i got a second hand arai odaka helmet from a guy locally for $250. i just got done reading this thread https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1069548 and noticed that user name: Mike Panic mentioned the thousands of knock off arai helmets being sold on ebay.
Now im wondering if i got a fake, since i didnt buy it from a dealer or store. is there any real way to tell?? should i post pics?

 

Look under the padding. The best way would be to compare it to a real one.

 

1) drop pants

2) bend over

C) check for a wet and/or sore *******

4)if you are wet and/or sore you've been fucked

E) if the helmet fits and you like it, no one will ever know its a fake

ps. i just got an arai quantum from my buddy down the road for $100 bucks and it's real - and I really dropped it THAT DAY

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ProjectF4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1) drop pants

2) bend over

C) check for a wet and/or sore *******

4)if you are wet and/or sore you've been fucked

E) if the helmet fits and you like it, no one will ever know its a fake

ps. i just got an arai quantum from my buddy down the road for $100 bucks and it's real - and I really dropped it THAT DAY </TD></TR></TABLE>

Until you crash in it.

 

yeah, quality issues perhaps

 

Im not sure if the knockoffs have this or not but you can check the strap to see if there is a manufactured date on there. Arai helmets have a month and year of manufacturing. For example my signet gt has a 02/02 on the chin strap. Maybe that helps.

 

if the helmet is dot approved and fits, its not going to protect any better... with a higher price tag comes more comfort... thats the truth

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ProjectF4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the helmet is dot approved and fits, its not going to protect any better... with a higher price tag comes more comfort... thats the truth</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sure that the manufacturers of 'knock off' helmets have also knocked off the DOT sticker as well.

 

make sure the liner inside says Arai and look for the holographic Snell sticker

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ProjectF4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the helmet is dot approved and fits, its not going to protect any better... with a higher price tag comes more comfort... thats the truth</TD></TR></TABLE>

DOT, and other rating standards, are a Minimum standard - not maximum protection. Better constructed helmets can and do often exceed the minimum level for saftey. Just because helmet A and helmet B pass the same test, doesn't mean one won't outperform the other under greater forces.

 

ill see if i can find the pass/fail pdf doc from another forum about the crash testing of helmets

in any event, i would NEVER buy a 2nd hand helmet... one good drop from waist level onto blacktop can ruin a helmet's integrity.

if you have doubts, check the liners, straps an d / or contact arai and ask them how you can verify

 

If it weighs like 8 pounds, fits like crap, is noisy as hell, feels cheap, then it's probably fake.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike Panic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ill see if i can find the pass/fail pdf doc from another forum about the crash testing of helmets

in any event, i would NEVER buy a 2nd hand helmet... one good drop from waist level onto blacktop can ruin a helmet's integrity.

if you have doubts, check the liners, straps an d / or contact arai and ask them how you can verify</TD></TR></TABLE>

Also, it'd be great to know that it hasn't been shipped via FedEx. 'Cause at my work, we get deliveries everyday via UPS, FedEx, and DHL. And FedEx always seem to be careless w/our packages. Crushed boxes, ripped packages, etc.

I'm sure, even tho the helmets are shipped in factory packaging, it's still prone to shipment damage.