Two of the top names in motorcycle helmets today are Arai and Nolan and justifiably so. These two heavyweights have been producing top rated helmets for years. But how do they stack up against each other. For this article, we conducted a showdown between the Arai RX7 and the Nolan N100.
Comfort and Fit
Arai made the RX7 to conform more to the natural shape of the head. Of course, not everyone has the same shape head but overall, we felt Arai met their goal. The RX7 is very comfortable and snug in all the right places. Fortunately it’s not too snug to prevent the rider from wearing their earplugs. Aerodynamics are good as we hardly noticed any turbulence.
The Nolan N100 also receives high marks for comfort. The helmet is well made and generally feels good on your head. Some riders have reported experiencing ‘hot spots’ and tightness around the ears but we didn’t notice anything in our testing. The N100 tends to be a bit more round in its shape so aerodynamics are not quite as good as the RX7.
Winner in Comfort and Fit: The RX7 has a slight edge.
Ease of Use and Functionality
Talk to any Nolan N100 owner and they will inevitably start raving about the flip-up shield, especially the ones who wear glasses. This feature alone is enough to guarantee repeat buyers of the N100.
On the other side of the coin, most RX7 owners will mention how difficult it is to remove or replace the face shield. However, others have reported that the procedure is very simple after you have watched the instructional video.
Vent controls on the RX7 helmet are impressive. A dual hinge allows you to direct air to your face or to the shield for de-fogging.
Both helmets feature fully removable and fully washable interiors.
Winner in Ease of Use: The RX7 has a slight edge.
Safety
As expected, both helmets meet or exceed D.O.T. standards. You really can’t go wrong in terms of safety with either of these products.
Winner in Safety: Draw
Price
A comparison in the price category between the Arai RX7 and the Nolan N100 probably isn’t fair. The Arai offering is more of a high-end helmet compared to the N100. Therefore, the RX7 will always cost more. But as the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for”. Typical prices of the RX7 are in the $300-$600 range.
The N100 has many features that you would typically find in the higher-end helmets. But if you do your research, you can find the N100 selling in the $100-$300 range.
Winner in Price: I could easily say the Nolan N100 is the winner in the price category but I don’t think that would be fair. Yes, it would be the clear cut winner if you base your buying decision solely on price. But if you consider “the whole package” of each helmet, I think it is another draw.
In the end, I think you have to view the Arai RX7 versus the Nolan N100 showdown as a boxing match. The Arai offering is the ‘heavyweight’ champion and the Nolan helmet is the ‘middleweight’ champion. The RX7 is a winner in the high-end category and the N100 is a winner in the middle range category. You are going to get a very nice helmet that will last several years with either selection.
By: Ray McDonald