Simpson helmets
Discussion
Also been looking at these , they come up for discussion on the LC forum recently, some peeps seem to think this version is still noisy which is a real shame. Trying them on for fit is only one part of the equation, having been burnt a few years ago with a noisy, draughty lid im a bit reluctant to change from my trusty Arai's.
I used to have a Simpson Bandit, always wanted one from my LC days.
Nice and light, looked well made but crude and basic, not as plush as a Shoei or Arai.
Incredibly draughty, you could watch rain drops blowing up and down inside the visor - never steamed up though.
Still like the look of them but always a worry using an illegal one on the road, not just from law point of view but insurance issues should something happen.
Nice and light, looked well made but crude and basic, not as plush as a Shoei or Arai.
Incredibly draughty, you could watch rain drops blowing up and down inside the visor - never steamed up though.
Still like the look of them but always a worry using an illegal one on the road, not just from law point of view but insurance issues should something happen.
I have used Simpson helmets for the last 15 years.
firstly an RX8 - noisy, draughty but light and comfy.
next I got an Outlaw Bandit - sizing was very different to the RX8 - still draughty and noisy!
then I replaced that with another Outlaw Bandit about 3 years ago. This one has a visor that seals!, it has a much plusher lining, isnt draughty and is a lot quieter as a result - sizing was bang on with this one.
the sizing issue was wierd - ALL 3 helmets have been the same ordered size - the RX8 was a little tight, the next outlaw Bandit was too large, the current one is perfect.
I have no idea where to buy them in the UK - I am lucky in that I have an address in the US I can use, so I get all mine as factory-orders from Simpson direct, and either I carry it back when over there for work, or I get someone visiting the UK office to bring it - I have a special hard helmet bag I use for this (it cost $10!)
Im hoping (vainly in the short term) for an improvement in the exchange rate as I was getting them for just over £200 - right now its about the £310 mark - still a good price.
firstly an RX8 - noisy, draughty but light and comfy.
next I got an Outlaw Bandit - sizing was very different to the RX8 - still draughty and noisy!
then I replaced that with another Outlaw Bandit about 3 years ago. This one has a visor that seals!, it has a much plusher lining, isnt draughty and is a lot quieter as a result - sizing was bang on with this one.
the sizing issue was wierd - ALL 3 helmets have been the same ordered size - the RX8 was a little tight, the next outlaw Bandit was too large, the current one is perfect.
I have no idea where to buy them in the UK - I am lucky in that I have an address in the US I can use, so I get all mine as factory-orders from Simpson direct, and either I carry it back when over there for work, or I get someone visiting the UK office to bring it - I have a special hard helmet bag I use for this (it cost $10!)
Im hoping (vainly in the short term) for an improvement in the exchange rate as I was getting them for just over £200 - right now its about the £310 mark - still a good price.
Mrtee said:
I have used Simpson helmets for the last 15 years.
firstly an RX8 - noisy, draughty but light and comfy.
next I got an Outlaw Bandit - sizing was very different to the RX8 - still draughty and noisy!
then I replaced that with another Outlaw Bandit about 3 years ago. This one has a visor that seals!, it has a much plusher lining, isnt draughty and is a lot quieter as a result - sizing was bang on with this one.
the sizing issue was wierd - ALL 3 helmets have been the same ordered size - the RX8 was a little tight, the next outlaw Bandit was too large, the current one is perfect.
I have no idea where to buy them in the UK - I am lucky in that I have an address in the US I can use, so I get all mine as factory-orders from Simpson direct, and either I carry it back when over there for work, or I get someone visiting the UK office to bring it - I have a special hard helmet bag I use for this (it cost $10!)
Im hoping (vainly in the short term) for an improvement in the exchange rate as I was getting them for just over £200 - right now its about the £310 mark - still a good price.
Why would you use a noisy, poor fitting helmet for 15 years?firstly an RX8 - noisy, draughty but light and comfy.
next I got an Outlaw Bandit - sizing was very different to the RX8 - still draughty and noisy!
then I replaced that with another Outlaw Bandit about 3 years ago. This one has a visor that seals!, it has a much plusher lining, isnt draughty and is a lot quieter as a result - sizing was bang on with this one.
the sizing issue was wierd - ALL 3 helmets have been the same ordered size - the RX8 was a little tight, the next outlaw Bandit was too large, the current one is perfect.
I have no idea where to buy them in the UK - I am lucky in that I have an address in the US I can use, so I get all mine as factory-orders from Simpson direct, and either I carry it back when over there for work, or I get someone visiting the UK office to bring it - I have a special hard helmet bag I use for this (it cost $10!)
Im hoping (vainly in the short term) for an improvement in the exchange rate as I was getting them for just over £200 - right now its about the £310 mark - still a good price.
Mrtee said:
I have no idea where to buy them in the UK.
Off my mate....http://designerhelmets.com/shop/helmets/brand/simp...
I'm not sure, but he might even be the UK distributor.
t maths 
You know what I meanThanks for the replies and info, I want to buy this one:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/full-face...
It's ece 2005 approved so would be fine for the UK roads and seems they've made this one specifically for motorcycle use where others are focused on drag racing etc. Think I'll bite the bullet and give it a try, it's a good looking helmet and can always send it back if it's not right for me I suppose.
I like the fact you can have a tinted visor and buy a clear flip down visor for nighttime use.
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/full-face...
It's ece 2005 approved so would be fine for the UK roads and seems they've made this one specifically for motorcycle use where others are focused on drag racing etc. Think I'll bite the bullet and give it a try, it's a good looking helmet and can always send it back if it's not right for me I suppose.
I like the fact you can have a tinted visor and buy a clear flip down visor for nighttime use.
I did a little reading on these last night after an unused Venom/Bandit Ghost came up for sale locally.
Firstly I didn't realise how cheap these were, I bought a Bandit in 1990 and that was £300 plus £50 for a black visor, these Venoms are £250 new now.
It also looks like these Venon/Ghosts are not made by Simpson but by Venmar (didn't they make the Frank Thomas helmets years ago).
Being a Simpson snob, the Venons look too nice & legal compared to Simpsons of old, the Venmar Simpsons claim wide aperture & good visibility - part of the 'appeal' of old school Simpsons was the closeness of the chin piece and the view akin to looking out of a letter box!!
Dare I say, they just seem to be a watered down copy, not unlike some others made before. But again saying that, the Venoms do look different to the norm and are probably an OK helmet in their own right but just aren't as 'Simpson' as the old Bandits & Star Wars before (didn't I see someone reproducing the latter more recently too?).
I'm sorry but I won't be looking at the one for sale locally, but hell OP, you've got me twitching over a proper Bandit again!!
eta - New Simpson Star Wars, looks like they are doing this as the Bandit M30 - wibble:
Firstly I didn't realise how cheap these were, I bought a Bandit in 1990 and that was £300 plus £50 for a black visor, these Venoms are £250 new now.
It also looks like these Venon/Ghosts are not made by Simpson but by Venmar (didn't they make the Frank Thomas helmets years ago).
Being a Simpson snob, the Venons look too nice & legal compared to Simpsons of old, the Venmar Simpsons claim wide aperture & good visibility - part of the 'appeal' of old school Simpsons was the closeness of the chin piece and the view akin to looking out of a letter box!!
Dare I say, they just seem to be a watered down copy, not unlike some others made before. But again saying that, the Venoms do look different to the norm and are probably an OK helmet in their own right but just aren't as 'Simpson' as the old Bandits & Star Wars before (didn't I see someone reproducing the latter more recently too?).
I'm sorry but I won't be looking at the one for sale locally, but hell OP, you've got me twitching over a proper Bandit again!!
eta - New Simpson Star Wars, looks like they are doing this as the Bandit M30 - wibble:
Edited by graham22 on Wednesday 23 August 09:08
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