I hope someone can help. Im on the lookout for a helmet. It will be used to keep out bugs on the road but also OK for track use (cars only).
Ive just been to local bike shop where they sell the Nitro Racing helmets. They look good but i confess to knowing nowt about them. Price is v.good but of course i know price isnt everything. Does anyone have any comments about the Nitro products (I like the 800-V).
http://www.nitro-helmets.com/product_detail.php?product_id=64

They have an ACU gold badge. Is this OK for track days?

Thanks for your help,
Darren.

If it's got a gold kite mark it will be fine. More expensive helmets just tend me be much lighter for the same amount of protection, also better airflow etc....

If you intend to just do track days then just get the best helmet you can afford but if you want to race then the Motor Sports Association (MSA) will have a say and they tend to only recognise TYPE Athese start at around £200 and the skys the limit.My son has to use type A for karting and weve found a good source is motorcycle shop old stock becaus all new helmets are EEC approved and motorcyclists don,t want older less fashionable Type A.Ebay is always worth a go but i would only buy new unused you never know how hard a life a secondhand helmet has already had.

Hi there,

When I bought mine last year for motorbiking - I was told there were 2 main groups of helmets - polycarbonate helmets and glassfibre helmets, iirc - the polycarb ones are cheaper and are tested to the same standard but dent on deformation. The glassfibre helmets shatter and are apparently better at absorbing the energy of the impact. If I was buying again - Id go for an old design in whatever make but go for the glassfibre design. Hope that helps! Oh and read all the reviews on MCN or some bike site....!

This month's RIDE magazine has a safety feature on crash helmets.

The nitro lids do look good but they are at the budget end of helmets, however as stated above if it has a gold ACU sticker then it has passed the strictest tests.
A crash helmet probably saved my life last year, it was a Suomy, not the dearest on the market by a long way (£250) but after the smash you could squash the lid in your hands. My head injuries were nothing more than a bust nose and split lip, the helmet took all the impact (stationary car at 50+MPH) and did its job perfectly.
Dont think, as I used to, that you wont need it. Buy the best you can afford.

ATB John