P104
PRODUCT REVIEW I
ARAI CORSAIR X IOM TT
W
e're big fans of Arai helmets here at
Cycle News, and there's been no helmet
in the company's lineup I've featured
more in the last five years than the Corsair X (you
can read all about our Arai factory tour that we
were given in 2019).
For the last couple of years, Arai has produced
a special Isle of Man TT paint job for the Corsair
X. Often, they're a little garish, but this one is dif-
ferent. We'll get to that in a minute.
The Corsair X is second only to the $4000
carbon-fiber helmet in its lineup and is the latest
result of an evolution that began in 1977 with
the original RX-7. While many of the world's top
helmet manufacturers have progressively altered
the shape of their lids, Arai has kept the design of
their premier racing helmet close to their ideals
of a rounded shape with minimal deviations to
ensure the rider's head doesn't get caught on
anything while tumbling down the road. It's no
coincidence the ScLc RX-7R of 1990 looks near
identical to the Corsair-X.
The Corsair X uses the PB-SNC2 Shell made
from synthetic fibers and what Arai calls a Super
Fiber strap across the top of the eye port, helping
give a seriously strong but lightweight shell.
Airflow is massive,
with top and side
vents keeping the
rider's head cool.
