Japan have their own safety standard for crash helmets. How that stacks up against DOT / Snell / Sharp, I don't know. But these are Arai and Shoei helmets. They are not going to be unsafe. I'm sure you can buy cheap US/ EU certified helmets that will offer less protection in a crash than a Japanese Arai or Shoei. However, because they do not carry EU or US certification stickers, they may be illegal to use in your region, depending on local laws.
Hi! Thanks for the video, I am Chinese and I also find it difficult to fit a helmet in US. However, it seems weBike no longer sell Arai/Shoei anymore. Is there any other way to import helmet? I found a website called max mc direct, but not sure if they are legit or not.
Wow, I look so young in this video ... was this really 4 years ago?? Just make sure you visit the Japanese Webike website, not the international one. For example, here's a link to an RX-7X on the Japanese webike: www.webike.net/sd/23331623/ I just tried the Buyee extension and I can still add stuff like this to my cart!
@@judebikedude6379 Hi sorry to bother you again. I really appreciate it if you can answer my question. I see that you have imported both Shoei and Arai from Japan. Is there any drastic difference between their inner head shape? I know the Arai Rx-7x fits me well, and I am wondering if I should purchase an X-15. Thank you.
@@lihaoqiu2547 Hey, sorry for the delay. There isn't a drastic difference between the two brands, but there is a difference. I imported 2 Shoei helmets (one I didn't show on my 'head shape' video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bzy19KGt5Dk.html ) and the Arai. The latter is slightly rounder but still very comfortable, but I feel the two Shoei's fit me better and are my favourite helmets. I also much prefer the visor mechanism on Shoei helmets; you get a far superior seal and visor swaps are much easier. Hope this helps!
Just bought an arai, and in the shop it felt perfect, absolutely perfect. Even the Shoei pinched the sides of my head (not the temple, the space above/behind the ears). I wore it around for a bit in the house and it still fits ... 99% good, but there was some discomfort or sensation along one of those ridges back there. Ever since I've been trying to figure out if the Japanese helmets could fit better..
The shell is the same, but the EPS liner (the white stuff) is a different shape. I see that Shoei offer a custom fit service in the EU now to accommodate different head shapes, but the fit is adjusted by modifying the comfort liner which fits on top of the EPS liner.
Wow thanks for this information! I am european/Asian as well and my last helmet (hjc arpha 11) fits so bad it really hurts after a long ride (longer than an hour, which is actually not that long). I live in Holland and have the same problem buying a new helmet here. What I do wonder is, when importing a helmet from Japan for example, do they meet the official European technic demands that are mandatory for motorcycle helmets here? Thanks again do much for making and sharing this video!
I'm the opposite. I have a very oval head and absolutely no helmets I found here in Europe fits. To make it worse, I can't import one either because the helmet needs an E-Marking label to be legal on European roads.
Did you choose "protective packaging" for 1500 yen? Wonder how Webike will pack and ship the helmet to Buyee, and if that original packaging would be safe to ship internationally
@@judebikedude6379 Thank you! I think I will finally pull my trigger on this too. First saw your video 2 years ago and been debating(worried about Buyee and non return policy for the wrong size) Great video!
@@judebikedude6379 Shark helmets in EU is more round and it was too wide for me because was noisy and my head could move a little on the side to side so I think that my shape is not round like asian heads. My head lenght is longer than wide but a lot of helmets hurt my temples except HJC RPHA 70 in M size and Arai helmet. Shark also but it was too wide. My eccetricity is more oval than your wife but Shoei NXR hurt me it is very strange. I used this same method from your movie to calculate eccetricity. I taked a picture above the head to make measurments in computer but only head. I didn't compare it to the helmet because my helmet which good fit is 14 years old now and it is now little too loose. I am belive that I am between sizes and I am intermediate oval slightly round or neutral shape but in round direction.
Great video great explanation. I am struggling to find the right helmet since years. Size should be 3xl but this usually gives pain at the side and the ears. Larger helmet is no solution since it gets lose. I am wondering how you managed to import a helmet from Japan? Do you have a link? With best regards Patrick
Hi Patrick, thanks for watching - if you've not already discovered it, there's a video on my channel about using a broker service to import goods from Japan.
Thank you so much for making this video. I've been wearing a Quantum-X Arai since I'm in the USA. It's highly rated for rounder heads but it's not round enough. No one believes me and your numbers provide strong argument that I shouldn't be needing to size down (given my circumference is correct). My jaws and temples hurt in the smaller ones so this makes sense. Thanks again Jude. Would you have time to check my head shape? I took a picture from above and it looks incredibly round.
Nice video. I'm currently living in Thailand, and from Canada. Curious if you might know, as I can't get a solid answer. Is the ARAI XD-4 sold in Thailand the same outer Shell as the one sold in North America or UK? The only difference is the inner shell padding, which I can just buy from Europe? Thanks, for any help.
@@judebikedude6379 Hi Jude, Thanks for the quick response. I'm not sure what is the best option. I have a guy from Arai Thailand telling me that the shell interior is the same and that I can order the padding from Europe, and it would be fine. Not sure if he is just telling me this to get the sale or not. I think buying it in Canada might be a better option. However, the price difference is quite a lot. It's $400CAD more for the same helmet if I were to buy it back home. I did try the helmet on and found it not that bad, except the D-Ring was digging into my jawbone a bit. For the cost of these Arai helmets, I want to be certain I get the best possible fit.
It’s a great analysis. However, in my humbled opinion, I think you should’ve covered the size selection of helmets. In my case, I am having a difficult buying an Arai RX-7X helmet that I really like coz it’s Asian fit. I know that I am M size head but I never worn Asian fit before, so I can’t tell if the M size Asian fit would be perfect on my intermediate oval head or I should be going one size higher. Thanks for the vid man. 👍🏼
Hey your video gave me new hope to find the right helmet for me, since I have about the same head shape as you. I measured my head and it's 62cm so I guess I'll need a XXL in the right shape. Any helmet recommandations?😀
Hi, and thanks for watching. I would say you can't go wrong with either a Shoei or an Arai. Personally I prefer the visors and visor mechanisms on Shoei. They seal perfectly and are easy to swap between dark and clear - unlike any of the Arais I've owned. For a more round fit, then go Arai. If you're UK/ US - before you import anything, try the Shuberth C3 Pro.
Asian living in USA and ride motorcycles. People don't understand how painful American helmets are. The top of my head doesn't touch the helmet because of how round my head is even though I bought the most round helmet available from both Arai and Shoei. Importing a helmet also means it doesn't have the same approvals required in a lot of states in the US. Infuriating!!!
I know this a year late but if you live in a state where it's optional to wear a helmet then you can use a helmet of your choice. The other factor is insurance. If you insure your safety gear and it gives a discount on your insurance if you happen to be in an accident the insurance can potentially deny your claim if the helmet is not DOT approved. Read through the language in the policy.
Your friend Katy has an eccentricity of 0.44 isn't that also round shaped, she can fit the Japanese Arai helmet too because the eccentricity of that helmet was 0.54? I tested the European Shoei NXR Large(59/60) and that was too long( had a lot of space at chin) for me and my eccentricity is 0.52. I couldn't get the medium(57/58) size on. My head size is 58.5 cm.
Hi thank you for the video!!😎 Usually I wear Arai Small 55/56 In my Defiant and Corsair X fitt good! I’m 56 cm intermediate oval I maybe whant to buy Rx-7x Japan Market Nice color 😁 do you think I should pick a Medium size 57/58 !? Thank’s 👍😎🏍
@@judebikedude6379 thank you for the fallow!! I appreciate! I finally found a color in North America Market I learn good thing from you!!! Thank’s again Good Ride 🤙🏍🏍🏍
Hi Cesar - as far as I can tell, the exterior shells are identical and this is true for both Arai and Shoei, so the regional fit differences must be achieved by altering the EPS liner.
Jude, great video and explanation. My head is similar to yours in shape with the exception that mine is flat in the back (typical South American native). I have worn Schuberth, Nolan (best fit so far), AGV and Shoei; all of them gave me horrendous headaches with pressure points directly behind my ears. I had to make modifications to the helmet foam, just to make them bearable. Never really found a comfortable helmet. I am about to reach out to a US retailer that advertises customization of the foam inserts to account for head shape differences. If that doesn't work, I will have to order the Asian fit Arai XD-4 that is currently advertised on EBay. That's a lot of money to pay for shipping but if it solves the hot spots and headaches, it will be well worth it. Thanks again.
love the video and the deep comparison of the reason each countries helmets are sized differently. One thing I would point out is the Japanese Rising Sun flag you have here is actually incorrect. 16 rays is specifically associated with the Japanese Imperial Navy from WWII that has since disbanded. The 8 ray rising sun is from current times and flown as an ensign on their vessels.
Thanks for the comment Joe - I had no idea about the flag - I just did a Google image search for 'Japanese Flag'. Not sure why I used the rising sun version in the video and the national flag for the thumbnail. Ignorance, I guess!
the quantum-x in north america fits ok with a bit of hot spots for my round oval head... do you think the rx-7x from japan is an acceptable fit? the corsair-x in NA didn't fit me at all!
Helmet fits so well, and I was just happy it worked! Super quick too! It took 4 business days - total of 7 days. Tuesday September 14th, 2021 ordered -> Thursday September 16th, 2021 arrived at buyee warehouse -> Tuesday September 21, 2021 arrived at my place in Toronto, Canada. I got the SHOEI Z-8 (RF1400 in NA) size M. Fits my head super nicely! I tried on the SHOEI RF1200 and RF1400 size M (NA) at a local motorcycle store, and about 30 mins in and I would get hotspots around the upper temple/side of my head.. the Z-8 import doesn’t have any hot spots for me after wearing around the house for 40 mins. For people second guessing a Japanese helmet, it definitely fits rounder! Hope my comment motivates everybody reading this!!
@@davidnoob9421 Sorry for late reply. Yeah I had to pay duty. DHL will notify you via email that they paid for duty, so they'll send you the receipt. You just pay that through the email they sent you
this is why i have not worn any helmets for x-sports my whole life, because nothing fits properly - they either too tight or too loose. most helmets sold are catered to oval heads in NZ, and the "asian fit" helmets are rare and even then, they are still too tight on the temples. also thank you for spending the time + money purchasing those helmets to prove an important point. Helmets are so important for safety, and I cannot believe the round vs oval shape issue remains so poorly addressed by helmet manufacturers and retailers.
you are in the same boat as me, same head shape and everything. my quantum x straight from the box was killing my temples. if I wore it longer than 20 minutes. I know it's supposed to be snug but it was just painfully uncomfortable.
I started on a Shoei X-Eleven when I first started riding. Couldn't ride for more than 2 hours initially with pressure points around my head becoming so painful that riding needed to end by the start of the 2nd hour. A couple of years ago I learned that my head is a Round-Oval shape and the X-Eleven needed to go. So I bought an Arai Quantum-X late last year and have been very pleased with the fit, shape and Arai's quality. So for anybody in the US looking for a Round-Oval helmet, I think you will know what I will say.
Hi I have noticed one thing in UK or US arai RX7v basically expensive than Shoei x-14 but in japan seems Shoei price is at par with US but arai seems way cheaper ..58k yen for arai rx7x and 83k yen for X-14 :D
Hi Jude, nice video, thanks for it and the research you did. Did you try by any chance Shoei Qwest? I have a head shape similar to yours and I've discovered it after disappointment of my first helmet (Shark, where I wasn't able to fit intercom in as it would hurt my ears by pressing into them). I've purchased Shoei Qwest after fitting my intercom into it and trying it out in the shop and to be honest it is a brilliant helmet for what it is. Shame they do not produce them anymore. I've purchased Shoei Hornet ADV recently but after couple of hours riding it turned out that it too is not really shaped for my head :( the struggle continues... After watching your video, I might actually think about sourcing my next one from Asia. Ta!
The Arai Quantum is a round helmet and I think the RX7 is slightly rounder than other Arai helmets. There is a web site that provides the shape of all motorcycle helmets.
My wife was born in China and we are having a heck of a time finding a helmet to fit her. I was told the Arai Quantum X found here in America is for round heads, however it still causes her pain. Any idea if the helmets in Japan are a different "round" than the Quantum X sold in the states? I assume the Quantum X sold in the US is the same as the UK version.
Hi - It appears that Arai actually care more about head shape for the US market than they do for the UK market. We don't have a model that's specifically marketed as 'round-oval' like the Quantum X. I could not, for example, categorically tell you that a US Quantum X is more oval than a Japanese RX-7X. Have you tried different lining thicknesses and removed the peel away foam from any 'hot-spots'? This should all be part of the fitting service with Arai. I also found these guys: www.lidpicker.com/ - they claim to match head shape with their comprehensive helmet database. If you've watched my video on helmet / head eccentricity, how do your wife's head dimensions match up with mine?
