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Arai RV helmet - Bob Pickett takes Arai's entry-level lid onto the road (again and again and again...)

Plain, black... but classy The Arai RV, like all Arai lids it is beautifully finished, with a deep, rich varnish - this is one lid you can be sure will stay looking good for it’s lifespan. Colours come in two options, black or white!

The plush padding pushed against my cheeks to begin with, but left no marks on my face. Over a year later, the padding is still snug but not intrusive - in all honesty it hasn't really changed (and definitely not loosened) in that time.

Venting is provided by a chin vent and two smaller vents in the visor. It comes with removable washable liner, so keeping it clean isn't a bind.

The visor slides smoothly and can be opened as much or as little as you want with the knowledge that it will stay exactly where you put it up to motorway speeds, when it is possible to lock it down. Once sealed down, it is a pain to try to open the lock single-handed, but it can be left open just a crack and sealed shut when you are really shifting. The venting is effective and once again as long as you are on the move, it stays mist-free. If there is a letdown, the visor is rather more prone to misting than a lid of this price tag should be. But given the ease of lifting and closing the visor, misting at stop isn’t a problem – just flip it open and close it down again when you’re rolling. Peripheral vision isn’t bad, but not as good as the HJC CL14 we tested at the same time.

Once on the move and taking the engine up through the rev range, it was noisier than the HJC, but again not so much that it couldn’t be lived with on a daily basis. But if you are going to rack up some serious miles, the Arai RV is the lid you would want to wear - the comfort levels, ease of operation of the visor and general feeling of class fills you with confidence.

Verdict:

The old maxim of 'You get what you pay for' applies. The Arai RV, from straight out of the box gives a level of comfort and oozes quality. But it needs to - £210 for an entry level helmet is a lot of money - but money well spent.

For more information, contact Phoenix Distribution - telephone 01782-569-800 or visit Phoenix's site

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