Arai has never been about flashy marketing or chasing trends. For decades, the Japanese brand has quietly built a reputation for producing some of the safest, most meticulously crafted helmets in the world. That commitment to quality and rider trust is exactly what makes its latest release so meaningful.
To mark 25 years since Joey Dunlop’s passing, Arai has released a special-edition RX-7V Evo styled after the iconic yellow-and-black lid the TT legend wore throughout his racing career. It’s a fitting tribute to one of road racing’s most respected figures—someone whose impact went far beyond the racetrack. Only 600 helmets are being made, each one individually numbered and sold exclusively through The Visor Shop.
Inside the box, buyers get more than just the helmet. There’s a signed certificate from Joey’s widow, Linda Dunlop, along with a Shell Oil sticker pack and 25th anniversary badge. Riders can either keep it clean or lean into the full retro TT look, just as Joey wore it in the '80s.
Despite its collectible appeal, the RX-7V Evo is still a top-tier helmet in terms of performance. It meets the latest ECE 22.06 standard, and like all other Arai helmets, was handmade entirely in Japan. The fit, finish, ventilation, and safety features are all what you’d expect from Arai’s flagship model. So while it looks like a tribute, it performs like a race helmet should.
Joey Dunlop’s career speaks for itself: 26 Isle of Man TT wins, decades of dominance, and an unshakable presence in the paddock. But it was his humanitarian work—driving supplies to orphans in the Balkans—that earned him an OBE and the love of the broader public. When he passed in 2000, more than 50,000 people attended his funeral.
That kind of respect doesn’t come from lap times alone.
A portion of each sale goes to Linda Dunlop and helps fund a new Joey Dunlop monument in the Memorial Garden in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. It’s a gesture that grounds this helmet in something real and lasting.
Priced at £869.99 (about $1,115), this isn’t a casual buy. But for those who followed Joey’s career or appreciate what he stood for—on and off the bike—it’s a meaningful way to celebrate that legacy. Not just something to look at on a shelf, but something that carries serious motorsports legacy every time you put it on.
Sources: MCN, Arai Helmet, The Visor Shop
