Shop for a new shield for an Arai street helmet and you will soon find two names that seem to describe the same lid. This guide to the Arai Quantic vs Contour-X visor question explains why the two names exist, which shield they take, and how to confirm what you own before you order. It also covers tints, anti-fog inserts and the near-miss model names that trip buyers up.
Aftermarket visors for the Arai Quantic
ReplacementArai Astro-GX / Chaser-X / Concept-X / Contour-X & more Replacement Visor — Iridium, Smoke, Clear Tints
PhotochromicArai Astro-GX / Chaser-X / Concept-X / Contour-X & more Photochromic Visor
Anti-fogArai Astro-GX / Chaser-X / Concept-X / Contour-X & more Anti-Fog Insert — Stops Visor FoggingThe short answer:
- Quantic is the name Arai uses in Europe and Contour-X is the name used in the United States, and our verified fitment data groups both on one shared shield.
- That shield belongs to Arai’s VAS-V family, in the wide Max Vision form that is drilled for an anti-fog insert.
- A replacement visor listed for one name is listed for the other, so you do not need a “Quantic only” part.
- Read the label inside your helmet before ordering, because several Arai names sound alike and are not part of this pairing.
Arai Quantic vs Contour-X visor: why one design has two names
Helmet makers often sell one design under a different name in each region. Arai does this across its range, and the Quantic and Contour-X are a clear case. Riders in Europe and the UK know the helmet as the Quantic, while riders in North America buy it as the Contour-X.
Reviewers sometimes describe the pair as one helmet with two badges and sometimes as close siblings built to the same brief. For a visor buyer that distinction matters far less than it seems. The only question that decides whether a part fits is which shield the helmet takes.
On that point our data is settled. The Quantic and Contour-X sit together in a verified fitment group, which is the check we run before any guide or category says two models share a part. That is why the store keeps a Quantic visor category and a Contour-X visor category that list the same products.
What the two names share, and what they do not
The table below sets out the differences a buyer actually runs into. Almost all of them come down to where the helmet was sold and how it was labelled, not to the shield.
| Point to check | Quantic | Contour-X |
|---|---|---|
| Where the name is used | Europe and the UK | United States and North America |
| Helmet type | Full-face street helmet | Full-face street helmet |
| Shield family in our verified fitment data | VAS-V Max Vision | VAS-V Max Vision |
| Shared with the other name? | Yes, same group | Yes, same group |
| Store category | Quantic visors | Contour-X visors |
| Approval label inside the helmet | Set by the market it was sold in | Set by the market it was sold in |
The last row is the useful one when a helmet has changed hands. A helmet sold in Europe carries European approval marks, and one sold in the United States carries the marks for that market. That says nothing about visor fit, but it is often the quickest clue to which name your helmet was sold under.
Which shield system the pair uses
Arai groups its shields into families, and the names are easy to mix up. Our verified record places the Quantic and Contour-X on the VAS-V Max Vision shield. Arai’s own Contour-X technology page describes the helmet’s VAS-V Shield Mechanism, which matches that record.
VAS stands for Variable Axis System. Arai describes it as a lower shield mount position, which lets the shell stay smoother around the sides. Max Vision is the wider version of the VAS-V shield, cut to give a broad view and drilled with two pins for an anti-fog insert.
Two other names are worth knowing so you can rule them out. SAI is an older, separate shield system from the same maker and is not the same part. VAS-A is the peaked adventure shield developed from VAS-V, and it belongs on Arai’s adventure helmets, not on a Quantic or Contour-X.
Names that sound close but are not this pair
Arai’s naming is dense, and a single letter can point to a different helmet. Before you order, make sure your label really says Quantic or Contour-X.
- Quantum-X. A different helmet with its own Quantum-X visor category. Similar spelling, separate model.
- Concept-X. A retro full-face with its own pairing, covered in our guide to the Concept-X vs Rapide-Neo visor.
- Regent-X. Another North American name, but a different model from the Contour-X, with its own category.
We only say that two models share a visor when they sit in the same verified fitment group. The Quantic group covers the Contour-X and nothing else, so treat any other name as a separate question and shop from its own category.
How to check your helmet before you order
Boxes get thrown away and second-hand sellers sometimes guess at the model. Two minutes of checking saves a return.
- Read the label under the comfort liner. Arai prints the model name on a label inside the shell. It should say Quantic or Contour-X.
- Look at the pivot area. On a VAS-V helmet the shield pivots low on each side, under a cover plate. Compare it with the photos on the product page before you order.
- Check for insert pins. A Max Vision shield has two small pins on its inner face for an anti-fog insert.
- Read the product page. Every product lists fitment notes. Read them rather than relying on the product title alone.
Still unsure? The visor finder walks you from brand to model to the products listed for it. Our wider guide to visors that fit Arai helmets covers the rest of the range.
Choosing a tint for a Quantic or Contour-X
Once fitment is settled, tint is the bigger decision. Each option suits a different kind of riding, and each carries a different legal position.
Clear
A clear shield is the everyday choice and works from dawn to dusk. Our clear visor range is the place to start if your current shield is scratched or hazy. Even with a clear shield, the legal test in Great Britain is the marking on the visor itself, not how clear it looks.
Photochromic
A photochromic shield darkens in UV light and fades back as the light drops, which suits commutes that start in sun and finish in shade. The photochromic visor listed for the Contour-X is in both categories. Read how photochromic visors work for the trade-offs, or browse the wider photochromic visor range.
Iridium, mirrored and dark smoke
These finishes suit a sporty street helmet, but iridium, mirrored and dark-smoke visors are never road legal in Great Britain, day or night. They transmit too little light to be legal for road use, so they are for track days and private land. Our explainer on iridium and mirrored visor legality sets out why, and the iridium visor range is listed for off-road and track use.
What the law in Great Britain actually tests
In Great Britain the rule for eye protection is set by the Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) Regulations 1999. They refer to BS 4110, the British Standard for visors, and require the protector to be marked with an approved certification mark.
So a visor is only road legal in GB if it carries that marking. Colour, brand and the name on the helmet do not settle the question. We do not check the markings on individual items, so we make no road-legal claim for any visor we sell, including the ones listed in this guide.
Riders in the United States and elsewhere should check the rules where they ride. Requirements differ between countries and, in some places, between states or regions.
Anti-fog inserts for the Quantic and Contour-X
Fogging is the most common complaint on any full-face shield. A Pinlock-compatible insert sits inside the visor between two small pins and holds a sealed air gap against the shield, which keeps condensation off the inner surface.
The Max Vision shield is drilled for one, which makes this pair easy to fit. The anti-fog insert listed for the Contour-X sits in both categories. Our guide to Pinlock-compatible anti-fog inserts explains how they work, and the Pinlock 70 vs 120 comparison covers the difference between insert grades.
Fit the insert with the shield off the helmet and lying on a soft cloth. Bow it gently, seat one end under a pin, then the other, and check the seal runs evenly all the way round.
Swapping the visor without damaging the side covers
On VAS-V helmets the shield mounts under side cover plates that hide the pivot. They are not hard to work, but forcing them is the usual way people crack a cover or scratch a new shield on day one.
- Work on a soft towel with the helmet on its back, chin bar towards you.
- Open the shield fully before you release anything.
- Release one side at a time and keep the removed shield face up so the outer surface never touches the bench.
- Fit the new shield, then close and open it a few times to check it seals evenly against the gasket.
The owner’s manual that came with your helmet shows the exact release for your version. Our step-by-step guide on how to remove a motorcycle helmet visor covers the general method and the mistakes to avoid.
Keeping the new shield clear
A new visor only stays an upgrade if you look after it. Rule 83 of the Highway Code rules for motorcyclists says: “Before each journey check that your helmet visor is clean and in good condition.”
Rule 84 adds that “Scratched or poorly fitting eye protectors can limit your view when riding, particularly in bright sunshine and the hours of darkness.” That is the practical case for replacing a worn shield rather than putting up with it.
Clean with lukewarm water and a soft microfibre cloth, and never use solvent cleaners on a coated shield. If your old visor has fine scratches across your line of sight, a replacement is usually a better fix than polishing.
Visors and inserts mentioned in this guide
- Arai Astro-GX / Chaser-X / Concept-X / Contour-X & more Replacement Visor
- Photochromic visor for the Contour-X
- See the Contour-X anti-fog insert
- All Quantic visors
- All Contour-X visors
- Every Arai helmet we list visors for
Written by the ClearLine team.
Frequently asked questions
Will a Contour-X visor fit a Quantic?
Yes. Our verified fitment data groups the Quantic and the Contour-X on one shared shield, so a visor listed for one is listed for the other. Check the fitment notes on the product page before you order all the same.
Is the Arai Quantum-X the same as the Quantic?
No. The Quantum-X is a different Arai model with its own category. The names look alike, so read the label inside your helmet before you order.
Does the Quantic take an anti-fog insert?
Yes, if it wears the Max Vision shield, which has two small pins on its inner face. A Pinlock-compatible insert sized for that shield fits between them.
Can I use a visor listed for another VAS-V helmet?
We only state that models share a visor when they sit in the same verified fitment group, and the Quantic group covers only the Contour-X. Shop from the Quantic or Contour-X category rather than borrowing a part listed for another helmet.
Are tinted visors for the Contour-X road legal?
In Great Britain the test is the certification marking on the individual visor, not its colour. Iridium, mirrored and dark-smoke visors are never road legal in Great Britain, day or night, and we make no road-legal claim for any visor we sell.