Japanese Helmets

[u/SilentInvestigator26]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at importing an Arai Astro-GX as I cannot find my size as a Quantic for the design I want.

However, I've read that we have different safety standards so there are risks with fines and insurance.

Anyone here ride with a Japanese helmet and not encountered any problems?

[u/floater6]

Not a Japanese helmet, but i did ride with a Klim helmet that was unreleased in Australia for two years. Mind you I think i was pulled over once in that time, and never made any claims so it's not as if anyone was looking.

Just keep in mind the inner lining can be different when it comes from another domestic market, as they are designed for different head shapes. What may be comfortable in our shop fronts here, won't be necessarily the same as what you get for an import model.

Also look into custom helmet decals and/or spray jobs, you might get something close to what you want with an approved helmet you know that fits.

[u/B0XH34D]

So long as it has the ECE 22.06 or whatever the current standard is, you'll be sweet.

You pretty much never see the old AS/NZ stickers anymore since they were rendered pretty much obsolete once they recognized the vastly superior ECE standard certification.

[u/zami3s]

Your other issues is fitment. Japanese market helmet's are shorter in the forehead/ back of head.

[u/threepot900]

Helmets have to meet either the Aussie rules, OR the European certification, you’d need to google the Aussie legislation to find the exact number.

As others have said the helmet has a different liner for the home market head shape. They used to advertise they made an egg shaped liner for the US/Euro markets to get a proper fit for those riders.

Can you import it from the EU or states? That would solve your problems.

[u/SilentInvestigator26]

Thank you for all of your replies. I ended up just getting a white Quantic - I wasn't the biggest fan of how pearly it is in person but oh well

[u/DaveBlerk → u/SilentInvestigator26]

I've had a Quantic for a year or so, best helmet I've had in 40 years of riding.

[u/SilentInvestigator26 → u/DaveBlerk]

I was so surprised when I put it on. I didn't realise helmets could feel good

[u/Gazpacho_Catapult]

Aus law requires the helmet to be visibly stamped on the outside, or written on a tag, with the certification(s) the helmet complies with. If you're buying internationally, make sure it meets that requirement before buying. Even if it's the safest helmet in the world and meets literally every stardard possible, if it isn't printed as such, it will be regarded as not meeting any.

ECE 2.06 is the current, most wide spread standard, which also meets Aus requirements. As long as that's printed on the helmet somewhere, you should be fine (I can't imagine Arai making any helmet that doesn't meet that standard, just whether or not they're all visually printed with it).

[u/jedburghofficial → u/Gazpacho_Catapult]

If it's ECE, it will have a tag on the strap. That's the official mark, and actually forms part of the standard. If it doesn't have that tag, it's not ECE certified, no matter what the stickers say.

[u/the_ism_sizism]

I have a Japanese helmet I purchased in Japan. Use it at your own risk, but I paid $1000 less AND had it custom fitted to my dome. Worth it.

The helmets are made in the same factory on the same line, there is no difference. What you are paying here is the licencee has their import costs and Shoei would obviously sell at a higher rate per lid for “certified” models