[Rudey]

My one year old Arai XD-5 has been giving me trouble. I bought it from Bikegear.in in April last year. Very prompt and very pleasant service. Before I go about explaining my issues, here’s a picture explaining what parts are giving me trouble.




The peak pressure plate and the holder

The small, triangular plate is called the peak pressure plate. The screws can be loosened to adjust the peak. The broader plate on which this triangular plate is mounted is called the holder. It has push button which releases the holder from the helmet and the visor can then come off.

I used this helmet for a few long rides last year with no issues at all. The trouble began in February this year. Here’s how it went:

(1) February 2025 – I noticed that the left peak pressure plate was cracked and the screw, too, had started to break. I took out the plate, glued it with feviquick temporarily and ordered a new set of these plates.

(2) When I went to install this new set, I saw that the left holder, too, had cracks in it. I ordered a new set and replaced them.

(3) Earlier this month, I saw cracks developing on the visor around the pinlock pins. One of the pins fell out while cleaning. So, I ordered a new visor.

(4) Two days ago I was cleaning the lid and to my horror I realized that the plates had started cracking again.

Here are some pictures:








The plates on the top are the new ones.


Old holder plate. The other side had similar cracks too.


Every time I open up the helmet to clean, I find broken pieces like this.

Now there’s only one thing that I have changed since last year. The exterior and interior cleaner that I use for the lid. Here’s a picture of the one that I used till February this year:



And here’s the one that I have been using since then:



They’re both the same brand but the latter one cleans better (produces a little foam when being wiped off), smells better and is easier to carry around on rides thanks to the bottle shape.

I used to believe these Motul cleaners to be helmet safe otherwise I would not have even brought them anywhere near my helmet. Now that I think about it, I should not have used anything other than water. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

I have a Ladakh ride coming up in May and I wanted to know if someone here knows what I am doing wrong. Is it the exterior cleaner that I am using? Am I tightening the screws too much? Or am I riding too fast with an ADV helmet on? In addition to adventure riding, I often do long expressway rides with sustained high speeds (120-130 kph). And what cleaners do you guys use? Should one even use any cleaners at all? Any help is appreciated.

[Rachit.K.Dogra]

This is strange. The only thing that comes to my mind by looking at this is maybe you are over tightening the screws?

Please try searching Internet if anybody else has faced similar issues or not. Seeing such an issue in an ARAI is strange.

Wishing you best of luck!!

Regards
Rachit

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by Rudey

My one year old Arai XD-5 has been giving me trouble...Is it the exterior cleaner that I am using? Am I tightening the screws too much? Or am I riding too fast with an ADV helmet on? In addition to adventure riding, I often do long expressway rides with sustained high speeds (120-130 kph). And what cleaners do you guys use? Should one even use any cleaners at all? Any help is appreciated.

I have the XD4. And 2 other helmets at home.
I use the Motul spray type thingy too. Haven't had any issues with it so far.

The screws definitely don't need to be tight. I have kept the ones on mine just about tight. I can use just my finger to tighten further. That is usually how I leave it.

Does your bike have a windscreen? Wind buffetting at 120-130 can be ridiculous. And I imagine maybe able to cause this damage too. The type of thing that causes small damage over extended periods.

Maybe email Arai (if there is such a thing)?
Add a small rubber plate in between the screw & the plate? Ignore

[Cyborg]

Either over tightening the screws and/or some sort of manufacturing defect that comes into play with wind buffeting at speed. I know it’s a Arai but can happen. Some angle in the plates being just a little off could be creating wind pressure which cracks the plates.

I would also suggest writing a detailed email to Arai explaining the issue with photographs as you have done here.

They should definitely offer some sort of explanation and solution.

This is a weird one, please keep us updated on the outcome.

Cheers

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by shyamg28

I have the XD4. And 2 other helmets at home.
I use the Motul spray type thingy too. Haven't had any issues with it so far.

This is my first Arai. I've been using Motul sprays on MT helmets till now and never had any issues of this sort.

Originally Posted by shyamg28

The screws definitely don't need to be tight. I have kept the ones on mine just about tight. I can use just my finger to tighten further. That is usually how I leave it.

Does your bike have a windscreen? Wind buffetting at 120-130 can be ridiculous. And I imagine maybe able to cause this damage too. The type of thing that causes small damage over extended periods.

I have been using a 10 rupee or a 1-2 rupee coin to tighten up the screws which may have caused the plates to crack under the extra pressure. I ride a Himalayan 450 with a touring windscreen (OEM accessory). Here's a pic:



I was using a Pro-Spec windscreen extender when the bike had a shorter windscreen but then I put it away when I bought the taller OEM windscreen. The combination of the touring screen and the extender was way too high. [/quote]



I messaged Shumi (from MotorInc) on Insta and he was kind enough to reply that I am probably over tightening the screws.

Maybe I am doing two things wrong. Here's my analysis so far:
(1) The plates keep cracking because I over-tighten the screws and they crack under the extra pressure.
(2) The visor cracked up because I was riding at expressway speeds with the visor being all the way down but not locked. You can pull the visor almost all the way down on this helmet but leave it there without locking it. This leaves a very small crack through which you can get quite a lot of airflow without having to open up the visor. Maybe, the buffeting at high speeds keeps shaking up the visor as it is not locked in place and the weaker area around the pins starts developing cracks from the stress.

I'll email Arai today and will share here what they suggest.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Rudey

My one year old Arai XD-5 has been giving me trouble. I bought it from Bikegear.in in April last year. .

Every ARAI helmet care video online only says one thing and one thing alone.

Use the least destructive soap and water on the helmet.

I have only ever used Johnson's baby shampoo on mine for a full clean, and simple hand soap to clean the visor. Hot water (to touch) helps melt everything off.

This seems to be a case of the plastics becoming very brittle and simply disintegrating. I would suggest you contact ARAI directly (USA), and show them this message. I would also suggest buying replacement kit and using only normal soap and water and keeping an eye.

Do note the screws and plastics used by ARAI are intentionally made weaker so they shear off on impact and do not catch on to debris and drag your head with it. I would thus think that these plastics are intentionally made more malleable than ones we find on other helmets.

For all folks using these chemical laden helmet cleaners, do remember that you are using them on your head, the residue left behind will become vapour in the heat and you are simply inhaling a lovely cocktail of what not at extremely close proximity.

I used to just spray a home made peppermint essential oil + rubbing alcohol mix into the helmet liner if it got stinky and I was too lazy to wash them pre ride.

[svsantosh]

Originally Posted by Rudey

My one year old Arai XD-5 has been giving me trouble. I bought it from

As some one who owned his most expensive helmet in India - Steelbird (IIRC around 3000Inr) - Is the Arai you got a genuine one? It seems upwards of 60,000Inr on the internet and the pics you posted here have never occurred even on my 3000Inr helmet. (PS - I also owned a Studds Ninja, similar priced one, but never faced these issues)

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Every ARAI helmet care video online only says one thing and one thing alone.

Use the least destructive soap and water on the helmet.

I have only ever used Johnson's baby shampoo on mine for a full clean, and simple hand soap to clean the visor. Hot water (to touch) helps melt everything off.

This seems to be a case of the plastics becoming very brittle and simply disintegrating. I would suggest you contact ARAI directly (USA), and show them this message. I would also suggest buying replacement kit and using only normal soap and water and keeping an eye.

I agree. I regret using those products on my helmet a lot. I have written to Arai USA. Will update when I hear from them.

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Do note the screws and plastics used by ARAI are intentionally made weaker so they shear off on impact and do not catch on to debris and drag your head with it. I would thus think that these plastics are intentionally made more malleable than ones we find on other helmets.

This is something I knew but it never occurred to me that this, too, can be a contributing factor. I'd be definitely be even more careful with these parts now.

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

As some one who owned his most expensive helmet in India - Steelbird (IIRC around 3000Inr) - Is the Arai you got a genuine one? It seems upwards of 60,000Inr on the internet and the pics you posted here have never occurred even on my 3000Inr helmet.

I bought the helmet last year from Bikegear.in and it costed me north of 95k. Being a first time customer of this site, I had a fear of being duped so I did my homework and was ready with a checklist even before the helmet arrived. Once the helmet arrived, I checked everything right from the box it came in to the markings on the helmet and it had everything. It had all the accessories that Arai says should come with a genuine helmet. Plus, this helmet is relatively new in the market. It was launched last year. To be able to produce such a good copy in such a short time would be a feat in my eyes. This is not to say that it cannot be a copy. Anything's possible now a days but I am reasonably assured that I have a genuine helmet.

Originally Posted by svsantosh

(PS - I also owned a Studds Ninja, similar priced one, but never faced these issues)

The first helmet that I bought with my own money, too, was a Studds Ninja back in 2017. This was when I had bought the OG Himalayan, the 411. Two years later, I moved on to an MT Thunder. Last year, when I decided to upgrade my ride, I decided to splash on the riding gear even if it meant riding a smaller bike for a while. So, I settled for the new Himalayan 450 but invested in this Arai and a pair of Alpinestars Tech 7 boots. Here are some pics from last year:











Trying to ride safe and wearing the best protection one can afford are the only two things a rider can do to have safe rides. I am trying my best to do both. The rest, as they say, is up to God.

Out of curiosity, I messaged Shumi again (on Instagram) to ask him what he uses to clean his helmet as I know he has an Arai XD-4 or XD-5. He replied with just one word. "Water!".

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Rudey

Out of curiosity, I messaged Shumi again (on Instagram) to ask him what he uses to clean his helmet as I know he has an Arai XD-4 or XD-5. He replied with just one word. "Water!".

Do as the ancients did, soap did not exist even a few hundred years back - forget bespoke chemical helmet cleaners.

That is some lovely kit you have there. Comfortable and well designed riding gear only motivates one to ride more.

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Do as the ancients did, soap did not exist even a few hundred years back - forget bespoke chemical helmet cleaners.

Yup! I wish I had been a little wiser with my lid but hey...better late than never.

Originally Posted by Red Liner

That is some lovely kit you have there..

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Comfortable and well designed riding gear only motivates one to ride more.

It sure does. I love the confidence that good riding gear brings to the whole riding equation.

[Rudey]

Update: Mystery solved

(1) The new visor arrived yesterday. The plates are out of stock as of now. Will only install the new visor when I have the new plates.

(2) The note that came along with the visor had clear instructions about not using any hard chemicals to clean it. By this point, I had already decided I'd never use any cleaners ever on the lid but was sceptical of the Motul cleaner causing the damage.

(3) As if on cue, ARAI USA sent a reply stating clearly that the damage is very similar to what they have seen in the past when plastics become brittle after exposure to hard chemicals. They said even the cleaners which claim to be helmet safe can cause such damage.

So, it 'was' the cleaner. Lesson learned. A very expensive one, at that. Attaching pictures of the note that came with the visor and the reply from ARAI USA. If you own an expensive lid and are wondering about whether you should use any cleaner at all, here's your answer. Thank you, everyone for all your inputs and kind suggestions.