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Author Topic: Helmet Requirements  (Read 17654 times)

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Offline captain

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Helmet Requirements
« on: February 21, 2010, 04:13:12 PM »
Need some input on best fitting or most comfortable open face helmet to buy and best place to buy from!
« Last Edit: May 07, 2010, 02:20:49 PM by DeepBlueGXP »

Offline shabby

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2010, 05:45:38 PM »
Don't buy online, you need to find some motorcycle shop locally and try them on to see if they fit properly.

Offline Uranium-238

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2010, 05:50:53 PM »
Or, find a place with a good return policy. The site where I bought mine went out of their way to make helmet returns and exchanges really easy.
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Offline snaponbob

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2010, 06:32:47 PM »
Another choice is to try on some helmets at an event (if people will let you). For Solo a G-force will be a great combo of weight/cost/fit.
Bob Buxbaum
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Offline 1LILNDN

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2010, 07:45:11 PM »
I bough a Helmet one time and ask the Dealer if I could go out and ride around to see how it feels in action. They let me and I left my credit card with them .ended up doing it two times then bought the 1st one. Most dealers will work with you.
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Offline CPB

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2010, 08:14:24 PM »
If you are going to run any SCCA events make sure helmet is Snell rated SCCA requires that for all there events
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Offline kennysabarese

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2010, 11:49:23 PM »
Check the ratings. Some Motorocycle helmets are heavier than car helmets. Also you may want to check out HANS if you are doing anything dangerous.

If you are doing HANS then that'll narrow the choices. If not, get the lightest smallest helmet you can for comfort. I wish I did.
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Offline Kelu

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2010, 04:37:47 AM »
What I learned from my previous bike passion about helmets:
1) Always try a helmet, some brands/model even are top ones might not fit comfortable on your head. So go with the one which fits you.
2) Regarding protection, if approved they all provide a good protection, why I say good and not perfect? If you reach the point to test the helmet's the protection level, a big % is about other things and luck to be ok after incident, so don't worry about this, drive carefully and that will make it.
3) The differences in prices are made by "options" like how antifog of the visor is working, removable and washable interior, etc
4) As other guys suggested, use a great return policy shop and try more.
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Offline NormSky

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2010, 07:00:39 AM »
For a HANS you'll need a four point harness. I wouldn't recommended open face with a steering wheel or airbag ad the stopping point. There is a HANS like device that some instructors use call a G3 that straps to your torso. All depends how hard you plan on hitting something.

Norm
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Offline kennysabarese

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2010, 07:37:12 AM »
Make sure u get a 2010 helmet not 2005 or older
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Offline Uranium-238

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2010, 08:01:18 AM »
AFAIK, they're still not selling Snell 2010 helmets yet. However, the SCCA accepts the two most recent Snell ratings as legal. So, a Snell 2005 helmet will still be good for another 5 years.
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Offline kennysabarese

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2010, 08:57:27 AM »
Hrm good point. I have a feeling that 2010 helmets will be lighter because they are optimized for a single impact or something. Don't quote me. But would be good to look into
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Schroth Harnesses - SSR Wheels - Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs - Complete Mod List
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Offline snaponbob

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2010, 09:47:40 AM »
The rule st
AFAIK, they're still not selling Snell 2010 helmets yet. However, the SCCA accepts the two most recent Snell ratings as legal. So, a Snell 2005 helmet will still be good for another 5 years.
The rule states "helmets meeting the current or two immediately preceding Snell Foundation standards". That is why a 1995 is currently legal. When the 2010 Snell helmets hit the market (supposedly LATE 2010 due to some changes in tests procedures) the 1995 helmets will drop off the list and the legal dates will be 2010, 2005, and 2000. This means a 2005 will be legal for about 9 years. If the OP wants a legal helmet THIS season he may not be able to wait for a 2010 rated AUTO helmet as they are the ones coming later. The Motorcycle rated helmets will be a bit earlier and a good bit heavier.
Bob Buxbaum
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2007 Redline, Revalved Konis, Crazy alignment
FE3 front and Z0K rear bars, owner installed pwr lock buttons
catless downpipe, SP custom exhaustWester's tune
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Offline NormSky

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2010, 12:03:10 PM »
Uranium, M for motorcycle helmuts are rated for one impact as they distribute the blow. Snell are rated for multiple blows like contact with roof or roll bar.

Norm
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Offline kennysabarese

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2010, 12:21:20 PM »
Uranium, M for motorcycle helmuts are rated for one impact as they distribute the blow. Snell are rated for multiple blows like contact with roof or roll bar.
I thought it was the exact opposite since if you fall on a bike your head my scrape and smash along the pavement for a few hundred feet.   :banghead:
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Offline LiquidPT

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2010, 12:42:06 PM »
I thought it was the exact opposite since if you fall on a bike your head my scrape and smash along the pavement for a few hundred feet.   :banghead:


Right, but that's likely to be one big impact with 200 ft of glancing blows or scrapes... In a car rollover, you're more likely to get several direct hits.

M and SA are tested for different types of impact, as well as the SA being fire resistant. Don't really want your head going up in flames if you're trapped in a car.
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Offline kennysabarese

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2010, 01:01:50 PM »
Right, but that's likely to be one big impact with 200 ft of glancing blows or scrapes... In a car rollover, you're more likely to get several direct hits.

M and SA are tested for different types of impact, as well as the SA being fire resistant. Don't really want your head going up in flames if you're trapped in a car.

Yeah that makes perfect sense.

I have one, forget if it's M or SA. Looks like a motorcycle helmet so probably M. It's heavy.
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Offline rwc_617

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2010, 09:06:21 AM »
M vs SA has little to do with weight -- it's whether or not they're treated for fire resistance.  SA means the helmet is fire resistant -- needed for events where egress from a wrecked car might be difficult.  M means that it is not treated for fire resistance (and therefore lower cost) -- egress from a motorcycle is presumably not an issue.  SCCA says M is good enough for autocross -- I guess they figure we won't be going fast enough to wreck so badly that we'll burst into flames.  I have an M now, but my next helmet will be SA so that I can try road racing.

Offline Ben L

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #18 on: February 24, 2010, 06:15:41 PM »
We hashed this out months ago when Critter's daughter bought him a spanky new helmet.  What I posted then is still true . . .

SNELL rated helmets fall into 2 classes:  "SA" for sports applications and "M"  for Motorcycle.

SA2005 helmets are designed for auto racing and must pass flammability and impact resistance tests that the M rated helmets do not require.  Thus, the tend to be a bit more expensive.

Key differences between SA and M rated helmets (from the SNELL website) are:

"The SA standard was designed for competitive auto racing while M standard was for motorcycling and other motorsports. The K standard was released to accommodate helmets used in karting. There are three major differences between them:

The SA standard requires flammability test while the M and K standards do not.
The SA and K standards allow for a narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA and K certified helmets may not be street legal).
The SA and K standards include a rollbar multi impact test while M standard does not." 

IMHO, unless your beloved daughter is buying you a present (the Critter exception), if you need a car helmet, get a car helmet.  That way, you will be able to use your own perfectly fitted equipment instead of some smelly, greasy, Gawd knows where its been loaner, no matter what club you run with.

Offline Critterman

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #19 on: February 24, 2010, 07:47:53 PM »
Welcome back Ben
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Offline snaponbob

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #20 on: February 24, 2010, 11:12:41 PM »
Somebody dug Ben out of that giant snow bank behind Takoma Park Elementary School. YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel a greater balance in the force.
Bob Buxbaum
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2007 Redline, Revalved Konis, Crazy alignment
FE3 front and Z0K rear bars, owner installed pwr lock buttons
catless downpipe, SP custom exhaustWester's tune
racing springs and adjustable perches
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Offline Uranium-238

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #21 on: February 24, 2010, 11:19:38 PM »
Yeah, he dug out just in time to start getting ready for race season. Where you been Ben?
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Offline kennysabarese

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #22 on: February 25, 2010, 08:48:34 AM »
Thanks Ben. I'll have to check if my helmet is M or SA
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Offline Sol Asylum

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #23 on: February 26, 2010, 01:46:43 AM »
I just thought that Ben was still invisible. Huh Who knew? :idk:
« Last Edit: February 27, 2010, 03:21:01 PM by Sol Asylum »
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Offline Critterman

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Re: helmet opinion
« Reply #24 on: February 26, 2010, 01:31:38 PM »
That was the old Ben, new Ben wears a visibility suit.
GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named BIXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"

DDM
StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs
Ported and polished head
Exedy Stage II Clutch
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice
Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace
Underhood, trunk, & door Lights
ZOK suspension

JPM
Center console, door inserts, & dash
Seat bolster & lumbar support

Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat
Solo Performance SQR-2
Norm's Rear facia
Heated Seats
Black Cat inserts

 

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