Topic: Helmet Requirements

[captain]

Need some input on best fitting or most comfortable open face helmet to buy and best place to buy from!

[shabby]

Don't buy online, you need to find some motorcycle shop locally and try them on to see if they fit properly.

[Uranium-238]

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.

[snaponbob]

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.

[1LILNDN]

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.

[CPB]

If you are going to run any SCCA events make sure helmet is Snell rated SCCA requires that for all there events

[kennysabarese]

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.

[Kelu]

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.

[NormSky]

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

[kennysabarese]

Make sure u get a 2010 helmet not 2005 or older

[Uranium-238]

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.

[kennysabarese]

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

[snaponbob]

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.

[NormSky]

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

[kennysabarese]

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.   

[LiquidPT]

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.   

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.

[kennysabarese]

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.

[rwc_617]

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.

[Ben L]

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.

[Critterman]

Welcome back Ben

[snaponbob]

Somebody dug Ben out of that giant snow bank behind Takoma Park Elementary School. YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel a greater balance in the force.

[Uranium-238]

Yeah, he dug out just in time to start getting ready for race season. Where you been Ben?

[kennysabarese]

Thanks Ben. I'll have to check if my helmet is M or SA

[Sol Asylum]

I just thought that Ben was still invisible. Huh Who knew?

[Critterman]

That was the old Ben, new Ben wears a visibility suit.