Gifted an Arai helmet and have questions.

[John Schmidt]

I can get it on without the removable cheek pads, but soon as I put them in....no way, about rips my ears off. It's a rather nice full face unit with a chin bar, kinda like to be able to use it, especially in the rain. The cheek pads say 15mm but have no idea what that applies to, is it the thickness of the pads at some point? The thickest area is way more than 15mm so I have no idea what to do with it, I'm tempted to just cut down the offending area so it's thin enough for me to get it on. Does that sound reasonable? I'm assuming it's a fairly expensive helmet, guy down the street gave it to me 'cuz it's too big for him.  It's used but in good condition, just a few nicks in the paint. Any suggestions?

I can post a picture of it later this evening if needed, I have no idea where to look for a model # or type.

[Flrider]

John, not sure on that particular helmet but some of the cheek pads consist of two or three layers of foam pads. I have in the past taken one of the layers off and it worked for me.

The other would be to try and order thinner cheek pads but yo would need a model number for that.

Hope you can get it to work for you 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Arai’s are great helmets and fairly expensive. One saved me. I’m sure you can get thinner cheek pads for it. I’d wait to cut on it.

[Jess from VA]

Yes, while I have no experience with this, I have read the higher end (and many?) full face helmets have smaller and larger cheek pads that can be ordered for personal fit. You'd just need to know the model or serial number (or other ID) of yours.

Like so.  If you click on the Arai pads section, they go from 15-35mm.  So if yours say 15, that may be as small as they come (?). 
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/street_helmets_and_eyewear/replacement_cheek_pads

Arai website:  https://www.araiamericas.com/parts-and-accessories

                     Call:  Phone: 610-366-7220 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST)  

[old2soon]

Not an Arai but with my Bell Ace of Diamonds full face getting it on my gourd do tend to tug at my ears. Mine came with 3 different thicknesses of cheek pads. Also can NOT put helmet on with my glasses. Hope that Arai has better ventilation than my Bell. NO way in heck I can wear mine if temps are higher than 50 Degrees F. RIDE SAFE.

[Pappy!]

Ditto on the replaceable cheek pads. You can order different thicknesses of them. Shoei is the same way.