Arai Quantic sports touring motorcycle helmet review

SLOTTING into the range above the Chaser-X and below the track-biased RX-7V, the new Arai Quantic is aimed at sports-touring riders, and it is the first motorcycle helmet homologated to the latest ECE 22.06 standards.

The Arai Quantic is available in sizes XS through to XL, with a range of six graphics and four plain colourways. Graphic models are £599.99 while the plain versions are £499.99.

Arai Quantic Comfort

As with any Arai lid I have tested, the interior of the Quantic is a luxurious and comfortable place to lay your head. The liner is Arai’s comfort liner, meaning the material is softer and plusher than is found in the sportier lids in the range. The Quantic also features a wider opening than some previous models. It was done to make living with the lid a little easier, and it’s a nice feature on a lid that will spend its life getting taken on and off frequently during a ride.

I’ve always been a medium in Arai’s sizing, and feel totally confident ordering one of their lids without trying it on, safe in the knowledge it’ll fit like a glove. Predictably, the fit and comfort of the lid when it arrived were perfect. It sits snuggly on my head, with no tight spots across my brow or the back of my neck. If you are a rider who has always used Arai’s products, you should have no issues simply ordering the new lid in your given size. It does though go without saying that if this is your first Arai product, you need to get yourself down to your local dealer for a fitting. The double-D ring fastener includes a soft flap to prevent it from rubbing your neck while riding.

Weight

Arai has never professed to make the lightest weight helmets on the market and weighing in at 1,640g on my digital scales, the Quantic is by no means a featherweight. That’s not to say it feels heavy while riding though, and instead the Quantic feels solidly built, with a reassuringly sturdy quality to the whole lid.

Vents

The helmet's exterior shell includes a large chin vent, two brow vents, the large centrally mounted logo vent, and two small teardrop vents a little further back on the shell. The rear of the lid features an exhaust vent around the neck, two vents on either side of the lid, and a large closable exhaust located within the rear spoiler.

First off, the chin vent. It looks very much like the chin vent on my old Chaser-X although on closer inspection it has been extensively redesigned for the new Quantic. It works in the same way although now seems to produce about double the amount of airflow than the vent on the Chaser-X did. Part of the airflow from the two-position vent is directed up onto the visor and the rest is sent directly onto your mouth.

Moving up the lid slightly and the next vents are the small (but mighty) brow vents. They look tiddly and can be fiddly to open, but their location right in the heart of the high-pressure airflow can be a godsend on a hot day.

The 3D logo vent on the front of the lid looks like a bit of a gimmick, and with tiny inlet holes, I was doubtful as to how effective it would be. Out on the road I was surprised to find out how useful it is, directing a large amount of cooling air to the inside of the lid. Its location on the helmet is the key, with the logo sitting directly where the highest pressure airflow hits the lid.

A new addition to the Quantic is the two small teardrop vents that flank the 3D logo. Like the rest of the vents on the lid, they look small but work well. They open and close by sliding the entire vent structure forwards and backward, making it really easy to operate them even when wearing thick winter gloves.

One of the most effective vents on the lid is the exhaust that is mounted underneath the rear spoiler. Its location is such that it sits within an area of extremely low pressure, meaning when it’s open it basically sucks warm air out from the interior of the helmet. The vent is operated by moving a slider located within the spoiler to each side. It’s fairly easy to find and operate while on the move and can be fully open, half-open, or fully closed. Each setting is confirmed with an audible click meaning you’ll always know how much airflow you will be getting.

I have tested out the Quantic in heavy rain, and both the visor seal and vents kept the interior of the lid dry and comfortable.

Visor

The Arai Quantic has equipped with a Variable Axis System (VAS) Max Vision visor, and a Pinlock will arrive in the box ready to fit. The VAS system raised eyebrows when first introduced, as it seemed to add an extra layer of complication to visor changes. Having only really used this type of visor system, I really don’t find it a problem. Likewise, some find the locking mechanism of Arai’s VAS helmets a faff. While it is true that you have to use your left hand to lift the visor while on the move, I’ve grown used to the system, and enjoy the extra security that comes from having the visor held firmly shut.

Arai Quantic noise and stability

To check the noise of the Quantic, I headed out on the 2021 Harley-Davidson Lowrider S for a 20-mile B-road loop into the countryside. I chose the Lowrider S as it has a small headlight-mounted flyscreen that directs a bluster of turbulent are at your face at around 75mph. After riding the loop in the Arai Quantic, I nipped home and swapped for another brand of the helmet to see how different it was.

The Arai won the back-to-back test hands down. Its super-smooth exterior shell and smartly designed vents make it feel as though the Quantic is slicing through the air, as opposed to pummelling its way through it. I was initially worried that the two teardrop vents on top of the lid would whistle at speed but was pleasantly surprised to find the helmet completely whistle-free! While the new Arai Quantic is whisper quiet, it is always essential to use earplugs while riding, especially if you’re going to be spending long periods of time on motorways and dual carriageways.

One of the most noticeable features of the Quantic is the rear spoiler. Not only does it help to create an area of low pressure to help evacuate warm air from the helmet, but it is also said to aid stability at speed. To check this theory, I took my older Chaser-X for a spin on the Harley on the same route and then swapped for the Quantic. The Chaser-X has a similar shape to it, but with exception of the large rear spoiler. Instead, the Chaser-X features a much smaller, less protruding affair that covers the rear vents.

I never really thought of the Chaser-X as a helmet that was particularly affected by turbulence but comparing it back-to-back with the new Quantic threw up a surprising result. At motorway speeds, the new lid is noticeably more stable, and with less of a tendency to snap to one side when making shoulder checks on the motorway. It’s this kind of fatigue-saving ability that will make this helmet a must-have for those looking to cover big distances at high speed.

Arai Quantic verdict

While the full-face Arai range does admittedly consist of lots of lids that look very similar to the untrained eye, there is much more at work here than simply exterior styling. The new Quantic is proof of this. On the surface, it looks like an RX-7V or Chaser-X simply with revised vents, although once you try it, the changes introduced with this helmet become blindingly evident.

The Arai Quantic is an extremely well-built, comfortable, and very quiet motorcycle helmet. It’s ideal for those looking for a long-range solution for sports touring riding, and thanks to extensive and effective vents, it’s an excellent choice for riding all year round.

For more information on the Quantic range, head to: www.whyarai.co.uk