The Japanese firm Arai Helmet Limited (Kabushiki-gaisha Arai Herumetto) creates and produces great motorcycle helmets and auto racing helmets.
The company started out making caps at the turn of the century, then moved on to making military headgear starting in 1930, industrial safety helmets following World War II, and motorcycle helmets starting in 1952.
The perfect fusion of use, safety technology, and race-inspired design can be found in Arai motorcycle helmets, which are the result of continuous innovation. Arai, a company steeped in tradition, has been making 100% hand-crafted motorcycle helmets since 1926, with a clear focus on the continuous improvement of comfort, quality, and safety.
The beginnings of Arai can be found in Yuichiro Arai's kepi-style cap manufacturing business from 1900. He was persuaded to design new sun-barrier headgear for the expanding Imperial Japanese Army, which would eventually take part in the 1934 invasion of China, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and World War II. His son, Hirotake Arai, who replaced his father in 1930, was an avid motorcyclist.
Hirotake Arai founded the Arai Sewing Machine Company, which produced and exported T-shirts and overalls in occupied Japan in the late 1940s after manufacturing was halted during World War II. Arai created safety helmets for construction workers with an outer shell made of resin and a cork lining when the unions in the Japanese construction sector declared protective headwear required (which has since been substituted with expanded polystyrene).
After spending time in America, Michio Arai, the son of Hirotake Arai, saw a potential market for their helmets (which was dominated by Bell at the time). Roger Weston, a motorsport gear store based in New Jersey who eventually oversaw the Arai Helmet Americas division, approached Arai with the aim of persuading an American racer from the Daytona 200 to don an Arai helmet. Despite approaching prominent American racers in the hopes that Dave Aldana would accept, Ted Boody Jr. didn't become the first official Arai racer outside of Japan until 1978. (followed by Freddie Spencer, the first non-Japanese Arai-contracted Grand Prix rider).
Former motorcycle road racer Ferry Brouwer, a Dutch-Belgian, created a business concept in 1983 to introduce Arai helmets to Continental Europe.
Technically each fiber-reinforced plastic shell on an Arai helmet is handcrafted, with various reinforcing pieces layered onto a circular base (referred to as a "bird's nest").
Before further processing and inspection, shells are assembled inside a concave metal mould, moulded utilizing a technique developed by Arai, examined, and then dried in a kiln.
Safety
The Snell Memorial Foundation safety requirements, which are met or exceeded by all Arai helmets marketed in the US. Several Arai helmets are approved by the FIA for use in Formula One and other races.
Top riders like Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, and Noriyuki Haga may be seen racing around the track wearing Arai's full array of street and off-road motorcycle helmets today. The Corsair V, RX-Q, Signet-Q, Vector 2, Defiant, CT-Z, XC, and XD-4 helmets are some of Arai's street models. Many people have historically regarded the Arai Corsair V helmet as the world's most prestigious race helmet. But as of the summer of 2015, its replacement, the Arai Corsair X, seized the crown after being unveiled to great acclaim all over the world. With a lot of inspiration from the Corsair V helmet, the Signet-Q and Arai RX-Q helmets were created to satisfy the demands of serious street riders and track aficionados. The Arai Defiant was designed exclusively with naked bike riders in mind. Its built-in chin spoiler directs wind around the helmet, enhancing head stability. The Arai CT-Z and XC open-face helmets complete Arai's street range because they are designed for riders who value Arai's craftsmanship and attention to detail but don't require a full-face fit.
The Arai XD-4 and VX-Pro 4 Helmets are two essential items when it comes to Arai's off-road line. The XD-4 helmets combine trail and street features. With the occasional on-road detour to the next trail system, they can handle lengthy offroad parts. The Corsair V of dual sport helmets is the Arai XD-4. The best off-road riders in the world can be seen wearing an Arai VX-Pro helmet, keeping with the company's legacy of excellence. The VX-Pro is a serious contender in both the professional and amateur ranks thanks to its plush interior, superior aerodynamics, and lightweight design.
Arai has consistently upheld its pledge that quality and safety will not be sacrificed or impacted by profitability, and as a result, Arai has a position of prominence among motorcycle helmet manufacturers. A 5-Year Warranty is offered with Arai helmets. See the product item for specific certification information. The Arai motorcycle helmets supplied by RevZilla are US DOT approved and many are Snell M2005 or Snell M2010 approved.
2to4wheels is proud to offer Arai helmets in the US, an authorized Arai online retailer.
