I was invited to the head office of Moto Direct yesterday who are the importers and distributors of Arai, AGV, Wolf Leathers, RST, Dainese to name but a few. Had a very constructive meeting (which I won't go into, but it was quite excitigng in respect of the things we discussed). Anyway, I then got the invitation to visit their showrooms where they have every Arai virtually back to the day the hemet was invented, along with prototypes and new styles being looked at, same with AGV etc. In another room were all the crashed race suits of top BSB and GP riders whch have come in for repair or replacement. Interesting to examine them up close to see how they had performed. Then was asked if I would be happy,(because of my knowledge and expertise apparently )to road test some of the new stuff as they do not like the way the press review kit, and whether there are people I could recommend or wuld also be happy to help out with evaluaton and testing. Bit of a no brainer on that score. Anyway, we were then discusssing helmets and both agreed that we would like to see dealers licenced and tested before they are allowed to sell a helmet at which point Terry pulled out a couple f brand new cut away Arai's showing how they are constrcuted and the different elements. One was just the front half of the helmet showing the styrofoam liner and how they manage consistancy compared with other helmets. Anyway, I was examing and admiring them, and I was told, take them, If you find it helps educate people when you are doing talks or presentations, then great. Must be a couple of hundred quids worth of demo samples, but hey, if it helps get the message over, I am not gong to turn it down. Everyone at Moto Direct are friendsly and really professional and clearly know their business and products. as a by the by, they also do talks and presentations to clubs and groups if anyone is interested
You should have told them you have a whole community that would gladly test out all their products. Different riders and styles, collate all the info and shazaam, far better reviews. Sounds like a good day though.
That is very subjective. Yes, I do get to see and do things, and I have been fortunate enough to do things that the average rider can only dream about. On the flip side though, most of my working days are spent dealing with and helping riders and their families whose lives have been wrecked or curtailed because of the carelesness and incompetence/negligent behaviour of other road users. So a day out like yesterday is great, but that is then balanced out by spending hours looking at road crash scenes, photos of mangled and dead bodies and reading through the pack of lies often given by defendant drivers who caused the crash in the first place. Ying and Yang is the phrase that springs to mind
Hopefully Arai have solved the crap side-pod design. Had another one go today, OK the lid is 5 years old this year, but that is the 2nd in a few months and I am always careful when removing and refitting the visor.
Sounds like an interesting day, would be interesting to see how some of it held up in crashes etc I'm very much into this sort of stuff since my big accident and I strongly believe some of my injuries could of been alot worse if I wasn't wearing certain gear, I also believe other gear made other injuries worse if not caused them due to the way it reacted
Sounds like an interesting day. Me jase tyke and wedge will gladly test any stuff to destruction - often sooner than we hoped! Lol and in my case, usually just by looking at it ha