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Arai Corsair-X helmet– a perfect 10
By Ron Davis #111820
A FEW MONTHS AGO MY WIFE and I pulled the trigger on a new vehicle. I’m not going to mention what we bought, but it was exactly the same make and model as the SUV we drove off the same lot five years ago. Boring, I know, but we liked the looks of the 2015’s, not to mention the incentives the dealer was offering. So, from the test drive on, this hasn’t been what might be called an astonishing experience, but I must say I have felt pleasantly gratified, in that everything I can think of that I didn’t like about the old model—front drum brakes, so-so gas mile- age, a design flaw here and there, etc.—has been cor- rected. I think fans of Arai’s Corsair helmets will feel the same way about the new Cor- sair-X. Arai’s flagship model has gone through ten itera- tions since 1977 (hence the “X”), each featuring improve- ments on the last, but looking at the adjustability, comfort, design, and safety quotient of this newest version, I’d bet many may consider it “a per- fect 10.” The Corsair-X replaces the Arai
Corsair-V, a full face helmet popular with racers, but also favored by tour- ing and sport riders, especially those who take in a track day now and then. The new design of the hand-formed Corsair-X is even more aerodynamic than its predecessor, with side pods for its face shield pivots that are lower and more slippery. Coupled with its
22 BMW OWNERS NEWS February 2016
traditional “intermediate oval” R75 shape, Arai claims this model is also both quieter and more likely to glance off rather than absorb the impacts from stationary objects in a crash. One quality of the new Corsair-X any rider can appreciate is its adjustability. Five
own anti-fogging Pinlock insert for the face shield (Why don’t all brands include these?) which provides another dimension to the helmet’s versatility. The Corsair-X also sets new standards
for comfort. It of course has an upgrade to Arai’s usual plush, antibacterial lining, but the
ventilation has also been
improved by almost 20% accord- ing to Arai. Three big ducts on the crown are now regulated by three position sliders instead of the rockers on former models which had seemed a bit flimsy and weren’t as aerodynamic. Fresh air entering through Arai’s custom- ary face shield brow vents and a three
position chin vent is
Like most of the helmets in the Arai line, much of the Arai Corsair-X’s weight is suspended by a panel that rests on the crown of the head. With this new helmet, however, this “cradle” is adjustable with three step adjustment tabs at two of its corners.
millimeter tear-away layers in the cheek and temple pads can be removed and re- installed as comfort and riding style dictate. I’ve always liked the way Arai helmets are suspended on my head by a padded panel about the size of a yarmulke which elimi- nates any pressure points around the ears— very comfortable. New with the Corsair-X, each of the two anchor points for this cradle has three-way adjusters for increased cus- tomization. This helmet also comes with its
extracted through new air chan- nels located on both sides of the eye port. Exhaust vents on the top and sides of the Corsair-X direct air more to the back of the helmet than similar vents did on the Cor- sair-V, which, along with an adjustable spoiler at the rear, seems to make the helmet more resistant to buffeting and uplift at speed. A chin curtain and vented neck roll can also be removed for more relief. I have not yet had a chance to wear the helmet in
really hot weather, but the flow-through of air across the top of my head was very noticeable. Other comfort features of the Corsair-X are channels for eyeglasses bows and a deeper recess for more chin space. I used an Arai RX-Q helmet all last sum-
mer, and though I like it a lot, one annoying feature it has, which I assume was also true with the Corsair-V, is its shield mounting system. Dutifully following the directions and re-learning the process each time, the
member tested
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