Helmet Question and Help Please

[PolishPete]

So I was looking on ebay for a track helmet, didn't want to destroy my new Arai...and I found this pearl black for sale.  Nobody bid so I got it for the starting bid of $75.  I don't know if it's fake or real, and where is the Arai logo on front.  He says he took it off because he liked the all black look.  Now this is a older Arai Quantum /f I think...it's is exactly the same as my newer one, except for 3 things.  The black rubber on bottom where your neck meets the helmet has a little different pattern to the holes, the Arai logo is not on top, and the front vents are slightly different.  The vents, gaps in the vents and helmet, size of the vents, visors, weight, padding inside, the hardware used to attach the chin straps under the padding, and all that is the same.  Most importantly I think, the back decals of Arai/Snell/and Dot are on the same in both helmets...the Quantum /f logo is raised funny by this line, and it's the same on both helmets.  It's not like he was trying to pass off an expensive helmet to make some money and it's fake...but I still question.  Would you use this helmet on the track?  Here's some pics and the ebay link.  

[PolishPete]

Here's pics of the rubber on the bottom...this first one is the ebay helmet, and the second is the new one.  Is this becuase the ebay one is just an older or first gen. style?

EBAY


MINE

[racerx196]

honestly bro... when it comes to ur helmet dont cheap out.. its your head, think about it a good helmet 400 bucks, u crash and mess it up oh well 400 down the drain... get a cheap helmet and screw yourself up and it a lot more in doctor bills... also peace of mind you want see dam i could have maybe not got as hurt if i just used better stuff...

i only say it cause i can say trust me i know.....

[L8brake731]

Hey Pete:
Here's my opinion on helmets, age, safety and going to the track. 2cents if you will.

I will quailfy myself as an experienced rider/racer/MSF Coach. I have seen many new riders as well as experinced "smarter" riders compromise the helemt by doing some really questionable things to just make a helmet fit corrctly. Such as, manually compressing the energy absorbing liner due to "hot spots" or "pressure points".
Do you know the reason this person sold the helmet on EBAY?

My advice to you is simply this; you have in your possesion a know element and that is the ARAI helmet YOU purchased, you know it's history and how well you have taken care of it. The BIG question here is what is this EBAY helmets history?
I would guess just by the thread you posted you have more than the average intelligence to be safety aware. You purchased a helmet known for it's safety integrity and you would be wise to use it. If the helmet is called on to do it's job by design, you will be more than glad you used "Yours" instead of one that maybe at the end of its usable life span. (not crashed, no impacts 3-5 years)
Composite materials turn brittle with age, temperature, UV

Just my .02

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Also Pete, in order to be allowed it has to meet one of these standards...

D. O. T. FMVSS – 218 (USA)
Snell M95 and M2000 (USA)
BS. 6658 TYPE. A (GREAT - BRITAIN)
ECE 22 - 04 & ECE 22 - 05 "P" (EUROPE)

Seriously, buy a new one from a shop. Its more of a safety thing. Your protection shouldnt be something that you skimp on.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

What they said.  Then buy a Suomy.  Suomy is destructively batch tested, and if the test helmet fails, the whole batch fails.  More importantly, the Suomy is rated to the softer British standard.  The problem with Snell rated lids like your Arai is that Snell is a car standard, and a car racer might hit his head on the same rollbar multiple times.  Bike racers don't crash that way, so we need a softer helmet that absorbs more G-forces to cushion our brains better.
Not scientific, but I haven't been knocked out since I started crashing in Suomy lids.... ::)

[Super Dave]

Helmets are for protection.  Style is secondary.

You've got a new helmet?  Race with that.  

If you want to skimp on the helmet for racing. take out some life, medical, and disability insurance.  It's just not worth skimping.

Racing has risk.  You almost have to look at your treasured bike, leathers, boots, gloves, helmet, back protector, etc. as expendable.  It blows, I know, but it is part of the risk.

I don't want to fall down.  You don't.  No one does.  The possibliity of it happening at some point is pretty reasonable.  Yes, you save it more than you loose it, but eventually, you'll fall over.  And most of the time, you'll be fine.  But, WHEN you need it, be prepared.

It sucks to have friends and competitors out because of injuries.  Bad for yourself too.

And I use Suomy too.

[stephenr928]

Racing has risk.  You almost have to look at your treasured bike, leathers, boots, gloves, helmet, back protector, etc. as expendable.  It blows, I know, but it is part of the risk.

+1!


Pete,
If you've got a $10 head, get a $10 helmet.....

Or; http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=106265

What if your eBay helmet has been painted?

Finally; there are two areas you never, ever skimp on with motorcycles:
-Tires.
-Safety gear.
If you can't afford these, don't race.

[Jeff]

Just my $.02, but there's no way I'd use a 2nd hand helmet or buy one from an individual off ebay.

Now if Shoei/Suomy/Arai/etc were selling direct on ebay?  Maybe...  But even then I would be VERY skeptical of it.

I guess I'm also a bit distrubed by your statement that you don't want to race in your Arai because you don't want to ruin it...

In that case, you should leave your leathers behind too and maybe put on some carharts.  Or pack your leathers up and then put them on at the local burger joint so you can be the uber-poser on friday nights.

Your gear is for your protection.  Yes, it can be fashionable and you can be proud of it, but function is paramount.  

[PJ721]

this just saved me some typing.... ;)

Just my $.02, but there's no way I'd use a 2nd hand helmet or buy one from an individual off ebay.

Now if Shoei/Suomy/Arai/etc were selling direct on ebay?  Maybe...  But even then I would be VERY skeptical of it.

I guess I'm also a bit distrubed by your statement that you don't want to race in your Arai because you don't want to ruin it...

In that case, you should leave your leathers behind too and maybe put on some carharts.  Or pack your leathers up and then put them on at the local burger joint so you can be the uber-poser on friday nights.

Your gear is for your protection.  Yes, it can be fashionable and you can be proud of it, but function is paramount.  

[Scotty Ryan]

I have been using Arai helmets in the past with reasonable sucess(I'm posting this so I guess they worked)...But if I can recall correctly(which is scary in it's own right) - last season I fell off the bike 11 times - I replaced my helmet 4  of the 11 times I fell off.....I feel that If the helmet whacks the ground it has served it's purpose....Which is well worth $300-$500 - or what ever you think a fair cost for living out the rest of your life is...... I can say I have been knocked out cold a couple times while wearing Arai's -  I have seen the light and am switching to Suomy - ASAP

And by the way, I just had a discussion about this same subject regarding Ebay helmets.......I feel very strongly that no one should buy a second hand helmet....Especially off of someone you don't know & have never seen - Go to the store and drop the coin on a brand new shiny one......Peace of mind - It's hard to go fast without it.........