FAQs

FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Arai, including our products, dealer process, and more.
 

Become a UK Arai dealer

If you are interested in becoming a UK Arai dealer, visit https://www.moto-direct.com/profile/register-business/ for full details on becoming an authorised Arai dealer.

MotorSport

At Arai we produce car helmets for a number of car racing types, including Karting, Rallying and even Formula 1. Also you can use Arai car helmets for truck racing. There is a range of full face and open face helmets perfect for closed cockpit car racing.

Sponsorship

Yes we offer subsidised purchase rates for competitors through our designated retail partners.

Returns/Warranty

If you purchase a helmet from a private individual, for example through an online auction site or advert in a paper, you would not be entitled to transfer the warranty
Due to individual technical standards, unfortunately your warranty will be invalid in the UK. Please contact the dealer you purchased the helmet from
Yes, as long as you have a proof of purchase, invoice or guarantee card. If the helmet was arranged to be delivered to you this can also be used as proof of purchase.
We do offer a loan service, provided we have the size available, please contact your local Arai dealer and they will advise accordingly
We aim to repair and return items within 1 week, during busy periods this can extend to 2 weeks. If we have to order in spare parts from Arai Europe or Japan this may take a little longer but you will be informed if this is the case.
Warranty runs 7 years from date of manufacture, and 5 years from date of purchase. You can find your date of manufacture by referring to the following (product information – Q. How do I find out how old my helmet is?)
Regarding warranty/returns, please contact the dealer you purchased the helmet from

Spares/Replacement Parts

Yes, under warranty you are entitled to 1 free replacement, this can be arranged through your nearest Arai dealer.
All Arai visors are made in Japan and are made precisely to fit your Arai model. Fake Arai visors are not tested, will likely damage the mechanism and will over time break the holder set as they don’t have a consistent thickness.
 
Buy Genuine!
 
Please visit your local Arai Dealer who will be able to supply a replacement one for genuine visors!
Some spare parts such as the rubber trim around the bottom of your helmet, chin vents on some newer models, and vents that screw into the shell are service parts or ‘workshop fit’ items. These have to be fitted by a qualified Arai Technician as advised by Arai Japan. The helmet has to come back to us via your local Arai dealer and the parts are fitted either under warranty or out of warranty at a cost.
We can supply non-painted parts for these helmets – liners, visor mechanisms etc but not the painted cover plates and vents. For these you need to visit a Ducati or KTM dealer as they can order them through their franchise stock.
A company based in Ireland ‘Crossan Motorcycles’ deal exclusively with the IOM TT limited edition helmets, please contact them for more information: http://www.thevisorshop.com/ 
The Arai dealer should keep you updated on this, however if they don’t supply you with a date, the time scale is usually as follows – If they order with us before 3pm and the item is in stock, this will be shipped to the dealer on a next day delivery service; if the item goes on back order, shipment from Arai Europe usually averages 2-3 weeks, if the item has to come from the main factory in Japan then this can stretch up to 2/3 months
Have a look through the Arai parts book, and PDF files to see if you can spot the part you need. Next locate your nearest Arai dealer give them a ring or pop in and they will be able to order the part for you.
Unfortunately not, we are the UK distributor for Arai and deal with trade only, please click the link to search for your nearest Arai dealer
Not sure what your helmet part is called?Have a look through the Arai parts book
Unfortunately we are unable to provide specific helmet paint.
We don’t officially endorse any but there are plenty around on the market.
If your helmet is missing a Gold ACU sticker you will need to contact the dealer you purchased the helmet from. The stickers can only be sent to registered Arai dealersand have to be applied in store. Please note this is for UK helmets only, any non UK helmets cannot be fitted with the UK Gold ACU sticker

Product Information

Unfortunately we don’t! Please see the relevant contacts below:
 
Off-Road Helmets – www.apico.co.uk
The ‘Double D’ ring is at the moment the safest way to fasten a helmet. Other fasteners may be damaged easily or the build-up of dirt inside may influence the functioning of the device. Don’t forget that grand prix racers are obliged to use a similar system as the ‘Double D’ ring for racing use!
The crown pad and cheek pads are removable in most Arai helmets, this is so the helmet can be custom fitted to your head.
 
Changing a helmet from one size to another, for example changing a medium shell to fit like a large, depends on the helmet itself. Please note you can only change between sizes where the shell size is the same.
 
Please visit your local Arai dealer who will be able to let you know.
We realise trying to find a visor that fits your helmet can be confusing!
 
Here we break it down for you:
VAS Visor – Fits the RX-7V, Chaser X, QV-Pro. All of which carry the new VAS system
SAI Visor – Fits the RX-7 GP, Quantum ST, Quantum ST Pro, Chaser V, Axces II & Axces III, Rebel
SAM Visor – Fits the CT-F & CT Ram
SAMZ Visor – Fits the X-Tend & X-Tend Ram
TX BV Visor – Fits the Tour-X4
VAS-A Visor – Fits the Tour-X5
 
Getting technical, AF? Max Vision? what does it all mean?
Standard Pinlock Ready Visor – The visor will come with 2 pinlock pins, enabling a pinlock lens to be fitted, available in SAI, SAM, TX and TX BV
Maxvision Visor – This visor has a wider aperture, and has a recess on the inside where the pinlock lens sits, instead of 2 pinlock pins; available in VAS and SAI
Race Visor – What it says on the tin! Race visor with tear offs. Available in VAS and SAI
Standard Visor – Plain and simple visor, no pinlock. Available for all helmets!
 
AF – Anti Fog
AS – Anti Scratch
 
And finally, cracking the colour codes:
 
CLR Clear
01A Light Tint
01B Dark Tint
02 Blue
03 Gold
04 Silver
06 Green
07 Yellow
08 Purple
09 Orange
10 Rainbow
11 Red
 
Not all colours are available for each visor or helmet model
The fit of each helmet model will vary slightly depending on its function and use; Touring, Race etc, however all helmets in the UK are now an intermediate oval.
 
The very best way to tell if a helmet suits you is to try it on and get the opinion of a stockist. Arai helmets can be custom fit to suit your head so trying one on at your local Arai dealer ensures the best fit possible.
Unfortunately there isn’t, we can only assess the surface damage to the helmet and give our opinion. From our experience of racing and road accidents you are often best placed to make a decision on whether to continue using your Arai as you were wearing it at the time.
 
Arai shells are made to be really strong so a drop from a low height is usually fine depending on the surface of course. The part of the helmet you can’t see is the EPS polystyrene liner; this absorbs energy during an impact, and as this is not removable there is no way of telling if the helmet has been damaged internally. Again, you are the best person to judge whether the helmet will be safe or not, if in any doubt buy a new helmet!
Arai helmets are handmade to the highest possible standard, and although after many years the outside shell can look as good as new, it’s the EPS polystyrene liner that loses its ability to absorb impact over time.
 
Arai recommend replacing your helmet 7 years after date of manufacture and 5 years after date of purchase to maintain the maximum levels of protection.
 
The EPS liner is effectively the shock absorber of your helmet, absorbing the force of an impact onto the shell. This is done by the cells in the polystyrene being expanded (EPS = Expanded Polystyrene) and filled with air to absorb impacts. Over time, even when not in use, these liners lose their air pockets incrementally, after 7 years, dropping the shock absorbing ability of the liner below Arai’s safety standards. This is why we declare the helmet due for replacement so it can properly protect you against impacts.
The date the helmet was manufactured is coded; this code can be found on the helmet chin strap/D-ring, please find examples below.
 
The code can be translated using the following table: (please note if just a number is displayed, such as ’03/07′ this will translate simply to ‘March 2007’)
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
2001 A 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2002 B 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2003 C 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2004 D 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2005 E 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2006 F 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2007 G 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2008 H 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2009 I 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2010 J 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2011 K 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2012 L 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2013 M 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2014 N 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2015 O 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2016 P 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2017 Q 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2018 R 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2019 S 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2020 T 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2021 U 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2022 V 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2023 W 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2024 X 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2025 Y 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
2026 Z 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
When registering your Arai helmet you will be asked for the Serial Number and the Approval Number of the helmet – this is also a way for you to check your Arai is genuine.
 
Both the Serial Number and Approval Number are located on the white label on the helmet’s chin strap (the label may be orange on some older helmet models):
 
The top number beginning with “P” is the Approval Number and the bottom number (in this instance “0007712”) is the Serial Number.
The material we use in our visors is called Lexan which filters 99% of UV light
The IOM TT helmets are imported exclusively by Crossan Motorcycles who are based in Northern Ireland, please see there contact below:
 
www.thevisorshop.com
You can use our dealer locator tool to find your local Arai dealer
Things like the evolution of design technology, the changes in ECE 22-06 or higher requirements, and Arai’s own changes and advancements over the years can result in the model and size you’ve “always worn” feeling differently in its current version. So, for example, if you’ve always worn a RX-7 series Medium, be sure to try the latest version in Medium, even try on a different size. You’ll be happier with the result, and will get the full benefit of your Arai.
Arai recommend replacing your helmet 7 years after date of manufacture/5 years from date of purchase, so if your helmet is for example already 5 years old when you purchase it, you still have 5 years warranty from that date.
 
Helmets can take 4-8 weeks to reach us in the UK , we then ship to UK dealers who can have the helmet in store for months or even years. Some helmets, such as the Race Carbon can even spend 6 months in manufacture!
 
There are no rules or regulations within the UK on how old a helmet can be when its sold, this is because the 7 year replacement advisory purely lies with Arai, and not with other helmet brands.
We are the UK distributor for Arai for the On Road & Car/Karting helmets, so we can help with any UK & Northern Ireland based queries
 
From elsewhere?
 
Europe: https://www.araihelmet.eu/en
 
America: https://www.araiamericas.com/
 
Japan: http://www.arai.co.jp/jpn/top.html
 
Australia: http://araihelmets.net.au/
It is important to make sure the helmet you are wearing is as safe as possible – wearing a fake helmet is dangerous. Fake helmets offer very little protection due to their cheap materials and lack of testing. It is also illegal to wear a fake helmet on UK roads because they don’t pass ECE 22-06 testing.
 
The easiest way to ensure any Arai is genuine is by purchasing through a UK dealer. However, there are plenty of signs to look for.
 
Missing information
 
Is the E-Mark present?
 
ACU Sticker (UK Only) present?
 
Is the date present on the chin strap?
 
Incorrect hardware
 
Does the helmet have an Arai visor mechanism such as VAS or SAI?
 
Does the helmet have a Double D Ring?
 
Does the helmet have the signature R75 shape?
 
Incorrect/poor quality graphics
 
Is the paint finish poor quality or are any stickers poorly applied?
 
Do replica graphics align with the brand?
 
Price too good to be true
 
A lot of fake helmets sell for under £100 – is the price a long way below what other dealers offer?
 
Untraceable Dealer
 
Can you trace the retailer – for example checking the registered address?
 
Missing packaging or documentation
 
Does the helmet come in an Arai box?
 
Are any accessories or instructions in the box?
 
You can always contact us to verify a helmets authenticity, either through the support portal or via social media.
 

Use a solution of mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water to clean your visor. Rinse well with clean water and wipe off with a soft cloth. Never use petrol, thinner, benzene or any other solvents. There are many “aggressive” cleaners on the market including some supposed to be specifically for use on visors. Arai strongly recommends that you do not use any such products to clean your visor as some of their ingredients may have damaging effects on the visor and other plastic parts installed on your helmet.

Do not apply stickers or adhesive tape to the visor as this will weaken the hard coating.

If your visor becomes too scratched or uncleanable, replace it with a new one. Impaired visibility causes accidents.

All visors are suitable for road use excluding any visors for the RX-7V FIM Race helmet. Please also note that if your visor is tinted, it is suitable for daylight use only.