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Arai CT-Z A on-road/off -road hybrid?
By Ron Davis #111820
THOUGH I’M PRETTY MUCH A full-face helmet kind of rider, as July approached I was attracted to Arai’s CT-Z, kind of a hybrid that, with its near open face design and prominent peak, looked to offer relief from sum- mer temperatures and sun. I have mixed feelings on whether the CT-Z is the perfect sum- mer helmet, but its outstanding com- fort, build quality and versatility impressed me as a helmet almost any kind of rider could appreciate. My go-to helmet
lately has been Arai’s full-face RX-Q. Its interme- diate oval shape is an ideal match for my head, and it’s one of the most comfortable hel- mets I’ve ever worn. Like the RX-Q, the CT-Z seems to perch on my noggin more than encapsulate it. When I was a kid, my brother’s usual nickname for me was “Little Sails,” and I have to admit my ears are prominent, but the Arai internal design provides a more than ample bubble of free space around my ears. This might compro- mise its soundproofing slightly, but it’s a trade-off for comfort I appreciate on long rides. Again, at least with my head shape, the CT-Z generated no pressure points, such as on my fore- head or temples. The elongated, broad cheek and jaw protection areas make this helmet slightly heavier
20 BMW OWNERS NEWS December 2015
than some other open-faced lids, and they do seem to compress my cheeks a bit, but I like the snug fit there. Like many other Arai helmets, the thickness of the cheek pads can be modified by slipping them out their lin- ing and then peeling off a 5 mm layer of padding. As an eyeglass wearer, I found I had to remove my glasses to don the hel-
The addition of a Sunax sunshield, available from British Motorcycle Gear, makes a great add-on for the Arai CT-Z for protection from glare while riding into the sun and installs in seconds.
met, just as I would with a full-face helmet, but the CT-Z accommodates eyeglasses or sunglasses well. As one would expect, the CT-Z is noisier
than a full-face, but the level is probably similar to any open-faced helmet. It also initially felt a little bulkier than my RX-Q, but the more I wore it, the less noticeable that became. According Arai, the CT-Z’s Fixed Air Wing, a feature you see on many helmets now, reduces helmet lift, which I take is a problem on some open-face hel- mets. Since I use a windshield, I’ll have to take their word for it. Ventilation in in the CT-Z during hot
weather is excellent, as I expected. The hel- met features Arai’s distinctive brow vents, which introduce fresh air even with the face shield down. There are three easy to operate switched vents on the top, four exhaust vents on the rear (two with switches) and another clever Arai touch, a vent running across the rear of the neck roll. The reflec- tive Diamond White” finish complemented all the ven- tilation features to make this probably the best hel- met I’ve ever worn for cop- ing with hot weather. The face shield can also be flipped up through three soft detents to nest under the peak, which provides even more heat relief when dancing to the stop-and- go-light polka, but after encounters with bees and gravel, as well as a near miss with a crow, I religiously keep my face shield down on the highway. Like all Arai helmets I’ve
tried, the safety features of the CT-Z are second to none in its price range and
style class. With DOT and Snell certifica- tion, the CT-Z carries the multi-density, single piece EPS liner and smooth, R-7 shape Arai is known for. The extended length and breadth of the cheek protection really makes this more than a three-quar- ters open face helmet, about as close as any open face gets to having a chin bar. Arai makes no claim about how easily the CT-Z’s peak would tear off in a sliding situation, but I assume the four polycarbonate bolts that retain it are designed to shear off just like the sleek covers over its vents. The stan- dard double D-ring strap is used, with a red release tab for quick unfastening. With its
member tested
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