[Thefallenone]

I need a new visor for my Arai Condor (Starflag silver) 2 years old.

Thing is, I love KBC helmets and the local shop is selling VR1's in the same colour scheme with a free legal Iridium silver visor for £80!!!!

Now the Arai visors are £40 each! What would you do?

Kev

 

[DragonDan]

Go for the new, and give the scratched up helmet to wife/ girlfriend. My version of Trickle down economics......

 

[Trip]

I hope my next helmet is an Arai. Helmets are supposed to be good for 4 or 5 years before the shell and styrofoam core become suspect. I would go for the visor.

 

[ST]

Buy cheap = buy twice. stick with arai.

kbc are notorius for being noisy helmets also........

 

[Stlakid]

kbc are notorius for being noisy helmets also........

I disagree. That's nothing more than a big generalization.
I have the VR-1 and it is NOT noisy and it is a VERY comfortable fitting helmet as well. Probably one of the best helmets KBC ever made, period. I have worn the Racer-1 and would agree noisy and I don't like the fit. It was supposed to be the new top of the line a year or two ago and in my opinion they blew it with the Racer-1. But as far as the VR-1 is concerned they are GREAT helmets! Buy the new one, you won't be disappointed with it. :upthumb:

The newer Arai helmets don't fit well for me. That doesn't mean they make poor fitting helmets across their entire line or for everyone either. Some people have an Arai head and some have a Shoei head. I've got a Shoei one! :-D I've owned a couple of Arai's, Shoei's, (funny, they used to be the cheap brands we took to Mexico with our dirt bikes too, and they fit me then!) Bell, Simpson's and now the KBC. My next helmet will probably be a Scorpion brand. The fit for me is every bit as good as the top of the line Shoei! (and $450.00 less!!) I was trying them on side by side as well! I think 'most' helmets now days are noisier than they used to be since they started putting so much ventilation on them. Noise never used to be such a problem.

[ This message was edited by: Stlakid on 2006-12-12 01:35 ]

 

[MNSpintST]

Helemts

I'd probably get a new helmet..

Well actually I did this winter.. An HJC

Review

The helmet's surface finish, the vents...everything about it just reflects a high-quality product. We see a lot of helmets in every price point during the year, and the HJC is equal to the best and, we think, better than Arai quality, which in our experience is highly over-rated. Unfortunately, some riders still have a perception that owning an HJC helmet doesn't offer the same prestige as other brands.

KBC VR1 Review

And I'd guarantee that if there was a blind test, where the users didn't know which brand of helmet they were wearing, the results would be much different than if they first saw the logos. Alternatively, I bet that if you put a Suomy logo on a KBC VR-1 helmet and told them that it was a new model and that the list price was $549.99, they'd think it was the greatest thing since lubeless splines and they'd immediately go reaching for their wallet.

[ This message was edited by: MNSpintST on 2006-12-12 01:37 ]

 

[Thefallenone]

My Arai is still great although it is noisy. The KBC's fit really well I have have found them good in the past.

This looks very cool. My son bought the red/black version.

 

[mglemans86]

Motorcyclist did a rather extensive study of helmets with surprising results. It showed that some cheaper helmets were actually better at protecting your brain than more expensive Snell rated helmets.

Safer Helmets


Shoei and Arai pulled their advertising after the article appeared. It is nice to see magazine willing to jeopardise revenues to publish an article that could save lives.

:???:

 

[pushr0d]

Kev,

Back to your question, you can spend the 40 quid on a visor that'll keep you in your hat for another couple of years, or spend 80 and have a new helmet you may not like as much, and have a very expensive paperweight for your workbench.

I'd choose the visor.

 

[Thefallenone]

Yep I reckon a new visor it is as the Arai fits great and goes with the bike and power ranger suit.

 

[Raynewb]

Get my Arai visors from http://www.racevisors.co.uk/index.cfm/view_id/1
Cost £35.00 plus you get a free visor bag for that dark one you will buy.
Ray

 

[Stlakid]

I completely forgot about Soumy..........Talk about an expensive PAPERWEIGHT! The WORST fitting helmet I tried on at the store! For what people are willing to pay for these things I expected WAY more! Complete piece of Sh*t for the money. IMHO :gooff: ">

 

[DaveM]

Stlakid,
Suomy Trek is what I wear and it fits me perfectly, in fact it is one of the best skidlids I have ever owned.

I can't help it if your head is an odd shape :-D :-D :-D

Top Suomy bonce protection kit:

Davem

 

[DaveM]

Oh and Stlakid I bought two for $318.00 AUD each that is not an expensive helmut over here compared to a Shark or an Arai.

They would be two of the most expensive n=brands in Australia.

Rather an outlandish statement for your esteemed self Stlakid :wink:

My last lid was an HJC which was pretty good but before that I had an Arai, I rate the Suomy as better than either of them for MY head anyway.

I think you need to clarify that helmuts like motorcycle seats suit individuals what is a great fit for you may well be no good for me and vise versa.

I know that you are a smart fellow Stlakid so I am surprised at your comment.............. just a little subjective don't ya thunk friend?

Davem

 

[Stlakid]

Rather an outlandish statement for your esteemed self Stlakid

And I would agree except the ones I personally tried on were that bad....to me. I'm glad they fit you well and you find it comfortable. I found it absolutely terrible in fit and comfort. I tried them on because I did find a dealer that was selling them quite reasonably on line, around $200.00 if I remember. But after assuming the New KBC Racer-1 would be better than my VR-1 and being very disappointed, I thought I better try it on first. Don't get me wrong, even though I hated it I WAS VERY SURPRISED because so many such as yourself recommend them highly (and their retail price) led me to expect much better than I encountered when I tried them on.
That may be why I sounded off so harshly about them, I EXPECTED a lot from them as I has heard what a great lid they were. I was very let down when I actually got one on my head. I thought I was about to get the deal of the year for one on line.

Oh and Stlakid I bought two for $318.00 AUD each that is not an expensive helmet over here compared to a Shark or an Arai.

Shark, another one I forgot about. Rated #1 buy some comparison (but I can't remember who it was) review and I must admit it fit 'WONDERFULLY. Probably made my disappointment in the Soumy more that it was. Next time I'm in the shop I'm going to try on another one just to be sure I didn't get a bad one.


This just goes to prove that when it comes to helmets, you better try it on first! Besides Dave, I've seen your picture next to your Sprint and trust me 'We ain't got the same head'! What a melon you have! :-D :-D :-D

[ This message was edited by: Stlakid on 2006-12-13 03:44 ]

 

[DaveM]

Stlakid................ yes it is rather a melon I have to admit!!!! :-D :-D :-D :-D

But by God I'm hansum :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz:

onya Kid!

Davem

 

[Stlakid]

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