I recently replaced my old faithful Arai RX-7RR IV (henceforth known as “the Arai”) with a shiny new Shoei XR-1000 Kagayama Replica (“the Shoei” to its friends), and thought a comparison between the two might be interesting.

Both come with easily changeable visors, removable and washable linings and cheek pads, adjustable vents at the front (to avoid misting) and top and sides (to cool your sweaty bonce), double D-ring fastenings, clips to keep the flapping strap end secure and an impressive and hard wearing finish.

The Arai

The Arai was their top of the range model but it's since been replaced by the very similar but no doubt vastly improved RX-7 Corsair. It's a favourite with racers at all levels, and for good reason. It's very light and close fitting, yet matches or exceeds all the relevant safety standards.

It also has excellent ventilation. On cold winter mornings the ventilation can be a little too good; with all the vents open there's no chance of your visor misting, but your head will get cold as speeds rise. The benefit of this ventilation comes on hot summer days, when you can keep a cool head no matter how hard you're riding.

The Arai's close fit to your head means that its weight is also carried close to your head; there's a definite feeling of “lightness” as you move your head from side to side, despite the helmet's weight being very similar to the Shoei.

The close fit and excellent ventilation produce my only two criticisms of the helmet; it's noisy, and it's awkward to get on and off. With earplugs the noise isn't a problem, but during gentle bimbles when leaving the earplugs out wouldn't normally be a worry, the Arai manages to produce a symphony of whistling and whooshing that other helmets manage to avoid. This is made worse if you ride with the visor open, when the vents and angles of the open visor produce even more racket. With the visor down and earplugs in and it's a nice place to be, though.

Once it's on, that is. Getting an Arai of the right size onto your head can be a struggle, particularly when you're already hot and sweaty. Once it's on, it's fine - luxurious even – but taking it on and off isn't a smooth operation. Perhaps I've just got particularly sticky-out ears.

The Shoei

I chose the Shoei as I've have had them before and liked them, and I thought it would address a lot of the shortcomings of the Arai. And because it was quite a lot cheaper. I wanted a change from an all black helmet and so went for a replica of the one worn by Suzuka 8 Hour winner Yukio Kagayama. Well *I* like it, anyway.

It's a similar weight to the Arai but has a slightly larger outer shell, making it easier to get on and off and allowing room for slightly plusher padding. It has vents in similar places to the Arai, but has less of the Arai's external channelling around them. It does have a transparent spoiler type affair on the back though.

It's certainly a lot quieter than the Arai. Not so much in the amount of external noise that it blocks out, but in the lack of noise that it generates as you ride along, particularly with the visor open. The ventilation is good but not as excellent as the Arai; I think this might be related to the way that the warm air is pulled out of the helmet rather than the ease with which the cold air gets in. Having said that, visor misting isn't a problem on the Shoei.

The Shoei's big advantage – for me at least – is the lack of a struggle when putting it on and taking it off. Once on it's slightly less snug than the Aria while still being a safe and secure fit, but it slides on and off my head much more easily. For shorter trips this is a real advantage.

The Conclusion

These are two very different helmets. They're both beautifully made to a very high standard, with long lasting finishes, quality fittings, vents that work, and so on. Both exceed all the safety standards in al the countries where they're sold, and for all racing authorities.

The extra cost of the Arai seems to have gone on making the helmet as small and as close fitting as possible while still meeting the safety standards. This results in a snug fit which is an advantage in some circumstances (long all-day rides, trackdays) and a disadvantage in others (short trips with frequent stops).

The Shoei is more comfortable in general use; not necessarily when wearing it, but certainly when taking it off and putting it on. It's quieter when I'm not wearing earplugs, and it was quite a bit cheaper.

Shoei XR-1000