The Arai Quantic is a new sports-touring model from the Japanese firm, who have undertaken vast amounts of R&D to produce this stunning hand-made helmet... Here is our Arai Quantic review.
I took ownership of an Arai Quantic back at the beginning of 2022. Unfortunately, just a few days after taking delivery of the lid, I had a prang and it would be six-month before I could test the Quantic. A break ensued after surgery, but I’ve finally put some big hours in wearing it…
I took delivery of a new Quantic back in March 2022. It replaces my previous all-white Arai, which was my old race lid.
For those of you who missed my Arai Profile-V review (click here to read it), I covered some of my Arai story and history, so before I continue with the Quantic, I will re-cap that story for you…
I’ve been wearing Arai motorcycle helmets since 1993, when my boss Len Willing (Warren Willing’s middle brother) gave me an ex-Roy Leslie Arai when I was his motorcycle mechanic apprentice. I loved that helmet, it was my pride and joy and I wish I still had it to display.
The Quantic is unique in styling and shell shape. It’s designed for high speed touring, daily use and comfort, and it ticks all of those boxes.
I then moved to Japan in 1999 and that is when I got my first new Arai. It was a gift from Kazou Ikezawa, owner of Moto Bum HRC. I raced in it, rode on the streets in it and I still have it on display. My next Arai was a Colin Edwards replica in 2001, supplied by Cassons when I started my full-time journo career at Two Wheels magazine.
I loved that lid and still have it on show. I then had lots of Arai helmets over he years, from Monster Energy Hopkins replicas to Nori Haga replicas and plain graphics. I have all of them on display at home. I guess you could say I’m an Arai nerd!
I’ve said it before but when your head is screwed together with titanium plates and glue, as mine is, you need extra special protection! In over 400-races in 20-years plus bike testing, I’ve never been knocked out in an Arai…
A highlight of my time as a journo was visiting and spending time in the Arai Race Service a few years ago thanks to my friend, Kyoko. We did a full feature on it that you can read about here. The passion and enthusiasm of Arai staff is amazing and it definitely flows down the line to the end product. So you can see I’m qualified to review Arai helmets. I also wear many other brands, so I can compare them all.
My Arai Quantic is a size M (57-58cm) and I received it with a light tint visor (VAS-V Shield Max Vision w/BV, Light-Smoke) and a Pinlock anti-fog insert. The retail price of my Diamond White Quantic is $999.95 and the Visor is $99.95. As we go live (April 3 2023), there is a sale on at MCAS where the Quantic is discounted to $845 and comes with a free Pro Shade – check it out here.
“The Quantic is the first Arai full-face to go through the new, more rigorous ECE R22-06 standard”…
So my Quantic journey began the way all of my Arai helmet journey’s have and that is with an exciting if not a bit of a train-spotting type of ceremonial un-boxing! I don’t mind admitting, I love the little neat touches like the super caring packaging typical of Japanese brands, everything is neat and secure, and then there are the bonus stickers, which I love. The manuals were not quite the usual glossy Arai books this time, but everything was there, ready to go, including of course the soft cover…
Once everything was out of the box (by the way, I keep the Arai boxes in mint condition too, I don’t throw those out, they fold up neatly. Like I said, I am an Arai nerd), I fitted the visor (always using a few drops of the silicon lubricant that is provided), and familiarised myself with the ventilation system, as it pays to know which ways are open and which are closed before you go out riding…
My first ride was the day after I got the lid, it was a shoot on this Guzzi, and I was super impressed at the ventilation as it was a stinking hot day. I reckon the Quantic looks pretty flash in the photos, too. There is something cool about plain white Arai lids as long as they have a dark visor, they look awesome.
Out for the first ride in the Quantic, I was on a Moto-Guzzi V9 Bobber Centenario and I rode 200km return before heading to a photoshoot. The ride consisted of twisties, traffic and freeway, so everything. It was a warm day, too, and the ventilation of the Quantic was brilliant, as was the noise level and the lack of wind buffeting on the freeway. Arai clearly did their testing… The only thing I struggled with was opening and closing the visor lock easily, but it has since freed up a bit…
At the end of that first ride, I was impressed with the Quantic and knew I could live with it as a daily rider lid. It is certainly fairly quiet for a ventilated helmet, has plush interior padding, plenty of vision and is easy to get on and off. At 1600g it is light enough and the vents are easy to operate, I particularly like the fact it has the traditional visor vents on it rather than the newer Arai ones on my Profile-V. I also find the new design of the front Arai emblem being a vent a little ugly and also hard to open. The front logo on that vent/badge is also matte and I would prefer a dark black logo myself.
Not long after the first ride in the Quantic, I crashed and broke my hands up pretty badly and it was six-months before I could ride again. This time I spent some time on a more upright sports-touring/adventure-sports machine, the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 LAMS. Sitting up higher with a screen as well caused no dramas. Of course, on the open road there is often a little more wind noise and buffeting for us taller riders (I’m 187cm) and I’m an earplug wearer anyway, but I found the Quantic great. No head shake or instability, very comfy and quiet enough for touring.
Fast forward a few more months and I was back riding again after some surgery on my hand. I spent all of Christmas time, and January, February and March riding a Yamaha D’elight 125 scooter around as part of my hand rehab (read about my scooter here). During that time I wore the Quantic a lot and it has really started to bed in.
The visor lock has loosened up and works well, but the cheek pads are still a little tight for my fat face, so I am going to order some 20mm ones (it came with 30mm). Aside from that, I am loving the Quantic and it has been super easy to clean, too. It has an ultra glossy pearl white finish that comes up mint with just a wet cloth and some soapy water to get the bugs off.
I have to admit, I do love to use the Mr Sheen (only original thanks) as well. Overall, I rate the Arai Quantic highly. It is a great daily use lid, good for touring and could still be used for track days. I’m not 100 per cent in love with the shape of the shell from an aesthetic point, but this is a matter of safety before style…
Soon I will be fitting a Cardo unit and as it is comms ready, it should be an easy fit-up, so stay tuned for that update.
TECH TALK FROM ARAI – QUANTIC SPORTS TOURING HELMET
The Arai Quantic is the result of R&D’s extensive work in the lab, on the road and out on the racetrack. As its mathematical definition describes it draws together, in harmony, qualities and design elements found on helmets throughout the Arai range, from the popular Profile-V to range-topping, MotoGP-spec. RX-7V Racing. And adds fresh features all of its own.
“Sitting between the Profile-V and RX-7V the Quantic marks a brand-new generation of sophisticated design from Arai and occupies fresh ground.”
Sitting between the Profile-V and RX-7V the Quantic marks a brand-new generation of sophisticated design from Arai and occupies fresh ground. Aimed at the enthusiastic, sports-touring long-distance rider with its high-specification interior, full, flexible ventilation and stable aerodynamic performance it offers high-speed comfort for the long haul.
Of course, as with every Arai, the Quantic is formed around protection, first and foremost and every incremental detail improvement present contributes to this overall goal. And, to that end, the Quantic is the first Arai full-face to go through the new, more rigorous ECE R22-06 standard. It’s important to note, however that Arai do not manufacture helmets to simply deal with varying legal requirements around the world. Each and every Arai must clear the most stringent of in-house testing – which layers on extra demands, such as penetration and impact tests on any point within a test line against a hemispherical anvil – before any helmet is allowed to go forward.
Arai always put major emphasis on the safety of their riders and their helmets with plenty of features!
Manufactured, by hand, from Peripherally Belted e-Complex Laminate Construction (PB e-cLc) the Quantic’s outer shell maintains the core strength that Arai is known for, but with a substantial weight reduction. A softer, multi-density EPS inner liner works with the outer shell to absorb impact energy. The smoother, rounder and stronger shape is another key Arai signature – and the Arai first principle from which the R&D engineers worked from – and, while aesthetically sleek and pleasing, is primarily designed to ‘glance-off’ and spread impact forces.
“While aesthetically sleek and pleasing, is primarily designed to ‘glance-off’ and spread impact forces.”
The new 3D Arai logo duct, air-scoop chin vent, F1-based dual tear-ducts and RX-7V Racing-derived one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler were developed in the wind tunnel, in real-road conditions and at Suzuka. Alongside the brow vents and flush-fit rear exhausts, the Quantic’s ventilation guarantees a consistent, controllable flow of cooling air via a total of 12 ports in the shell – and from low speeds.
“The new 3D Arai logo duct, air-scoop chin vent, F1-based dual tear-ducts and RX-7V Racing-derived one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler were developed in the wind tunnel.”
All-day wearability is the other key factor running through Quantic DNA. It features a 5mm flare around the base for easy access on and off, and the VAS MAX vision visor comes with a Pinlock insert ready to use. The new, premium brushed nylon interior is removable and features Facial Contour System (FCS), speaker pockets and neck roll wire pocket. It also features Emergency Release System (ERS). The Quantic has been designed from the outset for easy application of an intercom.
“Drawn initially from Arai’s F1 helmet the tear-ducts maintain the airflow of the previous design with a compact, light and unobtrusive form that complements the round and smooth shell. Opened/closed by sliding to prevent water ingress.”
Comprehensive and controllable ventilation is based around 12 ventilation ports: 6 intake, 6 exhaust. The 3D Arai logo feeds cooling air into two central intake points and works well at low speed, alongside dual F1-derived tear duct top intakes, twin brow vents and 2-position sliding air-scoop, filtered chin vent. Hot air is efficiently extracted via the 3-way one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, twin flush-fit side exhausts (with foam dams to reduce noise) and neck exhaust.
Hot air is efficiently extracted via the 3-way one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, twin flush-fit side exhausts (with foam dams to reduce noise) and neck exhaust….
Immediately noticeable, the new 3D Arai logo duct (made as thin as possible, just 3.5mm in depth) feeds two central 10mm intake ports. This is a first in an Arai, and entirely due to PB e-cLc’s strength and the shell construction. It also works very well at low speed and with an upright riding position; at just 50km/h it’s channelling an extra 40 per cent airflow, at 120km/h 7 per cent. It can also be opened, or closed, easily with summer or winter gloves, via a short-stroke lever placed at the top.
Also new is the 3-position (open, midway and closed) sliding air-scoop chin vent which flows a larger intake volume of air and has a replaceable filter. The actuating mechanism is thicker and easy to use with gloves.
The one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, operated by a 3-way switch, is inspired by the DX-2 of the RX-7V Racing, but redesigned for touring use – however, it was tested up to 300km/h at Suzuka. It sits a little more forward on the shell and is fed by 3 ports in the shell.
The Quantic outer shell design outlines a stylish, organic shape and uses PB e-cLc for lightweight strength and, for the first time, built-in side ducts. The AR-mat has been substituted with a new material which makes it possible to reduce the weight, while maintaining strength. An extra layer of Super Fibre belting – instead of the Hyper Ridge found around the base of the Profile-V – maintains rigidity in a crucial area while offering flat sides for easy fitment of an intercom. Variable Axis System (VAS) lowers the visor mounting system and yields an average of an additional 24mm across both temple areas, to generate the ideal, smoother shape that increases the ability to glance-off energy. Like the Profile-V the Quantic’s shell flares out 5mm around the base, for easier on/off access.
The Quantic will be available in the sizes XS-L, with size XL expected later. RRP starts at $999.95 for solid colours to $1199.95 for graphics.
The new Integrated wire pocket has been designed to work clearly without affecting comfort or protection to store excess cable length in the neck roll. Using the interiors of both the Profile-V and RX-7V as benchmarks the Quantic’s interior was designed from scratch for maximum comfort, airflow (there are two holes in the forehead area) and light weight. The interior and cheek pads are easily removed for cleaning or adjustment.
Grab your new Arai Quantic in the sizes XS-L, with size XL expected later, RRP starts at $999.95 for solid colours to $1199.95 for graphics. Contact Cassons for availability info.
The Verdict | Gear Review: Arai Quantic Helmet
Quality!
The Arai Quantic is a new sports-touring model from the Japanese firm, who have undertaken vast amounts of R&D to produce this stunning hand-made helmet… Here is our Arai Quantic review.
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