Arai because the number isn't on the site, and their electronic registration system does not work. I talked to a very helpful customer service rep, and he believes that I need to replace the side covers. He said that the attachment tabs on the covers may look intact; however, when they break off, they can break off cleanly making appear that they are O.K.

he is precisely right.  one tab on one side of mine broke cleanly and un-noticeably.  it still hangs on just fine, so far... but yes, +1

[burmashave]

My joy is not complete. :-( So I ordered new (external) side panels. I know it was the side panels I ordered because the rep. and I had a long discussion about what color my helmet is--Arai made the Quantum F in 3-4 shades of grey. The sales guy didn't think I'd need the inside brackets at all.

Well, a couple of days ago I received a package from Arai, and lo and behold, what should I find inside? A pair of the inner brackets that hold the side panels but no side panels. At least the billing shows that they billed me correctly.

I popped the panels off, and inspecting them, I think the tabs may well be O.K. I mounted the new brackets, which seem a bit cosmetically different from the old ones. All seemed well; however, while riding, I discovered that the shields (either of my two) would not latch down--not good for highway speed. The new brackets seem to flex the bottom of the shield out just a bit.

I'm gonna pop the covers again, which I really hate to do for fear I will damage the hold down tabs. Then, I'm going to try to adjust the brackets a bit. It seemed that the two screw holes on each bracket might allow for just a bit of play/adjustment.

If I had the funds, or if I weren't fond of highly protective headgear, I'd replace it. But hey, the bike never ran better. In the words of the greens keeper, "So, I got that goin' for me." :-)

[RatBikeRandy]

I always wanted an Arai since they are supposed to be one of the best helmets.  I finally got one a few years back, but have been disappointed with it as well.  I hate the vents in the face shield because they wont stay where you want them.  I have to tape them closed in winter.  The rubber moulding keeps coming off in the face area, the leather? strap attachments and the cushion on the bottom if you set it on a table look like crap after a few years.  I always store it inside by the way.

For some reason I keep wearing it since it cost so much.  I really prefer my old HJC for a fraction of the cost any day.
Just my 2 cents

[burmashave]

For some reason I keep wearing it since it cost so much.  I really prefer my old HJC for a fraction of the cost any day.
Just my 2 cents

I hear ya. I somehow feel it's better for my head, so I put up with it, although I haven't (yet) hat the prob with the front vents.

[burmashave]

No, wait a minute. Let me have even more joy!

I tried to remove the side panels as before; however, the new brackets held them on tighter. As a result, I cracked one of the ephin' panels as it popped off. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Unhappy. I was supposed to go on a group ride today.

It'll prolly take Arai at least a week to come up with side panels, and then, I have to hope that the color matches and pray that I can get the face shield to line up properly.

I had my heart set on a pair of Joe Rocket leather pants, but now, I may be in the market for another helmet.

[burmashave]

there is a special way to pull the sides off (where to pull and where not to pull)... look for some instructions on that.
most 'good' merchandise people at a helmet shop have been trained to do it and can show you how, as well.

There were no instructions that I could find. Check out the Arai America website. It's heinous and sometimes random. The only way I could find a number for Arai (sales, no less) was to Google up a result that came from another forum. That member got the number from a friend at a bike shop. I would have been happy with an email address; however, I could find none. I wasted quite a bit of time trying to register and login to the parts area.

The new brackets came with no instructions. Had they included instructions stating that the brackets need to be adjusted prior to putting the side panels on, I might still have two side covers. The fact (if it is actually a fact) that the brackets need to be adjusted is completely non-intuitive. The only adjustment that can be made is that the screw holes on the bracket are slightly larger than the screw diameter.

I tried to pop the covers off in the most sensible way I could figgur. Prying anywhere but the top pulls the tab in, instead of out. I pried gently from the top, while making certain not to scratch the helmet.

I hear what you're saying Hefe; none of this is aimed at you. It's Arai that I'm not happy with. There's sometimes a fine line between failure from wear and tear versus premature mortality. For the price, we expect more. For example, if it is a prob that the front molding falls off, why rely solely on glue to hold it on? Why not use a groove and strip to provide friction fit? On a cheap helmet, I wouldn't expect this, but on a $450 helmet, I would figgur the engineers could figgur a simple way to keep the molding on.

[burmashave]

My theory is this. I made sure that the visor will close properly if I get a new side cover. I'm going to order a new side cover. Once I get it, I'll attach it. All will be well, and members won't feel compelled to listen to my moanings. ;-)

Perhaps I'll use PMS to color match the helmet. ;-)