Helmet for motorcycling, karting and track days?

[Synchromesh]

Can someone talk to me about helmets please?

I passed my Mod 2 in early Jan and now have a restricted motorcycle licence, which will auto-graduate into a full licence in Jan 2015. However, I'm looking to get a motorbike in the next 6-24 months, so will need a helmet for this that's fit for purpose and meets all regulations.

I also race karts both in a championship and casually, however this series doesn't set out any helmet regulations as it's not affiliated with the the MSA et al. Rather than borrowing lids, I'd quite like my own which fits perfectly and hasn't been worn by a million sweaty people.

Finally, and for similar reasons, I want a helmet I can use for track days. As this may sometimes be in an open car, and considering the other two uses, I'll need a full face helmet.

I know the advice will be to get two or three separate helmets, but this will be out of budget. I also think a good quality and perfect fitting lid will be better than a than the poorly fitting and el cheapo variety that are normally lent out for these activities.

Budget would be around £200, but the cheaper the better (yes,I realise my head is worthwhile investment but seeing as I'm normally using 30 quid jobbies, something 6x the price should be a big improvement in any case).

[carl_w]

AGV do some decent lids in your price range.

[xRIEx]

One helmet should be fine and £200 should get a decent mid-market bike helmet. HJC were a good bet, good quality, reasonable price and always fitted my head shape. Go to a shop and try different brands, you'll find certain brands suit your head. HJC and Shoei were always good for me, Arai not so much and I could never get along with Shark, but friends of mine swore by them.

[David87]

Yep, an AGV of some sort would be my choice for those requirements.

[mattman]

ARAI ARAI ARAI

Get the very best you can afford - nothing 2nd hand

My 12yr old also races karts, has a Arai Ck6 CMR as we race MSA, he flipped landed on his head and helmet took full force, he walked away just shaken - you can't put a price on that

[lightthefuse]

+1 for AGV (swore by them as a scooterboy round town), some very tasty stuff in that price range. Comfy too.

[carl_w]

mattman said:

ARAI ARAI ARAI

I can't get any size of ARAI over my nose. Would you still recommend them?

[Klippie]

Arai all the way...I've tried on lots of lids over the years and the Arai build quality is second to none yes they are very expensive but it's your head your protecting so get the best.

[Speed addicted]

Whatever fits best in the price range. Don't get hung up on brands until you try them on, I really liked one design but when I tried it on it didn't fit as well as others.

Fit is by far the most important thing, if it moves around it won't protect your head as well.

[Buster73]

Had a Griffin helmet many moons ago , quality along with comfort.

Paid for itself many times over after bouncing down a road at 50 mph using it as a brake.

[FunkyNige]

If you decide to go for a bike helmet (are they OK with fire regulations? I recall something about that coming up before) you may be wise to get yourself down to the MCN bike show at Excel in London in a couple of weeks time. If it's like any of the other shows they'll be every size of every helmet on the market there so you can spend all day trying them on, £200 at a show should get you a mid range Arai/Shoei but you'll spend £20 getting into the show.

http://www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com/

[carl_w]

Klippie said:

Arai all the way...I've tried on lots of lids over the years and the Arai build quality is second to none yes they are very expensive but it's your head your protecting so get the best.

I guess Michael Schumacher couldn't afford Arai, so had to settle for that Schuberth crap.

[PanzerCommander]

Simpson Bandit

[Synchromesh]

FunkyNige said:

If you decide to go for a bike helmet (are they OK with fire regulations? I recall something about that coming up before) you may be wise to get yourself down to the MCN bike show at Excel in London in a couple of weeks time. If it's like any of the other shows they'll be every size of every helmet on the market there so you can spend all day trying them on, £200 at a show should get you a mid range Arai/Shoei but you'll spend £20 getting into the show.

http://www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com/

Yep was planning on going anyway on the Friday so will have a good look.

In terms of ratings or awards, other than Sharp and CE what else should I look for?

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[LC2]

PanzerCommander said:

Simpson Bandit

Shame that the Bandit isn't legal for riding on the road...

[PanzerCommander]

LC2 said:

Shame that the Bandit isn't legal for riding on the road...

Is it not? Must just be a race helmet then - shame as it is a great looking lid and very comfortable too

[slevin911]

LC2 said:

PanzerCommander said:

Simpson Bandit

Shame that the Bandit isn't legal for riding on the road...

Really why is that? I should probably know as I am on my second one

[Klippie]

carl_w said:

I guess Michael Schumacher couldn't afford Arai, so had to settle for that Schuberth crap.

And nothing to do with the shed load of dosh they were giving him to wear it, no that couldn't have been it.

[carl_w]

Klippie said:

And nothing to do with the shed load of dosh they were giving him to wear it, no that couldn't have been it.

Surely that's worse than buying the cheapest helmet? That's a helmet that costs negative money. He'd have been better off with a £10 Lazer.

[Klippie]

Very true.

Talking about lids...a guy I used to work with raced moto cross so you would think he would know better, he bought a road bike and a new helmet a few of us that had bikes hadn't seen this brand before and asked him about it, turned out it was a kids crash helmet a plastic moulded thing that he got cheap and to make it fit he compressed the polystyrene inside so it fitted his head...I was speechless.