flak monkey
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 12:49 PM |
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Motorbike Helmets
Looking for a half decent bike helmet. Anyone got any recommendations? Preferably cost less than £50.
Its only for use in the Locost and on a track day or 2. I believe that ACU Gold and the ECE certificates are enough for normal track days etc? But not
for actual motorsport?
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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smart51
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 12:54 PM |
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go to your local bike shop and see what they have. they should be able to advise you.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 12:59 PM |
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I got my nitro racing helmet off ebay for less that £50 delivered. It was 90 - 100 in the shops. I went to a shop first to get the size.
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 01:55 PM |
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IMHO by the time you need the extra safety of a premium helmet over a cheapo one in cars like ours your head probably wont be attached to yer body
anyway.
If you are going to spend alot of money get a Nomex lined comp helmet.
On a bike its a different matter though.
- Jim (Arai Giga)
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DarrenW
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 01:58 PM |
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Expensive helmets for bikers sounds fair enough. Im sure some expensive ones are more marketing hype than true better performance.
Helmets for weekend car drives and hobby track use, im sure, wont be subjected to the same potential abuse. I use mine to stop bugs and small stones
trying to embed themselves in my forehead. I feel confident that the possibility of needing it to stop my head from contacting the tarmac is somewhat
reduced compared to riding bikes.
If i had a bike then my thoughts would be completely reversed.
So the question is - what is a good budget helmet for open top car hobby use?
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gary gsx
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 02:06 PM |
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I agree you cant put a price on ya nut even if its the odd track day road use, My bike lid an Arai was £410 and when i used to race superstox i had a
simpson, even when mrs rode a 125 scooter she had a £200 lid just my thoughts. 
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smart51
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 02:16 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by CaLviNx
Hmm low cost helmets...I think my head is worth more than fify quid
on a bike, yes. In a car, not so. A bike crash helmet is to protect your head when you fall off and it hits the road at 70 MPH.
You have to try really hard to fall off a car when driving. I use my helmet to keep the wind out of my eyes and to keep the weather, stones and
insect out of my face. In warm weather I guess that sunglasses may be enough. A £50 helmet will be better than any sunglasses. Bike, car;
completely different use of a helmet.
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Wadders
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 02:43 PM |
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Go somewhere and try em on, nothing worse than a lid that is uncomfortable or ill fitting.
Some of the cheaper ones are a pig for misting up too, look for good ventilation.
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Guinness
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 03:50 PM |
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Can't agree more, good ventilation is important. Bear in mind you'll probably do most of your driving in the summer, when the sun is
beating down on your head, so don't get a matt black one!
Also go for as lightweight as you can afford (IMHO) as the cornering forces on your neck are higher in a car than on a bike. Car shouldn't lean
over as much as a bike.
If my helmet ever hits the deck, I'm really in trouble, it's there so I don't go blind, deaf or pebble dashed.
Mike
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Wadders
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 03:57 PM |
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Forgot to add, try to get one with a deep chinpiece, otherwise the wind gets under the front and tries to pull the lid off, its more of a problem in
a car cos your sat upright rather than head down looking up, as on a sports bike.
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Peteff
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 04:14 PM |
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MPS have some twenty quidders, you can't buy a visor for a Shoei or Arai for that much. As mentioned you will only be using them for windshield
not as actual protection from impact. Look here.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 04:29 PM |
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Cheers for all the replies guys. 
I really only want one to keep stuff out of my face. If I was buying one to ride a bike then I wouldnt hesitate to spend £250+ on a Shoei or Arai
lid.
Thanks for the links etc. Will find out my size and go from there.
Cheers,
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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OX
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 05:17 PM |
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you also want one for comfort,we used to sell some cheap ones for the scooter folk and they do the job but once its been on your head for 10 mins
you'll wish you'd spent the extra money.a badly fitting helmet can cause headaches and the wind noise is anough to drive you mad.for £50
you might as well wear a box and some shades
[Edited on 12/1/06 by OX]
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cidersurfer
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 06:30 PM |
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Apparently, the major testing difference between bike and car helmet testing is that in a car the helmet is likely to be repeatedly bounced off the
rollcage (or something near to your head), impacting the same spot on the lid. If you come off your bike it gets whacked all over but unlikely to be
hit repeatedly in one spot. I mnaged to find a Shark RSV for £90 that has both the bike 'gold sticker' and have the 'blue
sticker' (be approved to BS6658A, it's the A that's important here, if it's a green sticker it's BS6658B) , which is
good enough to do sprints/hillclimbs. Worth having a look seeing as they're out there
shimming solid lifters is a job for a friend...
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Hellfire
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 06:35 PM |
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Aren't all helmets manufactured to a european standard for safety? If so, it should give the same level of protection whether it be £500 or £50
(If it complies with the safety standard). Whether a more expensive helmet actually exceeds those standards will only be known in the unfortunate
event of an accident.
As long as the helmet fits good, is comfortable and provides adequate ventilation, I wouldn't be too concerned whether it's £50 or £500.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 06:45 PM |
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There are two sets of standards from what I can tell.
Basically theres the ECE/ACU ratings and a BS rating. The BS rating is actually higher than the ACU rating.
Theres some more detail here:
http://www.bristolmc.org.uk/Reference/crash_helmets.htm
I think ECE/ACU is plenty for use in a car. But would probably invest in a BS one if I was riding a bike.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 06:57 PM |
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Having had a scare on the road with a rabbit, heard of several bird strikes and been lucky enough too walk away from a open top car that rolled
several times whilst clipping the top of a edge i would advise get the best you can afford, every time i think back too the incident over the edge it
sends shudders down my spine when i think what could have been, i was SO lucky a few inches lower god knows what would have happened, also its worth
upgrading the visor too a competition spec one, bits drop off cars during track days, nuts, bolts even wheel balance weights, one of these in the
clock at 100mph aint too tasty.
One very near miss like i had will make you value your head and make you think of the family you have at home.
No second chances on this one.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 07:04 PM |
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All I'm suggesting is that you don't always get what you pay for........ Buy an expensive helmet if thats what you want but if
you're not too concerned about the 'brand' you can save yourself a few quid and get a helmet to the same standard without the label
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 12/1/06 at 07:08 PM |
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Me too, by best you can afford I mean standard not name, and upgrade the visor. If one meets a standard and one exceeds it which is best ? They both
carry the same sticker.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 13/1/06 at 01:46 PM |
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Just bought one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4604351153
Looked good, and was the right price.
Cheers for all the help/opinions,
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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DarrenW
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| posted on 13/1/06 at 03:33 PM |
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Exactly the same as mine. I paid about the same. They retail at 90 - 100 in shops (or did 8 months ago). Im no expert in helmets but cant fault mine.
There are loads of vents. Occasionally i have to lift front of visor a touch to clear mist but thats only cos i dont know what im doing with vents
(wasnt as bad when i cleaned with RainX).
Well done. You will be happy with it im sure.
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john_p_b
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| posted on 14/1/06 at 07:40 PM |
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got my dad one of them nitro helmets, seem more than good enough for the job and pretty comfy too, worn it myself a time or 2 when i've had the
linings out of mine for cleaning.
HJC imo are very good value, gone through a few helmets trying to find a comfy one then bought a AC-11 and fell in love! oh and it's got a cool
colour scheme too
built a car, built a home, had a family. lost the family, lost the home, still got the car.
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Peteff
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| posted on 14/1/06 at 07:48 PM |
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My local bike shop has Nitros at £39.99. I paid £100 for my Premier carbon/kevlar for bike use, nice and light.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 12:29 PM |
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Got it today...
Nice and comfy, well made and has a removeable lining as well.
That'll do me. Will get its first proper try out on Saturday, off out for a blast in our Formula SAE car 
David
PS Before anyone says anything, I know tinted visors are illegal for road use, but I couldnt resist 
 
Rescued attachment NV800 helmet.jpg
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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stevebubs
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| posted on 18/1/06 at 12:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
There are two sets of standards from what I can tell.
Basically theres the ECE/ACU ratings and a BS rating. The BS rating is actually higher than the ACU rating.
Theres some more detail here:
http://www.bristolmc.org.uk/Reference/crash_helmets.htm
I think ECE/ACU is plenty for use in a car. But would probably invest in a BS one if I was riding a bike.
Go down to MandP (think there's still one in Cov) and try them on - they're normally pretty helpful
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