Arai 'Quantic' - "high speed comfort for the long haul"
The new Arai 'Quantic' full-face is described as a "brand-new generation of Arai helmets aimed at the sports-touring rider who wants dynamic, race-derived performance on the road, with cocoon-like, luxurious comfort and features suitable for long riding days".
"The new '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 the range-topping MotoGP-spec RX-7V Racing, but adds fresh features all of its own."
Sitting between the Profile-V and RX-7V, Arai says that the Quantic "marks a brand-new generation of sophisticated design and occupies fresh ground". The company expects it to be approved to the "new, more rigorous ECE R22-06 standard soon", and Quantic "is manufactured by hand from Peripherally Belted e-Complex Laminate Construction (PB e-cLc)". The outer shell "maintains the core strength that Arai is known for, but with a substantial weight reduction".
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 twelve ports in the shell and from low around town speeds.
It features a 5 mm flare around the base for easy access on and off, and the VAS MAX (Variable Axis System) vision visor comes with a Pinlock insert ready to use and yields an average of an additional 24 mm across both temple areas. The new, premium brushed nylon interior is removable and features Facial Contour System (FCS), speaker pockets and a neck roll wire pocket. It also features the Emergency Release System (ERS). The Quantic has been designed from the outset for easy application of an intercom.
The new three-position (open, midway and closed) sliding air-scoop chin vent flows a larger intake air volume and has a replaceable filter. The actuating mechanism is thicker and easier to use with gloves.
The one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler is operated by a three-way switch and inspired by the DX-2 of the RX-7V Racing, but redesigned for touring use and tested at up to 300 km/h at Suzuka and sits a little more forward on the shell and is fed by three ports in the shell. It efficiently draws air, but also smoothes airflow over (and from the side) the helmet, improving stability and reducing buffeting, especially while overtaking at highway speeds. The result is much less rider fatigue. Manufactured as thin and light as possible, it's designed to crush or break away upon impact, therefore having no impact on protective performance.
The Quantic outer shell design has built-in side ducts for the first time on an Arai helmet. 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.
ARAI HELMET (EUROPE)
www.araihelmet-europe.com
Bihr adds Switzerland to its Arai footprint
Arai has reached agreement with Bihr (Bartenheim, France) to be its exclusive distributor in Switzerland.
Located just 15 km from the Swiss border, near Basel, distribution of Arai products will be managed by the Bihr Swiss team (Bihr Swiss SA, formerly known as Pichard Racing) and led by Philippe Chollet, with all dealers in Switzerland able to be supplied within 24 hours. All existing Bihr Swiss clients and prospects will have access to Arai products via the Bihr.pro platform.
"We are very pleased to have found an agreement with Bihr to distribute our helmets in Switzerland. The Bihr team has clearly demonstrated its ability to distribute our products over past years, and we are more than happy to expand our collaboration to Switzerland," said Michio Arai, CEO of Arai Helmets Ltd.
This extends a relationship between Bihr and Arai that already sees it distributing for Arai in France, Belgium, Germany and in the UK through subsidiary Moto Direct.
Christophe Piron, CEO of Bihr, said: "Arai has a fantastic range with a safety reputation that is second to none. Our partnership with Arai has already been very successful and we are pleased to be able to deepen the relationship still further."
www.bihr.eu
