crash helmets - MSA use vs road use?

[jm doc]

Hi, can anyone help with this issue?

There have been several threads on PH about crash helmets recently but they don't seem to help me. I am looking to replace my current helmet which is type A approved and which I used for kart racing. I also used to wear it when I was (infrequently) on a motorbike on the road, not the track.

I am looking to replace it now as it is getting quite old and have seen several quality helmets, however all of these have been snell 2005 approved, which I now understand are not permitted for road use on a motorbike. I believe this to be correct, but I also understand that type A helmets are still approved by the MSA. So can anyone tell me if this is the case, and more importantly, are helmets still manufactured and available to this standard, and if so where can I get one, or similar that is able to be worn on track and road? Or am I just going to have to bite the bullet and buy one for each use? And is that the safest option for my skull in any case???

Any advice would be very welcome

John

[Shaun_E]

It should still be possible to buy a helmet rated for road use and be MSA approved but there aren't many. Lots of information here.

[cheese_chaser]

Not sure if this helps but...
Been looking for a Type A helmet for trackdays for a while now (and although most people say their normal bike helmets have never been checked by scruitineers I wanted to get a blue label just to be safe) I also really don't like the idea of hiring a helmet that's been home to several sweaty/greasy/garlic breathed heads!

I wanted something in plain white (don't want one of these bike helmets that looks like I'm sponsored by the local tatoo parlour or CBeebies - I blame Barry sheen for starting it all with Donald Duck!), so had my eye on the OMP range (made by AGV I believe).

The older full face model is called the 'Integrale Plus' and the newer model the 'Veloce'with prices ranging between £100-£125 but most stockists out of/awaiting stock. Made a call to rallydesigns.co.uk and although not currently showing it on their site, have the Veloce in stock for the same price as the Integrale Plus £82.50 + £8 P+P.

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?cPat...

[andybg40]

I have to be honest and say that i would not consider anything other than an Arai helmet. They construct theirs differently from the other manufacturer's which offers more protection to your head and brain. A helmet is the one thing where i would not cut corners or expense. If your mainly using it for tin top then a GP5W is an excellent choice or the GP5K as a full face option for bike or open cockpit use. Just my 2p's worth.

[jm doc]

Thanks for those replies. The problem with the arai gp-5 helmet is that it is Snell SA2005 approved, and this is not recognised for road use, however good it is. As I understand it, only type A approved are able to be used on MSA track events as well as on the road in this country. Most bike helmets are approved these days to the european standard which isn't MSA approved and virtually all Kart helmets are Snell approved.

The OMP helmets seem very cheap and that would put me off them a bit. I was looking at the Suomy site and they claim some of their helmets are to type A standard, not sure if they mean approved with a sticker in them stating this or not and don't know much about them.

Any other advice or suggestions very welcome, thanks

[bluest2]

I have a Suomy helmet which has blue sticker indicating it is to British Standard BS6658 : 1985 TYPE A

[pikeyboy]

andybg40 said:

I have to be honest and say that i would not consider anything other than an Arai helmet. They construct theirs differently from the other manufacturer's which offers more protection to your head and brain. A helmet is the one thing where i would not cut corners or expense. If your mainly using it for tin top then a GP5W is an excellent choice or the GP5K as a full face option for bike or open cockpit use. Just my 2p's worth.

Personllay i use an arai as well, but it's no use if it doesnt fit very well. When I visitied Grand prix racewear they said most people eithier have a arai or bell shaped head. Unfortunatley for me mines arai shaped. Its definettly the best helmet i've had though, in terms of over all finish and visor seal etc.