Convertible - helmet with peak?

Convertible - helmet with peak?

Author
Discussion

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Hi all,

I did try searching about this and obviously found helmet related threads but nothing really about peaked helmets.

I'm about to do my first track day and therefore buy my first helmet and I'm looking at the V2 Super Vent.

My question is, being that I'll be in an MX5 with the roof down, is the sun likely to cause me any issues with visibility if I buy a helmet without a peak? Basically should I buy this over the peakless version?

http://www.v2sport.com/v2-super-vent.html#!/V2-Sup...

Thanks.

Stephanie Plum

2,776 posts

210 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Regardless of anything else you need to buy a full face. The MSV tracks won't let you out without one.

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Yeah, I found out as much whilst reading up on it, but thanks.

I'm just wondering if the sun blinding me is likely to be an issue with a peakless helmet, or whether they restrict the view through in any way.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Mine has a tinted flip down visor which is independant of the main visor, much more effective than a small peak and it's not an expensive helmet.

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Ahbefive said:
Mine has a tinted flip down visor which is independant of the main visor, much more effective than a small peak and it's not an expensive helmet.
What helmet do you have?

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all

Similar to this.

Boosted LS1

21,167 posts

259 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Op, you can wear sunglasses with a full face. I used to ride my bikes this way.

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Thanks both.

Mr MXT

7,691 posts

282 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
I use to struggle in the westfield getting blinded by the low sun on afternoon trackdays.

Soon sorted with a home made gaffa tape sun strip on the visor.

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Tuesday 15th May 2018
quotequote all
Mr MXT said:
I use to struggle in the westfield getting blinded by the low sun on afternoon trackdays.

Soon sorted with a home made gaffa tape sun strip on the visor.
Genius hehe

I might just order the visor model I think. I can always remove it (I assume?)

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Tuesday 15th May 2018
quotequote all
The visor in the pic I showed above is stored by sliding a latch on the top of the helmet and put back down with the touch of a button also on top of the helmet. Up and down taking no longer than a second for each.

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Tuesday 15th May 2018
quotequote all
Ahbefive said:
The visor in the pic I showed above is stored by sliding a latch on the top of the helmet and put back down with the touch of a button also on top of the helmet. Up and down taking no longer than a second for each.
It does look like a clever idea. It's similar to the slide down/slide up visor on our Fire Fighter helmets at work. Thanks for the suggestion.

Khare

47 posts

75 months

Tuesday 15th May 2018
quotequote all
I’ve got a Bell KC3-CMR helmet with a mirror blue tint visor. Never had issues in my MX5 on trackdays when the sun is low.

Not a cheap bit of kit but worth the money!

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
Cheers for that. I might just buy one with the ability to fit a peak but that doesn't come with one initially.

I was all set on a V2 but I've been reading that some people have had some quality issues. I'm also a bit averse to buying one without trying it on first but to do that leaves only bike helmets, as there's nowhere to try a racing helmet anywhere near here.

I know many people say that bike helmets are absolutely fine for track days, and I don't plan on doing any competition stuff - would that be fair to say? Unless I'm fully Nomex'd up, having a flame proof head seems a little pointless if my entire body has been turned to charcoal.

Gah! I really don't know what to do...

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
5er said:
Genius hehe

I might just order the visor model I think. I can always remove it (I assume?)
I hate to quote myself, but I just noticed that in the above post, I meant to say peak, not visor.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Whereabouts are you in the country? I have some V2 helmets which you can try if you like and are anywhere remotely between Lincoln and Harlow.
I have never had any issue with mine whatsoever. Very comfortable helmets, I have both an open face, which I use in my TVR with the roof on, and a full face, which i use with the roof off. V2 adhere to remote selling rules - you have 14 days to return the helmet for a full refund.

Note what was said above - if you plan on running the MX5 with the roof off on a track, most organisers, and certainly all MSV circuits (that includes Brands, Bedford, Snetterton, Oulton, Cadwell and Donington) will not allow you to run an open car without a full face helmet. Call it nanny state if you like, but it follows a Caterham driver getting a face full of hot oil when the engine blew on the car in front and showered him. You cannot blame them for being safety conscious.

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Friday 18th May 2018
quotequote all
I'm in Grimsby, so not too far from Lincoln. I'll have to have a think about whether I can make it up to you in time to both try a V2 and get one delivered - the track day I question is June 3rd. I very much appreciate your offer, thank you. I will let you know. Can I email you via your profile?

I have absolutely no issue with using a full face helmet, I've actually just bought a full face Shark motorcycle helmet, as the local bike shop has plenty of helmets in to try.


QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 18th May 2018
quotequote all
5er said:
I'm in Grimsby, so not too far from Lincoln. I'll have to have a think about whether I can make it up to you in time to both try a V2 and get one delivered - the track day I question is June 3rd. I very much appreciate your offer, thank you. I will let you know. Can I email you via your profile?

I have absolutely no issue with using a full face helmet, I've actually just bought a full face Shark motorcycle helmet, as the local bike shop has plenty of helmets in to try.
Yes, by all means email. What size head are you? If you don’t know the size, a ladies fabric tape measure horizontally around the head, about half an inch above your eyes, will give us a circumference. 61cm is the borderline IIRC between L and XL. My helmets are one L (open face) and two XL (one of each).

5er

Original Poster:

4,432 posts

174 months

Friday 18th May 2018
quotequote all
QBee said:
Yes, by all means email. What size head are you? If you don’t know the size, a ladies fabric tape measure horizontally around the head, about half an inch above your eyes, will give us a circumference. 61cm is the borderline IIRC between L and XL. My helmets are one L (open face) and two XL (one of each).
I've got a 60cm noggin, so according to the V2 site I'm an L, although I'm not sure if a XL would be better. Is the material inside any good or is it a bit cheap feeling?

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 18th May 2018
quotequote all
5er said:
QBee said:
Yes, by all means email. What size head are you? If you don’t know the size, a ladies fabric tape measure horizontally around the head, about half an inch above your eyes, will give us a circumference. 61cm is the borderline IIRC between L and XL. My helmets are one L (open face) and two XL (one of each).
I've got a 60cm noggin, so according to the V2 site I'm an L, although I'm not sure if a XL would be better. Is the material inside any good or is it a bit cheap feeling?
I bought an L first off, then felt it was a tad on the snug side. I use the XLs now and take the L with meto track days for passengers with slightly smaller heads.
I have never owned any other crash helmet other than horse riding helmets. Those have been poor inside, but the V2 helmets seem good to me. No deterioration in over 75 hours of use.
Reason I asked was in case your head was a totally different size to my helmets.....but it’s not. So worth meeting up if you find yourself down this way.
Don’t panic though - you can generally hire a helmet at most tracks, and certainly at MSV tracks they are new and very good quality. Cost is a tenner per track day, so won’t break the bank while you decide.

Edited by QBee on Friday 18th May 14:35