Arai describe it as ‘race-tested’ and it’s based on RX technology, but it really seems to be made for the all-rounder who takes long trips.
Positive comments are that it works well when you wear it all day; it deals with speed once you get to the interstates, but it also keeps you comfortable. It does this partly by making sure you can get the shape as well as the size just right for your own unique head before you start. It’s a slightly longer version of original Signet-Q – another 5mm from front to back – with inserts that allow you to adjust the fit for individual contours, using ‘peel off strips’ and replaceable inner linings to personalize the fitting.
Arai have put plenty of thought into the lining because they assume you will wear it for extended periods. It isn’t cheap but, like any expensive purchase, if you get enough wear out of it, then you may well decide it is still good value. It’s been described as the kind of helmet you can forget you are wearing – especially true if your head is an Arai-shaped head (that means a long oval shape – i.e. it’s longer than it is wide).
Note: The Signet Q is no longer available – replaced by the Arai Signet-X
- Snell M2015 certified
- SHARP 4 star safety rated (out of 5)
- Good fitting if your head is longer than wide (oval heads)
- Plenty of ventilation
- Good visibility
- Quite noisy
- 3.5Lbs/1.6Kg (about average)
- Available in sizes XXS – XXXL
- Price range: $550-$700 depending on model
Page Contents
Safety
There’s a lot of impressive sounding technology to protect your thinking equipment – “super complex laminate … enhanced hyper ridge strengthening … triple density inner shell”. The super complex laminate is claimed to be 40% stronger than standard fiber glass and it all sounds very reassuring to the lay reader. The original Signet-Q was awarded SHARP three stars, with good results for front and crown impact and the new Signet is described by the manufacturer as “one of the few” that meets both ECE22-05 and SNELL M2010 standards”. It was SHARP tested in June 2015 and scored 4/5 stars, dropping points only on the left hand impact test (though bizarrely not the right). This latest version is also Snell certified in 2015 so, as far as we can tell, it should perform well in an accident.
If you consider comfort an element of safety, then being able to adjust fit size makes this a safer helmet than something that either moves too much or pinches when you’re riding it.
Hopefully you’ll not need it, but in an emergency, when the ambulance staff need to remove your helmet they’ll find the emergency release mechanism that allows the chin pads to be pulled off first so the helmet can slide away easily. As helmets become more sophisticated and have special safety features like this, let’s hope the emergency services get medical training that includes updated helmet awareness to take advantage of these systems.
Helmet Noise
There’s plenty of air rushing through when vents are open and that creates noise. But if you close vents and pull out the chin spoiler to maximum users reckon it makes a big difference. One advantage of the vent system is that the rear outlet not only lets the damp air escape but also acts as a kind of spoiler to improve airflow around the helmet and that smoother air flow does help noise reduction. In general, air tends to move smoothly along the shell rather than towards the body, with minimized turbulence (that also helps reduce buffeting).
Having said that, in comparison to other helmets, the Arai Signet-Q is generally reckoned to be on the noisier side.
Size
Arai are proud of their wide range of helmet sizes. They’ll even make one to measure if you need it, but most people don’t as they use up to 6 outer shells then add a range of detachable inners shells in different shapes and sizes, matched to the normal head shapes for each continent. They say that for most of their helmets, there will be one unique shell size covering two fitment sizes (eg. one shell size for XXS & XS, another for S & M and so on).
The Signet-Q is advertised for XS/54 to XL/62 for general distribution but they do go as far as XXS to XXXL. However, there is so much adjustment to the standard shell, using those replaceable inserts, some users have had to reconsider their basic size on this particular model, as the new shape can make all the difference to where you start and finish within each helmet size.
Removable foam padding allows for small adjustments but owners report that the lining can take time to settle in, so you may have to allow for this when buying one new.
Ventilation
The Free Flow System (FFS) has vents front and back, top and bottom – it’s very effective at cooling in summer but can be pretty chilly in winter. Thankfully, most vents are easy to open and close with gloves on, although some people found the chin vent took a little practice. Except in the most disgusting weather, it’s pretty rain tight, and the most that has been reported so far is an occasional dribble from the top after several hours of heavy downpour.
For safety, all the vents and ducts are supposed to break on impact, so it remains to be seen how easy it is to damage them with careless handling (though no one reported any damage so far).
Shield
The Signet-Q has very good overall vision, with an extra 10mm on the width of the shield, so you get a good sideways view as well (click here to see other helmets with wide face shields). The shield is fairly flexible so you can change it quickly without any tools or fiddling about – a single lever gets it off and it clicks back easily.
There’s also an easy-to-use Pinlock Max Vision shield is included in the box. Briefly, it means your anti-fog insert is located onto the shield using two locking ‘pins’ which ensures the insert stays in place and forms a good seal between an anti-fog insert and the main shield. The Arai Signet-Q insert fits into what they call their “cavity shield” so it covers practically the entire shield area, with no misty margins, and you still get good vision even on potentially steamy days.
A breath deflector also helps and there’s a pull down chin spoiler with three positions which is a useful touch.
But what about sunny days? The helmet comes with a clear shield as standard but a ‘Pro-Shade’ option is also available. This is a sun shield which fits over the clear shield. You can raise or lower it easily and it locks in position, so you just need to decide whether it is worth around $80 extra and, if so, do you fit it before you leave the house? Some users preferred to avoid the choice by making their own sun strip on the original clear shield while others, with a stronger or more reliable sun, were more grateful.
Again, some retailers are offering a Pro Shade free of charge with the helmet, so worth shopping around.
Comfort
The Signet-Q is elongated – 5mm longer than the original – so it’s better for those many heads that are not standard ovals. Side cheek pads can be put in or taken out to get a perfect fit for all face shapes, with and without bulges and beards. The Facial Contour System (FCS) also allows headband room to be adapted for the individual; with the goal of making the final result good fit all over without feeling too tight.
Many owners say it’s the perfect fit for their head shape. You tend to hear lots of people say their head is an Arai shape – and that generally means they’re folks with longer oval heads as that is who Arai generally target with their lids. So if that’s you, then you may well find that the Signet-Q is the ideal helmet for you.
With a bit more chin space from the previous Signet-Q, and adjustable foam lining, you can swear at white vans and chew the remains of your scotch egg whilst remaining perfectly cradled inside the shell. It also makes it easier to get off at the end of the day.
If you wear it for long enough, as you might, you can take out the whole of the interior, wash it and put it back, but the Dry-Cool© lining keeps you fresh enough in the short term.
Looks & Graphics
There are up to 13 design options on line – possibly fewer in your local shop – but one of them is scary fluorescent yellow. Car drivers have no excuse for not seeing that one coming! It’s fair to say that Arai tend to opt for more subdued and plainer color schemes, but none of our owners claimed they bought it because of how it looks, more for how it feels and how well it seems to be made.
Other stuff – fasteners and glasses
The fastening is a double-D system. You either like them or you don’t but in our experience they’re easy to use and fairly reliable. Once you master doing them up with either cold or gloved hands, they are certainly secure and they’re quite easy to undo. It’s also a pre-requisite to take the helmet on a track day.
Glasses are less of a problem because you have more adjustment to play with. Owners don’t report any problems using the Signet-Q with glasses. If you only use sunglasses, a Pro-Shade might mean you won’t have to any more.
Buying one new
There’s quite a few things to consider when buying a new helmet. We’ve put together a few guides on the homepage that might help you with buying your next crash helmet. Amongst other things, they cover getting the right helmet fitment, Snell certification, SHARP helmet safety testing and a few other bits and bobs we think you’ll find useful.
Signet-Q video
A quick video of the Signet-Q from J&S.
Overall
The Arai Signet-Q is well liked by owners. It has good ventilation, but can be a bit noisy. It’s Snell certified and scored a creditable four out of five stars for safety when tested by SHARP which should mean its safety performance is up there with some of the best. The build quality is good and owners like the comfort; you can personalise the fitment of the Arai Signet-Q to a surprising degree and, if you’re a long-oval head shape, ought to be able to get the ideal fit. At this price point there are some great alternatives (see below) but the Arai Signet-Q is a quality performer and well worth a look.
Alternatives
There are lots of alternatives – click on our top 10 best helmets to see which lids we’d recommend you buy. Here’s a couple worth checking out. The HJC IS-17 is a fantastic helmet – it’s 5 star rated (the maximum) by SHARP for safety, is all day comfortable and great value. If you’re wanting something a bit more exclusive (read pricey!) then the Shark Race R carbon fiber lid might be what you’re after. It’s another 5 star rated full faced helmet that’s got great build quality, light weight and with a wide visor for improved visibility. Both these lids are better options than the Signet Q – unless you have a long-oval head in which case, the Arai might work better for you.
If you’ve found this Arai Signet-Q review helpful – or if you’ve owned an Arai Signet Q, we’d love to hear what you thought about it – please let us know in the Comments area below. For other motorcycle crash helmet reviews, including other Arais, visit our All Crash Helmet Reviews section or our Only SHARP 4 or 5 Star Helmet Reviews section.
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