Collaboration with lifestyle event “HAVE A BIKE DAY”
The new RAPIDE-NEO features an egg-shaped form that maximizes dodging performance. It is a neo-classical full-face helmet that pays homage to classic styles such as ducts, while also offering Arai’s latest safety and comfort features. The RAPIDE-NEO, which is attractive for its versatility that suits everything from aggressive super nakeds to retro sports, now has a new designer collaboration model, “HAVE A BIKE DAY.”
This graphic by designer Nobuki Kato, who created the popular “Overland” and “React” colors for the new RAPIDE-NEO, has been reimagined for the RAPIDE-NEO. “HAVE A BIKE DAY” is the name of an event held in Tokyo this year, featuring Kato and other cutting-edge designers, promoting the joy and wonder of everyday motorcycle life. The event combines motorcycles and art with delicious coffee and food, and the seventh event was held in Tokyo this year. This collaboration with the “HAVE A BIKE DAY” project focuses on fashion compatibility, featuring a matte texture and a style that easily blends with street, military, outdoor, and work styles. The urban color scheme is likely to complement old trackers, cafe racers, and the latest maxi scooters.
*Nobuki Kato
is a native of Hiroshima Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. He is an artist, designer, illustrator, and manga artist, and has worked on artwork for Toshiba EMI, Magazine House, Nike, and others.
Classic style with the latest technology and functional beauty
The RAPIDE-NEO realizes the vintage image of the 70s and 80s while maintaining the safety features unique to Arai. The three distinctive slit ducts at the mouth are a shape that symbolizes the history of Arai helmets. The helmet body with its inconspicuous ducts looks classical at first glance, but each part is equipped with Arai’s latest safety technology.
The helmet shape combines a smooth form with a strong helmet body, pursuing Arai’s helmet philosophy of a “deflecting impact” shape. In order to further improve impact deflection performance, the shield mounting part has been lowered by 24 mm based on the proven Snell standard test line, making the side of the helmet smoother.
The main material of the shell is the latest super fiber, which is more expensive than regular glass fiber. It is a special glass fiber with a higher fiber density than regular glass fiber, and is 40% stronger in both tensile strength and compressive strength. In addition, the cushioning liner inside the shell uses foam with different hardness levels suited to the crown, sides, back, and forehead. This hybrid liner is finely adjusted to fit each shell size and molded as a single unit.
The ventilation system, which is responsible for comfort, uses Airflow Liner ventilation, which takes in air from the chin guard and forehead air inlets and expels it from two holes at the back of the head.It also has a nozzle in the neck pad that uses negative pressure during riding to expel hot air around the ears and stagnant air at the back of the head.
The interior is fully adjustable. The fabric is made of a multifunctional fiber material that maintains the same weak acidity as bare skin. It has antibacterial properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria, and deodorizing properties that absorb and neutralize the ammonia contained in sweat to prevent odors.
・Airflow liner that expels hot air trapped in the head through a path inside the helmet・Ventilation
・Mouth slit that can be opened and closed according to the conditions・
Ventilation that cools down the entire head・
NE nozzle that has been made smaller without reducing exhaust efficiency・
Fixed aero flap that reduces wind getting in from the bottom of the helmet and provides a high rectifying effect
・ES chin cover V, an evolved version of the aero flap
cover・VAS-V shield with post that prioritizes the image of a neo-classic style
・Strong shield lock system with a lever, adopted in the GP-6 for formula cars
・Newly developed full-system high-fitting interior that maintains the same weak acidity as bare skin and has antibacterial and deodorizing properties・
Flat-bottom neck pad for enhanced rectifying effect・
NEO AM system interior with adjustable function and a completely redesigned interior
frame・System pad with FCS structure that wraps around the lower chin for a comfortable fit・
Wide mouth space to reduce stuffiness
・Optional parts allow the size of the head and cheek area to be adjusted
Overview of the Arai Helmet "RAPIDE-NEO HAVE A BIKE DAY"
■ Price: 71,500 yen
■ Colors: Desert Sand, Charcoal Black
■ Sizes: 54, 55-56, 57-58, 59-60, 61-62
■ Standards: SNELL/JIS standards
■ Construction: PB-cLc2 (Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction)
■ Shield: VAS-V shield with post (smoke included as standard)
