Discussion
Hi guys,
Am FINALLY getting around to upgrading my helmet. It's to be used for trackdays, but also want something good enough to take me through to mid-level competetive motorsport. I'm after a full-face helmet, something with a wide-eyeport and perhaps something that has an interchangeable touring-car-style visor and shield so that it can be used both in the Lotus for trackdays and in open cars (for pax rides in XTR2s
) The advantage of using a touring-car visor is that it allows better ventilation and less obstructed views in what is going to be a very hot car to drive in. Of course it affords less protection against scattered debris, but
Two helmets I've been looking at are:
The Arai GP5W (can use standard shield as well as visor shown):
And the Bell M4 Pro (standard shield only)
Both seem to retail around the $1200-$1300 mark here in NZ. What annoys me is that these prices are the same as when I looked a year or so ago, despite both of these helmets being sourced from America. Does anyone have any leads or contacts for getting them any cheaper? If not, I may look at importing.
The Arai one is preferable I think at the moment, and Chicane stocks these. Graham, don't you have a contact with Chicane? Would happily buy through them if I could get some sort of discount
Am FINALLY getting around to upgrading my helmet. It's to be used for trackdays, but also want something good enough to take me through to mid-level competetive motorsport. I'm after a full-face helmet, something with a wide-eyeport and perhaps something that has an interchangeable touring-car-style visor and shield so that it can be used both in the Lotus for trackdays and in open cars (for pax rides in XTR2s
) The advantage of using a touring-car visor is that it allows better ventilation and less obstructed views in what is going to be a very hot car to drive in. Of course it affords less protection against scattered debris, but Two helmets I've been looking at are:
The Arai GP5W (can use standard shield as well as visor shown):
And the Bell M4 Pro (standard shield only)
Both seem to retail around the $1200-$1300 mark here in NZ. What annoys me is that these prices are the same as when I looked a year or so ago, despite both of these helmets being sourced from America. Does anyone have any leads or contacts for getting them any cheaper? If not, I may look at importing.
The Arai one is preferable I think at the moment, and Chicane stocks these. Graham, don't you have a contact with Chicane? Would happily buy through them if I could get some sort of discount
The only thing that I can think of at the moment is to consider their weight as your neck etc has to carry that around. Also if you plan to buy a Hans device further down the track and if either of those helmuts accomodate for that. Hows the Exige purchase going? Inspected this week is it?
Maurice was the owner of Chicane, which was very convenient 
, but he's since sold it to Shane Drake.
Shane would be worth ringing to see if a combined helmet / Hans device purchase would get a discount.
I think any current stock will probably have been purchased at a higher exchange rate.
The advice I got is that you really need to try a number of helmets as not only the sizes are different but the head shape as well.
Some are O and others are 0
, but he's since sold it to Shane Drake.Shane would be worth ringing to see if a combined helmet / Hans device purchase would get a discount.
I think any current stock will probably have been purchased at a higher exchange rate.
The advice I got is that you really need to try a number of helmets as not only the sizes are different but the head shape as well.
Some are O and others are 0
Kiwi Carguy said:
The only thing that I can think of at the moment is to consider their weight as your neck etc has to carry that around. Also if you plan to buy a Hans device further down the track and if either of those helmuts accomodate for that. Hows the Exige purchase going? Inspected this week is it?
Yeah, all these helmets are pretty high-range so would be lighter than the lead brick I currently wear on my bonce..And yeah, the Exige is getting inspected Wednesday... will keep you all posted when I know results!
Kiwi XTR2 said:
Maurice was the owner of Chicane, which was very convenient , but he's since sold it to Shane Drake.
Shane would be worth ringing to see if a combined helmet / Hans device purchase would get a discount.
I think any current stock will probably have been purchased at a higher exchange rate.
The advice I got is that you really need to try a number of helmets as not only the sizes are different but the head shape as well.
Some are O and others are 0
Yeah I'll be trying some on in the next couple months , but he's since sold it to Shane Drake.Shane would be worth ringing to see if a combined helmet / Hans device purchase would get a discount.
I think any current stock will probably have been purchased at a higher exchange rate.
The advice I got is that you really need to try a number of helmets as not only the sizes are different but the head shape as well.
Some are O and others are 0
I think a HANS device is a bridge too far for me at the moment, although I'll be getting a HANS capable helmet as I want the option to upgrade in the near future if I take that plunge I'll have a look overseas and see how much these helmets are able to be had for... if there's significant savings to be made over what I can get them for locally, I'll import, but if not then I'll just try to get the best deal in NZ I can.
Check the U.K then as you could purchase one there and have it put in the boot to save umm you know 
U.K always seems dearer than the U.S tho but if it came in your car you'd save on freight etc. Only thing is that you'd need to check on the fit locally so it fits your noggin
U.K always seems dearer than the U.S tho but if it came in your car you'd save on freight etc. Only thing is that you'd need to check on the fit locally so it fits your noggin
Edited by Kiwi Carguy on Monday 2nd July 01:59
Kiwi Carguy said:
Check the U.K then as you could purchase one there and have it put in the boot to save umm you know
U.K always seems dearer than the U.S tho but if it came in your car you'd save on freight etc. Only thing is that you'd need to check on the fit locally so it fits your noggin
Good suggestion James. Will definitely size myself locally. If it goes in the boot, it may even get lost from the radar and be GST Exempt.U.K always seems dearer than the U.S tho but if it came in your car you'd save on freight etc. Only thing is that you'd need to check on the fit locally so it fits your noggin
Of course I have to leave myself some money spare to get Kylie, our resident airbrushing wizard, to weave her magic upon it
Esprit said:
Kiwi Carguy said:
Check the U.K then as you could purchase one there and have it put in the boot to save umm you know
it may even get lost from the radar and be GST Exempt.Of course I have to leave myself some money spare to get Kylie, our resident airbrushing wizard, to weave her magic upon it
Edited by Kiwi Carguy on Monday 2nd July 02:38
Kylie said:
George ill have a practice on mine first so dont worry And yeah it will be a few months till I can get yours done (busy t.art!), so should work out about right for timing Is there any preferable standard finish for the helmet? I see some of them come in a matte finish, is this a better base for painting than gloss? If not, I'll just get the gloss white or black.
I could always get this.... I AM THE STIG:
Nah any surface is fine. It all gets 800 grit sanded back regardless. If its a plastic finish I would need to buy a promoter for good adhesion of my base coats. If its urathane (like most) I just need to wet sand it, primer (to get even colour and hide any defects), sand again, do the art thing, then two coats of 2K clear.
Kylie said:
Nah any surface is fine. It all gets 800 grit sanded back regardless. If its a plastic finish I would need to buy a promoter for good adhesion of my base coats. If its urathane (like most) I just need to wet sand it, primer (to get even colour and hide any defects), sand again, do the art thing, then two coats of 2K clear.
Sounds good This is going to be an expensive year.... mind you, once the Elise is sold and everything is balanced out, it's not too bad, it's just that in the interim, when I'm actually owning two cars, but only have posession of one, the debt-to-asset ratio is rather uncomfortable.
..............short term anyway. 
...of course, you'll want one of these.... http://www.sillyhelmet.com/
I asked Shane what he thought
Shane @ Chicane said:
Buy the Arai. Most of the Arai's around the world are the latest SA2005 rated with HANS holes pre drilled. Many Bells are still only SA2000 with no holes so they will be the next to be deleted from the HANS list and they don't have anywhere near the quality of the Arai and that's a fact.
The UK pricing is more expensive and the US is slightly cheaper and as Arai can only be ordered in Indent or forward ordered, not off shelf, the pricing we have here would be for sure bought at a less favourable rate from maybe 6 months ago.
You can buy a visor for the GP5W so you can use it in an open wheeler. You can also change the cheek pads around for better sizing. We do that at no charge, not sure what others do.
Could only throw in the grouse helmet bag which is worth around $80
Regards, Shane Drake
Chicane Clothing Ltd
The UK pricing is more expensive and the US is slightly cheaper and as Arai can only be ordered in Indent or forward ordered, not off shelf, the pricing we have here would be for sure bought at a less favourable rate from maybe 6 months ago.
You can buy a visor for the GP5W so you can use it in an open wheeler. You can also change the cheek pads around for better sizing. We do that at no charge, not sure what others do.
Could only throw in the grouse helmet bag which is worth around $80
Regards, Shane Drake
Chicane Clothing Ltd
Don't know much about car helmets but I've had a few motorbike lids and despite the odd dalliance with Shoei (give me a headache from pressing on my forehead) and Shark (poor quality unless you go top of the range) I always come back to my old Arai. In my experience they are more comfortable, come with superior quality fittings and accessories and always come top in the tests (motorbikes that is). Most F1 drivers wear 'em too so I guess you can't get a better endorsement than that.
These guys have got the silver version of the lid you are after on special - don't know if they'll ship to NZ though.....
http://www.speedwaremotorsports.com/helmet/arai2.a...
...actually just checked and they will ship overseas but they want the money wired across.
These guys have got the silver version of the lid you are after on special - don't know if they'll ship to NZ though.....
http://www.speedwaremotorsports.com/helmet/arai2.a...
...actually just checked and they will ship overseas but they want the money wired across.
Edited by jamieheasman on Wednesday 4th July 06:33
Got my mind set on the Arai now... seems like the pick of the bunch.
I'll have a talk to Chicane and see if I can't twist their arm a little more (I have another contact in the industry that buys a LOT of stuff through them so I might be able to weild the discount stick a little more... alternatively I might get them to throw in some more freebies (like the a tinted shield as well as the touring-car-style visor, as I'd have to buy this at some point anyway).
Will go in sometime when I'm over this damned bronchitis for a fitting
I'll have a talk to Chicane and see if I can't twist their arm a little more (I have another contact in the industry that buys a LOT of stuff through them so I might be able to weild the discount stick a little more... alternatively I might get them to throw in some more freebies (like the a tinted shield as well as the touring-car-style visor, as I'd have to buy this at some point anyway).
Will go in sometime when I'm over this damned bronchitis for a fitting
Gassing Station | New Zealand | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff