Bike helmets v car helmets
Discussion
I have a gold stickered bike helmet from riding bikes, I use this for trackdays in cars as well.
I believe the car helmets are fireproof, but I work on the basis that everything else I am wearing will burn a lot easier than a helmet, so if thats on fire I already have a lot of other things to worry about.
I believe the car helmets are fireproof, but I work on the basis that everything else I am wearing will burn a lot easier than a helmet, so if thats on fire I already have a lot of other things to worry about.
For what you want a bike helmet is perfectly good enough.
Helmet design is very much effected by their purpose and a bike lid is used in a very different way to a car lid but it crosses over to car use better than a car one to bike use.
If you want a helmet to function perfectly for car use and look like it, but without the expense the best investment out there is the Arai SK5 which is now sold in most bike shops. You wont be able to use it for MSA approved car racing (designed for karting) but you can use it for just about everything else and no one will know its a not car race one unless their an annorak.
Helmet design is very much effected by their purpose and a bike lid is used in a very different way to a car lid but it crosses over to car use better than a car one to bike use.
If you want a helmet to function perfectly for car use and look like it, but without the expense the best investment out there is the Arai SK5 which is now sold in most bike shops. You wont be able to use it for MSA approved car racing (designed for karting) but you can use it for just about everything else and no one will know its a not car race one unless their an annorak.
For drifting and track days I've no idea.
If you want to do motorsport then you need to get one that has the appropriate approval sticker on it with the correct British Standards or Snell numbers from the list in the MSA Blue Book. I want to say BS6658-A or A/FR (but not B) are acceptable for all MSA events, but not having the book here can't be certain of that number. Snell I have no idea about. Many of the helmets sold in bike shops have one of these stickers and they come in a lot cheaper than those sold by Demon Tweeks.
If you want to do motorsport then you need to get one that has the appropriate approval sticker on it with the correct British Standards or Snell numbers from the list in the MSA Blue Book. I want to say BS6658-A or A/FR (but not B) are acceptable for all MSA events, but not having the book here can't be certain of that number. Snell I have no idea about. Many of the helmets sold in bike shops have one of these stickers and they come in a lot cheaper than those sold by Demon Tweeks.
onomatopoeia said:
For drifting and track days I've no idea.
If you want to do motorsport then you need to get one that has the appropriate approval sticker on it with the correct British Standards or Snell numbers from the list in the MSA Blue Book. I want to say BS6658-A or A/FR (but not B) are acceptable for all MSA events, but not having the book here can't be certain of that number. Snell I have no idea about. Many of the helmets sold in bike shops have one of these stickers and they come in a lot cheaper than those sold by Demon Tweeks.
If the bike helmet has the gold BSA sticker on the back it is fine for the track.If you want to do motorsport then you need to get one that has the appropriate approval sticker on it with the correct British Standards or Snell numbers from the list in the MSA Blue Book. I want to say BS6658-A or A/FR (but not B) are acceptable for all MSA events, but not having the book here can't be certain of that number. Snell I have no idea about. Many of the helmets sold in bike shops have one of these stickers and they come in a lot cheaper than those sold by Demon Tweeks.
Dakkon said:
onomatopoeia said:
For drifting and track days I've no idea.
If you want to do motorsport then you need to get one that has the appropriate approval sticker on it with the correct British Standards or Snell numbers from the list in the MSA Blue Book. I want to say BS6658-A or A/FR (but not B) are acceptable for all MSA events, but not having the book here can't be certain of that number. Snell I have no idea about. Many of the helmets sold in bike shops have one of these stickers and they come in a lot cheaper than those sold by Demon Tweeks.
If the bike helmet has the gold BSA sticker on the back it is fine for the trackIf you want to do motorsport then you need to get one that has the appropriate approval sticker on it with the correct British Standards or Snell numbers from the list in the MSA Blue Book. I want to say BS6658-A or A/FR (but not B) are acceptable for all MSA events, but not having the book here can't be certain of that number. Snell I have no idea about. Many of the helmets sold in bike shops have one of these stickers and they come in a lot cheaper than those sold by Demon Tweeks.
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For track days yes you can use anything including BSA gold because there is no standard.
Edited by Simon Mason on Wednesday 6th February 17:49
Helmet standards from the MSA Blue Book 2008:
Section C(c)91-93
91. All MSA and International Events
FIA 8860-2004
Snell SA2005
Snell SA2000
SFI Foundation 31.1A, 31.2A
BS 6658 Type A/FR
92. All MSA Events
BS 6658 - 85 Type A (Type B is not acceptable)
93. International and MSA National Kart Racing Events
Snell K98 and K2005
Section C(c)91-93
91. All MSA and International Events
FIA 8860-2004
Snell SA2005
Snell SA2000
SFI Foundation 31.1A, 31.2A
BS 6658 Type A/FR
92. All MSA Events
BS 6658 - 85 Type A (Type B is not acceptable)
93. International and MSA National Kart Racing Events
Snell K98 and K2005
Don't know if one is better than the other but bike helmets have wider aperture to offer better vision, MSA car helmets generally have fireproof lining.
What surprised me was the different fit of each make of helmet - i went GP Racewear in Chiswick and just tried a bunch on and was amazed at how uncomfortable some were compared to others.
So...try before you buy.
I do think it would be a good idea if helmets had some kind of recognisable safety measurememnt rather than a sticker cos it's the same sticker on a cheap one as £3000 one so could we know what the difference buys us please?
What surprised me was the different fit of each make of helmet - i went GP Racewear in Chiswick and just tried a bunch on and was amazed at how uncomfortable some were compared to others.
So...try before you buy.
I do think it would be a good idea if helmets had some kind of recognisable safety measurememnt rather than a sticker cos it's the same sticker on a cheap one as £3000 one so could we know what the difference buys us please?
Race helmets (cars) are generally made to a much higher spec - lighter and have a smaller opening for vision
Bike helmets tend to have a bigger gap for more vision.
I think the reason is that you're more likely to have debris thrown up at you when racing a car - then you are on a bike. But wouldn't make much difference in a tin top
The best advice for any safety equipment is don't try and save money on buying cheap gear - an extra £100 could make all the difference
There's a scary youtube video testing helmet design - worth watching
Helmets are designed to protect your noggin from the impact that its likely to sustain in the event of an accident.
Bike accidents usually result in a glancing blow to the head follwed by a lot of scraping and rolling. which normally equates to a lower direct impact speed and G loading
Car accidents normally involve your head being stopped almost instantly by a a large piece of metal be it the car or a cage. The speed of the direct impact and the G loading is higher.
Bike accidents usually result in a glancing blow to the head follwed by a lot of scraping and rolling. which normally equates to a lower direct impact speed and G loading
Car accidents normally involve your head being stopped almost instantly by a a large piece of metal be it the car or a cage. The speed of the direct impact and the G loading is higher.
aeropilot said:
Windymiller said:
I'm looking for a cheap full-face one for drift/track days.
Is the car an open cockpit sports car....or an enclosed roofed saloon/sports type car..?If not open, I'd suggest an open-face rather than a full-face.
...it's well made, comfortable, nice and light, has a little bit of extra protection for the jaw compared with normal "Jet" designs, and, if I'm not mistaken it's what Tiffany Dell used to use for doing pieces to camera from racing cars for TG/FG - not that I'd necessarily take that as a recommendation...
If I think I stand a chance of blagging a ride (or drive) in something without a roof I take the Caberg Justissimo...
...'flip front' helmet I use on my road bikes - it's a lot easier to get on and off over a pair of glasses (if, like me you're so afflicted) than a normal full-face, again it's nice and light, and it's also got a funky fighter pilot style flip down tinted inner visor for sunny days
--
JG
Helmets that are legal for karting are to a higher standard than motorbike helmets.
The new Euro standard is based on testing the helmet at the start of production on a once only basis to satisfy regs.
whereas helmets for the latest kart racing spec are based on production runs where helmets are taken at random and tested to ensure conformity throughout the production life of a helmet.
The new Euro standard is based on testing the helmet at the start of production on a once only basis to satisfy regs.
whereas helmets for the latest kart racing spec are based on production runs where helmets are taken at random and tested to ensure conformity throughout the production life of a helmet.
This page is USA-specific, but it covers the differences between bike and car helmets and other things to consider when buying a helmet (materials, full face vs open face, etc): http://www.wurthmotorsports.com/buying_a_helmet.as...
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