Arai Quantum Helmet - Review Hot

Arai returns their top spec sports touring helmet in the form of the Arai Quantum in 2010, we get the low down on its performance and put it to the test in the cold, wet and even snow.

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Initial Thoughts

First up let me start by explaining that the Quantum has had the opportunity to be tested in many different conditions courtesy of some - shall we say - very changable weather over here including far too much snow for my liking which delayed the reviews completion by a few weeks. That said all these different conditions really allow us to see how an item can perform in all the seasons, the Arai Quantum was expected to perform well being the most expensive model tested here so far (come-on Arai wheres the RX7 GP for reviewing??)

Opening up the packaging reveals my chosen design - the white base DNA model, with all its glittery paint and bold striking design it stands out as a very nice looking lid indeed and doing the usual flick up and down of the various vents and switches it reveals a solid build quality you would expect of a helmet at this price point. One thing raised a little eyebrow here though and that is with the visor, the action feels a bit rough (clunky if you will) and the visor material itself bends and flexes when you use it - I am told this is something you can expect from an Arai visor and the plastic used it designed to be more flexible than other brands.

Construction

Made from a stengthened Super Complex Laminate Construction the Quantum feels solid in the hand and sits about average on the scales which is not really a bad thing in a sports touring oriented lid, ventilation on first view looks minimal with 2 small popups on the forehead, a chin vent and an exhaust on the rear but actually in use over 40mph this combination shifts a load of air - there was a bit of a problem getting enough air below 40mph though which highlighted a small issue with fogging around the edges of the pinlock, this is really just around the bottom 1/2" of the visor and round the brow vents when closed but it still removes a section of useful visibility.

As we all know each helmet manufacturer develops their own 'shape' and with it a specific head shape will fit better with one brand than another, here I have a bit of an issue really with the Quantum (perhaps all Arai but I was told this has the most neutral head shape). Getting the lid on is a squeeze in the first place with the chin bar being a touch more difficult to negotiate and when it is on the head you dont get much room at all  to move your chin, in fact if I talk with the helmet on my chin rubs against the chinbar - odd.. The oddest thing about that though is my head is what I would class as round'ish' with it neither being too round all over nor too oval so by my reckoning this would be a difficult helmet to fit if you are of a long oval headed persuasion. That aside though I do have to say the Arai Quantum is a very comfortable lid to wear and where you have a criticism for the chin bar not giving much room you also get a more snug feeling - perhaps this was intentional? One by product of the lack of room in the chin bar is with the included breath deflector which sits exactly where it is of no use to me whatsoever - right under the tip of my nose - out that goes.

Ok so in use I have already explained this is a comfortable lid to wear, there is no lift at speed and with Arai's custom fit you can have well over 100 combinations of cheek and head pads to ensure this cossets your noggin perfectly - see your Arai 5 Star Dealer and they will chop and change your pads until you get the right fit! This also seems to be a quiet helmet which surprised me as most of the time the higher the price the slightly louder the base noise level (in my experience) but this was respectable enough to wear all day long and I even managed to use it without ear plugs with no discomfort after I forgot my plugs.

One thing I do dislike and will point out as it made me sweat and swear, is the visor system and those side pods (grr). This is my first Arai on test and with new innovative push click systems available that give you one handed and simple visor replacement I cannot understand how Arai use the system they do - not only does it sound and feel like you are destroying your visor but on my attempts I could not get the damn thing to release cleanly for love nor money, refitting was equally treacherous and took vastly longer than I would have liked. After speaking with my Arai dealer it seems this comes with practise but from a consumer point of view on a £469 helmet I really dont want the stress of thinking I am destroying my nice shiny visor or release system. One thing I DO like though about the Arai visor is the brow vents, in mid winter they are not helpful I can tell you after leaving them open in a snowstorm but you get to feel the full effect of that nice wind blast and in summer I bet these are great.

I have already touched on price, yes you read right that the book price on one of these graphic models of the Arai Quantum - 2010 prices - is £469 which seems a lot. I am in a fortunate enough position to be given the top spec lids from most manufacturers and this is head and shoulders more expensive than the others and on first look I really could not see where the additional £70+ on other brands comes in, that is until I took into consideration the 5 year warranty and service booklet where you can take your Arai lid to a 5 star dealer at 6 month intervals for a health check and spruce up. Aftersales like that does not exist with other brands and from experience of having a broken vent with a previous helmet I tested it is nice to know that your money is actually going towards something, dont get me wrong it is still a high price to pay but if you are looking for a top spec helmet you should not really be phased by £400+ prices should you?

Tech Specs

• New strengthened outershell in Super Complex Laminate Construction (SCLC)
• Enhanced hyper ridge strengthening in outer shell lower section
• Larger opening for increased ease when taking helmet on or off
• Triple density inner shell
• Comfort and fit on higher level
• Airflow spoiler-directs the airflow around the bottom edge
• Wider aperture/larger visor-for better peripheral vision
• Emergency release cheek pads
• New fully washable and removable interior lining with improved performance
• Dry Cool®
• Removable skull cap and cheek pads, available in six sizes
• Enhanced Ventilation system: New bigger intake/exhaust air ducts feature bigger buttons for easy glove use;New exhaust ducts at bottom of helmet provide optimized ventilation; New designed chinvent for better channeling of airflow;Patented visor brow ventilation ducts keep temple area cool
• Sleek one-piece trim rubber
• Lever release visor removal system (LRS)
• Aerodynamic recessed visor holder system
• Aerodynamic 3D Pinlock® ready visor with de-mist visor lock
• Double 'D' ring fastening system ensures correct strap tension at all times
• Pinlock® visor insert included