Helmet for motorcycling, karting and track days?
Discussion
Mandown46 said:
Forget brands. Pick the one that fits you the best. For a bike lid, you want to be looking for ACU gold sticker.
Also, my memory might be fuzzy here, but I seem to recall that some kart or car trackday guys dont allow motorcycle helmets to be used, as they dont meet fire regs?
I could well be wrong there.
Totally agree about going for fit rather than brand, and yes, the ACU gold sticker is what you want.Also, my memory might be fuzzy here, but I seem to recall that some kart or car trackday guys dont allow motorcycle helmets to be used, as they dont meet fire regs?
I could well be wrong there.
For karts and track days, as the OP has said he doesn't do anything MSA-sanctioned, fire regulations will be no issue as there won't be any such requirements imposed on the lids used. The only problem I can foresee is a track day organiser being excessively cautious with open-top cars and demanding an MSA-compliant helmet, but never heard of that.
Applaud the decision, by the way, you won't regret it - I bloody hate borrowing helmets! Looks like the MCN show will solve it for you
slevin911 said:
LC2 said:
PanzerCommander said:
Simpson Bandit
Shame that the Bandit isn't legal for riding on the road...
Of course, this may have changed in the *ahem* years since I stopped riding.
Anything that fits well. AGV, Arai, Shoei and others all use slightly different shaped head forms for their designs so usually one feels better than another. As said, don't get hung up on brands - some of the cheap stuff gets 5-star SHARP ratings. What you pay for is lighter, better made, possibly quieter, possibly better visors & vents.
Helmet should fit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KytJa4i96v4 - ie. not easily able to move side to side or front/back.
ACU Gold sticker is worth having - apparently some bike trackday organisers insist on it, although I've not had anyone check at ones I've been to.
Helmet should fit like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KytJa4i96v4 - ie. not easily able to move side to side or front/back.
ACU Gold sticker is worth having - apparently some bike trackday organisers insist on it, although I've not had anyone check at ones I've been to.
carl_w said:
mattman said:
ARAI ARAI ARAI
I can't get any size of ARAI over my nose. Would you still recommend them?Shoei too: http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/helmets/full-face/s...
Pretty muc in-budget for the OP too.
I'm on helmet no.4 at the moment. All chosen based on fit, cheapest was £100, most expensive £300. So far all but one of them have beecome too old to wear without ever being crshed in to anything. One of them was a bike helmet that also had the fire retardent label that I needed for scrutineering in cars - winner.
How it fits and how well it resists misting up are way more important to me that who made it.
How it fits and how well it resists misting up are way more important to me that who made it.
carl_w said:
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.Have been riding bikes for some time now and done a little bit of karting, I use an Arai helmet but it is not in your price range.
ACU Gold sticker is important for motorcycling helmet, not sure on car/kart equivalent.
No one can recommend a helmet really by brand, its whatever fits you and feels comfortable.
HJC are making good, reasonably priced and very lightweight lids now.
ACU Gold sticker is important for motorcycling helmet, not sure on car/kart equivalent.
No one can recommend a helmet really by brand, its whatever fits you and feels comfortable.
HJC are making good, reasonably priced and very lightweight lids now.
I had the same issue. Needed a helmet for my track car, motorbike and karting.
Went for this all carbon HJC, think I paid 275 a couple years ago.
It' may not be the best make, but it's very well made, and very comfortable.
As an all rounder I find it perfect.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hjc+carbon+fiber...
Went for this all carbon HJC, think I paid 275 a couple years ago.
It' may not be the best make, but it's very well made, and very comfortable.
As an all rounder I find it perfect.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hjc+carbon+fiber...
Synchromesh said:
Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I'm going to choose one based on fit then, but I at least have some brand names in mind now.
absolutely - I tried on about 20 when looking for a track day buy. The difference in fit was astonishing, tool small, too narrow, to short (front to back so my chin was touching the chin guard), too big. etc.the only consistency seemed to be with manufacturer so a different lid from the same manufacturer had similar characteristics.
by the way do you know car and bike helmests are different. Car helmets the main protection is on the side of the head, bikes on the front. Also on track, you work up a considerable sweat so open face car helmets are I think better.
Having said all that I have a bike helmet.
Edited by sparkyhx on Thursday 7th February 14:59
Get a lid that fits well of good quality. That doesn't mean a £350 carbon fibre jobbie for the most you can possibly afford. Big brands have their reputation to think of so you'll probably not go far wrong but don't buy an AGV at the compromise of fitment just because your mate said they were the safest. There's no decent crash data available that I could find.
k all. It's not a higher accreditation than SHARP or ECE standards. It just means the manufacturer paid st loads for a bag of stickers.
Many big brands like Caberg don't even bother with them. You can get them off their reps and they'll stick them on for you in the shop.
That said some tracks want to see them. That's why I bought one for £10 from ebay.
McSam said:
Totally agree about going for fit rather than brand, and yes, the ACU gold sticker is what you want.
ACU sticker means fk all. It's not a higher accreditation than SHARP or ECE standards. It just means the manufacturer paid st loads for a bag of stickers. Many big brands like Caberg don't even bother with them. You can get them off their reps and they'll stick them on for you in the shop.
That said some tracks want to see them. That's why I bought one for £10 from ebay.
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Thursday 7th February 15:29
sparkyhx said:
absolutely - I tried on about 20 when looking for a track day buy. The difference in fit was astonishing, tool small, too narrow, to short (front to back so my chin was touching the chin guard), too big. etc.
the only consistency seemed to be with manufacturer so a different lid from the same manufacturer had similar characteristics.
by the way do you know car and bike helmests are different. Car helmets the main protection is on the side of the head, bikes on the front. Also on track, you work up a considerable sweat so open face car helmets are I think better.
Having said all that I have a bike helmet.
Whilst I accept that it is different now to some degree, Im not sure how different.the only consistency seemed to be with manufacturer so a different lid from the same manufacturer had similar characteristics.
by the way do you know car and bike helmests are different. Car helmets the main protection is on the side of the head, bikes on the front. Also on track, you work up a considerable sweat so open face car helmets are I think better.
Having said all that I have a bike helmet.
A few years ago I bought a a Nigel Mansel rep Arai helmet which was tested to BS6658 1985 Type A /Fr, which was approved for motorsport; but apart from the addition of a non-removable Nomex inner liner, it was identical to my other Arai (BS6658-A, also MSA approved at the time) helmet, confirmed by Phoenix who were the UK concessionaires.
This wasnt Arais top motorsport helmet, but other than a couple of narrow vent offerings is was their most focussed motorsport lid, and it was identical to their often and ignorantly derided 'bike' helmet.
Prof Prolapse said:
ACU sticker means fk all. It's not a higher accreditation than SHARP or ECE standards. It just means the manufacturer paid st loads for a bag of stickers.
Nonsense. The European Union ECE 22.05 is a lower standard than BS6658-A, which it replaced, which is why youre looking for ACU gold approval on a helmet tested to this standard. k all. It's not a higher accreditation than SHARP or ECE standards. It just means the manufacturer paid st loads for a bag of stickers. ECE 22.05 is closer to BS6658-B which was for cheaper, usually thermoplastic, helmets which werent approved from motorcycle racing by the ACU.
Prof Prolapse said:
McSam said:
Totally agree about going for fit rather than brand, and yes, the ACU gold sticker is what you want.
ACU sticker means fk all. It's not a higher accreditation than SHARP or ECE standards. It just means the manufacturer paid st loads for a bag of stickers. Many big brands like Caberg don't even bother with them. You can get them off their reps and they'll stick them on for you in the shop.
That said some tracks want to see them. That's why I bought one for £10 from ebay.
ETA - As GC8 says above!
Edited by McSam on Thursday 7th February 17:33
Arai or Shoei fit most people and they make different shell sizes, which is very important but no one seems to mention it but me.
If you need a rounder helmet then a Simpson may suit you. Theyre made for American heads which seem to be that shape - this is why you see so many Bandits for sale 'worn once' - they dont fit most people.
I have a Bandit RX7 which is the only one which fits our heads. Id suggest a conventional Bandit for you.
If you need a rounder helmet then a Simpson may suit you. Theyre made for American heads which seem to be that shape - this is why you see so many Bandits for sale 'worn once' - they dont fit most people.
I have a Bandit RX7 which is the only one which fits our heads. Id suggest a conventional Bandit for you.
Synchromesh said:
Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I'm going to choose one based on fit then, but I at least have some brand names in mind now.
Thats the way.Ive used lazer track attack (when i was racing karts).
Ogk ff4 i don't think they are sold here anymore, i wish they were i loved it.
Many Agv's, gp pro, k3 etc.
Hjc fg15 still have it used as a spare.
Look for the manufactured date, on the agvs it on a sticker on the inner shell of the lid.
Hgc its on the chin strap close to the shell.
I check that because in competition you cant use one that is over 2 years old, that has stuck with me.
GC8 said:
Nonsense. The European Union ECE 22.05 is a lower standard than BS6658-A, which it replaced, which is why youre looking for ACU gold approval on a helmet tested to this standard.
ECE 22.05 is closer to BS6658-B which was for cheaper, usually thermoplastic, helmets which werent approved from motorcycle racing by the ACU.
Fair play mate. Sounds like I was misinformed.ECE 22.05 is closer to BS6658-B which was for cheaper, usually thermoplastic, helmets which werent approved from motorcycle racing by the ACU.
I still think the testing is a load of b
ks, but I'm happy to say that's opinion. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff