Discussion
I shall be retiring at the end of March and have ordered a Caterham Supersport in kit form to arrive in April. It was going to be the Roadsport but I knew I would always regret it if I didn't go for the Supersport. Although I've been "sensible" and ordered a windscreen (and a heater), I won't always fit it.
There's lots of gossip about the perils of flying insects, stones, birds, whatever, hitting your face at high speed if the windscreen isn't fitted so I suppose a full face helmet would be a sensible buy. However I am baulking a bit at having to cough up £300+ for an Arai or similar when it's only going to be there to save me from tasting bluebottles. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've heard that you can still feel an impact through a leather helmet. I'm not planning on any track days, by the way
There's lots of gossip about the perils of flying insects, stones, birds, whatever, hitting your face at high speed if the windscreen isn't fitted so I suppose a full face helmet would be a sensible buy. However I am baulking a bit at having to cough up £300+ for an Arai or similar when it's only going to be there to save me from tasting bluebottles. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've heard that you can still feel an impact through a leather helmet. I'm not planning on any track days, by the way
Any motorbike helmet will do the trick. Although I have a full face helmet for hillclimbs and trackdays, on the road I have a Nolan helmet which is open but with a full face visor. It's comfortable and gives better visibility than a full face and I easily fitted an intercom to it. My wife has a similar design in metallic pink!
Reasonably good motorcycle helmets start at well under £100. I suspect you're looking at the Snell competition approved helmets in the Demon Tweeks / GPR catalogue?
Do ensure that it fits correctly and also that the aperture is as large as possible. Check also that the back of the helmet is rounded and doesn't have any silly pointy vents/styling features on the back which will interfere with your hear restraint.
Do ensure that it fits correctly and also that the aperture is as large as possible. Check also that the back of the helmet is rounded and doesn't have any silly pointy vents/styling features on the back which will interfere with your hear restraint.
My Seven is permanently aero-screened so I have a helmet for winter time and impact resistant sunglasses for summer. I too baulked at the cost of the more expensive helmets so spent £50 here. The helmet I got is really nice, has all the appropriate safety standards, vents and washable padding. It's comfy too and the service was excellent.
The sunglasses I got are here and I also got the clear lenses in addition to the dark ones. I'd highly recommend them, they don't mist up, are comfy and you don't look like a berk wearing them! Coupled with a black beanie hat and a neck buff it's all you need. Again the service from them was excellent and I believe the owner also drives a Seven or Westfield.
The sunglasses I got are here and I also got the clear lenses in addition to the dark ones. I'd highly recommend them, they don't mist up, are comfy and you don't look like a berk wearing them! Coupled with a black beanie hat and a neck buff it's all you need. Again the service from them was excellent and I believe the owner also drives a Seven or Westfield.
I've been meaning to ask this too, what would you use for trackdays?
My local track of Llandow are quite happy for people to use open face helmets assuming they have a windscreen, I've heard the same is not true for other tracks!
What sort of thing would you be looking for as a trackday helmet?
My local track of Llandow are quite happy for people to use open face helmets assuming they have a windscreen, I've heard the same is not true for other tracks!
What sort of thing would you be looking for as a trackday helmet?
framerateuk said:
I've been meaning to ask this too, what would you use for trackdays?
My local track of Llandow are quite happy for people to use open face helmets assuming they have a windscreen, I've heard the same is not true for other tracks!
What sort of thing would you be looking for as a trackday helmet?
some tracks will want fire resistant spec helmets even if they don;t insist on the full one nomex for the rest of you ... My local track of Llandow are quite happy for people to use open face helmets assuming they have a windscreen, I've heard the same is not true for other tracks!
What sort of thing would you be looking for as a trackday helmet?
this is often the primary difference between a Gold sticker eligible 'motorcycle' helmet and a MSA approved 'car' helmet
I use one of the Lidl helmets which is full face but has a hinged front.
My friend uses an open faced helmet.....in 8 years he's never had a problem.
I have yet to go to a track day when they check the labels on the helmets...it just needs to be in good condition and properly fastened.
The general advice is...it's your head..you decide what to protect it with.
Hillclimbing or any other motorsport based activity is a whole different ball game.
My friend uses an open faced helmet.....in 8 years he's never had a problem.
I have yet to go to a track day when they check the labels on the helmets...it just needs to be in good condition and properly fastened.
The general advice is...it's your head..you decide what to protect it with.
Hillclimbing or any other motorsport based activity is a whole different ball game.
I used to do track days a lot, bought an Arai GP5K, which was brilliant. Even fitted it with starcom intercom, for when I was on the road. Haven't got the car anymore. Helmet is in great condition, so if anyone is interested in taking it off my hands, we could do a deal :-). Its white and has two visors, clear and smoked. Size M
Take a look at the Racelidz helmets. Top quality product at a sensible price.
http://www.racelidz.co.uk/products.htm
http://www.racelidz.co.uk/products.htm
casbar said:
I used to do track days a lot, bought an Arai GP5K, which was brilliant. Even fitted it with starcom intercom, for when I was on the road. Haven't got the car anymore. Helmet is in great condition, so if anyone is interested in taking it off my hands, we could do a deal :-). Its white and has two visors, clear and smoked. Size M
I don't suppose it's got HANS posts has it?
Look at V2 helmets. I have used one for sprints for the last two years and I am very pleased. The price is very competitive and it complies with the MSA regs. I would have thought the public highway presents a greater opportunity of coming into contact with objects thrown up from other vehicles tyres than a track, so I would recommend a motorsport standard helmet
I think one needs to balance (smartly) what your head/face/Brain is worth, vs. the affordability of a helmet. A £100 helmet that fails vs. a £500 helmet that saved you obviously must be fairly evaluated….
People sometimes forget this, this is one bit of kit you really shouldn't scrimp on!
People sometimes forget this, this is one bit of kit you really shouldn't scrimp on!
l8lue said:
Look at V2 helmets. I have used one for sprints for the last two years and I am very pleased. The price is very competitive and it complies with the MSA regs. I would have thought the public highway presents a greater opportunity of coming into contact with objects thrown up from other vehicles tyres than a track, so I would recommend a motorsport standard helmet
I`ve been using a bike helmet with an aeroscreened Westfield. If you go too fast the helmet "lifts" as stated on the V2 helmets website. I might get one.mph1977 said:
some tracks will want fire resistant spec helmets even if they don;t insist on the full one nomex for the rest of you ...
this is often the primary difference between a Gold sticker eligible 'motorcycle' helmet and a MSA approved 'car' helmet
No track I know insists on nomex, snell or any other standard for a trackday helmet. For racing, that's a different case...as others say, buy a bike helmetthis is often the primary difference between a Gold sticker eligible 'motorcycle' helmet and a MSA approved 'car' helmet
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